Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll arrive in Beijing and get transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to recover from jet lag, so take it easy and settle in.
- Start point
- Beijing Capital International Airport Apron 北京首都国际机场停机坪, 北京首都国际机场, Beijing, 100621, China (Beijing Capital International Airport)
- Day 2
Beijing
Your guide meets you at the hotel to kick off the day at Temple of Heaven, where you'll see locals going through morning exercises and doing their daily routines. From there, you'll take a rickshaw through the Beijing Hutong neighborhoods and stop by a local family's home for some conversation and perspective on life in these traditional areas. After lunch at a neighborhood restaurant, head over to Tian'anmen Square and then spend more than 2 hours walking through the Forbidden City's palace halls, checking out the gardens and art collections throughout the complex. You'll return to your hotel by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte Chinese lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven - entrance fee included
- Beijing Hutong rickshaw tour with local family visit
- Tian'anmen Square visit
- Forbidden City exploration with guided tour
Optional Activities
- Chinese Kung Fu Show at Red Theater (evening)
- Acrobatic Show (evening)
Landmarks Temple of Heaven Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City 
- Day 3
Beijing
Head out to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, which is well-preserved and less crowded than other parts. After returning to Beijing, you'll stop for photos at the Bird Nest and Water Cube, the distinctive 2008 Olympic venues.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at restaurant at foot of Mutianyu)
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall
Optional Activities
- Cable car at Mutianyu Great Wall
- Slideway at Mutianyu Great Wall
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall Bird Nest (National Stadium) Water Cube (National Aquatics Center) - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
This morning you'll visit the Summer Palace, then make your way to Beijing West Railway Station for the high-speed train to Xi'an. You'll arrive and check into your hotel later in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at local restaurant en route to Beijing West Railway Station)
Included Activities
- Visit Summer Palace
- Walk along Long Corridor
- Optional boating trip on Kunming Lake
Optional Activities
- Boating trip on Kunming Lake
Landmarks Summer Palace 
- Day 5
Xi'an
Spend the day exploring Xi'an's historical sites. Walk the City Wall, then head to the Terracotta Warriors archaeological site and try making pottery yourself. Later, walk through Bell Tower Square and browse the Muslim Quarter for local snacks and shopping.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at local restaurant nearby Terracotta Warriors)
Included Activities
- Visit Xi'an City Wall
- Visit cave dwelling pottery workshop and learn to make miniature terracotta warrior
- Visit Terracotta Warriors
- Walk around Bell Tower Square
- Walk to Muslim Quarter
Optional Activities
- Bicycle ride on city wall
- Tang Dynasty Show evening entertainment
Landmarks Xi'an City Wall Terracotta Warriors Bell Tower Muslim Quarter - Day 6
Xi'an to Guilin
Take a leisurely morning, then visit Gao's Courtyard to see ancient residences and learn about shadow puppetry. Head to Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza for photos and see the music fountain show. In the evening, you'll catch a flight from Xi'an to Guilin.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Gao's Courtyard
- Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza
- Attend music fountain show at plaza
Landmarks Big Wild Goose Pagoda 
- Day 7
Guilin
Drive to Longji Rice Terraces and visit Yao and Zhuang ethnic villages. You'll have lunch cooked in bamboo at Ping'an Zhuang Village while looking out over the terraced hillsides. Explore the local villages and return to Guilin by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at local restaurant in Ping'an Zhuang Village with bamboo-cooked specialties including bamboo rice and chicken)
Included Activities
- Visit Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area (Dragon's Back)
- Explore ethnic Yao and Zhuang villages
Optional Activities
- Four Lakes Night Cruise in Guilin
Landmarks Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area 
- Day 8
Guilin to Yangshuo
Cruise the Li River for about 4 hours down to Yangshuo, taking in the scenic landscape along the way. You'll walk around West Street with free time to explore at your own pace, then return to Guilin for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (Lunch)
Included Activities
- Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
- Walk along West Street in Yangshuo
Optional Activities
- Show of Impression Liusanjie in Yangshuo
- Evening entertainment in Yangshuo
Landmarks Li River West Street - Day 9
Guilin to Chongqing
Take the morning train to Chongqing. Depending on when you arrive, you might visit the Three Gorges Museum and Hong Ya Dong riverside area. Check into your Victoria cruise in the evening before the 21:00 departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (Lunch)
Included Activities
- Optional visit to Three Gorges Museum
- Optional visit to Chongqing People Hall
- Optional visit to Hong Ya Dong riverside area
Optional Activities
- Chongqing Hot Pot dinner
Landmarks Three Gorges Museum Chongqing People Hall Hong Ya Dong 
- Day 10
Yangtze River Cruise
Spend the full day cruising the Yangtze River. You can take an optional shore excursion to Fengdu or the Ghost City if interested. The ship offers early bird coffee and tea, tai chi practice, and buffet meals. In the evening, attend the Captain's welcome reception and optional show.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast on board), Lunch (Buffet lunch on board), Dinner (Buffet dinner - Captain's welcome reception)
Included Activities
- Optional shore excursion to Fengdu Shuangguishan National Park
- Early bird coffee and tea on board
- Tai Chi practice on board
- Buffet breakfast on board
- Buffet lunch on board
- Captain's welcome reception with buffet dinner
Optional Activities
- Additional shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City
- Shore excursion - Feng Yan San Guo 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' Show in evening
Landmarks Fengdu Shuangguishan National Park - Day 11
Yangtze River Cruise
Cruise through the Three Gorges with an optional morning excursion to White Emperor City. You'll pass through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, and take a boat trip to Goddess Stream. The Captain's farewell banquet and crew cabaret happen in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast), Lunch (Buffet lunch), Dinner (Captain's farewell banquet - set-menu table dinner)
Included Activities
- Sail through Qutang Gorge
- Scenic cruising through Wu Gorge
- Shore excursion to Goddess Stream (or Shennong Stream depending on river conditions)
- Early bird coffee and tea
- Tai Chi practice
- Buffet breakfast
- Buffet lunch
- Captain's farewell banquet
Optional Activities
- Optional shore excursion to White Emperor City (cost: RMB295 per person)
- Crew cabaret in evening
Landmarks White Emperor City Qutang Gorge Wu Gorge Goddess Stream 
- Day 12
Three Gorges Dam to Shanghai
Visit the Three Gorges Dam, one of the world's largest hydroelectric projects. Grab lunch at a local restaurant, then transfer to the train station for the high-speed rail to Shanghai.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Three Gorges Dam
Landmarks Three Gorges Dam 
- Day 13
Shanghai
Explore Shanghai's mix of old and new. Walk through Shikumen alleys to see how locals live, check out Yuyuan Garden and the Bazaar. Tour the Shanghai City History Museum in the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and take in the panoramic city views from the 2nd ball. Drive through the Lujiazui financial district and finish at the Bund.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walk through Nong Tang alleys in Shikumen
- Visit Yuyuan Garden
- Explore Yuyuan Bazaar (Chenghuangmiao Old Street)
- Visit Shanghai City History Museum (Former Shanghai Wax Museum)
- Take elevator to 2nd ball of Oriental Pearl TV Tower for bird-eye view of Shanghai
- Drive through Lujiazui finance and trade zone
- Visit the Bund to admire illuminated buildings
Landmarks Shikumen Yuyuan Garden Oriental Pearl TV Tower The Bund 
- Day 14
Shanghai Departure
Transfer to the airport for your international flight home. Your China tour comes to an end.
- End point
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport, 6000 Yingbin Ave 迎宾大道6000号, Shanghai, 201207, China (Shanghai Pudong International Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast)
