Day 1 (Fri.)
Board your transpacific flight

Day 2 Arrive in Beijing, China (Sat.)
Welcome to China. Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in.

Day 3 Beijing (Sun.)
Today your full-day sightseeing starts with a visit to the Forbidden City’s IMPERIAL PALACE, once the sacred home of China’s Great Emperors. Nearby is TIAN’ANMEN SQUARE, the largest public square in the world, where the People’s Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949. Then proceed to the former SUMMER PALACE, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries situated around Kunming Lake. This evening’s special Chinese WELCOME DINNER features delectable Peking Duck. (B,L,D)

Day 4 Beijing (Mon.)
The GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 4,000 miles across China’s barren northern terrain from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved. Walk along the wall and enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress. Then visit a CLOISONNE WORKSHOP where you will see local artisans use the echniques of this ancient art form to turn pieces of copper into colorful decorative items. Before returning to Beijing take a leisurely walk down the SACRED WAY of the Ming Tombs and marvel at the impressive hand-carved stone statues. Tonight you may decide on the optional tour of the Peking Opera with its various forms of drama and music tracing back to the the late 13th century. (B,L)

Day 5 Beijing–Xi’an (Tue.)
This morning is free. Time permitting, you may wish to take our optional tour to the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of 15th-century architecture, or you may decide to take the optional Hutong tour of the city’s ancient alleys. A short flight brings you to the city of Xi’an in central China. Look forward to this evening’s highlight, “The Tang Dynasty” DINNER SHOW, featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances. (B,D)

Day 6 Xi’an (Wed.)
One of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xi’an today is an archaeological treasure-trove. Sightseeing starts with a visit to the nearby DAYAN PAGODA, built in 652 A.D. During lunch enjoy a NOODLE-MAKING DEMONSTRATION by a master chef and learn how Chinese noodles are made by hand. In 1974 the enormous tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, was accidentally discovered by local farmers. Marvel at the impressive legion of TERRACOTA WARRIORS that has been guarding the emperor’s burial site for 2,000 years. Also visit the Xi’an City Wall South Gate. (B,L,D)

Day 7 Xi’an–Chengdu (Thu.)
This morning fly to Chengdu, the capital city of the province of Sichuan, best known for its flavorful food. Visit the GIANT PANDA BREEDING RESEARCH BASE and marvel at these beautiful animals. Time permitting, enjoy a brief city tour. (B,L)

Day 8 Chengdu–Lhasa (Fri.)
Early this morning fly to the holy city of Lhasa, the capital of the mystical Buddhist kingdom of Tibet, locked away in the mountains of the Himalayas. The balance of the day is free for you to rest and adjust to the 14,000-foot altitude. (B,L,D)

Day 9 Lhasa (Sat.)
This morning after a city tour, visit the imposing POTALA PALACE, once the center of the Tibetan government and the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Also visit one of Tibet’s oldest shrines, JOKHANG TEMPLE, and then spend time in the local BAZAAR. This afternoon visit the SUMMER PALACE and a typical Tibetan monastery. (B,L,D)

Day 10 Lhasa (Sun.)
Today is free to relax, or take a special optional trip to a Tibetan’s home including lunch, a visit to the Drepung Temple (the largest in Tibet) and the Tibetan Hospital to learn of traditional medicine and therapy. Dinner tonight is at your hotel. (B,D)

Day 11 Lhasa–Kunming (Mon.)
Fly to Kunming (via Chengdu), the capital of Yunnan Province and often called “The City of Eternal Spring.” Enjoy a Western-style dinner tonight at your hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 12 Kunming (Tue.)
Today visit the Western Hills and the magnificent Dragon Gate before traveling to the remarkable STONE FOREST, an area of limestone pillars, some almost 100 feet high, dotted with small lakes and waterfalls. Returning to Kunming you have free time to walk the city’s wide boulevards. (B,L,D)

Day 13 Kunming–Lijiang (Wed.)
A short flight to Lijiang at an elevation of 8,530 feet. This afternoon, visit 18,464-foot Snow Mountain prior to enjoying dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 14 Lijiang (Thu.)
This morning tour BLACK DRAGON POOL, followed by a late afternoon stroll through the medieval town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by 16,000-foot-plus mountains. Dinner tonight is a fascinating experience at a local restaurant in the medieval town. (B,L,D)

