Begin your city tour at Tian'anmen Square, the historic heart of China and the largest public plaza in the world, known for its role in major national events. Continue to the magnificent Forbidden City (Palace Museum) (closed on Mondays), the iconic imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Built by over 200,000 craftsmen, this vast complex once housed 24 emperors and features 9,999 rooms of ceremonial, administrative, and private spaces. In the afternoon, explore the scenic Houhai District, with its lakes, traditional courtyard homes, and narrow hutong alleyways. Enjoy a pedicab ride through these historic lanes and visit a local family's home. Continue to the impressive Bell and Drum Towers, nationally protected cultural landmarks that once served as the official timekeepers of Beijing during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.

Meet your guide and driver at your hotel and transfer to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, a rugged and less crowded stretch that offers spectacular views as it winds over the surrounding hills. The drive from Beijing takes approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, take a short cable car ride up to the Wall, where you can explore its ancient watchtowers, walk along the winding stone paths, and enjoy sweeping vistas of the hills and forests. After soaking in the breathtaking scenery, return by cable car to meet your driver, and then stop at a restaurant for a relaxing lunch before heading back to Beijing.

Begin your day at the Temple of Heaven, where locals gather to practice traditional morning exercises such as Tai Chi, creating a peaceful and lively atmosphere. A masterpiece of Ming Dynasty architecture, the temple embodies ancient Chinese beliefs in the harmony between heaven and earth, demonstrated through its refined geometry and engineering. Once a sacred site where emperors prayed for good harvests, it remains one of Beijing's most important cultural landmarks. Continue to the Summer Palace, Beijing's best-preserved imperial garden. Located along the tranquil shores of Kunming Lake, this expansive retreat features graceful pavilions, temples, and covered corridors set amid beautifully landscaped grounds. Designed as a summer escape for the imperial family, the palace offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and classical Chinese garden design.

Beijing - City Centre (2nd Ring Road) to Beijing Train Station

Xi'an Train Station to Xi'an - City Centre (1st Ring Road)

Beijing Station to Xian Station

Morning Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace Tour with Lunch

Your Accommodation

Sofitel on Renmin Square Xian

Sofitel on Renmin Square Xian is located right in the heart of the city wall, 45 minutes to Xian Xianyang International Airport 10 minutes to Xian Railway Station. The hotel offers 414 spacious and well-appointed rooms, suites and apartments equipped with ultra-modern conveniences. The hotel is ideally situated close to many of the city's historical sites including the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Great Mosque, Shaanxi History Museum and the Forest of Steles stone library. The Terracotta Museum is 45 minutes away by car.

Duration

2 Night Stay

Meal Plan

Full Breakfast

Begin your day with a visit to the Terracotta Warriors, one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in the world. These 2,300-year-old life-sized figures were crafted to protect the tomb of China's first emperor, Qinshihuang, in the afterlife. The site was accidentally uncovered by local farmers in 1974, and today, the warriors remain in their original positions, giving visitors a remarkable glimpse into ancient Chinese military organization, artistry, and funerary practices. You'll see rows of soldiers, chariots, and horses, each uniquely detailed, reflecting the skill and dedication of the craftsmen who created them over two millennia ago. After lunch, visit the Banpo Museum, the first museum in China built directly on a prehistoric archaeological site. Established in 1958, it preserves the excavated remains of the Banpo village, a Neolithic settlement of the Yangshao Culture dating back about 6,000 years. The museum offers fascinating insights into early Chinese life, showcasing reconstructed houses, pottery, tools, and artifacts that reveal the daily lives, customs, and social structure of this ancient matriarchal community. Next, visit the Art Ceramics Factory, where you'll have the opportunity to try your hand at making a pottery figure, experiencing the traditional craft firsthand.

