22 Day Yangtze River Cruise Plus Hong Kong

Visits: Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Yichang, Chongqing, Dazu, Kunming, Guilin, Guangzhou & Hong Kong

Deluxe Victoria Cruise Upstream from Yichang to Chongqing  

This 22 days tour will expose the traveler to a wide and varied cultural and historical aspect of China. During the tour, the familiar amenities will be combined with the local cultural life. The tour is designed to try to impart a small portion of a 5000 year old culture that for most of his time led the world in science, art and civilization. This trip has been created to present an opportunity for a leisurely in-depth visit of China.   

Tour code:       22YZHK

Tour itinerary:

Day 1              Fly USA to Beijing

Enjoy flight to Beijing. Cross international dateline.

Day 2              Arrive Beijing                       

Upon arrival Beijing, capital of China, a friendly English speaking guide will meet and transfer tour to New Otani Hotel or similar.

Day 3              Beijing  (B, L, SD)

See the well-publicized Tiananmen Square, then the ancient Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace and the beautiful Summer Palace. Walk through traditional courtyard neighborhoods Dating from Ming Dynasty, Beijing’s Hutongs – Chinese traditional courtyards dating from Ming Dynasty. Enjoy a famous Peking duck dinner.

Day 4              Beijing  (B, L, D)

Full day excursion to the Great Wall of China that now offers a cable car to the summit. Later, on the return, drive along the famed Sacred Way to visit the museum of the Ming Tombs. Enjoy Peking Opera performance tonight.                   

Day 5               Beijing (B, L)

Tour the Temple of Heaven where the Qing emperors worshipped, Liulichang art district and Lama Temple (Tibetan monastery). Dinner on own

Day 6               Beijing to Xi’an  (B, L, D)

Fly to Xi’an, one of the ancient capitals of China. Then, visit the ancient city wall and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Check into Sheraton Hotel or similar.

Day 7               Xi’an  (B, L, SD)

Sightseeing will include the Excavations of Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses, one of the greatest archaeological finds of the century, then visit Hua Qing Imperial Hot Springs and Banpo Neolithic Village. In the evening enjoy the dumpling banquet and Tang Dynasty music and dance show.

Day 8               Xi’an to Shanghai (B, L)         

Fly to Shanghai in the morning. Visit the architectural master piece –Shanghai Museum, the Old Town, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund (waterfront) and Nanjing Road for shopping. Check into Shanghai Hotel or similar.  

Day 9               Shanghai (B, L)

Escorted tour to Pudong new area, visit the TV Tower –the Oriental Pearl, Nanpu Bridge and Children’s Palace.  Enjoy Shanghai Acrobatic show in the evening.  

Day 10              Shanghai to Yichang/Victoria Cruise (B, D)

Morning free to explore, fly to Yichang in the afternoon, city tour if time permits, after dinner, transfer to board a deluxe Victoria Cruise ship for your upstream Grand Yangtze River Journey. 

Day 11               Yangtze River Cruise/Three Gorges Project/Xiling Gorge (B, L, D)

Morning shore excursion to visit the world largest Hydroelectric Project – the Three Gorges Dam, then pass through the Ship Locks of the Three Gorges Dam and sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest among the Three Gorges.  

Day 12               Yangtze River Cruise/Shennong Stream/Wu Gorge/Qutang Gorge (B, L, D)

Early morning, transfer to small river craft on the narrow Shennong Stream to explore the Parrot and Dragon Boat Gorges or Daning River, then, continuing upstream, pass through the scenic Wu Gorge and the most magnificent Qutang Gorge.

Day 13             Yangtze River Cruise/Shibaozhai or Wanxian or Fengdu (B, L, D)

On the way upstream, we will dock and visit the ancient Shibaozhai Wooden Tower, or Wanxi’an or Fengdu-the ghost town.

Day 14             Arrive Chongqing to Dazu (B, L, D)

After docking at Chongqing at 9:00am, the mountain city of Yangtze, your guide will meet and drive tour through rolling green Sichuan countryside to Dazu, home of ancient grottoes and hills interspersed with over 5000 statues portraying Buddhists from 9^th to 13^th century, carved into the stone mountains. Check in Dazu Hotel.

Day 15              Dazu to Chongqing to Kunming (B, L)

Tour Dazu most of the day, viewing this ancient Buddhists-so humanistic that they appear to relate to the modern day. Then leisurely return drive to Chongqing Airport and fly to Kunming, “the City of Eternal Spring”. Visit the Minority Nationality Village, Grand View Park and the Golden Temple. Check into Kunming Hotel or similar.

Day 16             Kunming (B, L)

Drive to the legendary Stone Forest. The limestone formations consist of rock caves, arches and pavilions, about a mile of labyrinthine trails. Enjoy a cultural performance by the Sani Yi minorities in their village.

Day 17              Kunming to Guilin (B, L)

Upon arrival at Guilin, tour to Fubo Hill, the Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill.  Check into Guihu Park Hotel or similar. 

Day 18             Guilin (B, L, D)

Embark on a gorgeous cruise on the Li River. Experience the magical beauty of limestone rock formations and farmland commonly seen in Chinese landscape paintings. At Yangshuo, browse at the free market, then drive back to Guilin through the picturesque countryside. Enjoy local folk music show in the evening. 

Day 19              Guilin to Guangzhou to Hong Kong (B, L)

Morning flight to Guangzhou (Canton). Visit Dr. Sun Yet -Sen’ Memorial Hall, the ancestral Chen Clan Temple. Take express train to Hong Kong. Check into New World Renaissance Hotel or similar.

Day 20             Hong Kong                                   

Morning Hong Kong island tour to Stanley Market, Repulse Bay and Aberdeen’s floating community and Victoria Peak.

Day 21             Hong Kong

Shop on famous Nathan Road for wonderful bargains of food, clothing, jewelry, etc.

Day 22              Hong Kong to USA

Early departure for plane to USA, arrive home at the same day of departure.

B= Breakfast     L= Lunch           D= Dinner

Tour code:       22YZHK

2007 Departure Dates & Cost

All inclusive features:

-          Round trip transpacific air transportation via our selected airlines

-          All intra-China air/land transportation with airport departure tax

-          16 night accommodation in deluxe 4 or 5 star hotels with daily breakfast

-          4 day deluxe Victoria Cruise upstream from Yichang to Chongqing with shore excursions and 3 meals a day

-          Round trip transfers between airport/hotel/pier with baggage handling assistance

-          Private escorted sightseeing tours with English speaking guide service

-          Meals and evening entertainments as specified in the itinerary

Not including:

-          Chinese visa fee of $80

-          Travel insurance

-     Tips, gratuities to tour guides, drivers, and porters

-          Personal expenses, etc.

Special Notes:

. USA Departure Tax, Fuel Surcharge, and China Domestic Airport taxes apply

. Minimum six (6) passengers required for each departure  

. This tour can be customized upon request at an additional cost

. Land only rate does not include transpacific air

. Tour fares are subject to change

. In case the listed hotels and the cruise ship are not available on your preferred travel dates, we will be using similar hotels and the cruise ship

. Extra cost will apply during the Guangzhou & Hong Kong Trade Shows

. For additional airfare from your departure city, please contact us