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12 Days Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai Essence Tour with Yangtze River Cruise

Destination:Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Yichang

Tour Code: YCT12

Tour Duration: 12 Days

Tour overview:
Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai are some of the most spectacular cities in the world, and this tour combines them, along with a cruise down the Yangtze River. You will visit the splendor of ancient Beijing, and explore its modern pulse. In Shanghai, you will see the combining of Chinese and Western culture and history that make it so special, and in Xian, capital of more than 10 ancient Chinese dynasties, you will see the Terracotta Warriors and much more. On your Yangtze Cruise, you will relax on your luxurious floating cruise ship as you pass through the Three Gorges.

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Tour Summary

Day by Day Itinerary

Reviews

B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner

Tour Dates Destinations Services Provided Meals Included
Day 1
Shanghai

Arrive in Shanghai, be met and transferred to hotel.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Jin Jiang Hotel Shanghai Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai Jin jiang New Asia hotel Shanghai
B L D
Day 2
Shanghai

Full day visit to Yuyuan Garden , Jade Buddha Temple , Oriental Pearl TV Tower , The Bund , Nanjing Road .

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Jin Jiang Hotel Shanghai Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai Jin jiang New Asia hotel Shanghai
B L D
Day 3
Shanghai

Morning visit to Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center , Shanghai World Financial Center .In the afternoon, be transferred to airport for flight to Yichang. Arrive in Yichang, be met and transferred to the dock and pre-board the ship. The ship departs Yichang at 22:00.
B L D
Day 4
Yangtze Cruise

Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam (08:00-11:00).
B L D
Day 5
Yangtze Cruise

Shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges (08:00-12:00).
B L D
Day 6
Yangtze Cruise

Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City (09:00-11:00).
B L D
Day 7
Chongqing/Xi'an

Arrive in Chongqing at 09:00 AM, be met at the dock and visit Ciqikou Old Town , Goose Neck Park , Panda Room in Chongqing Zoo .Then be transferred to airport for flight to Xi'an. Arrive in Xi'an, be met and transferred to hotel.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Hotel Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square Mercure on Renmin Square Xian Ibis Xian
B L D
Day 8
Xi'an

Full day visit to The Terracotta Army and Horses , Big Wild Goose Pagoda , Bell Tower .

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Hotel Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square Mercure on Renmin Square Xian Ibis Xian
B L D
Day 9
Xi'an/Beijing

In the morning, visit Ancient City Wall and Shaanxi Provincial Museum .Then be transferred to airport for flight to Beijing.Arrive in Beijing, be met and transferred to hotel.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Wangfujing Sunworld Hotel Beijing Redwall Hotel
B L D
Day 10
Beijing

Full day visit to Tiananmen Square , Forbidden City , The Temple of Heaven , Hutong Tours in Rickshaw .

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Wangfujing Sunworld Hotel Beijing Redwall Hotel
B L D
Day 11
Beijing

Full day visit to Badaling Great Wall , Ming Tombs , The Sacred Way , Summer Palace .

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Wangfujing Sunworld Hotel Beijing Redwall Hotel
B L D
Day 12
Beijing

Free at leisure till be transferred to airport for your flight departure.
B L D

-NOTE:

1. Normally hotels allow a maximum of 3 adults per room with an extra bed, at extra charge. Some hotels will allow three adults and a small child.

2. Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.

3. More people more discounts. Please enquire for more details.

Price Includes

A. Entrance fees：To scenic spots as listed above in the itinerary.
B. Meals: All meals as specified in the itinerary.
C. Private Transfers: Among airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in the above cities by the private air conditioned vehicle.
D. Guide and Driver: As outlined in the itinerary, a well selected English-speaking guide and driver will accompany you throughout the entire tour in that city. They do not fly with you from one city to another.
E. Hotels: Hotel Based on two persons sharing one room with twin beds. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
F. Luggage Transfers: Between airports and hotels.
G. Service Charge & Government Taxes.
H. Travel insurance in mainland China during the above travel period.
I. Arrangements: The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner

Day 1

Shanghai Arrival

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Arriving in Shanghai, you will be greeted by our local guide and then transferred to your hotel by a private air-conditioned car. For the rest of the day you will enjoy some leisure time.

