Wonders of China and the Grand Yangtze

• 8-night Yangtze River cruise in a riverview stateroom with a private balcony onboard newly remodeled Victoria Sophia*
• 8 nights in centrally located luxury hotels, including buffet breakfast and all service charges, taxes, and porterage*
• Exclusive VIP Package onshore
• 16 buffet breakfasts, 15 lunches, 15 dinners
• Peking Duck Farewell Dinner with wine in Beijing
• Captain’s Welcome Reception and Farewell Dinner onboard the ship
• Special theme meals: Dim sum lunch in Shanghai; traditional dumpling and Tang Dynasty dinners in Xi’an; Hutong family lunch in Beijing
• 13 days of captivating, fully escorted tours with English-speaking local guides
• Exciting evening entertainment, including a Kung Fu show, a Tang Dynasty performance, a folklore performance at a garden in Suzhou, and the world-famous Shanghai Acrobats
• Services of an experienced Uniworld Tour Manager throughout your trip
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions (except on the Yangtze River)
• All transportation throughout your trip, including flights within China
• All transfers on arrival and departure days

Day 1 - Shanghai (China)

Arrive at the Shanghai Airport and be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will escort you to your hotel.

Day 2 - Shanghai (China)

Featured Excursions: Shanghai city tour, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Municipal Museum visit, and Shanghai Acrobats performance

Bustling Shanghai is the commercial capital of China, and today’s tour will take you to some of this sprawling city’s most impressive sights. Begin with a stroll through Old Town—with its teahouses, temples, narrow alleyways, and markets—for a taste of historic Shanghai. Then, it’s on to the Bund, Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade. Built along the Huangpu River, the Bund features exhilarating street life and beautiful architecture; it’s also an ideal spot for taking pictures of Pudong’s famous skyline. You’ll savor a traditional dim sum lunch at a local restaurant.

Your next stop is the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower. One of the tallest towers in Asia at 1,535 ft (468 m), the Oriental Pearl TV Tower provides a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai, the Pearl of the Orient. After your elevator ride to the sky-high observation decks, you’ll have a chance to explore the Shanghai Municipal Museum on the ground floor of the tower. After visiting some of the most famous sites of Shanghai, you will also visit a silk factory before dinner.

Tonight, you’ll be dazzled by the amazing, gravity-defying stunts of the Shanghai Acrobats. (BB, L, D)

Day 3 - Shanghai, Tongli, Suzhou (China)

Featured Excursions: Tongli canal cruise and evening cultural performance

Depart Shanghai for picturesque Tongli. One of the most authentic of eastern China’s famous Water Villages, charming Tongli boasts a picturesque collection of ancient bridges crisscrossing meandering rivers. Enjoy strolling through its narrow alleyways and past its quaint tea shops. The village’s cobblestone streets and complete absence of motor vehicles makes a trip to Tongli feel like a trip to another—older and gentler—world.

You’ll cruise through Tongli’s canals on a sampan—a traditional flat-bottomed wooden boat—before going on to the beautiful city of Suzhou. This evening you’ll enjoy a gala at the city’s Garden of the Master of the Fishing Nets, where graceful pavilions and rock hills surround a central pond. Your evening visit here, complete with a special performance of native classical music and dance, is a rare opportunity to experience a truly intimate and memorable encounter with traditional Chinese culture. (BB, L, D)

Day 4 - Suzhou, Shanghai
cruising the Yangtze River
Featured Excursions: Humble Administrator’s Garden and Embroidery Institute

The beautiful waterside city of Suzhou is a cultural mecca known for its magnificent gardens, silk, and embroidery. You’ll begin your day here with a visit to the Humble Administrator’s Garden, which covers over 12 acres (5 hectares) and is the city’s largest and most famous garden. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and originally built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty, the Humble Administrator’s Garden is the perfect place for you to explore the elegance of China’s carefully designed classical gardens.

