China & the Yangtze

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China & the Yangtze



Tour Description:

Discover China’s past and present — from
historic Beijing to the bustling metropolis of
Shanghai. Visit the iconic Terra Cotta Warriors
and giant pandas, and explore the storied
Yangtze River on an all-balcony river cruiser.

Map for China & the Yangtze
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Dates & Pricing

Friday 28 Mar 25 — Wednesday 09 Apr 25Starting at $12,395 Get a Quote
Friday 11 Apr 25 — Wednesday 23 Apr 25Starting at $12,395 Get a Quote
Friday 18 Apr 25 — Wednesday 30 Apr 25Starting at $11,695 Get a Quote
Friday 25 Apr 25 — Wednesday 07 May 25Starting at $12,795 Get a Quote
Friday 16 May 25 — Wednesday 28 May 25Starting at $11,295 Get a Quote
Friday 23 May 25 — Wednesday 04 Jun 25Starting at $11,295 Get a Quote
Friday 30 May 25 — Wednesday 11 Jun 25Starting at $11,695 Get a Quote
Friday 20 Jun 25 — Wednesday 02 Jul 25Starting at $11,295 Get a Quote
Friday 18 Jul 25 — Wednesday 30 Jul 25Starting at $11,295 Get a Quote
Friday 15 Aug 25 — Wednesday 27 Aug 25Starting at $11,495 Get a Quote
Friday 29 Aug 25 — Wednesday 10 Sep 25Starting at $11,695 Get a Quote
Friday 05 Sep 25 — Wednesday 17 Sep 25Starting at $11,495 Get a Quote
Friday 12 Sep 25 — Wednesday 24 Sep 25Starting at $11,295 Get a Quote
Friday 19 Sep 25 — Wednesday 01 Oct 25Starting at $11,295 Get a Quote
Friday 17 Oct 25 — Wednesday 29 Oct 25Starting at $11,495 Get a Quote
Friday 14 Nov 25 — Wednesday 26 Nov 25Starting at $11,295 Get a Quote
Friday 28 Nov 25 — Wednesday 10 Dec 25Starting at $11,295 Get a Quote


ITINERARY

Day 1 - Beijing, China
Arrive in the capital city of Beijing, China’s longtime seat of power, where you are transferred to your luxurious hotel.

Day 2 - Beijing
Today, participate in a privately led tai chi lesson taught by a master instructor at the Temple of Heaven, a stunning example of classical Ming period architecture. After lunch, visit history-laden Tiananmen Square before exploring the imperial grandeur of the Forbidden City. Tonight, gather for a special welcome dinner at your hotel.

Day 3 - Beijing
Travel to the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Ride a cable car to the top of the wall to take in sweeping mountain views. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then return to the city to walk through a Hutong, an intimate neighborhood of alleyways dating to China’s dynastic period.

Day 4 - Xian
Fly to Xian, a modern city cloaked in over 3,000 years of history. Once the eastern terminus on the Great Silk Road, Xian has become a melting pot of Middle Eastern and Asian influences. Upon arrival, enjoy a Chef’s Table dumpling-making demonstration, followed by lunch. Visit the old city’s Muslim Quarter, with its teeming markets and beautiful Great Mosque, a 14th-century national heritage site. A blend of classic Chinese temple architecture and central Asian embellishments make it one of the most fascinating sites in Xian.

Day 5 - Xian
Today, accompanied by an on-site specialist, visit the excavation site of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, the life-size army created during the Qin Dynasty to protect Qin Shi Huang, 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. After lunch, stroll along the impressive ramparts of the City Wall. Tonight, gather for dinner.

Day 6 - Chengdu
Travel by bullet train to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. For lunch, enjoy a spicy Sichuan hot pot, a regional specialty. Afterward, immerse yourself in local life and culture at People’s Park, where area residents play traditional Chinese instruments, practice calligraphy and engage in tai chi. While there, learn about unique, centuries-old matchmaking techniques still in use today before checking in to your hotel, where you observe a traditional tea demonstration.

Day 7 - Chengdu & Chongqing
Today, visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center. Enjoy the rare opportunity to observe these endangered creatures roaming freely in their specially designed habitat. Then, board a high-speed train for a ride through the Chinese countryside to Chongqing, where you embark on your river cruiser, Yangzi Explorer II, for a three-night journey to Yichang. Settle into your cabin as the ship sets a course downstream to the stunning Three Gorges region. Tonight, attend the captain’s reception.

Day 8 - Cruising the Yangtze
Start with tai chi on the deck before breakfast. Disembark in the small city of Fuling and visit the 816 Nuclear Military Plant, a massive yet unfinished Cold War era bunker. Back on board, continue your journey downstream, observing villages and farms set amid the lush mountainscape.

Day 9 - Cruising the Yangtze
Early this morning, Yangzi Explorer II navigates the Qutang Gorge before docking at Wushan. Disembark and take in the scenic splendor of this rugged yet lush region on an adventure among the high peaks that surround the river. In the afternoon, continue your journey downstream, passing through the majestic Wu and Xiling Gorges. Tonight, savor a “Taste of China” dinner, followed by onboard entertainment.

Day 10 - Yichang & Shanghai
This morning, disembark in Yichang and fly to Shanghai, stopping briefly to photograph the Three Gorges Dam, a project that resulted in the resettlement of 1.2 million residents of the cities submerged behind it. Upon arrival in Shanghai, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before checking into your elegant hotel, located on the city’s historic Bund.

Day 11 - Shanghai
Explore dynamic Shanghai, where stunning modern skylines meet classic street markets and gardens. Head to the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, where you are treated to a bird’s-eye view of the Huangpu River, the Bund and Shanghai’s panorama of skyscrapers. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Walk Shanghai’s Historic Jewish Quarter and learn how it became a haven for Jews fleeing Europe in World War II. Try Your Hand at Calligraphy at a class led by an expert in this venerated Chinese art. Cycle Through Pudong, exploring Shanghai’s newest district filled with gleaming skyscrapers. Then, toast your day with a relaxing Scenic Sundowner.

Day 12 - Shanghai
Today, walk along the Bund, Shanghai’s most popular promenade, and then explore the Shanghai Museum viewing exceptional collections of historically significant art and housewares. Savor lunch at a local restaurant, and later stroll the streets of Old Town and visit the 16th-century Yu Garden, with its pavilions and ponds.

Day 13 - Shanghai
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to depart for home.