Yangtze River Cruise Tour
Package
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Beijing-Xi’an-Lhasa-Chongqing-Yangtze
River cruise-Yichang-Shanghai- Guilin-Yangshuo-Guilin-Hongkong
20 days
19 nights luxury tour
Highlights:
• This 20 day deluxe tour
will bring you to both the best of China both
urban and rural, with tours of the best
attractions of Beijing (the Great Wall and
Forbidden City), Shanghai (the Bund, Yuyuan
Garden), and Xian (the Terracotta Warriors)
You’ll also cruise down China’s two iconic
rivers, the beautiful and lush tropical Li
River, and the vast and powerful Yangtze River
• Visit Hong Kong, the “peal of the orient”, and
one of the worlds great cities
• Take a trip to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet,
and a holy spot for Buddhists from around the
world. Lhasa is home to the Potala Palace, the
iconic seat of the Dali Lama, and the Jokhang
Moanstery, the holiest temple in Tibet
Standard Tour Package
B=breakfast;
L=lunch; D=dinner Departure:
Upon booking |
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LUXURY TOUR ITINERARY |
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Tour code:
P-BXLCCSGH |
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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 International 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 International 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 resemble the beautiful
river city of Suzhou. |
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Beijing International Hotel |
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DAY 04 |
Beijing-Xian (B, L)
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 Xian,
the capital of Shaanxi province in
north-central China. Upon arrival you’ll
be met at the airport by your local
English-speaking guide. For your stay in
Xian you will be lodging at the 5 star
Sheraton Hotel. |
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Sheraton Hotel Xian
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DAY 05 |
Xian (B, L, D)
Following breakfast you’ll then be taken
to Xian’s greatest attractions, and one
of the greatest sites in all of China,
the Terracotta Warriors and Horses
Museum. The Terra Cotta Warriors and
Horses Museum is the result of the most
significant archeological excavations of
the 20th century. Work is ongoing at
this site, which is around 1.5
kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi
Huang's Mausoleum. Upon ascending the
throne at the age of 13 (in 246 BC), Qin
Shi Huang, later the first Emperor of
all China, had begun to work for his
mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish.
It is speculated that many buried
treasures and sacrificial objects had
accompanied the emperor in his after
life. A group of peasants uncovered some
pottery while digging for a well nearby
the royal tomb in 1974. Life size
terracotta figures of warriors and
horses arranged in battle formations are
the star features at the museum. They
are replicas of what the imperial guard
should look like in those days of pomp
and vigor.
The museum is divided into three
sections: No. 1 Pit, No. 2 Pit, and No.
3 Pit respectively. They were tagged in
the order of their discoveries. No. 1
Pit is the largest, first opened to the
public on China's National Day, 1979.
There are columns of soldiers at the
front, followed by war chariots at the
back. No. 2 Pit, found in 1976, contains
over a thousand warriors and 90 chariots
of wood. It was unveiled to the public
in 1994. Archeologists came upon No. 3
Pit also in 1976. It is the command
center of the armed forces. It went on
display in 1989, with 68 warriors, a war
chariot and four horses.
Following our visit with the Terracotta
Warriors, we’ll then step back to an
even earlier time at the Banpo Neolithic
Museum. Located in the eastern outskirts
of Xi’an city, the Banpo Museum is the
first prehistoric excavation site museum
in China. Banpo (half slope) Village was
a typical Neolithic Matriarchal
community of the Yangshao (Respect
Splendid) culture (5000-3000 BC) around
6000 years ago. The Yangshao culture was
named after the first discovery of this
civilization in Yangshao, Henan
Province. About 400 sites of this type
have been discovered around the Yellow
River Basin, and the Banpo site is the
largest one. The site was discovered in
1953 during the construction of a power
plant. The excavation work lasted four
years, and the Banpo site was first
opened to the public in 1958. Since
then, two million people have visited
it.
For dinner, you’ll have a real treat in
store for you in the form of the Tang
Dynasty Music and Dance Show. The Tang
Dynasty Music and Dance Show, a
wonderful performance of the ancient
music and dance, is a must when you
visit Xian. The city, which was formerly
known as Chang'an has a very long
history, and was the imperial capital
during 13 dynastic periods. Of these,
the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) was the
most prosperous and glorious of all.
