Best of China with Yangtze Cruise

Price Includes

• - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
• - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
• - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
• - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
• - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
• - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
• - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
• - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
• - Optional Experiences and free time
• - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
• - Flight from Beijing to Xi'an and Yichang to Shanghai.

• - 14 Breakfasts (B)
• - 1 Regional Dinner (RD)
• - 7 Lunchs (L)
• - 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
• - 3 Dinners (D)
• - 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)

• Visit the Great Wall of China to marvel at the historical and physical prominence of this renowned landmark. 
• Gain insights into this fascinating city during a sightseeing tour of Beijing. See the Great Hall of the People and Tiananmen Square before stepping through the south gate of the Forbidden City. 
• Hop on a traditional rickshaw and weave through Beijing's ancient alleyways.
• Visit the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and see the terracotta warriors. 
• Visit a jade factory to admire the "imperial gem" and marvel at the mineral's historic value. 
• During your orientation of Chengdu, visit People’s Park and experience the energy of Jinli Old Street. 
• Enjoy an introductory orientation of Chongqing prior to boarding your river cruise. 
• Visit the cliff-top temple Shibaozhai.
• See the mystical Ghost City of Fengdu and visit its shrines, temples and monasteries dedicated to the afterlife. 
• Cruise on a small motorboat through the magical landscape of the Goddess Stream. 
• Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of Shanghai. See the famous Bund waterfront and Yu Garden. 
• Enjoy a performance by the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe.
• Visit Jin Mao Tower and take in panoramic views of Shanghai from 88 floors up. 
• Join a Local Specialist for a walking tour through the Shanghai French Concession and Xin Tian Di district. 

• Indulge in a foot massage at the Foot Reflexology Center.
• Discover the traditions and techniques of dumpling making, indulging in an opportunity to sample them.
• Learn about Sichuan cuisine at a cooking class in Chengdu and taste some of your creations.

• Visit and have lunch with a local family in their home in one of Beijing's hutongs and gain a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lifestyle.

• At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, learn how your visit contributes to their conservation efforts to rescue and protect the endangered giant panda of which fewer than 2,000 remain.

• The year was 1988, The Kunlun Beijing opened as the first Chinese designed and built five-star hotel in Shanghai City, welcoming state and foreign dignitaries, and international clientele. Relax at The Kunlun Jing An, a landmark city hotel exceptionally located in one of Shanghai's most fashionable and commercial districts, only a short walk from the famous Jing An Temple and West Nanjing Road. 

Optional Experiences

Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.

The Legend of Kung Fu Show is a mix of traditional martial arts and modern theater. It is presented by a group of marvelous Kung Fu artists from all over China whose average age is only 17 but they have studied Chinese Kung Fu for many years. The story tells of a young boy who dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master and attaining enlightenment. He takes the path of a monk in which he must face many obstacles both from this world and his own mind to overcome his fears and to become a true master of Kung Fu. During the 80-minute show, the artists do not speak but perform daring acrobatics and Kung Fu dance but there are English subtitles above the stage explaining the story line. Transfers to and from the Red theater are included. NB. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.

Enjoy a sumptuous Tang dumpling banquet followed by a wonderful performance of ancient music and dance which has graced the region for centuries. The show consists of 8 parts filled with vibrant costumes, colorful dances and traditional music. Under the ruling of the Tang Emperors from 618 to 907, China became the most powerful and prosperous country in the world. During this time the economy, politics and military strength reached an unprecedented level which influenced the culture of its neighbouring countries. It was during this flourishing and peaceful period that exquisite Tang imperial feasts with music and dance emerged and developed. Step back in time and enjoy the delightful hospitality and performances of the Tang Dynasty. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.

Take a guided tour of Jinsha Site Museum. It was built to protect, study and display the archaeological finds discovered on the Jinsha site dating back 3000 years. Precious relics including gold articles, jade objects, bronze wares, stone tools and ivory carvings are on display and signify the exquisite technical craftsmanship of the Ancient Shu people. It is a rare site museum among Chinese museums because of its combination of modern civilization and the civilization of ancient Shu State which is now known as Sichuan Province. Later visit Du Fu Thatched Cottage; a shrine to Chinese literature and commemorative museum of Du Fu, a famous poet during the Tang Dynasty. During his stay there he wrote around 270 poems which are considered to be precious national treasures and some of which are currently being taught in schools. Discover the life of this famous poet in his cottage and take a stroll around the traditional style garden. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.

Spend the evening at the ShufengYayun Sichuan Opera House to enjoy a colorful authentic Sichuan opera performance. There are many separate performances, all of which are introduced in English and these include a comedy show, fire spitting, a puppet show and the famous face changing show where actors switch between different masks to portray different characters. There is live music featuring a host of traditional Chinese instruments and it all takes place in a beautiful semi-outdoor courtyard setting. NB. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.

Visit the Shanghai Museum; a large museum divided into eleven different galleries which cover most of the major categories of Chinese art. Your Travel Director will give a brief introduction to the museum and then take some free time to walk around the museum and visit your choice of galleries with the help of a personal Audio Guide. Afterwards visit the Shanghai Ghetto; an area of approximately one square mile and home to about twenty thousand Jewish refugees from Europe before and after WWII. Walk the streets of the former Jewish neighborhood where local people now live and visit the Jewish Refugee Museum. The price shown is in Chinese Yuan Renminbi.