Day 2

Shanghai (B, L)

Shanghai (B, L)

Sightseeing: Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Oriental Pearl Tower, the Bund, Nanjing Road  

Today we will start the day with a visit of Yuyuan Garden, a beautiful garden in the south of the Yangtze River. Wandering through it, you will find pavilions, corridors, streams, courtyards as well as many other natural features.

Then we head to the Jade Buddha Temple. The old-time and classical architectural style makes the temple unique and inimitable in this modern city. Both, the Sitting Buddha and the Recumbent Buddha are carved with whole white jade. If you're lucky, you can watch the monks serving a ceremony in a side room.

After lunch, we will visit the Oriental Pearl Tower, the highest TV tower in Asia, which creates a picture of 'twin dragons playing with pearls'. The entire scene is a photographic jewel that excites the imagination and attracts thousands of visitors all year-round.

Afterwards, you will take a walk to the famous Nanjing Road and the Bund. They are among the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai and therefore a must-see when visiting Shanghai.

 

Day 3

Shanghai / Yichang (B)

Shanghai / Yichang (B)

Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, The Shanghai World Financial Center.

This morning, we will first visit Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, which is the first kind of exhibition center in China showcasing a city's development. It showcases the past, the present and the future of the development of the urban planning of Shanghai.

Then we will move to visit the Shanghai World Financial Center, it is a supertall skyscraper in Shanghai, China. It is a mixed-function office-based skyscraper combining offices, business, hotels, sightseeing and conferences. With 101 floors above ground level and soaring to a height of 492m, this project embodies Mori Building's original "Vertical Garden City" concept and incorporates the company's vast know-how and experience.

After lunch, you will be transferred to airport to take the flight to Yichang. Arriving in Yichang, be met and transferred to the dock by our local guide to pre-board the ship. Your cruise will start at about 22:00.

Day 4

Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)

Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)

Sightseeing: Three Gorges Dam

(09:00-11:30) Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam Site.
(12:45) Passing through Xiling Gorge.

Three Gorges Dam, the largest water conservancy project undertaken by man. The construction of the dam formally began in 1994. The body of the dam was completed in 2003, and the whole construction will be competed in 2009. It will be 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, 18 meters wide on the top and 130 meters wide at the bottom. Tourists can get access to the top of the dam.

Day 5

Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)

Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)

Sightseeing: Shennong Stream

(08:00-12:00) Boat excursion to Shennong Stream.
(13:00-15:30) Wu Gorge
(17:30-18:00) Qutang Gorge

Shennong Stream is another tributary of the Yangtze River, and its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges. The stream races past large and small karst caves, flocks of swallows, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, three-colored springs, rapids, the ancient plank path, a suspended coffin in the cliff, groups of ancient tombs and marvelous karst formations.

Day 6

Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)

Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)

Sightseeing: Fengdu Ghost City

(8:30-10:30) Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City.

Fengdu, with fantastic temples of underworld demons and gods, is constructed on the Mingshan Hill by the river band. It is known as the "Ghost City" and is a place for punishing the devil and awarding the good.

Day 7

Chongqing / Xi'an (B, L)

Chongqing / Xi'an (B, L)

Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Ciqikou Ancient Town, Goose Neck Park, Panda Room

(09:00) Disembark in Chongqing.

Arriving in Chongqing, you will be met at the dock by our local guide and visit Ciqikou Ancient Town. Dated back to the late Ming Dynasty, The buildings have been restored and well preserved. Along the streets, restaurants, souvenirs shops and local snacks are located. There are several tea houses that feature daily performances of traditional Chinese music. 

You will have a walk around the Goose Neck Park. This park has a good view of the city and the roiling Yangtze River. A great mural of the Yangtze River shows the pre-dam water levels and elevation marks signifying the displacement of the local population, as well as the land area that has been and will be covered when the dam is completed.

Later you will visit Panda Room in Chongqing Zoo to meet the lovely pandas.

Then you will be transferred to airport for flight to Xi'an. After your arrival there, you will be met and transferred to hotel by our local guide.

