Exploring Timeless Beauty

A classic 5-night Yangtze River cruise through remote countryside, highlights and hidden treasures

Included Highlights

• All domestic airfares included within China
• Deluxe accommodations throughout
• 18 breakfasts (B), 15 lunches (L), 9 dinners (D or SD-special dinner)
• 4 gala evening events, including Shanghai Acrobats, Peking Duck dinner, Tang Dynasty Theater and Guilin cultural show
• See the astounding art of the acclaimed Shanghai Museum.
• Full-day Great Wall and Ming Tombs outing
• Pedicab tour of the seldom-visited Hutong quarter of Old Beijing
• Be among the first to tour Yangtze's new dam, and among the last to see Yangtze gorges before they're submerged.
• Tour the colossal stone carvings of littletraveled Dazu.
• Comprehensive sightseeing
• Explore exciting new attractions of postcolonial Hong Kong

Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA
Depart on an overnight flight to China¹s largest city, Shanghai, the landing point for many international arrivals.

Day 2 Shanghai
Arrive at one of the great seaports of the world, an exciting starting point for your China adventure. Your deluxe hotel is a comfortable place to rest or set off shopping at the Arts & Crafts Center.

Day 3 Shanghai
Immerse yourself in the culture and sophistication of Shanghai on a full day tour of the city's premier attractions. View all manner of Chinese arts, beautifully displayed in the astounding galleries of the Shanghai Museum. Explore the paths and pavilions of Yuyuan Gardens; stroll the waterfront Bund; visit the endearing Children's Palace, then return to your hotel to prepare for a thrilling evening at the Shanghai Acrobatics Show. Shanghai is at the forefront of China¹s massive economic, scientific and educational expansion. (B,L) 

Day 4 Shanghai/Beijing
Fly to the emperors¹ city of Beijing, where your hotel offers consummate luxury in the heart of the city. (B,L)

Day 5 Beijing
Walk in the steps of ancient emperors today as you tour the powerful Forbidden City, hidden from public view for over 500 years; and the masterpiece Temple of Heaven, the embodiment of grace and harmony. Enjoy glorious aerial views during lunch at a fine revolving restaurant, before continuing to the Summer Palace, now a favorite recreational spot for locals. The pomp and grandeur of imperial China lives on in these historic landmarks so integral to the nation's soul. (B,L)

Day 6 Beijing
A walk along the Great Wall of China ranks high on the wish lists of many travelers, and your excursion today will confirm that this, indeed, is one of the world's great travel experiences. Linger at the towers and broad promenades, contemplate the spectacular scenery and the lives lost in building this monumental world wonder, which never truly fulfilled its purpose. Also visit the Ming Tombs, before returning to Beijing to crown your day with an unforgettable Peking Duck dinner at a prestigious city venue. (B,L,SD)

Day 7 Beijing/Wuhan­Yangtze River Cruise
Begin the day with a three-wheeled passenger cycle excursion through the hutongs of old Beijing. View the maze like district from the Drum Tower, then stop for close looks at the tiny courtyard homes and palatial noblemen's estates, a stroll through the markets, and the pure joy of people watching. After your tour fly to Wuhan and board your river cruiser and settle into your comfortable, outside cabin. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Yangtze River Cruise
For four days, you will cruise to antiquities and scenery that could not be reached by land. Begin with a visit of Yueyang, the dragon boat capital, with a tour of the Tang Dynasty tower and lush Junshan Island with its exotic birds and foliage. (B,L,D)

Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise
Continue cruising toward the Upper Yangtze, stopping to tour the Three Gorges Dam construction site. Then gather on deck for our entry to the Three Gorges. Sail the rushing Xiling Gorge, then weave through the bewitching Twelve Peaks of Wu Gorge. All are brought to life by informal narratives on deck. (B,L,D) 

