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Note:
Other Cabin Types Available
Please call for more info. 416-461-0231
Discover the history and
culture of China on this 13-day river
cruise vacation on the magical Yangtze!
Begin your journey with two overnights
in Shanghai and visits to a silk
factory, the Yu Yuan Gardens, plus a
variety of cultural experiences. Next,
travel to Yichang to embark on a 4-night
river cruise aboard the Victoria Anna.
During your cruise, visit the Three
Gorges Dam site—a marvel of modern
engineering—and view breathtaking
scenery as you sail through this
history-steeped region. After
disembarking in Chongqing, travel to
Xi’an, where you will see the Dayan
Pagoda, Terracotta Warriors,
noodle-making demonstration, and a Tang
Dynasty dinner show. End your amazing
China vacation in the capital city of
Beijing. Here you will visit the Great
Wall, the Forbidden City and its
Imperial Palace, and experience the
unique culture of this ancient land.
Day 1 (Tue.) Board your
transpacific flight.
Day 2 Arrive in Shanghai, China (Wed.)
Welcome to China’s most populous city
and center of trade and industry. Hotel
rooms are available for immediate
check-in.
Day 3 Shanghai (Thu.) Full day of
sightseeing. Stroll along the Bund, the
city’s riverfront boulevard lined with
historic buildings, housing, banks, and
trade houses. You’ll visit a SILK
FACTORY and experience the YU YUAN
GARDENS. Enjoy lunch in a local
restaurant and visit the CHILDREN’S
PALACE, one of China’s famous
kindergartens. Your Tour Director will
host a WELCOME DINNER tonight as you
meet your traveling companions. This
evening, you’ll be amazed at the
fabulous ACROBATIC SHOW. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Shanghai–Yichang
(Embarkation)–Yangtze River Cruise
(Fri.) Visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM before
flying to Yichang. Board the Victoria
Anna for a four-night cruise through the
breathtaking Three Gorges of the
Yangtze. (B,D)
Day 5 The Three Gorges Dam Site (Sat.)
This morning, visit the Three Gorges Dam
Site where the Chinese progress toward
building the largest dam of its kind in
the world. After lunch, sail through the
Three Gorges ship locks and the Xiling
Gorge. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Shennong Stream or Daning River
(Sun.) This morning, disembark for a
BOAT EXCURSION down either the Daning
River or Shennong Stream, depending on
conditions. After lunch, head upstream
through the Qutang Gorge, the shortest
but most dramatic gorge, and the Wu
Gorge, known for its quiet beauty and
forest-covered mountains. You can nearly
touch the perpendicular walls rising
from the riverbanks as your captain
negotiates this narrow gap. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Wanxian or Shibaozhai or Fengdu
(Mon.) Depending on river conditions,
one of the following shore excursions
will be offered: Wanxian, “Gateway to
Eastern Szechuan Province,” where you
will see an acrobatic show, market, and
possibly a school; Shibaozhai, with its
400-year-old, twelve-story red wooden
pagoda perched high on a cliff side; or
Fengdu, where you’ll visit the Snow Jade
Cave. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Chongqing (Disembarkation)–Xi’an
(Tue.) This morning, bid farewell to
your ship’s crew upon arrival in
Chongqing, China’s capital during World
War II. The city is high on a hill
overlooking the Jialing and Yangtze
Rivers. Visit a local zoo to see pandas
before boarding your flight to the city
of Xi’an in central China. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Xi’an (Wed.) One of the largest
and wealthiest cities in the world when
China dominated the silk trade, Xi’an
today is an archaeological
treasure-trove. Sightseeing begins with
a visit to the nearby DAYAN PAGODA,
built in 652 A.D. Then learn to write
like a local during a traditional
Chinese CALLIGRAPHY CLASS. During lunch,
enjoy a NOODLE-MAKING DEMONSTRATION by a
master chef and learn how Chinese
noodles are made by hand. In 1974, the
enormous tomb of China’s first emperor,
Qin Shi Huangdi, was accidentally
discovered by local farmers. Marvel at
the legion of TERRACOTTA WARRIOR that
has been guarding the burial site for
2,000 years. This evening, enjoy “The
Tang Dynasty” DINNER SHOW, featuring a
colorful assemblage of classical
performances. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Xi’an–Beijing (Thu.) This
morning, visit the Xi’an City South
Gate; you may even see some locals
practicing their morning Tai Chi. Visit
a LACQUER WORKSHOP before flying to
Beijing, China’s capital city. Enjoy a
rickshaw ride through one of Beijing’s
HUTONGS, the city’s ancient alleys.
