Grand Yangtze River Cruise Tour from Hong Kong

Welcome to Hong Kong, a highly free trade port and cosmopolitan city. It has served as the third financial center and become one of the richest and most economically developed regions in the world. Covering a land area of over 1,100 square kilometers with a total population of nearly 7,500,000, it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hong Kong is also a place where western and traditional Chinese cultures integrate. Hong Kong is the first stop for your 15-day Yangtze River Cruise Tour. When you reach the airport, our guide will be waiting for you with your name sign in hand. After a warm greeting, the guide will take you to the hotel and help you check in.

Free Time Suggestion 1:

In the evening, you can visit Lan Kwai Fong, an L-shaped street full of bars and restaurants, which caters to the interest of young people and foreign tourists. Dragon-I, Brickhouse, and Kee Club are typical representatives in Lan Kwai Fong. Stepping into a bar, you will feel the romantic ambiance with its fashionable but simple ornaments, and you can communicate with people across the world, which is the reason why young people and foreigners are fond of the place.

Free Time Suggestion 2:

You can also visit Nathan Road at night. The road is richly supplied with shopping malls and duty-free stores, where luxury brands such as Chanel, Gucci, and BVLGARI are selling colorful goods.

Lan Kwai Fong

Nathan Road

After Breakfast, you will visit Victoria Peak, the highest peak of Hong Kong Island. The peak was once occupied by more than 40 luxury mansions and villas in 1880 because the weather here is pleasant and the landscape is beautiful. However, it was inconvenient for people to go up and down the peak. In 1888, the Peak Tram connecting the top and the foot of Victoria Peak was officially put into use, which greatly facilitated the transportation. You will take the Peak Tram to reach the top of Victoria Peak. There is a bowl-shaped building called Peak Tower on the peak. It is a landmark building with a perfect viewing platform – Sky Terrace 428 on the top.

After visiting Victoria Peak, you will pay a visit to Repulse Bay. It is the most popular and iconic bay in Hong Kong with a long beach and clear sea water. There are many specialty restaurants, coffee shops, and hotels nearby, making it the first choice for a seaside holiday in Hong Kong. You can stroll along the beach or treat yourself to a sunbath here.

Next, you will go to Stanley Market. It is a famous tourist attraction in Hong Kong. Located in the south of the Hong Kong Island, it has a typical seaside climate with bright sunshine and refreshing sea wind. In Stanley Market, you can buy souvenirs, such as silks, clothes, and Chinese calligraphies and paintings. In addition to shopping for your favorite souvenirs, you can also enjoy the fun of bargaining.

In the afternoon, you can hang out freely and explore the charm of Hong Kong by yourself.

Victoria Peak

Peak Tower

In the morning, the guide will take you to the train station, where you will take the estimated train G408 12:05/15:25 to Guilin. A simple lunch will be prepared for you by the guide. Guilin is a world-known tourist city that covers over 25,000 square kilometers with a population of more than 4,500,000. A prestigious poet named Wang Zhenggong wrote a poem to extol the majestic scenery of Guilin. The first line of his poem − “The mountains and waters of Guilin are the finest under heaven” is the best description of Guilin, where you will be overwhelmed by its natural-born landscapes. After arriving in Guilin, your local guide will pick you up and lead you to the hotel to check in. Then, you can choose to stay in the hotel or hang out freely.

After breakfast, you will take the Li River Cruise down to Yangshuo. Firstly, you will be transferred to Mopanshan Wharf, about 35 kilometers away from the center of Guilin. We will drive southeast for about an hour to get there. Then, you will get on a cruise ship to start your Li River Cruise which is famous for its majestic natural landscapes. The beauty of the scenery along the Li River defies description. You will be dazzled by the undulating mountains, verdant bamboos, and limpid water when you float downstream.

