Great China Discovery with Majestic Yangtze River Cruise - 12 Days (CN-06)

China's mega cities are just one side of this great land. The Yangtze River is also a highlight. One of the world’s largest waterways, it flows through China’s varied scenery from its source in Qinghai Province. The Yangtze travels almost 4,000 miles to the East China Sea at Shanghai, slicing China neatly into north and south. This tour is a fun-filled and enlightening way to see many of China's highlights.
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from $3,695 per person, 12 days



Day 1. Beijing
Our driver will meet you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. You will then see old, authentic China with a guided Hutong rickshaw tour.
Day 2. Beijing
We start at Tiananmen square, and then move on to the famous Imperial palace and the Forbidden City. Later, you will visit the magnificent Summer Palace. In the evening, a well-earned roast duck dinner.
Day 3. Beijing
Today we will visit the Great Wall of China, a symbol of Chinese civilisation. After, you will see the Olympic park built in Beijing for the Summer Olympics. In the evening enjoy an acrobatic show.
Day 4. Beijing - Xian
Railway journey aboard a new high-speed train to Xian. After a short hotel transfer, you will start your Xian city tour. A local lunch is followed by dinner this evening at the Tang Dynasty Singing and Dancing Show.
Day 5. Xian - Chongquing
We will explore the Terracotta Army site. After, our driver will meet you in the hotel to take you to the airport to catch your flight to Chongquing and onto your special cruise on Yangtze.
Day 6. Along the Yangtze
Today the ship will stop in Shibaozhai. You can take advantage of some optional excursions available on board or explore the city on your own.
Day 7. Along Yangtze
You will approach some very photogenic gorges. In the afternoon, you will enter the longest (41 miles) and deepest gorge on the river - Xiling Gorge. In the evening the boat will reach the Three Gorges Dam locks.
Day 8. Along Yangtze – Yichang - Shanghai
Visit the world-famous Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam in the world. Disembarkation upon arrival in Yichang, late that morning. Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Shanghai. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 9. Shanghai
Shanghai is always a highlight on any trip to China. We will visit the People’s square and Shanghai Museum, walk along the famous Bund.
Day 10. Shanghai
Explore Shanghai’s highlights with visits to the Yu Garden, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, New Bund and Nanjing Road.
Day 11. Shanghai – Suzhou - Shanghai
We will drvie to Suzhou, known as China’s Garden city and famous for its striking landscape design. Transfer back to Shanghai in the evening.
Day 12. Shanghai
Our driver will meet you in the hotel and take you to the airport to catch your flight home.
Click here to view detailed day-by-day itinerary of this tour
Beijing Beijing
Beijing is the capital of the most populous country in the world, the People's Republic of China, and it is also the second largest city after Shanghai. Beijing literally means &ls... Read more
Shanghai Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city in China’s and it is an important economic, financial, international and cultural centre. It is a very modern city by Chinese standards - althoug... Read more
Suzhou Suzhou
Suzhou is mostly known for its refined garden design. Since nearly half of the city’s area is covered by water - including a vast number of ponds, streams and Taihu Lake one ... Read more
Xian Xian
Xian is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China and it has held that position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history. Xian is located in the no... Read more
Yangtze Yangtze
The Yangtze River, known as Chang Jiang or Yangzi in China, is the longest river in Asia. Springing from the glaciers of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Yangtze makes its way into the Ea... Read more

Quick Facts
  • Season: Four Seasons
  • Days: 12
  • Group Size: 2-12
  • Tour Grade:   Gentle

