16 Days Grand Expedition: Discovering China’s Treasures from Xi’an to the Yangtze River

Upon arrival, a tour representative will meet you at the airport and then escort you to check into the hotel.

Overnight: Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel or similar

Today is a free day at leisure. You are welcome to join the following optional tours in ancient city Xi’an。

Optional Tour:

Day tour with Terra Cotta Warriors Museum，Terra Cotta Replication Factory，Visit Ancient City Wall with Lunch (Usd 100/Person )

Famous Tang Dynasty Stage Dancing Show,(Usd 60/Person )

Overnight: Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel or similar

After, we make our way to the City Wall. An ancient fortification that surrounds inner Xi’an, it is the best preserved city wall in China and one of the finest examples worldwide.

Visit the North Square of the Wild Goose Pagoda.Then transfer to Beijing Railway Station to take a bullet train to Beijing.

Overnight: Chunhuiyuan Hotel Beijing or similar

Your exploration of Beijing begins with a visit to Tiananmen Square, . one of the largest public squares in the world, followed by in the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City.. The Forbidden City, known officially as the Imperial Palace Museum, was originally constructed by Emperor Yong Le, the third Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The palace was built between 1406 and 1420, but was burnt down, rebuilt, sacked and renovated countless times, so most of the architecture you can see today dates from the 1700s and onwards.

Optional Tour:

Summer Palace Visit &Beijing Zoo Visit(Usd 40/Person )

Tonight, take the opportunity to attend an optional large scale dramatic musical, ‘The Golden Mask Dynasty’ (Usd 40/Person ).

Overnight: Chunhuiyuan Hotel Beijing or similar

As you travel to the Great Wall this morning, stop at a Jade Museum to learn the history of jade. In Chinese, jade is pronounced as “Yu” and has a history of at least four thousand years in China. Observe skilled artisans at work as they create their intricate designs. Afterwards take a scenic drive through the countryside and mountains to reach China’s most renowned monument—the Great Wall. You will visit the less-touristy Juyong Pass, avoiding other sections which are the most accessible and consequently most crowded. The Great Wall meanders through China’s northern mountain ranges from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert - a distance of more than 3500 miles. Following the Great Wall visit, make a stop at Chinese Herbal Institute to learn about traditional Chinese medicine.

Optional Tour:

Visit the Temple of Heaven Park and learn Tai Chi(Usd 40/Person ).

Take the opportunity to join an optional tour of Beijing’s 700 year Old Hutongs (narrow lanes) area by old fashioned pedicab. You will also visit a local family living in a courtyard style home to experience the local customs. (Usd 40/Person)

Overnight: Chunhuiyuan Hotel Beijing or similar

After breakfast transfer to Beijing Railway Station to take a bullet train to Suzhou .Suzhou ,Often called the ‘Venice of the East’, Suzhou has a history dating back to 514BC.Visit embroidery Institute where you could treasure the exotic silk embroidery history. Visit the Garden of Master of the Nets the smallest yet the most delicate landscape garden in Suzhou. recognized with other classical Suzhou gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Overnight: Holiday Inn Suzhou Taihu or similar

China is renowned for its exquisite silk, so naturally a visit to the Silk Spinning Factory is in order. Transfer to Wuxi. Wuxi is an ancient city richly endowed with nature due to its pleasantly warm and moist climate – it boasts a reputation of being the “Land of Fish and Rice”.

Optional Tour:

Take the opportunity to cruise along the Grand Canal to view life along China’s ancient waterway.  (Usd 30/Person ).

Overnight: Grand Park Hotel Wuxi or similar

After breakfast,  Visit the Lihu Park, and the largest Fresh Water Pearl Center.visit a Pearl Factory to gain a little knowledge of fresh pearls.  Transfer to Hangzhou. Hangzhou, one of the six ancient capital cities, is the hometown for green tea.

Overnight:Holiday Inn Hangzhou Xiaoshan or similar

Hangzhou is considered the tea capital of China. So, naturally, a visit to the city just isn’t complete without a trip to a local tea house. Enjoy a special visit to the tea house at Meijiawu Tea Village in the hinterland of West Lake Park, considered one of the most important Longjing Tea productions in China. Enjoy the beautiful scenery  of West Lake Afterwards, drive to Shanghai (approx. 2.5 hours coach ride) to visit the famous Bund. Shanghai is divided by the Huang Pu River into eastern and western sections. Modern mega high rises are seen on the eastern side while traditional European style architecture may be seen on the western side.

Optional Tour:

Enjoy a small boat ride on the famous West Lake,(Usd 30/Person ).

Tonight there is an optional activity to watch a superb and thrilling Chinese Acrobatic Show (Usd 60/Person )

Overnight: Novotel Shanghai Qingpu Excellence or similar

This morning, visit the China Art Museum, a collection of about 14,000 artworks, mainly of Chinese modern art. The museum is housed in the China Pavilion building of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China.  Enjoy some free time at leisure this afternoon or join an optional . Optional Tour:

Half-day tour of Shanghai  including Yu Garden,  Xintiandi, Old Town and Nanjing Road,(Usd 45/Person ).

In the evening, take the opportunity to join the optional “Night Cruise on the Huangpu River” ((Usd 40/Person).

Overnight: Novotel Shanghai Qingpu Excellence or similar

This morning you'll transfer to Railway Station for an approximately 7-hour high-speed train journey to Yichang. Upon arrival, a tour representative will meet you at the railway station to escort you to check in to your Yangtze River cruise onboard . Settle into your balcony cabin with a private ensuite and prepare for the next day’s sightseeing on the amazing Yangtze River. This is the ancient pathway across China which spans centuries of cultures and blends the best of the old and the modern.

Overnight: China Goddess Cruises Or Golden Cruises or similar

Your highly anticipated grand Yangtze River adventure starts this morning. The 6300km long Yangtze is the longest river in China, flowing through 11 provinces. Its river basin covers 1/5 of the country's territory. One out of every three Chinese people is living on Yangtze. As Yangtze was the emerging place for Chinese civilization, there are so many historical and cultural heritage sites along the river he cruise ship's first stop is at Taipingxi (or Sandouping). Disembark to visit the massive Three Gorges Dam Project, the world's largest dam, measuring 606 feet high and 6,500 feet long. Re-embark the ship and sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges at 41 miles long and also its highest (4000 feet).

Overnight:China Goddess Cruises Or Golden Cruises or similar

Early risers can start the day with traditional Tai Chi lesson before breakfast. Enjoy a relaxing scenic cruising or attend the informative lectures and cultural programs. Qutang Gorge is the shortest and the most narrow one of the three.Wu Gorge is the most attractive gorge famous for forest-covered sheer cliffs and 12 peaks. Xiling Gorge is the last gorge you will pass through and it is the longest and the deepest among the three. Today the shore excursion isLesser Three Gorges or Shen Nong Stream (Depending on the water conditions).

Today we continue sailing upstream the mighty Yangtze .Today’s shore excursion will shore excursion isFeng Du Ghost City or Shibaozhai（Subject to navigation authority)  Tonight the ship Farewell Party invites you to join the excellent performance by the cruise staff.

After breakfast, Disembark and bid farewell to our warm and friendly crew of the cruise. Your China journey is over all too soon. Today you will be transferred to International Airport for your scheduled flight home or you may choose to extend your stay and continue to explore other mesmerizing cities. We hope you enjoyed your journey to China with us

(Due to possible delays in the arrival time of the Yangtze River cruise ship at the port due to water level and weather conditions, please arrange a flight departing from Chongqing after 3pm)