TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1 • Monday/Tuesday/Thursday • Depart San Francisco for Beijing , China

Fly transpacific aboard United Airlines.

CHINA

DAY 2 • Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday • Arrive Beijing

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

DAY 4 • Thursday/Friday/Sunday • Beijing

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 cloisonné 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

DAY 9 • Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday • Yangtze Cruise Fengdu*

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 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

HONG KONG

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 , please contact us.
MEALS: American Breakfast

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

Fly home aboard United Airlines.

BOLD BLACK DATE INDICATES GUARANTEED DEPARTURE
BOLD RED DATE INDICATES GUARANTEED DEPARTURE WITH APPLICABLE DISCOUNT

Tour Package Includes:

• Round-trip transpacific air transportation
• All intra-China air/land transportation
• Fully Escorted by our professional, bilingual U.S. Tour Director
• 14 nights in select Five-Star and Deluxe hotels; 3 nights aboard Victoria Cruises' ship in outside cabin with balcony (upper 2 decks)
• 16 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 13 dinners
• Round-trip transfers between airport and hotel, baggage handling, hotel taxes and service charges
• Comprehensive sightseeing, special cultural activities and performances as noted
• United Mileage Plus ® members: earn frequent flyer credit with the purchase of each air/land package