Grand Yangtze River Cruise

In 1903, an American named William Edgar Geil came to China. He entered the country from Shanghai and then travelled upstream on the Yangtze River to the cities of Nanjing, Wuchang, Chongqing, Yibin and finally arrived in Yunnan Province. Geil wrote of his travels in China in a book titled A Yankee on the Yangtze.

You will follow Geil’s route to explore the great changes along the Yantze River and experience the rich and colorful cultures of its ethnic peoples onboard a luxurious five-star cruise ship, heading to Chongqing City. You will also enjoy the picturesque views and attentive service.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Shanghai: Attend a welcome party with an introduction of the tour and local culture. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Day 2

Yuyuan Garden, Old Town, the Bund and Nanjing Street Shanghai is China’s most cosmopolitan city. Before embarking on your cruise you will explore the city and visit beautiful Yuyuan Gardens and Old Town. In the evening, enjoy a view of the Huangpu River with colonial architecture juxtaposed among modern landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower.

Day 3

Fly to Yichang and embark on the five-star cruise ship

Day 4-6

Cruise on the Yangtze River: Enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Three Gorges and learn how to Tai Chi onboard your ship. You will also find various nightly entertainments in Chinese or Western styles. Besides the splendid natural beauty, you will enjoy local cultures and ethnic traditions. On the cliffs along the bank of Shennong Stream, teams of men towing boats are clearly visible while fisherman is catching fish on small boats, which is a scene that has remained for thousands of years.

Day 7

Disembark from the cruise and transfer to Chengdu by train.

Day 8

Chengdu: Visit China’s Panda Breeding Center to view China’s adorable ambassador. For lunch have a spicy hotpot. Then stroll through the Kuan Zhai Alley, a historic preserve district with stylish modern villas and gardens, consisting of 45 courtyards in from the Qing and Ming dynasties. In the evening watch the Chuan Opera which is famous for bianlian, the art of Face Changing. A Sichuan Opera performer can change 14 face masks in 25 seconds.

Day 9

Chengdu-Beijing: Travel to Beijing.

Day 10

Drum Tower, Hutong tour, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Wang Fujing Street:’starting from the ancient landmark of Beijing the Drum Tower, you will have a traditional Beijing breakfast at the famous Yao’s Restaurant. The driver of a manpowered tricycle will take you through old Hutongs and tell you stories about each of them. You are welcome to stop and meet local families to experience their daily life. In the afternoon, visit the Forbidden City while being accompanied by a certified Chinese history teacher. The guide will tell you about the life of Chinese emperors, their historical legacies, and their secrets. South of the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Not far from Tiananmen’square is Wang Fujing Street, the commercial center of Beijing and home to a myriad of shops and restaurants. Take the opportunity to try Quanjude Roast Duck, Dong Laishun Hotpot, stop by China Photo Studio, Hengdeli Watch and Clock Shop. Each of these stores has been a landmark during the rapid development of this city. In the evening, enjoy nightly entertainment at the Beijing Opera, an acrobatic show and a Kung Fu demonstration.

Day 11

Huailai Great Wall, Summer Palace: Beijing is adjacent to different portions of the Great Wall like Badaling, Juyongguan and Mutianyu, but what you will visit is better preserved than any of those. This portion was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and used to protect China from Mongrel raids. On the way to the Great Wall, there are many villages and towns which have several hundred years of history and have yet to be developed as tourist attractions. Every antiquated house harkens back to a simpler times. You will have excellent views to take photos of the Great Wall and because this area is more remote, you may examine the wall or sit on the beacon tower before heading back to lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit the most protected royal garden in Beijing the Summer Palace. At sunset, sailing on Kunming Lake followed by a royal feast to complete your day of travel. After dinner, you ll be treated to a Chinese medical massage.

Day 12

Temple of Heaven, Liulichang Antique Street, 798 Art Zone If you want to experience local morning exercises, you cannot miss the Temple of Heaven. Badminton, daibolo, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, singing Beijing Opera, flying kites and dancing, are all popular morning exercises in Beijing. You will have the chance to learn from local practitioners who will gladly teach you about each one. After breakfast, you will visit the Liulichang antique street and have a chance to write Chinese characters with the traditional Chinese Four Treasures of the Study. After that, you will experience the art of fashion in Beijing by visiting the 798 Art Zone and talking with artists.

Day 13

Departure