14 days Sail Through the Mighty Yangtze - STMY14D
Sail on the mighty Yangtze the longest river in Asia. The Yangtze played a major role in the history, culture and economy of china.
· What are included:
-Domestic flights Xi’an/Chongqing incl tax on economy class.
-High speed trains Beijing/Datong, Pingyao/Xi’an & Yichang/Shanghai on 1st Class basis.
-Superior 4* hotel accommodation at all the destinations in the itinerary incl daily breakfast.
-4 days/3 nights Downstream Yangtze River Cruise including shore excursions.
-11 to 35-seat van/coach throughout the itinerary for all transfers & day tours.
-All admission to the attractions listed in the above itinerary.
-Lunches & dinners specified in the above itinerary.
-English-speaking local guides.
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Beijing | Upon arrival, after clearing immigration and customs you will proceed toward the exit gate of the airport and look for our guide holding a sign with your name, who will then transfer you to the hotel. |
| 2 | Beijing | The very first stop of your amazing trip in China is Temple of Heaven, where, as the name indicates, the emperors in Ming (1368 – 1644 AD) & Qing (1636 – 1912 AD) Dynasties used to worship heaven and pray for good harvest. This massive complex is exquisitely laid out with two main groups of buildings, which fully embodies the wisdom of ancient Chinese architects. The guide will deliver a brief orientation about how to appreciate the artistic values of these buildings and then let you wander on your own for a while. Then you will assemble again and proceed towards the exit, and immediately as you step into the outer area of the park, you can see lots of local people doing a variety of morning exercises there. You can either watch them play or come and join them. Get on board your coach again and arrive at Tian’ Anmen Square in 10-15 minutes. This square is of great political significance since the year 1949, when inauguration ceremony of the founding of People’s Republic of China was held here after over 10 years’ involvement of the country in World War Ⅱ and civil war. To the east and west of the square stand National Museum of China and The Great Hall of the People, functioning as the meeting place for the full sessions of the Chinese parliament, the National People's Congress. The flag rising and lowering ceremonies every day attract numerous visitors from across the country. Lies to the north of Tian’ Anmen Square, with Chang’ An Avenue spanning between, Forbidden City is somewhere you cannot afford to miss if you’ve never been there before. It not only represents the supreme level of royal palace throughout the thousands of years’ feudal history in China, but also witnesses the enormous prosperity of this ancient empire over 16 and 17th centuries and the absolute power the emperors have been endowed with. The complex comprises over 70 palaces and 9,000 rooms altogether, each of which is uniquely designed and built. Most of them are open to the public and it has seen 6 -8 million visitors from home and abroad every year since 2000. It also serves as a museum housing over 1.5 million antiques. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant that caters to all your special dietary preferences. Your attention will be shifted from royal families to those of common people as you ride a pedicab through Hutong, the oldest existing neighborhoods of residential purposes developed in Ming (1368 – 1644 AD) & Qing (1636 – 1912 AD) Dynasties. There are still many local people living in the courtyard houses among the Hutongs and you will stop to visit one of them and have a leisure conversation with the hostess. ( Breakfast, Lunch ) |
| 3 | Beijing | The guide will meet you earlier today than the previous day in the hotel lobby and escort you on a 2-hour journey to the most unrestored section of the Great Wall – Jinshanling. Ascend along the stone steps to the watch towers, from which you can have an uninterrupted view of the surrounding mountains and the wall itself winding through. You can walk as farther as you wish as long as your physical strength allows since the wall measures 10 km in length. At the end of the tour, checking into Dhawa Jinshanling to enjoy the unique overnight experience at the Great Wall retreat. ( Breakfast, Lunch ) |
| 4 | Beijing | After two full day tours, you will have a short break to explore the neighborhood on your own (those staying overnight at the Great Wall may continue the discovery of the wall and enjoy the morning tranquility or sunrise.). All group members meet for a lunch and proceed for an afternoon excursion to Summer Palace. The garden was initially built to celebrate the 60th birthday of Emperor Qianlong’s mother in 1749. In the following hundreds of years, it has gone through several times of destruction and repair and was finally open to the public in 1953. Centered around Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, the entire complex occupies an area of 2.9 square kilometers. Three quarters of the area is covered by water. Numerous architectures are dotted around the garden with its respective function as well. It is acclaimed as ‘a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design’ by UNESCO. ( Breakfast, Lunch ) |
