Best China Tour for Seniors with Yangtze River Cruise

After arrival, we will pick you up from the airport, and then you will be transferred to your hotel.

Free Time Suggestion: Beijing is one of the 15 largest shopping cities in the world, with more than 100 large and medium-sized shopping malls. If you are still energetic after a long flight and want to explore Beijing on your own before our itinerary begins, then I suggest you visit Wangfujing Street. Wangfujing Street is located on the north side of Chang'an Avenue, the most central street in Beijing, with a total length of 1,818 meters. It is a commercial street with a history of hundreds of years. Here you can find a 100-year-old Tongshenghe shoe store. Customers can customize leather shoes according to their feet size and shape here. It used to make leather shoes for the leader of the China. It is a famous brand in Beijing. Besides, you can also taste many authentic Beijing snacks on Wangfujing Street, such as candied haws, pea cakes, and so on.

Today you will visit the famous Tian’anmen Square. Tian’anmen Square is 880 meters long and 500 meters wide. It is the world's largest city center square. Approximately 275,600 pieces of light pink granite were used to pave the ground of the entire square. Tian’anmen Square was a closed T-shaped palace square outside the main gate of the Forbidden City during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The east, west, and south sides are surrounded by walls, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter. It can only be used when holding major celebrations and issuing a decree to the whole country, which represents the majesty of imperial power. Today, Tian’anmen Square has become a square open to the public or even can be regarded as a must-visit place for all those who come to Beijing to travel. What remains unchanged is that many large-scale celebrations are still held here, such as the National Day military parade.

And then we will visit the Forbidden City (It is closed each Monday). When you walk into the Forbidden City, you will be shocked by its grandeur. There are more than 9,000 rooms in the Forbidden City. It may be difficult for you to imagine that such a large building was owned by one person in ancient China. This person is the emperor of China. 24 Chinese emperors once lived here, as well as their concubines and family members. The current Forbidden City has become a national museum. More than one million exhibits are on display here. You can see the luxurious life of the ancient Chinese emperors at that time from the exhibits. 

After lunch, we will take you to visit the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is the largest existing imperial garden in China. To escape from the heat, the emperor will move to the Summer Palace for living and handing national affairs in summer. Kunming Lake is a popular sightseeing point there. Its area is three-quarters of the entire Summer Palace. On the lake, you will see a Marble Boat. The whole boat is 36 meters long, has two floors, and has exquisite carvings on the top. The windows are inlaid with colorful glass. This was the only Western-style building in the Summer Palace at that time.

Option: Do you know how do the local Chinese people spend their leisure time? Many of them will choose to do foot massage. Foot massage has a history of more than 2,000 years in China. It originated in Chinese medicine. According to Chinese medicine, there are 409 acupuncture points on the human body and 66 acupuncture points of them are on human feet. Therefore, soaking your feet with warm water can stimulate these acupuncture points, thereby promoting blood circulation. After that, the professional foot massage technician will help you massage your feet to relieve fatigue and relax your body. If you want to experience the Chinese foot massage, we can arrange it for you after your full-day tour.

Tian'anmen Square

Forbidden City

After breakfast, we will drive for about 1.5 hours (80 KM) to take you to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall. It is to the north of Beijing city. As a symbol of China, the Great Wall has an important position in the heart of Chinese people. In ancient times, it was the most important defense system and resisted the invasion of foreign enemies. In modern times, it is China's diplomatic calling card. On October 8, 1985, the Prime Minister of Australia climbed on the Mutianyu Great Wall. Since then, Mutianyu Great Wall has successfully received hundreds of foreign dignitaries including former U.S. President Clinton and former British Prime Minister Medvedev. You will take the cable car up to the Great Wall. When you get down, you can still choose the cable car. But if you want to get some interesting experience, I will recommend you to take the toboggan down (for the people who are under 60 years old). 

After that, we will drive back downtown. On the way back, you will have a photo stop at the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube. They used to be the venues for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Option: When we talk about China, Chinese food is definitely an important part. So, what kind of Chinese food did you know before you come to China? I think you must have heard about the Peking Roast Duck. Remove the internal organs of a whole duck, wash it, and hang it on the stove for about 30 minutes. The duck meat is ready. The roasted duck is cut into small pieces. Then roll it into the pancake with shredded green onion, cucumber, etc. Dip it in the sauce and you're ready to eat. This is the most authentic way to eat Peking duck. If you want to taste it, we can arrange the Peking duck as your dinner. 

The Mutianyu Great Wall

Water Cube

After breakfast, you will visit the Temple of Heaven. The ancient Chinese respected heaven very much. Ancient Chinese emperors called themselves "Son of Heaven". Every emperor in history regarded worshiping heaven as a very important religious activity. The buildings for worship also reflect the highest level of architecture at that time. Nowadays, the Temple of Heaven has become a park. There are many people doing morning exercise here such as Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and fitness dance. 

