Day 1 USA/Beijing
Relax on your transpacific flight to Beijing.

Day 2 Beijing
Welcome to Beijing, capital of the People’s Republic of China. Upon arrival, you are met by your guide and transferred to the deluxe Tianlun Dynasty Hotel for four nights stay.

Day 3 Beijing
Today we have a full day excursion to the magnificent Great Wall, the only man-made object visible from the moon with the naked eye. After a very traditional northern Chinese style lunch served at a local restaurant, we will return to the city via the valley of Ming Tombs. This evening, you are invited to a Peking Duck Banquet. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Beijing
After breakfast, we are off to see the sights, including the vast Tian An Men Square and Ming treasures adorning the Imperial Palace in the once Forbidden City. In the afternoon, more Ming extravagances are evident as we tour the exquisite architecture and vivid embellishment of the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. We end the day with the pleasure of a Peking Opera performance.(B, L, D)

Day 5 Beijing
In the morning, we take a rickshaw for a fascinating tour of Beijing’s Hutongs, old narrow lanes lined with ancient courtyard houses, giving us a glimpse into the daily life of Beijing residents. En route, we climb to the top of Drum Tower,which was used to report time in Ancient China, for a panoramic view of old Beijing. After lunch at the Imperial Fangshan Restaurant inside Beihai Park, you are free to explore the city this afternoon. (B, L)

Day 6 Beijing/Xian
We fly to Xian, a former grand capital of 11 Chinese dynasties, renowned for its wealth of antiquities. A city tour takes us to the 700 year old City Wall and the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, one of the best history museums in the nation. We stay at the Shangri-La Golden Flower Hotel for two nights. (B, L)

Day 7 Xian
We have an excursion to the world renowned Terra-Cotta Warriors, guarding the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty for over 2000 years. We also visit the Huaqin Hot Springs and Banpo Neolithic Museum. Back in the city, we visit the Grand Mosque and it's nearby Muslim living quarters. In the evening, we enjoy a fabulous Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Performance. (B, L, Dinner show).

Day 8 Xian/Chongqing
Fly to Chongqing, a mountainous city at the conjunction of Yangtze and Jialing rivers. A guided city tour takes us to the City Museum, a local market and city's famous artist's colony.We stay overnight at Inter-Continental Hotel Chongqing. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Dazu Excursion
We drive through the lush hills of the Sichuan countryside to Dazu, a UNESCO world heritage site. You can witness a collection of 50,000 stone carvings depicting both profound Buddhist religious subjects and the everyday life of the 8th century in rich detail. Return Chongqing in the late afternoon, and transfer to the pier to board Regal China Cruises, for a memorable voyage down the mighty Yangtze River. All our cabins have a picture window, affording us an intimate view in to the life of the people along the river. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Yangtze River Cruise
Sail from Chongqing early morning. Time to explore the ship's amenities, including the restaurant where appetizing meals are served, before afternoon arrival at Ghost City of Fengdu. Go ashore to view Mingshan Hill's temples, filled with statues of ghosts and devils. Sail from Fengdu this evening for Wanxian. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise
Unforgettable experiences today begin as you cruise through the first of the fabled Three Gorges, Qutang. Its towering rock formations have names which reflect their bizarre shapes such as Hanging Monk Rock or Rhinoceros Looking at Moon. The ship continues its sailing toward the second gorge, Wu Gorge, celebrated for its lofty Twelve Peaks, it almost blots out the sky. Later today, we will be drifting along Shennong Stream where we are poled by local boatmen. (B, L, D)

Day 12 Yichang/Shanghai
Early this morning, our ship will pass through the massive Three Gorges Dam. After lunch on board, we will disembark at the pier nearby Yichang, and transfer to the airport for our flight to Shanghai. We stay at the deluxe Oriental Riverside Hotel or similar for two nights. Free at leisure in the evening for your independent exploration of this vibrant city. We recommend you visit Xin Tiandi ( New Heaven and Earth),Shànghai's trendiest lifestyle destination, with 2-block complex of high-end restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment facilities, mostly lodged in refurbished traditional Shanghainese shíkù mén (stone-frame) housing.(B, L)

Day 13 Shanghai
Shanghai is China’s most populous city with 13 million inhabitants, and it is China's capital of commerce, industry, and finance. We start the day with a visit to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower for an stunning panoramas of the city, then head downstairs and visit the excellent Municipal History Museum telling the story of Shànghai with an emphasis on the colonial period between 1860 and 1949. Fascinating exhibits include dioramas of the Huángpu River, the Bund, Nánjing Lù, and foreign concessions, evoking the colorful street life and lost trades of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Then we drive to the old Chinese quarter,the site of Shanghai’s original settlement. Step into Yuyuan, a classical Chinese garden. The artfully placed pools, rock gardens, and hilltop pavilions of this 16th-century scholar’s garden are a delight. The most famous sight here is the Huxinting teahouse, a five-sided traditional teahouse with pointed eaves. The gardens are part of the sprawling Yu Garden bazaar, where specialized shops in Ming-style buildings sell chopsticks, canes, kites, fans, jewelry, and antiques. After lunch at the elegant Lubolang Restaurant, we will take a short stroll on the Bund overlooking the Huangpu River with its backdrop of early 20th century buildings, then head to the Shanghai Museum with China’s premier collection of sculpture, bronzes and painting. In the evening, enjoy the performance of the city's famous Acrobatics Show. (B, L, D)

Day 14 Excursion to watertown Zhujiajiao
Far from the madding crowd of the urban sprawl is the rural village of Zhujiajiao, a charming reminder of China past. Just an hour outside the city Shanghai, this antiquated village is steeped in the architecture and atmosphere of Qing period China. While the glittering office towers of Shanghai attest to its rise to international business prominence, the local temple, farmers' market , canals and cobble lanes of Zhujiajiao remind us all of China's precious past and charming traditions. This day excursion includes visits to two of the finest museums in the town and a delightful boat cruise on its enchanting rivers. Evening at leisure.(B,L)

Day 15 Shanghai/Home
Transfer to the airport for your homeward flight, or extend your journey to another destination of the Orient.(B)

2010Departures and Prices
(Minimum of two participants required for each departure)

Land package price includes:

• Deluxe hotel accommodation twin sharing with daily American Breakfast
  
• Yangtze River cruises with all shore excursions
  
• Domestic airfare and train fare
  
• Round trip transfers in each city.
  
• Comprehensive guided tours, visits and excursions in a private vehicle with your English-speaking guide.
  
• Admission and entrance fees
  
• Lunch and dinner indicated by symbols L, D
  
• Evening cultural performances
  
• Applicable hotel taxes and domestic airport tax
  

Not included in the package price:

• Trans-pacific airfare.
  
• China Visa fee
  
• Other costs not stated as included

* This trip can be customised to meet your interest and schedule.

* This is a private journey, not a big coach tour.