Pandas & Yangtze Cruise
Day 1 Arrival in Beijing
Upon your arrival at Beijing airport, our guide will be waiting for you outside the customs of Beijing Airport, and then the driver will transfer you to the hotel. Relax during the remainder of the day.
Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing 
– the former Sheraton
Day 2 Beijing
Visit the world famous Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City this morning. To avoid the cheap tourist restaurant as the most are doing now, we specially serve you an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a very decent restaurant, where you can have a taste of authentic Chinese food and the most famous Peking Roast Duck. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven. The evening will be highlighted by a lively Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theatre. (B+L)
Day 3 Beijing
Today’s highlight is to visit Mutianyu Great Wall. The round-trip cable car is included. We will specially provide red wine for a group-toasting on the Great Wall. The restaurants nearby the site are of low standard, so we do not arrange the lunch today. It may be the best that you have a big breakfast at the hotel and have some fast food for lunch by yourself. Our guide will show you some restaurants. In the afternoon, on the way back to downtown we will have a photo stop at the Olympic National Stadium (Bird’s Nest). Afterwards, you will enjoy some free time at the famous Xiushui market. (B)
Day 4 Beijing – Xi’an
Visit the Summer Palace. Then following your guide to take a rickshaw tour to explore the original Hutong alleys. You will have a chance to try your hand at Chinese Paper Cutting. We will serve you an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy restaurant. After that, take a flight to Xi’an and check in at the hotel. (B+L)
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel
Day 5 Xi’an
Today’s highlight is to visit the Terracotta Army. Then a special and authentic home cooked a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) is arranged at a local family. You can learn to cook Chinese food with the hospitable hostess. In the afternoon, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi’an Museum. A splendid evening is in store when you will be entertained by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show when partaking of the famous Dumpling Dinner. (B+L+D)
Tips: Dumplings are a traditional local food in northern China and are made of wheat flour with various indigenous fillings. This has long been a favourite food of the local people, so we have arranged for you to have a taste of this speciality today. You will also have an opportunity to learn more about the diversified Chinese food culture. However, we suggest you do not expect too much from this dinner, it is just a new and different experience during your trip.
Day 6 Xi’an
The day begins with a leisure visit to the City Wall Park, where you can observe the day-to-day life of the locals and learn to practice Tai Chi with the master. Then continue to visit the ancient City Wall for an exciting experience. An a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) is served at a well-known restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Provincial History Museum and the Great Mosque. Spend some leisure time at the lively Muslim Quarter. (B+L)
Day 7 Xi’an – Guilin
This morning, take a flight to Guilin and check in at the hotel. Visit the Reed Flute Cave and the Elephant Trunk Hill. (B)
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel
Day 8 Guilin – Yangshuo – Guilin
Appreciate the Li River scenery by cruising down from Guilin to Yangshuo. Disembark at Yangshuo in about 4.5 hours and walk along the famous West Street. After that, you will be driven to the countryside of Yangshuo to soak up the amazing rural views and pay a visit to a local villager’s home. Finally, we will drive you back to Guilin. (B+L)
Tips: The lunch served on the cruise today is simple Chinese box lunch. It cannot be up to your taste and also fails to meet the serving standard of our TravelChinaGuide, so we kindly suggest you have a hearty breakfast at the hotel this morning.
Day 9 Guilin – Chengdu
We will transfer you to the airport for the morning flight to Chengdu. Our guide will meet you at Chengdu airport upon arrival and help you check in at the hotel. Free in the afternoon. (B)
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza
Day 10 Chengdu
An exciting day comes as you visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. You will have enough time there to observe the cute creatures. Then explore the Broad and Narrow Alleys, where you may have your own lunch to taste the popular Sichuan food. Our guide will offer you suggestions. In the afternoon, visit Jinsha Site Museum. After that our guide will escort you to the most popular Renmin Park to experience the casual life of the local people. Have a pot of tea and live like a local. (B)
Day 11 Chengdu – Chongqing
We remain the whole morning free for you. In the afternoon, our guide will escort you to the railway station and help you board a 2-hour’s bullet train to Chongqing. Upon arrival, our guide in Chongqing will meet you at the railway station and take you to explore Jiefangbei CBD and Ci Qi Kou ancient village, where you may have dinner by yourself before boarding the cruise. Our guide will offer you suggestions. After that, check in at the five-star Yangtze cruise ship, which sets sail at 21:30. (B)
Cruises: Century Diamond with balcony
Day 12 Yangtze River Cruise
This morning you will have a Safety, Orientation & River Briefing. You will learn the geography & river lore of China. After lunch, disembark for an excursion to the Shibaozhai. Around 18:00 Captain’s Welcome Party presents Chinese folk dancing and music performance. You can also join in the fun. (B+L+D)
Day 13 Yangtze River Cruise
Begin the passage with Qutang Gorge, the shortest and the grandest of the Three Gorges. View the exquisite peaks and grotesquely shaped rocks. Pass the Wu Gorge with its famous lofty and misty peaks. Disembark for an excursion to the Shennv Stream. The trip features natural beauty and an exciting boat ride drifting along the crystal stream. The small motor boat allows you to experience a speedy adventure and have a close look at mossy rocks, verdant plants and precious animals. Then continue sailing into the western section of Xiling Gorge. (B+L+D)
Day 14 Yichang – Shanghai
Disembark for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. Before that, please pack your luggage and complete check-out procedures. After the excursion, the cruise company will drive you to the Three Gorges Tourist Center in Yichang. Our local guide will meet you there and escort you to the railway station for a bullet train to Shanghai and check in at the hotel. (B)
Tips: The bullet train trip from Yichang to Shanghai takes more than 7 hours, which is a bit long. Therefore, we kindly suggest you bring your favorite books or download some music or movies in advance to spend time on the train.
Accommodation: Parkline Century Park Hotel Shanghai – the former Crowne Plaza
Day 15 Shanghai
This morning, visit Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden and explore its nearby traditional bazaar. An a la carte farewell lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at an elegant restaurant. After that, we will guide you to discover the Former French Concession. Then, drive to the Bund area, where you will take a one-hour cruise tour on the Huangpu River. Enjoy some free time on the Bund. Upon returning to the hotel our guide will see you into the lobby to say bon voyage. (B+L)
Day 16 Departure from Shanghai
Today you will travel to the airport for your departing flight by yourself. Due to different flight schedules, the hotel-airport transfer service is not included. But we are glad to assist you if you need. We wish you a nice journey home and memories to last a lifetime. (B)
