China Golden Triangle Tour with Yangtze Cruise Tour

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China! Your tour guide will wait for you at the airport with your name sign, and then you will be transferred to the hotel to have a rest. Today, you can make a schedule for yourself for the rest of the time. You can choose to have a rest at the hotel or to visit some attractions by yourself. Covering an area of 16,410 square kilometers, Beijing is the political and cultural center of China. And Beijing is the first choice for travelers to start the Yangtze River Cruise Tour. Hope you will enjoy the following days!

Option 1: If you want to visit some tourist attractions by yourself, you can choose to visit Wangfujing Street in the evening. There used to be many princes’ palaces. And “Wangfu” in its name means palace of the prince in Chinese. Wangfujing Street is an old commercial street in Beijing. Therefore, you can find several time-honored shops on the street such as the Neiliansheng Shoes Store and Ruifuxiang Silk Store. Besides, you can also taste authentic Beijing snacks here. So, it is a good place for you to spend your leisure time. 

Option 2: If you want to relax and feel the nightlife in Beijing, you can choose to go to Sanlitun Bar Street. There are many bars, such as Hidden House, JOLI WINE BAR, and Catail. You can find the youth and vitality of this historical city. 

Option 3: How can you miss delicious food when you come to Beijing? In the evening, you can go to Qianmen Street and then go to the Quanjude Roast Ruck Restaurant to enjoy the Peking Roast Duck feast, a representative delicacy in Beijing. The crispy duck skin and tender duck meat will surely whet your appetite. 

Sanlitun Bar Street

Qianmen Street

In the morning, you will visit Tian’anmen Square. Covering an area of 440,000 square meters, Tian’anmen Square plays an important role in China. Tian’anmen Square is the place where many major political and historical events took place, and it is the historical witness of China. In Tian’anmen Square, a flag-raising ceremony is held every morning. The flagpole is 32.6 meters high, but the flag is only raised to 28.3 meters. Do you know the reason? The reason is that there are exactly 28 years and 3 months between the establishment of the Communist Party of China (1921.7.23) and the founding of the People’s Republic of China (1949.10.1). Around the base of the flag pole is a guardrail made up of 56 yellow copper piers, which symbolizes the unity of 56 ethnic groups. These are the romances shown by the Chinese in detail.

Passing through the Tian’anmen Gate Tower, you will come to the Forbidden City (closed each Monday), the palace of the 24 emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1636-1912) Dynasties. Having the longest reign of the 24 emperors in the Forbidden City, Emperor Kang Xi ruled the Qing Dynasty for 61 years in Forbidden City. Emperor Kang Xi calmed the turmoil and strengthened the stability and unity of the multi-ethnic country. As for the economy and cultural construction, he also made significant achievements that had a positive impact on future generations and created the last flourishing age of Chinese feudal society. All in all, he played a vital role in Chinese history. Walking in the Forbidden City, you will see the palaces where emperors handled the government affairs and their living place.

After lunch, you will go to the Temple of Heaven, the biggest and the best-preserved ancient building for worshiping heaven in the world. Do you know the origin of the Temple of Heaven? In 1398, Zhu Yuanzhang, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, died. Zhu Di immediately occupied Nanjing, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, and snatched the throne from his nephew who was supposed to be the next emperor. After Zhu Di succeeded to the throne, he changed the capital from Nanjing to Beijing. He wanted to show his supreme power. So, he built this Temple of Heaven and declared that he can talk to the god of Heaven. Every time, when he worshiped heaven, he would make a speech at the Circular Mound Altar at the Temple of Heaven. Today you will also see the Circular Mound Altar. 

Finally, you will visit the Summer Palace, the royal garden in the Qing Dynasty of China. When you come here, you will notice the Long Corridor. With a length of 728 meters, the Long Corridor is the longest in the world. The emperor can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kunming Lake even when it rains or snows. The Long Corridor is colorful, and there are more than 14,000 paintings. The content of the paintings is mostly landscapes, flowers and birds, and plots of the four Chinese classics. When you come here and appreciate them, you will find that as if you are in an art gallery. 

After that, you will be transferred back to your hotel. If you want to get a more interesting experience after dinner, you can have a look at the following optional service. 

