CHINA & THE YANGTZE RIVER ITINERARY:
DAYS 1 - 2, Tuesday & Wednesday - Beijing
Depart the USA on Tuesday and arrive in Beijing on Wednesday.
You are greeted at
the airport and transferred to your luxury hotel, the St. Regis. Located on the grounds
of the historic Beijing International Club in the center of the city’s Diplomatic District,
the St. Regis is the pinnacle of luxurious accommodations in China.
Chinese history permeated Beijing with sites of cultural and historical importance;
many of them such as the Great Wall, the Imperial Palace and the Summer Palace are
designated as UNESCO endorsed World Cultural Heritage sites.
The remainder of today is open for independent exploration or relaxation after your
long flight. In the evening, gather with your travel director and fellow travelers
for a
special Peking duck dinner. St. Regis Hotel
DAY 3, Thursday - Beijing
Stand in the middle of Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) Square, and you are in
the largest city square in the world, and the spiritual heart of China. Here the
national flag is raised exactly at sunrise everyday.
Explore the Forbidden City, located in the center of Beijing, and the grandest palace
complex still remaining in China. Twenty-four emperors of the Ming and
Qing
Dynasties lived within the red walls, only rarely emerging from their 250-acre
home.
Walk through the halls, pavilions, palaces and courtyards built between 1406
and
1420, once restricted to the members of the royal family and their households. More
than 200,000 laborers were involved in building this immense complex
over the course
of many years.
Savor a visual feast at the Summer Palace, located on the northwestern outskirts of
the city. The Summer Palace, an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty,
provides a spectacular view of glittering golden roofs of the buildings below. With its
perfect layout, magnificent buildings and enchanting landscapes, the garden of the
Summer Palace is often called the most splendid classical garden in China. The palace
grounds also occupy a vast park of 692 acres, with Longevity Hill to the north and
Kunming Lake to the south. St. Regis Hotel
DAY 4, Friday - Beijing
Today travel outside Beijing to the Great Wall, known to the Chinese as the “Long Wall
of Ten Thousand Li.” It stretches 4,163 miles from the Shanhaiguan Pass on the East
Coast to the Jiayuguan Pass in the Gobi Desert.
Originally built in small sections by individual feudal states during the fifth century B.C.,
the Great Wall was connected at the end of the third century B.C. on the orders of
the Emperor Qin Shi Huang when he unified China. The Great Wall was built as a
defense against invaders from the north, and became a conduit of communication
with news and orders carried by the armies that traveled it. Today, the Great
Wall is as impressive and inspiring as it was centuries ago.
Next, stroll the famous, “Avenue of Animals,” also known as the Sacred Way of the
Ming Tombs. The Sacred Way stretches from south to north through the center of the
tombs area. The main road was originally built to lead to the tomb of Emperor Yongle,
the most powerful emperor in the Ming dynasty, but as later tombs were built to the
right and left, the road encompassed them all. St. Regis Hotel
DAY 5, Saturday - Beijing
Get a look at ordinary Chinese life, as we take a morning excursion to see the old back
lanes — or hutongs — by pedicab rickshaw. Peek into bustling courtyards and watch
vendors and shoppers do their daily business. Visit a local family, who invite you into
their home.
The rest of the day is available for further exploration of this fascinating city, or just
relax and enjoy the St. Regis spa facilities.
St. Regis Hotel
Day 6, Sunday - Xian
Continue on to Xian, capital of the Shaanxi Province and the largest city in northeast
China. A principal center of Chinese culture, Xian has been inhabited since 6,000 B.C.
Home to 11 great Chinese dynasties and ancient capital of China for more than 1,000
years; it became the most important center in Asia, and vied with Rome and later
Constantinople for the title of greatest city in the world.
Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a historical legacy left by the Tang Dynasty, which
dates back
to 707 A.D. It is one of several fine Buddhist monuments in the city
center. Its well-known Morning Bell Chimes are regarded as one of the eight
famous scenic features in Shaanxi Province. Behind the pagoda, find a small bell
tower standing in the courtyard. The bell it houses was cast in 1192 with 16 lucky words
engraved on it. Legend has it that if someone misses his faraway family, he only needs
to write down his family's name and address on a label and the bell will ring, sending his
regards to his family. Shangri-La Hotel / Sofitel Hotel
DAY 7, Monday - Xian
In 1974 the world was astounded when farmers accidentally discovered a terra cotta
army of
thousands of life-sized soldiers guarding the tomb of the First Emperor
Qinshihuang (246 BC -209 BC). Over 7,000 life-size figures have been uncovered-warriors, chariots and horses,
each with their own individual characteristics, lined up
just as they were 2,000 years ago, ready to march off on a military campaign.
The Museum of Emperor Qinshihuang's Tomb Figures of Soldiers and Horses is one of
the most famous
places in China and is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The
highlight of your visit
is an excursion to the site where these figures have been
excavated. The actual tomb is still to be unearthed and is reputed to contain
extravagant palaces and pavilions filled with rare gems.
Visit the remarkable Shaanxi Historical Museum, which houses one of the most
extraordinary collections of ancient Chinese artifacts in the world, with over
113,000 fine cultural relics. The museum is divided into seven parts with
exhibitions of the prehistoric age, the Zhou Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty, the Han
Dynasty, the Wei Jin Nanbei Dynasties, the Sui and Tang Dynasties and the Song,
Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. It shows the history of Shaanxi Province from
1,150,000 years ago to 1840. Shangri-La Hotel / Sofitel Hotel
DAY 8, Tuesday - Chongqing & Yangtze Cruise
Today, fly to Chongqing, located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing
Rivers. Chongqing (or Chunking), was the Nationalist Headquarters during the
Japanese occupation
of China. It has grown in the 20th century from a small
town to China's largest urban area.
In late afternoon, embark on the Victoria Anna, one of the newest ships on the
Yangtze, and begin sailing downstream. The Yangtze River, waterway for large
foreign and Chinese vessels, and throngs of junks and sampans, conjures images
of romance and adventure. For the
Chinese, the Yangtze (or Long River) is the
site of spectacular, inspiring scenery, important history and birthplace of ancient
culture. Your cruise combines sightseeing with scientific, artistic and cultual
exploration. Victoria Anna Cruise
DAY 9, Wednesday - Yangtze Cruise
Sailing down the Yangtze from Chongqing to Yichang gives you a front row seat on a
spectacular display of Three Gorges scenery, and opens the door for exploration of
the region’s splendid cultural heritage and
folklore. Depending on the river
conditions and water level, you visit one of three locations: Shibaozhai, Wanxian,
or Fengdu
Shibaozhai features a 12-story wooden pagoda that is more than 400 years old. No
nails were used in constructing this enduring structure, which stands
on a huge,
rectangular rock on the riverside, backed by sheer cliffs. A popular destination for
people in the region, the pagoda has been called the “pearl of the Orient.”
Wanxian, an important port and industrial center, is the gateway to the Eastern
Szechuan Province. Watch an acrobatic show, visit a bustling market,
a regional
museum, or a school to get a taste of Eastern Szechuan life.
Known as the “city of devils,” Fengdu boasts temples filled with innumerable statues
of ghosts and devils. During the Tang Dynasty, two princely families, the Yin (Hell)
and Wang (King) were joined in marriage, becoming the Yinwang (King of Hell). Since
that time, residents of Fengdu have believed that the town is populated by ghosts.
The plethora of demon-decorated temples, buildings,
and statues seem to attest to
their belief. Victoria Anna Cruise
DAY 10, Thursday - Cruise & Three Gorges
The Three Gorges, consisting of the majestic Qutang Xia, statuesque Wu Xia and
ferocious Xiling Xia Gorges, is one of the world’s major canyons. Along the way to the
gorges, enjoy spectacular sights, including Fengdu Mountain, Baidi City, Shibao Village,
Qu Yuan’s Temple and the Three Gorges Dam.
