Upon arrival in Beijing, China's capital, you will be escorted to check in to your Five-Star hotel.
The Peninsula Beijing or The Ritz Carlton

DAY 3 Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday Beijing

Today's sightseeing includes imposing Tiananmen Square and the exquisite Imperial Palace within the Forbidden City, as well as the Palace Museum's collection of imperial jewelry. After lunch, the afternoon is free. Tonight, enjoy your welcome dinner party featuring a glass of wine before a delicious Beijing Duck dinner at your hotel.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Party

This morning, visit the Temple of Heaven to see local morning exercise and enjoy the temple. See the Imperial Vault of Heaven with its Echo Wall and the Nine-Dragon Cypress, more than 500 years old. After lunch, tour Beijing's old Hutong (narrow lanes) area. At the Drum Tower, see a traditional drum performance. Then take an old-fashioned pedicab to the picturesque Shichahai Lake area with its 700-year-old Yuan Dynasty arched bridges and courtyard-style homes known as Siheyuans. Tour one of the ancient homes and visit with a local family. Stop at a Hutong kindergarten (if school is open) and a vegetable market. This evening, dinner is followed by the energetic show, The Legend of Kung Fu.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5 Friday/Saturday/Monday Beijing

Today, a highlight of your trip as you walk the ramparts of the historic Great Wall at Badaling, one of the most amazing feats of mankind. Then stroll along the Sacred Way, lined with mythical statues, to the Ming Tombs and Chang Ling Exhibition Hall. After lunch, visit a cloisonn factory. Buffet dinner at your hotel.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

DAY 6 Saturday/Sunday/Tuesday Beijing/Xi'an

Fly to historic Xi'an and will be escorted to check in to your hotel. This evening, a dinner show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre.
Shangri-La Golden Flower Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner Show

DAY 7 Sunday/Monday/Wednesday Xi'an

Today see the extraordinary terra-cotta army, buried with the first emperor for over 2200 years, Circle Vision Movie and the Bronze Chariot. Lunch at Defachang Restaurant renowned for its delicious dumplings. After lunch, visit Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum which includes our exclusive visit to the private artifact room where you may white-glove handle national treasures from the museum's collection. Buffet dinner at the Shnagri-La.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Special Lunch, Buffet Dinner

DAY 8 Monday/Tuesday/Thursday Xi'an/Chongqing

The morning visit to the Wild Goose Pagoda before flying to Chongqing. On arrival, tour the Stilwell Museum to see its collection of World War ll memorabilia which features the Flying Tigers, American pilots who volunteered to aid the Chinese prior to Pearl Harbor. After dinner, board a Victoria Cruises ship to begin your memorable cruise downstream, in your outside cabin with private balcony.
Board Victoria Cruises' Victoria Anna or Victoria Queen or Victoria Star
MEALS: American Breakfast, Buffet Dinner

At Fengdu, a shore excursion shows the new resettlement town on the Yangtze's south bank, a farmer's home and a local market.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
*Alternate shore excursion may visit Shibaozhai or Wanzhou.

DAY 10 Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday Yangtze Cruise Qutang Gorge/Small Gorges Excursion/ Wu Gorge/Xiling Gorge

Unforgettable scenery unfolds as you cruise through the first of the fabled Three Gorges: Qutang Gorge hemmed by towering cliffs. At Wushan, transfer to a cruiser for an excursion up the Daning River to view its splendid Small Gorges. Continue by sampan to the picturesque mini-gorges of the Ma Du River. Alternatively, your excursion may be on Shennong Stream with its impressive small gorges. Sail on from Wushan and pass through Wu Gorge, celebrated for its lofty Twelve Peaks. Next, cruise through Xiling Gorge, the last and most scenic gorge. Finally, you sail through the dramatic Three Gorges ship lock.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11 Thursday/Friday/Sunday Yangtze Cruise Xiling Gorge/San Dou Ping/Yichang to Shanghai*

At San Dou Ping, visit the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric project. Board the ship and continue downstream to Yichang where you board a flight to cosmopolitan Shanghai, China's center of commerce.
Pudong Shangri-La Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
*If direct flight is not available, travel by motorcoach to Wuhan and fly to Shanghai.