Option 1: Are you interested in Chinese Kung Fu? If your answer is yes, the Red Theatre is your best choice. In the evening, you can come here to enjoy the Legend of Kung Fu Show, which vividly shows the extraordinary skills of Chinese Kung Fu. You have to notice that the performance usually starts at 19:30, and each show is 1.5 hours. If the peak season, there will be an additional show at 17:15. I am sure the show will let you shocked.

Option 2: If you are tired, you can choose to go to the Houhai to relax. There are many bars with different themes. And you can taste authentic Beijing snacks here. Don’t hesitate, come and enjoy it!

Forbidden City

Temple of Heaven

After breakfast, you will visit the Chang Tomb of the Ming Tombs. It will take you about 1 hour (55KM) to get there. It is located in the northwest of the city center. Thirteen emperors were buried in the Ming Tombs. And Chang Tomb is the tomb of Zhu Di, the third emperor in the Ming Dynasty. Do you know what its name means? The Chang Tomb has two meanings, because it has two pronunciations in Chinese, “Chang” and “Zhang”. First, “Zhang” means the elder. As the emperor who moved the capital to Beijing, Zhu Di was the first emperor who was buried in the Ming Tombs. He was a pioneer and should of course be respected as an elder. Besides, another pronunciation “Chang” means “long time”. He hoped that his descendants could rule this dynasty for a long time. When you visit the Chang Tomb, your guide will also tell you more about the funeral culture in ancient China. That will help you know more about Chinese culture.

How can you miss the Great Wall when you come to China? Drive northeast about 39 kilometers, about 67 minutes, you will visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, the best-preserved section of the Great Wall. It is a good place for you to feel the history of China. When you come here, you have 3 ways to climb it. The first one is to take a chairlift back and forth. The chairlift is open-air so you will have a 360-degree view to enjoy the scenery. But if you pursue excitement and fun, you can choose another way, taking a chairlift up and taking a toboggan down. For the elders, we recommend the third way, taking a cable car back and forth. Because the cable car is closed, which is safer. As we all know, graffiti is prohibited on the Great Wall. But there is a graffiti area for tourists on the Mutianyu Great Wall, and you can write down your feelings here.

Chang Tomb

Mutianyu Great Wall

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the train station and take the estimated train G571 09:22/15:06 to Xi’an, the second city of the China Yangtze River cruise.

When you get there, your tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel to check in. You can arrange the rest of the time by yourself. You can choose to have a rest in the hotel or walk around the city. As an important ancient capital in China, Xi’an is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese civilization and Chinese culture. When you come here, you will learn some history of China. If you want to go around after checking in, you can have a look at the following suggestion.

Option 1: As the capital of the Tang Dynasty, Xi’an is full of cultural features of the Tang Dynasty, and the Grand Tang All Day Mall is a symbol. It shows the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. And there are many sculptures of celebrities in the Tang Dynasty. In addition, you will also see many people wearing Tang Dynasty costumes which are very beautiful. 

Option 2: As we all know, there are many delicious snacks in Xi’an. How can you miss them? If you want to taste local snacks, you must go to the Muslim Quarter, which is famous for delicacies. Whether it's Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup or Biangbiang Noodles, all delicacies will not disappoint you. I am sure you will be a happy foodie here!

Grand Tang All Day Mall

Muslim Quarter

The first stop of Xi’an is the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, the most popular sightseeing point in Xi’an. As the burial objects of Emperor Qin Shihuang, the terracotta army are on large scale. Currently, more than 8,000 terracotta warriors and horses have been unearthed. But it is only a small part. Most of them are still under the earth. As the eighth wonder of the world, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum has attracted many tourists from home and abroad. In 1984, when Reagan visited the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, he stood in front of the terracotta horse and said, "Can I touch it?" After obtaining permission, he cautiously placed his hands on the horse's back, touching the horse's back and ass. 