The spectacular grandeur of these walls and the river that roars through them has
long been the inspiration of China’s romanticpoets and painters. As you float through
the gorges, the landscape changes around each bend. Soaring peaks contrast with the
quiet, transparent waters flowing beneath them. Cruise to Qutang Xia (Qutang Gorge),
the shortest (five miles), narrowest (500 feet) and most dramatic of the gorges. Two
mountains, Chijia Shan (Red Passage Mountain) and Baiyan Shan (White Salt Mountain)
guard the entrance to this gorge like two massive castle doors.
Next is the 25-mile long Wu Xia (Witches Gorge), with cliffs so sheer and tall they
virtually block out the sun. This middle gorge is best known for its 12 unique peaks.
Often hidden in swirls of mist, six line the north side of the river, while six staggered
peaks guard the south. The most famous mountain, Shennu Feng Goddess Peak),
resembles a kneeling maiden. She is believed to be the youngest of 12 fairies who
help guide the ships along the river.
The final gorge, Xiling Xia (Xiling Gorge) is the longest (41 miles) and deepest, with cliff
walls that rise to 4,000 feet.
Depending on the water level, you may travel on the crystal-clear waters of the
Daning River to Xiao San Xia (Small Gorges)or to Shennong Stream, another tributary
of the Yangtze with its own series
of beautiful gorges. At the confluence of the
Yangtze and Daning Rivers, you will discover the entrance to Longmen Xia (Dragon
Gate Gorge), where
precipitous cliffs form a spectacular natural entrance. Further
upstream, dramatic peaks and caves surround you as you cruise through the second
gorge, Bawu Xia (Misty Gorge). Luxuriant bamboo groves line the final gorge, Dicui
Xia (Emerald Green Gorge), where the shrill cries of monkeys announce your
arrival, and a chorus of bird song seems to welcome you. Victoria Anna Cruise
DAY 11, Friday - Yichang & Shanghai
This morning, arrive in Yichang. The construction of the Gezhouba (Gezhou Dam)changed this sleepy 1st-century town into a thriving metropolis. Situated at the
entrance to the Xiling Gorge, Yichang is the cultural center of the western
Hubei
Province.
Visit the dam, first proposed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in his ambitious 1919 blueprint for
the future of China. The feasibility of such a project has been studied and debated
ever since. American engineers selected the current site in 1930, and dam completion
is now scheduled for 2008.
The dam’s final statistics are impressive: 6,500 feet long, 606 feet high
and an
estimated US $60 billion price tag. The dam will create the world’s largest reservoir—
it
will be 360 miles long; will relocate over 1.5 million people; and will submerge 13 cities,
140 towns, 1,352 villages, 657 factories, and 570,000 acres of cultivated land.
Proponents of the project point to its promised benefits: flood control, drought control
and increased hydroelectric power.
This afternoon, fly to Shanghai. Shanghai’s inhabitants have been oddly juxtaposed
throughout the centuries rich taipans and poor peasants, intellectuals and
revolutionaries, European expatriates and Communist elite.
Pudong Shangri-La Hotel
DAY 12, Saturday - Shanghai
Survey the city’s architectural wonders and stroll the serene paths of Yu Yuan Garden
in Shanghai’s Old Town. Built in 1577, the garden is enclosed behind high walls, where
you also find a small lake, teahouses, ponds and more than 30 halls and pavilions.
It may be Shanghai’s finest classical garden.
Ancient tradition and modern ambition meld in Shanghai, and the contemporary
Shanghai Museum at People’s Square, with its extraordinary Chinese art and
stunning architecture, embodies both. Examine its collection of more than
123,000 cultural artifacts in 21
categories, with bronze ware, ceramics, calligraphy
and painting, its primary focus.
This evening, attend a world-class performance of the Chinese Acrobats.
Pudong Shangri-La Hotel
DAY 13, Sunday - Shanghai
Visit the Temple of the Jade Buddha, famous for its rare, white Burmese-jade
Buddha statue. The Yufo (Jade Buddha) Temple was built in 1882, and is a
sanctuary for Zen Buddhist study and meditation.
You will also visit the Shanghai Children's Palace where after school education is
offered to gifted children. Located on West Yanan Road in central Shanghai,
it was founded in 1953 by Song Qingling (Madam Sun Yatsen).
This Children's
Palace is housed in a grand building that was once known as the Marble House.
Built from 1918-1931, it has marble lined hallways, wide curving staircases and
a large front hall complete with ornate fireplaces, grand chandeliers and French
windows.
Children participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities including
music, dance,
art, model making, science, technology, and computer science. The palace hosts
many art performances and science and technology contests which attracts
thousands of youngsters. Pudong Shangri-La Hotel
DAY 14, Monday - Guilin
In the morning, fly to Guilin, hailed by many as the most beautiful place in China and
an inspiration to artists and poets for centuries.
Located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin was founded
in the Qin Dynasty in 314 B.C as a small settlement on the Lijiang River. Covering an
area of about 10,734 square miles, the city is rather compact when compared
with other leading cities in the country. However, situated within this area are green
mountains, crystal clear waters, unique caves and beautiful stones.
Guilin is also an important cultural city with a history encompassing more than 2,000
years. The city has been the political, economic and cultural center of Guangxi since
the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The prosperity enjoyed by the
city during
the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) is epitomized by the Tomb of Prince Jingjiang.
Sheraton Hotel
DAY 15, Tuesday - Guilin
Today, journey down the Li River to see the beautiful karst peaks at each bend of
the river; water buffalo patrolling the fields; peasants reaping rice paddies; school
kids; and fisherman floating by on bamboo rafts. With its breathtaking scenery and
quiet life far removed from bustling city streets, life along the Li River is mesmerizing
and eye-opening.
In the afternoon, discover the wonders of Elephant Trunk Hill, situated
majestically
southeast of Guilin city on the west bank of the Li River. Originally named Li Hill, Yi Hill
and Chenshui Hill, the hill has a
history of 3.6 hundred million years. Resembling
an elephant leisurely sucking water from the river with its long trunk, this hill has drawn
curious visitors for centuries. Explore the cave shaped like a full moon that lies at
the hill’s base. On the walls in and around this cave, over 70 inscriptions from the
Tang and Song dynasties were found, praising the beauty of hills and waters nearby.
Halfway up the hill lays another cave, which serves as the eyes of the elephant,
and through which visitors can overlook the beautiful scene of Guilin city.
On top of the hill stands Puxian Pagoda, built in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to
look like the handle of a sword. On both the inside and outside of the cave are
many carvings and inscriptions, the most well-known of which is a poem by Lu You
(1125-1210), one of the four great poets of the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279).
Also visit Fubo Hill to see many statues of Buddha created about 1,000 years ago in
the Returned Pearl Cave. The subject of many legends, this cave is famous for its
six beauties: hills, water, caves, stones, courts, and cultural relics.
Sheraton Hotel
DAY 16, Wednesday - Guilin & Kunming
In the morning visit Daxu Ancient Town, founded at the beginning of the Song
dynasty. A 2.3 Km-long and 2m-wide stone street runs through the town with various
ancient buildings lining the sides of the street. These structures date to the Ming
and Qing dynasties.
Perched on the northern bank of Li River, the ancient town retains its antique
style from the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644). A flagstone street, lined with old
residences, shops and stalls, runs two kilometers along the river bank
through the town. Some well-preserved residences hidden behind the street
door will surprise you as you explore further into the backstreets. These
buildings were used as quarters for businessmen in the past.
This afternoon travel from Guilin to Kunming, known as the” City of Eternal Spring.”
Kunming is home to approximately three-and-a-half million people, representing
all 26 ethnic groups of the province. Like Guilin, Kunming is well known
for its
distinctive, breathtaking and unique natural landscape.
Harbor Plaza Hotel
DAY 17, Thursday - Kunming
Today explore the legendary Stone Forest — striking, densely placed limestone
pillars — often called the most fantastic scenery under heaven. Located in
Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County, which is about 75 miles from Kunming,
the Stone Forest covers 96,000 acres and includes both large and small forests,
as well as many other scenic spots.
Marvel at the natural stone masterpieces and intricate formations. The
magnificent, strange and steep landscape creates countless labyrinthine vistas,
including the Major and Minor Stone Forests and Naigu Stone Forest, which
feature animals, plants and human figures in the stone; the Subterranean Stone
Forest in Zhiyun Cave, an underground stone forest distributed among several
caves; and Strange Wind Cave, composed of Penfeng Cave, Hongxi Spring and
an underground river. From August to November, gales lasting two to three
minutes sweep out of the cave every 30 minutes.
The Stone Forest encompasses other equally fascinating lakes and waterfalls, and
has inspired many legends and stories over the years. But scientists say that the
Stone Forest is a typical example of karsts topography. Approximately 270 million
years ago, during the carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era, the region was a
vast expanse of sea. Over time, the movements of the lithosphere gradually caused
a retreat of the waters and the rise of the limestone landscape. Due to constant
erosion by the elements, the area finally developed into the present-day Stone
Forest. Harbor Plaza Hotel
DAY 18, Friday - Kunming
Today, visit Dianchi Lake with its beautiful landscapes and monuments, including the
Grand View Pavilion and Zheng He Park. Located at the foot of the Western
Hills to
the southwest of Kunming, Dianchi Lake is known as the “Pearl of the Plateau.”
Being the largest lake in Kunming and the sixth largest fresh-water lake in China,
Dianchi Lake is 116 square miles in surface area, 6,185 feet in altitude and about
25 miles in length (from north to south).
Enjoy the pristine air and water on a boat ride on the lake, surveying from
the water
the mountain forest to the west, and the fisheries and agribusinesses that dot
the
eastern shore. Traditional fishing boats still sail on the lake, hooking and netting.
Harbor Plaza Hotel
DAY 19, Saturday - Hong Kong
Today, fly from Kunming to Hong Kong. Upon arrival, transfer to your luxury hotel.
The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to shop or explore this exciting,
cosmopolitan city.
Hong Kong has the cosmopolitan feel of a modern metropolis of 14 million – with busy
but efficient transportation, shopping complexes and restaurants. Yet there are still
temples and quiet corners of parks that offer calm and contemplative oases.
Hong Kong presents a wonderful blend of old and new, traditional Asia and Western
elements. Island Shangri-La Hotel
DAY 20, Sunday - Hong Kong
This morning enjoy a tour of Hong Kong Island and later view the area from atop
Victoria Peak. Float across Aberdeen Harbor in a sampan and search for treasures
at Stanley Market.
In the afternoon enjoy free time to experience the distinctive blend of East and West
in this dynamic city. Savor culinary delicacies. Open your senses to Hong Kong's
amazing skyline, bustling harbor and peaceful countryside.
Tonight, enjoy a cocktail and dinner party with your Travcoa travel director and fellow
travelers to bid a fond farewell to China and this amazing journey.
Island Shangri-La Hotel
DAY 21, Monday - Depart for Home
Today you will be transferred to the airport and depart for your home city or on to
your next destination.
NOTE: The Daily Itinerary above is subject to change dependent upon local conditions
and/or operational changes or improvements.
The specific times and order of
inclusions within each destination may also be altered to best accommodate
unscheduled closure, special events, weather, traffic, etc. Please contact your
Vacation Planner before scheduling
any coinciding appointments. You will receive
an up-dated, itinerary approximately 30 days prior to your journey’s scheduled
departure date.
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