Afterward, enjoy a visit to the Embroidery Institute, where you will have the chance to learn more about this intricate art form and the opportunity to buy handmade pieces to take home with you. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to Shanghai and board your elegant Victoria Cruises ship to begin your cruise down the mighty Yangtze River. (BB, L, D)

Day 5 - Cruising the Yangtze River
Nanjing
Featured Excursion: Ming Dynasty City Wall Museum

Today, your cruise takes you to China’s southern capital, Nanjing. Its massive Ming Dynasty-era city wall and the various monuments and tombs scattered around the city bear witness to the historical importance of Nanjing, which served as the capital city of six Chinese dynasties. Your next stop is at Nanjing’s traditional-style Confucian Temple, which overlooks the Qinhuai River, one of the Yangtze’s tributaries. While the alleys behind the temple used to be a famous courtesan district, they now feature shops full of toys and fascinating trinkets.

This evening, enjoy a special Captain’s Welcome Reception onboard the ship. After dinner, enjoy the beautiful Victoria Fashion show. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Reception, D)

Day 6 - Cruising the Yangtze River
Huangshan
Featured Excursion: Huangshan Mountain tour

Enjoy a full-day trip to Huangshan Mountain, which boasts eastern China’s most striking natural landscapes. Not a single mountain but actually a string of impressive peaks, Huangshan has long been a favorite subject of traditional Chinese paintings and literature; it also served as a retreat for many Chinese emperors. You’ll understand its longstanding popularity when you take in the views from both the bottom and the top of the mountain. The foothills below Huangshan feature picturesque traditional villages with flooded rice paddies nestled in the shadow of Huangshan Mountain’s towering peaks. The mountain itself is dotted with ancient twisted pines and strange rock formations and shrouded in thick romantic mists. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is truly one of the most beautiful and memorable places in China.

Note: Depending on river conditions, an alternate tour to Jiuhuashan Mountain may be substituted. (BB, L, D)

Day 7 - Cruising the Yangtze River
Wuhan
Featured Excursion: Ancient Guqin Terrace

Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province and the political, economic, cultural, and educational hub of central China. Today you will visit the lovely Guqin or Heptachord Terrace. It was built over 1,000 years ago to commemorate a deep friendship that arose between an important official who played the heptachord (an ancient stringed instrument) and a humble woodcutter. Zhong Ziqi was so moved by the beauty of the music Yu Boya played, that it changed them both and inspired a legend. (BB, L, D)

Day 8 - Cruising the Yangtze River

The Yangtze River is the third-longest river in the world and your cruise will show you some of its most beautiful sights. Your luxury ship provides the perfect setting for soaking up the breathtaking views of mist-enshrouded mountains and jagged limestone cliffs that surround you on either side as you make your way down the river. You’ll also see bucolic hillside rice paddies, village fishermen at work with their nets, and historic cliff-side carvings. Today, enjoy a full day cruising the majestic Yangtze. Enjoy the Victoria Minorities Show, featuring costumes and customs from some of the 56 ethnic groups that make up China. (BB, L, D)

Day 9 - Cruising the Yangtze River
Yichang
Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam

Today you’ll sail through the dramatic shoals and verdant cliffs of Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest of the famed Three Gorges, with cliffs that rise around you to heights of up to 4,000 ft (1,219 m).

You’ll begin your day with a visit to the site of the Three Gorges Dam—the largest hydro-electric dam in the world. After more than a decade of construction, the dam body was finished in 2006 (though the final components of the dam’s underground power plant are not expected to become fully operational until around 2011 or 2012). The Three Gorges Dam harnesses the power of the mighty Yangtze in order to provide electricity to ever-growing China. In addition, the dam is designed to provide relief from the loss of life and property previously caused by frequent flooding in many riverside cities.

Then, return to your ship to sail through the Three Gorges Dam 5-stage ship locks, a true engineering marvel that is sure to impress. (BB, L, D)

Day 10 - Cruising the Yangtze River

Featured Excursion: Lesser Gorges

Today’s journey will take you through Wu gorges. In the afternoon, you’re in for a real treat. You’ll board a riverboat and embark on a voyage through the enchanting Lesser Gorges of either the Daning River or Shennong Stream. This intimate encounter with the area’s striking scenery is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Then, return to your cruise ship and continue down the Yangtze. Today’s journey will take you through Quatang, whose stunning scenery is justly celebrated as some of the most beautiful in all of China.

