Visiting Cities: Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuhan, Yichang, Chongqing, Chengdu, Guilin, Xi’an, & Beijing - with Yangtze River Cruise on NEW 5-star ship with all private balconies thru the Three Gorges (with shore excursions to World’s Largest Dam, Shennong Stream or Three Lesser Gorges, & Fengdu or Wanxian).
Departure City: San Francisco ($160 R/T Add-on from LAX; $180 from SEA, SAN, PHX, PDX - all plus $28 tax) ---- Call for other cities.
*priced per person, double occupancy
** Tour price & all taxes/fees are subject to change until final payment **
MAR 20 [WED] - San Francisco / SHANGHAI (2 meals served on board the flight to China)
Board Air China wide-body B 747- 400 jumbo jet for China. Cross the International Date Line and lose a day.
MAR 21 [THU] - ARRIVE SHANGHAI
Upon arrival, meet your national guides at the airport and transfer to the 5-star Four Points by Sheraton - Shanghai, Daning or similar - www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1986
MAR 22 [FRI] - SHANGHAI (AB, D)
Big Buffet breakfast for all with lunch on your own if needed - hotel located in great area of shops & restaurants - departure at 1 PM (because of late arrival previous evening). Major sightseeing of city includes Old Town Shanghai and YuYuan Garden, the famous Bund, a Silk Carpet Factory among many points of interest. Enjoy fantastic evening Acrobatic Show.
MAR 23 [SAT] - SHANGHAI / SUZHOU / SHANGHAI (AB, L)
After breakfast, take deluxe coach to Suzhou, the "Venice" of China. Upon arrival, visit the Masters of the Nets Garden, the Silk Factory and/or the Embrodiery Institute before lunch. Then cruise on Suzhou's famous Grand Canal. Coach back to Shanghai and dinner on your own / early to bed for early flight next morning.
MAR 24 [SUN] - SHANGHAI / WUHAN / YICHANG / CRUISE (AB, L, D)
Take morning flight to Wuhan (at junction of Yangtze and Han Rivers). Upon arrival, lunch will be served at the airport before driving to Yichang by bus at 12:30 PM. Board the NEW 5-star Yangtze No: 2 cruiser or similar which is approved by National Tourism Administration of China and enjoy dinner on board. For ship information, please visit: http://www.ccotc.com/cruise.do?method=queryCruiseById&id=27&menu=0
MAR 25 [MON] - YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE (B, L, D)
Our ship departs at 7 AM. Onboard activities include all kinds of lectures presented by your river guide. We will sail through the first of the Three Gorges - Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges before passing through all 5 locks of the world's largest, newly completed Three Gorges Dam. Then take a shore excursion to the world famous Yangtze River Dam construction exhibition site before sailing through the second of the Three Gorges - Wu Gorge. Ship will dock for the night when we arrive at the town of Wushan. Enjoy a Welcome cocktail party hosted by the captain in evening.
MAR 26 [TUE] - YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE (B, L, D)
This morning we will board a smaller ship to transport us to small "peapod" boats for a trip up the Shennong Stream (pulled by "Trackers") OR up the Daning River through the Three Lesser Gorges, a stunning area of dramatic hillsides, caves and lush bamboo groves. Our cruiser will then continue on through the last of the Three Gorges - Qutang Gorge.
MAR 27 [WED] - YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE (B, L, D)
Today we continue to cruise upstream to visit the ancient city of Fengdu (“Ghost City”) where a new residential area for immigrants is located ; and we also explore the local farmer’s market and a kindergarten, or visit Wanxian for a shore excursion to the local town before returning to the ship for a farewell banquet.
MAR 28 [THU] - CHONGQING (B, L)
Our cruise concludes as we arrive in Chongqing for a City tour to visit the Gen.“Vinegar Joe” Stilwell Museum and the nearby Flying Tigers Museum . After lunch, visit the People's hall at the city square followed by a city tour before checking into the new 5-star Sheraton Hotel or similar: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1964&language=en_US&localeCode=en_US Dinner on your own.
MAR 29 [FRI] - CHONGQING / CHENGDU / GUILIN (AB, L, D)
Take the early morning 2-hour high-speed express train to Chengdu. After lunch, you will have visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Center (babies), largest panda reserve in the world, where conservation efforts are being made to save this endangered species. Then stroll on Jingli Street, an ancient street for visitors to relax, admire the traditional-style buildings, buy some curios and taste some local snacks. Take an evening flight after dinner to Guilin and check into the best 5-star Lijiang Waterfall Hotel or similar: www.waterfallguilin.com/EN/. During your stay in Guilin, you will be fully escorted by police car as VIPs of the city if the group reaches to 100 Pax.
