Yangtze River Luxury Tour
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Beijing, Chongqing, Yangtze River
Cruise, Yichang, Shanghai 9 days 8 nights luxury
tour
Highlights:
• On this
luxury tour you’ll travel in style, getting the
best accommodation, meals, and entertainment
possible provided during your stay in China
• Take a cruise down the Yangtze River, the
world’s third longest river, stopping for some
exciting onshore excursions, while also visiting
the monumental Three Gorges Dam
• Visit the two biggest cities in China, Beijing
and Shanghai, and all the great wonders that
they provide, including the Great Wall, the
Forbidden City, and the Bund
Standard
Tour and Luxury Tour Packages Available
B=breakfast;
L=lunch; D=dinner Departure:
Upon booking |
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LUXURY TOUR ITINERARY |
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Tour code:
P-BCCS |
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DAY 01 |
Arrive in Beijing
Upon arrival at the Beijing airport, you
will be me by your local
English-speaking guide, and he/she will
take you to your hotel, the Beijing
International Hotel, a 5 star hotel
located in downtown Beijing. If time
permits, we can get started with some
sightseeing, but if not, you are free to
spend the night at your own leisure, and
resting up for the days ahead.
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Beijing Park Plaza Hotel |
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DAY 02 |
Beijing (B, L, D)
After breakfast in the hotel, we’ll make
the short drive outside the city to the
Great Wall at Badaling. Badaling was the
first section of the Great Wall to be
opened to the public in 1957, and is
therefore the best known among visitors.
Badaling was the site of U.S.
President’s Richard Nixon’s visit to the
Great Wall on his historic trip to
China, and is a popular choice for
celebrities, foreign dignitaries and
leaders (U.S. President Obama visited
Badaling in November of 2009). Badaling
also offers incredible views of the wall
winding and twisting along the hills.
After a delicious lunch we will make the
short journey by minibus to the Ming
Tombs.
The Ming Tombs, about 50 km/31 miles
from Beijing, are where 13 emperors of
the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) are buried.
This site was carefully chosen for its
feng shui principles by the third Ming
emperor Yongle (who also moved the
capital from Nanjing to Beijing and
began construction on the Forbidden
City). The tomb we will visit, Dingling,
is the tomb of the Wanli Emperor. It is
the only one of the Ming Dynasty Tombs
to have been excavated. It also remains
the only imperial tomb to have been
excavated since the founding of the
People's Republic of China. After
viewing the tombs, we will head to the “Shenlu”,
or the Spirit Way. The Spirit Way leads
into the complex, lined with statues of
guardian animals and officials, with a
front gate consisting of a three-arches,
painted red, and called the "Great Red
Gate". The Spirit Way, or Sacred Way,
starts with a huge stone memorial
archway lying at the front of the area.
Constructed in 1540, during the Ming
Dynasty, this archway is one of the
biggest stone archways in China today.
For the evening you will enjoy a
delectable dinner o Peking Duck,
Beijing’s signature culinary dish. Then,
for the evening’s entertainment, you
will be able to watch Beijing Opera
(sometimes known as Peking Opera).
Beijing Opera of China is a national
treasure with a history of 200 years. In
the 55th year of the reign of Emperor
Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1790) ,
the four big Huiban opera Troupes
entered the capital and combined with
Kunqu opera, Yiyang opera, Hanju opera
and Luantan in Beijing's theoretical
circle of the time. Over a period of
more than half a century of combination
and integration of various kinds of
opera there evolved the present Beijing
Opera. Beijing Opera is the most
significant of all operas in China, and
it has a richness of repertoire, great
number of artists and audiences, that
give it a profound influence in China
and plays a large role in Chinese
culture.
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Beijing Park Plaza Hotel |
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DAY 03 |
Beijing (B, L, D)
After breakfast in the hotel we will
head over to the center of Beijing, Tiananmen Square. The largest public
square in the world, Tiananmen Square is
seen as China’s political center. Its
grounds have seen some turbulent
moments, from the May 4th Movement of
1919 to the political turmoil of 1989.
The south of the square is marked by the
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, while the
center of the square is dominated by the
Monument to the People’s Heroes, an
imposing 10-story granite obelisk. To
the east is the National Museum of
China, and to the west is the Great Hall
of the People, home to China’s
legislative bodies. The north of the
square is dominated by the Gate of
Heavenly Peace, known for its iconic
portrait of Mao Zedong, and is the
national emblem of China.
After walking across the street, we will
enter what is perhaps the greatest
attraction in China, the Forbidden City.
After walking across the square we will
enter the Forbidden City (known in
Chinese as Gu Gong), the largest
surviving palace complex and the former
home of the emperors of the Ming and
Qing Dynasty. The Forbidden City is one
of the greatest attractions in the
world. Built by the third Ming emperor
between 1406-1422, the Forbidden City
served as the official residence to the
Emperor of China until the last emperor,
Puyi, was forced to evacuate in 1924.
