Retired people's leisure life

Day 01Arrival in Beijing

Our guide will greet you outside the customs of Beijing Capital Airport and then transfer you to check in the hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure. For dinner on your own arrangement, we have some suggestions around our luxury series hotel and standard series hotel.

Meals: No meals

Day 02Beijing

In the morning, drive to the heart of Beijing City to visit the large Tiananmen Square and then walk northward to the Forbidden City. Constructed in the early 15th century, the Forbidden City is the largest and best-preserved imperial palace complex in the world. As is our practice to avoid the poor food at the cheap tourist eateries, we will serve you an a la carte lunch at a nice local restaurant, where you can taste the authentic Chinese food. In the afternoon, take a Hutong Tour to see the most local life and residences in the zigzag Beijing alleys, which still keep the original appearance of hundreds of years ago. Tonight, an exciting Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theatre will be waiting for you, which combines the traditional Chinese martial art and the modern drama perfectly.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Tiananmen Square, Beijing

Day 03Beijing

Today you are going to take an excursion to the Badaling Great Wall in suburban Beijing. Some necessary hiking are required to reach the peak to overlook this world largest man-made project. You may also take a cable car by yourself if you want to keep energetic for the later tours. To avoid the shopping site restaurants near the wall, we will drive you to enjoy the famous Sichuan food at the best local restaurant. In the afternoon, go to tour around the Ming Tomb, the largest imperial graveyard in China, where the thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty were buried with their empresses and concubines. These thirteen individual emperors' tombs are connected by a long Sacred Way, which will lead you to the tombs. On the way back to downtown Beijing, you will have a stop at the Bird's Nest, the permanent site of 2008 Olympics, and take some pictures.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Our travel consultant Flora and her client

Day 04Beijing - Xian

You will go to visit two outstanding royal buildings this morning. One is the Summer Palace which was a luxury resort of the royal family for over one century. At present, a large number of travelers are attracted to visit the largest royal park, consisting of classical buildings, large manmade Kunming Lake and hills as well as delicate natural scenery. The following Temple of Heaven has the grandest prayer hall and holy altar, where the ancient emperors offered sacrifices to the heaven. After sightseeing, we will serve you an a la carte lunch at an elegant local restaurant with delicate cuisine and great atmosphere. While your Beijing tour comes to the end, you will take a flight to Xian. Our Xian guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area of the airport and transfer you to check in the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Pit of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xian

Day 05Xian

The highlight of your Xian tour will be started from the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum this morning. Praised as the Eighth World Wonder, thousands of life-like terracotta figures of 2,200 years ago are exhibited there to show the powerfulness of the country at that time. To avoid the mass-produced food at the tourist eateries near the site, we will serve you an a la carte lunch at the well-known best local restaurant. In the afternoon, you are going to see the Big Wild Goose Pagoda of 1,300 years ago. Originally built to store rare Buddhist sutras from Indian, this pagoda has been one of the landmarks of ancient Xian City. The following Shaanxi History Museum has much more rare collections through the long history of China. To know this city's splendid history vividly, you will watch a melodious Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show imitating the performance of royal court 1,300 years ago. For clients of luxury series, you will watch the marvelous Tang Dynasty Dinner Show at the Tang Dynasty Palace (Addr: No.75 Chang'an Road, Xian). While standard series clients will taste a local Dumpling Dinner and enjoy the Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Show at Shaanxi Opera Theater (Addr: No. 165, Wenyi Road, Xian). 

