Tour AC05 - Sailing down the Yangtze River

Tour AC05 - Sailing down the Yangtze River
Highlights: Yangtze River Cruise, Three Gorges, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guiling, Chongqing, Hong Kong

Duration One: 22 days:
Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Cruise, Guiling, Hong Kong
 

Duration Two: 15 days:
Shanghai, Cruise, Chongqin, Beijing

Duration Three: 14 days:
Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Cruise, Shanghai

Duration One: 22 days, 21 nights
most popular tour to visit China
Download the itinerary for details

Duration Two: 18 days, 17 nights, CITS Tour No. 6
Day 1: Canada - Beijing
We start our journey from Ottawa with a transpacific flight to Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing
We arrive in Beijing, the political and cultural capital of China. We are greeted at the airport by our local tour guide and make our way to the hotel. We get a good night’s sleep and prepare for our first day of touring in this land of wonder and mystery. HOTEL: CHANG AN GRAND HOTEL BEIJING or similar (superior class)

Day 3: Beijing (B.L.D)
This morning we start tours to Tiananmen Square and the Extravagant the largest Imperial Palace in the world -the Forbidden City of Supreme Harmony & Dignity (UNESCO), then we approach to the largest Imperial Garden in the world, the elegant Summer Palace (UNESCO) including cruise on the shimmering waters of Kunming Lake. After that we visit the Pandas Garden in Beijing Zoo. The garden has been breeding the largest numbers of pandas as an institution outside its original habitat areas and it constitutes with other Panda Sanctuaries for being the UNESCO site.

Day 4: Beijing (B.L.D)
This morning we start tours first to iconic ”Beijing 2008 Olympic Center” -the Bird’s Nest & Water Cube –where hosts to many spectacular events. We stroll around the outside for photography, and then we continue to the Great Wall Badaling (UNESCO) and walking along its ramparts for breathtaking view of the largest man power project in ancient. After that we approach to the mountain valley of the best geomancy site -the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Tomb (UNESCO) including visit the Sacred Stature Road. If time available wevisit a Jade Carving Factory and observe the skilled artisans at work as they create intricate designs.

Day 5: Beijing (B.L.SD)
This morning we visit another renowned imperial site –the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO) including visit the Imperial Hall of Pray Harvest, the Imperial Vault and the Imperial Sacrificial Altar. We see the echo wall in the vault and the stones on the altar where the emperors whispered with Celestial Beings by the special features of the phenomenon utilize the theory of sound wave. Then we visit Beijing City Planning Museum and watch a 3D film which tells the glory history and fast changes of Beijing, many visiting presidents paid a visit while they had a limited time in Beijing. Afternoon we take the old–fashioned Pedi cab to the historical sites behind main streets by Hutong Tour. We may visit Pearl workshop at time available. Tonight we enjoy Peking Duck Dinner and Beijing Opera Show.

Day 6: Beijing - Xian by air (B.L.D)
We take later morning flight from Beijing to Xian the ancient capital over 1100 years and check in hotels. HOTEL: AURUM INTERNATIONAL or similar (superior). Sightseeing in the afternoon: Big Wild Goose Pagoda &the Provincial Museum. Big Wide Goose Pagoda Temple was regarded the landmark of Xian. When the dynasties expanded its territories enormously to the west and with many Buddhism Scriptures, Monks and the envoys came to China, the temple was built and a larger team of scholars was organized here for translation of the Buddhism Scriptures into Chinese. Then it became a holy place for pilgrimages. Behind the pagoda is the courtyard, which tells great Buddhism envoys story. The provincial Museum shows us Chinese archaeology’s excavation at Xian Areas from very beginning of Chinese primogenitors of Neolithic Age 20000-8000 years ago to the glorious dynasties 980AD. It has numerous collections and treasures on display.

Day 7: Xian (B.L.SD)
Full day excursion tour to the femurs UNESCO site of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors & Bronze Chariots, We will see all excavated Exhibition 1, 2 ,3, 4 and watching the archaeologists are continuing on the fields for further exploration. Then we watch the Circle Vision Movie of the historical story and the great excavation. Afternoon on the route back the city we visit the Ceramics & Pottery Center. Tonight we enjoy Dumpling Dinner & Tang Dynasty Show.

Day 8: Xian - Yichang by air (B.L.D)
We take later morning flight from Xian to Yichang. Short city tour before cruise check in and overnight on board: MV deluxe President No.1 Cruiser.
The Yangtze River is the third longest one in the world and the largest in China with stirring, riffle water along with swirling bubbles. Many isolated small villages and numberless local temples and pagodas, historical sites along the river bring us a geography, history and legends exploration beyond our images. The River and Three Gorges is rewarded as UNESCO site. Relax with drinking and eating inclusive just as a parting and appreciation extension that extremely brings us into a most beautiful vacation, not else. The President Cruises are superior & luxury boats specially designed for foreign visitors and it has provided the excellent service for over 18 years with a good reputation. The staffs are very talent and even organize us for join their talent show and entertainments on board.

Day 9: Cruise (B.L.D)
We sail into picturesque dark green Xiling Gorges. Finally we sail through the huge Three Gorges Dam and the 5 ship locks with raising the boat up 412 feet. Then we take an excursion to visit the New Dam Site. After that we sail into the second section of Xiling Gorge to Shennong Stream (the God of Agriculture Living Area).

Day 10: Cruise (B.L.D)
We change to the small boat for sailing deep into the fabled Three Lesser Gorges along Shennong Stream for a 3 hours exploration. After we get to the upstream we change to small sampan pulling up by man tracker on bubbled water to the ethnic village, they celebrate our visiting by singing local songs along the sampan trip while we enjoy the most scenic of all gorges for an excursion.
After we return back the boat, we continue sailing and enter into the second Wu Gorge, The river changes to wildly stirring, riffle water along with numerous swirling bubbles. The mossy cliffs are hemmed by the hanging pathways under the Twelve Peaks. And in the later afternoon we pass through the great Qutang Gorge.

Day 11: Cruise (B.L.D)
Sailing in the gorges & off-shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City or Shibaozai. Fengdu was a ghost city and the entrance of heaven or hell or the Celestial Being’s Judgment here. It reveals ancient Chinese religion and believing legends with the imaged constructions and carved ghost statures for lucky praying. We could also have a glimpse of the new settlement town by the relocation of the new dam construction. Return back the boat and continue sailing. It is subject to visit Shibozai Pagoda on the cliff which has been always regarded a pearl along the river for praying for good luck in the ancient.

Day 12: Chongqing & Dazu (B.L.D)
The Cruiser arrive Chongqing in the morning and disembarkation. Then we take a full day excursion tour of 90 miles away to Dazu, the home of the most fascinating grottos and rewarded as UNESCO Site in China for its largest numbers of artificial sculpture carving on the cliffs in the gallery styles. HOTEL: HARBOR PLAZA CHONGQING or similar (superior).

Day 13: Chongqing - Guilin by air (B.L.D)
We take a city tour and visit in Chonqging including the Great Hall of People, the Second World War Museum and then & fly to Guilin. Transfer to hotel HOTEL: PARK HOTEL GUILIN or similar (superior)
None of any others scenery in the world could be ranked in parallel with Guilin for the magnificent natural landscape. The serene mountains, strangely shaped peaks and shimmering waters inspired the visitors for centuries. Many ethnic minorities represented here enrich the cultural life, thus adding truly unique features to Guilin's already beautiful sceneries , and rewarding it as UNESCO site. Afternoon we visit the Reed Flute Cave, a tour to the underground crystal palace. Then we take the comfortable visit the Piling Silk Hill to discover the old small temples and grottoes and experience the bird overview of the beautiful landscape.

Day 14: Guilin (B.L.D)
We start our cruise this morning on deluxe upper deck of an air-conditioned boat along Li River for a 60 miles distance that reveals the haunting beauty of the mist-wrapped peaks and amidst ethnic villages. It brings you a real journey of the natural painting gallery appreciation. After disembarkation and strolling a while in Yangshuo, we return back the city by vehicles and visit the art galley. We may take a free walk along the Old Rocky Lake, Banyan Lake, Cedarn Lake in front of our hotel, there are many historical sites including the garden of Solitary Beauty Peak and Elephant Trunk Hill for our own exploration.

Day 15: Guilin - Shanghai by air (B.L)
Leisure and fly to Shanghai. Transfer to the hotel. HOTEL: Shanghai Galaxy Hotel (superior)
Afternoon the city tours to colonial European past at The Bund-the window of Shanghai history and modern changes, then we visit Xintiandi, a very well-known boutique area composed together with fashion and tradition, fan & elegant. It shows another delight face of Shanghai. Especially in the later afternoon or at night, the small pub, bar and restaurants in western family style deeply hide inside the narrow lanes, it creates a good feeling of Salvador to artists and rich young people.

Day 16: Shanghai (B.L.D)
This morning we start visit Old Downtown and classical Yu Garden. Old Downtown has many narrow zigzag lanes, small squares, fish pond and pavilions and it collects many favorite local bars, restaurants, tea houses and souvenir shops. The Yu Garden (UNESCO Site) built 400 years ago, is a famous ancient private garden with architectures of Ming and Qing dynasties. Owing to its ingenious design, zigzag layout by pavilions, chambers and towers, opera stage, elegant rocks and bridges on the mirroring lakes and moats. It became a real museum of Chinese ancient architecture. The vividly brick-carving figures of warlords & warriors, unique animals standing on the roofs of ancient buildings and the huge dragons decorated on the range of walls, feature the garden to a unique. Afternoon we visit Shanghai Museum. The attractions include enormous finest stone sculptures, bronze-ware, porcelain, calligraphic works, Chinese paintings and ancient furniture. After the Museum we stroll to the People Square. The surroundings are the best collection of modern architecture. If time available we visit the Carpet Factory. Tonight we enjoy the famous Shanghai Acrobatic Show.

Day 17: Shanghai (B.L)
Today a highlight is to visit Shanghai World Exhibition (Shanghai EXPO) . The Exhibition covers a large area of over 5.6 Square KM with 27 master halls. The theme is to show all new creational hopes, concepts, designs, technologies, and present to the world a full potential of urban life in the 21st century as a significant one for urban evolution with a New Approaches of Human Habitat, Beautiful Lifestyle. (Shanghai EXPO is on May 01 – Oct.31, but on Feb.01-Apr.29, Nov.01-Dec31 are pre & post exhibition also available for visit). If Shanghai EXPO unavailable before or after the exhibition, we take an excursion to the ancient water-town Zhujiajiao to see another unchanged face of Shanghai, where EPEC leaders visited while they were in Shanghai. Then we return back the city, Afternoon we visit Jade Buddha Temple and then free for your own exploration.

Day 18: Shanghai - Canada
Today, our local tour guide sees us off at the airport, and we fly home to Canada. Have a wonderful trip!

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Duration Three: 14 days, 13 nights
Download the itinerary
Day 1: Canada - Beijing
We start our journey from Ottawa with a transpacific flight to Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing
We arrive in Beijing, the political and cultural capital of China. We are greeted at the airport by our local tour guide and make our way to the hotel. We get a good night’s sleep and prepare for our first day of touring in this land of wonder and mystery. HOTEL: CHANG AN GRAND HOTEL BEIJING or similar (superior class)

Day 3: Beijing (B.L.D)
This morning we start tours to Tiananmen Square and the Extravagant the largest Imperial Palace in the world -the Forbidden City of Supreme Harmony & Dignity (UNESCO), then we approach to the largest Imperial Garden in the world, the elegant Summer Palace (UNESCO) including cruise on the shimmering waters of Kunming Lake. After that we visit the Pandas Garden in Beijing Zoo. The garden has been breeding the largest numbers of pandas as an institution outside its original habitat areas and it constitutes with other Panda Sanctuaries for being the UNESCO site.

Day 4: Beijing (B.L.D)
This morning we start tours first to iconic ”Beijing 2008 Olympic Center” -the Bird’s Nest & Water Cube –where hosts to many spectacular events. We stroll around the outside for photography, and then we continue to the Great Wall Badaling (UNESCO) and walking along its ramparts for breathtaking view of the largest man power project in ancient. After that we approach to the mountain valley of the best geomancy site -the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Tomb (UNESCO) including visit the Sacred Stature Road. If time available wevisit a Jade Carving Factory and observe the skilled artisans at work as they create intricate designs.

Day 5: Beijing (B.L.SD)
This morning we visit another renowned imperial site –the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO) including visit the Imperial Hall of Pray Harvest, the Imperial Vault and the Imperial Sacrificial Altar. We see the echo wall in the vault and the stones on the altar where the emperors whispered with Celestial Beings by the special features of the phenomenon utilize the theory of sound wave. Then we visit Beijing City Planning Museum and watch a 3D film which tells the glory history and fast changes of Beijing, many visiting presidents paid a visit while they had a limited time in Beijing. Afternoon we take the old–fashioned Pedi cab to the historical sites behind main streets by Hutong Tour. We may visit Pearl workshop at time available. Tonight we enjoy Peking Duck Dinner and Beijing Opera Show.