Day 8

Xi'an (B, L)

Xi'an (B, L)

Sightseeing: Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower

Today you will experience the highlights of Xi'an. After breakfast, you will depart you're your hotel. You will visit the amazing 2000-year-old Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. Regarded as the 8th Wonder of the World, the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Over 2,200 years ago, the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, ordered the construction of a vast army of Terra-cotta warriors in search of immortality. After his early death they were buried with him to protect his empire.

Another highlight today is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Situated in the south of Xi'an city, it is one of the main constructions in the famous Buddhist temple-Da-Ci-En Temple. There, the well-known Buddhist Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India in Tang Dynasty. Now it is the Landmark of Xi'an.

Then we will go on to visit the Bell Tower, which is the best-preserved and best-known one among many. The Bell Tower was built in 1384. In early mornings of ancient times it had the mission of ringing the bell and giving the correct time to the whole city, hence called "The Bell Tower". With magnificent carved beams and painted rafters, this classical building is truly elegant.

Day 9

Xi'an to Beijing (B, L)

Xi'an to Beijing (B, L)

Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Ancient City Wall, Shaanxi History Museum

In the morning we will visit the Ancient City Wall. You will experience a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall. You will experience a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall. It is the largest and best preserved present city wall in ancient China and is probably the best military battlement in the world. If you want to, you can rent a bicycle for a ride on top of the spectacular city wall. The wall was built in the Tang dynasty (618 -907) and enlarged in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

You will continue to visit the Shaanxi History Museum. It is a magnificent architectural complex in the Tang Dynasty style. The Museum possesses a treasure of 113,000 historic and cultural artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi, and it covers an area of 1,100 square meters for exhibition

Afterwards you will take the flight to Beijing. After you arrived in Beijing, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide.

Day 10

Beijing (B, L)

Beijing (B, L)

Sightseeing: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace

This morning our tour will begin with a visit of the Temple of Heaven, which was completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. It was the place where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. With the three blue-tiled cone-shaped roofs, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail, it has become a worldwide symbol of Beijing.

After lunch, we will go on our city tour to visit Tiananmen Square, the symbolical heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, which can hold one million people.

From here we will walk across the Golden River Bridge to visit the Forbidden City and experience the ancient Emperor's daily life. For 5 centuries Chinese emperors carried out their administration here. With almost 10,000 rooms, it was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a massive complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens where 24 emperors used to live. Forbidden City was the largest palace in the world, and in the past it was indeed a forbidden place for commoners. Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's palace.

We will continue by visiting the Summer Palace. Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called 'Yiheyuan' (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. Until nowadays, it is the best preserved and the largest imperial garden in China. You will regret it if you leave Beijing without having visited this grand imperial garden.

Day 11

Beijing (B, L)

Beijing (B, L)

Sightseeing: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Sacred Way, Hutong in rickshaw

After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Badaling Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Richard Nixon described it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. You will be able to climb and walk one of the best preserved sections of the 2,000 years old ancient wall, admiring the splendid mountain views. Bring a jacket and layer- although it is breezy, the climbing is tough. So be in a good shape!

In the afternoon we will visit the legendary Ming Tombs, which are situated at the foot of Heavenly Longevity Mountain, Changping, northwest of Beijing. Since there are 13 Ming emperors buried there, this place was called the 13 Ming Tombs. You will walk along the Sacred Way, a road guarded by stone statues on both sides, as the ancient emperors did to hold a memorial ceremony for their ancestors.

Continue, we will experience a unique Hutong tour by rickshaw. Hutongs are a kind of ancient city alley or lane and are very typical for Beijing. Most of them can be found close to the Forbidden City, and many were built during the three dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing. Today, the Hutong is a living museum of Beijing history showing the traditional lifestyle of Beijing people.

Day 12

Beijing Departure (B)

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Today will be free for your own purposes, until our guide will escort you to the airport for your next destination.

Quick Questions

Our team is waiting for your questions. Please feel free to ask us any questions you might have about our China package tours, Chinese culture, or the sites available. We will gladly help you with any special needs you might have and all questions, like our trip designing is completely free of charge.