China and a Yangtze Cruise: A Private Journey

A world capital that is home to over 20 million souls, Beijing is the political nerve center of the nation. A&K’s longstanding connections in China offer you special access to some of its most extraordinary people and places.

Benefit body and soul with a privately led tai chi lesson taught by a master instructor at the Temple of Heaven. Visit history-laden Tiananmen Square before exploring the grandeur of the Forbidden City.

Travel to the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Ride a cable car to the top to take in sweeping mountain views. Return to the city for a revealing walk through a Hutong, a neighborhood of alleyways dating to the Yuan dynasty.

Fly to Xi’an, a modern city cloaked in over 3,000 years of history. Once the eastern terminus on the Great Silk Road, Xi’an has become a melting pot of Central Asian and Chinese influences. Enjoy a dumpling-making demonstration led by a chef, followed by lunch. Visit the old city’s Muslim Quarter, with its teeming market and 14th-century Great Mosque, which features Chinese architecture and central Asian embellishments.

Visit the excavation site of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, accompanied by an on-site specialist. Learn the latest secrets discovered about this life-size army created during the Qin Dynasty, to protect China’s first emperor in his afterlife. More than 8,000 remarkably crafted soldiers are spread throughout three dig pits, each revealing a unique face.

Travel by bullet train to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, where Chinese dishes beloved around the world originated. After a zesty Sichuan hot pot lunch, immerse yourself in local life at People’s Park, where you learn about traditional matchmaking.

Visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center for the rare opportunity to observe these endangered creatures roaming their specially designed habitat. Then ride by high-speed rail to Chongqing, where you embark Yangzi Explorer II.

Take in the scenery along the Yangtze as you partake in tai chi on deck. In the small city of Fuling, visit the 816 Nuclear Military Plant or opt to check out the Baiheliang Underwater Museum.

The next morning, Yangzi Explorer II navigates the Qutang Gorge before docking at Wushan. Disembark to explore among the high peaks near the river. Back on board, pass through the majestic Wu and Xiling Gorges. After dinner, arrive at the Three Gorges Dam, where you pass through the ship lift, a fascinating experience seldom allowed for your type of vessel.

Disembark in Yichang and fly to Shanghai, arriving in time for lunch. Then settle in to your elegant hotel on the city’s historic Bund. A worthy rival of New York and Paris, Shanghai offers cultural and culinary treasures as well as a colorful nightlife.

Explore dynamic Shanghai, where stunning modern skylines meet classic street markets and gardens. Head to the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower for panoramic views. Then walk Shanghai’s historic Jewish quarter and learn how it became a haven for Jews fleeing Europe in World War II. Spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure.

Stroll along the lively and scenic Bund, Shanghai’s most popular promenade, and then explore the French Concession with a local historian. Later visit Old Town and the 16th-century Yu Garden.

After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport for your departing flight.