An unforgettable Crew Cabaret is waiting for you in the evening. (BB, L, D)

Day 11 - Cruising the Yangtze River

Featured Excursion: Fengdu

Today, you’ll visit the bank-side town of Fengdu. This "City of Ghosts"  is famous for its gardens, temples, and statues of ghosts, all modeled after the Chinese Hell in Taoist mythology. A place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years, Fengdu became an island accessible only via the Yangtze after the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.Tonight enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Dinner. After dinner, enjoy “Emperor and Empress Night” where you can try on traditional costumes of Chinese royalty and have your picture taken. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 12 - Chongqing
fly to Xi'an
Featured Excursions: Chongqing city tour, Chongqing Zoo and giant panda visit, and traditional dumpling dinner in Xi'an

Disembark in the morning in Chongqing, the "Mountain City," which is located right in the middle of China. Here, you enjoy a tour of the city and if time allows, we’ll stop briefly at the Chongqing Zoo for a glimpse of some cuddly but endangered giant pandas.

Then it’s on to storied Xi’an. Known in ancient times as Changan, Xi’an served as capital city to some of China’s most important dynasties, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties. It is currently the capital of Shaanxi province. Xi’an is also the eastern terminus of the famous Silk Road, a fact which accounts for the city’s long history of prosperity and exceptional cultural production.

Spend your first evening in Xi’an savoring a sumptuous traditional dumpling dinner at a local restaurant. (BB, L, D)

Day 13 - Xi'an (China)

Featured Excursions: Terra Cotta Warriors, City Wall, and Tang Dynasty dinner and performance

Xi’an was once one of the largest and most cultured cities in the world, but today most visitors come to see the site of one of the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century: the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. The 7,000-plus members of this massive terra cotta army, which stands guard over the tomb of China’s first emperor, were first discovered in 1974 by well-digging farmers. You’ll be amazed by the intricacy of the life-sized soldier and horse figures and the grandeur of the tomb complex—only a small portion of which has actually been excavated.

After your exploration of these fabulous sculptures, you’ll visit a jade factory and store. After the jade factory, you will go to Xi’an’s massive City Wall, the oldest and best-preserved surviving city wall in China. In the evening, indulge in a Tang Dynasty dinner and cultural performance featuring music, dance, and traditional costumes. The Tang Dynasty is remembered as the most progressive and prosperous era in the history of China, and Tang Dynasty music and dance symbolize the splendor and glory of the Chinese civilization. (BB, L, D)

Day 14 - Xi'an (China)
fly to Beijing
Featured Excursion: Summer Palace

Today, you’ll depart China’s ancient capital city and fly to its current capital: Beijing. Your stay in Beijing will begin with a visit to one of the city’s most beautiful historic gems—the Summer Palace and the Imperial Gardens, which is one of the world’s largest and best-preserved imperial gardens. In 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace a World Heritage Site, noting that it is an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design, incorporating the works of humankind and nature in a harmonious whole. You’ll take a boat ride on the lovely Kunming Lake where you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful natural elements of the Gardens as well as the graceful designs of the pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, and bridges. Tonight, you will enjoy a delicious dinner at your hotel. (BB, L, D)

Day 15 - Beijing (China)

Featured Excursions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutongs tour with home-hosted lunch, and Kung Fu show at the Red Theater

Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing and the largest open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square is the site of many important events in China’s history; among the monuments located in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, and the National Museum of China (dedicated to Chinese history before 1949). Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate, the "Gate of Heavenly Peace" and the entranceway to the Forbidden City. Pose for a souvenir group photo with your travel companions.

The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards, and gardens. It’s the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Construction of the palace began in 1406, and 24 emperors have ruled China from within its walls.

