Depart San Francisco (SFO Airport) at 2:50pm or New York (JFK Airport) at 4:30pm on Air China's Boeing 747 wide-body aircraft and fly (12 hours from SFO or 13½ hours from JFK) non-stop to Beijing. Cross the International Dateline.
Day 2 - Beijing (IM)
Day 2 - Beijing
Meals: In-Flight(IM)
Arrive into Beijing in the evening. You will be met and transferred to Capital Hotel (5 stars).
Day 3 - Beijing (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Beijing
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, tour Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest and most famous square. Then visit the Forbidden City, where exquisite architecture and a vast glimpse of the staggeringly opulent lifestyles of the Chinese emperors and their concubines. Followed by a tour of the picturesque Summer Palace on Kunming Lake.
Day 4 - Beijing (B, L, SD)
Day 4 - Beijing
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Special Dinner(SD)
After breakfast, depart Beijing by deluxe motor coach to explore the Great Wall, one of the seven world wonders. Take a tour to the Historic Hutong (narrow alleyways), which is protected by the Beijing Cultural Relics Protection Association. This will give you a chance to experience what China was like before high-rises and shopping malls took over a city. Enjoy a special Peking Duck Dinner.
Day 5 - Beijing-Xi'an (B, IM. D)
Day 5 - Beijing-Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast(B)
After breakfast, visit the Temple of Heaven, where dynastic China rulers historically worshipped the Emperor of Heaven. Fly (1 hour) to Xi'an. Lodging at Shangri-La Golden Flower Hotel (5 stars).
Day 6 - Xi'an (B, L, SD)
Day 6 - Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Special Dinner(SD)
After breakfast, the morning is primarily devoted to leisurely view the world famous Army of Terracotta Warriors, horses, and chariots buried with the first Chinese Emperor, Qin Shihuang. After lunch, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. After a Dumpling Dinner, enjoy a traditional Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.
Day 7 - Xi'an-Wuhan (B, L, D)
Day 7 - Xi'an-Wuhan
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, take a City Tour. Fly to Wuhan and check into Jin Jiang Hotel (5 stars).
Day 8 - Wuhan-Yichang (B, L, D)
Day 8 - Wuhan-Yichang
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, visit the Hubei Provincial Museum or East Lake and Yellow Crane Tower. Then travel by motor coach to Yichang and board a 7-star cruise ship, The Yangzi Explorer.
Day 9 - Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, SD)
Day 9 - Yangtze River Cruise
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Special Dinner(SD)
After breakfast, visit the Construction Site of the Three Gorges Dam and tour the Hydroelectric Plant. Then begin your upstream journey into the spectacular Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges. Cultural programs and a Captain's Party are planned for tonight.
Day 10 - Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Day 10 - Yangtze River Cruise
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, experience a once in a lifetime adventure when you transfer to a small riverboat and cruise up the tributary Shennongxi Stream for a close-up view of the life of the local minority people. In the afternoon, pass through the Wu Gorge with its deep zigzagging valley and lush forested mountains. In the evening, the cruise ship will enter Qutang, the third and last of the Three Gorges.
Day 11 - Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Day 11 - Yangtze River Cruise
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, tour Shibaozhai, a famous pagoda balanced precariously on top of the steep cliff near the shore of the Yangtze or Fengdu, the Ghost City (site visited will depend on the cruise line's agenda).
Day 12 - Chongqing-Guilin (B, L, D)
Day 12 - Chongqing-Guilin
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, disembark the cruise ship and visit the Chongqing Zoo. Fly (1 ½ hours) to Guilin, a city of surreal beauty. Lodging at Lijiang Waterfall Hotel (5 stars).
Day 13 - Guilin-Yangshuo-Guilin (B, L, D)
Day 13 - Guilin-Yangshuo-Guilin
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, travel by deluxe motor coach through lush countryside surrounding Guilin, where you will see bamboo, water chestnut, sugar cane, and rice fields. Arrive at a local village and embark on a memorable 3-hour Li River Cruise passing through scenic Yangshuo. Visit local market then return to Guilin by motor coach.
