21-day Highlights of China (2012)

Hong Kong - Guilin - Shanghai - Hangzhou - Wuzhen - Suzhou - Yichang - Yangtze River Cruise - Chongqing - Xi'an - Beijing

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

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

Day 2/Mon: Arrival in Hong Kong
Meet your guide upon arrival in late afternoon and transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure. If you need a quick bite before going to bed, you may order room service at your own expense or visit one of the nice restaurants in the hotel or in the neighbourhood. You only need to walk two or three minutes to find decent, reasonably priced eateries. HSBC and Bank of East Asia both have a branch close to the hotel; if you want to exchange more than $100 USD or CAD, you should consider visiting one of the banks for better rates, instead of dealing with the front desk of the hotel. Remember to take the bank's service fee into account when comparing exchange rates. And avoid currency exchange services at the airports whenever you can! 

Day 3/Tue: Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, along with Macau. Comprising more than 260 islands, the territory is located on the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong Province in the north and facing the South China Sea in the east, west and south. Hong Kong was a dependent territory of the United Kingdom from 1842 until the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China in 1997. The Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Hong Kong stipulate that Hong Kong operate with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2047, fifty years after the transfer. Under the policy of "one country, two systems", the Central People's Government is responsible for the territory's defense and foreign affairs while Hong Kong maintains its own legal system based on English common law, police force, monetary system, customs policy, immigration policy, and delegates to international organizations and events. 

Our half-day Hong Kong Island tour includes Aberdeen Village, Repulse Bay and Victoria Peak. Free afternoon to explore the former British colony on your own. Hong Kong is an extremely tourist-friendly city where English is widely spoken and the public transit convenient. (B)

Day 4/Wed: Hong Kong - Guilin
You may spend the morning relaxing or continuing your self-guided exploration of the dynamic city. Transfer to the airport on your own to board the one-hour evening flight to Guilin. Meet your guide on arrival and transfer to the hotel. (B)

Day 5/Thu: Guilin
Day cruise on Li River. The 83km stretch of the river between Guilin and Yangshuo affords breathtaking scenery as the river snakes through tall karst mountains, gigantic bamboo sprays, and picturesque villages -- sights that have inspired countless poets and painters for generations. Disembark after lunch and drive back to Guilin. (B/L)

Day 6/Fri: Guilin - Shanghai
Morning schedule features scenic Fubo Hill and Reed Flute Cave. Created by an underground river more than half a million years ago, this highly accessible karst cavern of stalactites and stalagmites served as an air raid shelter during World War II. Resembling the set of a science fiction movie, the Reed Flute Cave is bathed in purple-blue light. Late afternoon flight to Shanghai. (B/L)

Day 7/Sat: 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 state 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, Yu Garden and Jade Buddha Temple. Evening entertainment is a dazzling acrobatic show. (B/L/D)

Day 8/Sun: Shanghai
Today is a free day. Exploring China's most dynamic city on your own has never been easier. Our recommended list includes Jinmao Tower, a ride aboard the world's only commercially run Maglev train, and the popular evening cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy the city's spectacular neon-lit skyline. (B)

Day 9/Mon: Shanghai - Hangzhou
We travel to Hangzhou by deluxe motor coach this morning. With a history of 2200 years, scenic Hangzhou has often been referred to as "Paradise on Earth" by Chinese poets and writers. A refreshing cruise on serene West Lake is followed by a visit to the Silk Museum. (B/L)

Day 10/Tue: Hangzhou - Wuzhen - Suzhou
Morning sightseeing includes Six Harmony Pagoda and Longjing Tea Plantation where the much treasured Chinese green tea is made. We drive to Wuzhen (1 hour) after lunch. The 12-century-old water town boasts many well-preserved ancient residential and commercial buildings. Tour the major sites before continuing on to Suzhou (2 hours). (B/L)

Day 11/Wed: Suzhou
The ancient city is best known for its traditional Chinese gardens, silk production and well-preserved canals. Our schedule today takes Master-of-Nets Garden, a short cruise on the Grand Canal, the Silk Embroidery Research Institute and a silk spinning mill. (B/L)

Day 12/Thu: Suzhou - Yichang
Free morning. After lunch we transfer to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (80km) to fly to Yichang where we 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 13/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 14/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 15/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 16/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 17/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 18/Wed: Xi'an - Beijing
Morning flight to Beijing. 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 19/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 20/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 21/Sat: Returning Home
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
Hong Kong	2	Harbour Grand Kowloon
Guilin	2	Sheraton Guilin
Shanghai	3	Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou
Hangzhou	1	Zhejiang Narada Grand Hotel
Suzhou	2	Pan Pacific Suzhou
Yangtze Cruise	4	Victoria Cruises
Xi'an	2	Sheraton Xi'an
Beijing	3	Crowne Plaza U-Town or Sheraton Dongcheng

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