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23-day Southwest China and Yangtze River Cruise

City: Beijing-Xian-Guiulin-Yangshuo-Kunming-Dali-Jianchuan-Lijiang-Chongqing-Yangtze Cruise-Shanghai

Day 1: Depart Canada
Your journey begins with the overnight transpacific flight. Cross the International Date Line.

Day 2: Arrive Beijing (D)
Upon arrival in late afternoon, meet our guide and transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure to explore this city once known as Peking to Westerns.
Accommodation: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Doubletree by Hilton Beijing * * * * * (or similar)

Day 3: Beijing (BLSD)
Beijing, the capital of China, is the second largest city in terms of population and recognized as the political, educational, and cultural center of China, while Shanghai and Hong Kong predominate in economic fields. Beijing is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China and once served as the capital for 5 dynasties over 800 years in ancient China. It will also host the 2008 Olympic Games.
Today we first visit the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. From there you enter The Forbidden City to see the 250-acre complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens. You are specially arranged with a visit to the Treasure House where stores rare and valuable collection of ancient art works inside the Forbidden City. Afternoon we tour the Summer Palace, a royal resort during the Qing Dynasty. A delicious Peking Duck dinner is arranged to round off a memorable start to your tour.

Day 4: Beijing (BLD)
We drive 70km northwest of the city 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. The Great Wall, said to be visible from the moon, was built between 5th century BC and the 17th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. After lunch, visit the Ming Tombs and the Sacred Path - 13 of the 16 Ming emperors have their lavish tombs here. On the way back, we tour (outside of) the "Bird’s Nest" (Beijing National Stadium) and “Water Cube” (Beijing National Aquatics Center) where hosted the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Kung Fu show in the evening.

Day 5: Beijing-Xi'an (BLD)
Morning sightseeing at the Temple of Heaven. After lunch we tour Beijing Hutong by rickshaw to see traditional residential courtyards and visit Gongwang Fu (the Gongwang Mansion), one of the largest quadrangles in the world, and one of the best preserved royal palaces which have existed from Qing Dynasty so far. Late afternoon fly to Xi'an - known as one of the most important cities in Chinese history, Xi'an is listed as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China because it has been the capital of 13 dynasties. Xi'an is also the eastern end of the Silk Road. Xi'an is home to the Terracotta Army designed to follow the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) into eternity.
Evening program: Hui Minority Street.
Accommodation: Bell Tower Hotel * * * * at very city centre (or similar)
Accommodation: Sheraton Xi'an * * * * * (or similar)

Day 6: Xi'an (BLSD)
Today we visit the excavation site of the Terracotta Army located 30km east of the city. Followed by visiting the Shaanxi History Museum. Tonight you are entertained with the splendid Tang Dynasty Style Music and Dance Show and enjoy the Dumpling Banquet dinner.

Day 7: Xi'an-Guilin (BLD)
Morning city tour includes Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the Ancient City Wall. Afternoon flight to Guilin.
Evening program: night view of the Two-Rivers-and-Three-Lakes scenic area around the city.
Accommodation: Eva Inn * * * * River-view room, by Li River downtown (or similar)
Accommodation: Sheraton Guilin * * * * * (or similar)

Day 8: Guilin-Yangshuo (BL)
Half day cruise on Lijiang River. The 83km stretch of the river between Guilin and Yangshuo affords breathtaking scenery as the river snakes through tall karst mountains, gigantic bamboo sprays, and picturesque villages - sights that have inspired countless poets and painters for generations. After disembark, free afternoon: you may tour the Foreigner Street (West Street) and have dinner on your own.
Accommodation: New Century Hotel * * * * by West Street (best available, or similar)

Day 9: Yangshuo-Guilin-Kunming (BLD)
Drive back to Guilin in the morning for further sightseeing of the Elephant Trunk Hill and the Reed Flute Cave – where the limestone karsts formation is one of the finest examples of the kind. Late afternoon fly to Kunming.
Accommodation: Sakura Hotel Kunming * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Grand Park Hotel Kunming * * * * * (or similar)

Day 10: Kunming (BLD) 
Kunming is widely known as the "city of eternal spring" due to its temperate climate year-round. Morning excursion to the Stone Forest, a massive collection of gray limestone pillars created by water erosion, which is located 126km southeast of Kunming.

Day 11: Kunming-Dali (BL)
Morning flight to Dali City. Once as the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom, Dali is a charming town built on the shores of Erhai Lake, with a large population of the ethnic Bai nationality.
Today's schedule features the Foreigner Street in Old Town of Dali, and Three Pagodas.
Accommodation: Landscape Hotel * * * * inside the old town (or similar)
Accommodation: Regent Hotel * * * * * (or similar)

Day 12: Dali (BL)
Morning we tour the Erhai and have a cruise on the lake. Afternoon free.