Meals for Luxury series: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch, Tang Dynasty dinner show
              Standard series: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch, Dumpling dinner

Local vegetable market

Day 06Xian

Climb up the ancient City Wall of Xian this morning. On the base of the capital's defensive wall of the Tang Dynasty, the present City Wall was reconstructed in the Ming Dynasty of 600 years ago. The 13.7-kilometer's long wall is flat on the top, where you could have a bird's view of Xian on foot or by bicycle if time permits. A homely cooked a la carte lunch will be served while you visit a local family today. If interested, you could learn some cooking skills there with the friendly hostess by attending our Chinese food cooking class. In the afternoon, you will proceed to the quiet Great Mosque surrounded by bustling Moslem bazaar. As the tour ends, it is suggested that you explore the bazaar where the popular local dim sum, souvenirs and gadgets are sold.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Home-cooked a la carte lunch

Day 07Xian - Lhasa

You will leave for the mysterious Lhasa by air today. On the way to Xian Airport, if time permits, you will have a stop at the Hanyangling Museum. It is the mausoleum of the 5th emperor of the Western Han Dynasty, who was on the throne in 157BC~141BC. Been buried with the passed emperor, there were a large number of small-size and vivid terracotta statues, consisting of warriors, officers, lady's-maids and livestock. The flight will take you about 3 hours to arrive at Lhasa Airport, which is located 3,650 meters above sea level. Our guide will welcome you and then transfer you to the hotel in downtown Lhasa. During the remainder of the day, it is suggested that you rest at the hotel to adapt to the high altitude.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Potala Palace, Lhasa

Day 08Lhasa

In the morning, a brief visit to Tibet Museum will be helpful to get to know this region's long history, brilliant culture and Tibetan Buddhism. The following Carpet Factory will show you the producing course of the colorful and quality Tibetan carpets. In the afternoon, you will visit the Sera Monastery and the Norbulingka Park. As one of the three greatest monasteries in Tibet, the Sera Monastery is noted for the daily debating of Buddhist doctrines among lamas and the annual Buddha-unfolding in Shoton Festival. Turn to the Norbulingka Park, there are nice garden and buildings which once was the Summer Palace of Dalai Lama.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Tibetan lamas, Lhasa

Day 09Lhasa

You will take a Lhasa highlights tour to the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor Street and then finish the tour at Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital. Located on the Red Hill, the splendid Potala Palace has been the landmark of Lhasa for hundreds of years. Rather than the political and religious center of Lhasa, it is also the largest treasure house of Tibetan culture. The following Jokhang Temple is located in the center of old Lhasa City which is also the spiritual center of Tibetans. As the first Buddhist building in Tibet, it has a sovereign position in Tibetan Buddhism where the life-size statue of Sakyamuni is set. Surrounding the temple, there is the Barkhor Street where you could find ancient Tibetan buildings and featured stores as many as possible. Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital is the largest Tibetan traditional hospital which is the center for treatment, training, research and production of the centuries-old Tibetan medicine. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Yangtze River Three Gorges cruise tour

Day 10Lhasa - Chongqing

Departing from Lhasa, you will get to Chongqing by air today. Our guide will be waiting for you at Chongqing Airport and transfer you to board on the 4-day Yangtze River Cruise. If time permits, you could drop in at the Panda House of Chongqing Zoo to see the adorable giant pandas.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 11Chongqing - Shibaozhai

After breakfast, the river guide will give a brief introduction of the cruise and the daily schedule. Then you will take an onshore excursion in Zhongxian to visit Shibaozhai, which is famous for its fanciful architecture and many interesting legends. With the reputation of 'Pearl on the River', Shibaozhai has received 220,000 visitors from home and abroad every year since opened to the public in 1979. Now it has become the 'little Penglai' for tourists to overlook the views of Yangtze River. While returning to the ship, you may have some leisure time strolling on the deck to enjoy the scenery along the river and please prepare to attend the Captain's Welcome Party tonight.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Relaxing Yangtze River tour