After lunch, we will take an estimated train G87 14:00/18:19 to Xi’an. You will meet your guide and the train station who is holding your name sign. And then your guide will take you to your hotel.

Maybe you haven’t been to Xi’an before, but you must know the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses and the Ancient Silk Road. Both of them have a relationship with Xi’an. Terra Cotta Army was unearthed here and the ancient Silk Road started here. As you see, Xi’an is such a city with a long history. 

Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven

Welcome to Xi’an, the historical and cultural city. We will first visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Terra cotta armies are the burial objects of Emperor Qin Shihuang who is the first emperor in ancient China. Among the thousands of unearthed terracotta warriors, you cannot find out two warriors that are with the same appearance. They are different in the face, hairstyle, clothes, posture, and so on. You can even tell whether they are soldiers or officers, infantry or cavalry from the armor of the terracotta army. This shows that the superior craftsmanship 2,000 years ago.

After lunch, we will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The famous Master Xuazang used to visit India and bring lots of Buddhist scriptures back to China. And then he asked people to build the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to store all of the Buddhist scriptures. Besides the Buddhist scriptures, Master Xuanzang also brought back many treasures such as the gold Buddha statue. But until now, where exactly the treasures are, it is still a mystery. People once surveyed the underground of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the detection radar has detected a big hole there. This hole is considered to be the underground palace of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where the treasures may be stored.

Free Time Suggestion: Besides the history and culture, Xi’an is also famous for its snacks. To taste the most authentic Xi’an food, I will recommend you to go to Muslim Street. You can get all the famous local snacks here such as Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), plum syrup, Rice and jujube cake, Mung bean cake. Roujiamo (Chinese Hamburger) can be regarded as the representative of Xi'an delicacy. It can be seen from its name that it has similarities with Hamburg. Both of them are meat sandwiched. The difference is that Roujiamo is Chinese pancakes with minced braised pork in the middle. If you like, you can also add eggs, chopped green pepper, or tofu in it. Don’t miss out on the Roujiamo if you come to Xi’an.

Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

After breakfast, we will take you to visit the Old City Wall. With a circumference of 13.74 kilometers, Xi'an City Wall is the oldest and most complete ancient city wall in China. It has been guarding Xi’an city since the 13th century. 

After that, you will take an estimated train G2207 12:39/18:24 to Chongqing. Your guide will pick you up from the train station and then you will be transferred to the pier and go abroad. Your Yangtze River Cruise tour will start here. 

Option: Many tourists choose to ride a bike on the city wall to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Riding a bicycle allows you to see more of Xi'an in a shorter time. And you can master the rhythm of the tour by yourself, and stop and take pictures wherever you want to stop. If you want to get this unique experience, we can also arrange it for you. Just tell us what kind of bicycle do you prefer. We can provide single-riding and double-riding bicycles to match your needs. 

The Yangtze River Cruise is a tourism project that has been very popular with tourists in recent years. Guests only need to board the cruise ship to enjoy the beautiful scenery for 4 or 5 days. The cruise ship has complete facilities, including KTV, gym, swimming pool, coffee shop, wine house, and so on. It can meet your various needs. The rooms on the cruise ship are clean and comfortable, and we can choose a room with a balcony for you according to your needs, which can help you better explore the scenery on both sides of the strait. At the same time, there is an English introduction to the scenic spots on the boat, which can make you better understand every scenic spot you see. Do you think the night on the boat will be boring? No. We have prepared a variety of singing and dancing performances, fashion shows, etc., so that you can spend a fun evening.

Old City Wall

Old City Wall

The Yangtze River is second only to the Nile River in Africa and the Amazon River in South America among the major rivers in the world, ranking third in the world. There are many tourist attractions, water conservancy projects, power stations, etc. along the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River Cruise ship is designed by the standards of domestic hotels. Whether it is accommodation, catering, service, or entertainment program arrangement, it is very attentive. Guests can enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Yangtze River on the cruise. 

Today you will visit the Fengdu Ghost City. Down the Yangtze River from Chongqing, the Fengdu Ghost City is hidden in the mountains on the shore. It is called a ghost city because there are many nether world buildings here. The nether world is the place where ghosts live in traditional Chinese legends. The Chinese believe that the nether world, like our world, has a strict system. The ghost of the dead will first enter the nether world to be judged. If he was a kind person when he was alive, then the ghost can be reincarnated. If he was a vicious person in his lifetime, then his ghost will be pushed into hell to receive various punishments and tortures. Here in the Fengdu Ghost City, you can see the Gate of the Nether World, which is the only gate to enter the nether world. Abyss Bridge is the only way to link this world and the nether world. You will know more about traditional Chinese culture here.   

The Yangtze River

Fengdu Ghost City

This morning, if it is sunny outside, you can play Tai Chi with the Tai Chi teacher on the deck. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese culture. Although it looks slow, it is very good for the body. Tai Chi focuses on the coordination of human breathing and movement to achieve a balance between the inner and the outer body. Tai Chi can help people relax their bodies and relieve anxiety.

Today we will continue our Yangtze River Cruise Tour. And you will pass by the famous Three Gorges. 

Qutang Gorge is the starting point of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. The scenery here is printed on the back of the Chinese currency 10 yuan. The most famous sightseeing here is called “The rhinoceros looking at the moon”. It is a rhinoceros-shaped peak. Looking in a distance, the rhino is looking at the moon with its head up. You will also pass by red rock peaks and white rock peaks. Especially when it is sunny. The color contrast is particularly obvious.

And then you will see the Wu Gorge. The scenery of Wu Gorge is impressive, and many poets wrote poems to describe it in ancient times. The Wu Gorge is deep and narrow, with short sunshine hours, making it easy to form fog. And when you taking a cruise passing through the fog, it seems that you are in the painting. In addition, you will also see the scissors peak. The top of this mountain is bifurcated, like a pair of scissors inserted into the ground, so it is called Scissor Peak.

The last one is Xiling Gorge which is the longest gorge in the Three Gorges. The waterway here is tortuous and the water is turbulent. But on both sides of the strait, there are many strange peaks and rocks, which is very worth visiting. No wonder the Chinese often say that the most beautiful scenery is at the most dangerous place. 

Qutang Gorge

Xiling Gorge

Today you will disembark at Yichang. Then you will visit the Three Gorges Dam. It is the largest water conservancy project in the world today. At present, it has the functions of flood control, power generation, shipping, aquaculture, tourism, ecological protection, environmental purification, development migration, south-to-north water transfer, water supply, and irrigation. There is a viewing platform with a height of 185 meters. You can overlook the Three Gorges Dam and the Yangtze River on it.

And then you will be transferred to the train station and take an estimated train D954 14:06/20:27 to Shanghai. 

Shanghai is China's financial center. At present, Shanghai has established trading partnerships with more than 200 countries and regions. The container throughput of Shanghai Port has been ranked first in the world for eight consecutive years. About 30% of "Made in China" products are exported to all parts of the world via Shanghai, and about 30% of products from various countries enter the Chinese market via Shanghai. Shanghai successfully hosted the first China International Import Expo in 2018. This makes Shanghai's international reputation even greater. Follow our steps and explore this international Shanghai city.

Three Gorges Dam

Three Gorges Dam

Today we will first take you to visit the Yu Garden (It is closed each Monday). It was built by a wealthy person for his parents. Chinese people value filial piety. Many wealthy people will build another residence for their parents in a beautiful place where they can spend their remaining years in comfort. The Yu Garden was open as a public garden in 1961. Many tourists come here from over the world to appreciate the art of the Chinese garden every year. Yu Garden will get a peak passenger flow of more than 300,000 people on every holiday such as the May Day holiday.

And then you will visit the Jade Buddha Temple. The Jade Buddha Temple is one of the most popular temples in Shanghai. The Great Buddha’s Hall is the main building in the temple. It is about 30 meters long and 25 meters wide. The appearance is a two-story palace-style building, which is simple and solemn. In the middle of the hall, it is the Buddha of Shakyamuni. On both sides are the Buddha of Amitabha and the Buddha of Medicine. The three big Buddhas are sitting on the lotus seats, with a peaceful expression. The Shakyamuni Buddha statue is 4 meters high and the whole body is gilded, making the whole hall look golden. Above the head of Buddha Shakyamuni, there are naked pictures of Sakyamuni when he was born.

And then we will take you to visit Nanjing Road. It is the most famous shopping street in Shanghai, even in the whole of China. No matter what you want to buy, whether some nice price souvenirs or some luxury brand clothes, you can find a suitable shop here. Shen Dacheng Food Shop is a famous food store here with a history of more than 140 years. If you come to Shanghai in March and April, you must try Shen Dacheng’s Qingtuan (A kind of green glutinous rice cake). The reason why Qingtuan is green is that its dough is made of glutinous rice flour and wormwood juice. The fillings are varied. If you like sweets, you can choose red bean paste or black sesame paste filling. If you want to eat salty Qingtuan, you can choose salted egg yolk filling.  

After that, we will take you to the Bund. It is a must-visit place if you come to Shanghai. And it is the best place to take a photo of Shanghai. You will see many buildings here with other countries’ architecture style. So, the building group here is called the “national building exhibition”. 

Nanjing Road

The bund

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport and then you will take your flight and fly back to your sweet home.

Editor: Betsy He

Proofreader: Tina Jia