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Experiencing a China travel adventure with Tauck incorporates a memorable Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges, ancient treasures, exotic gardens, architectural masterpieces, and compelling UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Sightseeing includes Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, as well as small villages hosting elaborate temples and tall pagodas. Take a trishaw ride in Old Beijing, a sampan cruise through a Hong Kong harbor, a dragon boat ride past the Summer Palace, and the Tram to Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak. Walk the Great Wall, marvel at the thousands of Terra Cotta Warriors, and thrill to the sight of the Shanghai Acrobat Troupe.
• Indicates cruise day
Day 1: Welcome to Hong Kong
Tauck’s China travel adventure begins at Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong. A transfer is included upon your arrival from Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok Airport to Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, on the waterfront in Kowloon overlooking Hong Kong Harbour.
Lodging: Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong
Day 2: City sightseeing, past and present
In Tauck’s China, travel means more than just seeing each destination. Experience Hong Kong from different perspectives today, first on a funicular tram ride up Victoria Peak, then aboard a traditional sampan on a cruise through one of the city’s oldest floating villages, Aberdeen. A shopper’s paradise, Hong Kong abounds with street stalls selling everything from sneakers to silk, tropical birds to exotic fish; see a mecca of shops in Stanley Market, before spending the remainder of the day on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong
Day 3: Fish markets of Kowloon
Discover the sights and sounds of Kowloon today and visit local fish markets to see an amazing variety of freshly caught seafood. Enjoy time at leisure, perhaps taking the opportunity to experience dining at a local seafood restaurant – a rare treat.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong
Day 4: Flight to Beijing
Today, experience an authentic glimpse of life in northern China. Travel by air to Beijing where you will spend three nights in luxury at The Peninsula Beijing, one of the world’s favorite hotels – it’s a perennial favorite on the “world’s best" lists. You’ll be walking distance from world-famous sights, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Join us tonight for a cocktail reception followed by a special dinner celebrating the “Peking Duck." 13-day tour begins 6:00 PM at The Peninsula, Beijing. A transfer is included upon your arrival from Beijing Capital International Airport to The Peninsula Beijing, and the tour begins at tonight’s cocktail reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Peninsula Beijing, China
Day 5: Tiananmen Square
A walking tour today takes you to Tiananmen Square, where you will view Mao Tse-Tung’s tomb and go inside the palace to see how the emperors lived. Then it’s a very different look at daily life when you hop aboard a trishaw for a ride through hutongs of Old Beijing, stopping for tea at a private home.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Peninsula Beijing, China
Day 6: Walk atop the Great Wall
Tauck’s guests in China travel today to the Great Wall, finished in 210 BC and running for thousands of miles. Ride a cable car to the highest point, and walk along the ancient ramparts that wind over the hilltops. Tour the Summer Palace, once a retreat for the Forbidden City emperors. The grounds cover over 700 acres with temples, shrines, ceremonial halls, bridges, and extensive gardens bordering Kunming Lake. Climb aboard a dragon boat for a lake cruise and palace views from across the water.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Peninsula Beijing, China
Day 7: Temple of Heaven
Visit the 15th-century Temple of Heaven, a round, three-tiered wood structure that is intricately decorated with gold leaf and colorful designs. It’s considered one of China’s best examples of traditional architecture. Fly to Xi’an, the ancient seat of power for thousands of years and the eastern end of the Silk Road.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Golden Flower Hotel, Xi’an, China, By Shangri-La
Day 8: Terra Cotta Warriors
Today features a memorable highlight of China travel when you view the Terra Cotta Warriors, an army of more than 8,000 life-sized terra cotta statues from the 3rd century BC, each with distinctive physical features. These soldiers, horses, and chariots stand in battle formation guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, China’s first emperor. They were discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974, and are now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy an evening performance of traditional dancing.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Golden Flower Hotel, Xi’an, China, By Shangri-La
Day 9: Scenic gems of Guilin