Day 1. Beijing
Our driver will meet you at the airport arrival sector with a “China & Beyond” signboard. Transfer to the hotel. You will then see old, authentic China with a guided Hutong neighbourhood rickshaw tour. Hutongs are city areas full of alleys that are ever harder to find with the rise of development. Photogenic and with some old hutong areas receiving a special status to preserve Beijing’s cultural heritage, this tour takes you back in time. (D)
Day 2. Beijing
Made famous in the west by Mao Zedong’s proclamation of the People’s Republic of China in the square in 1949, Tiananmen remains central to the city. It is the fourth largest city square in the world with an impressive area of 440,000 square metres. We start here today, and then move on to the famous Imperial palace and the Forbidden City. It was the home of Chinese emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties from1420 -1924. Its rooms are crammed with one million treasures, our experienced guide will point you to the most interesting ones. Later, you will visit the magnificent Summer Palace, an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design. In the evening, a well-earned roast duck dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 3. Beijing
Today we will visit the Great Wall of China, a symbol of Chinese civilisation built from the 7th century BC onwards. You will visit the Badaling Great Wall situated in Yanqing County, approximately 70 kilometres (44 miles) north of Beijing, which is the most well-preserved section of the Wall. After, you will see the Olympic park built in Beijing for 2008 for the Summer Olympics, including the “Bird’s nest” Beijing National Stadium, Aquatics Centre “Water Cube” and Green Hockey Field. In the evening you will witness one of Beijing’s finest Acrobatic Shows. (B,L,D)
Day 4. Beijing - Xian
Today starts with an exciting railway journey aboard a new state of the art high-speed train to Xian, covering the distance of 711 miles from Beijing in only 4h and 40min. Launched in 2012, this train has Business, First and Second class tickets available. After a short hotel transfer, you will start your Xian city tour. You will explore one the Big Goose Pagoda, a seven-storey Buddhist temple built in the 7th century and the Little Goose Pagoda. Both temples where once part of a larger architectural ensemble and are beautiful examples of Tang dynasty masonry. A short walk from the City Wall are the Bell Tower, which signalled the gates city gates opening at dawn and the Great Mosque, one of the first Mosques built in China. A local lunch is followed by dinner this evening at the Tang Dynasty Singing and Dancing Show. (B,L,D)
Day 5. Xian - Chongquing
Accidentally discovered in 1974 by local farmers working in the fields not far from the city, today the Terracotta Army attracts millions of tourists from around the globe every year. They come to see the stone army which is estimated to have over 8000 soldiers, 520 horses, and 130 chariots. You will have a chance to examine the pits and walk up the burial mound of the emperor. Your guide will be there to give you detailed information about the sites and excavations works and answer all your questions. The site has been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1987. After, our driver will meet you in the hotel lobby to take you to the airport to catch your flight to Chongquing and onto your special cruise on Yangtze. (B,L,D)
Day 6. Along the Yangtze
Today the ship will stop in Shibaozhai. You can take advantage of some optional excursions available on board or explore the city on your own. (B,L,D)
Day 7. Along Yangtze
As the ship sails east and your journey begins, you will approach some very photogenic gorges. The first one - Qutang Gorge - is only 500feet wide and 5 miles long and is surrounded by high mountains. The second one is Wu Gorge. Less dramatic and yet stunning, it is 25 miles long with green mountains melting into the river. Optional excursions are available. In the afternoon, you will enter the longest (41 miles) and deepest gorge on the river - Xiling Gorge. Later in the evening the boat will reach the Three Gorges Dam locks and cross to the other side of the Dam. (B,L,D)
Day 8. Along Yangtze – Yichang - Shanghai
In the morning you will visit the world-famous Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam in the world. Disembarkation upon arrival in Yichang, late that morning. Our driver will meet you at the ship entrance with a “China & Beyond” signboard and take you to the airport to catch your flight to Shanghai where you will be met at the airport arrival sector and transferred to the hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 9. Shanghai
Shanghai is always a highlight on any trip to China. The largest and busiest city in the country, it has everything, from ultra-modern architecture to supremely quiet gardens. During the panoramic city tour by car, you will stop at the People’s square located in the heart of the city. There you will see that it houses Shanghai’s local government and is a meeting place for locals. Also located on the square is the Shanghai Museum. Boasting a new building, the museum exhibits the best of Chinese art from fine bronzes and paintings to calligraphy and furniture. Later on, do like the locals and walk along the famous Bund, a mile-long riverside promenade framed with European style buildings. (B,L,D)
Day 10. Shanghai
Explore Shanghai’s highlights with visits to the Yu Garden, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, New Bund and Nanjing Road. Yu Garden is spread across five acres in the Suzhou style with six main areas including a rockery, a chamber of ten thousand flowers, multiple halls and ponds. The modern Oriental Pearl TV Tower contrasts brilliantly. Built in 1994 for over a decade it was the tallest building in China, today it has an impressive 468m tower complete with 15 viewing levels, a must for budding photographers. You can also stop for a coffee at the revolving restaurant located at 267 metres. Finish the tour on the Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s main shopping street, known as Park Lane in until the middle of the 19th century. You won’t be alone - it attracts over one million visitors a day! (B,L,D)
Day 11. Shanghai – Suzhou - Shanghai
Contrast city life with a greener scene. Suzhou is known as China’s Garden city and is famous for its striking landscape design. Its walled gardens served as a retreat from the outside world and today one of the highlights is a boat trip on the Grand Canal and see the city from the water. The last stop during this tour will be to a fascinating silk factory, this isn’t a shopping stop, but rather somewhere to learn about the process of how this delicate fabric is made. Transfer back to Shanghai in the evening. (B,L,D)
Day 12. Shanghai
Our driver will meet you in the hotel lobby with a “China & Beyond” signboard and take you to the airport to catch your flight home. (D)