Guilin is located 70 kilometers northwest of Yangshuo, and it will take you about 4 hours from Guilin to Yangshuo by boat. You will have your lunch onboard during the cruise. After arriving in Yangshuo in the afternoon, you will visit West Street, a must-visit place when it comes to Yangshuo. West Street is a bustling commercial street riddled with souvenir shops and bars where you can enjoy a cup of drink and immerse yourself in slow music. You will also be enchanted by the delicious food sold on West Street such as Bean Tea and Lotus-seed Soup.

You will stay in Yangshuo for the night.

Li River

West Street

After breakfast in the morning, you will visit the Yulong River by cycling. The best cycling route we recommend to you is West Stree→Longyue Road→Jima Village→Aishanmen Village→Xiatangzhai Village→Xinglongzhai Village→Shuiedi Pier→Gongnong Bridge.

Finishing your sightseeing tour along the Yulong River by cycling, you will ride your bike from West Street to Jinlong Bridge, and the whole journey is about 12 kilometers. It will take you about an hour to get there by bike. Then, you will experience Bamboo Rafting, and it will take you 40-50 minutes. There is no need to worry about your bicycle because the rafting company will help you keep the bicycle and transport your bicycle to the destination of your Bamboo Rafting tour. After arriving at the destination, you will see your bicycle waiting for you on the shore and you can continue to ride your bicycle without waiting.

After lunch, you will return to West Street by bike. Then, you will be transferred to Guilin downtown by car.

Yulong River

Yulong River

After breakfast, you will take the estimated train D1782 10:05/15:31 to Chongqing, a mountainous city. Chongqing is located in the southern inland of China, and it is the financial, technological, and commercial center of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It covers over 80,000 square kilometers with a population of more than 30,000,000. It is famous for its mountainous landscapes and tasty delicacies. It is worth noting that Hot Pot is originated from Chongqing. People in Chongqing created Hot Pot so that they could get accustomed to the damp climate in Chongqing, but they did not expect that Hot Pot could be so popular. If you love spicy food, Chongqing Hot Pot is a must-try.

Chongqing is the starting point of your Yangtze River Cruise. After arriving in Chongqing, your local guide will pick you up at the railway station and take you to Chaotianmen Dock. Chaotiammen Dock is about 20 kilometers northeast of Chongqing West Railway Station, and it will take you about half an hour to get to Chaotianmen Dock by car. The guide will help you go through relevant processes to get on the cruise ship and then he or she will disembark from the ship. Boarding time will end at 20:30, and the cruise ship will set sail at 21:00. Along the journey, you will enjoy the majestic landscapes of the Three Gorges – Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge and admire the largest hydroelectric project in the world – the Three Gorges Dam.

Yangtze River

Chaotianmen Dock

This morning, you can wake up naturally and then have a buffet breakfast. After breakfast, you can engage yourself in learning Tai Chi on the deck or spend your time drinking a cup of coffee while reading a book. You can also enjoy magnificent scenery characterized by clear water and majestic mountains covered by verdant forests. By immersing yourself in a naturally comfortable environment, you can get rid of exhaustion and feel relaxed during the cruise. Therefore, the Yangtze River Cruise is a good choice for people who have a deep affinity with nature and want to pursue a few moments of relaxation in nature.

Today you will have a shore excursion to visit the Shibaozhai Pagoda, one of the most peculiar buildings in the world. Shibaozhai Pagoda with sprawling roofs leans against a huge rock on the north bank of the Yangtze River. The pagoda is 56 meters high with 12 floors, consisting of the main gate at the bottom, the main body in the middle, and the attic on the top. There are three groups of sculptures inside the building, and these sculptures were built in light of three legendary stories, one of which is the story about a heroine named Qin Liangyu. Qin Liangyu, a general during the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was the only female general that was recorded in the Chinese history books. Her husband, a descendant of a famous general named Ma Yuan, was very upright and brave. However, he was framed and killed. After his death, Qin Liangyu took on her husband’s responsibility and became a female general. In order to fend off the invasions of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), Qin Liangyu together with her two brothers led the Ming army to fight against the Qing army. People heaped great praise on Qin Liangyu and the emperor awarded her an honorary title. After her death, people wrote poems and lyrics to show their respect for the lady.

