Wonders of China & the Grand Yangtze(downstream)

Day 1 ARRIVE IN BEIJING

Upon arrival in Beijing; our tour guide will meet you at the customs exit of Beijing airport holding a welcome sign board with your name on it. The guide will assist your transfer to the hotel and help you check in. The rest of the day is on your own and can be used for relaxing or exploring the city.

	Temple of Heaven

Day 02 Beijing (AB, L, SD)

Your adventure begins in Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing and the largest public space in the world and then the Forbidden City. Step back in time as you pass through the Gate of Heavenly Peace and enter the Forbidden City, home to the Imperial Courts of the Ming and Qing Dynasty for more than 500 years. The Forbidden City is an enormous complex of perfectly preserved palaces, temples, magnificent squares and formal gardens. You’ll stroll along cobblestone paths once known only to the Emperor’s most intimate advisors, visit the private apartments of Imperial concubines and see stunning collections of priceless art, furnishings, and jewelry. Following lunch there will be a tour of the Summer Palace, a fairyland of pagodas, pavilions and stone bridges on the outskirts of the city. There you can visit Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake and take a leisurely walk down the Long Corridor. Tonight you’ll sample the delicious local cuisine at a neighborhood restaurant.

Day 03 Beijing (AB, L, SD)

This morning you will leave the bustle and traffic of Beijing behind and journey through the countryside to see the Great Wall in Badaling where you will experience at first hand one of the Wonders of the World. There will be plenty of time to walk along a portion of this 3700-mile long marvel or to simply sit and contemplate the wonders of China’s past. Compared with the other normal tours having lunch at the shopping site restaurant, we specially arrange your lunch to be served at a local popular Sichuan food restaurant. Later the journey will take you to the Ming Tomb in the peaceful shadow of Longevity Mountain,where you’ll walk along the “Sacred Way” passing between pairs of huge stone sculptures. Tonight's special dinner will be Beijing Duck, served at an original century-old restaurant.
Optional program: A lively Peking Opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre.

Day 04 BEIJING / XI’AN (AB, L, SD)

This morning take a flight to Xi'an, the ancient capital city for 11 dynasties in Chinese history. Upon arrival in Xi'an airport, you will be met and transported to hotel. You’ll begin the visit with a tour of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD to house Buddhist scriptures from India. You’ll stroll through Xi'an’s bustling markets and visit the Provincial Museum of History where you’ll see artifacts from the Paleolithic period, priceless Tang Dynasty bronzes and treasures from the Silk Road caravans. Tonight you will be served a delicious dumpling dinner banquet.
Optional program: Enjoy the on-stage performance of Tang Dynasty dance and music in the evening.

Day 05 Xi’an (AB, L, D)

Today you’ll visit the excavation site of the Terra-Cotta Warriors, which many people consider the high point of their trip to China. More than 6000 soldiers, ministers and horses, each individually sculpted from a real life model, stand guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s still unopened tomb. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the site, get a good look at the warriors from various vantage points and visit the excellent museum. You will then take a tour of the well-preserved ancient City Wall and the Bell Tower, the emblem of Xi'an City.

	Yangtze River Cruise

Day 06 Xi’an/Guilin (AB, L, D)

This morning you will visit the Hanyang Tomb before taking a flight to Guilin, famous for its picturesque limestone peaks and rivers, where your personal guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day will be yours to relax, to head out in the small city.

Day 07 Guilin (AB, L, D)

Today you will take a relaxing cruise on the Li River to Yangshuo. Depart from your hotel in the morning. Be transferred to the Zhujiang Pier for a 4 hours wonderful cruise. Enjoy the picturesque mountains, peaceful green fields ,farms and villages with water buffalos, cows wondering around on both sides of the river bank. Disembark at the one-thousand-year-old town Yangshuo in the afternoon and explore the local market lined with stalls and souvenir shops selling traditional ornaments and paintings of landscapes. And then take a countryside tour by Sightseeing Electric Car. You will visit plantings fileds, markets and the beautiful villages and a local villager's home to experience the farmer's lifestyle. In the evening enjoy a grand performance of folklore dance accompanied with a backdrop of limestone peaks and rivers accompanied by light and sound on Li River before returning to Guiln.

Day 08 Guillin / Chongqing (AB, L, D)

After breakfast, you will take a tour of the Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of the city, and the Reed Flute Cave, a fairy land of limestone known as the “Art Gallery of Nature”. Take a departure transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Arrive in Chongqing, you will be met at airport by local tour guide and transferred to the dock for boarding Yantze River Cruise Ship.

Day 09 YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE / SHIBAOZHAI(AB, L, D)

You’ll take a short break from the fabulous natural scenery to visit the most spectacular manmade site along the river, Shibaozhai, the Stone Treasure Fortress. You’ll disembark to explore this 12-story red, wooden pagoda that stands against a sheer rock wall over some 400 years ago.  
**Depending on local river conditions, alternate shore excursion to Wanxian or Ghost City of Fengdu may occur.

Day 10 YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE / DANNING RIVER SMALL GORGES OR SHENNONG STREAM (AB, L, D)

This morning you will cruise through the first two of the famous Three Gorges. Qutang Gorge, the shortest but the most dramatic gorge and Wu Gorge, known for its sheer cliffs and twelve peaks. Your excursion will include boarding a smaller vessel up the Daning River to view the sceneries of the Small Gorges. If weather permits, a sampan ride will take you into the tranquil tributary. Subject to river condition, alternate excursion to Shennong Stream may occur, also with its spectacular views of the Small Gorges; Your cruise continues and passes through the last and longest gorge, Xiling Gorge. Then sail through the double-lane five stages of the Three Gorges ship locks.

	Yuyuan Garden

Day 11 YICHANG / SHANGHAI (AB, L, D )

This morning, your cruise arrives Yang Jia Wang where you will enjoy a shore excursion at the Three Gorges Dam site, the largest hydroelectric project in the world. Continue onto Yichang where you disembark. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. This evening experience Shanghai’s world-famous nightclubs on your own, walk along Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s fabulous shopping street, or simply enjoy the hotel’s amenities and rest up for tomorrow’s adventures.
**If direct flight is not available, transfer by motorcoach to Wuhan for flight to Shanghai

Day 12 SHANGHAI(AB, L, SD)

This morning you’ll recall Shanghai’s past as you visit the Bund, the city’s lively waterfront, and see the remains of the banks and other colonial institutions of the 19th century. You’ll visit Yuyuan Garden in the old part of the city and the Jade Buddha Temple with its fine collection of carved jade statues. You’ll also visit the Oriental Pearl Tower for a spectacular 360-degree view of Shanghai. In the evening you will sample the traditional Dim-sum Banquet, and then you will enjoy a wonderful Acrobatic Show.

Day 13 SHANGHAI / ZHUJIAJIAO(AB, L, -)

This morning you’ll travel by road to Zhujiajao (50 minute drive from Shanghai), a well-preserved, traditional river town with lovely water views, ancient arched stone bridges and elegant gardens. At Zhujiajiao, you will walk through Fangsheng Bridge, Beida Street, and the Xi Family Residence. You will feel as though you have stepped back in time. After lunch, you’ll return to Shanghai and tour the fascinating Shanghai Museum to see artifacts from every period of China’s past. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Shop, discover more of the city on your own or revisit your favorite sites.  

Day 14 DEPART FROM SHANGHAI(AB)

You will be free on this day until the time for your personal guide to escort you to the airport for your flight home.