Enjoy an authentic Sichuan evening steeped in tradition and culture. Begin with a classic Sichuan hot-pot dinner, a dish enjoyed in the region for centuries. A bubbling pot of chili-spiced broth is set into the table, complete with its own burner, and you select from a variety of fresh meats and vegetables to cook to your preference - an interactive dining experience that reflects Sichuan’s bold flavors and communal food culture. While dining, marvel at the renowned Sichuan Opera Face-Changing performance. Sichuan Opera dates back more than 300 years, and Face-Changing (Bian Lian) is one of its most iconic and closely guarded art forms. Performers in brightly colored costumes and elaborate makeup move to fast-paced, dramatic music, spinning, leaping, rolling, and executing astonishing stunts. In the blink of an eye, masks transform to reveal different characters and emotions, creating a mesmerizing and unforgettable spectacle.

Xi'an - City Centre (1st Ring Road) to Xi'an Train Station

Chengdu Train Station to Chengdu - City Centre (1st Ring Road)

Xian Station to Chengdu Station

Evening Sichuan Hot-Pot Dinner and Sichuan Opera Face Changing Show

Your Accommodation

Shangri-La Chengdu

Shangri-La Hotel Chengdu offers elegant rooms and suites with contemporary décor, floor-to-ceiling windows, and modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi and spacious marble bathrooms. The hotel features multiple dining options, an indoor pool, a spa, a fitness center, and a central location overlooking the Jin River.

Duration

2 Night Stay

Meal Plan

Full Breakfast

In the morning, meet your guide and transfer to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, one of the world’s most renowned centers for panda conservation, research, and breeding. Mornings are the best time to visit, as pandas are most active in the cool hours, happily eating, playing, and lounging. The base is home to more than 100 giant pandas, making it one of the largest and most important panda research centers in the world. Next, enjoy a relaxing stroll through People’s Park, a vibrant gathering place where locals come to practice Tai Chi, fly kites, sing, or take part in synchronized dance - offering a wonderful glimpse into everyday life in Chengdu. Visit a traditional teahouse for an immersive tea experience that blends history, culture, and rich local flavors, reflecting the city’s long-standing tea-drinking traditions. Continue to Jinli Ancient Street, one of Chengdu’s most famous cultural streets, and enjoy lunch at a restaurant featuring classic Chengdu cuisine. Then walk along Jinli Street, to see the beautifully preserved Qing Dynasty–style architecture (1616–1911). You can browse for souvenirs such as Shu embroidery, lacquerware, folk handicrafts, calligraphy, or choose to sample a variety of popular local snacks such as egg pancakes, bon bon chicken, and tofu pudding. You’ll also encounter traditional intangible cultural heritage displays, including sugar painting and shadow puppetry.

You will have a private guided vehicle transfer from your hotel to the train station for your train journey. The guide will escort you through the train station to the train platform to board the train. On arrival at the station, meet your guide on the train platform, exit the station and transfer by private vehicle to your hotel.

Chengdu - City Centre (1st Ring Road) to Chengdu Train Station

Meal

Dinner

Chengdu Station to Chongqing Station

Embarkation in Chongqing

Your Accommodation

Yangzi Explorer

Complementing the attentive service are the largest and most beautifully appointed suites on the Yangtze today. The 58 Deluxe Suites (31 square meters) are extremely spacious, setting the Yangzi Explorer well apart from the typical regular cabins offered by other vessels. In addition, there are 12 Ambassador Suites (40 square meters) and four stunning Celebrity Suites - Jade and Mandarin Suites (89 square meters), and Celestial and Imperial Suites (105 square meters). Each Suite is exceptional in size, and is designed to create a more harmonious and luxury cruising experience. Most importantly, every cabin and suite features a viewing balcony that affords guests the opportunity to enjoy the kaleidoscope of ever-changing scenery through the gorges.

