Classic China Tour with Yangtze River Cruise

Dear friends! Welcome to Beijing! As the capital of China, Beijing is often chosen by international tourists as their first destination on a China tour. Covering an area of 16,410.54 square kilometers, Beijing has a permanent population of around 21.89 million. Its rich culture and historical sites show that it couldn’t be better to start your Yangtze River cruise tour here. Upon arrival, your guide will meet and welcome you at the airport. To give you a better travel experience the next day, we will take you to the hotel for a good rest.

In the morning, you are going to visit Tian’anmen Square. Built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty, Tian’anmen Square is the best-known symbol of modern China. With a surface area of 440,000 square meters, 880 meters long and 500 meters wide, the square can hold 1 million people for a gathering. It was here that Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. In the middle of the square stands a 70-ton granite column, the Monument to the People’s Heroes. It was built in commemorating martyrs who died for revolutionary struggles during the 19th and 20th centuries.

After that, we will go to the Forbidden City (closed each Monday). It is a huge palace complex of more than 9,000 rooms where 24 emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912) used to live in. It is not only an important part of Chinese civilization, but also a World Heritage Site as one of the world’s largest and best-preserved ancient wooden buildings. Therefore, the magnificent scene you see here will leave a deep impression on your China tour. Usually, roofs are various in Chinese architectures. If you observe carefully, more than 10 kinds of roofs can be found in the Forbidden City.

Stepping out of the Forbidden City, you are going to visit Jingshan Park. The park was built in 1928 with an area of 23 hectares. As a popular tourist attraction, the highlight of this former royal garden is Jingshan, where you can get a nice shot of one watchtower of the Forbidden City and have a panoramic view of Forbidden City. Also, the evergreen pines,  cypresses, and peony enable it to become a comfortable place for leisure. If you are lucky, a flower exhibition will make your travel more interesting, giving you a chance to feel the modern charm of this ancient garden.

After lunch, we will take you to Hutong in Shichahai area. Almost all visitors hope to come to Beijing Hutong (small alleys made by neighboring quadrangle dwellings) to experience distinct local culture. We will shuttle among these Hutongs to get a feel of the old Beijing life style, visit various stores that sell all kinds of modern and old stuff, truly feel the historical changes of Beijing, and pay a visit to a local family’s home in the traditional Hutongs.

Here comes your last stop on this day. Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Now, I will choose one to introduce. Suzhou street is a business street that is designed for the entertainment of the Qing emperor and empress. The emperor Qianlong (1736-1796, the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty) ordered the construction after a visit to Suzhou (a city in Jiangsu province) as a result of his obsession with local streets and customs. In the past, there were many shops with various goods. Today, the shops are still here, but they sell touristy things. When you come here, it is possible to see some girls in Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) taking photos.

Jingshan Park

Summer Palace

After breakfast, we will drive westward to Ming Tombs, which is about 53 kilometers away from the center of Beijing. After about one hour, we will arrive there. Just as its name implies, Ming Tombs are imperial tombs of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and it is the world’s largest royal mausoleum complex with the largest number of empress tombs. It shouldn’t be left out in your Beijing tour. The Sacred Way is your first stop at this tourist attraction. Many people tend to be attracted by a group of stone sculptures because of its large scale and exquisite skill. You can see the road is lined with 24 stone animals and 12 stone figures. Is there any special meaning to set them here? In fact, besides decoration, these statues are a symbol of the emperor’s majesty, implying that they remain the ruler of officials and livestock after death.

Then, we will come to the highlight of Ming Tombs: Chang Tomb. The third emperor of the Ming Dynasty and his empress were buried here. As the largest one of all Ming Tombs, its layout is square in the front and round in the back. The square portion is divided into three connecting courtyards. The whole architectural style contributes a lot to world building history. I believe you will be surprised by its magnificence here.

Next, we will visit Badaling Great Wall. After lunch, we will take you further westward for around one hour to reach our destination, which is 40 kilometers away. Badaling Great Wall is the best-preserved and most complete section among the different sections of the Great Wall, hence the most popular, even among world leaders. The total length of this section is 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) with 43 watchtowers. They are subtly designed for different purposes. To complete such a huge defensive project must have cost a lot. Come and witness the grandness of Badaling Great Wall with your own eyes! Take a picture with it and it will be a nice post on your Instagram!