During this visit, you’re welcomed into
the courtyard of a family’s home, a
daycare center, and a retirement
community to experience life in this
historic neighborhood. (B,L)
Day 11 Beijing (Fri.) Your full-day
sightseeing starts with a visit to the
FORBIDDEN CITY and its IMPERIAL PALACE,
once the home of China’s Great Emperors.
Nearby is TIAN’ANMEN SQUARE, the largest
public square in the world spanning 100
acres. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant
and continue to the former SUMMER
PALACE, a complex of pavilions, temples,
and galleries set among beautifully
landscaped grounds and situated on
Kunming Lake. Tonight, experience local
culture at the PEKING OPERA, including a
behind-the-scenes look at the colorful
make-up being applied to the performers.
(B,L,D)
Day 12 Beijing (Sat.) The GREAT WALL OF
CHINA once stretched 4,000 miles across
China’s barren northern terrain from the
Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north
to a village where the Great Wall is
well preserved and walk along the wall
to enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth
fortress. Then visit a CLOISONNE
WORKSHOP where you will see local
artisans use the techniques of this
ancient art form to turn pieces of
copper into colorful decorative items.
After lunch in a local restaurant, take
a leisurely walk down the SACRED WAY of
the Ming Tombs and marvel at the
impressive hand-carved stone statues.
This evening is the perfect finale to a
great touring adventure as you’re hosted
to a special Peking Duck FAREWELL
DINNER. (B,L,D)
Day 13 (Sun.) Your homebound flight
arrives the same day. (B)
City Highlights
SHANGHAI Sightseeing with Local
Guide; stroll along the Bund; visit the
Yu Yuan Gardens, a silk factory, and the
Children’s Palace; attend an acrobatic
show; visit the Shanghai Museum YICHANG
Begin your Yangtze cruise aboard the
Victoria Anna THREE GORGES DAM SITE
Sightseeing of the impressive dam site
with a Local Guide SHENNONG STREAM OR
DANING RIVER Enjoy a boat excursion down
one of the lesser gorges of the Yangtze
WANXIAN/SHIBAOZHAI/FENGDU View a wooden
pagoda, an acrobatic show, or statues at
numerous temples on Mingshan Hill
CHONGQING Visit a local zoo XI’AN
Sightseeing with Local Guide; visit the
Dayan Pagoda and terracotta warriors;
calligraphy class, lacquer workshop,
noodlemaking demonstration, enjoy “The
Tang Dynasty” dinner show BEIJING
Sightseeing with Local Guide; Hutongs
tour by rickshaw; visit the Forbidden
City, Imperial Palace, Tian’anmen
Square, Summer Palace, Peking Opera,
Great Wall, and Sacred Way of the Ming
Tombs; cloisonne workshop; Peking Duck
farewell dinner ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS
 Hotels
SHANGHAI Western Shanghai (D), VICTORIA
CRUISES Victoria Anna, XI’AN Shangri-la
Golden Flower (SF), BEIJING Westin
Beijing (D)
Meals
11 American breakfasts (B); 9 lunches
(L); 9 dinners (D), including a welcome
dinner in Shanghai and a farewell dinner
in Beijing; on tour WYCE: breakfast
daily (B)
Offered in conjunction with Globus
Journeys.
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