Greet the day with early morning tea or coffee, followed by a gentle Tai Chi session led by a Tai Chi Master, awakening body and mind before breakfast. This morning, choose between two contrasting shore experiences. Option A: Project 816 Journey into the Wuling Mountains to uncover Project 816, the world's largest known man-made military cave. Begun 58 years ago by more than 60,000 workers, this vast, top-secret nuclear facility was constructed over 17 years before being abruptly suspended, never producing nuclear material. Long hidden from public view, the site now reveals the extraordinary scale and ambition of this Cold War relic. Option B: White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum & Local Market Descend 148 feet below the river's surface at the White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum to admire ancient rock carvings dating back to AD 763 in the Tang Dynasty. Learn about the Yangtze River's ecology before visiting a lively local market, where farmers trade fresh produce, fish, meat, and the pickles for which Fuling is famous. Return to the ship for an à-la-carte lunch, followed by a relaxed afternoon at leisure. In the evening, select one of two memorable experiences: Option A: Beacon of the Three Kingdoms Night Show Enjoy VIP seating at this spectacular live performance staged at Three Gorges Harbor. Inspired by The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the show blends history and legend through horseback battles, light and water effects, 3D holography, and fireworks. Option B: Zhongzhou Old Alley Walk Stroll through Zhongzhou Old Alley, where Zhongxian's preserved streets reflect the enduring spirit of Ba and Yu culture, despite much of the historic city having been submerged during the Three Gorges Dam project.

Meal

Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Fuling & Zhongxian

Your Accommodation

Yangzi Explorer

Complementing the attentive service are the largest and most beautifully appointed suites on the Yangtze today. The 58 Deluxe Suites (31 square meters) are extremely spacious, setting the Yangzi Explorer well apart from the typical regular cabins offered by other vessels. In addition, there are 12 Ambassador Suites (40 square meters) and four stunning Celebrity Suites - Jade and Mandarin Suites (89 square meters), and Celestial and Imperial Suites (105 square meters). Each Suite is exceptional in size, and is designed to create a more harmonious and luxury cruising experience. Most importantly, every cabin and suite features a viewing balcony that affords guests the opportunity to enjoy the kaleidoscope of ever-changing scenery through the gorges.

Sail through Qutang Gorge in the soft morning light, the narrowest and most dramatic of the Three Gorges. From the Explorer Deck, admire towering green peaks and the calm flow of the Yangtze River. After breakfast, set out to explore Wushan with a choice of excursions. Option A: Wushan Goddess Sky Road Walk the Yangzi Explorer Trail along cliffs rising about 1,000 meters above the river, with sweeping views of Goddess Peak and the Yangtze. Continue to the private Yangzi Explorer lookout, where all 12 peaks of Wushan unfold before you, accompanied by an exclusive champagne reception. A 45-minute light hiking option is available, passing through mountain villages in Wu Gorge with insights into local traditions. Option B: Daning River & Madu River Adventure Cruise along the Daning River, known as the Lesser Three Gorges, before transferring to a small boat to explore the quieter Madu River. Glide past lush forests, limestone cliffs, ancient settlements, and the striking hanging coffins perched high on the rock faces. Return to the ship for lunch, then enjoy scenic cruising through Wu Gorge, widely regarded as the most beautiful of the Three Gorges. Late in the evening, witness a feat of modern engineering as the Yangzi Explorer transits the Three Gorges Ship Lift. With a lift capacity of 15,500 tons and a vertical rise of 113 meters, equivalent to a 40-storey building, this is the world's largest and most advanced ship lift. One of the few vessels able to pass through independently, the Yangzi Explorer offers this experience directly from your cabin. Navigation is subject to water level, weather, and maintenance conditions.

Meal

Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Wushan - Highlights of the Three Gorges

Your Accommodation

Yangzi Explorer

Complementing the attentive service are the largest and most beautifully appointed suites on the Yangtze today. The 58 Deluxe Suites (31 square meters) are extremely spacious, setting the Yangzi Explorer well apart from the typical regular cabins offered by other vessels. In addition, there are 12 Ambassador Suites (40 square meters) and four stunning Celebrity Suites - Jade and Mandarin Suites (89 square meters), and Celestial and Imperial Suites (105 square meters). Each Suite is exceptional in size, and is designed to create a more harmonious and luxury cruising experience. Most importantly, every cabin and suite features a viewing balcony that affords guests the opportunity to enjoy the kaleidoscope of ever-changing scenery through the gorges.