The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is
an outstanding exponent of this ancient
stable and prosperous society, keeping
alive its splendid culture and providing
an insight into the peaceful life style
of the period. As an art form, the show
has its roots in folk fetes, when dances
were first performed by people as part
of rituals of prayer for a good harvest
or a better life. Combining poetry with
the skilled playing of musical
instruments, singing, dancing and also
stunning costumes, the modern
presentation is certain to give you an
impressive view of ancient China
including its splendid history,
brilliant arts, distinct traditions and
customs. |
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Sheraton Hotel Xian
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DAY 06 |
Xian-Lhasa (B, L, D)
After breakfast we’ll make the short
drive to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a
pagoda surrounded by a still functioning
Buddhist temple (named Da Ci’en Temple).
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the
most famous Buddhist pagodas in China.
The Pagoda was built in the Tang Dynasty
(618-907) for the study of Buddhist
scriptures. Although it has been
attacked by centuries of weather, war
and seismic activity, which destroyed
most of the original material of the
structure, a pagoda by this name and
style still exists on the site. The Tang
regime gave orders to build a chamber
for the translation of Buddhist
scriptures in an effort to have the then
widely renowned Master Xuanzang agree to
be the head of the temple. Xuanzang was
a Buddhist monk who traveled to India,
translated Sanskrit scriptures and
developed theories of consciousness,
karma and rebirth that were adopted by
some later popular schools of Buddhism.
The hallowed pagoda is an architectural
marvel. It was built with layers of
bricks without any cement. The bracket
style used in traditional Chinese
architecture was also used in the
construction of the pagoda. The seams
between each layer of bricks and the "
prisms' on each side of the pagoda are
clearly visible. The grand body of the
pagoda with its solemn appearance,
simple style and high structure, is
indeed a good example of Chinese
traditional architecture.
Then you can unwind a bit by taking a
leisurely stroll on the Xi’an City Wall.
It's the most complete city wall that
has survived in China, as well being one
of the largest ancient military
defensive systems in the world. Xi'an
City Wall was erected in the 14th
century Ming Dynasty, under the regime
of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. When Zhu
Yuanzhang captured Huizhou, long before
the establishment of the Ming Dynasty,
he was admonished by a hermit named Zhu
Sheng, who told him to "build high
walls, store abundant provisions and
take your time in proclaiming yourself
emperor." If you like, you have the
option of renting a bike or a rickshaw
on the wall in order to cover more
ground in a shorter time.
In the late afternoon, you’ll be driven
to the Xian airport, where you’ll fly on
to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Upon
arrival you’ll be met at the airport by
your local guide. During your stay in
Lhasa your lodging will be at the 5 star
Brahmaptura Grand Hotel, which is the
best hotel in the city. We suggest that
for your first night here that you take
it easy in order to acclimate yourself
to the sharp change in altitude. For
dinner, an a la carte meal will be
arranged for you by a famous local
restaurant. |
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Brahmaputra Grand Hotel, Lhasa
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DAY 07 |
Lhasa (B, L)
Today will be a full day of touring the
best sights in Lhasa. After breakfast,
we will go to the Potala Palace, which
is the most renowned highlight of Lhasa.
The world famous Potala Palace is
located on Moburi (Red) Mountain, to the
west of old Lhasa. It is a huge treasure
house of materials and articles from
Tibetan history, religion, culture and
art. The palace is widely known for the
precious sculptures, murals, scriptures,
Buddha statues, murals, antiques, and
religious jewelry housed within. They
are of great cultural and artistic
value. In 1994, the Potala Palace was
declared a UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage Site. It was originally built
in the 640s, during the reign of King
Songtsan Gampo of Tibet. The Potala has
been a sacred place for hundreds of
years. Thousands of pilgrims from Tibet,
other parts of China and abroad come
every year to pay homage. Their devotion
is shown by the difficult journeys they
have to make to reach “the City of the
Gods".
Then we will head over to the Sera
Monastery, the last of the three
principal Gelupka, or Yellow Hat,
Buddhist monasteries to be built in
Lhasa. The Sera Monastery has been
listed as one of the China's National
Cultural Relics since 1982. Sera
comprises a great sutra chanting hall, a
college and 32 sections. It once housed
nearly 10,000 monks, and is proud of its
glorious history during the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644). Sera means hailstone in
Tibetan, and legend tells that it hailed
during the foundation of this famous
monastery.
