First
class 4* hotel accommodations with daily buffet breakfast – Dorure
International Hotel or similar (Shanghai), Hai Ge International
Hotel or similar (Beijing)
Sightseeing
with entrance tickets as outlined in the program
Economy
domestic air flight Chonqing - Beijing
Air-conditioned
tour coaches in each city
English
speaking local guides throughout
CRUISEPORTION : ABOARD MS VICTORIA
PRINCE
Special
8 night/9 day cruise from Shanghai to Chongqing aboard
the luxurious "Victoria Prince"
Accommodation in all outside facing twin
cabin with balcony on deck of your choice
Three meals daily
Welcome cocktail and farewell dinner
All on board lectures, crew performances
and entertainment
All shore excursions as outlined
SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS
SHANGHAI: Performance of the fabulous
Chinese Acrobats, Children's Palace
NANJING: Visit to Dr. Sun Yat-sen's
Mausoleum
HUANGSHAN: Excursion to Mount Huangshan
WUHAN: City Tour including Museum
BEIJING: Tiananmen Square and the Imperial
Palace tour, Hutong rickshaw tour and lunch with
a local Chinese family, classic Peking Duck
dinner and tour
of the
Great Wall
SAMPLE
ITINERARY
Day 1:Arrive
from your overnight flights to Shanghai
Day 2: Shanghai On arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in
and overnight. Due to various flight arrivals, meals are on
your own.
Day 3: Shanghai Your morning panorama tour of this magnificent
and growing city will include new and old highlights such
as the Bund and the Yu Yuan Gardens. Return to your hotel
for lunch (on your own) and a short rest. This evening
depart for a special welcome banquet at a local restaurant
followed by a performance of the fabulous Chinese Acrobats!
(B, SD)
Day 4: EMBARKATION
Morning tour of the
Children’s Palace where talented
children of all ages are taught the arts. Return to the hotel
for check-out. Continue for a Mongolian style BBQ lunch followed
by a visit to a local Art center or Silk Factory. Enjoy a dinner
at a local restaurant before transferring to the dock to board
your luxurious floating hotel. Set sail 10 pm! (B,
Day 5: Nanjing
Sightseeing of this
former war capital of China. On your included shore excursion
you will visit Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s (Father
of China) Mausoleum and a Qing Dynasty bazaar surrounding
a Confucian Temple. Return to the Ship and sail on. (B, L,
D)
Day 6: Huangshan
Today, a full day excursion will take you to the legendary
Mt. Huangshan, famous for its natural beauty and as a fixture
in Chinese lore. Continue sailing once back on board. (B,
L, D)
Day 7: Wuhan
A merger of 3 cities,
Wuhan lies on the confluence of two great rivers – the
Yangtze and the Yellow River. Your city tour of this bustling
capital will include a visit to the
Hubei Provincial Museum. (B, L, D)
Day 8:Full
day at sail
A wonderful day to enjoy your sailing experience to the fullest!
Watch the magnificent passing scenery or participate in one
of the many on board activities arranged by our crew including
lectures, tea ceremonies, cooking lessons and similar. (B,
L, D)
Day
9: Yichang
and Three Gorges Dam
Today is an exciting day as you first sail through the
old Gezhouba Dam and then visit the new gigantic 3 Gorges
Dam set into operation in 2003. Return to the ship and
then marvel at human ingenuity as you sail through 4
of the gigantic locks which will lift your ship 70 meters
up and whose gigantic steel doors are 90 meters high
and 2 meters thick! (B, L, D)
Day
10: Chongqing - Xian DISEMBARKATION
Bid your crew
goodbye as you disembark and continue with your China adventure.
First stop at the Panda Zoo and then
it’s on to the unique Artist Village. After a break
for lunch at a local restaurant, stop and tour a local
Silk factory on your way to the airport for your short
flight to Xian. On arrival, transfer to your deluxe hotel.
Dinner on your own and overnight. (B, L)
Day
11:Lesser Gorges
First sail through
the peaceful and mysterious Wu gorge before arriving to
the Danning River. Here you will take
a smaller steamer ship into this Yangtze tributary where
you will see unique wildlife, wild monkeys as well as the
famous “hanging coffins” of the ancient Ba
people – etched into the cliff sides over 1000 years
ago! Then you will enjoy boarding smaller sampan boats
which will take you even further into the winding tributaries
and streams, to view channels previously not accessible
by any means. Return to your ship via steamer. (B, L, D)
Day
12: Chongqing
- Beijing DISEMBARKATION
As all great things must end, so does your magnificent
journey from the mouth of the China Sea to the heart of
China’s inland – Chongqing, the World’s
largest municipality with over 37 million people!. Disembark
and transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing.
On arrival, dinner will be held at a local restaurant prior
to reaching your hotel for check-in and overnight. (B,
D)
Day 13: Beijing
Your morning tour
will encompass the giant Tianamen Square followed by a tour
of the Imperial (“Forbidden”)
Palace. Then it’s on to the old part of the town – the
Hutongs – where families still live in a communal setting.
Here you will meet a local family who will invite you into
their home and cook a home made lunch for you! This delightful
day will end with an exciting cyclo ride through the narrow
maze of the Hutong streets. Return to your hotel and if you
can eat any more – the meal is on you! (B, L)
Day 14: Beijing
This morning take
the excursion to the Great China Wall. Here you will have time
to walk the ramparts and wonder in amazement
how a structure of such size was ever built. After the tour,
you will head back towards Beijing and stop at a local Jade
and Silk factory where you will have lunch and enjoy some
time shopping. Return to your hotel for a short rest before
heading out for your farewell dinner featuring – what
else – the famous Peking Duck! (B, L, SD)
Day 15: Beijing - Home
Pack your memories away as you transfer to the airport for
your flight home (B)