There is an additional shore excursion at Fengdu “Ghost City”. You are supposed to pay additional fees to the shipping company if you want to explore this “ghost city”. It is famous for its various buildings, statues, and decorations in the netherworld, which have typical Chinese features. You will get an in-depth understanding of the ghost culture in China.

Notice: Visitors who would like to explore additional attractions need to pay extra fees to the shipping company directly instead of the travel agency. Attractions vary according to different cruise ships. The attractions you will visit are up to your real booking.

At night, the captain will hold a reception banquet for you. Hope you have a nice evening.

Shibaozhai Pagoda

Fengdu “Ghost City”

This morning, you will also have a buffet breakfast and then you can practice Tai Chi for a while. Today you will sail through the Three Gorges, namely, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. Stretching 193 kilometers along the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges with precipitous peaks on the two banks are the essence of the Yangtze River Cruise. At Wu Gorge, you will take a small boat to visit the Goddess Stream. It is said that seven goddesses once bathed here, hence the name. Cruising on the Goddess Stream, you will feel as if you were in a fairyland where the valley is deep and forested with birds beautifully singing.

At noon, you will have a buffet lunch on board. At night, the captain will hold a farewell banquet and the crew will give art performances for you so that you can have a visual and cultural experience.

Wu Gorge

Goddess Stream

In the morning, you will have a buffet breakfast. Today, you will have an additional shore excursion − taking a sightseeing-ferry sailing through TGP Ship’s Elevator, which requires additional payment. You will witness how a huge ship is lifted by more than 100 meters at most. It’s really exciting and amazing.

Then, you will be transferred to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal by car, and your Yangtze River Cruise will end at this stop. Next, you will be transferred to the railway station in Yichang and take the estimated train D354 14:46/22:21 to Shanghai. The guide will prepare a simple lunch for you and you can have your meal on the train.

After arriving in Shanghai, your local guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. Shanghai is a large metropolis covering over 6,300 square kilometers and it has a population of over 24 million. Shanghai is also a city conjuring up a mixed flavor of tradition and modernity. Therefore, you will have a wonderful experience of Shanghai’s past and present.

TGP Ship’s Elevator

Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal

After breakfast, you will visit Yu Garden (closed on Monday). As the top of the “Four Famous Classic Garden” in southern China, it is not uncommon to see that a deluge of people pour into the garden to enjoy its unique buildings and wonderful landscapes. Such iconic attractions as Sansui Hall, Huge Rockery, and Taihu Stone often attract people’s attention. Speaking of Sansui Hall, in ancient China, “sui”, the ear of grain, was a symbol of a good harvest. The name of the hall, Sansui (three ears of grain) carried the good expectation of the owner for a good yield of grain. In the Qing Dynasty, local officials and gentlemen often gathered in Sansui Hall to exchange their views about political affairs.

After visiting the Yu Garden, you will visit Shanghai Old Street, which is located in Huangpu District. After renovation, the street recovered its archaistic style with old buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Some traditional stores such as tea houses, Chinese pharmacies, jewelry stores, and gold shops are very popular when you walk through the street.

After lunch, you will visit Shanghai Tower, on which you can have an overall view of the whole city. Shanghai Tower is located in Lujiazui Financial Zone, Pudong New District. The total height of Shanghai Tower is 632 meters, the second tallest building in the world and the tallest building in China. It is adjacent to Shanghai World Financial Center with a height of 492 meters on the east and Jinmao Tower with a height of 420 meters on the north. The three tall buildings together show an upward curve, symbolizing that Shanghai will grow more and more prosperous.

After visiting Shanghai Tower, the guide will lead you to visit Nanjing Road, a prosperous commercial street in Shanghai. When it comes to Nanjing Road, every Chinese is familiar with it. It is the first commercial street established after Shanghai opened its port. It enjoys the reputation of “China’s First Street”. People who come to Shanghai must take a walk on Nanjing Road. It has become the largest retail center and millions of people are attracted to visit it every day.

