China: Splendor of the Yangtze
(13 Days)

Close Details

Day 1: Join tour Shanghai

Arrive Shanghai and check into hotel. Overnight Golden River View Hotel Or Long Men Hotel

Golden River View Hotel Or Long Men Hotel Our selected hotels in Shanghai are modern, 4-star business-style hotels with spacious rooms, tastefully furnished and all the in room facilities you may expect such as minibar, air conditioning and internet access. The Golden River View is located just a few minutes walk from the metro, and the Long Men is close to the railway station and metro, giving easy access to the city.

Day 2: In Shanghai

Shanghai is one of Asia's most vibrant and dynamic cities. It began as a fishing village in the 11th century, but after the end of the first opium war and of the five newly opened treaty ports Shanghai soon became the most cosmopolitan city, with Asian, Russian, European and Jewish influences. Here were cabarets and ballrooms, fine shops and satirical newspapers, and with such style and influence Shanghai was dubbed the 'Paris of the Orient'. Today its elegant past is still noticeable as you walk down 'the Bund'. This wide avenue is a good place to start to get to know the city: people practice Tai Chi early in the morning. We make a city sightseeing tour to visit the famous Jade Buddha Temple with its white jade statues, continuing on to the 16th Century Yu Yuan Gardens. We also visit the museum which houses some very good examples of Ming pottery. In the evening you may wish to see the city's world famous troupe of acrobats (optional). Overnight Golden River View Hotel Or Long Men Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Fly to Yichang; board Yangtse Cruiser

There's some free time for independent exploration this morning, perhaps exploring the shopping areas. An afternoon flight take us west to the gateway city of Yichang, where we board our riverboat for the journey along the mighty Yangtse. We will be travelling on board our 5-star Yangtse 1 cruise boat. Our boat carries approximately 150 passengers with your fellow travellers likely to come from a variety of different countries, which should ensure that the journey through the spectacular Three Gorges will be both visually and socially memorable. Overnight Yangtse 1 Included meals: Breakfast

Yangtse 1 Built in 2006, Yangtse 1 is one of the newest and most luxurious boats operating on the river and you will enjoy every comfort whilst on board. Facilities are state of the art and include a restaurant; observation bar and lounge; coffee bar, internet access, library, gift shops, sauna, gym, laundry service and more! Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style with both Chinese and Western-style cuisine offered. A traditional, sit-down dinner is served each night with delicious Chinese specialties, although Western-style alternatives are also available. Each spacious cabin is equipped with a/c, private bathroom, hairdryer and safe. A real highlight, and something rarely offered as standard, is that all cabins have their own private balcony for you to enjoy unparalleled views from the comfort of your own room.

Day 4 to 6: Sailing along the Yangtse and the Three Gorges

Setting sail early this morning our first stop will be at the extraordinary Three Gorges Dam itself. When completed this will be the largest hydroelectric dam on the planet (it will be 5 times the size of the Hoover Dam), capable of generating 18,200 megawatts of power. Its span will be over two kilometres and it will tower some 185m above the Yangtse River. Unfortunately not all of the statistics make for happy reading. The project has been beset by corruption scandals and the rising waters will displace nearly two million people from the area. Controversy has also reigned over the loss of numerous cultural and archaeological sites, and it is believed that the construction of the dam may have been a factor in the final extinction of the Yangtse River dolphin. Whatever your personal feeling about the project, it is certainly here to stay and our visit will include a trip to the Three Gorges Visitors Centre, which may hopefully shed a little more light on the facts and figures behind the scheme. After negotiating the impressive five-step ship locks, we enter Xiling Gorge, the first of our trio of gorges, which is actually comprised of several smaller gorges along a 78km stretch of river. Next is Wu Gorge, a 40km long section, hemmed in by vertiginous cliffs that raise to over 900m. Surrounded by hazy mountain peaks, this mystical section of the Yangtse is steeped in legend and has long been an inspiration for traditional Chinese painters. On the morning of our second full day on the river we will visit what has been called the 'Lesser Three Gorges', a series of smaller channels that snake off from the main river. At some point along this section we may even have to change to smaller wooden boats which will be paddled, or even pulled along by people on the shore. The third and final gorge is that of the 8km long Bellows Gorge (Qutang Xia), which begins just before the town of Fengjie. This was always considered a treacherous but necessary part of the river, for it was the only way to reach Sichuan province from the eastern lowlands that are surrounded by impassable mountains. Our final day on board see us continuing southwest along the river, towards the town of Fengdu and its famous 'Ghost Town'. Believed since the times of the Tang Dynasty to be the refuge of the dead and demons, the site has a number of temples dotted around, enjoying such poetic titles as, The Palace of the King of Hell and Between the Living and the Dead. From here we enter the last leg of our journey, cruising through the sumptuous landscape towards the town of Chongqing. Tonight we enjoy a final dinner on board and a cabaret, before retiring to bed for our final night afloat. Overnight Yangtse 1 Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Disembark Yangtse Cruiser; train to Chengdu

Our cruise ends at Chongqing where we disembark. We may have the chance to see something of Chonging, including the People's Square, before boarding the afternoon train to Chengdu Overnight Tianfu Sunshine Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Tianfu Sunshine Hotel This centrally located 4-star hotel is located next to Fuhe Huoshui Park. Rooms are stylish and comfortable with all mod cons. The hotel has a variety of restaurants and café's, including the Xinya Restaurant which serves local Sichuan specialities.

