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Day 2- Welcome to Beijing July 18, Sat
Welcome to Beijing, China’s cultural Center for the past 700 years. Your tour guide will meet you at Beijing Capital Airport and escort you to your hotel.
Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel (5*)
Day 3- Beijing July 19, Sun
China’s imperial heritage comes to life as you tour Beijing’s famous landmarks. Visit sprawling Tiananmen Square and the Imperial Palace at the Forbidden City. Your tour includes admission to the living quarters of the emperors, as well as the museum and jewelry sections. The pavilions of the storied Summer Palace round up your day in this great city. Tonight you are our guests at a Peking Duck dinner party.
Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel (5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 4-Beijing July 20, Mon
Enjoy a full day tour of the Great Wall, one of the greatest engineering feats of the ancient world. Another high point of the excursion is the Sacred Way and its remarkable statues that stand vigil at the entrance of the tombs of the Ming emperors and Chang Ling Exhibition Hall. Next visit the ornate Temple of Heaven, where the emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties prayed for good harvests. The temple is not only especially glamorous, it is also an architectural wonder because not a single nail was used for its construction.
Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel (5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 5- Beijing / Yichang / Yangtze River Cruises July 21, Tue
Board a flight to Yichang, the economic and cultural center of the western Hubei Province. The group is picked up at the airport and transferred to the docks where the Cruise ship, MS Yangtze 1 awaits your arrival; MS Yangtze 1 is the fleet's newest and best ship. Once settled into the cabin, onboard entertainment abounds: Karaoke, bar, lectures, library, are all available for your enjoyment.
Accommodation: MS Yangtze 1(5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 6- Yangtze River Cruise (Solar Eclipse day) July 22, Wed
This morning at 06:00am MS Yangtze 1 departs from Yichang. You will enjoy eclipse on the ship.
And then our first shore excursion, a morning visit to the enormous Three Gorges Dam site at Sandouping, the largest of its’ kind in the world. Originally envisioned by Dr. Sun Yat Sen (the father of modern China), the completed Dam will control the annual floodwaters that devastate the Yangtze Valley. Reboarding the ship, sail on through the Three Gorges ship locks and continue on through Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest of the Three Gorges.
 Click on the picture to see the Three Gorges map
Accommodation: MS Yangtze 1(5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 7- Yangtze River Cruise July 23, Thu
Your ship arrives at Wushan where the group disembarks to board smaller vessels which affords access to the Lesser Gorges through either Daning River or Shennong Stream. The smaller vessels offer the opportunity to view picturesque rock formations, clear running water, and perhaps even monkeys and goats along the banks. Back aboard, the cruise ship gingerly navigates through Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge.
Accommodation: MS Yangtze 1(5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 8- Yangtze River Cruise July 24, Fri
Depending largely on river conditions, the shore excursion today will be at one of three destinations: Shibaozhai, Fengdu, or Wanzhou. Shibaozhai's attractions lays with its 12-story tall wooden pagoda, which was built 400 years ago without using of a single nail. Fengdu bears the nickname "Ghost City" as it contains numerous statues of devils and ghosts that roam the afterworld. Wanzhou is today a part of the greater Chongqing Municipality, although it lies 143 miles away. By the time the Three Gorges Dam is completed, 47% of Wanzhou's old urban area will be submerged.
Accommodation: MS Yangtze 1(5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 9- Yangtze River Cruise / Chongqing / Xian July 25, Sat
The Yangtze River adventure ends as the ship pulls into the docks at Chongqing. Head into town for a lunch of local spicy Sichuan fare and head to Xian by airplane later in the afternoon.
Xian is 5000 years old and has witnessed the full history of the Chinese civilization. The motorcoach takes the group inside city limits for check in at the hotel. Dinner is served at the hotel this evening.
Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel (5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 10 - Xian July 26, Sun
Today you’ll visit what for many is the high point of their trip to China - the excavation site of the Terra-Cotta Warriors. More than 6000 soldiers, ministers and horses, each individually sculpted from a real life model, stand guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s still unopened tomb. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the site, get a good look at the warriors from various vantage points and visit the excellent museum. Tonight you’ll celebrate Xian’s rich history with dinner and entertainment.
Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel (5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 11- Xian / Nanjing July 27, Mon
This morning you’ll begin our visit with a tour of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD to house Buddhist scriptures from India. You’ll stroll through Xian’s bustling markets and visit the Provincial History Museum where you’ll see artifacts from the Paleolithic period, priceless Tang Dynasty bronzes and treasures from the Silk Road caravans. Lunch will be at local restaurants. You will take an afternoon flight to Nanjing , the walled city which was built 2000 years ago. Eight dynasties and kingdoms established their capitals in the city.
Accommodation: Sofitel Hotel(5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 12- Nanjing July 28, Tue
This morning after breakfast you will visit Dr Sun Yatsen’s Mausoleum, Nanjing Museum and Confucian Temple Area, the “China Town” in Nanjing.
Accommodation: Sofitel Hotel(5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 13- Nanjing / Shanghai July 29, Wed
This morning you will take a fast train to Shanghai and within two hours train ride you will get to Shanghai. Our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel (Grand Mercure). You will be free the rest of day.
Accommodation: Grand Mercure Hotel(5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 14- Shanghai July 30, Thu
Visit the Shanghai Museum, the Yuyuan Garden and the Bund and the silk factory. Later take a walk along the famous Nanjing Road. After lunch you will do shopping in the main shopping street in Shanghai. The farewell dinner is served at the hotel.
Accommodation: Grand Mercure Hotel(5*) Meals: B,L,D
Day 15- Shanghai /USA July 31, Fri
Bid farewell to Shanghai. You’ll be driven to the airport for your flight home .
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