CHINA GOLDEN TRIANGLE AND YANGTZE CRUISE

Meet and Greet: Upon your arrival at Beijing Airport, your tour guide will give you a warm welcome.

Welcome Dinner: In the evening, indulge in a welcome dinner at a local restaurant and savor the iconic taste of Beijing's famous roast duck.Return to Hotel: After dinner, we'll transfer you to your hotel for a good night's rest and prepare for the adventures of the coming days. Enjoy the scenic drive back to your hotel and anticipate the many attractions to be explored in Beijing.

Forbidden City: After breakfast at your hotel, you'll embark on a tour of the Forbidden City, the world's largest imperial palace and one of China's most iconic landmarks. Marvel at the architectural grandeur and ancient elegance of this magnificent palace complex as you explore its many rooms, halls, and gardens and discover what life was like for the emperors and their families.

Lunch: During the tour, you'll take a break to enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, where you'll get a taste of Beijing's authentic cuisine.

Hutong Experience: Next, you'll experience the unique charm of Beijing's old narrow streets, known as Hutongs. You'll also have an opportunity to visit a local family's traditional courtyard home to learn about the customs and traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Return to Hotel: After this immersive cultural experience, you'll be transported back to your hotel where you can relax and enjoy an evening at your leisure.

Mutianyu Great Wall: After breakfast, you'll depart for the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, a less crowded and more picturesque part of the wall. Enjoy the scenic ride through lush mountains and scenic countryside to reach the wall, which dates back over 2,000 years. Take your time exploring the wall, walking along its winding paths, and admiring the stunning views from atop the watchtowers.

Lunch: During the tour, you'll break for lunch at a local restaurant near the Great Wall. Enjoy a delicious meal of local Chinese cuisine while taking in the stunning views of the surrounding scenery.

Temple of Heaven: After lunch, you'll visit the Temple of Heaven, an imperial temple located in Beijing. Built in 1420, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a stunning example of ancient Chinese architecture and was used by emperors to offer prayers for good harvests and to carry out other religious ceremonies.

Return to Hotel: After a full day of exploration and adventure, you'll be transported back to your hotel where you can unwind and relax.

Summer Palace: After breakfast, you'll visit the Summer Palace, a palace complex located northwest of Beijing. This UNESCO World Heritage site served as a retreat for the emperors of China and boasts stunning gardens, lakes, and palaces. You'll explore the complex's many beautiful pavilions, halls, and the famous Long Corridor overlooking the picturesque Kunming Lake.

Lunch: During the tour, you'll break for lunch at a local restaurant serving delicious cuisine.

Fly to Xi'an: After lunch, you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by your local guide, who will take you to your hotel and assist with check-in formalities.

Relax: You'll have the rest of the evening to relax and explore the local area at your leisure after the day's activities and travel.

Terra Cotta Warriors: After breakfast at your hotel, you'll embark on a remarkable tour of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century: the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Learn about the fascinating history and significance of this ancient site's more than 8,000 modeled soldiers, horses, and chariots that were built over 2,000 years ago to protect the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Lunch: You'll break for lunch at a local restaurant near the Terra Cotta Warriors, where you can enjoy the traditional and savory local cuisine.

Big Goose Pagoda: After lunch, you'll visit the well-known Big Wild Goose Pagoda, with a history of over 1,300 years and is a symbol of ancient Xi'an. Originally built during the Tang dynasty era, the pagoda was used to store Buddhist sutras and other relics brought back from India by the monk Xuanzang.

Return to Hotel: After a fascinating and enlightening day, you'll be transported back to your hotel where you can relax and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.

City Wall: After breakfast at your hotel, you'll visit the ancient City Wall of Xi'an, which dates back over 600 years. The wall is the most complete and best-preserved city wall in China, and you'll walk along some of the top and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Lunch: During the tour, you'll break for lunch at a local restaurant near the City Wall, where you can enjoy traditional and savory local cuisine.

High-Speed Train: After exploring the City Wall and lunch, you'll transfer to the train station to board a high-speed train to Chongqing.

Private Transfer: Upon arrival in Chongqing, you'll be met by a private transfer and taken directly to the pier to board your Yangtze River cruise ship.

Cruise: Once you've arrived at the pier, your tour guide will assist you with the check-in process and familiarize you with your cabin and the ship's amenities.

Start your morning with a traditional Tai Chi lesson, led by our Tai Chi Master and work up an appetite for the buffet breakfast.

