Essential China Tour with Yangtze Cruise Highlights

Upon your arrival at Hongkong airport, take public transportation to your hotel by yourself.

Enjoy some free time in Hong Kong and then take public transportation to the airport for flight to Shanghai. Upon your arrival at Shanghai airport, your local private guide and driver will pick you up and escort you to the hotel for check-in.

Today, you will visit the Shanghai Museum - home to one of the most impressive collections in the land. Have a leisure time at Yu Garden - a traditional Chinese garden. Its exquisite pavilions, unique stones, corridors and rockeries must attract you a lot.

You may also buy some little handicrafts and souvenirs at Yuyuan Market and you will have a chance to visit Jiangnan Silk Workshop and then walk along the Bund to appreciate the scenery along it. Move to Xintiandi which is an area combining the old and new Shanghai together.

Optional: In the evening, enjoy the famous acrobatics show will be a great option as the night entertainment.

You will be free on this day until your personal guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Yichang, where you will be picked up and transferred to embark your Yangtze cruise.

Your relaxing Yangtze cruise begins. In the morning, you may join in the onboard activities such as Tai Chi lesson in preparation for your exploration. En route, your cruise will stop for an excursion to the well-known Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric complex in the world. Later, get back to your cruise and pass through the unique Five-Level Ship Lock.

This evening, you are invited to participate in the Captain's Welcome Party.

Today, you will sail through Wu Gorge in the morning and take another excursion to the scenic Lesser Three Gorges or Shennong Stream, according to weather conditions. You will also experience an exciting sampan ride rowed by the boatman. After that, return to the cruise and view the scenery of the short Qutang Gorge.

The last excursion will take you to Fengdu Ghost City, a city known for its special ghost culture. Perched on the Mingshan Hill by the river bank, it originated from a legend that two officials (Yin and Yang, their combination means Ghost King) became immortals 1,700 years ago. Since then, various statues, sculptures and paintings depicting the world of the afterlife have been created.

Continue sailing to Chongqing and join the farewell party in the evening.

Upon your arrival in Chongqing, be met and escorted to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit the Hanyang Tomb before escorting you to your hotel.

You will visit the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors. These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots all standing in battle formation were commissioned by the emperor of the Qin dynasty as part of his mausoleum. Continue to visit a jade gallery in the morning.

After lunch, you will cycle along the top of the Ancient City Wall (1-2 hours) which was erected in the 14th century around the old city as protection.

Optional: In the evening, enjoy Tang Dynasty Show which is a dancing performance with a background of Tang Dynasty.

After breakfast, you will tour the Small Wild Goose Pagoda before your guide escorts you to the airport your flight to Beijing. Upon your arrival at Beijing airport, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own pace.

You will visit the magnificent Great Wall (Mutianyu section, round-trip cable car included) and the Changling Tomb.

On this day, you will first visit Tiananmen Square followed by the magnificent Forbidden City, the former home to China's imperial rulers and filled with palaces, gardens and seemingly never-ending grand courtyards. Come out from the royal palace and visit Longing Pearl Store.

In the afternoon, you will explore hutongs by rickshaw to get close to the old Beijingers' life. After that walk along the Houhai to immerse yourself in this famous bar street.

Optional: In the evening, an optional activity is the Chinese Kung Fu Show to recommend to you for knowing more about Chinese martial art.

After breakfast, you will visit the exquisite Summer Palace. In the afternoon, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight back home.