Day 15 Lijiang–Chongqing (Embarkation)–Yangtze River Cruise (Fri.)
Today, fly via Kunming to Chongqing, China’s capital during World War II. The city is set high up on a hill overlooking the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers. Time permitting, take a stroll through one of its many attractive parks or through the historic Old Town before you board the Victoria Empress to prepare for your 3-night cruise down the mighty Yangtze River. During the next few days, when not on deck, you can attend lectures on Chinese medicine, calligraphy, history, or the Three Gorges Dam project. (B,D)

Day 16 Cruising: Shibaozhai or Wanxian or Fengdu (Sat.)
Depending on river conditions, one of the following shore excursions will be offered: Wanxian, “Gateway to Eastern Szechuan Province,” where you will see an acrobatic show, free market and possibly a school; Shibaozhai, with its 400-year-old, 12-story wooden pagoda high on a cliff side; or Fengdu, known as “Ghost City” where you’ll visit several temples. (B,L,D)

Day 17 Cruising: Shennong Stream - Daning River (Sun.)
Head downstream through the first and second of the three gorges—Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most dramatic gorge, and Wu, known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains. You can nearly touch the perpendicular walls rising from the riverbanks as your captain negotiates this narrow gap. After lunch disembark for your BOAT EXCURSION down the Daning River or the Shennong Stream, depending on conditions. Continue through the passage, sailing through the Three Gorges ship locks. (B,L,D)

Day 18 The Three Gorges Dam Site (Disembarkation)–Shanghai (Mon.)
View tiny villages clinging precariously to hillsides as you proceed to Yang Jia Wang. This morning, visit the Three Gorges Dam site, the largest of its kind in the world. Upon arrival in Yichang, say farewell to your crew as you disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, China’s most populous city. (B,L)

Day 19 Shanghai (Tue.)
Full day of sightseeing. Stroll along the Bund, the city’s riverfront boulevard; visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM, and experience the YU YUAN GARDENS. Later, visit the CHILDREN’S PALACE, one of China’s famous kindergartens. This evening your Tour Director hosts a lavish FAREWELL DINNER, a fitting finale to your exploration of Asia’s most fascinating destinations. (B,L,D)

Day 20 (Wed.)
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

INCLUDED FEATURES

BEIJING: Sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Imperial Palace, Tian’anmen Square, Summer Palace, Great Wall, cloisonne workshop, and Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs; Peking Duck Welcome Dinner
XI’AN: Enjoy “The Tang Dynasty” dinner show; sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Dayan Pagoda and the Terracotta Warriors; noodle-making demonstration
CHENGDU: Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
LHASA: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Potala and Summer Palaces, Jokhang Temple, and a local bazaar
KUNMING: Visit the Stone Forest
LIJIANG: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit Black Dragon Pool
CHONGQUING: Begin your cruise aboard the Victoria Empress
SHIB AOZHAI/WANXIAN/FENGDU: View a wooden pagoda, an acrobatic show, or statues at numerous temples on Mingshan Hill
SHENNONG STREAM OR DANING RIVER BOAT EXCURSION: Enjoy a boat excursion down one of the lesser gorges of the Yangtze
THREE GORGES DAM SITE: Sightseeing of the impressive dam site with a Local Guide
SHANGHAI: Sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; stroll along the Bund; visit the Shanghai museum, Yu Yuan Gardens, and the Children’s Palace

NOTE: This trip is for travelers who are fit. It requires climbing stairs to visit many of the attractions. You’ll also visit regions reaching almost 14,000 ft. in elevation.

INSIDE VISITS

Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

MEALS

American breakfast daily (B); 14 lunches (L); 14 dinners (D), including a Peking Duck Welcome Dinner in Beijing and a Farewell Dinner in Shanghai

SUPERIOR HOTELS

BEIJING Traders Hotel (F), XI’AN Grand Mercure on Renmin Square (F), CHENG DU Sheraton Chengdu Lido Hotel (SF), LHASA Lhasa Hotel (MF), KUNMING Bank Hotel Kunming (D), LIJIANG Grand Hotel (F), VICTORIA CRUISES Victoria Empress, SHANG HAI Sofitel Hyland Shanghai (F)