CHINA WITH CRUISE ON YANGTZE RIVER

Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Chongqing-Shanghai 13 days/12 nights

Day 1 BEIJING 北京       

Upon arrival in Beijing meet local English speaking guide and transfer to hotel. Time at disposal.

Meals not included. Overnight in hotel. 

Day 2 BEIJING (B, L, D) 北京

After breakfast, meet with local guide and visit Tian'anmen square 天安门广场, and the Forbidden City 故宫, the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. Lunch at local Chinese restaurant. In the afternoon visit the Summer Palace 颐和园, dominated by the Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. Banquet dinner to taste the traditional Beijing Roasted Duck. After dinner, transfer to hotel. 

Day 3 BEIJING (B, L, D) 北京   

After breakfast, transfer to the Great Wall of Mutianyu 慕田峪长城, one of the best preserved sections of Chinese Great Wall. Lunch at local Chinese restaurant. Following, go back to Beijing and walk along traditional hutong 胡同 (rickshaw not included). Dinner at a Yunnan restaurant. Overnight in hotel.

Day 4 BEIJING/ XI'AN (B, -, D)  北京/西安 

high speed train REF:  G87  (14:00/18:30) 4hrs30mins

After breakfast, meet with local guide and transfer to visit the Temple of Heaven 天坛, considered the most admirable example of Chinese classic architecture. Lunch not included. After lunch, transfer to the train station and departure towards Xi'an. Upon arrival, meet with local English speaking guide and transfer to the hotel. Special dinner with jiaozi (Chinese dumplings) and then walk along the Muslim district 穆斯林区. Overnight in hotel.

Day 5 XI'AN (B, L, -) 西安 

After breakfast, meet the guide and transfer to visit the Terracotta Warriors 兵马俑, made up of more than 8.000 stone warriors statues to guard the tomb of the First Emperor Shi Huang Di. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit the Old City Walls 古城墙 and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔. Dinner not included, overnight in hotel. 

Day 6 XI'AN/CHENGDU  (B, -, -)  flight  西安／成都

After breakfast, meet the guide and transfer to the airport to take the flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival, meet local English speaking guide. Lunch not included. Following, transfer to Mount Qingcheng 青城山, considered the birthplace of Taoism, which is celebrated with a series of ancient temples, it is inscribed in Unesco World Heritage List. After the visit, go back to Chengdu, dinner not included. Overnight in hotel. 

Day 7 CHENGDU/CHONGQING  (B, -, -)  成都／重庆

After breakfast, meet the guide and visit Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding 成都大熊猫繁育基地. Following, walk along Chengdu old town and Jinli Street 锦里, then visit Temple of Marquis Wu 武侯祠, one of the most famous temples dedicated Zhuge Liang. After the visit, transfer to the train station and take the high speed train to Chongqing. Upon arrival, meet local English speaking guide and transfer to the hotel. View from outside the Great Hall of the People and Chongqing People's Liberation Monument. Meals not included. Overnight in hotel. 

Day 8 CHONGQING/CHONGQING-YICHANG CRUISE (B, L, -) 重庆-宜昌

After breakfast, meet the guide and transfer to visit Dazu Grottoes 大足石刻, a series of Chinese religious sculptures and carvings, dating back as far as the 7th century AD, depicting and influenced by Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist beliefs. Here it is possible to admire the statue of slepping Sakyamuni Buddha, the Wheel of Transmigration, Buddhist Hells, Goddess Guanyin golden statue and much more. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, transfer back to Chongqing and take the cruise. Dinner not included. Overnight on board.  

Day 9 CRUISE (B, L, D) 

In the morning, it is possible to practice Taiji. Buffet breakfast. Excursion not included to Fengdu.  Buffet Lunch.

In the afternoon, excursion to Shibaozhai. Captain welcome speech. Buffet dinner. In the evening, ethnic minorities' show and show about Chinese dynasties. Overnight on board.

Day 10 CRUISE (B, L, D) 

In the morning, it is possible to practice Taiji. Buffet breakfast. Excursion not included to White Emperor City. The cruise will sail towards Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, where it is possible to admire the best panorama of Yangtze river. Buffet lunch. In the afternoon, excursion to Goddess Stream. Captain's farewell banquet. In the evening, show of crew members. Overnight on board.

Day 11 CHONGQING-YICHANG CRUISE/SHANGHAI (B, L, D)

Buffet breakfast. Excursion on Three Gorges Dam. Cruise will sail towards Xiling gorge and you will admire the beautiful landscape of Yangze river. Upon arrival in Yichang, check-out and end of the cruise. Meet the driver and private transfer to the airport to take the flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, meet the driver and transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel. 

Day 12 SHANGHAI (B, L, -) 上海

After breakfast, meet local English speaking guide and visit Jade Buddha Temple 玉佛寺, built in 1882 to house two jade buddha statues imported from Buddha by Huigen monk. After the visit, walk along colonial districts. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Yuyuan Gardens 豫园, built in the second half of 1500, then destroyed during the Opium War and restored in Ming dynasty. 

Following, walk along Nanjing Road 南京路, famous shopping street and the Bund 外滩 well-known street on Huang Pu river,  where it is possible to admire Shanghai skyline. After the visit, go back to hotel. Dinner not inclued. Overnight in hotel.

Day 13 SHANGHAI (B) 

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and take the flight back home.