In the afternoon we will get to visit
Norbulingka, Tibet’s Summer Palace.
Norbulingka was built in 1755 and became
the place where the successors of the
seventh Dalai Lama dealt with affairs,
held celebrations, spent the hot season,
rested and conducted religious
activities. In mid-March every year, the
Dalai Lama would move here from the
Potala Palace, and stay until the end of
October, when he would return to the
Potala Palace. So, Norbulingka is called
the Summer Palace and the Potala Palace
the Winter Palace. The garden covers an
area of 46 acres (19 hectares) and the
palace has 370 rooms of different sizes.
In the garden visitors can worship
Buddha, relax and study the
Tibetan-style palaces. |
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Brahmaputra Grand Hotel, Lhasa
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DAY 08 |
Lhasa (B, L)
Following breakfast in the morning we
will visit the Jokhnag Temple. Located
in the center of old Lhasa city, Jokhang
Monastery is the prime seat of the
Gelugpa (Yellow) Branch of Tibetan
Buddhism. It was originally built in 647
AD. It is said the site was chosen
personally by the wife of King Songtsan
Gampo, the Tang Princess Wen Cheng. The
princess perceived Wutang, a lake in
Lhasa, to be a “devil’s heart”, a source
of evil, and had it filled in and the
temple built on the site to counteract
evil forces. It was built by craftsmen
from Tibet, China and Nepal and thus
features different architectural styles.
Jokhang means "House of Buddha". Jokhang
Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet
and the holiest destination for all
Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims.
A short walk from the Jokhang Temple is
the Barkhor Bazaar. The Barkhor
(pilgrims’ circuit) is found in the
heart of Lhasa encircling the Jokhang
Temple. It is the earliest remaining
street in Lhasa. It bustles with
activity and is always jam-packed with
traders and hawkers. It is a "must" for
souvenir-hunting tourists. Many people
call the Barkhor "the window of Tibet"
as it exhibits a typical Tibetan life.
The old circumambulation circuit is
always crowded with pilgrims from
everywhere. Some are monks, and some are
businessmen from Kham, a region
encompassing East Tibet and part of
Sichuan Province. Here you will find
people from all over Tibet. You can
experience different styles of dress and
languages. Even the similar-looking
clothes of the monks vary depending on
the different branches of Buddhism they
practice.
Following our walk through the Barkhor
Bazaar we will pay a visit to the
unusual and fascinating Tibetan
Medicinal an Astrological Institute. The
central herbal and traditional medicine
centre in Tibet, the Institute treats
around 500 patients/day (up to 1000 in
winter). This is a fascinating
introduction to Tibetan medicine, the
‘tree thangkas’ and traditions over 2000
years old that are still working today.
As you may know, Tibet has had an
interesting and turbulent history. We
will attempt to learn more about Tibet’s
past at the Tibet Museum. An attractive
modern building in Tibetan style,
there’s a wonderful variety and quality
of items on display here illustrating
the rich history, traditions and customs
of Tibet, both ancient and modern.
Next we’ll browse one of the signature
products coming from Tibet, carpets, at
the Lhasa Carpet Factory. The Lhasa
Carpet Factory produces traditional
Tibetan rugs that are exported worldwide
through Guangzhou. Although the actual
weaving and finishing is done by hand
using old-style vertical looms, many of
the stages of the process are now
mechanized and the dyeing is not done at
the factory. It is a modern factory; the
largest manufacturer of rugs throughout
Tibet employing some 300 workers.
Traditionally Tibetan women were the
weavers, men the spinners, but both work
on the rugs today.
The factory has developed into the most
productive in the Tibet Autonomous
Region with an annual output of 30,000
miles of carpet. The rugs manufactured
in Lhasa are typically smaller with bold
designs and bright colors and a deep
even, pile -about 60knots per square
inch. Rug weaving is an ancient craft in
Tibet but because it was not for sacred
purposes it is not considered an art. As
a result there are no rugs verifiable
earlier than 1800. |
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Brahmaputra Grand Hotel, Lhasa
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DAY 09 |
Lhasa-Chongqing-Yangtze River Cruise (B,
L, D)
Before you leave for your Yangtze river cruise, you will have a rare treat, a
visit to a local Tibetan family! You
will be entertained with food, song,
wine, and dancing. It is a matter of
honor for Tibetans to make their guests
visit enjoyable. When you enter the
Tibetan family’s home you will be
offered wine as a greeting. The food
they offer is the same as their daily
fare and features all of the staples
found at every dinner table. There might
even be the singing of traditional songs
and dancing. You are encouraged to join
in. Usually hesitant at first, those who
do yield and join in the dancing end up
having so much fun that they hate to see
their visit end.