Then you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the major buildings in Xi’an. It was built to store the Buddhist scriptures that were brought from India by Master Xuanzang. If you observe carefully, you will find that the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is slant nowadays. Because of several times earthquakes and excessive groundwater mining, it has been slanted from the Qing Dynasty. The government and the Bureau of Cultural Relics Protection have taken measures to reinforce the foundation. Nowadays, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda can be corrected by 1 millimeter every year, and it will take about 1,000 years for it to be fully corrected.

The last stop of today is the old City Wall, the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. In 1374, the City Wall of Xi'an began to be built and was completed in 1378. Standing on the City Wall, you can enjoy the scenery of Xi’an City. And you will find that most of the historical buildings are inside the City Wall and all of the modern skyscrapers are outside the City Wall.

Option: Are you interested in Tang Dynasty culture? The Tang Dynasty Palace is one of the best places to know Tang culture. You can go there to watch the Tang Dynasty Singing and Dancing Show. The performance lasts 60 minutes, and the plot is based on the historical story of Empress Wu Zetian (the only female emperor in ancient China) from the age of 14 when she was selected to serve in the palace until she became empress at the age of 67. After the show, you can also enjoy the dumpling feast there.

City Wall

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

In the morning, you will be transferred to the train station and take the estimated train D1971 09:05/13:42 to Chongqing when you finish your breakfast. This is the city where you will start your Yangtze River Cruise Tour. Hope you will enjoy it!

After arrival, your guide will meet you at the train station. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ciqikou Ancient Town, a famed historical and cultural street. Here, you will visit the ancient wharf, Baolun Temple, and Baoshan Palace. Besides, you can taste some delicious local snacks, such as Glutinous Rice Cake and the Hot Pot, which will be a feast. Most of the food in Chongqing is spicy. Hope you like it!

Then, you will go to the Chaotianmen Wharf, one of the cultural symbols of Chongqing. It was said that in ancient times, some officials would come here to accept the emperor’s order. You will board on the Yangtze River Cruise Ship here. Your tour guide will help you go through the procedures and then disembark. The ship departs at 21:00. The ship is fully equipped and it will take you to enjoy the fascinating Yangtze River.

Ciqikou Ancient Town

Chaotianmen Wharf

In the morning, you can arrange your own time and you don’t need to get up early. Before eating the buffet breakfast, you can participate in Tai Chi activities on the deck. This is a kind of exercise that is suitable for everybody. There is a Tai Chi Master who will teach you in person. And after exercise, you will feel fresh. After breakfast, you can drink a cup of coffee while enjoying the beautiful scenery. All in all, you will get leisure and cozy morning on the cruise ship.

Today you will have a shore excursion. The first stop is the Shibaozhai Pagoda, one of the best tourist attractions on the Yangtze River. It is built against a boulder and has 12 floors in total. When you get there, you will be attracted by the sculptures and the embossment. There is a group of embossments that shows Guan Yu's (a famous general in the Three Kingdoms period) life through 19 stories. If you want to know more about Guan Yu, your guide will tell you more stories about him. 

And then, you will visit the Fengdu "Ghost City". This attraction is up to you to decide whether to visit or not. If you are interested in it, you can pay onboard. The Fengdu "Ghost City" is a famed historical and cultural city that originated from the Han Dynasty. With a history of more than 2,000 years, it has always been regarded as the home of the dead. When you come here, you will find that the Fengdu "Ghost City" creates the netherworld in Chinese people’s minds.

In the evening, there will be a captain’s welcome reception, so enjoy this wonderful night!

Shibaozhai Pagoda

Fengdu "Ghost City"

Today will be the second sightseeing day on the cruise ship. Since you are on the Yangtze River Cruise ship, what do you know about the Yangtze River? With a total length of more than 6,300 kilometers, the Yangtze River means a lot to Chinese people. As the world’s famous river with the most abundant hydro energy, the Yangtze River not only plays an important role in transporting but also is rich in fishery resources. Today, you will pass the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. 

With a length of 8 kilometers, Qutang Gorge is the shortest and it is famous for its grandness and steepness. 

Then, you will visit the Wu Gorge. When you get to the Wu Gorge, you will take a small boat to visit the Goddess Stream. The Goddess Stream is a tributary on the south bank of the Yangtze River. With a total length of 30 kilometers, the Goddess Stream is turbulent and narrow. You will feel the extraordinary craftsmanship of nature when you come here.