Start your final morning with early tea or coffee and a revitalizing Tai Chi session. This morning, choose from one of two excursions: Option A: Three Gorges Dam Visit the colossal Three Gorges Dam, stretching 2,335 meters long and standing 181 meters tall. Equipped with 32 massive generators, it produces vast amounts of clean energy, significantly reducing coal dependence, while also reflecting the immense social impact of relocating over 1.2 million people during its construction. Option B: Cultural Exploration Explore the Qu Yuan Temple and the Hubei Three Gorges Resettlement Museum. The temple honors Qu Yuan, the revered poet and statesman commemorated during the Dragon Boat Festival, and offers serene gardens, traditional architecture, and sweeping views of the dam. The Resettlement Museum tells the powerful human stories behind the dam, highlighting the resilience of the communities affected and the project's environmental, social, and cultural impact. Lunch is served at Fangweng Cliff Restaurant, featuring Yichang's finest local dishes. Afterward, transfer is arranged to Yichang Airport or Yichang East Railway Station for onward journeys.

Shanghai Pu Dong Airport to Shanghai - The Bund/Huangpu District

Meal

Breakfast, Lunch

Yichang

Your Accommodation

Hotel Indigo Shanghai On The Bund

Hotel Indigo Shanghai on The Bund is a stylish boutique hotel situated along the scenic Huangpu River, blending modern design with local cultural elements and offering spectacular views of Shanghai's iconic skyline and historic waterfront. Guests can enjoy spacious, thoughtfully designed rooms, an indoor pool with river views, multiple dining venues, and convenient access to attractions like The Bund and Yu Garden.

Duration

3 Night Stay

Meal Plan

Full Breakfast

Take a morning high-speed train to Suzhou, often called the "Venice of the East" for its picturesque canals, classical gardens, and timeless charm, just 30 minutes by train from Shanghai. Begin your journey at the Master of the Nets Garden, a UNESCO-acclaimed gem renowned for its artful use of space, contrast, and borrowed scenery. Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Grand Canal and wander the historic streets of Pingjiang Road Old Town or Santang Old Street, where traditional architecture and local culture come alive. Savor a delicious lunch and then visit a Silk Spinning Factory to see the fascinating process of turning silkworms into exquisite silk fabrics. Return to Shanghai in the late afternoon.

Start your day with a leisurely stroll along The Bund, Shanghai's famous waterfront promenade. Admire the dozens of historic colonial-era buildings that line the Huangpu River, offering a fascinating glimpse into the city's past while enjoying stunning views of the modern skyline across the river. Next, step into the serene beauty of the 400-year-old Yu Garden, a classical Ming Dynasty garden renowned for its exquisite pavilions, rockeries, and tranquil ponds. Just outside the garden, wander through the lively Chen Huang Miao Bazaar, a bustling area full of traditional shops, local snacks, and cultural souvenirs. Take a Huangpu River Cruise to see Shanghai from a unique perspective. Glide past historic landmarks on the Bund and contemporary skyscrapers on the opposite bank, experiencing the vibrant contrast between the city's rich history and its modern achievements along the "mother river" of Shanghai. After lunch, visit the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower, completed in 1995. Standing at 468 meters, it is the third tallest TV and radio tower in the world. Explore its observation decks and enjoy panoramic views of the city, while appreciating this iconic symbol of Shanghai's architectural innovation. Finally, visit Jade Buddha Temple, built to enshrine two exquisite jade Buddha statues brought from Burma by the monk Huigen. As one of Shanghai's most renowned Buddhist temples, it remains an active spiritual and cultural center, with monks living and practicing there, offering visitors a glimpse into traditional Buddhist life.

Shanghai - The Bund/Huangpu District to Shanghai Pu Dong Airport