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China Orient & Yangtze River Cruise 14 days
Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Yangtze River Cruise
Day 1 (WED)
Meal: In-flight meal
Depart Home City – Beijing
Begin your journey with your international flight to Beijing. Upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport you will
be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Take some time to relax and prepare for your full day tour the
following day.
Day 2 (THU)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Beijing, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City
Begin your day with your daily hotel buffet breakfast, featuring a large selection of Asian and Western cuisine. You will
then set out with your trip leader to discover Beijing’s Imperial treasures. Stand in Tiananmen Square, one of the largest
and grandest public plazas in the world. Enter the imposing walls of the Forbidden City, once the exclusive domain of the
Ming Dynasty, for an extensive tour through this vast complex.
Return to your hotel in the evening, relax and refresh or enjoy an optional evening performance – Kung Fu Legend,
before this evening’s dinner of traditional Peking Duck.
Day 3 (FRI)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Beijing, the Great Wall, 2008 Olympic Games sites
This morning you will learn about Jade, China’s most precious and celebrated stone, and its manufacturing process at
the largest Jade factory in Beijing. Afterwards, you will travel into the rugged mountain landscapes north of the city to
the magnificent Great Wall of China. Once on top of this ancient defensive structure, you’ll find that some sections may
be quite steep, but the views are magnificent and the experience is truly unforgettable. You will then visit the 2008
Olympic Games sites including the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. Return to the city and enjoy your evening at leisure.
Day 4 (SAT)
Meal: Breakfast
Beijing
This morning you will have the opportunity to explore the city at your own pace or choose to join the optional tour to
the Summer Palace – which is renowned for its natural beauty and grandeur. The Summer Palace was ranked amongst
the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1998. You could then enjoy an optional rickshaw ride around the Hutong
neighbourhood – which is a rapidly disappearing, traditional neighbourhood of Beijing. In the evening you will be
transferred to Hangzhou and spend the rest of the night relaxing and preparing for your tour the following day.
Day 5 (SUN)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Hangzhou City Tour
Today you will embark on a Hangzhou city tour – Hangzhou being the political, economic and cultural centre of the
Zheijang province. The city is renowned for its beauty and abundance of cultural heritage. You will visit the West Lake
Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, comprising of the West Lake and the surrounding hills, which have inspired famous
poets, scholars and artists since the 9th Century. It is also home to numerous temples, pagodas, pavilions, gardens,
causeways and artificial islands. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the optional evening performance – Impression
West Lake.
China Orient & Yangtze River Cruise 14 days
Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Yangtze River Cruise
Day 6 (MON)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hangzhou, Tea Village, Suzhou
Today you will enjoy a visit to a tea plantation, where you will learn about tea picking and processing. Tea Village is part
of the West Lake scenic area and has a history of over 600 years. It is rustic and situated among lush green hills. After
lunch, you will be transferred to Suzhou, known as the ‘Venice of the East’ due to its many beautiful waterways. The
Grand Canal of Suzhou is the longest and oldest surviving man-made waterway in the world.
Day 7 (TUE)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Suzhou, Master of the Nets Garden
Suzhou is famous for its gardens, which are renowned for their unique architectural and elaborate designs. After visiting
the Master of the Nets Garden you will continue on to the most famous silk factory in China to understand the
manufacturing processes of silk products and its rich history in China. You may then choose to join the optional Grand
Canal boat ride. Parts of the canal date back to more than 2000 years ago and there are many beautiful homes situated
along the canal that are decorated with red lanterns.
Day 8 (WED)
Meal: Breakfast
Suzhou, Ancient Water Town
Today you will be transferred to an ancient water town where you may explore this unique village at your own pace.
Day 9 (THU)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Ancient Water Town, Shanghai
Today you will enjoy a Shanghai city tour, winding through the largest commercial and financial centres, visiting the
Nanjing walking district and discovering the history and culture of Shanghai at the Shanghai Museum. You will then
continue to the Bund by the Huangpu River, and witness the old meeting the modern side of the city. Enjoy an optional
evening on the Huangpu River Cruise, allowing you to take in the famous sites of Shanghai including; the People’s Hero
Monument, the Bund, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the dramatic skyline of the Pu Dong business district, the bustling
International Passenger Station of Shanghai Harbour, the docks and the Wu Song ancient gun fort relics.
Day 10 (FRI)
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Shanghai, Yichang
This morning you will fly from Shanghai to Yichang. Upon arrival, you will board the Yangtze River Gold Cruise ship and
begin your memorable 4 night cruise down the Yangtze River.
Day 11 (SAT)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Yangtze River Cruise
Today’s activities include; a morning Tai Chi lesson and a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Site. The Three
Gorges Dam Site is one of the largest construction projects undertaken by mankind and is the biggest hydropower
project in the world. This evening you will return to the ship and attend the Captain’s Welcome Banquet and enjoy the
evening entertainment with a Chinese dancing ball.
China Orient & Yangtze River Cruise 14 days
Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Yangtze River Cruise
Day 12 (SUN)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Yangtze River Cruise
Today you will enjoy a shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges - a shinning pearl hidden in remote mountains. They are
much smaller, narrower and are surrounded by dramatic scenery. Along the Yangtze River you will appreciate the beauty
of the Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge and visit the ancient plank road, Mengliang Stairway and the Hanging Coffins. You
will land at Badong and travel to the Shennong Stream via a small wooden boat. You will then return to the ship and
continue sailing into the western section of Xiling Gorge.
Day 13 (MON)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Yangtze River Cruise
Today is a scheduled shore excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City to see why it’s regarded as the "City of Ghosts". The
temples built on Ming Mountain depict the punish instruments and demon paintings, demonstrating the Chinese
people’s imagination of hell. Return to the ship and continue to pass through the mountains of Eastern Sichuan. Tonight
enjoy the Farewell Dinner and pack your bags in preparation for your flight tomorrow.
Day 14 (TUE)
Meal: Breakfast, In-flight Meals
Depart Chongqing – Home
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home or you may choose to extend your stay and continue to
explore the mesmerising cities of China. We hope you enjoyed your journey to China with us!
<Bon Voyage>