Home » Section 1 » Package Tours - 2010

21-day Best of China, Tibet & Yangtze Cruise

City: Beijing-Xi'an-Lhasa-Shigatse-Gyantse-Chongqing-Yangtze Cruise-Yichang-Suzhou-Tongli-Shanghai

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

Day 2 (Sun): Arrive Beijing
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 (Mon): Beijing (BLD)
This morning we 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. After lunch we tour Beijing Hutong by rickshaw to see traditional residential courtyards.
A delicious Peking Duck dinner is arranged to round off a memorable start to your tour.  

Day 4 (Tue): Beijing (BL)
We drive 70km northwest of Beijing to the Great Wall to visit the longest man-made structure in the world, stretching over 6,352 km (3,948 miles). After lunch, visit the Ming Tombs. On the way back we tour the exterior of the "Bird’s Nest" and “Water Cube” where hosted the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Kung Fu Show in the evening. 

Day 5 (Wed): Beijing (BLD)
Morning visit to the Summer Palace, a royal resort during the Qing Dynasty. Afternoon free, the suggested to-do list includes Qianmen Street, Silk Alley or Panjiayuan Flea Market. 

Day 6 (Thu): Beijing-Xi'an (B)
Early morning sightseeing in the Temple of Heaven where you can see and even join in the local residents’ morning exercise. Afternoon fly to Xi'an. Upon arrival, we visit Gao Family's House and the Ancient City Wall.
Accommodation: Bell Tower Hotel * * * * at very city centre (or similar)
Accommodation: Sheraton Xi'an * * * * * (or similar)  

Day 7 (Fri): 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 (Sat): 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: Tibet Gang-gyan Lhasa Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Xinding Hotel * * * * * (or similar) 

Day 9 (Sun): Lhasa (Sun) (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 (Mon): 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 (Tue): 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 (Wed): 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. 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: Tibet Gang-gyan Lhasa Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Xinding Hotel * * * * * (or similar) 

Day 13 (Thu): Lhasa-Chongqing (B)
Fly to Chongqing, transfer to hotel and relax.
Accommodation: ChungKing Hotel * * * * Downtown (or similar)
Accommodation: Hilton Chongqing * * * * * (or similar)  

Day 14 (Fri): Chongqing-Yangtze Cruise (BLD)
Today we visit Chongqing Panda Zoo, Ci Qi Kou Old Town, 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 15 (Sat): 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 16 (Sun): 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 17 (Mon): Yichang-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: Hilton Shanghai Hotel * * * * * (or similar)

Day 18 (Tue):Shanghai- 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.
Accommodation: Su Yuan Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Sheraton Suzhou * * * * * (or similar)  

Day 19 (Wed): Suzhou-Tongli-Shanghai (BLD)
Late morning leave for Tongli - a beautiful water town for half day excursion, then drive back to Shanghai. Evening entertainment is acrobatic show.
Accommodation: Best Western New Century Hotel Shanghai * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Hilton Shanghai Hotel * * * * * (or similar) 

Day 20 (Thu): Shanghai (BLD)
Today’s city tour includes 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 21 (Fri): Shanghai-Home (B)
Free morning. Transfer to airport to board return flight home. 

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

Tour price (in CAD, on basis of double occupancy):
* Departures are guaranteed from 2 adults.

* Land Cost: tour fare in China, all-inclusive as per itinerary, no other hidden fee. 

* Full Package: International Airfare, tax & fuel surcharge inclusive, are subject to change.

*Prices are subject to change without notice.

*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.

Reservation