You’ll next be taken to the Lhasa
airport where you’ll make the flight to Chongqing, where you will begin your
Yangtze River cruise. Upon arrival in
Chongqing you’ll be met at the airport
at your guide, and you’ll be taken to
the cruise ship. The ship departs that
night, and you will have a welcoming
dinner on the cruise ship. You’ll have
the rest of the night to walk around the
ship. |
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Cruise |
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DAY 10 |
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 11 |
Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Today on your cruise you will be
visiting Badong county, a bright pearl
inlaid along the corridor of the
Splendid Yangtze River, so as to be one
of the highlights of the Yangtze Three
Gorges cruise, and almost all cruise
ships stop here for a shore excursion.
You will take a small junk boat from the
cruise ship in Badong 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 kilometers).
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 "death
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 12 |
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 13 |
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 14 |
Shanghai-Suzhou (B, L, D)
In the morning you will take a 2 hour
train ride to the garden and canal city
of Suzhou. When you arrive you’ll be met
at the train station by your guide.
Youll first stop to unpack your things
at your hotel, the 5 star Renaissance.
Then we will drive to Tiger Hill. The
36-meter-tall Huqiu (Tiger Hill) stands
outside the lumen Gate to the north west
of Suzhou. It was where the King of the
State of Wu, a small state in the Spring
and Autumn Periods over thousands of
years ago) Fu Chai, buried his father-Helu
along with 3,000 swords. Legend has it
that on the third day after the burial,
a white tiger appeared to guard the
tomb, hence the name of the hill.
The Yunyan Temple, another key
attraction on the hill, is one of the
most famous Buddhist land in this part
of China. Even Emperor Qianlong of the
Qing Dynasty could not resist its
peaceful ambience so he decided to make
the temple his temporary residence
during his Suzhou trip.
We’ll next arrive at the most famed
garden in Suzhou, the Humble
Administrator’s Garden. The garden is
the best representative of Chinese
classical gardens, constructed in the
Ming dynasty, which focuses on a central
pond with pavilions, terraces, chambers,
and towers located nearby, the garden is
divided into three parts: the eastern,
middle and western parts. At 5 hectares
the largest of these beautiful gardens,
it is one of the most famous one. It
provides everyone with pleasure. Don't
miss the Garden Museum - actually don't
miss any of this lovely place. You
should wear comfortable shoes, as
there's a lot of walking here.
To cap your day in Suzhou we’ll explore
the Lion Grove (also known as the Lion
Forest). Lion Grove is another
interesting garden in Suzhou, which is
well-known for oddly-shaped rocks and
deep caves. Like the Humble
Administrator's Garden, this one was
also built hundreds years ago in the
Yuan Dynasty. A monk called Tian Ru
constructed this garden to commemorate
his teacher. The garden's name comes
from the rocks' resemblance to
lions.Occupying an area of over one
hectare, Lion Grove is filled with
rockeries of various shapes and sizes,
which have made the garden the "Kingdom
of Rockeries" in China. Qing Emperor
Qianlong once paid a visit to Lion Grove
and was impressed by the intricate
labyrinth of caves there. Delighted, he
wrote the inscription "Really
Interesting". The buildings in Lion
Grove are representative works of the
Yuan-dynasty architecture.
The rest of your night can be spent at
your discretion, but you may want to
walk along the many teahouses and cafes
that dot the city. |
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Renaissance Hotel, Suzhou |
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DAY 15 |
Suzhou-Hangzhou (B, L, D)
Following breakfast in the hotel, you’ll
be taken to the train station and you’ll
make the short train ride to Hangzhou.
As in Suzhou, you’ll be met at the train
station by your guide. Your hotel for
the night will be the 5 star Radisson
Plaza Hotel. After freshening up in the
hotel, we’ll head to the most famous of
Hagnzhou attractions, West Lake.
