19 Days Grand China, Yangtze & Hong Kong (PYG19)

Today you’ll board the flight from your hometown to Beijing.

Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you to your luxury hotel. Have a nice rest at the hotel.

The first full day in Beijing will start after breakfast with a visit to Tiananmen Square and the magnificent Forbidden City where you can see the treasures of the Imperial collection.

After lunch, travel to the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. This evening, enjoy a delicious Peking Duck dinner.

Today you’ll travel to the most iconic, photographed, and accessible section of the Great Wall at Juyongguan entrance.

In the afternoon tour Beijing’s 700-year-old Hutongs (narrow alleyways) by old fashioned pedicab, as well as visit a local family living in a courtyard style home to experience the local customs of Beijing people and their unique architecture.

The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to shop and explore at Wangfujing, Beijing’s must-see shopping strip.

This morning is at your leisure. Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Yichang, where you will board your cruises ship for an unforgettable cruise along the Yangtze River. (Note: Due to water level conditions, the boarding port of the cruise may be changed to Sanduoping.) 

This morning, enjoy the beautiful scenery of Xiling Gorge while the cruise sailing through.

After enjoying lunch, stop at the village of San Dou Ping for a shore excursion to one of the world’s largest dams. Consisting of five-stage ship locks and the biggest hydroelectric power station in China, the Three Gorges Dam is now a major transportation hub connecting the eastern and western parts of China.

Return to the ship and continue sailing upstream for the remainder of the day. The ship will pass the five-steps lock at around 17:00. Tonight join in the Captain’s Welcome Party and your evening.

Sail through Wu Gorge: 25-mile long Wu Gorge is celebrated for its Twelve Peaks and quiet beauty.

Later, you will take an excursion to Shennv Stream via cruiser up Goddess Stream with its scenic, narrow gorges, while listening to local folk songs. Alternatively, your excursion may be on Shennong Stream with its splendid Small Gorges depending on water levels. 

Afterward, back to the cruise and enjoying a delicious buffet lunch, you will come to Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and most dramatic of the Three Gorges.

Disembark in Shibaozhai with its impressive wooden pagoda, appropriately named “The Pearl of the Yangtze.” After the land excursion, consider attending various cultural programs provided on the ship.

Disembark in Chongqing. After breakfast, transfer to the airport.

Later, arrive in Guilin – the “Forest of Sweet Osmanthus.” (Note: Due to water level conditions, the disembarking port of the cruise may be changed to Fengdu.)

Today you’ll visit the Longsheng Rice Terraces, also called the Longji Rice Terraces which are located in Longsheng County, about 2 hours’ drive from Guilin.

The terraced fields are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountain top, the highest part being half a mile (880 m) in elevation while the lowest part roughly a quarter-mile (380 m) in elevation. The coiling line that starts from the mountain foot to up to the mountain top divides the mountain into layers of water glittering in the sun in spring, layers of green rice shoots in summer, layers of golden rice in fall, and layers of silvery frost in winter.

The terraced fields were mostly built during the Ming Dynasty, about 500 years ago.

The Li River, one of China’s most famous tourist attractions, flows through Guilin and Yangshuo and is listed by National Geographic as one of the world’s top 10 watery wonders.

Today we’ll cruise along the Li River with lunch on board, and enjoy the picturesque landscape of rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves, and slowly-drifting boats. Stop at the small town of Yangshuo and its famous “West Street”.

Afternoon you’ll be driven back to Guilin and visit South Sea saltwater Pearl Center. Lastly, enjoy the buffet dinner at your hotel.

Fly from Guilin to Xian, one of the great ancient capitals in China. The balance of the day is free at your leisure.

A memorable day of sightseeing today, as you view the extraordinary life-sized Terracotta army, no two alike, buried for over 2,200 years.

Next, you’ll head to the Terracotta replication factory that actually re-made terracotta soldiers. In the afternoon visit the Ancient City Wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in China.

Tonight, enjoy an Imperial Dumpling Banquet followed by the Tang Dynasty Stage Show.

Take a flight to Shanghai, a renowned international metropolis drawing more and more attention.

Today’s sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the Shanghai Old Town, and then Yu Garden, a pleasant, well-contained classical Chinese garden.

Then, continue the trip to the Shanghai Museum, the Shanghai Silk factory, the Bund, and Nanjing Road. Enjoy a buffet-dinner on the “Oriental Pearl TV Tower” followed by an astonishing performance of the world-famous Shanghai acrobats. 

Today you’ll board a plane for Hong Kong. The rest of the day will be yours to begin exploring this exciting city.

The day will start with a visit to Stanley Market and Repulse Bay. Then take a sampan (optional) to see Aberdeen, a thriving island community. You then tour Victoria Peak where you can see unmatched city views, or if you prefer, you can strike out on your own before returning to the hotel.

Free at leisure to explore the cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong on your own.

After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport for your flight home.