Then it’s time to get an authentic taste of old Beijing on your last day in the city. Ride in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hutongs—ancient lanes and alleyways located in the old residential area of Beijing. The Hutongs, which have been around for more than 700 years, offer a fascinating glimpse of traditional Chinese life and architecture—including the area’s famous courtyard houses. While here, enjoy a traditional Chinese lunch with a local family. You will also visit a carpet factory before dinner.

You’ll end your day with an evening at the spectacular Kung Fu show. The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China perform in this production. Their average age is just 17 years old. Additionally the costumes, set design and special effects are created by some of the best stage directors and designers in China. The performers are not only skilled in Kung Fu martial arts, but are also trained in theatrical presentation. The dancers and acrobats add new dimensions to the exploration of the movements and discipline of Kung Fu. The action is breath-taking and the drama is poignant.

The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak; the show is all Kung Fu, dance, and acrobatics. It is the fusion of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts which make this performance unique and spectacular. (BB, L, D)

Day 16 - Beijing (China)

Featured Excursions: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, and Peking Duck Farewell Dinner with wine

In the morning, you’ll travel 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing for a memorable walk on a wonder of the ancient world—the Great Wall. The Great Wall is the longest manmade structure on earth. Original construction began in the 3rd century BC as a way to keep out warring invaders, and additional sections extended the wall over the centuries to its present length of nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a distance longer than the United States is wide.

After your walk along this historic and awe-inspiring landmark, you’ll travel the Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming Tombs. Here, 13 of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were laid to rest in lavish burial chambers. Ming monarchs made an annual pilgrimage to the tombs to honor their departed ancestors, and the grandeur of the site and its relics convey the importance of ancestor worship to ancient Chinese culture.

At the end of the day, we invite you to indulge in a succulent Peking Duck Farewell Dinner with wine, where you will receive an exquisite piece of Chinese folk art as a gift. The city’s namesake meal is a truly appropriate way to cap off your day in Beijing formerly known as Peking. (BB, L, Farewell Dinner)

Day 17 - Depart Beijing
transfer to the airport
Transfer to the Beijing Airport for your return flight home, or continue your tour with an extension to Hong Kong. (CB/BB)

Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water levels and uncontrollable factors.

• 8-night Yangtze River cruise in a riverview stateroom with a private balcony onboard newly remodeled Victoria Sophia*
• 8 nights in centrally located luxury hotels, including buffet breakfast and all service charges, taxes, and porterage*
• Exclusive VIP Package onshore
• 16 buffet breakfasts, 15 lunches, 15 dinners
• Peking Duck Farewell Dinner with wine in Beijing
• Captain’s Welcome Reception and Farewell Dinner onboard the ship
• Special theme meals: Dim sum lunch in Shanghai; traditional dumpling and Tang Dynasty dinners in Xi’an; Hutong family lunch in Beijing
• 13 days of captivating, fully escorted tours with English-speaking local guides
• Exciting evening entertainment, including a Kung Fu show, a Tang Dynasty performance, a folklore performance at a garden in Suzhou, and the world-famous Shanghai Acrobats
• Services of an experienced Uniworld Tour Manager throughout your trip
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions (except on the Yangtze River)
• All transportation throughout your trip, including flights within China
• All transfers on arrival and departure days

Standard Cabin

Base category: Shanghai (China) Arrive at the Shanghai Airport and be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will escort you to your hotel. Shanghai (China) Featured Excursions: Shanghai city tour, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Municipal Museum visit, and Shanghai Acrobats performance

Bustling Shanghai is the commercial capital of China, and today’s tour will take you to some of this sprawling city’s most impressive sights. Begin with a stroll through Old Town—with its teahouses, temples, narrow alleyways, and markets—for a taste of historic Shanghai. Then, it’s on to the Bund, Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade. Built along the Huangpu River, the Bund features exhilarating street life and beautiful architecture; it’s also an ideal spot for taking pictures of Pudong’s famous skyline. You’ll savor a traditional dim sum lunch at a local restaurant.