Day 10 Yangtze River Cruise
Board small vessels for a breathtaking voyage on the Daning River to its Three Small Gorges, each covered with greenery and alive with the calls of birds and monkeys or sail through the beautiful Shennong Stream. Reboard your ship and cut through the narrow Qutang Gorge, flanked by soaring vertical cliffs, before docking in the market town of Wanxian. (B,L,D)

Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise
Our final day of sailing the Yangtze takes us past orchards and ancient temples that dot the banks and footpaths that gracefully follow the course of the river. Today's tour will present either Fengdu, a folkloric "ghost city", or Wanxian, a Sichuan market town steeped in atmosphere and color. (B,L,D)

Day 12 Chongqing/Dazu/Chongqing
Disembark Chongqing, and travel through the green heart of Sichuan to Dazu, home of 50,000 stone Buddhist sculptures clustered in hillsides and caverns. Enjoy the scenery, view the colossal reclining Buddha and stirring scenes of village life. Return to Chongqing and settle into your accommodations. (B,L,D)

Day 13 Chongqing/Xian
This morning set out for a tour of Chongqing, if time allows, before flying to Xian, ancient capital of 11 Chinese dynasties.(B,L)

Day 14 Xian
Walk in the steps of ancient traders and travelers on today's sightseeing of Xian, the head of the great caravan route once used for shipping silk and other prized Chinese goods to the West. Tour the archaeological site which so far has yielded some 8000 ancient terra cotta soldiers and horses, each a unique, finely-detailed sculpture. Also tour the Provincial Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and City Gate, followed by a delicious dumpling banquet and stage show at Tang Dynasty Theater. (B,L,SD)

Day 15 Xian/Guilin
Fly south to the green hills of Guilin, whose ethereal landscapes have been immortalized by poets and painters through the ages. This afternoon, tour the city sights and the immense Reed Flute Cave, filled with impressive grottos, pillars, and inscriptions over 1000 years old. (B,L)

Day 16 Guilin
A full-day cruise on the crystalline Li River will immerse you in the extraordinary natural beauty of this unique area. Sail in air-conditioned comfort as every turn yields new views of towering stone pinnacles, unusual rock formations, quaint country villages, and fishermen casting their nets or bringing in the catch the traditional way, with cormorants. Return ashore in the late afternoon. Complete the day with a dinner, followed by an entertaining cultural performance. (B,L,SD)

Day 17 Guilin/Guangzhou/Hong Kong
Travel by air to Guangzhou, the famous old seaport of Canton. If time permits, enjoy an overview of the city's elegant temples, old European estates, and boulevards teeming with shops and famous restaurants. Then board a hydrofoil and sail from the Pearl River Delta to nearby Hong Kong. (B,L)

Day 18 Hong Kong
This morning, explore Hong Kong's unique blend of Chinese heritage and colonial influences. Travel via coach to one of its newest attractions, the distinctive Peak Tower Complex, with its array of shops, restaurants, and viewing decks for taking in the superb panoramas. Continue around the island to scenic Repulse Bay, the floating community of Aberdeen, and the shopping mecca of Stanley. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

Day 19 Hong Kong
The day is yours to shop or perhaps venture out on optional excursions to Kowloon, Macau, the outer islands, night markets, or other favorites of this exciting region. Bestours staff will be on hand to offer recommendations and assist with your plans. (B)

Day 20 Hong Kong/USA
Bid farewell to China as you transfer to the new international airport and depart on your selected airline to the United States. (B)

Hotels

Pricing &  Departures

For Information & Reservations
(408) 298-2598 or Email Us

 

Departs: Tuesday	Land Only	Single Supplement	Western LAX/SFO*
2002
Jul 02, 09, 23	$3200	$1120	$980
Aug 13, 27	$3200	$1120	$980
Sep 10, 24	$3710	$1540	$945
Oct 08, 22	$3710	$1540	$945
Nov 05	$3710	$1540	$835
Nov 19	$3710	$1540	$168
2003
Mar 18, 28	$3260	$1170	$805