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13 Day Mighty Yangtze River- Beijing to Shanghai highlights include Beijing, Forbidden City , Great Wall, Xi’an, Terracotta Warriors, Chengdu, Panda, Yangtze River Cruise & Shanghai.

Day 1: Beijing
Your trip starts today with your arrival in Beijing. No activities are planned, so arrive early if you can, as there is plenty to see. There will be a pre-tour briefing with your tour leader late in the afternoon. Please note that your Tour Leader will collect the Local Payment during your group meeting so be sure to take the 300 US dollars to the meeting along with your travel insurance details. Please bring new USD notes/bills in large denominations. Please see the notice board in the hotel reception for details. The briefing is usually followed by a optional group dinner – Beijing Duck is delicious!

Days 2-4: Beijing
Beijing is abundant in cultural and historical sites. The vast Forbidden City, built nearly 600 years ago and off limits to citizens for almost all that time, is a truly amazing place. The size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it fascinating is that every square metre is interesting, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colourful, painted ceilings. Temple of Heaven is the other fine example of extraordinary workmanship and architecture. We will travel to Simatai Great Wall, a largely unrestored and, as such, more authentic section of the famous wall, not crowded with hordes of other tourists. Climbing up this incredible man-made engineer and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience. There is also ample free time in the itinerary, allowing you to make your own discoveries and explorations of old Hutongs and shop in Silk Market and Pearls Market. In the evening, you have the chance to enjoy a performance of the unique Beijing Opera or Kongfu (Martial Arts) Show(optional).

We leave Beijing on the overnight train in Day 4, travelling in “soft-class”, four-berth compartments. The 11-hour trip is a great opportunity to make Chinese friends if you share the compartment with locals.
Meals included: 3 breakfasts

Days 5-6: Xi’an
Xi”an topped the other ancient capital cities in China. Many wonderful places are on your exploration list. Food options are excellent here as well, ranging from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in local restaurants. Widely known as the first capital of a united China in 221 BC, the city is the deep root of Chinese history. A half-day tour to the renowned Terracotta Warriors shows us to these unearthed pottery statues, considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century. Over 6,000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costPANDA, height, even facial expression. They are standing in battle formation, facing east in order to protect the tomb of China's first Emperor, the great Qin Shi Huang Di. These soldiers were accidentally discovered by local farmers in 1974. A free day can easily be spent wandering the narrow streets among the Muslim quarter where we find quaint shops, lively markets, groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in dingy cafes. For those who are interested in history, please do not miss Shaanxi History Museum, which introduces you the total history of Chinese civilization.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch

Days 7-8: Chengdu-Chongqing
We take flight to Chengdu, capital of south-west Sichuan Province. Sichuan is known for its hot, spicy dishes, considered by the Chinese as the best cuisine within China. There is free time to explore the city. There is a large statue of Chairman Mao in the middle of the city and the tranquil Renmin Park is well worth a visit, with its beautiful gardens and interesting teahouses.

In the morning on Day 8 we visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base situated near the city. The giant panda is one of the world’s most endangered species and has become Chinese national treasures and an icon for conservation movements everywhere. It is still found in parts of the Sichuan province, but is very difficult to spot in the wild.

We continue on to the city of Chongqing by bus, where we board our boat to commence a cruise on one of the great rivers of the world.

Meals included:

Days 9-10: Yangtze River Cruise
The Yangtze (also known locally as the Changjiang River) is, at 6,300 kilometres, the world’s third longest waterway. It rises deep in the heart of the province of Qinghai, to the north of Tibet, and flows relentlessly eastwards until it empties into the East China Sea near Shanghai. Effectively dividing the country into north and south, the river not only supplies the rural heart of China, but has also spawned many industries reliant upon its power. The Yangtze has also inspired poets, writers and travellers over the centuries. The “Sanxia”, as they are known in Chinese, stretch for 200 kilometres and vary from 100 metres to 300 metres in width. We enjoy our cruise on a tourist-class boat and travel between Chongqing and Yichang. This is a much more comfortable way to travel than on the local boats that ply the same route, and offers a fascinating insight into life along the river. We spend three nights on board and sleep in twin-share cabins with private facilities, in accommodation similar to a small hotel room. Bedding and sheets are provided, as are all meals throughout the cruise. We travel along one of the most picturesque sections, through the renowned Three Gorges and finish our cruise near the construction site of the massive new dam. There are shore excursions to Ghost City, Lesser Three Gorges and the Dam site, all of them are included.

Please note that all rooms on the Yangtze cruise are on a twin share basis. If you are not already sharing a room with someone from your group, you may be required to share with someone (of the same gender) from outside your group. This could be a member of another tour group or a local person. If you have paid a single supplement, please note that this does not cover the cruise.
Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Days 11: Yichang-Shanghai
After the excursion to the dam site and disembarking from our boat, we travel by bus to Wuhan through some typical Chinese rural areas and catch the flight to Shanghai.
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 12: Shanghai
Our hotel located near the famous Bund or waterfront area, with dozens of imposing European colonial buildings, remnants of the concession era, along the promenade. The shopping area on Nanjing Road is situated nearby. We will enjoy free time in Shanghai, and your tour leader can show you how to find the way to the famous Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar, a representative of private garden in south China and highlight of the city. We might have opportunities to try some wonderful food stalls as well. Acrobat here is recommended for your entertainment at night.
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 13: Shanghai
The tour PANDA organized will end after breakfast. You can take an evening flight back home, or stay more extra nights for further discovery on your own pace. The transfer to the airport is not included, however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available.
Meals included: 1 breakfast