Beijing - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai

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

Day 1/Wed: Departing for Beijing
The journey begins with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. You'll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line. If you leave from the West Coast and sit on the right side of the plane, you will get to see the snow-capped Rocky Mountains; on the opposite is the Pacific Ocean.

Day 2/Thu: Arrival in Beijing
Meet our guide upon arrival in late afternoon and transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure. Because tour members arrive on different flights arriving at different times, it is not possible to arrange dinner today. Even if it were offered, many would still prefer to go straight to their room and rest. Those who feel hungry before going to bed may, at their own expense, order room service or visit one of the restaurants in the hotel for a quick bite.

Day 3/Fri: Beijing
Beijing is China's capital and the second largest city by population. Beijing had already served as the country's capital for several dynasties over many centuries before 1949 when the Communists moved in. The city is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, and huge stone walls and gates. Its art treasures and universities have long made the city a centre of culture and art in China.

The tour leader will introduce the tour members to one another after breakfast. Our schedule today takes in Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, and an old hutong - alleyway flanked with traditional residential courtyards. Dinner is a delicious Beijing roast duck feast. (B/L/D)

Day 4/Sat: Beijing
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall, 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. (B/L)

Day 5/Sun: Beijing - Chongqing
Our first stop today is the Temple of Heaven. Built for emperors to worship Heaven, the Temple of Heaven is China's largest extant complex of ancient sacrificial buildings occupying an area of 273 hectares and three times the area of the Forbidden City.  Visit the extravagant Summer Palace before flying to Chongqing in late afternoon. (B/L)

Day 6/Mon: Chongqing
Chongqing is one of China's four provincial-level municipalities, and the only such municipality in western China. The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the sub-provincial city administration that was part of Sichuan Province. The entire urban and rural population of Chongqing amounts to about 32 million. Chongqing administers an area of over 80, 000 square kilometres. The city served as China's provisional capital in the 1940's during World War II after the Kuomintang Government lost Nanjing (Nanking) to the Japanese invaders.

Enjoy some free time in the morning. Afternoon sightseeing takes in the zoo and General Joseph Stilwell’s former residence - location of the US Forces’ headquarters in China during World War II. After dinner we board the Yangtze cruise ship to start our 3-day downstream journey. (B/L/D)

Day 7/Tue: 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 stretching 119km. Today’s shore excursion features Fengdu Ghost City, a Buddhism and Taoism-themed tourist project rebuilt in the 1980s with extensive murals and sculptures depicting life in the Next World. (B/L/D)

Day 8/Wed: Yangtze Cruise
Admire nature’s grandeur while sailing through spectacular Wu Gorge (45km) and Qutang Gorge (8km). Later 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 66 kilometres through forested mountains before emptying into the mighty Yangtze. Please note this excursion may be replaced with a similar one on Daning River, another Yangtze tributary. (B/L/D)

Day 9/Thu: Yichang - Shanghai
Morning visit to the Three Gorges Dam site. Construction of the dam started on December 14, 1994 with completion date set for 2009. Due to additional projects such as the underground power plant with six additional generators, the dam did not become fully operational until the end of 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. We disembark in Yichang around noon and fly to Shanghai. (B/L/D)

Day 10/Fri: Shanghai
Before 1949 Shanghai was widely known 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 in Shanghai begins with a stroll on the Bund - a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style, followed by Shanghai Museum and Yu Garden located in the centre of the old town. Evening entertainment is a dazzling acrobatic show. (B/L/D)

Day 11/Sat: 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 12/Sun: Shanghai - Home City
Free morning to pack and relax. Transfer to airport  to board return flight. Arrive home the same day after re-crossing the International Date Line. (B)

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Hotels & yangtze Cruise Ship
City	Nights	Hotel/Ship	Star Rating
Beijing	3	Crowne Plaza U-Town or Sheraton Dongcheng
Chongqing	1	Hilton Chongqing
Yangtze Cruise	3	Victoria Cruises
Shanghai	3	Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou

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