MAR 30 [SAT] - GUILIN (AB, L, D)
Depart after breakfast at 9:30 AM - Take coach to visit Yangtang Old Airport in the south of Guilin with government special permit where the Flying Tiger Heritage Park is being constructed. This old airport was once used by Flying Tigers during World War II. Outside the Command Cave used by Gen. Claire Chennault, view the stone tablet set up by Mrs. Claire Chennault with her inscription engraved on it (from which rubbings will be made and presented to each of you as a gift at the banquet). We are invited to attend the initial Grand Opening Ceremony of the huge new Flying Tigers Exhibition Hall & Museum. We will witness the first official raising of the flags of the Flying Tigers, the USA, and China together in front of the new massive building. After lunch, visit a pearl factory. Then tour the Reed Flute Caves and Elephant Trunk Hill. In the evening attend the VIP banquet in our hotel held by the Municipal Government of Guilin and the City Tourism Administration with other local officials from the Municipal Government in honor of our VIP delegation - TV and news media interviews will focus on this event.
MAR 31 [SUN] - GUILIN / YANGSHUO / GUILIN (AB, L, D)
Spend a day aboard a scenic Li River cruise passing picturesque farms and fishing villages with its thousands of limestone outcroppings. Guilin, with its unique conical mountains, has been the inspiration for generations of silk scroll painters. Visit a Tea Plantation & Factory before returning to the hotel around 4 PM for rest or additional local exploration (our hotel has the best location in this city for that) – other options will be offered by local guides.
APR 1 [MON] - GUILIN / XIAN (AB, L, D)
After breakfast, fly to the ancient city of Xi'an, site of the only city wall remaining fully intact in all of China. After lunch, visit the Art & Handicraft Factory and the Ancient City Wall before checking into the 5-star Grand Noble Hotel or similar: http://www.gnhotel.com/en/Default.aspx?ar=xa. End the day with a Dumpling Banquet with its famous Tang Dynasty Show.
APR 2 [TUE] - XI’AN (AB, L)
After breakfast, depart at 9:30 AM for the famous Eighth Wonder of the World, the Qin Terra-cotta Warriors Museum which is the burial site of an incredible army of 8,000 lifelike clay soldiers. Dinner on your own at the end of the day – great choices right at the hotel and in the near vicinity. Early to bed in preparation for an early morning flight.
APR 3 [WED] - XI'AN / BEIJING (AB, L)
After early breakfast, take early morning flight to Beijing. Upon arrival, visit Summer Palace and a Cloisonné factory. After lunch, check into 5-star Pullman Beijing West Wanda Hotel or similar and enjoy free time and dinner on your own (hotel has a diner buffet plus there is a large shopping center with MANY restaurants across the street), and an early rest - www.pullmanhotels.com/gb/hotel-7160-pullman-beijing-west-wanda/index.shtml.
APR 4 [FRI] - BEIJING (AB, L)
Depart at 7 AM after breakfast. The highlights for today start with a crowd-free early visit to the Great Wall, a symbol of Chinese ancient civilization. Then visit the Aviation Museum, largest one in Asia, where you will wander around various types of old airplanes and fighters. The Director of Beijing Aviation Association will host your tour around this special museum along with a ceremony of exchanging presents. After lunch, you can enjoy shopping (jade, etc. - maximum two hours) at the same location before returning to the hotel for dinner on your own (see notes for night before).
APR 5 [SAT] - BEIJING (AB, L, D)
After breakfast, visit Forbidden City, the residence of emperors for more than 500 years and the largest imperial palace ever built in the world. It features more than 800 buildings with over 9,000 rooms, with resplendent golden-glazed roofs, red lacquered pillars and vermilion walls - continue to nearby Tiananmen Square - then drive by the Beijing Olympic National Stadium “Bird’s Nest” for a special photo op. Enjoy our final banquet, the famous Beijing Duck Dinner that evening.
APR 6 [SUN] - BEIJING (AB)
Enjoy your leisure day in Beijing for shopping and/or more touring. Optional tours will be available and will be presented to you by our local operator the day before your free day. Lunch and dinner are on your own on this free day of many choices.
APR 7 [MON] - BEIJING (AB) (2 meals are served on the flight home)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport around noon and take Air China non-stop international flight back to San Francisco, CA, arriving also on April 7th (gain back the day lost on the flight to China as you cross back over the International Dateline).
** Price: $3,248 per person (based on double occupancy)
Single Supplement: $1026 per person (call for details)
** Price Includes:
- Roundtrip International PLUS 4 China domestic air tickets (all jet airliner flights);
- Hotel and Ship accommodations, meals, transfers & sightseeing listed above;
- English-speaking guides;
- Special VIP dinners plus shows listed above
** Price Excludes:
