DAY 1
Meet your travelling companions in the executive lounge prior to your scheduled flight to Beijing.
DAY 2
Arrival in Beijing for a three night stay. Afternoon included city tour. Evening welcome drink at the hotel.
DAY 3
Today we include a visit to the heart of Beijing – Tian an Men Square, bordered by the Qianmen Gate, the Great Hall of the People and the Gate of Heavenly Peace. We proceed to the Forbidden City, to marvel at the Imperial Palace. The most modern architecture can also be seen with the iconic Olympic buildings, The Birdsnest and the Water Cube.
We then continue to the magnificent 800-year-old Summer Palace. Included evening visit to the Beijing Opera.
DAY 4
This morning we include a visit to the Great Wall, which passes within 40 miles of Beijing at Badaling. Lunch is followed by a visit to the Ming Tombs museum where 13 emperors are buried. During the evening there will be a Peking Duck Dinner.
DAY 5
Early morning transfer to Beijing Central Railway Station for the train to Chengde where you will stay for two nights. This 160 mile train journey, travelling in ‘soft’ (first) class, is a unique experience. Chengde is a thriving market town. At its heart is the picturesque
landscape of the Summer Resort, protected by eight Outer Temples. We have included a visit to the Summer Resort during the afternoon.
DAY 6
Included morning visit to two of the famous Outer Temples. These are the Putuo Temple, a vast and stunning replica of a Tibetan Monastery, and the Temple of the Wooden Buddha.
DAY 7
After breakfast, return to Beijing by road, we then drive directly to the airport for the flight to Xian. Transfer to your hotel where we stay for two nights’. Dinner on arrival.
DAY 8
The ‘City of Eternal Peace’, was once the flourishing capital of China. It is here that the first Qin emperor was interred in 200BC with at least 6,000 lifesize terracotta figures. We include a visit to the Terracotta Army at Li Shan Mountain. You will also visit Hua Qing Hot Springs. Included Tang Dynasty folklore show this evening.
DAY 9
Included morning tour of Xian. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Beijing. Farewell get-together in the evening and an overnight stay.
DAY 10
We will transfer to the airport for our flight to Wuhan. On arrival, we make our way to Yichang where we board the MV Sunshine or similar for our four night cruise along the mighty Yangtze River.
DAYS 11 TO 13
Our cruise begins with a visit to the incredible Three Gorges Dam, which is the largest dam in the world – truly a monumental feat of engineering. We then proceed upstream through the Xiling Gorge, continue through the Wuxia and Qutang Gorges, and take a fascinating side trip up the Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze.
DAY 14
This morning we arrive in the absorbing city of Chongqing, where we find bustling water traffic, fascinating street life, lively markets and small restaurants famous for their Sichuan cuisine. We will disembark the ship and enjoy a short tour of the city before checking in to our hotel for an overnight stay.
DAY 15
This morning we transfer to Beijing for a final overnight stay in this incredible country.
DAY 16
Morning transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. As you will be flying westwards your arrival is later the same day.