Day 12Badong - Xiling Gorge - Sandouping

Today you will see the most astonishing cliffs and sceneries on the two banks of Yangtze River while the ship is sailing through the well-know Three Gorges. The first Qutang Gorge is the shortest but the most impressive of the three. The next Wu Gorge is famous for its lofty peaks and mountains on both sides. Before entering into the final Xiling Gorge, you will experience an interesting junk adventure along the Shennong Stream. While enjoying the grotesque cliffs and clear water in the narrow stream, you could also hear the singing of those local boat trackers, all of whom are Tujia minority people. After the excursion, the ship will set out to the longest Xiling Gorge. In the evening, it will pass through the Five Level Ship Lock of China Dam which is the largest one in the world.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13Yichang - Shanghai

You will take a bus up to the peak of Tanziling and get a bird's eye view of the grand Three Gorges Dam Project. When getting back to the ship, please pack your luggage and follow the check-out procedure. Your Yangtze River Cruise will come to the end upon arrival at the port of Yichang City, then you will disembark. If time permits, you will visit Yichang Museum before taking a flight to Shanghai. Our local guide will be waiting for you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Shanghai Bund

Day 14Shanghai

In the morning, you are going to see the extensive historical collections in Shanghai Museum. Besides those delicate artistic items, the unique ethnic minorities' culture exhibition is also recommended. After that, you could wander in the quiet Yuyuan Garden, which is a typical and classical building complex in southeast China. An a la carte farewell lunch will be served for you at a fancy and famous local restaurant, which offers authentic Shanghai. In the afternoon, a Huangpu River Cruise will take you to view the centuries-old and modern files of this international metropolis. After disembarking, explore the Bund Area and then visit an old street in Shanghai. We have some dinner suggestions around our hotel. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Day 15Departure from Shanghai

Our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport today. Already having a memorable China tour, we wish you a pleasant homebound trip, too! And if you plan to have an extension tour, please refer to our City Package for more details.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Accommodation

Grade	Luxury	Standard
Beijing	Crowne Plaza	Holiday Inn Central Plaza the best Holiday Inn Hotel in Beijing
Xian	Shangri-la Golden Flower - South Wing	Grand New World Hotel
Lhasa	Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa	Gang-gyan Lhasa Hotel
Yangtze River	President No.1	President No. 2 President No. 3
Shanghai	Renaissance Shanghai Yuyuan Hotel	Ya Fan Long Men Hotel

• ◆ 2012 Price
• ◆ 2011 Price

Based on per person and in U.S. dollars, valid from Mar. 1st, 2012 to Feb. 28th, 2013

Grade	Luxury				Standard
	High season		Shoulder season		High season		Shoulder season
	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single
2-5 persons	$3859	$5019	$3789	$4899	$3379	$4099	$3339	$4029
6-9 persons	$3379	$4539	$3309	$4419	$2899	$3619	$2859	$3549
10 & above	$3099	$4199	$3039	$4079	$2629	$3299	$2589	$3219

Note: For the Yangtze portion of this itinerary, we quote the price based on the President No.1 cruise ship (Luxury Series). The quotation is subject to change if you happen to meet the sailing date of any other cruise ships. Besides, the prices also exclude the service charge of CNY150.00 per person recruited by the cruise company, you need to pay on the spot when you board the cruise.

Based on per person and in U.S. dollars, valid from Mar. 1st, 2011 to Feb. 29th, 2012

Grade	Luxury				Standard
	High season		Shoulder season		High season		Shoulder season
	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single
2-5 persons	$3799	$4899	$3749	$4839	$3299	$3989	$3259	$3919
6-9 persons	$3339	$4449	$3289	$4379	$2849	$3529	$2799	$3459
10 & above	$3109	$4149	$3059	$4079	$2619	$3259	$2579	$3189

Note: For the Yangtze portion of this itinerary, we quote the price based on the President No.1 cruise ship (Luxury Series). The quotation is subject to change if you happen to meet the sailing date of any other cruise ships. Besides, the prices also exclude the service charge of CNY150.00 per person recruited by the cruise company, you need to pay on the spot when you board the cruise.

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For our quotation inclusions & exclusions, booking and cancellation terms, please read Terms and Conditions.