19-day Southwest Odyssey of China & Yangtze River Cruise

Visit: Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Chongqing-Yangtze Cruise-Shanghai

Day 1(Thu): Depart Canada
Your journey begins with an overnight transpacific flight as you cross the International Date Line.

Day 2(Fri): Arrive Beijing
Upon arrival in late afternoon, you will meet our professional English-speaking tour guide and transfer to the hotel by a private air conditioned tour bus. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore this city once known as Peking to Westerns.  
Accommodation: Marriott Beijing City Wall * * * * * (or similar)

Day 3(Sat): Beijing (BLD)
Today, we start our sightseeing with a visit to the Tiananmen Square—the largest public city square in the world. From there you enter The Forbidden City to observe the 250-acre complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens. After lunch, we visit the Summer Palace, a royal resort during the Qing Dynasty. A Peking duck dinner is prearranged to conclude your first day of sightseeing.

Day 4(Sun): Beijing (BLD)
We drive 70km northwest from the city of Beijing for a full-day excursion to the Great Wall — the world's longest man-made structure, stretching over 6,352 km (3,948 miles) from Shanhai Pass in the east to Lop Nur in the west—along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. Then, we will visit the Ming Tombs. On the way back we have an opportunity to stop for picture-taking at the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube where the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were hosted. Kung Fu show in the evening.

Day 5(Mon): Beijing-Xi'an (BLD).
In the morning, we visit the Temple of Heaven and join local residents in practicing Tai Chi and morning exercises in the park. After lunch we will take a Hutong tour by rickshaw ride to look around Beijing’s traditional old alleys and visit local residential courtyards. Take a late afternoon flight to Xi’an – an ancient Chinese capital city for 13 dynasties and the home of the incredible Terracotta Army. Transfer to hotel upon arrival.
Accommodation: Empark International Hotel Xi’an * * * * * (or similar)

Day 6(Tue): Xi'an (BLD)
Today, we drive 30km east of the city to visit the excavation site of the Terracotta Army, followed by visiting the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang, Acrobatic Figures and Stone Loricae. Enjoy the Dumpling Banquet dinner and entertainment with the splendid Tang Dynasty Style Music and Dance Show tonight.

Day 7(Wed): Xi'an-Kunming (BLD)
Our morning city tour in Xi’an includes visiting the Ancient City Wall and Old Street. Take an afternoon flight to Kunming — widely known as the ‘city of eternal spring’ due to its temperate climate year-round.
Accommodation: Green Land Hotel Kunming * * * * * (or similar)

Day 8(Thu): Kunming-Stone Forest-Kunming (BLD)
Today, we have a full-day excursion after driving 126km southeast of Kunming to the site of Stone Forest where the tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking like petrified trees, thereby creating the illusion of a forest made of stone. The Stone Forest has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as part of the South China Karst since 2007.

Day 9(Fri): Kunming-Dali (BL)
Take a morning flight to Dali City—once the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom—a charming town built on the shores of Erhai Lake with a large population of the ethnic Bai nationality. Today, we visit the Foreigner Street in Old Town of Dali, Three Pagodas, and take a cruise tour on the Erhai Lake.
Accommodation: Regent Hotel * * * * * (or similar)

Day 10(Sat): Dali-Lijiang (BL)
We drive through mountain scenery to Lijiang City - home to the ethnic Nakhi people whose intriguing Dongba religion and unique customs coupled with the region's enchanting surroundings unite to make Lijiang and its vicinity a fascinating place to explore. Today’s schedule features a visit to the Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area (also known as the First Bend of the Yangtze).
Accommodation: Lijiang International Hotel * * * * * (or similar)

Day 11(Sun): Lijiang (BLD)
Our morning tour begins from the old town Dayan, a UNESCO-designated World Cultural Heritage Site, followed by an outing to Black Dragon Pond. An evening concert of classical Nakhi music is optional if available.

