DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY:

Day 1 • Depart San Francisco for Shanghai
Fly transpacific aboard United Airlines, accompanied by our professional Tour Director from arrival in Asia.

CHINA

Day 2 • Arrive Shanghai
Upon arrival, you are escorted to the hotel.
Le Royal Meridien Hotel

Day 3 • Shanghai

Your full-day tour takes you to the Shanghai Museum, Nanjing or Huai Hai Road shops, the Jade Buddha Temple and a carpet factory. Then on to visit the European-style Bund and see a performance at the Children's Palace. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner, followed by a performance of the renowned and amazing Shanghai acrobats.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 • Shanghai/Zhujiajiao/Suzhou

This morning visit the picturesque water town of Zhujiajiao, known for its winding canals, arched bridges and Ming and Qing architecture. A highlight of your tour includes a sampan ride on the canals. Then on to the charming garden city of Suzhou.
Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

Day 5 • Suzhou

Today a tour of Suzhou, noted for its ancient gardens, takes you to the Lingering Garden, Embroidery Research Institute, North Temple Pagoda, Pan Men City Gate and a silk spinning mill. After dinner, enjoy a performance at The Master of Fishing Nets Garden.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

Day 6 • Suzhou/Shanghai/Yichang

This morning take a bus back to Shanghai for your flight to Yichang where you will board a Victoria Cruises' ship and begin your cruise upstream in your outside cabin with balcony accommodations.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner
* If direct flight is not available, fly to Wuhan and travel by motor coach on to Yichang.

Day 7 • Yangtze River Cruise: San Dou Ping/Xiling Gorge

Stop at San Dou Ping to see the Three Gorges Dam Project. Board the ship and sail through the dramatic Three Gorges Ship Lock before continuing through Xiling Gorge, longest of the famed Three Gorges.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 • Yangtze River Cruise: Wu Gorge/Daning River Small Gorges or Shennong Stream/Qutang Gorge

Early this morning, marvel at Wu Gorge's deep zigzagging valley. At Wushan, take a cruiser excursion up the Daning River to see its famous Small Gorges including the picturesque mini-gorges of the Ma Du River by sampan. Depending on the water level of the Yangtze River, your excursion may be on Shennong Stream with its equally spectac­ular small gorges. Rejoin your cruise ship and pass through the grandeur of Qutang Gorge, framed by steep mossy cliffs.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 • Yangtze River Cruise: Shibaozhai*

Known as the “Pearl of the Yangtze,” visit the magnificent 12-story wooden pagoda at scenic Shibaozhai today.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
* Alternate shore excursion may visit Fengdu or Wanzhou.

Day 10 • Yangtze River Cruise: Chongqing/Dazu/Chongqing

Morning cruise through now-gentle countryside to Chongqing. On arrival, motor coach to Dazu, famed for its Buddhist archeological sites. Lunch in Dazu; sightseeing includes monumental Buddhist sculptures at Beishan and Baodingshan. Return to Chongqing for dinner.
Hilton Chongqing Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

Day 11 • Chongqing/Xi'an

This morning's city tour includes the Chongqing Zoo, home to Pandas and the South China Tiger, one of the most endangered big cats. Later, fly to Xi'an. On arrival visit the Wild Goose Pagoda before checking in to your hotel.
Shangri-La Golden Flower Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

Day 12 • Xi'an

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

Day 13 • Xi'an/Beijing

Morning flight to China's capital, Beijing. After lunch, a fun-filled pedicab ride takes you through the Hutong district's ancient narrow streets to enjoy a close-up look at the heritage of this exciting city, includes a stop at the Drum Tower (Gu Lou).
Hilton Beijing Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14 • Beijing

This morning, visit the Temple of Heaven and see local morning exercise. See the Imperial Vault of Heaven with its Echo Wall and the Nine-Dragon Cypress, thought to be more than 500 years old. Then see Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City's Imperial Palace including the jewelry section. Tonight enjoy a Peking Duck dinner party.
Hilton Beijing Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Party

Day 15 • Beijing

Today tour the Great Wall at Badaling, and walk along its ancient ramparts. After lunch, visit a cloisonné factory, and then stroll along the Sacred Way, lined with statues of warriors and mythical beasts, to the Ming Tombs and Chang Ling Exhibition Hall.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner

Day 16 • Depart Beijing for San Francisco

Today, fly home on United Airlines.
MEALS: American Breakfast

CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS:
SHANGHAI: 2 Nights Le Royal Meridien Hotel
Shanghai Museum • Nanjing or Huai Hai Road shops • Jade Buddha Temple • carpet factory • The Bund • Children's Palace performance • China's most famous acrobatic show

ZHUJIAJIAO: Sightseeing
Tour the scenic water town • Sampan ride

SUZHOU: 2 Nights Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers
Lingering Garden • Pan Men City Gate • North Temple Pagoda • Embroidery Research Institute • Silk Spinning Factory • Performance at The Master of Fishing Nets Garden

YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: 4 Nights Victoria Cruises' ship (outside cabin with balcony)
Victoria Cruise Upstream • Yichang • San Dou Ping (Three Gorges Dam) • Daning River's Small gorges or Shennong Stream • Shibaozhai

CHONGQING: 1 Night Hilton Chongqing Hotel
Chongqing Zoo

DAZU: Sightseeing
Buddhist Sculptures at Beishan and Baodingshan

XI’AN: 2 Nights Shangri-La Golden Flower
Buffet Dinner • Terra-Cotta Warriors • Circle Vision Movie • Bronze Chariot • Dumpling Lunch at Defachang Restaurant • Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum with private visit to museum's artifact room to handle  national treasures of the museum's collection • Tang Dynasty Theatre Dinner Show • Wild Goose Pagoda

BEIJING: 3 Nights Hilton Beijing Hotel
Temple of Heaven • Tiananmen Square • Forbidden City's Imperial Palace • Peking Duck Dinner Party • Great Wall • Cloisonné Factory • Sacred Way to Ming Tombs • Chang Ling Exhibition Hall • Hutong Tour • Drum Tower

ALL-INCLUSIVE FEATURES:
• Round-trip transpacific air transportation
• United Mileage Plus® members earn: frequent flyer credit with the purchase of each air/land tour package
• All intra-China air/land transportation
• Fully Escorted from arrival in Asia by our professional U.S. Tour Director
• 10 nights in Imperial deluxe hotels; 4 nights aboard Victoria Cruises' ship in outside cabin with balcony
• 14 breakfasts, 13 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
• $100,000 Automatic Flight Insurance for transpacific air ticketed by PDT
• USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program

FRIDAY DEPARTURES; SATURDAY ARRIVALS ON UNITED AIRLINES: