China: Yangtze River Cruise - 18 Days
Sail through historic China with a cruise down the legendary Yangtze River, and travel overland to see some of the country's archaelogical wonders. We start in busy Hong Kong then fly to Chengdu and visit the Panda breeding centre.Take a full day tour on Emei Shan Mountain and visit the Buddha at the Dazu grottoes on the way to Chongqing. Then sit back and relax as we cruise along the Yangtze and visit some interesting sights on its shores.Take a look at modern China at the Three Gorges Dam Projects and then travel back in time at Xi'an, where we visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, the Great Mosque and the vibrant muslim quarter. See the 2000 year old Army of Terracotta Warriors, one of China's top historical sights. Travelling north to Beijing some of the highlights are Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace.We end our tour on a high note, with a walk along the spectacular Great Wall of China.
Days 1, 2
Travel to China
Day 3
Hong Kong. Hong Kong is one of the worlds’ most famous cities. It is a popular tourist attraction besides being an important financial market of the world.
Hong Kong is divided into three main regions: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories. Our hotel is in Kowloon. Upon arrival in Hong Kong we are transferred to our hotel for check in. After check in, we can offer you an optional city tour, or you are free to begin exploring this amazing city at your leisure.
Shopping Malls in Kowloon are numerous and this makes Hong Kong one of the top shopping destinations in the world. In Kowloon, the Star Ferry is very popular among tourists for a very inexpensive fare, and you can enjoy the magnificent panorama of Victoria Harbour on it.
Hong Kong Island is the main island in Hong Kong. The central part of Hong Kong Island is the business centre, which is also an important venue for international trade and finance. Its towering skyscrapers and bustling activities give an impression of great wealth and prosperity. Boasting both eastern and western cultures, Hong Kong is both a shopper's and a tourist's paradise.
Recommended attractions on this wonderful island are Ocean Park, with the longest pedestrian escalator in the world, which is the largest leisure theme park in southeast Asia; Victoria Peak, with the oldest Peak tram, which is the highest peak on this island and Hong Kong's most enduring tourist attraction; and the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, with its grand architecture and luxurious decor.
Day 4
Guangzhou And Chengdu. We catch the early morning train and take off for Guangzhou in Canton province. If there’s time you can visit the Qing Ping market –look out for weird Chinese medicines plus monkeys and other animals lined up for sale. Then an early lunch at your own leisure before we transfer to the airport for our flight to Chengdu.
Chengdu is a centre of science and technology, commerce, trade and finance as well as leading hub of transportation and communications in Southwest China. It is the capital of Sichuan province, and boasts many wonderful and interesting attractions in and around the city.
Upon arrival in Chengdu, we are transferred from the airport to the hotel for check in and our overnight stay.
Day 5
Chengdu Panda Breeding Centre, Leshan And Emeishan. Our day begins after breakfast with a trip to the famous the Giant Panda Breeding Centre. The giant pandas are not only a Chinese national treasure but are also beloved by people the world over. In total there are fewer than 1000, of which 80% are distributed within the territory of Sichuan province. The Breeding Research Centre imitates the pandas’ natural habitat in order that they might have a the best possible environment for rearing and breeding. The necessary facilities for giant pandas have been completed and include a fodder room, sleeping quarters and a medical station. Additionally there is a Giant Panda Museum together with research laboratories and a training centre.
After our visit to the Pandas our journey continues out of Chengdu and onto Leshan, where we arrive for lunch.
Leshan is a beautiful town set amongst hills and mountains. We make an afternoon visit to the Giant Buddha of Leshan. The Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone sculpture of Buddha in the world. Carved from the side of the Lingyun Hill, the Buddha measures 71 meters in height and his shoulders are 28 metres across. He is depicted barefooted with drooping ears and has his hair arranged in a spiral topknot, with his chest exposed and his hands resting on his knees. We are able to take in the full glory of the Giant Buddha from a boat and also from the bank.
From Leshan we then proceed to Emeishan for our overnight stay.
Day 6
Emeishan. Today we have a fantastic full day tour of Mt Emei.
Mt. Emei is one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China. It is said that Mt. Emei derived its name from two peaks which face each other and look like eyebrows. Ever since the introduction of Buddhism into China in the 1st century AD, Buddhist buildings have been constructed on the mountain, and now more than one hundred temples and monasteries adorn the mountain. The most famous of these are the Baoguo Monastery, Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion and the Golden Summit. The very top of the mountain is accessible by the cable car, which is an optional trip at a cost of $10USD.
This day will be a highlight of your tour, full of beautiful views of the surrounding area, as well as amazing temples and monasteries.
Our day concludes as we return to Emeishan for our overnight stay.
Day 7
Emeishan to Chengdu. After breakfast we make our way back to Chengdu and some free time for you to explore the city at your leisure.
