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Our group at the Temple of Heaven, Beijing
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Day 01: Arrival in Beijing
Upon arrival, our guide will hold a banner and wait for you at the exit of Beijing airport according to your flight schedule. Then the guide and drive will accompany you to check in at the 4-star Holiday Inn Central Plaza Hotel we booked for you in advance. You are suggested to take a rest in the remainder of the day. If you arrive early, you may ask the guide for some advice and explore the capital city by yourselves in advance.
Day 02: Beijing
There is a brief meeting with your group members at the hotel after breakfast. The tour starts with the largest city central square - Tiananmen Square and the imperial palace - Forbidden City. Around noon, we will arrange you an a la carte lunch at a famous local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will proceed to the Temple of Heaven, the altar where the emperors prayed to heaven since Ming Dynasty. When standing in front of the three layered Circular Altar with white marble terraces, one will amazingly feel the harmony and peace. Tonight you will enjoy the wonderful entertainment we prepare for you, a lively and dramatic Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theater. (B+L)
Day 03: Beijing
The morning excursion takes you to the imposing Badaling section of the Great Wall and you will be taken to a local popular Sichuan restaurant for a palatable Chinese style lunch. After lunch, you will walk along part of the Sacred Way, which is the way to the Changling Tomb and altogether 7 kilometers long. Then proceed to visit the Ming Tombs where 13 Ming Emperors were rest. On the way back to the city area, you will have a chance to view the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium) at a distance. (B+L)
Day 04: Beijing - Xian
The Summer Palace is one of the famous five gardens and the most well preserved imperial resort in China. You will have a short exploration here this morning and observe the old Chinese horticulture and architecture. Then have a Hutong tour to experience old Beijing history and special culture. Scattered in Beijing city like stars, Hutongs attract tourists from home and aboard every year by showing the essential culture and characteristics of old Beijng. After a la carte lunch at a well-selected hotel, transfer you to the airport for the flight to Xian, an ancient capital city for 13 dynasties. Your tour guide in Xian will pick you up and transfer you to the 4-star Grand New World Hotel. (B+L)
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Terracotta soldiers, Xian
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Day 05: Xian
After breakfast, transfer about 40 minutes to the Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. The site was founded in 1974 when a local peasant was digging a well. The 15 minutes’ circamara will give you a brief introduction of the historical background and the status quo. At noon, you will enjoy an authentic homely cooked lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the Da Ci'en Temple and the City Wall with a history of over 600 years. Together with the moat and the round-the-city park, the City Wall is a quite an imposing landscape in Xian city. Tonight, you will be highlighted by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show while enjoying the famous Dumpling Dinner. (B+L+D)
Day 06: Xian - Chongqing
In the morning, visit the Great Mosque near the Drum Tower, the biggest and oldest local mosque where the local male Hui people will do their worship. The flourishing bazaar nearby is where you can observe local people closely. Then take a flight to Chongqing, the starting point of your Yangtze River Cruise. Our guide will pick you up at the airport and help you board the deluxe 5-Star President No. 1 cruise ship, which departs from Chongqing at about 22:00 and your leisured Yangtze River tour begins then. Henceforth, every night on the cruise, you will receive a schedule of the next day’s activity. (B)
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Yangtze Three Gorges cruise tour
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Day 07: Chongqing - Fengdu
The whole morning is to relax and enjoy the view along the river. A brief introduction to this cruise will be given by the river guide after the buffet breakfast. And if you have any questions or requirements, please ask him/her. In the afternoon, you will have your first onshore excursion which is to the Ghost City of Fengdu. It became famous in the East Han Dynasty when people believe it was the place where the ghost and devil will come. Afterwards, continue the sailing to the Three Gorges. At the Captain's Welcome Party tonight, you will enjoy performances represented by the versatile cruise staff and if you want to show your talent, it is always welcome! (B+L+D)
Day 08: Badong - Xiling Gorge - Sandouping
After a big breakfast, disembark at Badong to take a pea-boat floating along the Shennong Stream. The serpentine stream is sandwiched between the steep cliffs and the current is sometimes swift, sometimes gentle. As the skills of the 6 boatmen are adept and reassuring, you just need to enjoy the exciting drift and the valley view. Transfer back to your cruise by ferryboat for lunch, and the sailing continues to the western part of the Xiling Gorge. Tonight your cruise will pass through the splendid five-step ship lock. The whole process takes 2.5-3 hours and you may observe it on the deck. (B+L+D)
Day 09: Yichang - Shanghai
In the morning, visit the grand Three Gorges Dam which was started construction in 1994 and has been finished in 2009. The dam itself is 2309 meters long and after it is finished, the storage capacity of reservoir can be 39 billion square meters. The whole project is an amazing masterpiece of human. Then back to the cruise to complete check-out procedures. Your local guide in Yichang will meet you on board, taking you to lunch and also a short visit to the Yichang Museum if time permits. In the afternoon, take flight to Shanghai, the last city of your tour. The guide in Shanghai will pick you up on time and transfer you to the 5-star Howard Johnson Business Club Hotel. And no dinner is offered tonight as it is convenient for you to find a good western restaurant nearby. After the dinner, you could take a walk along this lively commercial street leisurely on your own. (B+L)
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Our group at the Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai
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Day 10: Shanghai
Today’s tour is filled with Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund, Nanjing Road, which allows you to view the city from the aspects of history, local life and modernization respectively. Then visit an old cultural street in Shanghai. A la carte lunch will be arranged for you at noon. You guide and driver will accompany you back the hotel in the end of the tour and you may say goodbye to them at the hotel lobby. (B+L)
Day 11: Departure from Shanghai
Your pleasant China tour with us ends when you board your departure flight at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport or Pudong Airport. You could ask the hotel reception to book a taxi for you in advance as we do not offer transfer service today. Please make sure you will arrive at the right airport 2 hours prior to your flight departure time. We hope you will have a great memory traveling with us and if you would like to have an extended tour, please explore our City Tour Packages, or contact your travel counselors directly. (B)
