11 Days of Beijing - Xi'an - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise ...

2019-12-14 10:47:39

11 Days of Beijing - Xi'an - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Beijing

As the flight lands at Beijing Capital Airport, your long-anticipated 11 days guided tour of China starts with a warm welcome by our guide. We will 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

Day 2 Beijing

After breakfast, you will meet your guide and other group members at the 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. In the Forbidden City, the world's biggest 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. 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

Day 3 Beijing

Have a big breakfast at the hotel today and then head for the majestic Mutianyu Great Wall. Being a section of the Great Wall, Mutianyu embodies the best of this wonderful military project. Climbing the great wall is quite energy-consuming, so we arrange the 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 toasting on the wall to celebrate and commemorate the moment. Lunch is not included in today's itinerary as the restaurants nearby are not up to our standards. You can have some fast food for lunch by yourself.

Later, you will be scheduled to 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

Day 4 Beijing - Xi'an

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, continue your visit to the old Hutongs and try your hand at Chinese Paper Cutting. Later, our guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. The local guide 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

Day 5 Xi'an

After breakfast, you will set out for the world famous Terracotta Army. The large quantity of life-size and vivid terracotta statuaries made 2,200 years ago will definitely amaze you. 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, which avoids the tourist restaurants near the warrior site and also is a good opportunity for you to learn about the local Chinese family. Also, there is a good chance for you to learn about one or two Chinese dishes from the host.

In the afternoon, go on to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda & Xi'an Museum. 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

Day 6 Xi'an - Chongqing

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. 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. Our guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit Jiefangbei CBD, where you may have dinner by yourself before boarding the cruise. 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

Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise

In the morning, the river guide will give an introduction to the cruise schedule and the Yangtze River. At about 14:00, the ship will disembark at Zhongxian for an onshore excursion to Shibaozhai. 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.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Yangtze River Cruise

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 flavor, 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

Day 9 Yichang - Shanghai

After breakfast, you will disembark for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. Before that, you should pack your luggage and complete check-out procedures. After finishing the excursion, the cruise ship company will drive you to the Three Gorges Tourist Center in Yichang city. Our local guide will meet you there and then see you off at Yichang East Railway Station for a bullet train to Shanghai. After around 7.5-hour train trip, you will be met at the railways station and transferred to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Accommodation: Parkline Century Park Hotel Shanghai - the former Crowne Plaza

Day 10 Shanghai

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, which was a private residence constructed 400 years ago, is one of the best combinations of ancient Chinese buildings, water, mountain and natural scenery. Surrounding the garden is a traditional local bazaar. We will leave you some free time there.

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, our 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

Day 11 Departure from Shanghai

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 you will depart from. You can book a taxi (CNY150 to Pudong, and CNY200 to Hongqiao) at the hotel Bell Desk the day before by yourself as your tour charge does not include the transfer from hotel to airport. We wish you a safe, smooth flight and hope in the near future we can serve you again.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Tour Type: Small Group of 1-18 travelers, guaranteed departures

Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned coach

Accommodation: 7 nights at nice 5-star hotels, 3 nights on Yangtze River cruise

Meals: 10 western buffet breakfasts, 6 lunches with some being a la carte style, 3 dinners

Tour Highlights:

Must-see sights in China - Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army

Unwind with a Yangtze River cruise tour & see the Three Gorges

Take in the impressive skylines of Shanghai as you walk along the Bund

Walk into a local Chinese family, interact & dine with the hosts in their home

Price Includes

Domestic airfares & train fare