At last, you will come to the Bund. The night view of the Bund is the most attractive. Colorful lights, various styles of buildings, and the endless flow of people compose a rare scenery. Walking through the Bund to admire the exotic-style buildings, you will feel as if you were wandering in a foreign country.

Option: You can take Huangpu River Night Cruise to enjoy the night scenery of Huangpu River. Taking a cruise on the Huangpu River will help you relax and immerse yourself in a totally different landscape that can not be seen in the daytime.

Shanghai Old Street

The Bund

After breakfast, the guide will take you to the airport, where you will take the estimated flight MU9644 11:20/14:05 to Xi’an, once named Chang’an a long time ago. Xi’an covers over 10,000 square kilometers and has a population of more than 12.9 million. Because of its long history and mysterious wonders, Xi’an is an enchanting place that attracts millions of thousands of visitors around the world. Xi’an is famous for its historical sites such as Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and Huaqing Hot Spring. Xi’an is also a well-known city of delicious food such as Rougamo, an equivalent to American-style hamburger. After arriving at Xi’an, the guide will take you to the hotel and help you check in, and then you can have a rest.

Free Time Suggestion: You can visit Great Tang All Day Mall if you are still energetic. The Great Tang All Day Mall is a pedestrian street that is full of wonderful performances. Walking through the street, you will be overwhelmed by flickering lights and majestic music.

After breakfast, you will visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, which is located 43 kilometers northeast of Xi’an. It takes about 40 minutes from the center of the city to the museum. In fact, the terracotta warriors we can see today are the results of careful restoration and maintenance. Some people may wonder how the terracotta warriors looked like when they were unearthed at the beginning. Let me tell you. When the terracotta warriors were first unearthed, many of them were broken into pieces. Given this situation, a group of people have engaged themselves in the restoration work of the terracotta warriors, which makes these warriors complete and alive again. During the restoration work, they always spent several months picking out the suitable fragments from hundreds of thousands of pieces and sticking them together. Since the site of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses was unearthed, the restoration work has never stopped. As the eighth wonder of the world, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses deserve to be seen by the whole world.

After lunch, you will visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which has been listed on the World Heritage List. As a well-known ancient building, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is regarded as a symbol of ancient Xi’an. It is said that the pagoda was a vital place where Xuan Zang (an eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty) translated the Buddhist scriptures he had brought back from Tianzhu (ancient India). Don’t you think the name of the pagoda is interesting? Do you know how the pagoda got its name? The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built modeling after a renowned pagoda in ancient India, which was named “Wild Goose Pagoda”. Therefore, the pagoda was also named “Wild Goose Pagoda” at that time. Later, people built another Wild Goose Pagoda which was smaller in Jianfu Temple. In order to distinguish between the two pagodas. People called the former one “Big Wild Goose Pagoda” and the latter one “Small Wild Goose Pagoda”.

After visiting Big Wild Goose Pagoda, you are going to visit the City Wall, which is the largest-scale and the best preserved city wall in China. The City Wall originally was built to defense invaders and protect royal families in the city, but now it is an iconic sightseeing attraction of Xi’an. You can ride a bike on the city wall or just roam freely to closely admire this historical heritage. At night, lights begin to flicker and twinkle, which is more attractive and beautiful.

Option: It is highly recommended to go to the Tang Dynasty Palace to see a large-scale performance—“The Empress of the Tang Dynasty”, a fascinating singing and dancing performance with the theme of Wu Zetian’s life story. It tells the growth history of the first female emperor in Chinese history. In addition, you will also have a dumpling feast here. Watching the fabulous performance while tasting the delicious dumplings is a perfect choice in the evening.

Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum

City Wall

After breakfast, the guide will lead you to the airport and you will take the estimated flight CA1232 11:00/13:10 to Beijing. When you arrive in Beijing, the Beijing guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. After check-in, you can hang out freely or stay at the hotel for a rest. As China’s capital, Beijing is a world-class city that covers over 15,000 square kilometers and has a population of more than 21 million. Beijing attracts an increasing number of people across the world because of its long history and majestic buildings. As an important stop on your ChinaYangtze River Cruise Tour, Beijing is certainly worth a visit.

Free Time Suggestion 1: At night, you can visit Wangfujing Street as you wish. Wangfujing Street is one the most prosperous commercial streets of Beijing with a total length of about 1,600 meters. A wide range of goods can be found here, including daily necessities, clothing, shoes, hats, jewels, etc. It’s a perfect place for you to buy some souvenirs and gifts for your family members and friends.

Free Time Suggestions 2: You can visit Sanlitun Bar Street at night. Sanlitun Bar Street is close to the second embassy area in Beijing and most of the customers here are foreigners. In the early 1960s, Premier Zhou Enlai designated the northern part of this street as Beijing’s second embassy area. Many embassies and diplomatic apartments began to be built one after another. With the construction of the embassy area, this street has become increasingly prosperous and bars have sprung up like mushrooms on the street. Since then, it has become a popular place for foreigners who work or live in China. There are a variety of bars for you to choose from, such as CLUB MIX, Destination, and Trinity Club. Sanlitun Bar Street is a good place for you to experience the nightlife in Beijing.

This morning, your tour will begin with Tian’anmen Square. Tian’anmen Square is a vital place for Chinese people to hold grand celebrations. The square houses several significant buildings such as the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and the National Flagpole. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was the place where government decrees issued by the emperors were declared and also the place where grand events were announced. At that time, a ceremony was supposed to be held here when the emperor inherited the throne or got married. When you visit Tian’anmen Square, you will see there are two marble pillars in north of the square, on which dragons, clouds, and beasts are engraved. You will see there is a small animal statue on the top of each pillar. Do you know the function of this animal? Your guide will be glad to answer this question for you in detail if you want to know.

After visiting Tian’anmen Square, you will visit the Forbidden City (closed on Monday), one of the most popular resorts in Beijing even China. Situated along the central axis of Beijing, the Forbidden City covers more than 720,000 square meters with over 9,000 houses. It is the place where 24 Chinese emperors lived, with many mysterious and moving stories that wait to be told. Among these 24 emperors, Emperor Kangxi made the most remarkable achievements in terms of national stability and social development. He was also the only emperor who had ruled the country for more than 60 years. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi, he personally led his army to conquer a lot of lands and expanded the territory, laying a foundation for China’s territory.

After lunch, the guide will lead you to Juyongguan Great Wall, an important section of the Great Wall. It is about 60 kilometers northwest of the Forbidden City. We need to drive about one and a half hours to get there. Juyongguan Great Wall is composed of Juyongguan Pass and two long walls stretching on both sides, like a body with two arms. Juyongguan Pass is renowned as “the top impregnable pass in the world”. Juyongguan Great Wall is suitable for people who are fond of hiking because there is no cable car or chairlift. Don’t worry! Juyongguan Great Wall is easy for visitors to climb because the slope of it is very gentle.

After visiting Juyongguan Great Wall, you will be transferred to the hotel. On your way back, you will pass by the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube. You will take a photo stop here and you can take amazing pictures with the background of the two magnificent buildings.

Free Time Suggestion: At night, you can have a sightseeing tour at Houhai, a famous attraction with a huge artificial lake. There are also many bars in this area, where you can relax and experience the local nightlife. When you wander around, you will see local people get together at the entrance of a quadrangle dwelling to chat, drink, or play cards. It’s a typical scene of local life.

Forbidden City

Juyongguan Great Wall

Today your 15-day China Yangtze River Cruise tour from Hong Kong comes to an end. The guide will accompany you to the airport and say goodbye to you. Then you will board your flight back home.                                                           

Author: Ren Jiayi

Proofreader: Vivian Zhou