Best Yangtze River Tour

Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. You are greeted by your guide at the airport outside the luggage claim area with your name displayed and then transferred to the hotel for rest.

Meet your guide at the hotel lobby and begin at the Temple of Heaven, the largest ancient imperial worship complex in China, where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests. Continue to Tiananmen Square, then enter the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace that served Chinese emperors for more than 500 years.

Gallery: Forbidden City 1Forbidden City 2

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Meet your guide at your hotel and then take private tour to Badaling Section of the Great Wall. Upon arriving at the Badaling Great Wall, you can either take cable car (optional cost) uphill or hike along the stairs on the wall. You may spend 2-3 hours on the symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization. Then you will visit the Summer Palace, one of the China's largest and best-preserved imperial gardens. It is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, integrating the natural landscape of hills and open water with man-made features into a harmonious and aesthetically exceptional whole.

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Enjoy a free day to explore Beijing city on your own. In the evening, pickup by your local guide and take private transfer to railway station and board the soft-sleeper train to Xi’an.

Arrive in Xi’an in the morning, meet your guide at the railway station and transfer back to hotel for rest. After refresh, you will take an express bus to Lintong, the place where The Terracotta Army and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor was discovered. The Terracotta Warriors are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. There are more than 8,000 life-size Terra-cotta soldiers and horses excavated from this area which all displayed in the practical battle formation in 3 pits respectively. In the late afternoon, travel back to your hotel

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In the morning, visit the Ming Dynasty City Wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in China. From the ramparts, you can see the contrast between Xi’an’s historic core and its modern skyline. Continue to the Muslim Quarter for the Great Mosque area, local snacks, and souvenir lanes. In the afternoon, fly to Chongqing, where your guide will transfer you to the Yangtze River cruise ship.

Gallery: Mountain City

Start the day with scenic cruising on the Yangtze River. After lunch, disembark at Fengdu and visit the legendary Ghost City, where temples and folklore introduce a distinctive part of river culture. Return to the cruise ship for the welcome banquet in the evening.

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Continue your Yangtze River cruise and enjoy a day of scenic sailing and optional excursions. If you missed yesterday's trip, you can visit Fengdu and Shibaozhai, explore Baidi City, and sail through two main canyons. If you're interested, you can also take another boat trip on the Shennong Stream.

Gallery: Shennong Stream

Today you will have a stop at Sandouping to view the historic Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric project in the world. After the shore excursion of Three Gorges Dam, you will disembark at Yichang in the afternoon. Upon arrival, transfer to the airport and fly to Shanghai, the financial and commercial center of China.

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Start the city tour to Yu Garden, the best preserved ancient Chinese garden. There are many small-commodities like handicrafts and clothes, and you can explore the sale market around all by yourself and enjoy the fun of shopping. Then travel to the Bund, appreciating the splendid Bund western buildings and the Lujiazui skylines on the other side of the Huangpu River. At the end of the tour, spend some time on the No. 1 shopping street in the country-East Nanjing Road.

Gallery: The BundYu Garden

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Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. The whole tour ends with a memorable experience.