Day 1 West Coast/Beijing
Depart the West Coast for Beijing.

Day 2 Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, you are met by your local guide and transferred to the Capital Hotel (or similar).

Day 3 Beijing (AB,L,SD)
After breakfast, visit Tiananmen Square, then enter the Forbidden City, home of Chinese Emperors for more than 500 years. After lunch, visit the Temple of Heaven, one of the best examples of Ming Dynasty architecture in Beijing. Attend a welcome banquet featuring Beijing Roast Duck in the evening.

Day 4 Beijing (AB,L,D)
The highlight today is an excursion to the Great Wall at Juyongguan. Enjoy the dramatic vistas and marvel at the Wall as it climbs and descends steep ridges and narrow valleys. After lunch, visit the Summer Palace, where the Empress Dowager Ci Xi would go to escape the heat of the city.

Day 5 Beijing/Xian (AB,L,D)
After breakfast, enjoy a pedicab tour of the Hutongs, the “old city” neighborhoods of narrow alleyways and courtyard gardens hidden behind Beijing's modern facade. Visit Prince Gong's Palace, the Drum Tower, and old-style courtyard houses still inhabited by Beijing residents. Transfer to the airport for your midday flight to Xian, and transfer to the Sheraton Hotel (or similar). Enjoy a brief city tour including the ancient city walls, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Bell Tower.

Day 6 Xi'an (AB,L,SD)
Today's highlight is a visit to the Archaeological Museum, home to more than 6,000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. After lunch, visit the Neolithic Village of Banpo which contains relics from the earliest known inhabitants of China. In the evening, attend a Tang Dynasty dinner show.

Day 7 Xi'an/Chongqing (AB,L,D)
Take a morning flight to Chongqing. Enjoy a city tour, including Erling Park, then board your 5-star China Regal Cruises ship after dinner.

Day 8 Yangtze River Cruise (AB,L,D)
Start your spectacular cruise down the mighty Yangtze River. Relax on deck or in the lounge, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the magnificent Three Gorges. Today you’ll enjoy a shore excursion to Fengdu, the “Ghost City.”

Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise (AB,L,D)
This morning you’ll sail through Qutang and Wu Gorges. Midday excursion to either Shennong Stream or the Lesser Three Gorges, depending on river conditions. This afternoon you’ll enter Xiling Gorge, then navigate the 5 stages of the new Three Gorges Dam Shiplock.

Day 10 Yangtze River Cruise (AB,L,D)
This morning enjoy a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam site, where you’ll have a birds-eye view of this awe-inspiring engineering feat. Continue sailing downstream through the Gezhou Shiplock.

Day 11 Wuhan/Shanghai (AB,L,D)
Disembark at Wuhan and board an afternoon flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to the Central Hotel (or similar).

Day 12 Shanghai (AB,L,SD)
Morning sightseeing starts with the Shanghai Museum, one of the best museums in the country. Proceed to the Jade Buddha Temple, famous for its huge statue of Buddha carved out of a single piece of white jade. In the afternoon, visit the Children's Palace, where school children participate in extra-curricular activities. This evening attend a farewell banquet of the finest local specialties.

Day 13 Shanghai/West Coast (AB)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Arrive back in the U.S. the same day. With the Suzhou and Hangzhou Extension, this day has a different schedule.

The Yangtze River

OPTIONAL EXTENSION
Suzhou and Hangzhou

Day 13 Shanghai/Suzhou (AB,L,D)
Travel to the neighboring city of Suzhou, renowned for classical Chinese gardens and canals. You’ll visit the Grand Canal, Tiger Hill Park, The Garden to Linger In and the Embroidery Research Institute. Overnight at Bamboo Grove Hotel (or similar).

Day 14 Suzhou/Hangzhou (AB,L,D)
Travel to Hangzhou via train or coach, upon arrival check into the Haihue Novotel (or similar). This afternoon you will visit Hua Gang Park and Lingying Monastery.

Day 15 Hangzhou/Shanghai (AB,L,D)
Enjoy a boatride on famed West Lake, inspiration for countless poets and painters. You’ll also visit a tea plantation and museum, where you’ll learn about Hangzhou’s famous Long Jing green tea. This afternoon transfer back to Shanghai and check into Jianguo Hotel (or similar).

Day 16 Shanghai/West Coast (AB)
At leisure until you transfer to the airport for your flight to the USA.

Typical scene along the Grand Canal

Extension Details

Tour Details

Note: Availability of single cabins is limited during peak season. Itineraries may be adjusted due to local river conditions. Land only price for Basic Tour with or without extension begins in Beijing and ends in Shanghai. A $75 airfare surcharge will be added per person each way for departure and/or return on weekends. International air ticket taxes and airport departure taxes are additional.

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Full meals with symbols as follows
AB - Full American Breakfast	L - Lunch at local restaurant
D - Dinner at local restaurant	SD - Special dinner banquet

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A visa is required for Mainland China.