Want to travel on different dates?
Please see below for our group tour dates, if you would like to travel on a different day, please let us know and we will come back to you with an offer. There might be additional surcharges for a private tour but all depends on the number of people in your party and your travel preferences.

 

PREMIUM PACKAGE

Dates Excl. flights Incl. flights * Single supplement ** Book
23.11.2024 - 04.12.2024 $3,695 $3,695 $745 book now
07.12.2024 - 18.12.2024 $3,695 $3,695 $745 book now
21.12.2024 - 01.01.2025 $3,695 $3,695 $745 book now
28.12.2024 - 08.01.2025 $3,695 $3,695 $745 book now

* Price including flights will be reconfirmed by your travel consultant as we need to know your departure airport, preferred airline, dates and class of travel. Our prices are based on economy fares from London Heathrow.

** Single supplement goes towards single room accommodation at your hotel, ger camp.


Peninsula Palace *****

Category: De Luxe 5* hotel
Address: China, Beijing, Wangfujing, Goldfish Lane, 8

Peninsula Palace The Peninsula Palace Hotel Beijing is located within main shopping areas of Wangfujing and Dongdan in the heart of Beijing. It only takes a few minutes to walk to the popular scenic spots such as Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and The Museum of Chinese History.

Opened in 1989, the hotel has an imposing, traditional Chinese architectural-style exterior, integrated with the ultimate in luxurious, modern hotel amenities and facilities.

There are 525 guest rooms, which have been refurbished to the most luxurious standard based on the Peninsula's tradition of comfort, interwoven with subtle Chinese influences. The newly designed guest rooms and suites feature hardwood floors covered with carpet, a 42” plasma television, high-speed broadband Internet access, silent fax machine and The Peninsula signature technology - a bedside electronic panel that controls all lighting and audio-visual equipment in the room, as well as a special control panel by the door displaying outside temperature and humidity levels.

The hotel has a lounge, restaurants, fitness centre, sauna, spa, indoor pool, prestigious shopping Arcade with 50 exclusive designer boutiques.

Peninsula Palace Peninsula Palace Peninsula Palace Peninsula Palace



Howard Johnson Paragon ****

Category: Business 4* hotel
Address: China, Beijing, Jianguomen Avenue, 18

Howard Johnson Paragon The hotel is located in the city centre, next to the famous shopping mall - Henderson Centre, a 10-minute walk to the famous Tian Namen Square, Summer Palace and just across the street to the Beijing Railway Station.

There are 280 rooms equipped with a private bathroom, hairdryer, cable/satellite TV, coffee/tea maker, Internet access, iron and ironing board.

The hotel has a restaurant, bar/lounge, room service, baby sitting on request, beauty salon, fitness centre, free parking, game room, ironing/laundry services, business centre, meeting /conference rooms, non-smoking rooms and rooms for the disabled.

Howard Johnson Paragon Howard Johnson Paragon Howard Johnson Paragon Howard Johnson Paragon



Red Wall ***

Category: Tourist 3* hotel
Address: China, Beijing, Sha Tan North Street, 31

Red Wall The hotel is located in the centre of Beijing and within 5 minutes walk to its major attractions: Forbidden City, traditional Chinese folk house (Hutong and Siheyuan), Wangfujing shopping street, Red Building of Beijing University, including relics of the city wall of Beijing.

The hotel has a total of 200 rooms including standard rooms, deluxe standard rooms, executive suite rooms equipped with a private bathroom, hairdryer, air conditioning, cable/satellite TV, high-speed Internet access, telephone, safety box, iron and ironing board and mini-bar.

There is a gym, sauna, massage, beauty salon, restaurant, coffee bar and meeting room. The restaurant offers Chinese and Western cuisines including Chinese imperial cuisine, Sichuan cuisine and Guangdong cuisine.

Red Wall Red Wall Red Wall Red Wall



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