The Forbidden City is divided into two
parts. The southern section, or the
Outer Court was where the emperor
exercised his supreme power over the
nation. The northern section, or the
Inner Court was where he lived with his
royal family. Consisting of 980
buildings and with 8,707 bays of rooms,
the Forbidden City is the best example
of classical Chinese architecture in the
world, and is a wonder to behold.
To continue our theme of imperial
royalty, we’ll go from the Forbidden
City to the royal family’s retreat from
the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace.
Being northwest of the city center, the
Summer Palace has the largest royal park
and being well preserved, the Summer
Palace is ranked amongst the most noted
and classical gardens of the world. In
1998, UNESCO listed it as one of the
World Heritage Sites. Like most of the
gardens of Beijing, it could not elude
the rampages of the Anglo-French allied
force of 1860 and was destroyed by fire.
In 1888, Empress Dowager Cixi embezzled
navy funds to reconstruct it for her own
benefit, changing its name to Summer
Palace (Yiheyuan). She spent most of her
later years there, dealing with state
affairs and entertaining.
Highlights not to be missed are climbing
Longevity Hill, viewing the Empress
Dowager Cixi’s extravagant Marble Boat,
and talking a walk down Suzhou jie, a
canal meant to recreate the beautiful
river city of Suzhou.
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Beijing Park Plaza Hotel |
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DAY 04 |
Beijing-Chongqing-Yangtze River Cruise
(B, L, D)
Following breakfast we’ll make the short
drive to the Temple of Heaven park. The
complex was visited by the Emperors of
the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual
ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good
harvest. The Temple of Heaven park is
best known for the Hall of Prayer for
Good Harvests, an iconic building famed
for its magnificent triple-gabled
circular roof. You will also have an
opportunity to walk the same imperial
walkway that the same emperors walked
hundreds of years ago in their holy
rites. You will also see Beijing’s
senior citizens using the park grounds
for everything from tai chi and ballroom
dancing to bullwhip practice!
In the afternoon, you’ll be taken to the
airport, and you will fly on to Chongqing, located in southwest China
near China. Upon arrival you’ll be met
at the airport by your guide. You’ll be
taken to your Yangtze River cruise ship,
and the cruise will depart tonight. You
will have a welcoming dinner on the
cruise ship, and you’ll have the rest of
the night to walk around the ship.
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Cruise |
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DAY 05 |
Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
After breakfast on the ship you’ll take
a visit onshore in order to visit the
Ghost City of Fengdu County. It used to
be a burial area with scores of temples
and shrines and a small ancient town.
Due to the construction of the 3 Gorges
Dam, the ghostly city is underwater.
However, a hill and dozens of temples
remain in the big artificial lake behind
the dam. So that part can still be
visited. It is a large burial and temple
area. The area above the “Door of Hell”
remains. It is interesting that Chinese
have traditional conceptions of hell
that are somewhat similar to Western
ideas. At the site, people can see
statues and frescoes about hell with
brightly painted images of demons and
other eerie items.
You can spend the rest of the day
enjoying the scenery from the cruise
ship, and in the evening a dinner will
be held aboard the cruise ship.
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Cruise |
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DAY 06 |
Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
You will take a small boat from the
cruise ship to Shennong Stream. Shennong
Stream is a tributary of the Yangtze
River, and its fast-flowing, crystal
clear water runs southwards through deep
gorges. The stream races past large and
small karst caves, flocks of swallows,
sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls,
three-colored springs, rapids, the
ancient plank path, a suspended coffin
in the cliff, groups of ancient tombs
and marvelous karst formations. There
are displays of Chinese art and of
artifacts saved from the construction of
the 3 Gorges Dam and the artificial
lake. It instructs on the 3 Gorges
region, the 3 Gorges Dam, the history of
Chongqing and the surrounding area,
Chinese history, and prehistoric times.
You’ll also sail into the western
section of Xiling Gorge, the longest of
the Three Gorges( at 66 kilometers,
compared to Wu Gorge at 44 kilometers
and Qutang Gorge at 8 kilometer). Xiling
Gorge was renowned for its winding
waterway that suddenly narrowed into
treacherous rapids or skirted over
dangerous shoals. In spite of the risks
(Xiling Gorge was dubbed as a "death
passage"). Ships were compelled to pass
through its waters regularly, as there
was little alternative. It was also for
this reason, among many others, that the
Three Gorges Dam project was justified.
It has turned what was once a "dealth
passage", where many ships went aground,
and some even completely destroyed, into
a gent waterway whose surface today more
fittingly be compared to the placid
waters of a lake. Xiling Gorge is the
last of the Three Gorges as one sails
down from this stretch of the Yangtze,
and it marks the end of the narrow,
twisting and turning corridor that has
been so treacherous in the past.