| 5 | Beijing - Datong - Pingyao | You will be transferred to the railway station to catch a morning departure of high-speed train from Beijing to Datong. When you arrive after a 2-hour journey, you will meet a new guide and proceed for a morning excursion to Yungang Grottoes. It is a Buddhism-themed masterpiece finished in the early years of 5th Century, when Datong, named Pingcheng at that time, served as the capital city of Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD), a kingdom established by a nomadic tribe. The Buddhist statues are all carved out of the sandstone rocks on the slope of a mountain and each cave houses at least one giant statue and numerous miniatures on the inner wall, all differing from each other and combined to tell Buddhism stories. Next a 1-hour drive takes you to another architectural marvel on a cliff. Built into a cliff overlooking a valley with 60 meters above the ground, Hanging Monastery fully embodies the wisdom and craftsmanship of ancient Chinese architects. The whole structure is supported by 27 oak crossbeams fitted into holes chiseled into the cliffs but they are skillfully hidden in the bedrock. Therefore, it looks like that the temple just hangs in the middle of the cliff with no support from afar. The monastery has a history of 1,500 years. This concludes today’s itinerary and you will embark on a 4-hour transfer all the way to Pingyao for overnight. ( Breakfast, Lunch ) |
| 6 | Pingyao - Xian | Having been first recognized and recorded in books as early as 800 BC, Pingyao remains the best-preserved ancient town out of those built in Ming (1368 – 1644 AD) & Qing (1636 – 1912 AD) Dynasties with a complete city wall as protection. All the architectures keep the original look of how they were in Ming (1368 – 1644 AD) & Qing Dynasties (1636 – 1912 AD) with constant maintenance. Wandering around in this small town, you feel just like you were taken back to hundreds of years ago. There are lots of places to visit and learn about within the town: Confucius Temple, Yamen (government office), Biaoju (providing armed escorting services for precious goods during shipment), Piaohao (providing banking services), just to name a few. The central axis of the town, Ming & Qing Streets, is lined with many shops and vendors and has been the most bustling part of the town since its establishment. After lunch, you will go back to the hotel to pick up your bags and head to the railway station with the escort of the guide and the driver. A 4-hour high speed train takes you to the next destination in your itinerary – Xi’an. Upon your arrival, you should proceed to the exit, where a guide is waiting to transfer you to the hotel. ( Breakfast, Lunch ) |
| 7 | Xian | Xi’an has been home to the capital of 13 kingdoms during the feudal period that occupied China for 2,000 years, and the city itself, named Chang An at that time, reached its utmost prosperity when it was the capital of Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is the largest city in Northwest China and has gained its international popularity since the excavation of Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses. The first stop on today’s itinerary is Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses, acclaimed as the biggest archeological find of 20th Century worldwide. It represents the supreme level of funerary art throughout the ancient civilization in China as well as in the world. Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, ordered the building of his mausoleum to be started as soon as he ascended the throne, in the year 246 BC. The project eventually involved 700,000 workers and the warriors, chariots and horses made of terra cotta was designed, molded and fired to its original sizes, and finally buried with the emperor to protect him in his afterlife. Then you will head back downtown and explore the lively Muslim neighborhoods in the afternoon. The history of this Muslim quarter in Xi’an dates back to Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), when Muslim merchants came and aggregated in Chang’ An via Silk Road. This enclave has been constantly expanded during the successive dynasties and half of the Muslim population in Xi’an currently resides here. This is one of the busiest places in Xi’an due to numerous food stands lining along the two sides of the roads within the enclave and the unique culture nurtured by its history. ( Breakfast, Lunch ) |
| 8 | Xian - Chongqing | The inner city of Xi’an is completely walled and the wall, known as Xi’an City Wall, stretches over a total length of 14 kilometers in rectangular shape. The wall was first built in the early years of Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD) to mainly serve the purposes of military defense and food storage. The wall fulfilled its function as the local residents took shelter there during the Second World War, when the Japanese carried out air bombings from 1937 to 1940. Having been refurbished and maintained from time to time within hundreds of years, the wall comes to its present existence. Along the top of the wall is a walkway paved with stones and bricks. As you walk on it, you can take in sight of various views of the city. The bicycle rental service is available on the wall and it offers another option of visiting the wall. Your second stop today and the final place to visit in this ancient capital is Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang. It represents the introduction of Buddhist architecture and culture into China from India and integration into Chinese civilization. You will spend a leisure afternoon at Tangbo Art Museum, where you can browse the works of traditional folk arts, ancient paintings displayed as well as the exhibition of contemporary artists held periodically. You will attend a lecture about Chinese calligraphy and create your own masterpiece there. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to the airport to catch an afternoon flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival, you need to pick up your check-in luggage and proceed to the exit to find your guide, who is waiting there to transfer you to the pier to board the 3-night Yangtze River Cruise. Settle into your cabin as the ship sails downstream to the stunning Three Gorges region. ( Breakfast, Lunch ) |
| 9 | Cruising the Yangtze | Start your morning with traditional Chinese exercise and work up an appetite for the buffet breakfast. Then, disembark and enjoy a shore excursion to Shibao Pagoda, where you take in local life on a visit to a village relocated to make way for the Three Gorges Dam Project. Meet with a local family, visit a kindergarten and enjoy a kaleidoscope of sights at the farmers market. This afternoon to learn about Chinese traditional medicine and reflexology and/or do another optional shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City at your own expense. ( Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ) |
| 10 | Cruising the Yangtze | Early this morning, the ship navigates the Qutang and Wu Gorges before anchoring at Badong, where you board a ferry and travel up the Shennong Stream. Transfer to a 'pea pod' boats poled by Tujia boatmen to view the scenic Bamboo Gorge. The Tujia are members of a local minority culture famed for their boat-building skills and keen knowledge of the Yangtze. Return to the ship by ferryboat, accompanied by a Tujia boat tracker who shares insights into his daily life. Tonight, savor a 'Taste of China' dinner, followed by onboard entertainment. ( Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ) |
| 11 | Yichang - Shanghai | Arrive at the Three Gorges Project Dam Site and Exhibition Center to learn the history of the world's largest dam, including the story of the resettlement of the 1.2 million residents of the cities submerged behind the 400-foot-tall engineering marvel. Disembark in Yichang around midday, transfer to the train station to catch an afternoon high speed train to Shanghai and transfer onwards to the hotel upon arrival. ( Breakfast, Lunch ) |
| 12 | Shanghai | As the most developed city around China, apart from being the international financial hub and largest logistics port for international trade in the world, Shanghai is also the worldwide icon for fashion and lifestyle. Your exploration in this metropolis begins with a visit to Xintiandi, a masterpiece of functional transformation from old dwelling quarter into a business complex home to many boutique hotels, luxury restaurants, art galleries, coffee shops, etc. A chic atmosphere is generated by the contract between the exterior with its original vintage look and luxury artistic interior of each building. You will proceed with the exploration of the city’s past with an excursion to Yu Yuan Garden. Owned originally by a government official in Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD), the garden has been built with 20 years’ time. The courtyards, houses, ponds, pavilions, etc. are exquisitely laid out to create tiers of sceneries within the garden. The Bund is the best place to exemplify the cultural diversity of this city. It refers to an area running along the western bank of Huangpu River with many historical buildings ever home to various financial institutions operating in China in the middle of 20th Century. The development of this area began in 1844, when it was officially ceded to British administration by the court of Qing Dynasty (1636 – 1912 AD) as a result of the defeat in the First Opium War. It witnessed the history of China being defeated by foreign military power, invaded and finally declaring independence after hundreds of years of flight. Now the Bund is known for the best place for promenade in China as well as in the world. The old buildings on the western bank and the new skyscrapers on the eastern side represent the past and the present Shanghai. You will wind up your full day tour by a scenic drive among the skyscrapers on the other side of Huangpu River. You can access any of them for a panoramic view of the city by paying an additional cost on your own. ( Breakfast, Lunch ) |
| 13 | Shanghai | Today will be a free day for you to continue exploration, do some shopping or simply take a rest at the hotel. We also offer you a couple of optional tours in case you still prefer to schedule some guided tours today. ( Breakfast ) |
| 14 | Shanghai | You will be picked up from the hotel lobby and transferred to the airport to board your flight to the next destination. This is a private transfer and the pick-up time will be worked out exactly in accordance with your flight time. ( Breakfast ) |