West Lake is man-made and created after
the Chinese love for garden style parks
for recreation.
Hangzhou's West Lake Scenic Area, in the
southwest of the city, covers 60 square
kilometers (23 square miles), of which
West Lake itself occupies 5.6 square
kilometers (2.2 square miles). It was
originally the center of the city, but
now the Qiantang River is becoming the
central feature as the south bank is
developed in similar fashion to
Shanghai’s Pudong District. West Lake is
a place of tranquility where urbanity
becomes a silhouette on the northeast
horizon and mountains near and far
surround it on the other three sides.
The occasional pagoda and Chinese-style
arched bridge add atmosphere to the
tree-lined walkways, verdant islands and
hills.
Near West Lake is Lingyin Temple, one of
the ten most famous ancient Buddhist
temples in China. It also houses various
Buddhist literature and treasures
situated in front of the Temple, and is
famous for its more than 470 stone
carvings of Buddhist figures, which
dated from the 10th to 14th centuries.
Then it is off to the Six Harmonies
Pagoda and its nearby temple. Located on
the north bank of the Qiantang River,
Six Harmonies Pagoda was built in 970 to
dispel the river's tidal bore, which was
thought to be an evil manifestation.
Liuhe Ta, Six Harmonies Pagoda, was once
a seven-story stone pagoda, but later a
13-story wooden pagoda was built around
the outside enclosing the wooden
structure. The top level, accessed by a
spiral staircase in the stone pagoda,
offers a fine view of the surrounding
mountains, the Qiantang River and
Qiantang River Great Bridge, which is
the largest double-decker (road above,
rail below) bridge built by China. The
ceiling of each level is carved and
painted with flowers, birds and animals
in an elegant and delicate style.
Six Harmonies Pagoda is named after
nearby Six Harmonies Temple, but it
could be said there are six harmonies
within the structure itself where the
7-story inner pagoda harmonizes with the
13-story outer pagoda.
The rest of the evening can be spent at
your own leisure. |
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Radisson Plaza, Hangzhou |
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DAY 16 |
Hangzhou –Shanghai (B)
Following breakfast in the hotel, you’ll
be taken to the Hangzhou train station,
where you will make the short train ride
back to Shanghai. Upon arrival you’ll be
met at the Shanghai train station by
your guide. As in your stay before,
you’ll be staying at the Grand Pacific
Hotel.
After unpacking your things at the
hotel, the rest of your day in Shanghai
can be spent at your own leisure. You
might want to stroll along West Nanjing
Road, which is near the Bund and is
Shanghai’s most famed shopping street.
In addition to high-street fashion and
the usual outlets and stores, open-air
bars, abstract sculptures, and lingering
sounds from street musicians will
enhance your experience. At night
flashing neon signs illuminate the
magnificent buildings and spangle the
night skyline of this lively city. |
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Grand Pacific Hotel, Shanghai |
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DAY 17 |
Shanghai-Guilin (B, L, D)
After allowing time for breakfast,
you’ll be taken to the airport, where
you’ll fly to Guilin, the capital of
Guangxi province in southwestern China.
You’ll be met by your English-speaking
guide upon arrival, and you will stay at
the 5 star Merryland Resort, which is
located downtown.
You’ll get in a bit of sightseeing today
by visiting the Reed Flute Cave. The
Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) is a
fascinating gallery of natural sculpture
(limestone cave formations), now
enhanced by multicolored lighting, which
has been one of Guilin’s many
interesting attractions for over 1200
years. It rates as one of the top four
tourist sites in the city. The cave is
about 240 meters long and a tour lasts
about one hour. Along the u-shaped
route, you will have ample time see the
oddly shaped rocks and stone pillars
while the guide narrates interesting
stories about them. Illuminated by the
colored lights, the cave looks like a
dazzling underground palace. That’s why
the cave is also known as the Nature’s
Art Palace. |
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Merryland Resort, Guilin |
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DAY 18 |
Guilin-Li River cruise-Yangshuo-Guilin
(B, L, D)
Today you will be cruising down one of
the world’s most stunning rivers, the
Li. Gorgeous karst peaks give you
surprises at each bend of the limpid
river under the blue sky. Water buffalo
patrol the fields, peasants reap rice
paddies, schoolkids and fisherman float
by on bamboo rafts. With its
breathtaking scenery and taste of a life
far removed from the concrete
metropolis, the scenery along the Li
River become one of China's top tourist
destinations. Some of the highlights you
will see on your 7-8hour cruise will be
Elephant Trunk Hill, a hill resembling
an Elephant taking water from its trunk,
Pagoda Hill, just a few minutes away
from the Elephant Trunk Hill, Daxu Town,
an ancient river town, and of course you
will also see local fisherman and
workers over their normal course of
work. The cruise down the Li River
offers a fascinating insight into the
lives of the local population here.