Day 13: Dali-Jianchuan (BL)
After breakfast, we drive 126km north of Dali to Jianchuan County to visit the Shibaoshan ((Stone Treasure Mountain) Scenic Area that consists of Shizhong Temple, Baoxiang Temple and Haiyunju Temple, among which the Baoxiang Temples are reputed as the ‘Hanging Temple’ in Ynnan, which were built on the cliff of the mountain. There are 139 statues of Buddha in 16 grottoes scattered throughout the area.
The next spot is the Sideng Street - the only preserved marketplace from the Tea-Horse Road, an ancient road treaded by human feet and horse hoofs for thousands of years in the mountains of Southwest China, bridging the Chinese hinterland and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Along the unpaved and often rugged road, tea, salt and sugar flowed into Tibet, while horses, cows, furs, musk and other local products came out. The ancient commercial passage, dubbed the "Ancient Tea-Horse Road", first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and lasted until the 1960s when Tibetan highways were constructed.
Then, we tour the Thousand Lion Mountain Scenic Area where accommodates thousands of stone lions of various gesture and size.
Accommodation: Jiali Hotel * * * * at foot of Scenic Jinhua Mountain (best available, or similar)

Day 14: Jianchuan-Lijiang (BL)
We drive 65km 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 scenery combine to make Lijiang and its vicinity a fascinating place to explore.
Today we visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area (also known as the First Bend of the Yangtze).
Accommodation: Golden Spring Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Lijiang International Hotel * * * * * (or similar)  

Day 15: Lijiang (BLD)
Morning we tour the old town Dayan, a UNESCO-designated World Cultural Heritage Site, then is followed by an excursion to Yunshanping (Spruce Meadow), an alpine pasture surrounded by virgin forests at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The evening concert of classical Naxi music is optional if available.

Day 16: Lijiang-Chongqing (BD)
Free morning. Afternoon fly to Chongqing - the largest and most populous of China's four provincial-level municipalities, called as Mountain City that was first found since 3,000 years ago. Chongqing evening scene is hailed as the ferly in China.
Night program includes watching ‘Night view of mountain city’ from Chaotianmen Square where you can also see the muddy, churning Yangtze meets the transparent Jialing River - a view of Joining of Two Rivers.
Accommodation: ChungKing Hotel * * * * Downtown (or similar)
Accommodation: Hilton Chongqing * * * * * (or similar)

Day 17: Chongqing-Yangtze Cruise (BLD)
Today’s city tour includes Chongqing Zoo to see Giant Panda, the Painters' Village in Ci Qi Kou old street People’s Square, and Eling Park to see a bird's view of Chongqing and the Three Gorges Museum. We savor a local Hot Pot dinner before boarding for our 3-day downstream Yangtze River Cruise in the evening.
Accommodation: President #6 (Paradise Yangtze) * * * *
Accommodation on cruise ship: Victoria Cruise Series * * * * *

Day 18: 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 19: Yangtze River Cruise (BLD)
Admire nature’s grandeur while sailing through spectacular Qutang Gorge (8km) and Wu Gorge (44km) today. Later this 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 60 kilometers through forested mountains before emptying into the mighty Yangtze. 

Day 20: 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. Construction of the dam began in 1992 and is scheduled to be completed by 2009. Estimated to cost over $24 billion, the project upon completion will become the largest hydroelectric dam in the world with a reservoir stretching hundreds of kilometers upstream. We disembark in Yichang around noon. Fly to Shanghai from Yichang or Wuhan.
Accommodation: Best Western New Century Hotel Shanghai * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Salvo Hotel Shanghai * * * * * deluxe room (or similar)

Day 21: Shanghai (BLD)
Today's sightseeing includes Yuyuan Garden, the Town-God Temple Bazaar, Shanghai Museum and The Bund - a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style. Evening entertainment is a dazzling Acrobatic Show.

Day 22: Shanghai (B)
A free day today. Exploring China's most dynamic city on your own is easy and fun. Our recommended to-do list includes a visit to glitzy Pudong New District, a ride aboard the world's only commercially run Maglev train, and the popular evening cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy the city's spectacular neon-lit skyline.

Day 23: Shanghai-Home City (B)
Free morning. Transfer to airport to board return flight home.

Tour price (in CAD, on basis of double occupancy):
* Departures are guaranteed.
* Full Package includes International Airfare, tax & fuel surcharge, subject to change.
* Land Cost includes China internal tax and fuel surcharge.

*Single Supplement does not cover single cabin on Yangtze River Cruise. Share with others. Extra cost will apply if single cabin needed. Please call or e-mail for detailed quote.