Chang Tomb

Badaling Great Wall

The Temple of Heaven is your last stop in Beijing. Located in the south of Beijing, the Temple of Heaven was a sacred place to worship heaven and pray for a good harvest in the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. And even today, it remains the largest and most representative existing masterpiece among China’s ancient sacrificial buildings. Besides several hot attractions, visitors tend to be more curious about the “echo effect” at the Echo Wall (people can hear each other clearly while speaking at different points of this wall). You can come here and try it with your friends.

Then, your tour guide will see you off at the Beijing West Railway Station for the estimated high-speed train G57 14:00/18:24 to Xi’an. Xi’an is one of the best places to travel in China. It covers an area of 10,108 square kilometers and has about 12.95 people living here permanently. With more than 10 dynasties having chosen it as the capital, Xi’an is no doubt rich in history and culture. You are going to visit the well-known Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum and taste local snacks.

Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven

In the morning, we will drive eastward for about 50 minutes to Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, which is about 40 kilometers away from the center of Xi’an. Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum is a super large collection of life-size terra cotta sculptures in battle formations, reproducing the mega imperial guard troops of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210BC), the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221BC-297BC). The discovery of these precious cultural relics is completely unexpected. At first, a local farmer found a statue when he was digging a well. He smashed it as he thought that it was the thing that prevented him from getting water. Later, local people found more similar things while ploughing, but they ignored them as well. Until 1974, experts were invited to identify such kinds of things and started further exploration. Not long after, more terra cotta sculptures were found and the museum was established based on the major pits.

In the afternoon, we will first go to Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the most famous building in the temple. The pagoda, rising to a height of 64.5 meters, was built to store the Buddhist scriptures brought back from India by the eminent monk Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). After appreciating the beauty of this ancient building, many people choose to stroll around the nearby square.

Next, you are going to visit the Great Mosque. It is the largest and most complete Islamic mosque in China that uses traditional architectural forms and layouts. The mosque is composed of four courtyards, and in the fourth one, you can see a big prayer hall. It covers 1,300 square meters and can hold more than one thousand people. I believe the unique style of this mosque will catch your eyes.

Muslim Street is your last destination today. About 500 meters in length from south to north, this street is paved with dark colored stone with green trees providing heavy shade during summer; the buildings on both sides of the street are modeled on the styles of both the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Some of the constructions are restaurants while others are stores. But the owners are all Muslims. This street is famous for delicious snacks, and I recommend Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup to you.

Then, your Xi’an tour comes to an end, and we will drive you back to the hotel.

Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

This day, you will take the estimated flight 3U3269 14:45/18:10 to Guilin. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your local guide at the airport. On your way to the hotel, the guide will give some details about your tour in Guilin, and you just need to have a nice rest before it begins. When it comes to Guilin, people usually think about its beautiful landscape. Guilin covers an area of 27,800 square meters, with a population of about 4.93 million. Fresh air, pleasant natural scenery, combined with the exciting Li River Cruise, are you ready to enjoy your trip?

In the morning, you will go to Yangshuo by Li River Cruise. The Li River scenic area that you will cruise along is the largest and most beautiful karst landscape tour area in the world. Usually, a three-star cruise with Chinese packed lunch will be arranged for you. There is also another choice: a four-star cruise providing a Chinese buffet. Besides lunch, the facilities on the ships are different. If you want to try the four-star one, just tell us in advance! But please rest assured that both of these two options will leave you a great memory of the beauty of Li River.

When you disembark in the afternoon, we will lead you to Yangshuo West Street. The ancient West Street has witnessed how the western culture and Chinese culture perfectly and peacefully coexist. Whether you want to enjoy a cup of drink in bar, taste some local food, or just experience the relaxing atmosphere, this is a great place for you.

After that, you will be transferred back to the hotel in Guilin accompanied by the guide.