Your next stop is the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower. One of the tallest towers in Asia at 1,535 ft (468 m), the Oriental Pearl TV Tower provides a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai, the Pearl of the Orient. After your elevator ride to the sky-high observation decks, you’ll have a chance to explore the Shanghai Municipal Museum on the ground floor of the tower. After visiting some of the most famous sites of Shanghai, you will also visit a silk factory before dinner.

Tonight, you’ll be dazzled by the amazing, gravity-defying stunts of the Shanghai Acrobats. (BB, L, D) Shanghai, Tongli, Suzhou (China) Featured Excursions: Tongli canal cruise and evening cultural performance

Depart Shanghai for picturesque Tongli. One of the most authentic of eastern China’s famous Water Villages, charming Tongli boasts a picturesque collection of ancient bridges crisscrossing meandering rivers. Enjoy strolling through its narrow alleyways and past its quaint tea shops. The village’s cobblestone streets and complete absence of motor vehicles makes a trip to Tongli feel like a trip to another—older and gentler—world.

You’ll cruise through Tongli’s canals on a sampan—a traditional flat-bottomed wooden boat—before going on to the beautiful city of Suzhou. This evening you’ll enjoy a gala at the city’s Garden of the Master of the Fishing Nets, where graceful pavilions and rock hills surround a central pond. Your evening visit here, complete with a special performance of native classical music and dance, is a rare opportunity to experience a truly intimate and memorable encounter with traditional Chinese culture. (BB, L, D) Suzhou, Shanghai cruising the Yangtze River Featured Excursions: Humble Administrator’s Garden and Embroidery Institute

The beautiful waterside city of Suzhou is a cultural mecca known for its magnificent gardens, silk, and embroidery. You’ll begin your day here with a visit to the Humble Administrator’s Garden, which covers over 12 acres (5 hectares) and is the city’s largest and most famous garden. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and originally built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty, the Humble Administrator’s Garden is the perfect place for you to explore the elegance of China’s carefully designed classical gardens.

Afterward, enjoy a visit to the Embroidery Institute, where you will have the chance to learn more about this intricate art form and the opportunity to buy handmade pieces to take home with you. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to Shanghai and board your elegant Victoria Cruises ship to begin your cruise down the mighty Yangtze River. (BB, L, D) Cruising the Yangtze River Nanjing Featured Excursion: Ming Dynasty City Wall Museum

Today, your cruise takes you to China’s southern capital, Nanjing. Its massive Ming Dynasty-era city wall and the various monuments and tombs scattered around the city bear witness to the historical importance of Nanjing, which served as the capital city of six Chinese dynasties. Your next stop is at Nanjing’s traditional-style Confucian Temple, which overlooks the Qinhuai River, one of the Yangtze’s tributaries. While the alleys behind the temple used to be a famous courtesan district, they now feature shops full of toys and fascinating trinkets.

This evening, enjoy a special Captain’s Welcome Reception onboard the ship. After dinner, enjoy the beautiful Victoria Fashion show. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Reception, D) Cruising the Yangtze River Huangshan Featured Excursion: Huangshan Mountain tour

Enjoy a full-day trip to Huangshan Mountain, which boasts eastern China’s most striking natural landscapes. Not a single mountain but actually a string of impressive peaks, Huangshan has long been a favorite subject of traditional Chinese paintings and literature; it also served as a retreat for many Chinese emperors. You’ll understand its longstanding popularity when you take in the views from both the bottom and the top of the mountain. The foothills below Huangshan feature picturesque traditional villages with flooded rice paddies nestled in the shadow of Huangshan Mountain’s towering peaks. The mountain itself is dotted with ancient twisted pines and strange rock formations and shrouded in thick romantic mists. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is truly one of the most beautiful and memorable places in China.

