Imposing China 12D

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of P.R.China. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Beijing hotel. 

Today you will walk on the biggest City Square in the world, the Tiananmen Square with a local guide, then visit the biggest palace in the world, The Forbidden City. Explore the main buildings and listen to the stories about the palace. 

Head to Summer Palace this afternoon to view the amazing Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, where it used to be a summer resort for the royal families during Qing Dynasty.

Later you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Today you will take 2-hour ride to the  Mutianyu Great Wall, which was built 600 years ago in the early Ming Dynasty. You can choose walk up or take cable car up to the Great Wall, and view the imposing ancient Chinese military construction. The impressive Wall extends like a dragon on the top of the endless mountains. It is a nice walk on the Wall to enjoy the fantastic scenery.

Lunch is included at local restaurant before moving back to Beijing hotel.

Take a bullet train to Xi'an in the morning (approx. 5 hours) to Xi'an. Upon arrival, transferred to the hotel. Walking tour to old city wall and Muslim Quarter to visit Grand Mosque. You have opportunity to taste dumpling banquet as optional tonight.

This morning you will take the fantastic tour to Terra-cotta warriors that is one-hour car ride from Xian. There are 4 exhibition halls presenting various warriors and horses that were make 2200 years ago.

This afternoon you will move to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was constructed 1500 years ago. You can climb up the pagoda to view the city from the top floor, which is a nice picture to feel the soul of the old historical city.

Later, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Take 3-hour bullet train this morning to Chengdu. 

Upon arrival, you will explore the Kuai & zhai Alleys, Qingyang Temple in the afternoon. The yummy hot pot is a well-known meal in Chengdu, so taste the hot pot for dinner! You can choose the Sichuan opera performance this evening to learn Chinese traditional drama culture.

Visit Panda Breeding Research Base in the morning to view the cute panda feeding. 

Afterwards move to railway station to catch a bullet train to Chongqing where boarding a luxury boat to start 4-day boat tour on the Yangtze River.

Shibaozhai - Take a shore excursion to Shibaozhai, with its impressive wooden pagoda, appropriately named "The Pearl of the Yangtze". Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to Yuhuang Shengdi (Jade Emperor Sanctuary), visiting the new relocation village built for families who have moved as a result of the Yangtze's rising waters brought about by the Three Gorges Dam. Additional optional Shore Excursion to Fengdu's “Ghost City” (river conditions permitting), known for its statues of ghosts and devils on Mingshan Hill. 

Enter the Three Gorges, one of nature’s most extraordinary sculptures. Today you will pass through the first two—Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. Qutang Gorge is the shortest (5 miles), narrowest (500 feet), and most dramatic. The 25-mile long Wu Gorge is known for its quiet beauty, forest-covered mountains, and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices. Transfer to another vessel for a relaxing excursion through the attractive gorges of Goddess Stream. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to the gorges of Shennong Stream or Goddess Stream. Enter Xiling Gorge, the longest (41 miles), and the deepest of the Three Gorges. Additional optional Shore Excursion to White Emperor City (river conditions permitting), an ancient city overlooking the western end of Qutang Gorge. 

Visit the Three Gorges Dam this morning before transferring from the cruise to Yichang airport to catch flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival Shanghai, transfer to hotel.

City explore in Shanghai today with a local guide, you will visit the Bund that is riverfront of the Huangpu River, Yu Garden that is an old pretty garden, Xintiandi that is former French Colony, and Jade Buddha Temple etc. 

Today is departure day, you will be transferred to Shanghai Airport to catch your flight back home, where the wonderful tour concludes.