Li River

Yangshuo West Street

Your last stop in Guilin is Elephant Trunk Hill. The hill got its name because it looks like an elephant drinking water from the river. The cute elephant, clear water, and green plants deserve a group photo as a memento. As for the origin of this hill, a lot of stories are widely accepted. According to one of them, seven deities (the daughters of the Emperor of Heaven) came here to have fun, and the youngest girl found that the local people were plagued by floods. Out of mercy, she went back to heaven and returned secretly secretly with her father’s mount (an elephant）to dredge waterways. Unfortunately, her father found out very soon. He sent generals to take back the girl and left the mount as a hill for good. Let’s have a careful look at it! And then you will be escorted to the railway station to take the estimated high-speed train G2856 11:27/16:00 to Chongqing.

Upon your arrival, our local guide will pick you up and take you to Chaotianmen Port. The time when you board the cruise ship signifies a new start to your Yangtze River cruise tour. Winding about 6,378 kilometers, Yangtze River is the longest river in China. Originating from the Tanggula Range in Qinghai Province in western China, it traverses eleven provinces and cities from west to east. It has the most abundant water resources of all rivers in China, and many great water conservancy projects were built here to balance the allocation of the water. Undoubtedly, the river is of crucial significance to China’s overall development. And today, you are lucky to join us and view it by cruise. The facilities and service on the ship won’t disappoint you, and your journey will begin at around 9 pm.

Elephant Trunk Hill

Chaotianmen Port

This morning, you can practice Tai Chi (a kind of Chinese martial arts) on the ship’s sundeck after getting up. Next, make a shore excursion to Fengdu “Jade Emperor”. The attraction is rich in culture and history, and its buildings show classical beauty. One hot spot is the statue group of the Eight Immortals which are models of achieving immortality through self-cultivation. The story goes in this way that after the eight immortals got drunk at a banquet held by the Queen of Heaven, they passed by the East China Sea on their way back. Seeing the big wave, one of them suggested that each of them throw one thing into the water as a tool to cross the sea. The statue group shows the scene of them throwing things. And you are going to view this interesting scene after arrival.

Next, you can choose to have an additional shore excursion to Fengdu “Ghost City”. This visit will require extra charge. And if you are interested, you can make the payment on site. From the name of this place, you can know that it  will not be just another regular attraction. The attraction is known for its intimidating architectural styles, with many buildings imitating the ones in hell. The site’s history goes back nearly two thousand years, at least in legends. It focuses on the afterlife and combines the beliefs of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. You will gain a unique experience here: have an exciting adventure and know more about Chinese folk culture. Are you ready for it?

After lunch, you are free for the whole afternoon. But in the evening, remember to attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception. Here you can enjoy a buffet. I bet this reception will leave you a deep impression.

Fengdu “Jade Emperor”

Fengdu “Ghost City”

This day, Tai Chi continues to be a good choice for your morning exercise. Our cruise will first pass by Qutang Gorge, which is the shortest but most majestic one of the Three Gorges in the Yangtze River. It is around 8 kilometers long and attracts many tourists because of its majestic scene featured by precipitous cliffs and raging torrents. All descriptions fail to recreate this picture unless you view it with your own eyes. Next, the cruise will travel through Wu Gorge. The 46-kilometer-long gorge is compared to a gallery for its imposing scenery. As strange peaks, grotesque rocks as well as fog and clouds surround the gorge, it is usually considered the most notable one.

In the afternoon, you will make a shore excursion to Goddess Stream by a smaller ship. Your cruise on the Yangtze River won’t be perfect if you miss this stream. As one of the famous sights in the Three Gorges scenic area, Goddess Stream shows a spectacular view to many visitors. The peaceful surroundings with clear water and green mountains will offer you a pleasant feeling while cruising through the stream. Come on! Just indulge yourself in the impressive natural scenery.

Then in the evening, a Captain’s Farewell Banquet is waiting for you. Join in the fascinating party to spend a wonderful night.

Wu Gorge

Goddess Stream

After breakfast, you will get off the cruise for a shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam Site. The dam is the world’s largest hydroelectric power project. Today, besides its important role in making the best of the Yangtze River water and preventing floods, it has turned into a hot attraction. Tanziling park is the perfect place for you to appreciate the panoramic view of the Three Gorges Dam. Remember to come here.

