15 Days Magnificent Yangtze Cruise Tour With Bullet Train (SY15)

Fly to Beijing, the capital of China.

Upon arriving at Beijing airport, a China Tour representative will greet you and arrange for your transportation to the hotel, allowing you the first chance to experience China.

This morning, you will sight-see Tiananmen Square, which is noted as the largest public square in the world and then the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government. Later stop at a Pearl Factory to gain a little knowledge of fresh pearls. In the evening, you will enjoy an authentic Peking Duck Banquet.
Optional: Hutong tour with rickshaw & lunch at a local family ($39/person)

Today you will visit The Great Wall! Visiting the Great Wall is a delightful must for visitors to China. The Great Wall is one of the seven greatest man-made wonders of the world and is definitely the focal point of China. You will walk along one of the three greatest mountain passes – Juyongguan Pass. After that, you will have lunch where you can take some rest. Afterward, you will visit the Jade Museum to learn the history of Jade. In Chinese, jade is pronounced as ‘Yu’, and it has a history in China of at least four thousand years. Later visit the Traditional Chinese Medicine Center. In the evening, you can choose an optional tour.
Optional: The Golden Mask Dynasty Show (Family-friendly with spectacular costumes and ballet dancing with acrobats thrown in) ($49/person)

Fly to Shanghai in the morning before being transferred to Suzhou.
Suzhou, which dates back to 514 BCE, is sometimes called the “Venice of the East”. Next, visit Shan Tang Street, which has always been regarded as the first name of Suzhou ancient streets. It has a long history of about 1,100 years, and its layout and architecture best represent the characteristics of Suzhou’s old alleys. It also has connections to many ancient Chinese celebrities and anecdotes.
Optional Program: Boat Ride on the Grand Canal with a walk around the local Market $29 per person.

Today you will visit the Lingering Garden and Silk Spinning Factory.
The Lingering Garden (Liuyuan) is a renowned classical Chinese garden and is recognized along with other classical Suzhou gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
China is famous for its silk, so we will take you to the #1 Silk Spinning Factory in China!
Then, we’ll drive you to Hangzhou.

Hangzhou, one of the seven Capitals of ancient China, is well-known for its tea products.
In the morning take a leisurely boat ride on West Lake to witness the ethereal beauty of Hangzhou’s willow-draped islands and admire the Su Causeway before stopping for a taste of Dragon Well Tea at the Longjing Green Tea Village.
Later, drive back to Shanghai, the largest city by population in China. You will visit the famous Bund. Shanghai is divided by the Huang Pu River into eastern and western sections. Modern mega high rises are seen on the eastern side while traditional European style architecture may be seen on the western side. The Bund is a five-block riverfront promenade with many of Shanghai’s banks and trading houses.
Optional: Shanghai Lujiazui FTDZ & Huang Pu River Cruise ($45/person)

Today is free on your own, or you are welcomed to join our optional tours.
Optional 1: Shanghai day tour with Maglev Train Experience ($49/person)
Sight-see Shanghai’s highlights: Sight-see Shanghai’s highlights, Local Souvenir & gifts Bazaar where you can do some last-minute shopping. Continue to modern Xintiandi. Also, you will have the chance to experience Maglev Train, which can reach almost 390KM per hour.
Optional 2: ERA Acrobats Show ($49/person) #1 of 34 Concerts & Shows in Shanghai through TripAdvisor

Today, we will take a bullet train to Yichang (around 6-7 hours), which is the most popular long-haul transportation route in China, and the highly-developed high-speed bullet train in China is world-famous.
Upon arriving at Yichang railway station, a China Tour representative will greet you and arrange for your transportation to Yichang Port immediately, allowing you to experience our unique Yangtze River Cruise.
In the evening, embark on the luxury cruise ship at Yichang Port. Your fabulous Yangtze River tour begins!

The ship will sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the famous Three Gorges.

We will pass through the ship lock of the new Three Gorges dam before disembarking to visit the massive Three Gorges Dam Project in the morning, the world’s largest dam, measuring 606 feet high and 6,500 feet long.

In 1997, the cofferdam was completed and the main structure began. The dam has two five stages locks to raise and lower ships to the different river levels. Each lock in the five stages is 65 feet high and 910 feet long.

Disembark at Wushan where we will board a small riverboat for a leisurely ride through Shennong Stream, which offers clear running waters, picturesque rock formations, and even monkeys and goats along its banks.

Drifting along the Shennong Stream in a sampan is a unique way of experiencing the beauty of Shennong Stream. A sampan is about 40 feet long, 6 feet wide, and usually steered by six boatmen.

Then Sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest and most dramatic one of the Three Gorges. Wu Gorge is famous for its quiet beauty.

After breakfast, we will take a shore excursion to Shibaozhai (approximately 08:00 am -10:00 am).

In the afternoon, the optional shore excursion will be to the ‘Ghost City’ of Fengdu, which contains numerous statues of devils and ghosts that roam the afterworld.

Fengdu, modeled after the Chinese version of Hell in Taoist mythology, was built over 1,800 years ago.

You will disembark at the port of Chongqing and finish your splendid Yangtze Tour.
Then, transfer to the train station for your second bullet train experience to Xi’an (around 5hours), an ancient city testifying to the great changes which have shaped the Chinese nation.
After transfer you to the hotel, you will enjoy some free time.

The highlight of today is the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, which has been called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
Nearly 8,000 life-size Terracotta soldiers and horses were buried here about 2,000 years ago to protect the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. Then you will visit the Terracotta Army replication factory. Then, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built during the Tang Dynasty, with a history of over 1,300 years.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your return flight to your hometown. Your 2 week China tour ends.