This morning, visit the Fuling 816 Nuclear Engineering site. Hidden in the Wuling Mountains of Fuling, the 816 underground nuclear project is the world’s largest known man-made military cave. Over 50 years ago, more than 60,000 constructors, came to Jianzishan, an uninhabited place among mountains and forest, to start work on a top-secret construction of a monumental scale. The work continued for 17 years and was nearly completed when the government decided to suspend it, before any nuclear material could be produced. Now as the secrets of military caves are revealed, you will be able to look at the true face of the 816 project hidden for 50 years.

Alternatively, you can choose to visit 816 Town, where the workers of Project 816 lived for 30 years while working on the number one top-secret project of the Republic. The gate of 816 Town still retains the appearance of the 1970s and 1980s. Walking in it, the green bricks, red walls, and green windows seem to have their own stories. You will see the old factories, canteens, auditoriums, and more than 40 old buildings which became the best carriers of that period of history.

In the evening, enjoy VIP seats at an epic, large-scale live performance of The Beacon of Three Kingdoms. The performance will be a cultural feast with the Three Gorges Harbour as the stage, the culture of The Three Kingdoms as the theme, and the spirit of loyalty and righteousness as the soul. Based on the famous 14th-century novel ‘The Romance of the Three Kingdoms’, the story is part historical, part legend, and part mythical. The dreamlike performance includes horseback battles, lighting and water effects, 3D holographic projects and fireworks.

Overnight on Yangzi Explorer.

Today, we sail across Qutang Gorges in the morning glow. Qutang Gorge, also known an Kui Gorges and Ba Gorge, is the first gorge of the Three Gorges Yangtze River. Admire the splendor of the green peaks and tranquility of the river.

After breakfast, start a full-day tour of Wushan.

Drive to Dachang Ancient Town, built in the Western Jin Dynasty with a history of more than 1,800 years. It used to be an important distribution center for salt, medicinal materials, and mountain products in the region. The town was relocated with more than 30 ancient residential buildings, 3 city gates, and 2 ancient temples It has become the only completely preserved ancient town in the Three Gorges reservoir area.

After the tour, take a two-hour boat ride down the Daning River and return to Yangzi Explorer. Along the way, you will pass through the essence of Emerald Gorge, which is rarely visited by tourists, and enjoy the beauty of Wushan Lesser Three, namely Emerald Gorge, Bawu Goge, and Longmen Gorge. Look at the towering peaks, the verdant hillsides, the scattered springs and waterfalls, and the hanging coffins of Ba people in mysterious caves and ancient villages.

After lunch, join the tour to explore the Wushan Goddess Sky Road. Embark on the Yangzi Explorer Trail, named after Yangzi Explorer, stroll among the cliffs at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, and overlook Goddess Peak and the Yangtze River. Going deeper, you will board the private lookout of Yangzi Explorer. The 12 peaks of Wushan will be right in front of you. A champagne reception awaits you here, exclusive to Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer passengers.

In the evening, drive back to the ship and enjoy the dinner on board.

Overnight on Yangzi Explorer.

Disembark at Yichang and Transfer to High-speed Train: We will disembark the ship at Yichang and then transfer to a high-speed train that will take us to Shanghai.

Enjoy the Scenic Views: During the train ride, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the scenic views of the countryside and take in the beauty of the natural landmarks that pass by.

Arrival in Shanghai: Upon arrival in Shanghai, we will transfer you to your hotel where you can relax and unwind after a long day of travel. Get ready for the exciting adventures that await you in this vibrant city!

In-depth Tour of the Bund: Today, we will start with an in-depth tour of the Bund - a must-visit spot in Shanghai. Here, you will be able to witness the unique blend of Chinese and Western architecture dating back to the early 20th century. Take your time to walk along the promenade and enjoy the stunning views of the Huangpu River.

Lunch: After the tour of the Bund, we will take a break for lunch at a local restaurant where you can sample the exquisite local cuisine.

Yu Garden: After lunch, we will visit the enchanting Yu Garden, also known as the Garden of Happiness. This classical Chinese garden has a rich history and breathtaking beauty that will leave you mesmerized.

Farewell Dinner: In the evening, we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant featuring excellent cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere. This is a perfect opportunity to reminisce about the unforgettable experiences you've had during your tour.

After dinner, we will transfer you back to your hotel.

We will assist you with your check-out from the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

We hope you've had an unforgettable experience exploring the sights and sounds of Shanghai and China as a whole. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home, and we hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future.