Fly to Guilin, among China’s most picturesque places, whose landscapes have inspired poets and artists for centuries. Visit one of the region’s most impressive caves, the Reed Flute Cave, and experience a relaxing therapeutic foot massage, a special treat showcasing one of China’s ancient healing techniques!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Sheraton Guilin Hotel, Guilin, China
• Day 10: Li River cruise / Start of your Yangtze River Cruise
Observe fishermen on bamboo rafts and view traditional village life on a private cruise along the Li River that seems lifted from a Chinese scroll painting. Fly to Chongqing where you will embark ship for your memorable cruise on China’s mighty Yangtze River.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Victoria Cruises / Yangtze Explorer, Yangtze River, China
• Day 11: Yangtze River cruise
Visions of knobby, mist-shrouded mountains steeped in the mystique of old China travel with you, as you experience the Yangtze from dawn to dusk aboard one of the finest ships on the river. Start your day with Tai Chi exercises, and attend on-board lectures about the river and China’s healing arts as you cruise. A shore excursion to Fengdu is a highlight today!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Victoria Cruises / Yangtze Explorer, Yangtze River, China
• Day 12: Cruising and calligraphy
While cruising the Yangtze, view centuries-old pagodas and temples built against steep-sided cliffs, ancient roads and terraced fields along the river’s edge. Explore Daning River on a Tauck shore excursion and enjoy the views as you pass through all three gorges of the Yangtze today, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. Note: Small Group departures September 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 aboard Yangtze Explorer will explore Shennong Stream instead of Daning River. On-board activities include Chinese 101 and a fresh-water pearl lecture. Have fun with the ship’s crew tonight during a farewell banquet and an entertaining cabaret.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Victoria Cruises / Yangtze Explorer, Yangtze River, China
Day 13: The Three Gorges Dam
Disembark from the ship in Yichang, site of the Three Gorges Dam; one of the world’s largest construction projects, it’s scheduled for completion in 2009. Fly to Shanghai, one of the country’s most cosmopolitan cities. Note: Limited flight schedules will allow some groups to fly to Shanghai from Wuhan.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Four Seasons Shanghai, China
Day 14: Shanghai sights, acrobat nights
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Shanghai, dynamic home to more than 16 million people. Explore classical Yu Gardens, featuring over 30 pavilions and tour the most impressive Shanghai Museum. See a spellbinding performance by the world-renowned Shanghai Acrobat Troupe after dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Four Seasons Shanghai, China
Day 15: Ancient Zhu Jia Jiao
Tauck’s China travel experience explores Zhu Jia Jiao today. The best-preserved of Shanghai’s four ancient towns, it dates back over 1,700 years. Stroll along its lovely willow-lined streets and centuries-old bridges, then visit a silk weaving factory to learn how silk is collected and woven, and return to Shanghai to enjoy the city as you wish.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Four Seasons Shanghai, China
Day 16: Bound for home
Tour ends: Shanghai. Your extraordinary China travel adventure ends in Shanghai, where you’ll catch your return flight home. A transfer is included from the Four Seasons Shanghai to Shanghai Pudong International Airport; you should allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
Cruise Aboard Victoria Cruises or Orient Cruises
Our three-night cruise takes you through the scenic heart of the fabled Yangtze River, the Three Gorges, dramatically etched with the history of China. A spectacular visual feast of ancient whitewashed villages, steep gorges and terraced mountains combines with included shore excursions and a sightseeing tour of China’s newest engineering marvel, the amazing Three Gorges Dam, to make this a memorable cruise experience and a highlight of the tour.
Cruise in comfort and style aboard Victoria Cruises, the only American cruise line on the Yangtze River. Enjoy the outstanding personal services and expertise of our Tauck Directors, along with the ship’s multi-lingual cruise directors and knowledgeable river guides who share learned insights into Chinese history and culture during your cruise. Experience breathtaking river views from the comfort of your well-appointed outside stateroom; each stateroom features a private balcony, internet access, HBO and BBC programming on your color television, central air, mini-bar and a private bath. Sumptuous western and American buffets are offered at breakfast and lunch; elegant dinners are served family-style. On-board amenities include a business center, beauty salon, fitness area, health clinic, and a shopping boutique; nightly entertainment, lectures, fashion shows and Tai Chi lessons provide “insider" opportunities to discover the thrilling ebb and flow of Chinese life in the 21st century.
Book this China travel adventure of pagodas, palaces, gardens, and a Yangtze River cruise NOW!