Day 14 - Guilin-Hong Kong (B, L, D)
Day 14 - Guilin-Hong Kong
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, visit Reed Flute Cave and Solitary Beauty Peak, which offers a panoramic view of the city. Then fly to Hong Kong. Lodging at InterContinental Hong Kong Hotel (5 stars).
Day 15 - Hong Kong (B)
Day 15 - Hong Kong
Meals: Breakfast(B)
After breakfast, enjoy a half-day tour of the dynamic cityscape of Hong Kong Island. Sightseeing includes the quaint footpaths of the Stanley Market, fashionable Repulse Bay, and the Historic Fishing Village at Aberdeen. Ending with a ride to the summit of Victoria Peak and revel in the stunning panoramic vistas of Hong Kong.
Day 16 - Hong Kong (B)
Day 16 - Hong Kong
Meals: Breakfast(B)
After breakfast, the entire day is free for exploring, shopping or simply experiencing Hong Kong on your own.
Day 17 - Hong Kong-Guangzhou-Hangzhou (B, L, D)
Day 17 - Hong Kong-Guangzhou-Hangzhou
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, embark on a ferry ride to Guangzhou. Then take an evening flight (2 hours) to Hangzhou. Lodging at World Trade Center Grand Hotel (5 stars).
Day 18 - Hangzhou-Shanghai (B, L, D)
Day 18 - Hangzhou-Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, take a cruise on the West Lake, revealing the ethereal beauty of Hangzhou's willow draped islands. Travel by motor coach into the nearby hills and visit the resplendent Yellow Dragon Cave. Visit a Tea Plantation before going to Shanghai by motor coach. Lodging at Grand Mercure Hotel (5 stars).
Day 19 - Shanghai (B, L, SD)
Day 19 - Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Special Dinner(SD)
After breakfast, visit the Bund. After a special Mongolian BBQ Lunch, tour the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Shanghai Municipal History (Wax) Museum. Lastly, visit the emporium-lined Nanjing Road. After a special Farewell Dinner, attend a famous Shanghai Acrobatic Show.
Day 20 - Shanghai-Beijing-SFO/JFK (B, IM)
Day 20 - Shanghai-Beijing-SFO/JFK
Meals: Breakfast(B), In-Flight(IM)
After breakfast, depart Shanghai at 8:10am (if out of SHA Airport) or 11:35am (if out of PVG Airport) on Air China and fly (16 hours) to San Francisco (SFOAirport) with a same day arrival at 12:40pm. (Flight time includes a stopover in Beijing. Your luggage will be transferred automatically to SFO). *Some tours will have the opportunity to travel by Maglev Train to the airport, please click on the following link for details on Maglev Train Disclosure.
If your final destination is New York (JFKAirport), it takes 17 ½hours with a same day arrival at 2:30pm. (Flight time includes a custom inspection in Beijing where you must claim and re-check your luggage). *No Maglev Train available for JFK departure due to different airport in Shanghai (SHAAirport).
FEATURING ALL 5-STAR HOTELS PLUS A 7-STAR CRUISE SHIP!
This is a tour that brings together the scenic splendor of the Three Gorges and the cosmopolitan bustle of Hong Kong. Your voyage will be aboard a Seven-Star Cruiser The Yangtze Explorer, which is the most luxurious cruiser available, to experience the overwhelming beauty of the Three Gorges. While staying in Hong Kong, you will be able to experience all of the unique sights, sounds and activities that have helped make this international city one of the most popular destinations for travelers to Asia. This tour also features in depth visits to the historical cities of Beijing and Xi'an, with highlights such as the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army, as well as a stop in Guilin for an exploration of its idyllic subtropical countryside. Your getaway tour ends in Shanghai, a city of chic modernity and non-stop activity.