Our cruise will terminate at Yangshuo, a
lush and exotic county that includes
minority groups from all over Asia. In
the afternoon we will rent bikes and
ride onto the country roads, lanes, and
tracks, through the paddy fields
orchards that surround the misty
mountains. You will also have the chance
to visit the home of a local farmer, and
from this you’ll learn about what local
life is like in these parts.
In the evening we will make the drive
back to Guilin, and you will again stay
at the Merryland Resort Hotel. |
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Merryland Resort, Guilin |
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DAY 19 |
Guilin-Hong Kong (B, L, D)
After breakfast in the hotel you’ll be
driven to the airport, where you will
make your flight to Hong Kong. Hong Kong
has developed from a small fishing
village in the 1800s into a dynamic and
thrilling 21st century cosmopolitan
metropolis. The city is replete with
impressive high rises, a busy harbor and
it is an important financial and
economic center. Hong Kong is a fusion
of many cultures. Remnants of its
colonial past and the British culture
and values, share space with the Chinese
tradition. It's amazing to notice the
gray Confucian temples edging against
the western style churches.
After you arrive at the airport you’ll
be met by your local guide, and for your
stay in Hong Kong you’ll stay at the 5
star Intercontinental Grand Stanford
Hotel.
After allowing a little bit of time to
refresh yourself at the hotel, you’ll go
on a half-day tour of Hong Kong Island
and the fishing village of Aberdeen.
Aberdeen is the largest town on Hong
Kong Island outside the main urban area,
and the harbor was famous as the place
where the Hong Kong boat people lived in
the 1960s and 1970s. Movies such as a
James Bond movie and a Bruce Lee movie
were filmed there, so the harbor is
recognized worldwide. Now, the harbor
area is mainly an anchorage for the
yachts and pleasure boats of the Hong
Kong suburban dwellers in the area. But
there are still some famous floating
restaurants and local fisherman using
the bay, so it is a place to go for
seafood on a boat and to see the scenery
and the area destinations like Hong Kong
Ocean Park.
Following your tour you can spend the
rest of your night at your own leisure,
but you might want to take advantage of
the shopper’s paradise that is Hong
Kong. Hong Kong is perhaps the best
shopping place in the world with
reasonable prices, various types and
best service. In Hong Kong, Shopping is
not only the act of buying staff but
also a form of recreation, a way of
life. Visitors can contently enjoy the
shopping environment and experience the
fashion tide.
As a free port, most goods from all over
the world are custom-free except wine
and cigarettes, and they are sold at
relatively low prices. In addition,
every year there are lots of season
promotions and sales which are indeed
very economical. Therefore, all
customers can get content service when
they go shopping in Hong Kong. |
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Intercontinental Grand Stanford,
Hong Kong
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DAY 20 |
Depart from Shanghai (B)
Following your breakfast, you’ll be
taken to the airport, and you will fly
on to your next destination, thus ending
your 20 day voyage through the middle
kingdom. |
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Price includes:
1.Pickup service
between airport and cruise.
2.Five
star hotels and Deluxe cruise
ticket.
3.Cruise shore excursions.
4.Flight tickets from Beijing/Xi’an/Lahsa /Chongqing/Yichang/Shanghai/Guilin
/Hongkong, Shanghai/Suzhou/Hangzhou/Shanghai Soft seat train tickets.
5.The admission of the first gate.
6.Beijing roast duck dinner
and a Beijing Opera show, Shanghai Acrobatic Show, dumpling dinner
and Tang Dancing show in Xi’an.
7.Professional local guide.
8.Meals indicated in the itineraries.
9.Excellent individual guide & driver for the land tour.
10.Government taxes
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