Golden Triangle & Yangtze

As the flight lands in Beijing today, your long-anticipated 11 days guided tour of China starts with a warm welcome from our guide. We then transfer you to the hotel and the rest of the day remains free for you to relax and recover from jet lag. A full day of scheduled sightseeing awaits you tomorrow.
 
Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing - the former Sheraton

After breakfast, you will meet your guide and other group members for an orientation briefing held in the hotel. The exciting trip begins with a visit to the world famous Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in the morning. From the Forbidden City, the world's largest imperial palace complex, 24 emperors ruled continuously for 490 years. Nowadays, travelers can trace its gorgeous history from the well-preserved majestic palaces and valued collections.

Lunch will feature an authentic a la carte Chinese meal with Peking Roast Duck (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a nice restaurant, avoiding the tourist eateries arranged by most agencies. 

In the afternoon, you will visit the historically significant Temple of Heaven. It was here that the Ming and Qing emperors offered sacrifices to the Gods of Heaven and Earth annually, praying for grain harvests. After today's sightseeing, you will enjoy a fabulous Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theatre.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch

Have a big breakfast at the hotel today as we will take a 1.5-hour drive to the majestic Mutianyu Great Wall. This section of the Great Wall embodies the best of this wonderful military project. Climbing the great wall is quite energy-consuming, so we arrange a round-way cable car for you. That allows you more time on the wall to appreciate the grand views. We also prepare red wine for a group toast on the wall to celebrate and commemorate this memorable moment. Lunch is not included in today's itinerary as the restaurants nearby are not up to our standards. Should you wish to buy some fast food for lunch, our guide can offer advice.

Later, you will explore a well-known traditional local market in the downtown area. Enjoy some free time there. Finally, we escort you back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

This morning you will first visit the Summer Palace, which offers a harmonious combination of Chinese royal buildings, a Buddhist pagoda, classical garden design, man-made hills and lakes. Then we will drive by and stop at the Olympic National Stadium (Bird's Nest) for a while, so that you will take photos of this magnificent building. At noon, you will enjoy a delicious a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at an elegant local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we continue with a visit to the old Hutongs. Hutong is a typical ancient city lane in Beijing. There are thousands of Hutongs surrounding the area of the Forbidden City. Most of them were formed in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. After visiting a traditional Hutong courtyard house and experiencing Chinese Paper Cutting, your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. The local guide and driver in Xi'an will pick you up at the airport and help you check in at the hotel for a two-night stay.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel

After breakfast, you will set out for the world famous Terracotta Army Museum. The large quantity of life-size and vivid terracotta statuaries made 2,200 years ago will definitely amaze you. Each clay warrior has an individual facial expression, height and even wears a unique outfit.

An authentic home-cooked a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) awaits you at the home of a local family in downtown Xi'an, thereby avoiding the tourist restaurants near the warrior site. This is also is a good opportunity for you to learn about the local Chinese family. Also, there is a good chance for you to learn to cook one or two Chinese dishes from your host. 

In the afternoon, go on to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda & Xi'an Museum. Though smaller than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda has a quiet environment and more elegant scenery. The "Morning Bell of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda" was one of the "eight sights of Xi'an" in the Qing Dynasty. Tonight, feast your eyes on the famous Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show after you enjoy the local specialty - a Dumpling Dinner.

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

You will spend the whole morning in the City Wall area of Xi'an. First, you come to the City Wall Park, the best place to know more about the local people's daily life and their entertainments. You also have a chance to learn to practice Tai Chi in the park. Then you will ascend the ancient City Wall, the landmark site of the city. On the wall, you can walk around and feel the history of the city. Additionally, you can rent a bicycle and enjoy a special ride on the old wall. The bike rental fee is at your expense.

Afterwards, you will fly to Chongqing. Your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit Jiefangbei CBD, where you may have dinner at your own expense before boarding the cruise. Chongqing is famous for its hot and spicy cuisine. You may challenge yourself with authentic local delicacies like hot pot, or hot and sour rice noodles. If you prefer mild food, there are also general or vegetarian dishes available. Then head for Chaotianmen Ferry Terminal to board the luxurious Yangtze River cruise ship, which is the most relaxing journey of your 11 days China itinerary. The ship sails at 22:00.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: President No.6 with balcony

In the morning, the river guide will give an introduction to the cruise schedule and the Yangtze River. At about 12:30, the ship will dock at Fengdu for an onshore excursion to Shuangguishan National Forest Park. After that, you will re-board the ship and the cruise will continue towards the splendid Three Gorges. This evening, the cruise staff will invite you to join the Captain's Welcome Party. You may dress up yourself and join the party to dance or sing.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The climax of your Yangtze River Cruise is coming today. The unique scenery of the Three Gorges will be unveiled in front of you. Among them, Qutang Gorge is the most dangerous and shortest. Wu Gorge is the most beautiful, renowned for its deep valley and elegant beauty. In Wu Gorge, you will change to a sampan to take a side trip along Shennong Stream for 3 to 4 hours. Shennong Stream features picturesque natural beauty, distinctive Tujia ethnic minority, boat tracking culture and valued historical relics. After that, you will return to the ship and sail into Xiling Gorge. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, having packed your luggage and completed check-out procedures, you will disembark for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. Following the excursion, the cruise ship company will drive you to the Three Gorges Tourist Center in Yichang city. Your local guide will meet you there and then see you off at Yichang East Railway Station for a high speed train to Shanghai.

The rail journey takes approximately 7.5 hours, so music, movies, snacks or fruits are good company. Free hot drinking water is available on the train, so passengers can have coffee, tea or instant food. You should bring a mug, spoon and fork if you decide to prepare your own hot drinks or food on the train. Washrooms are available between each carriage. On arrival in Shanghai, you will be met at the railways station and taken to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou Hotel

Shanghai is an international metropolis with a blend of rich history and fashionable modernity. The short one-day trip will give you a panoramic view of the city. In the morning, visit Shanghai Museum and the beautiful Yu Garden. In the museum, there are over 120,000 historical collections from ancient China. Yu Garden formed part of a private residence that was constructed 400 years ago, and is one of the best combinations of ancient Chinese buildings, with water features, mountain and natural scenery. By the garden there is a traditional bazaar, where you will have some free time to explore.

Around noon, a luxurious farewell a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at a famous restaurant with the best Shanghai cuisine.

In the afternoon, you will be guided to stroll along the Former French Concession and the Bund to experience the thrills of old and modern Shanghai. You will also have a cruise tour along the Huangpu River. In the end, your guide and driver will transfer you back to the hotel and say goodbye to you at the lobby.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch

There are two airports in Shanghai: one is Pudong International Airport (PVG) and the other is Hongqiao Airport (SHA). Please check carefully to see which airport your flight departs from. You can book a taxi (CNY200 to Pudong, and CNY100 to Hongqiao) at the hotel Bell Desk the day before at your own expense as the tour charge does not include the airport transfer. We wish you a safe, smooth flight and hope we can serve you again in the near future.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast