13-day China Discovery (2012)

Shanghai - Yichang - Yangtze River Cruise - Chongqing - Xi'an - Beijing

Scroll down to bottom for departure dates, prices and hotel list.

Day 1/Mon: Departing Home City
Depart home city and cross the International Date Line.

Day 2/Tue: Arrival in Shanghai
Arrive in late afternoon and transfer to hotel upon meeting your guide.  

Day 3/Wed: Shanghai
Before 1949, Shanghai was widely known in the West as a city of quick riches and paradise of the adventurers. After four decades of anemic growth in a planned economy, Shanghai is roaring back to recapture its position on the world stage. With a population of 23 million and rapid economic expansion in the last 20 years, Shanghai has again become a leading global city with significant influence in commerce, culture, finance, media, fashion, technology and transport.

Our sightseeing today begins with a walk on the Bund, a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style. We then visit Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple and Yu Garden in old town center. Evening entertainment is a dazzling acrobatic show. (B/L/D)

Day 4/Thu: Shanghai - Yichang
Free morning to explore on your own. Our recommended list includes Jinmao Tower, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, and a ride aboard the world's only commercially run Maglev train. We fly to Yichang in late afternoon to set out for a 3-day cruise up the Yangtze River, known as the Long River or Changjiang among the Chinese. (B/L/D)

Day 5/Fri: Yangtze Cruise
At 6,380km the Yangtze is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon. The most impressive section of the Yangtze is the Three Gorges.

Morning visit to the site of the Three Gorges Dam. Construction of the dam started on December 14, 1994. It was expected to be fully operational in 2009. Due to additional projects such as the underground power plant with six additional generators, the dam is not expected to become fully operational until 2011. The dam raised the water level the third time to 172.5 metres by the end of 2008. The Chinese government estimated the cost of the construction to be $27 billion while some Chinese scholars and international organizations estimated the actual cost could be as high as over $80 billion. The project upon completion will become the largest hydroelectric dam in the world with a reservoir stretching hundreds of kilometres upstream. (B/L/D)

Day 6/Sat: Yangtze Cruise
This morning we navigate Shennong Stream on a small vessel. Originating in the southern slopes of Shennongjia Nature Reserve, the crystal clear river twists and turns 60 kilometres through forested mountains before emptying into the mighty Yangtze. Admire nature’s grandeur while sailing through spectacular Wu Gorge (44km) and Qutang Gorge (8km) later today. Please note the excursion may be substituted by a motorized sampan ride through equally impressive Lesser Three Gorges of Daning River, another Yangtze tributary. (B/L/D)

Day 7/Sun: Yangtze Cruise
Today’s onshore visit features the necropolis of Fengdu, a historic temple complex modeled after the Chinese Hell in Taoist mythology. Depending on river conditions, the cruise operator may substitute Fengdu with Shibaozhai or Stone Treasure Fortress - an ancient wooden pagoda built against rock cliffs facing the Yangtze. (B/L/D)

Day 8/Mon: Chongqing - Xi'an
Our cruise ends this morning. City tour in Chongqing includes People's Square and General Stilwell's former residence during World War II. We Fly to Xi'an in late afternoon or early evening. (B/L)

Day 9/Tue: Xi'an
Eastern terminus of the fabled Silk Road and one of the ancient capitals of China, Xi'an is home to the Terracotta Army. Designed to follow the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) into eternity, the Terra Cotta Army located about 30km east of the city represents one of the greatest archeological discoveries of the 20th Century in the world. After a tour of the excavation site, we return to the city for a stroll on the ancient wall. Tonight we enjoy a spectacular music and dance show reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), a period generally considered a golden era of the Chinese civilization. (B/L/D)

Day 10/Wed: Xi'an - Beijing
Morning flight to Beijing, capital of China. Visit Tian'anmen Square and adjacent Forbidden City following lunch. Also known as Palace Museum or Gu Gong in Chinese, the Forbidden City was the place where the emperors of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties lived and carried out their administration. (B/L)

Day 11/Thu: Beijing
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall at Mutianyu, 75km northeast of the city. Zigzagging over 6,000 kilometres from east to west along the undulating mountains, the Great Wall, said to be visible from the moon, was built to hold off tribal invaders from the north. Construction of the earliest sections of the Wall started in the 7th century B.C. A major renovation started with the founding of the Ming Dynasty in 1368 and took 200 years to complete. The wall we see today in Beijing is almost exactly the result of this effort. (B/L)

Day 12/Fri: Beijing
Today we visit the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and a hutong - traditional alleyway flanked with courtyard residences. We then wrap up the day with a sumptuous Peking Roast Duck dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 13/Sat: Beijing - Home City
Spend the morning packing and relaxing. Transfer to the airport to board return flight departing in the afternoon. Cross the International Date Line and arrive home the same day. (B)

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Hotels & Yangtze Cruise Ship
City	Nights	Hotel/Ship	Star Rating
Shanghai	2	Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou
Yangtze Cruise	4	Victoria Cruises
Xi'an	2	Sheraton Xi'an
Beijing	3	Crowne Plaza U-Town or Sheraton Dongcheng

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