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26-day Best of China, Tibet & Yangtze Cruise

City: Beijing-Xi'an-Lhasa-Shigatse-Gyantse-Chengdu-Guilin-Yangshuo-Chongqing-Yangtze Cruise-Yichang-Suzhou-Tongli-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 (BLD)
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 visit the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. From there you enter the Forbidden City to explore 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. 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. A delicious Peking Duck dinner is arranged to round off a memorable start to your tour.
Suggested evening program on your own: Qianmen Street.

Day 4: Beijing (BL)
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.
*Free Foot Massage is specially arranged to relieve your tiredness from this long day travel.
(*Free Foot Massage only available for group of 10+)

Day 5: Beijing (BLD)
Morning visit to the Summer Palace, a royal resort during the Qing Dynasty. After lunch we tour (outside) the "Bird’s Nest" (Beijing National Stadium) and “Water Cube” (Beijing National Aquatics Center) where hosted the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Afterward, we visit Silk Alley or Panjiayuan Flea Market. Kung Fu Show in the evening.

Day 6: Beijing-Xi'an (BL)
Morning sightseeing at the Temple of Heaven. 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.
Upon arrival, we proceed to visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Ancient City Wall.
Evening program: Hui Minority Street.
Accommodation: Bell Tower Hotel * * * * at very city centre (or similar)
Accommodation: Sheraton Xi'an * * * * * (or similar)

Day 7: Xi'an (BLD)
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 enjoy the Dumpling Banquet dinner and are entertained with the splendid Tang Dynasty Style Music and Dance Show.

Day 8: Xi'an-Lhasa (BL)
Morning flight to Lhasa and transfer to hotel. We spend the rest of the day relaxing in the hotel to get acclimatized to the high altitudes.
Accommodation: Xinding Hotel * * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Tibet Hotel * * * * * (or similar)

Day 9: Lhasa (BL)
Sit in a mountain-fringed valley on the north bank of the Kyichu River, Lhasa (elevation 3650m, one of the highest cities in the world) is a rapidly expanding city with a population of over 540,000. Lhasa literally means "place of the gods", although ancient Tibetan documents and inscriptions demonstrate that the place was first called Rasa, which means "courtyard place" or "goat place", then was renamed by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century when he moved his capital here from the Yarlung Valley. It was not until the seventeenth century, with the installation of the Fifth Dalai Lama as ruler by the Mongolian emperor, Gushri Khan, that Lhasa once again became the seat of government.
This morning we visit Potala Palace. Afternoon sightseeing at Jokhang Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist buildings in Tibet and a remarkable combination of Tibetan, Indian, Nepalese and Han Chinese architectural styles. No visit to Jokhang Temple is complete without checking out the Barkor Street bazaar outside the temple.

Day 10: Lhasa (BL)
The visit to the Dalai Lama's summer residence Norbulinka is followed by grand Sera Monastery, where lively debates held Monday to Saturday from 3 to 5 pm between resident monks often draw a large audience.

Day 11: Lhasa-Shigatse (BL)
Following breakfast, travel overland to Shigatse (280km) the second largest in city in Tibet whose name is also spelled as Shigatze or Xigaze. After a picnic lunch, we arrive in mid-afternoon. Visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the religious and administrative headquarters of the Panchen Lama, paramount leader of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Accommodation: Jiumu Yamei International Hotel * * * * (best available, or similar)

Day 12: Shigatse-Gyantse-Lhasa (BL)
We drive to Gyantse (2 hours) in the morning and tour the Gyantse fortress (Dzong), Palcho Monastery and Kumbum before continuing on to Lhasa. Vast pastureland, barren mountain slopes, snow-capped peaks, blue skies, white clouds, scanty population, and ubiquitous prayer flags - these images combine to conjure a sense of solitude and mystery. We stop by villages near the shores of Yamdrok Yumtso. One of the three holiest lakes in Tibet, Yamdrok Yumtso lies about 100 kilometres to the southwest of Lhasa. Every summer, throngs of Tibetan pilgrims trek to the lake to pray for blessings by the lake fairy. Dozens of islets in the lake provide sanctuary for varied species of birds.
Accommodation: Xinding Hotel * * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Tibet Hotel * * * * * (or similar)