Day 12(Mon): Lijiang-Chongqing (B)
Enjoy your free time in the morning. Take a late afternoon flight to Chongqing – the most populous city in China – known as a mountain city first built three thousand years ago. With the Yangtze River passing through it, Chongqing is the starting point of the Yangtze Cruise.
Accommodation: Hilton Chongqing * * * * * (or similar)

Day 13(Tue): Chongqing-Yangtze River Cruise (BLD)
Today’s city tour includes the Chongqing Zoo to see the Giant Panda, the Painters' Village in Ci Qi Kou Old Street and Eling Park to get a bird's-eye view of Chongqing and the Three Gorges Museum. We board our 3-night downstream Yangtze River Cruise in the evening.
Accommodation on cruise ship: President Prime Cruise * * * * * (the newest and largest cruise ship with private balcony)

Day 14(Wed): Chongqing-Yangtze River Cruise (BLD)
At 6,380km, the Yangtze is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon. The most impressive section of the Yangtze is the Three Gorges. Today's shore excursion features Shibaozhai (Stone Treasure Fortress), an ancient wooden pagoda built against rock cliffs facing the Yangtze.

Day 15(Thu): Yangtze River Cruise (BLD)
Admire nature’s grandeur while sailing through spectacular Qutang Gorge (8km) and Wu Gorge (44km) today. In late morning we navigate Shennong Stream on a small vessel. Originating in the southern slopes of Shennongxia Nature Reserve, the crystal clear river twists and turns 60km through forested mountains before emptying into the mighty Yangtze.

Day 16(Fri): Yangtze River Cruise- Shanghai (BLD)
The ship enters the eastern section of Xiling Gorge (66km) in the morning. We tour the site of the Three Gorges Dam — the largest hydroelectric dam in the world with a reservoir stretching hundreds of kilometres upstream. Construction of the dam began in 1992 and was completed in 2009. We disembark at Yichang around noon. Fly from Yichang or Wuhan to Shanghai — a world-class modern metropolitan, regarded as one of the most important commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers of China. Transfer to your hotel upon arrival.
Accommodation: Wyndham Bund East Shanghai * * * * * (or similar)

Day 17(Sat): Shanghai (BLD)
Today's sightseeing includes visiting the Yuyuan Garden, Town-God Temple bazaar, Shanghai Museum and The Bund — a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style. A local hot pot dinner is served before the evening entertainment — the dazzling Acrobatic Show.

Day 18(Sun): Shanghai (B)
Today is yours to spend at leisure—exploring China's most dynamic city on your own is easy and enjoyable. Our recommended to-do list includes a visit to glitzy Pudong New District, a ride aboard the Maglev train, and the popular evening cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy the city's spectacular neon-lit skyline.

Day 19(Mon): Shanghai-Home City (B)
Bid farewell as we transfer to the airport for a return flight home.

(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, SD=Special Dinner)

Tour rate table:
Group size: min 16 – max 30 passengers

Price includes:

• Round trip international airfare, tax and fuel surcharge (only applies to Full Package);
• China internal air flights;
• Hotel accommodation and cruise ship with breakfast, as specified or similar class;
• Meals daily and special food as indicated: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, SD=Special Dinner;
• Daily guided sightseeing, admission fees to scenic spots and cultural entertainments as specified;
• Air-conditioned vehicle and private professional English-speaking tour guide;
• Round-trip airport-hotel transfers in each city (except the airport pickup on your arrival day in China and the airport drop-off on exit day from China for Land-Cost Packages);
• A bottle of water on the road each day

Price excludes:

• International round-trip airfare, airport taxes and fuel surcharge (applies to Land Cost Package);
• China internal airport taxes and fuel surcharge;
• The airport pickup on your arrival day in China and the airport drop-off on exit day from China for Land-Cost Packages);
• Travel insurance;
• Tips for tour guides, drivers, porters, staff on cruise and tour leader;
• Chinese Visa fee;
• Personal luxuries such as laundry, alcoholic beverages and telephone calls;
• Excess baggage

Remarks:

• Full package may change along with the adjustment of international airfare, airport tax and fuel surcharge;
• For travelling with Air Canada, once seat availability is confirmed, clients must have their tickets issued before the deadline set by the airline;
• Child Rate (2-11 yrs): 80% of the adult fare with a shared room with two adults, no extra bed

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