DAY 12 Friday/Saturday/Monday Shanghai

Your full day tour takes you to the Shanghai Museum, which includes an audio tour highlighting the special features of the museum's remarkable permanent collections, Nanjing or Huai Hai Road shopping streets. Continue on to the Jade Buddha Temple, the Shanghai carpet factory, then on to visit the European-style Bund and the Children's Palace. After dinner, enjoy a performance of the amazing Shanghai acrobats.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13 Saturday/Sunday/Tuesday Shanghai/Suzhou/Shanghai*

Today drive to Suzhou, a charming city noted for its ancient gardens. Cruise the ancient Grand Canal, then tour Pan Men City Gate and Humble Administrator's Garden. After lunch, tour the new Suzhou Museum, designed by I.M. Pei, and the Embroidery Research Institute. Return to Shanghai. Tonight, buffet dinner at hotel.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner
*Travel to Suzhou by train if group is less than 6 tour members.

DAY 14 Sunday/Monday/Wednesday Shanghai/Guilin

Morning at leisure in Shanghai to rest or explore on your own, before boarding your flight to Guilin, set in the heart of a magnificent landscape.
Sheraton Guilin Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner in the Hotel

DAY 15 Monday/Tuesday/Thursday Guilin

A deluxe cruise, with lunch, on an air-conditioned boat along the Li River is a chance to absorb the valley's exceptional beauty, resembling an ancient scroll come to life. You will go ashore at the market town of Yangshuo where you will have time to browse. On your return to Guilin you will have a buffet dinner at the Sheraton.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

DAY 16 Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday Guilin/Hong Kong

This morning, see dramatic rock formations at Reed Flute Cave and Fu Bo Hill. Enjoy a dim sum lunch at the Sheraton. Later on you will fly to exciting Hong Kong.
Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch in the Hotel

DAY 17 Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday Hong Kong

Tour Hong Kong Island including Stanley Market, fashionable Repulse Bay and a sampan ride to see Aberdeen's floating community. Drive up Victoria Peak for panoramic vistas of the cityscape and famous harbor.
MEALS: American Breakfast

DAY 18 Thursday/Friday/Sunday Hong Kong

Day at leisure; you might take an optional tour. For information on optional tours in Hong Kong , click here.
MEALS: American Breakfast

DAY 19 Friday/Saturday/Monday Depart Hong Kong for San Francisco

Fly home aboard United Airlines.

• BEIJING: 4 nights The Peninsula Beijing (Monday & Tuesday departures);
  The Ritz Carlton (Thursday departures);
  Tiananmen Square; Forbidden City and Imperial Palace with living quarters, museum and jewelry sections; Beijing Duck welcome dinner party; Temple of Heaven to see morning exercise and Imperial Vault of Heaven with its Echo Wall; Drum Tower; Hutong tour with visit with local family; The Legend of Kung Fu show; Great Wall; Sacred Way to Ming Tombs; Chang Ling Exhibition Hall; cloisonn factory; buffet dinner
• XI'AN: 2 nights Shangri-La Golden Flower Hotel
  Wild Goose Pagoda; buffet dinner at Shangri-La Golden Flower; Terra-Cotta Museum, Circle Vision Movie, Bronze Chariot; dumpling lunch at Defachang Restaurant; Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum including exclusive visit to the museum's private artifact room where you may white-glove handle national treasures; Tang Dynasty Theatre dinner and show
• CHONGQING: Sightseeing/Board Victoria Cruises' ship
  Stilwell Museum's WWII memorabilia
• YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: 3 nights on Victoria Cruises' ships the V ICTORIA A NNA, V ICTORIA Q UEEN or
  V ICTORIA S TAR in outside cabin with balcony
  Victoria cruise downstream; Chongqing; Fengdu; Daning River's Small Gorges with picturesque sampan ride through the mini-gorges of the Ma Du River or Shennong Stream; San Dou Ping (Three Gorges Dam); Yichang
• SHANGHAI: 3 nights Pudong Shangri-La Hotel
  Shanghai Museum including audio tour; Jade Buddha Temple; carpet factory; The Bund; Children's Palace; China's renowned acrobatic show; Nanjing or Huai Hai Road shopping streets
• SUZHOU: Sightseeing
  Grand Canal cruise; Pan Men City Gate; Humble Administrator's Garden; new Suzhou Museum; Embroidery Research Institute
• GUILIN: 2 Nights Sheraton Guilin Hotel
  Li River deluxe boat ride with lunch; Reed Flute Cave; Fu Bo Hill; dim sum lunch
• HONG KONG: 3 Nights Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel
  Stanley Market; Repulse Bay; sampan ride to see the floating community at Aberdeen; Victoria Peak