12 Day Historic Cities & Yangtze Program

DAY 1 ' Arrive Shanghai Check-in to your Orient-Travel hotel to begin your tour. DAY 2 ' Shanghai - AB, L, D Visit the Shanghai Museum with its remarkable dynastic cultural artifact exhibits, the fabled European-styled Bund, the former French Concession area, traditional emporiums on Nanjing Road or modern shops on Huai Hai Road, and the famous Shanghai carpet factory. DAY 3 ' Shanghai/Yichang - AB, D Morning at leisure in Shanghai. Later fly to Yichang where you board a Five-Star Victoria Cruises vessel to begin your upstream cruise. DAY 4 ' Yangtze Cruise: San Dou Ping/Xiling Gorge - AB, L, D Stop at San Dou Ping to see the amazing progress of construction at the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric project in the world. Sail through the dramatic Three Gorges ship locks before continuing through the Xiling Gorge, longest of the famed Three Gorges. DAY 5 ' Yangtze Cruise: Wu Gorge/Small Gorges Excursion, Qutang Gorge - AB, L, D This morning, marvel at Wu Gorge's deep zigzagging valley. In Wushan, a cruiser takes you for an excursion up the Daning River's renowned Small Gorges- Dragon Gate, Misty or Emerald. Continue by sampan to the mini-gorges of the Ma Du River with its clear, swift running water, unusla rock formations, and mountain monkeys. Depending on the water level of the Yangtze, your excursion may be Shennong Stream with its equally stunning spectacular small gorges. DAY 6 ' Yangtze Cruise: Fengdu - AB, L, D At Fengdu, a shore excursion shows Mingshan Hill's unique temples, with statues of ghosts and demons. Alternate shore excursion may be Wanzhou. DAY 7 ' Yangtze Cruise: Chongqing/Xi'an - AB, D Disembark in Chongqing, visit the Stilwell Museum where you will see an intriguing collection of World War II memorabilia of the famed Flying Tigers. Fly to Xi'an later in the day. DAY 8 ' Xi'an - AB, L, D A memorable day of sightseeing begins as you view remnants of China's ancient past: the life-sized terra-cotta army, the Bronze Chariot, Circle Vision Movie, Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xian History Museum. DAY 9 ' Xi'an/Beijing - AB, D After breakfast, you will fly to Beijing, the capital of China and home of the 2008 Summer Olympics Games. Check-in to your Orient-Travel accommodations. Balance of day at leisure. DAY 10 ' Beijing - AB, L, D Today's sightseeing includes vast Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Continue on to visit the exquisite Summer Palace, with a boat ride on Lake Kunming (weather permitting). *If direct flight is not available, travel by motorcoach to Wuhan and fly to Shanghai. DAY 11 ' Beijing - AB, L, D Today tour the Great Wall, one of the most amazing landmarks in the world. Walk along the ramparts, admiring views of Wall winding across the mountains. Visit a cloisonne factory to watch the skilled partisans create the their intricate designs. You will drive by the Beijing National Stadium, aka Bird's Nest, on the return back. DAY 12 ' Journey home - AB After breakfast, your program ends.