If you want to explore more, you can take an optional experience to sail through Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift, the largest and the most sophisticated ship lift in the world, which takes only 40 minutes with fresh insight into the dam project. As this option is not included in our itinerary, you need to pay for it on site if you are willing to take it.

After the dam visiting, you will be transferred to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal by shuttle bus. Here you will be picked up by our local guide and be transferred to Yichang East Railway Station for the estimated high-speed train D954 14:06/20:21 to Shanghai. Shanghai is a global center for finance, trade, research, and technology, with an area of 6,340.5 square kilometers and a population of 24.88 million. During this period, you will take a full day of sightseeing to explore both the past and present of Shanghai.

Three Gorges Dam Site

Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift

After breakfast, you are going to Jade Buddha Temple. It is one of the ten hot places to go in Shanghai. The design style of this temple is an imitation of the building in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It can be divided into three main courtyards, with more than 200 rooms in total. In addition to its unique Buddhist statues and a collection of precious Buddhist scriptures, the temple is also famous for being a window of international exchange in this city. Many global celebrities, including the wife of the former U.S. President Mrs. Reagan, have been here. It is a place really worth visiting.

Then, Yu Garden (closed each Monday) will be your next stop. The private garden was built by Pan Yunduan in the Ming Dynasty. Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Yu Garden contains all elements that a classical Chinese garden should have. The pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds, and cloisters all have their unique characteristics. There are some highlights in the garden that you can’t miss. Many visitors like to go to the Spring Hall, which was the command post of a large uprising. You can feel the spirit of that time when observing cultural relics displayed here.

Walking out of the garden, we will head for Shanghai Old Street. The street retains features of the past of this city, and visitors shouldn’t miss it if they want to know more about Shanghai. Many time-honored shops that sell souvenirs, snacks, cured meat products, and all sorts of tea can be found on this street.

After lunch, we will go to Shanghai Tower to have a panoramic view of the whole city. Many visitors to Shanghai consider visiting a skyscraper as a must. As the highest skyscraper in Shanghai, Shanghai Tower is the ideal place to overlook the city and take some nice pictures. Then, the Bund is our next stop. Here, the charm of Shanghai as a bustling metropolis combining the century-old history and modern feature is fully presented, making the Bund Shanghai a must-see attraction. You can walk in the 1.5-meter-long bund to experience the grand scene.

In the end, we will take you to Nanjing Road for shopping. Today’s Nanjing Road comprises two sections, East Nanjing Road and West Nanjing Road. The former one mainly sells fair-price goods and the latter provides high-end commodities.

After that, today’s trip ends and you will be transferred to the hotel.

Jade Buddha Temple

The Bund

In the morning, we will drive westward for around 53 minutes to Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town, which is 49 kilometers away from the center of Shanghai. Zhujiajiao has almost 1,700 years of history. It is also called “Oriental Venice”, featuring lovely waterways, curved rock bridges, old streets, and over 1,000 buildings. Bridges here are distinctive and old. When you are walking on the Fangsheng (means set lives free) Bridge, are you curious about its name? This stone arch bridge has not only an aesthetic look but also appealing stories. One of them goes like this. A fisherman in Zhujiajiao caught a gold fish that is the little princess of the Dragon King of the East Sea (the god of rain in Chinese mythology). Guanyin (a Bodhisattva) passed by this place and recognized the princess. So she told the fisherman to set this gold fish free. He agreed and released the gold fish. This fisherman later became an arhat with the help of Guanyin. Influenced by this beautiful story, later generations built the bridge and named it Fangsheng Bridge.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Former French Concession. It was the largest and most prosperous French concession in China. It is fair to say that the concession is a witness to the long history of Shanghai. And Tianzifang Market is part of the Former French Concession area, and is very popular among locals and tourists. With creative shops, galleries, exhibitions, and coffee shops lining up along the narrow streets, it is really a perfect place to have fun. What’s interesting about this place is that there are still locals living in the old buildings there, as you might find that there are clothes hangers above a boutique store. 

Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town

Former French Concession

Today, your 14-day Classic China Tour with Yangtze River Cruise ends. Your guide and driver will escort you to the airport according to your flight schedule. Our service ends here and hope you have a nice flight home!

Author: Jiang Bingya

Proofreader: Li Yiwen