Chengdu has many interesting attractions, including Wuhou Memorial Temple - which houses 47 statues of civil officials and senior generals of three earlier kingdoms, and is not only a museum for people to know the history of these three kingdoms, but also a good place for resting and visiting.
Day 8
Chengdu to Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise. This morning we leave the city of Chengdu to travel on to Chongqing.
On our way to Chongqing, we have time to stop off for a visit to the Dazu Rock Carvings. There are more than 50,000 Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian rock carvings and 100,000 characters of inscriptions dotted around Dazu. The carvings not only include the statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva but also include that of monarchs, ministers, military officers, jailers, executioners, monks, rich and poor people, and folk art performers. The earliest grotto was carved in the early Tang Dynasty and most of them have a history of over 1000 years. The Dazu Grottoes are regarded as an art treasure house that fully reflected the society, philosophy, religion and folklore of that time. In 1999, UNESCO listed Dazu Stone Carvings as a world cultural heritage site.
We then proceed onto Chongqing. Chongqing is the starting point for our Yangtze River Cruise, in which we explore the wonderful scenery of the Three Gorges. Upon arrival in Chongqing, we will be able to pre-board our cruise boat which will be our home for this amazing journey.
Days 9, 10
Yangtze River Cruise. Today, our 2-day boat journey begins. The boat will be a basic Chinese-style boat with twin-share cabins and en-suite facilities. After breakfast and a briefing, including information on the 3 gorges dam project, we set off along the mighty Yangtze River.
From the treeless Mount Tanggula of Upper Qinghai, the Yangtze River winds 3,900 miles through the country from west to east. The journey from Chongqing to Yichang includes the "Three Gorges" and is characterized by its picturesque natural scenery.
In the afternoon we make a stop for a guided tour of Fengdu, the ‘City of Ghosts’. The origin of the town's extraordinary reputation can be traced back to the Han Dynasty when two officials, Yin and Wang, became Taoist recluses here and eventually immortals. Later during the Tang Dynasty, when combined, their names mean "King of the Under World". Today, the town is home to temples and shrines dedicated to the gods of the underworld.
Our second day on the cruise includes our journey through the magnificent 3 gorges area. The Three Gorges - Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge are known as the highlight of the Yangtze cruise. The area is characterised by the breathtaking scenery through these gorges. We spend the morning cruising through this area, and we continue exploring in the afternoon when we take a guided tour through the Shennong Lesser Gorges area. For this we use a smaller boat to manoeuvre through the crystal clear waters and deep gorges. We conclude this wonderful day of sightseeing with dinner on our cruise boat.
Day 11
End to Cruise / Three Gorges Dam Project / Yichang / Overnight Train to Shanghai. Our boat journey ends after breakfast, and once back on dry land, we take a guided tour of the Three Gorges Dam Project. The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River has been a dream for generations and will be one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken by mankind. This great dam, the largest of its kind in the world, will provide China with tremendous power generation and flood control services.
The remainder of our day is spent in Yichang prior to our overnight train journey to Xi’an.
Day 12
Xi’an. We arrive mid-morning into Xi’an train station, where we will meet our transfer to the hotel for breakfast and check-in. We then offer you a free morning to begin exploring your surroundings in Xi’an.
Xi'an was called Chang'an during the Han Dynasty. The connotation of "Chang'an" is "a place of permanent peace". It was not until the prosperous Tang Dynasty that Chang'an became famous both at home and abroad as the largest and busiest international metropolis of that age in the world. Xi'an obtained its present name in 1369. From the 11 century B.C. onwards, Xi'an or its vicinity was established as the capital city by 11 dynasties successively, including the Western Zhou, the Qin, the Han, the Sui and the Tang. The city's capital status lasted for 1,608 years. As regards the number of dynasties and span of time, Xi'an served as an ancient capital beyond compare.
With so much history, Xi’an possesses a number of fascinating attractions. In the afternoon we take a guided tour of Xi’an, which includes visits to the Wild Goose Pagoda and Shaanxi Provincial Museum.
The Wild Goose Pagoda is situated in the Da Ci'en Temple, four kilometres away from the centre of the city. It is one of the city's most distinctive and outstanding landmarks, and possibly the most beautiful building left in Xi’an today. In AD 652, the Big Goose Pagoda was built to store the sutras and the figurines of Buddha. It is a sturdy and simple brick tower structure with a height of 64 metres, and occupies a base 25 metres by 25 metres square. The walls and doors are carved with vivid and exquisite figures of Buddha, reflecting the depth in the paintings of the Tang Dynasty.
