Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
Your flight touches down in Beijing and a local guide meets you at arrivals. From there, a private vehicle takes you to your hotel. You've got the rest of the day to yourself, so you can either rest up after the flight or take a walk around the hotel neighborhood to get your bearings.
- Start point
- Beijing, China (Beijing, China)
- Day 2
Beijing
After breakfast, head to Tiananmen Square in central Beijing. From there, walk into the Forbidden City next door, which is this massive imperial palace complex. You'll see the red walls and yellow roof tiles while learning about China's ancient royal family and their traditional architecture. Later in the day, go up to Jingshan Park to get a view of the Forbidden City from above.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Walk through the Forbidden City
- View from Jingshan Park
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Jingshan Park - Day 3
Beijing to Great Wall
Start at the Temple of Heaven in the morning where locals do sword dancing and Tai Chi. After about 2 hours of driving, you'll reach Mutianyu, a less crowded section of the Great Wall. Take a cable car up and then walk along the wall to see the watchtowers and how it winds through the landscape. A cable car brings you back down, and you'll drive back to Beijing for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Cable car ascent and descent at Mutianyu section of Great Wall
- Explore Great Wall hiking
Optional Activities
- Join locals practicing morning exercises at Temple of Heaven
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Heaven Great Wall of China - Mutianyu Section - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Walk through the Summer Palace this morning with its lakes, gardens, and pavilions. Then transfer to the railway station to catch the bullet train to Xi'an. The 1,216 km journey takes 4.5 to 6 hours at speeds around 250-300 km/h, so you can watch the scenery from your seat. When you arrive, a new guide meets you for a private transfer to your hotel, and the evening is yours to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Summer Palace
Landmarks/POIs Summer Palace - Day 5
Xi'an
About an hour outside Xi'an city, see the life-size Terracotta Army that Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered made as guards for his mausoleum. These clay soldiers, horses, and chariots stand in battle formation. Back in town, wander through the Muslim Quarter to try local specialties and Muslim dishes, then check out the Great Mosque with its uniquely Chinese style.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Army
- Explore Muslim Quarter
- Visit Great Mosque
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Army Xi'an Muslim Quarter Great Mosque of Xi'an - Day 6
Xi'an to Chengdu
Your day starts with a musical performance at the Drum Tower, a well-known Xi'an landmark. Next, visit the Tang Bo Art Museum to see local folk arts and ancient Chinese paintings, and you'll get a lesson in calligraphy to write Chinese characters yourself. After lunch at a local spot, board a 4-hour bullet train to Chengdu, home to giant pandas. Your guide collects you from the station and takes you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Bell and chime musical performance at Drum Tower
- Visit Tang Bo Art Museum
- Calligraphy lesson
Landmarks/POIs Drum Tower Tang Bo Art Museum - Day 7
Chengdu
Spend the day at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. You'll see baby, sub-adult, and adult pandas and learn how they breed and develop while taking photos of them eating bamboo, sleeping, or playing around. Later, go to Wenshu Monastery, Chengdu's largest Buddhist temple, to explore the prayer halls, pagodas, shrines, and courtyards. End with traditional Chinese tea at the monastery's tea house to feel the city's relaxed vibe.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Explore Wenshu Monastery
- Traditional Chinese tea at monastery tea house
Landmarks/POIs Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Wenshu Monastery - Day 8
Chengdu to Yangtze River
Start at Jinsha Site Museum to see artifacts from a 3000-year-old Shu kingdom including gold, jade, bronze, and ivory pieces. Watch the 4D film 'Dream Back to Jinshan' to understand ancient Shu life better. Then take a 2-hour bullet train to Chongqing, head to the dock, and board your ship for a downstream Yangtze River journey. You'll get a safety briefing and settle into your cabin for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Jinsha Site Museum
- Watch 4D movie 'Dream Back to Jinshan'
Landmarks/POIs Jinsha Site Museum - Day 9
Yangtze River
Wake up to the river sounds and do Tai Chi on deck before breakfast. This morning, take a shore trip to Fengdu Ghost City on the north bank to explore shrines, temples, and monasteries about the Chinese afterlife (or visit the new relocation village on the south bank if river conditions change). The rest of the day is free to watch the scenery from your cabin or use the ship's facilities. The captain usually hosts a welcome party in the evening where you can dress up and meet other passengers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Captain's welcome party in the evening)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi exercise on deck
- Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City or relocation village (depending on river conditions)
- Evening captain's welcome party
Landmarks/POIs Fengdu Ghost City - Day 10
Yangtze River
Today you'll take a boat excursion to Shennv Stream, a narrow tributary with deep gorges, green mountains, clear water, and towering cliffs lined with thick groves where you might see local wildlife. Back on the ship, the afternoon is yours to spend however you like. After dinner, head to the ballroom if you want to dance or socialize into the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Shore excursion by boat to Shennv Stream
Landmarks/POIs Shennv Stream - Day 11
Yangtze River to Shanghai
Go on a shore trip in the morning to see Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric dam. At noon, leave the ship and meet your guide at the pier for a private transfer to the airport. You'll fly to Shanghai, and another guide meets you when you arrive to take you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam
Landmarks/POIs Three Gorges Dam - Day 12
Shanghai
Start at the Bund, a mile-long waterfront with European-style colonial buildings from the 1920s and modern high-rises like the Oriental Pearl Tower across the Huangpu River. Then visit Yu Garden with its traditional Chinese design, walk around Yuyuan Bazaar for shopping, and stop at a silk workshop to see how Chinese silk gets made. Spend time at the Shanghai Museum with its 140,000 cultural pieces, and finish in the former French Concession for a more relaxed feel before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit the Bund
- Explore Yu Garden
- Stroll Yuyuan Bazaar
- Visit silk workshop
- Explore Shanghai Museum
- Explore former French Concession
Landmarks/POIs The Bund Oriental Pearl Tower Yu Garden Yuyuan Bazaar Shanghai Museum Former French Concession - Day 13
Departure from Shanghai
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