With a length of 66 kilometers, Xiling Gorge is the longest one. Dengying Gorge is a small gorge in the Xiling Gorge, which is renowned for its shadow. When the sun goes in the west, four stones’ shadows are like the four protagonists in The Journey to the West, which is stunning. 

In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner by the captain and a performance. Have a good night!

Wu Gorge

Xiling Gorge

In the morning, you will enjoy a buffet. Then, you will visit the Three Gorges Dam Site, a major water conservancy project in China. Do you know why such a large dam should be built here but not elsewhere? Located at the boundary of the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Three Gorges has abundant water resources. Therefore, the Three Gorges Dam Site was born here based on its natural advantage. In the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area, you can visit the exhibition hall to know more about the history and details of the dam, you can also climb on the sightseeing platform to get a panoramic view of the whole project. 

Today, you will have an additional Shore excursion, you will take the sightseeing-ferry sailing through TGP Ship's elevator to visit the Yangtze River, which needs additional pay. You will witness how the ship moves up and down by taking the ship lift, and admire this grand sight of the Yangtze River at short range.

Then, you will be taken to the Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal, the largest tourist distribution center in the Three Gorges area. your guide will pick you up here and then you will be transferred to the train station and take the estimated train D354 14:46/22:21 to Shanghai, one of the most prosperous cities in China. When you get there, your tour guide will wait for you with your name sign and transfer you to the hotel to have a rest. 

Three Gorges Dam Site

Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal

Today, you will visit the Yu Garden (closed each Monday) first, a classical Chinese garden. When you come here, you may notice the Sansui Hall. Built in 1760, the Sansui Hall was a place for official celebrations and gatherings of the local gentry in the Qing Dynasty. In Chinese culture, rice with three ears means a good harvest. So, it is named the Sansui Hall (“Sansui” means “a rice with three ears” in Chinese). As the tallest hall in the Yu Garden, the Sansui Hall has attracted many tourists. In 1999, on the occasion of the 440th anniversary of the establishment of Yu Garden, Jiang Zemin (the former president of China) wrote the inscription for Yu Garden in person. When you come to Yu Garden, you will see the plaque with this inscription. 

Then, you will come to Shanghai Old Street. As a multifunctional street, the Shanghai Old Street integrates tourism, shopping, leisure, and entertainment. Here is a collection of Shanghai’s old banks, gold shops, restaurants, tea houses, and theaters. When you come here, you will feel like traveling to earlier Shanghai. To some extent, Shanghai Old Street has witnessed the development of Shanghai. Besides, it is a paradise for shopping. You can buy some Chinese folding fans and paper cuttings as souvenirs.

In the afternoon, the first stop is the Shanghai Tower, a landmark in Shanghai. Before entering the Shanghai Tower, you can notice that the outer layer of the building is a layer of glass, and there is a certain distance from the internal building. Do you know the reason for this design? This layer of glass is equivalent to an insulation layer. It can help the inner building keep warm in winter and be cooler in summer. Taking the super-fast elevator to the 118th on the Shanghai Tower, you can enjoy the view of Shanghai City on this sightseeing floor.

Then, you will visit Nanjing Road, one of the ten commercial centers in Shanghai. With a long history, the Nanjing Road is the earliest commercial street in Shanghai. When you come here, you can go shopping and taste some local food. If you like sweet snacks, do not miss out on the sweet green rice ball and if you want to taste some salty food, you can try the pork-filling mooncake. 

Finally, you will come to the Bund, a must-visit attraction in Shanghai. Besides the historical buildings on the Bund, you will notice that there is the Bund Lover's Wall. In the past, people in Shanghai used to date outside, especially beside the wall of the Bund. Therefore, it is called Lover’s Wall. The Bund is the best place for you to take photos in Shanghai. So take your camera and record your happy moment here.

Shanghai Tower

Nanjing Road

Today your journey will come to an end. Your tour guide will transfer you to the airport. Thanks for choosing China Tour Star. Hope this journey will bring you an unforgettable memory. We are looking forward to serving you again in the future.

Author: Lin Shuyun

Proofreader: Betsy He