The Shaanxi Provincial History Museum - a striking Tang-Dynasty style pavilion, houses a large collection of 113,000 historic and cultural artefacts unearthed in Shaanxi province. It is an absolute must for every visitor to the city. The main complex is a mixture of ancient palaces and courtyard buildings in simple and elegant style. The exhibits on the ground and first floors are arranged in roughly three parts: Basic Exhibition Hall, the Theme Exhibition Hall and East Exhibition Hall. As well as the chronological dynastic exhibits including the Han, Wei, Jin, North and South, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, the pre-historical and bronze period exhibits, together with terra cotta figures and murals from tombs of the Tang Dynasty, are highly recommended.
Days 13, 14
Xi’an. We continue our tour of Xi’an with a morning guided tour of Terracotta Warriors Museum and Bell Tower.
The Terracotta Warriors and Horses are one of the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China. In 1974, a group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for a well. This discovery caught the attention of archaeologists immediately. They came to Xi’an in droves to study and to extend the digs.
Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. They are replicas of what the imperial guard should look like in those days of pomp and vigour. Altogether over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed from these pits. Most of them have been restored to their former grandeur. In 1987, the Terracotta Warriors museum was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
The Bell Tower was originally built in the Yingxiang Temple in 1384. Then in 1582, it was moved to its present pivotal position, in the very heart of the city at the junction of four main streets extending to the east, south, west and north, for rebuilding and restorations. With magnificent carved beams and painted rafters, this classical building is truly elegant. The whole building, 36 meters high overall, is a triple-eaved, two-storey structure, built with a mixture of bricks and wood. Under the eaves, there is a beautifully decorated, coloured " dougong " (archway). It's the only characteristic of Chinese wooden architecture depicted here. The following day we offer you more free time to explore this amazing city, before transferring to the train station for our overnight train to Beijing.
Days 15, 16
Beijing. We arrive early and transfer to our hotel for check in and breakfast.
Today we have an all day Beijing city tour with our local guide. First stop is the infamous Tiananmen Square. Tiananmen Square is a huge open space surrounded on all sides by imposing official buildings. Apart from being a popular gathering place for tourists and kite flyers, it is still often used for any big celebration and for the government leaders to address the people.
From Tiananmen Square we go into the dramatic Forbidden City- so called because only the emperors, their families, Imperial eunuchs and other servants were allowed in there. The Forbidden city is a vast complex of halls, temples and housing which make up the former residence of the ancient emperors. Also known as the Imperial Palace, the complex is said to contain 9,999 rooms. The complex is divided into a northern and southern part. The southern area is where the emperor would hold ceremonies and entertain guests. The northern half was kept completely private residence accessible only to the select circles of the emperor. As you walk around the Forbidden City you can really lose yourself as the outside world of Beijing is barely visible from most parts. You can really experience a little of the feel of being a Chinese Emperor.
Our tour finishes with a trip to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is located in the north west corner of Beijing right next to Beijing University. Constructed as a place of rest and recreation for the emperor of old, it is now open as a public park and is one of the most impressive places to visit in Beijing. The focus of the Summer Palace is a huge lake with a long walkway circling it. To the one end is built a series of towers, halls and temples climbing the hillside. From the buildings towards the top of the hill you can see the entire lake and its surroundings. The park is accented by many small architectural features such as the beautiful 17 arch bridge, which leads to a small island, and the pagoda on the hill of the far shore.
The following day our tour takes us to visit one of the world’s most famous landmarks – The Great Wall of China. We include a full day guided tour along the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus stretching approximately 6,700 kilometres (4,163 miles) from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections of the great wall are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.
For centuries, the wall served succeeding dynasties as an efficient military defence. However, it was only when a dynasty had weakened from within that invaders from the north were able to advance and conquer. Both the Mongols (Yuan Dynasty, 1271-1368) and the Manchurians (Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911) were able take power because of weakness of the government and poverty of the people but never due to any possibility of weakness of the Wall.
In the evening you can get a taste of local culture with an optional visit to the Beijing Opera with traditional Chinese theatre with singing, dancing, mime and acting.
Days 17, 18
Travel home from Beijing.
ACCOMMODATION & TRANSPORT
Hotel
9 Nights
Sleeper Train
2 Nights
Cruise Boat
3 Nights
Private Minibus
Train
Plane
Boat
On Foot
Private Vehicle
HIGHLIGHTS
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS MARKED *
China
Canton Qingping Market, Chengdu Panda Sanctuary, Standing Buddha, Emei Shan Mountain, Dazu Cliff Sculptures, Three Gorges Yangtze Cruise, Xi'an, Wild Goose Pagoda, Terracotta Warriors, Beijing, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace
Information given is given in good fath by the company, and is based on the latest information available at the date of publication. The company reserves the right to change any of the facilities or vehicles described in the itinerary without becoming liable for compensation or refund.
