Day 01 : USA - Shanghai

Anticipation fills the air as you board the international flight that will take you across the Pacific to arrive in China, the ancient Land of the Dragon. Cross the international date line and spend the night aboard.
 DAILY MEAL  
 

Day 02 : Arrive Shanghai

Arrival at Shanghai. After baggage retrieval, you are met by your tour guide in the arrival hall and transferred to the five star luxury accommodations. On the way to the hotel, note that Shanghai is a bustling, modern metropolis.
 DAILY MEAL  
 

Day 03 : Shanghai

For the past century, Shanghai has held a prominent position of being China's economic heartbeat. Cosmopolitan and vibrant, Shanghai conveys a feeling of exuberance to that is not rivalled by any other city in China. Today's city tour starts off with a visit to Yu Garden, a Ming Dynasty garden built in 1559 by a wealthy businessman for his parents as an act of filial piety. Today, it is considered one of the top four Chinese gardens. Later, the bus will drive past Nanjing Road, the bustling shopping district that locals frequent. Spend time walking along the mile-long stretch along the Huangpu River known as the Bund. Lined with dozens of historical buildings that once housed banks and trading houses, the Bund is a symbol of Shanghai's international heritage. After dinner, attend an amazing performance of Chinese Acrobatics
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, DS)
 

Day 04 : Shanghai - Yangtze River Cruise

A morning visit to the Shanghai Museum has been planned. Ample time has been provided for you to peruse the exhibits of bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jade, paintings and sculptures. Later in the day, transfer by motorcoach to the docks where the Victoria Cruise ship awaits to take you on your Yangtze River adventure. In the still of the night, the cruise ship weighs anchor and sets sail up the magnificent Yangtze River.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, D)
 

Day 05 : Yangtze River Cruise

The ship arrives at Nanjing, the old wartime capital of China. Here, you disembark to visit the mausoleum of China's founding father - Dr. Sun Yat Sen. Also included in the shore excursion is a visit to a Qing Dynasty style bazaar found surrounding an ancient Confucian Temple. Reboard later and continue upriver.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, D)
 

Day 06 : Yangtze River Cruise

The shore excursion today is to the fabled Mt. Huangshan, or "Yellow Mountain." Huangshan is famous for its magnificent four beauties - grotesque rock formations, strangely shaped pine tees, sea of clouds, and hot springs. The motorcoach ride to the mountain from the ship will pass through some of China's most pristinely rural regions. Note the emerald green rice paddies, lush tea bushes and mud-walled villages.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, D)
 

Day 07 : Yangtze River Cruise

Late afternoon arrival at Wuhan. Disembark here for a shore excursion to this capital of China's Hubei Province. Wuhan is located at the confluence of two rivers, the Yangtze and the Han. Our visit includes a trip to the Hubei Provincial Museum.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, D)
 

Day 08 : Yangtze River Cruise

The Yangtze is China's longest river and the third longest waterway in the world. The entire day is spent crusing up the Yangtze River as there are no shore excursions scheduled. Spend time on the top deck of the ship taking in the glorious sights and sounds afforded by this unique opportunity.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, D)
 

Day 09 : Yangtze River Cruise

Today the ship passes through Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest of the famed Three Gorges. Xiling Gorge is actually comprised of seven smaller gorges whose varied names are all based upon ancient legends. The cruise ship sails through Gezhou Dam to arrive at Sandouping Village. Here you disembark to visit the massive Three Gorges Dam Project. The Three Gorges Dam is the largest construction project of its type in the world and, once completed, will control the floodwaters of the Yangtze and provide hydroelectric power. Reboard later as the ship sails through the ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, D)
 

Day 10 : Yangtze River Cruise

Today you will pass through Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge. Below Wushan is the 25 mile long Wu Gorge, known for its quiet beauty, forest-covered mountains, and sheer cliffs. Qutang Gorge is the shortest of the three (5 mi) and also the narrowest (500 ft); however, it has the reputation of being the most visually dramatic. In the afternoon, the ship stops at Wushan where you board smaller vessels to access the Lesser Gorges either Daning River or Shennong Stream.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, D)
 

Day 11 : Yangtze River Cruise

The ship arrive at the ghostly city of Fengdu for the final shore excursion of the Yangtze cruise. Accessing the mountain top by cable car, you enter to view the legions of statue-demons in this recreation of "Hades" as it existed in the minds of the ancients.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, D)
 

Day 12 : Yangtze Cruise - Chongqing - Xian

The Grand Yangtze River cruise comes to an end with the ship's arrival into Chongqing. You disembark here and head into town for a brief city tour before boarding a short flight to Xian. An ancient city boasting 5000 years of history, Xian served as the capital of China for eleven dynasties and was the starting point for traders embarking on the Silk Road. On the way into town, the bus will drive by the massive City Wall, the most well preserved city wall structure standing in the world today, and stop for a visit at Xian's Bell Tower. Dinner is served at the hotel.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, DH)
 

Day 13 : Xian

Xian served as the capital to 13 dynasties and is considered by many as the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization. The discovery in 1974 of the life-sized Terra Cotta Army guarding the tomb of China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang is one of the greatest archaeological finds of our time. Three excavation pits are open for you to inspect the thousands of soldiers, horses and chariots all standing in formation. Back in town, tempt your taste buds with an Imperial Dumpling Banquet. After dinner, you attend the widely and well-reviewed Tang Dynasty Stage Opera.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, DS)
 

Day 14 : Xian - Beijing

Departing Xian, you arrive at Beijing, China's capital city. Upon arrival, take a tour of the solemn and glorious Temple of Heaven, the sacred site where "son of heaven" came to pray to the heavens for a bountiful harvest and make offerings. Dinner is served at the hotel.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, DH)
 

Day 15 : Beijing

Beijing's recent claim to fame is that it was selected as host city to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.The city tour's first stop is at Tiananmen Square, translated as "Gate of Heavenly Peace." Walk through the world's largest public square and across the street to the Forbidden City. As you enter through the gates, realize that you are walking along paths and seeing sights that commoners never saw in their lifetimes. In the afternoon the group finishes today's sightseeing with a visit to the emperor's Summer Palace. Return to the hotel in the afternoon to wash up before savoring a taste of traditionally prepared duck at a Peking Duck Feast
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, DP)
 

Day 16 : Beijing

Built to protect ithe people from northern marauders, the Great Wall of China meanders its way four thousand miles across Northern China and is reputedly visible even from the moon. First construction was undertaken by emperor Qin Shi Huang and was not completed until many dynasties later. The Great Wall is the focal point of any tour to China and surely deserves your unbridled attention. This morning affords group plenty of time to walk atop this man-made wonder of the world. Descending the Wall, the motorcoach will stop at the nearby Sacred Way and the Ming Tomb Museum on the way back into town. Tonight, attend a farewell banquet dinner.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB, L, DP)
 

Day 17 : Beijing - USA

Your Grand Yangtze adventure is over all too soon as you board the homebound international jetliner and bid a fond farewell to China.
 DAILY MEAL   (AB)