Day 6: Beijing - Xian by air (B.L.D)
We take later morning flight from Beijing to Xian the ancient capital over 1100 years and check in hotels. HOTEL: AURUM INTERNATIONAL or similar (superior). Sightseeing in the afternoon: Big Wild Goose Pagoda &the Provincial Museum. Big Wide Goose Pagoda Temple was regarded the landmark of Xian. When the dynasties expanded its territories enormously to the west and with many Buddhism Scriptures, Monks and the envoys came to China, the temple was built and a larger team of scholars was organized here for translation of the Buddhism Scriptures into Chinese. Then it became a holy place for pilgrimages. Behind the pagoda is the courtyard, which tells great Buddhism envoys story. The provincial Museum shows us Chinese archaeology’s excavation at Xian Areas from very beginning of Chinese primogenitors of Neolithic Age 20000-8000 years ago to the glorious dynasties 980AD. It has numerous collections and treasures on display.

Day 7: Xian (B.L.SD)
Full day excursion tour to the femurs UNESCO site of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors & Bronze Chariots, We will see all excavated Exhibition 1, 2 ,3, 4 and watching the archaeologists are continuing on the fields for further exploration. Then we watch the Circle Vision Movie of the historical story and the great excavation. Afternoon on the route back the city we visit the Ceramics & Pottery Center. Tonight we enjoy Dumpling Dinner & Tang Dynasty Show.

Day 8: Xian - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise (B.L.D)
Fly to Chongqing in the morning. Afternoon sightseeing: Yangtze River Museum & the Second World War Memorials.
Embark MV. Paradise before 8 p.m. and set sailing at mid-night. MV Paradise – CITS president cruises No. 6 (superior)

It is subject to visit Shibozai Pagoda on the cliff which has been always regarded a pearl along the river for people praying for good luck in the ancient.

Day 10: Cruise (B.L.D)
Sailing into the first Qutang Gorge and the second Wu Gorge and the river changes to wildly stirring, riffle water along with numerous swirling bubbles. The mossy cliffs are hemmed by the hanging pathways under the Twelve Peaks. After the boat reaches to famed Shennong Stream, we change to the small boat and sail deep into the fabled Three Lesser Gorges of 3 hours exploration. After we get to the upstream we change to small sampan pulling up by man tracker on bubbled water to the ethnic villages, they celebrate our visiting by singing local songs along the sampan trip while we enjoy the most scenic of all gorges for an excursion.

Day 11: Three Gorges - Yichang - Shanghai (B.L)
Continue Sailing in Xiling Gorge then take a shore excursion to the New Dam site in the morning. Afternoon disembarkation at Yichang and fly to Shanghai. Hotel: Galaxy Hotel Shanghai or similar (superior)

Day 12: Shanghai (B.L.B)
As a definite highlight of our tour, we visit Shanghai, the undisputed commercial and financial heart of the country. Situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, this modern metropolis is widely regarded as the citadel of China's economic development. Originally a sleepy fishing town, Shanghai became China's most important city by the twentieth century and is now a centre of popular culture, intellectual discourse, and political intrigue.
This morning we start visit Old Downtown and classical Yu Garden. Old Downtown has many narrow zigzag lanes, small squares, fish pond and pavilions and it collects many favorite local bars, restaurants, tea houses and souvenir shops. The Yu Garden (UNESCO Site) built 400 years ago, is a famous ancient private garden with architectures of Ming and Qing dynasties. Owing to its ingenious design, zigzag layout by pavilions, chambers and towers, opera stage, elegant rocks and bridges on the mirroring lakes and moats. It became a real museum of Chinese ancient architecture. The vividly brick-carving figures of warlords & warriors, unique animals standing on the roofs of ancient buildings and the huge dragons decorated on the range of walls, feature the garden to a unique. Afternoon we visit Shanghai Museum. The attractions include enormous finest stone sculptures, bronze-ware, porcelain, calligraphic works, Chinese paintings and ancient furniture. After the Museum we stroll to the People Square. The surroundings are the best collection of modern architecture. If time available we visit the Carpet Factory. Tonight we enjoy the famous Shanghai Acrobatic Show.

Day 13: Shanghai (B.L)
Today a highlight is to visit Shanghai World Exhibition (Shanghai EXPO). The Exhibition covers a large area of over 5.6 Square KM with 27 master halls. The theme is to show all new creational hopes, concepts, designs, technologies, and present to the world a full potential of urban life in the 21st century as a significant one for urban evolution with a New Approaches of Human Habitat, Beautiful Lifestyle. (Shanghai EXPO is on May 01 – Oct.31, but on Feb.01-Apr.29, Nov.01-Dec31 are pre & post exhibition also available for visit )

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