Note: Depending on river conditions, an alternate tour to Jiuhuashan Mountain may be substituted. (BB, L, D) Cruising the Yangtze River Wuhan Featured Excursion: Ancient Guqin Terrace

Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province and the political, economic, cultural, and educational hub of central China. Today you will visit the lovely Guqin or Heptachord Terrace. It was built over 1,000 years ago to commemorate a deep friendship that arose between an important official who played the heptachord (an ancient stringed instrument) and a humble woodcutter. Zhong Ziqi was so moved by the beauty of the music Yu Boya played, that it changed them both and inspired a legend. (BB, L, D) Cruising the Yangtze River The Yangtze River is the third-longest river in the world and your cruise will show you some of its most beautiful sights. Your luxury ship provides the perfect setting for soaking up the breathtaking views of mist-enshrouded mountains and jagged limestone cliffs that surround you on either side as you make your way down the river. You’ll also see bucolic hillside rice paddies, village fishermen at work with their nets, and historic cliff-side carvings. Today, enjoy a full day cruising the majestic Yangtze. Enjoy the Victoria Minorities Show, featuring costumes and customs from some of the 56 ethnic groups that make up China. (BB, L, D) Cruising the Yangtze River Yichang Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam

Today you’ll sail through the dramatic shoals and verdant cliffs of Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest of the famed Three Gorges, with cliffs that rise around you to heights of up to 4,000 ft (1,219 m).

You’ll begin your day with a visit to the site of the Three Gorges Dam—the largest hydro-electric dam in the world. After more than a decade of construction, the dam body was finished in 2006 (though the final components of the dam’s underground power plant are not expected to become fully operational until around 2011 or 2012). The Three Gorges Dam harnesses the power of the mighty Yangtze in order to provide electricity to ever-growing China. In addition, the dam is designed to provide relief from the loss of life and property previously caused by frequent flooding in many riverside cities.

Then, return to your ship to sail through the Three Gorges Dam 5-stage ship locks, a true engineering marvel that is sure to impress. (BB, L, D) Cruising the Yangtze River Featured Excursion: Lesser Gorges

Today’s journey will take you through Wu gorges. In the afternoon, you’re in for a real treat. You’ll board a riverboat and embark on a voyage through the enchanting Lesser Gorges of either the Daning River or Shennong Stream. This intimate encounter with the area’s striking scenery is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Then, return to your cruise ship and continue down the Yangtze. Today’s journey will take you through Quatang, whose stunning scenery is justly celebrated as some of the most beautiful in all of China.

An unforgettable Crew Cabaret is waiting for you in the evening. (BB, L, D) Cruising the Yangtze River Featured Excursion: Fengdu

Today, you’ll visit the bank-side town of Fengdu. This "City of Ghosts"  is famous for its gardens, temples, and statues of ghosts, all modeled after the Chinese Hell in Taoist mythology. A place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years, Fengdu became an island accessible only via the Yangtze after the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.Tonight enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Dinner. After dinner, enjoy “Emperor and Empress Night” where you can try on traditional costumes of Chinese royalty and have your picture taken. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner) Chongqing fly to Xi'an Featured Excursions: Chongqing city tour, Chongqing Zoo and giant panda visit, and traditional dumpling dinner in Xi'an

Disembark in the morning in Chongqing, the "Mountain City," which is located right in the middle of China. Here, you enjoy a tour of the city and if time allows, we’ll stop briefly at the Chongqing Zoo for a glimpse of some cuddly but endangered giant pandas.

Then it’s on to storied Xi’an. Known in ancient times as Changan, Xi’an served as capital city to some of China’s most important dynasties, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties. It is currently the capital of Shaanxi province. Xi’an is also the eastern terminus of the famous Silk Road, a fact which accounts for the city’s long history of prosperity and exceptional cultural production.

Spend your first evening in Xi’an savoring a sumptuous traditional dumpling dinner at a local restaurant. (BB, L, D) Xi'an (China) Featured Excursions: Terra Cotta Warriors, City Wall, and Tang Dynasty dinner and performance

Xi’an was once one of the largest and most cultured cities in the world, but today most visitors come to see the site of one of the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century: the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. The 7,000-plus members of this massive terra cotta army, which stands guard over the tomb of China’s first emperor, were first discovered in 1974 by well-digging farmers. You’ll be amazed by the intricacy of the life-sized soldier and horse figures and the grandeur of the tomb complex—only a small portion of which has actually been excavated.