In the evening, various shows and
performances will be held in the cruise
ship. These include costume shows, magic
shows, traditional Sichuan Opera, and
magical Mask Changing.
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Cruise |
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DAY 07 |
Yangtze River Cruise-Yichang-Shanghai
(B, L, D)
In the morning you will arrive at the
enormous Three Gorges Dam. Construction
was begun in the 80's, and was completed
in 2008. It backs up the Yangtze River
for 550km, making it the world's largest
dam. Due to the fact that the water
rises to a level of 185m behind the dam,
millions of people have had to be
resettled, bridges moved and historical
relicts secured. The energy production
capabilities of the dam are estimated at
84.7 billion kilowatts, equivalent to 18
nuclear reactors. The three single stage
locks guarantee that ship traffic is not
delayed.
The Three gorges Dam is the largest
water conservancy project undertaken by
man, and various Chinese officials have
dreamed about the project for hundreds
of years. It is 2,335 meters wide on the
top, and 130 meters wide at the bottom.
The views from the top of the dam are
stunning, so don’t forget to bring your
camera!
You will then arrive in Yichang, where
you will be met and taken to the airport
by your guide. You will fly on to Shanghai, and when you arrive you’ll be
met by your English-speaking guide. For
your stay in Shanghai you’ll stay in the
5 star Grand Pacific Hotel.
After a bit of relaxing at the hotel.
your first stop on today’s touring will
be the Bund, Shanghai’s most famous and
recognizable landmark. The Bund is a
waterfront embankment and has been
regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for
hundreds of years. It affords marvelous
views across the river of the Pudong
district and its numerous towers. The
most famous and attractive sight which
is at the west side of the Bund are the
52 various buildings of different
architectural styles including Gothic,
Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the
Renaissance.
Across the river we’ll visit he Oriental
Pearl TV Tower, the most distinctive
landmark of the Shanghai skyline. From
the top of the tower you can get
marvelous views of the Bund and the east
bank of Shanghai.
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Grand Pacific Hotel Shanghai |
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DAY 08 |
Shanghai (B, L, D)
Following breakfast, we’ll start our day
in Shanghai with a visit to the Jade
Buddha Temple. The Jade Buddha Temple is
one of the richest and most frequented
Buddhist Temples in Shanghai. Jade
Buddha Temple in Shanghai is an active
temple, with 70 resident monks at the
last count. The 70 monks who live and
work there can sometimes be seen
worshiping. inside, the centerpiece is a
1.9-meter-high white jade Buddha, which
was installed here after a monk brought
it from Burma to Zhejiang Province in
1882. The seated Buddha, encrusted with
jewels, is said to weigh about one
thousand kilograms. A smaller, reclining
Buddha from the same shipment lies on a
redwood bed. In the large hall are three
gold-plated Buddhas, and other halls
house ferocious-looking deities.
Artifacts abound, not all on display,
and some 7,000 Buddhist sutras line the
walls.
Afterward you’ll have a chance to stroll
along Yuyuan Garden. Yuyuan Garden is a
famed classical garden, and even though
it may be small, it contains numerous
pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and
cloisters, and all have unique
characteristics. There are six main
scenic areas in the garden: Sansui Hall,
Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing
Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden.
Each area features several scenic spots
within its borders.
Following a Chinese lunch we’ll cap off
our day of touring with a visit to the
city premier museum, the Shanghai
Museum. The Shanghai Museum is a world
famous museum of ancient Chinese art and
culture. The exterior design of the
round dome and the square base
symbolizes the ancient idea of a round
heaven and a square land. The museum is
divided into eleven galleries and three
exhibition halls. The eleven Galleries
cover most of the major categories of
Chinese art: Ancient Bronze, Ancient
Ceramics, Paintings, Calligraphy,
Ancient Sculpture, Ancient Jade, Coins,
Ming and Qing Furniture, Seals, and
Minority Nationalities. The museum is a
wonderful primer on ancient Chinese
culture, and is a must-see when coming
to Shanghai.
In the evening in addition to a splendid
dinner if Shanghai cuisine, you’ll be
treated to a performance of Chinese
acrobatics.
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Grand Pacific Hotel Shanghai |
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DAY 09 |
Depart Shanghai (B)
Following breakfast in the hotel you
will be taken to the airport, and you
will fly on to your next destination,
thus ending your luxury tour with Great
Wall Adventure Club.
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Package
includes:
1.Pickup service
between airport and cruise.
2.Four star hotel and Deluxe cruise ticket.
3.Cruise shore excursions.
4.Flight tickets from Beijing/Chongqing/Yichang/Shanghai.
5.The admission of the first gate.
6.Beijing roast duck dinner and a Beijing Opera show, Shanghai Acrobatic
Show.
7.Professional local guide
8.Meals indicated in the itineraries
9.Excellent individual guide & driver for the land tour.
8.Government taxes.
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