TOUR ITINERARY:

DAY 1 • Friday • Depart San Francisco for Beijing , China

Fly transpacific aboard United Airlines.

CHINA

DAY 2 • Saturday • Arrive Beijing

Upon arrival in Beijing , China 's capital, you will be escorted to check in to your FiveStarPlus SM hotel.
Shangri-La China World Hotel

DAY 3 • Sunday • Beijing

After breakfast and a welcome orientation, sightseeing includes Tiananmen Square and the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City , including the living quarters, museum and jewelry sections. 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 Hutong's 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. Tonight, a welcome dinner party at your hotel features cocktails before a Beijing Duck dinner.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Party

DAY 4 • Monday • Beijing

Today highlights the amazing wonders of the Great Wall at Mutianyu including a scenic round-trip cable car ride. Step back in time as you walk along its ancient ramparts. After lunch, continue on to visit a cloisonné factory where you may observe the skilled artisans. This evening, a buffet dinner at the hotel is followed by the energetic show “The Legend of Kung Fu,” with seats in the front section.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

DAY 5 • Tuesday • Beijing/Shanghai

This morning visit the exquisite blue-domed Temple of Heaven to see local morning exercise and enjoy the beauty of this temple. See the Imperial Vault of Heaven with its Echo Wall and the Nine-Dragon Cypress, more than 500 years old. After lunch, fly to Shanghai where you check in to the luxurious Four Seasons. Tonight, enjoy dinner at an outside restaurant.
Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Party

DAY 6 • Wednesday • Shanghai

An extraordinary day begins as an international expert on Shanghai 's history, art and architecture leads a half-day walking tour through The Bund and the former French Concession. After lunch visit the Shanghai Museum , including audio tour highlighting the special features of the museum's permanent collection. Then, see the Children's Palace and the renowned Shanghai carpet factory. Tonight, attend a performance of the astonishing Shanghai acrobats, where your reserved seats are in the front section.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 • Thursday • Shanghai/Zhujiajiao/Shanghai

This morning drive to Zhujiajiao, known as Shanghai 's Venice , and the best preserved of the four ancient canal towns in the area. Take a walking tour and a short sampan cruise along the town's canals to see the numerous arched bridges built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Return to Shanghai for a visit to the Yu Garden. Buffet dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel this evening.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

DAY 8 • Friday • Shanghai/Yichang*

Morning at leisure in Shanghai . This afternoon, fly to Yichang. After dinner, board the flagship Victoria Anna and begin your memorable cruise upstream in your Junior Suite with full bath and private balcony.
Board Victoria Cruises' V ICTORIA A NNA
MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner
*If direct flight is not available, fly to Wuhan and travel by motorcoach on to Yichang.

DAY 9 • Saturday • Yangtze Cruise: San Dou Ping/Xiling Gorge

This morning, stop at San Dou Ping to see the Three Gorges Dam. Return to the ship and pass through the dam's massive ship locks before cruising through Xiling Gorge, longest of the famed Three Gorges. Nightly dining has been reserved in the elegant top deck a la carte restaurant, with great views of the passing river scenery.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10 • Sunday • Yangtze Cruise: Wu Gorge/Small Gorges Excursion/Qutang Gorge

Early this morning, marvel at Wu Gorge's deep zigzagging valley. At Wushan, an excursion by cruiser takes you up the Daning River to see its famous Small Gorges–Dragon Gate, Misty and Emerald. Continue by sampan to the picturesque mini-gorges of the Ma Du River with its clear, swift water, unusual rock formations, and monkeys and goats along the banks. Depending on the water level of the Yangtze River , your excursion may be on Shennong Stream with its equally spectacular small gorges. Depart Wushan, passing through impressive Qutang Gorge, walled with mossy cliffs that crowd the sky.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11 • Monday • 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 visits Wanzhou.

DAY 12 • Tuesday • Yangtze Cruise: Chongqing/Xi'an

Disembark in Chongqing . Visit the Stilwell Museum to see its collection of World War ll artifacts including memorabilia of the Flying Tigers, a group of American veteran pilots who volunteered to aid the Chinese in World War ll prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor . Later, fly to historic Xi'an where you will enjoy a buffet dinner at the Sofitel.
Sofitel on Renmin Square Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Buffet Dinner

DAY 13 • Wednesday • Xi'an

Sightseeing today includes the site of the extraordinary life-sized terra-cotta army, the Circle Vision Movie, and Bronze Chariot, buried with the first emperor for over 2,200 years. Enjoy a dumpling lunch at Defachang Restaurant. Later, visit the Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum with our exclusive visit to the private artifact room where you may white-glove handle some of the national treasures from the museum's collection. Tonight, from your front section seats, take in an entertaining dinner and show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Special Lunch, Dinner Show

DAY 14 • Thursday • Xi'an/Guilin

This morning visit the exquisite Wild Goose Pagoda. Fly to Guilin , heart of a magnificent landscape. Check in to your riverside view room and have dinner at the hotel.
Sheraton Guilin Hotel (riverside room)
MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner in Hotel

DAY 15 • Friday • Guilin

A cruise on the upper deck of a deluxe air-conditioned boat on the serene Li River reveals the haunting beauty of Guilin 's mist-wrapped peaks, surrounding the river en route to Yangshuo. Return to Guilin for dinner at the Sheraton.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

HONG KONG

DAY 16 • Saturday • Guilin/Hong Kong

This morning see dramatic rock formations at Reed Flute Cave and take a cable car up Yao Mountain (weather permitting) or Fu Bo Hill for panoramic views of beautiful Guilin , followed by a lunch of dim sum specialties at the Sheraton. At Guilin 's airport you are treated to beverages in the lounge and first-boarding privileges for your flight to vibrant Hong Kong . Check in to a harbor view room at your hotel.
Hotel InterContinental Hong Kong (harbor view room)
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch in Hotel

DAY 17 • Sunday • Hong Kong

Today's sightseeing tour passes through Hong Kong's rural Stanley Market and fashionable Repulse Bay ; then enjoy a sampan ride to see the floating community at Aberdeen . Drive up to Victoria Peak for spectacular views of the harbor.
MEALS: American Breakfast

DAY 18 • Monday • Hong Kong

The whole day is at leisure. Perhaps take an optional excursion to Po Lin Monastery on scenic Lantau Island , largest of Hong Kong 's 236 islands. For information on optional tours in Hong Kong , please contact us. Join us tonight for a farewell dinner party at the InterContinental.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner Party

DAY 19 • Tuesday • Depart Hong Kong for San Francisco

Fly home today aboard United Airlines. Cross the International Date Line and arrive home the same day.

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

FRIDAY DEPARTURE; TUESDAY RETURN ON UNITED AIRLINES:
TOUR CODE: 8YG19VU

Tour Package Includes:

• Round-trip transpacific air transportation
• All intra-China air/land transportation
• Fully escorted by our professional, bilingual U.S. Tour Director
• 13 nights in FiveStarPlus SM and Deluxe hotels; 4 nights aboard Victoria Cruises' deluxe ship in Junior Suite with balcony
• 16 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 14 dinners
• Welcome orientation, welcome cocktail reception and dinner party
• 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