Yangtze Highlights

Regular daily and guaranteed departures, Mar-Nov

A 13-day journey that includes a river cruise through the Three Gorges with 5-star cruise boat, starting in the vibrant city of Shanghai, and including Beijing (Great Wall and Forbidden City) and Xi'an (Terracotta Army).

An escorted tour with your own local English-speaking guides and car and driver, using 5-star hotels and a 5-star Yangtze cruise boat.

Day 1 Depart UK.
Day 2 Arrive Shanghai in the morning. Transfer to 5-star hotel. Rest of the day free.
Day 3 City sightseeing tour, to include the Yu Garden in the old China town district; the Jade Buddha Temple. After lunch, explore the famous Bund, or waterfront, with its European-style buildings, plus the former French concession area, and the new Pudong district with its dramatic modern architecture. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Transfer to airport for flight to the central city of Yichang. Transfer to pier to join your 5-star Yangtze cruise boat from Chinese Victoria Cruises or similar for overnight stay on board. (B, D)
Day 5 Yangtze River cruise upstream through the Three Gorges, departing in the morning. Shore excursion to the mighty Three Gorges Dam. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Yangtze River cruise, including trip in small boats on the narrow gorges of the Shennong Stream, one of the Yangtze's tributaries. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Yangtze River cruise, including shore excursion to the 'ghost city' of Fengdu (B, L, D)
Day 8 Arrive Chongqing 09:00. Visit to the Stilwell Museum, housed in the former headquarters of General Stilwell, the head of the Allied mission to China during the Second World War when Chongqing was the wartime capital of China, or alternatively the Panda House at Chongqinq Zoo. Then transfer to airport for flight to Xi'an. Transfer to 5-star hotel. (B, L)
Day 9 Excursion to the famous Terracotta Army, created to guard the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the 3rd century BC. After lunch, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and a ceramics and lacquer factory. 'Tang Dynasty' song and dance show in the evening after dinner, evoking the sights and sounds when Xi'an was capital of China during the Tang dynasty. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Transfer to airport for flight to Beijing. Transfer to 5-star hotel. Visit to the Summer Palace on the outskirts of Beijing, plus the pearl market. (B, L)
Day 11 Excursion to Tiananmen Square, followed by the Forbidden City, the centre of power for five centuries of imperial rule. After lunch, visit the Temple of Heaven where emperors performed rituals to ensure good harvests. End the day at Silk Street for shopping for souvenirs. (B, L)
Day 12 In the morning visit the famous Great Wall. After lunch, explore the tombs of the Ming emperors. Peking duck dinner in the evening, followed by either Peking opera show or acrobatic show. (B, L, D)
Day 13 Flight back to UK, arriving later the same day. (B)