Day 13: Lhasa-Chengdu (BLD)
Free morning to explore the city on your own. Fly to Chengdu in late afternoon, transfer to your hotel and relax.
Accommodation: Sichuan Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Sheraton Chengdu * * * * * (or similar)

Day 14: Chengdu (BLD)
Morning visit the Sanxingdui (Three star mounds) Culture Museum built on the archaeological site of the discovery of Bronze Age, located about 40km west of Chengdu. The Sanxingdui site, first chanced upon by a farmer in 1929, continues to surprise the archaeological community in the decades to come. In 1986, two major sacrificial pits were discovered and the breakthrough aroused widespread academic attention from around the world. The Sanxingdui finds are exciting, but they remain enigmatic as so far no written records of this 5,000-year-old civilization have been found. Afternoon tour the Dujiangyan Irrigation System.

Day 15: Chengdu-Guilin (BLD)
Tour of the Giant Panda Breeding Centre (refer to Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries) is followed by a city tour include Chunxi Street. Take a late afternoon flight to Guilin, a medium-sized city whose name means "forest of sweet osmanthus trees".
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 16: 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 towering karst peaks, gigantic bamboo sprays, and picturesque villages -- sights that have inspired countless poets and painters for generations. After disembark, free afternoon. Dinner on your own, suggest having it at West Street.
Accommodation: New Century Hotel * * * * by West Street (best available, or similar)

Day 17: Yangshuo-Guilin (BLD)
Morning visit the Silver Cave (stalactites and stalagmites). Then, you are arranged with a bicycle tour to see the local countryside scenery and the Big Banyan Tree Scenic Area. Drive back to Guilin after dinner.
Accommodation: Eva Inn * * * * River-view room, by Li River downtown (or similar)
Accommodation: Sheraton Guilin * * * * * (or similar)

Day 18: Guilin-Chongqing (BLD)
Morning visit the scenic Elephant Trunk Hill and Jingjiang Princes City. Late afternoon fly to Chongqing - the largest and most populous of China's four provincial-level municipalities, famed as Mountain City that was first founded 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 19: Chongqing-Yangtze Cruise (BLD)
Morning visit the Painters' Village in Ci Qi Kou Old Town, Chongqing Hu-Guang Assembly Hall, People’s Square and Eling Park where to see the Three Gorges Museum, and have a bird's view of Chongqing from the park hill. We savor a local Hot Pot dinner before boarding for our 3-day downstream Yangtze River Cruise.
Accommodation: President #6 (Paradise Yangtze) * * * *
Accommodation on cruise ship: Victoria Cruise Series * * * * *

Day 20: Yangtze 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 21: Yangtze 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 Shennongjia Nature Reserve, the crystal clear river twists and turns 60 kilometers through forested mountains before emptying into the mighty Yangtze.

Day 22: Yichang-Suzhou (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 and transfer to Suzhou (85km) immediately upon arrival.
Accommodation: Xiangxuehai Hotel * * * * by Panmen Scenic Area (or similar)
Accommodation: Sheraton Suzhou * * * * * (or similar)

Day 23: Suzhou (BL)
The 25-century-old city is best known for its traditional Chinese gardens, silk industry and well-preserved Grand Canal. Our schedule today includes the Master of the Nets Garden, a short cruise on the Grand Canal, Tiger Hill and a silk spinning mill.
Night program: walk and enjoy the night view of Shantang Street, a new pedestrian street but an old street of around 1500 years, that runs all the way from Tiger Hill into the downtown Stone Road shopping district.

Day 24: Suzhou-Tongli-Shanghai (BLD)
Late morning leave for Tongli - a beautiful water town for half day excursion, then drive back to Shanghai - the largest city of China, is widely regarded as the citadel of China's modern economy and serves as one of the most important cultural, commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers of China.
Evening entertainment is acrobatic show.
Accommodation: Best Western New Century Hotel Shanghai * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Salvo Hotel Shanghai * * * * * deluxe room (or similar)

Day 25: Shanghai (BLD)
Today we visit The Bund - a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style, Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden and the Town-God Temple bazaar.

Day 26: Shanghai-Home (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.