11 Days Group Tour (Beijing -Xian -Yangtze Cruise -Shanghai)

Welcome to majestic Beijing! To ensure your arrival is stress-free, your driver will meet you in the arrival hall holding a sign with your name on it and then transfer you to the Sunworld Hotelor Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel.

Accommodation: Sunworld Hotel or Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel, Beijing 

 Breakfast & lunch

In the morning we meet in the hotel lobby and you have the opportunity to meet other travelers. We will go to the Tian’anmen Square, where the most important national ceremonies are held, surrounded by many historical buildings. From the square, you can walk to the Forbidden City. Inside this imperial palace, we will explore its fascinating halls, pavilions with golden roofs and high red walls. After we exit the Forbidden City, we will enter another attraction – Jingshan Park where we will see local Chinese residents taking exercise, singing or dancing, and we will climb the hill inside the park. When we reach the top of the hill, we will enjoy the bird view of the whole Forbidden City and Beijing central city, which is a highlight of today.At noon, we will have lunch at a very nice restaurant where you can have menu-ordered delicious Chinese dishes.In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors came to worship the heavens in hopes of good harvests.In the evening you will be entertained by a wonderful Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theater.

The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City -Get to know how emperors lived their lives.

When you visit the Forbidden City, you will see many big water tanks. Guess what they are used for?

The big water tank in the Forbidden City

 Breakfast & lunch

Today we will hike on the Badaling Great Wall, the most highlightedsight in Beijing.Please be prepared with your shoes since you will climb on the steps of the great wall. To reach the top of the great wall you can choose to hike on foot or take the cable car(optional with extra charge). You will never forget the view on the great wall, one of the seven wonders in the world.At noon, we will have lunch in the nice restaurant of Jade Museum.After lunch, we will visit the Sacred Road. Along the sacred road there are many stone statues of people and animals on both sides. These are the loyal guarders of the royal graveyard.One the way back to the downtown Beijing, we will stop by the Olympic Stadiums, you can take photos of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

Badaling Great Wall

Water Cube

 Breakfast & lunch

In the morning we will visit the beautiful Summer Palace – the largest imperial garden in China. Walk along the elegant Promenade, see stone boat, visit Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. You will also enjoy the scenery on a boat. After Summer Palace, we will visit Panda House inside Beijing Zoo, where we will see lovely pandas. Then drive to hutong area, visit a local Beijing family and learn how to make a dumpling and cooking skills, you may try to make a dumpling by yourself and have dumplings as your lunch. After lunch we will enjoy a rickshaw Hutong tour where you will visit Shichahai, Yinding Bridge, Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street, etc. allowing you to experience the essence of Beijing and its old culture. If time permits, you can also visit Nanluoguxiang.

Finally transfer to the train station for your overnight train to Xian.

Accommodation: On the train

Summer Palace

Beijing zoo , Panda hall

Hutong residence

  lunch & dumpling dinner

In the morning, we will pick you up from the train station, and we drive to Terra-cotta Warriors, which is the most important attraction in Xian. There are three excavated pits exhibiting amazing Qin dynasty warriors and horses figures.At noon we will have lunch at a well-known restaurant.After lunch, we will visit Xian Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional dumpling dinner and a splendid Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.

Hotel: Ramada Bell Tower Hotel, Xian

Terra-cotta Warriors

 Western buffet breakfast

After breakfast we will visit the ancient City Wall. It is the most complete existing urban fortification in China which was build in Tang Dynasty. You can walk or cycle on the ancient wall.Afterwards, you will head to Chongqing by bullet train. We will meet you at the train station and head for Chaotianmen Ferry Terminal to board the luxurious Yangtze River cruise ship, which is the most relaxed journey of your 11 days China itinerary.

Accommodation:President Cruise or other 5 Star Cruise with balcony

Xian Ancient City Wall

Ciqikou historic Town in Chongqing

 Breakfast,lunch,dinner

Early bird coffee and tea are available at 6:30. Have buffet breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30.Then join the activities on the cruise or take an optional tour to Fengdu Ghost City .Have buffet lunch at noon.At 16:00, the ship will stop at Zhongxian Port. Shore excursion to Shibaozhai, which was built against Yuyin Mountain, during Wanli Period. The whole tower is 56 meters high with 12 floors.There will be a Captain's Welcome Reception at 18:15 at Shangri-la Restaurant and an evening show at Oscar Performance Hall at 21:00.

Life on the cruiser

President no 6

President Suite

Optional evening : Fengdu Ghost City (CNY290 per person, 2.5 hours).

Accommodation: On the cruise

 Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Early bird coffee and tea are available at 6:30. Have buffet breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30.The ship will stop at White Emperor City at 7:00. Stay on board or take an optional tour to White Emperor City.Then pass through Qutang Gorge at 10:45. The tour guide will explain the attraction on the deck of 6th floor.At 12:30, the ship will pass through Wu Gorge. You could enjoy the scenery while having buffet lunch.In the afternoon, take a boat to visit Shennong Stream. It is a stream of 60 km running through the gorges from the south to the north.There will be a Captain's Farewell Banquet at 19:00. Settle the bills later.Watch Crew cabaret at 21:00. At about 22:30, the ship will go through five-grade ship lock of the Three Gorges Dam. You will see the spectacular scenes on the deck of 6th floor and experience how a cruiser ship climb stairs.

Optional Activities: White Emperor City (CNY290 per person)

White Emperor City

Qutang Gorge, first section of Three Gorges

 Breakfast

After an early breakfast, you will disembark for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam, where the cruiser guide will show you around the site and explain how the dam works. Then you will return to ship and check-out the cruiser around 12:00 at noon. We will pick you up on board and transfer you to the Yichang airport for the flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival at Shanghai, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the Bund Riverside Hotel. The rest of the day is free for you.

Three Gorges Dam

the Bund in Shanghai

Accommodation: The Bund Riverside Hotel,Shanghai

 Breakfast & Lunch

In the morning we visit Shanghai Museum treasured with ancient art works of China, including bronze ware, chinaware, paintings and calligraphy. Then we tour the Yuyuan Garden, a famous garden in the south China. The symbol of Yuyuan Garden is the Nine Zigzag Bridge built of granite and grass-white jade and the quaint, elegant mid-lake pavilion.At noon we have farewell lunch at a good restaurant with Shanghai cuisine.Afternoon we visit Bund area, where you can see the famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower across the river, this is a good place to take pictures of Shanghai. Then have a short cruise tour along the Huangpu River. After that we will walk to Nanjing Road if time permits and then visit an old streets in Shanghai. At last, we will go back to hotel, and our guide and driver will say goodbye to you.

Shanghai Museum

Yuyuan Garden

on the Huangpu river

 Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, our package finished. You need find your own way to the airport for your homeward flight. Note that there are two airports in Shanghai: Pudong Airport (PVG) and Hongqiao Airport (SHA). We suggest you reserve a taxi at the hotel to save waiting time. Also if you wish to stay on in China, please contact us for an extension tour.