Day 8: Visit Panda Research Centre; fly to Xian

This morning we drive to the Panda Research Centre to see the animal synonymous with China. We'll then pay a visit to the Wenshu Monastery, dedicated to the God of Wisdom, where we have a chance to sample their famous Buddhist vegetarian cuisine before flying to Xian. Overnight Garden Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Garden Hotel A comfortable, modern 4-star hotel located in a pleasant part of the city, close to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and within walking distance of several parks; perfect for watching early morning Tai Chi. As with most Chinese hotels, rooms are comfortable and standard style, but the highlight of the hotel is its charming Chinese garden.

Day 9: In Xian; visit Terracotta Warriors

Today we visit one of the highlights of not only Xian, but of China itself – the magnificent Terracotta Warriors and Horses who guard the Qin Shi Huangdi Tomb. Considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the last century, there are literally thousands of lifesize warriors, dating from 200BC, guarding the tomb of the first emperor of a unified China. Each figure, measuring approximately 1.8 metres in height, was individually crafted to represent, some say, actual members of the Imperial Guard. When they were discovered in 1974 the warriors were armed with actual bows, crossbows, swords and spears, many of them still as sharp as they had been when they were buried. We will visit the three excavated pits that hold this incredible army, viewing an astonishing array of bowmen, charioteers and the incredible sight of a thousand soldiers lined up in battle formation before the tomb of the emperor. Our visit with a local guide will also include a video presentation and the spectacular bronze chariot exhibition, which features two superbly preserved half size representations of the Emperor's chariot and that of the Imperial Fleet leader. Later this afternoon we will drive back to Xian where you have some more free time to enjoy the city, perhaps taking in the expansive delights of the Shaanxi National Museum, where you will find an impressive collection of artefacts that span a million years of Chinese history, including Buddhist sculptures from the 5th century, Confucian texts from the Tang dynasty and a number of remarkable steles, including one portraying a map of Chang'an at the height of its power. Overnight Garden Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Day 10: In Xian; fly to Beijing

Our sightseeing tour of Xian reveals the extraordinary continuity of Chinese civilisation. Xian (Changan) served 11 dynasties and was the very starting point of the Silk Road between Central Asia and Europe. We include visits to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (64m, a 7-storey high structure with a superb overview of the city) and the Great Mosque, a wonderful 15th century working mosque within the old Muslim District. Said to be descendents of 8th century Arab soldiers, the occupants of these rambling quarters belong to Xian's Hui minority people. In the afternoon we transfer to the airport and fly to Beijing. Overnight Rainbow Hotel Or Dong Fang Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Rainbow Hotel Or Dong Fang Hotel In Beijing we stay in either the Rainbow or the Dong Fang Hotel. The Dong Fang is one of Beijing's oldest hotels and has been refurbished to modern standards, whilst maintaining some of its original heritage. The Rainbow is a good standard modern hotel. Both are located in the south of the city centre.

Day 11: Arrive in Beijing; city tour

Beijing is China's capital and its political and cultural centre. The city has been the capital for most of the period since Kublai Khan made it the capital of his mighty Asian Empire in the late 1200s. All clocks in this vast country are set by Beijing time despite the westernmost regions being some 5000kms away. During our stay we shall visit the Forbidden City, the one-time home of the Ming and the Manchu (Qing) emperors and a treasure trove of eastern wares. There is the option to visit the Summer Palace an old and very extensive imperial garden complex with a large boating lake and impressive palace buildings. There is also the possibility of seeing a Beijing opera in the evening, or perhaps an acrobatic performance (optional). The opera in Beijing is considered to be the best in China. Overnight Rainbow Hotel Or Dong Fang Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Day 12: Visit Great Wall at Mutianyu

Today we drive out to a renovated part of the Great Wall at Mutianyu, situated 90km north of the city. Began in the 3rd century BC by Shi Huangdi, thousands of conscripted workers laboured on it and many lie buried in its brick and stone ramparts. It is incredible to think that this wall spans the entire country! Here there is a 2km section to walk along with watchtowers and views of the surrounding countryside. Overnight Rainbow Hotel Or Dong Fang Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Day 13: Tour ends Beijing

Included meals: Breakfast