Fly to Beijing. Cross the Int’l Date Line.

Upon arrival in Beijing, the capital city of China, you will be warmly greeted at the airport by the tour guide and transferred to your hotel. 

Start your city tour with a visit to the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Next stop is the pills Forbidden City, the largest and most intact conglomeration of ancient structures of the imperial palace ever built in the world. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven, which was used by emperors to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for good harvest during ancient times Visit Tongren Tang to learn about the culture of traditional Chinese medicine, which has existed for thousands of years. Your welcome banquet includes the local delicacy, Peking Roast Duck. 

Today’s highlight is a tour of the astonishing Great Wall. Much anticipated by our guests, the Great Wall serves as one of the most famous images of China. It is the only manmade object visible from the moon and one of the Seven Wonders of the World!  After lunch, see skilled artisans at work at the Cloisonné Factory. Later, walk the Sacred Path of Ming Tombs. Have an up-close view of the beautiful Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, both of which are national stadiums built for the 2008 Olympics. Visit one of the largest Jade Centers in Asia and learn Chinese jade culture.. Tonight, you can choose to attend an optional Chinese cultural show at your own expense, “The Golden Mask Dynasty” ($55pp), a spectacular one that incorporates dancing, acrobatics and magnificent costumes. 

Tour the exquisite Summer Palace, the largest preserved ancient imperial garden in China, and a former summer resort for Emperors. Later explore Beijing’s ancient alleyways also known as “hutongs” by pedicab. Enjoy this afternoon at leisure or join an optional half day tour. 

Fly to Xi’an in the morning. Xian was the first Chinese city to open its doors to the world during the Tang Dynasty; it served as the Chinese capital for eleven dynasties, a period of more than 2,000 years. Upon arrival, visit the fascinating Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum. Enjoy lunch before a visit to the Ancient City Wall, the most complete ancient city wall surviving in China. It also is one of the largest and most complete ancient military defense systems in the world. Stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter and explore the Islamic food markets, followed by a special Imperial Dumpling Banquet Dinner and traditional Tang Dynasty Singing and Dancing Show. 

Today’s highlight is a visit to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. See the life-sized defending army to the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. This site is regarded as “the Eighth Wonder of the World” and is among the top archaeological excavations of the 20th century. Later, visit a Ceramics Art Factory before flying to Chongqing and board your luxurious Yangtze River Cruise ship.

Relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery over the next few days as you cross through the Yangtze Three Gorges: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. 

Disembark to visit the massive Three Gorges Dam Project. Arrive at Yichang by noon. Fly to Shanghai. Check into hotel followed by dinner.

Travel by coach to Suzhou, a city which has been praised as “Venice of the East”. Take a relaxing stroll through one of the best four Chinese Gardens: Lingering Garden. Enjoy a boat cruise along the Grand Canal, which is over 1,500 years old and connects Beijing to the rich coastal areas around Shanghai. Later visit a silk factory and enjoy a silk fashion show before a delicious local cuisine dinner.

After breakfast tour the Watertown of Tongli. As ancient town with more than 1000 years history, Tongli features typically the water county of Southern China. There are 5 lakes surrounding Tongli from the outside, and the town is divided into 15 small islands by more than 10 rivers inside. Encounter local people and see them going about their lives. Later transfer to Wuxi and check into hotel.

See the 288-foot Lingshan Grand Buddha, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world. Later stroll along Nanchang Street and a large Fresh Water Pearls Farm. Travel back to Shanghai. Shanghai is the modern metropolis and commercial center of China. Visit an Emerald Exhibition Center before dinner. You may take an optional tour, the Night Cruise on the Huangpu River tour at your own expense ($50pp).

Walk along the famous Bund, a mile-long stretch along the Huangpu River. Lined by the colonial architectures of European design, this area is the best place to capture the western influences of the old days. Continue on to visit the Ming Dynasty Yuyuan Garden, which is considered to be one of the four greatest Chinese gardens. Your final stop will be the bustling shopping district, Nanjing Road. This afternoon is at leisure. In the evening, you may attend a thrilling optional Chinese acrobatic show at your own expense - “ERA: The Intersection of Time” ($60pp).

Your China journey is over all too soon… Fly back home and arrive home on the same day as you leave China.