After your exploration of these fabulous sculptures, you’ll visit a jade factory and store. After the jade factory, you will go to Xi’an’s massive City Wall, the oldest and best-preserved surviving city wall in China. In the evening, indulge in a Tang Dynasty dinner and cultural performance featuring music, dance, and traditional costumes. The Tang Dynasty is remembered as the most progressive and prosperous era in the history of China, and Tang Dynasty music and dance symbolize the splendor and glory of the Chinese civilization. (BB, L, D) Xi'an (China) fly to Beijing Featured Excursion: Summer Palace

Today, you’ll depart China’s ancient capital city and fly to its current capital: Beijing. Your stay in Beijing will begin with a visit to one of the city’s most beautiful historic gems—the Summer Palace and the Imperial Gardens, which is one of the world’s largest and best-preserved imperial gardens. In 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace a World Heritage Site, noting that it is an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design, incorporating the works of humankind and nature in a harmonious whole. You’ll take a boat ride on the lovely Kunming Lake where you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful natural elements of the Gardens as well as the graceful designs of the pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, and bridges. Tonight, you will enjoy a delicious dinner at your hotel. (BB, L, D) Beijing (China) Featured Excursions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutongs tour with home-hosted lunch, and Kung Fu show at the Red Theater

Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing and the largest open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square is the site of many important events in China’s history; among the monuments located in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, and the National Museum of China (dedicated to Chinese history before 1949). Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate, the "Gate of Heavenly Peace" and the entranceway to the Forbidden City. Pose for a souvenir group photo with your travel companions.

The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards, and gardens. It’s the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Construction of the palace began in 1406, and 24 emperors have ruled China from within its walls.

Then it’s time to get an authentic taste of old Beijing on your last day in the city. Ride in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hutongs—ancient lanes and alleyways located in the old residential area of Beijing. The Hutongs, which have been around for more than 700 years, offer a fascinating glimpse of traditional Chinese life and architecture—including the area’s famous courtyard houses. While here, enjoy a traditional Chinese lunch with a local family. You will also visit a carpet factory before dinner.

You’ll end your day with an evening at the spectacular Kung Fu show. The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China perform in this production. Their average age is just 17 years old. Additionally the costumes, set design and special effects are created by some of the best stage directors and designers in China. The performers are not only skilled in Kung Fu martial arts, but are also trained in theatrical presentation. The dancers and acrobats add new dimensions to the exploration of the movements and discipline of Kung Fu. The action is breath-taking and the drama is poignant.

The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak; the show is all Kung Fu, dance, and acrobatics. It is the fusion of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts which make this performance unique and spectacular. (BB, L, D) Beijing (China) Featured Excursions: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, and Peking Duck Farewell Dinner with wine

In the morning, you’ll travel 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing for a memorable walk on a wonder of the ancient world—the Great Wall. The Great Wall is the longest manmade structure on earth. Original construction began in the 3rd century BC as a way to keep out warring invaders, and additional sections extended the wall over the centuries to its present length of nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a distance longer than the United States is wide.

After your walk along this historic and awe-inspiring landmark, you’ll travel the Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming Tombs. Here, 13 of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were laid to rest in lavish burial chambers. Ming monarchs made an annual pilgrimage to the tombs to honor their departed ancestors, and the grandeur of the site and its relics convey the importance of ancestor worship to ancient Chinese culture.

At the end of the day, we invite you to indulge in a succulent Peking Duck Farewell Dinner with wine, where you will receive an exquisite piece of Chinese folk art as a gift. The city’s namesake meal is a truly appropriate way to cap off your day in Beijing formerly known as Peking. (BB, L, Farewell Dinner) Depart Beijing transfer to the airport Transfer to the Beijing Airport for your return flight home, or continue your tour with an extension to Hong Kong. (CB/BB)

Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water levels and uncontrollable factors.

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