The Heart of China & the Yangtze River 2012

Beijing to Hong Kong

Day 1 (Wed) Depart UK.

Day 2 (Thu) Beijing. Fly to China’s capital city where you will be met and transferred to the Westin Beijing Hotel for 3 nights. Rooms will be available for a mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 3 (Fri) Beijing. Your full-day sightseeing starts with a visit to the Forbidden City and the Imperial Palace, once the home of China’s great emperors. Nearby is the 100-acre Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and continue to the former Summer Palace, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries set among beautifully landscaped grounds and situated on Kunming Lake. This evening, enjoy a special Peking Duck Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 4 (Sat) Beijing. The Great Wall of China once stretched 4,000 miles across China’s barren northern terrain from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a well-preserved section of the Great Wall and walk stroll along its ramparts to enjoy sweeping views along this mammoth fortress. Later, visit a Cloisonné Workshop to see local artisans use the techniques of this ancient art form to turn pieces of copper into colourful decorative items. After lunch in a local restaurant, take a leisurely walk down the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs and marvel at the impressive hand-carved stone statues. Tonight, experience local culture at the Peking Opera, including a behind-the-scenes look at the colourful makeup being applied to the performers. (B,L,D)

Day 5 (Sun) Beijing – Xian. This morning, enjoy a rickshaw ride through one of Beijing’s Hutongs, the city’s ancient alleys. Experience life in these historic streets as you are invited into the courtyard of a family’s home for tea. Later, fly to Xian and stay at the Golden Flower Hotel for 2 nights. This evening, enjoy the 'Tang Dynasty' Dinner Show featuring a colourful assemblage of classical performances. (B,D)

Day 6 (Mon) Xian. One of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xian today is an archaeological treasure trove. Sightseeing begins with the enormous tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, accidentally discovered by local farmers in 1974. Marvel at the legion of Terracotta Warriors that has been guarding the burial site for 2,000 years. During lunch, enjoy a noodle making demonstration by a master chef and learn how Chinese noodles are made by hand. Next, visit a lacquer workshop followed by the Big Wild Goose (Dayan) Pagoda, built in 652 AD. (B,L,D)

Day 7 (Tue) Xian – Chongqing (Embarkation) – Yangtze River Cruise. This morning, visit the Xian City Wall South Gate and learn to write like a local during a traditional Chinese Calligraphy Class; you may even see people practicing their morning Tai Chi. Next, fly to Chongqing, China’s capital during World War II. Visit a local zoo to see pandas before boarding the Victoria Anna for a 3-night cruise through the breathtaking Three Gorges of the Yangtze. (B,L,D)

Day 8 (Wed) Cruising: Wanxian or Shibaozhai or Fengdu. Depending on river conditions, one of the following shore excursions will be offered: Wanxian, 'Gateway to Eastern Szechuan Province', where you may see an acrobatics show, a local market, and a school; Shibaozhai with its 400-year-old, 12-storey red wooden pagoda perched high on a cliff side; or Fengdu, where you’ll visit Ghost City Temple. (B,L,D)

Day 9 (Thu) Cruising: Shennong Stream or Daning River. Head downstream through the first and second of the three gorges - Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most dramatic gorge, and Wu, known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains. You can nearly touch the perpendicular walls rising from the riverbanks as your captain negotiates this narrow gap. After lunch, disembark for a boat excursion down either the Daning River or Shennong Stream, depending on conditions. Continue sailing through Xiling Gorge and the Three Gorges ship locks. (B,L,D)

Day 10 (Fri) Cruising: Three Gorges Dam Site – Yichang (Disembarkation) – Shanghai. View tiny villages clinging to hillsides as you proceed toward Yang Jia Wang. This morning, visit the Three Gorges Dam Site, where the Chinese progress towards building the largest dam of its kind in the world. After lunch, say goodbye to your ship’s crew in Yichang and transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, China’s most populous city and centre of trade and industry to enjoy your stay at the Westin Shanghai for 2 nights. (B,L)

Day 11 (Sat) Shanghai. Your sightseeing starts at the Yu Yuan Gardens, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Then, stroll along the Bund, the city’s riverfront lined with historic buildings, housing, banks, and trade houses. Visit a silk factory to learn about the silk-making process. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the Shanghai Museum and the Children’s Palace. This evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner followed by a spectacular acrobatics show. (B,L,D)

Day 12 (Sun) Shanghai – Guilin. Enjoy the morning at leisure to explore on your own. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit Jade Buddha Temple, home to two stunning white jade Buddha statues carved in Burma. Later, fly to Guilin, one of China’s most beautiful areas and stay at Sheraton Guilin Hotel for 2 nights. (B,L)

Day 13 (Mon) Guilin. Striking limestone hills, their needle peaks swathed in mist, rise from the green plain surrounding Guilin. The scene conveys a sense of mystery that artists have tried to capture for centuries. Savour unique vistas during a leisurely cruise on the Li River and enjoy a light lunch. Tonight, you may choose to join our optional trip to see trained cormorants dive for fish, the traditional Lijiang fishing method. (B,L)

Day 14 (Tue) Guilin – Hong Kong. Enjoy the morning at leisure in this charming town. Sightseeing begins with the famous Reed Flute Cave with its unusual stalactite and stalagmite formations. Then, visit a local Tea Farm for a hands-on demonstration of the tea-making process followed by a tea ceremony. Later, fly to Hong Kong and transfer to the Harbour Grand Kowloon Hotel. (B,L)

Day 15 (Wed) Hong Kong. This morning’s sightseeing begins with a cable car ride up to Victoria Peak for panoramic vistas of this one-of-a-kind port city. Drive by Repulse Bay, a popular beach area, then to the Aberdeen fishing village for a Sampan Ride on the harbour. Next stop is Stanley Market, a narrow street jammed with stalls offering clothing, arts, and crafts. Tonight, consider an optional sunset cruise on Hong Kong’s magnificent harbour. (B)

Day 16 (Thu) Hong Kong. A full free day to explore this exciting city. You may wish to join one of our optional excursions to view the giant Buddha on the island of Lantau or to learn about Hong Kong’s history before the British colonized the area. Shopping is a highlight of Hong Kong with markets, malls, and shops to fit any taste and budget. This evening is the perfect finale to a great adventure as you’re hosted at a special farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 17 (Fri) Hong Kong. After breakfast, you are free to make the most of Hong Kong at leisure before transferring to the airport for your evening flight back to the UK. (B)