TOUR ITINERARY:

Day 1  Tue     Canada – Shanghai

You begin your adventure.  Depart from your hometown on carrier of your choice to Shanghai.  En-route you will cross the International Dateline.

Day 2  Wed    Arrive Shanghai

Arrive in Shanghai – China’s largest city, major seaport and important commercial centre.  Check-in to hotel.  The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Hotel: Galaxy or similar

Day 3  Thu     Shanghai

During your stay in Shanghai, see the riverfront promenade, "The Bund" – a splendid vantage point to view the colourful traffic on the Huangpu River & Pudong Development Zone.  Visit the Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Children’s Palace and Carpet Factory.  After dinner, enjoy an Acrobatic Show.  (B/L/D)

Day 4  Fri       Shanghai – Zhujiajiao – Shanghai

This morning, take an excursion to Zhujiajiao, a river-town near Shanghai.  Return to Shanghai and visit the Shanghai Museum.  (B/L)

Day 5  Sat      Shanghai – Yichang … Yangtze River Cruise

Today, you will fly from Shanghai to Yichang, the embarkation point of the Yangtze River Cruise.  You will take a short city tour in Yichang. Then, embark on the 5-star cruise ship MV Splendid China, your home for the next 4 nights. (B/L/D)

Cruise: MV Splendid China

Day 6  Sun    Yangtze River Cruise

Set sail at 8:00 am, after breakfast, you will take a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Construction Site, the world’s largest and most powerful hydroelectric dam.  Towering 610 feet high and stretching 1.3 miles wide, the dam will create a reservoir that extends nearly 400 miles upstream.  With swells of national pride, some Chinese call this dam the modern Great Wall.  Return to ship for lunch and you will pass through the 5-step ship lock that takes approx. 3 hours.  This afternoon, you will pass through the first gorge – Xiling Gorge, the largest and previously the most hazardous, along the magnificent gorge.  This evening, enjoy a Captain’s Welcome party followed by a Talent Show.   (B/L/D)

Day 7  Mon    Yangtze River Cruise

Early morning Tai Chi (Shadow boxing) exercise, then after breakfast, you will take a shore excursion to Shennong Stream.  You will be transferred to a pea-boat drifting rapidly on a breathtaking ride.  During the journey, you may see the ancient roads, the ancient coffins in the precipice, and even some rare animals such as golden-haired monkeys.  Enjoy the wonderful scene of deep and quiet gorges, the magnificent peaks as if they are cut by axes and knives.  Return to ship for lunch before passing the second gorge – Wu Gorge, known for its odd misty rock formations and soaring mountain backdrop.  This evening, you will pass through the third gorge – Qutang Gorge, the shortest but by far the most dramatic of the Yangtze’s Three Gorges with steep cliffs and fascinating oddities surrounding you. (B/L/D)

Day 8  Tue     Yangtze River Cruise

Today, you will take a shore excursion of Fengdu - City of Ghosts on the Ming Hill, which is 170 km far from the east of Chongqing with a history of 1,900 years. It was the legendary capital of The Ghost King, which is a sculptured statue with 138 meter high and 217 meter wide. Its tongue is 81 meters long and mouth is 70 meters wide. Mythical pictures are carved on the mountain for a depth of 26 meters. Guinness World Records has listed it as the biggest sculpture carved on a rock. Ghost State by Daoists.  (B/L/D)

Day 9  Wed    Arrive Chongqing – Xi’an

Arrive in Chongqing and disembark the Yangtze Cruise.  In Chongqing, visit the Zoo and Giant Pandas before fly to Xi’an.  (B/L)

Hotel: Aurum Internationl or similar

Day 10 Thu     Xi’an

A full day excursion takes you to one of the most exciting archaeological finds in recent years – the unearthing of more than 6,000 Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses.  These figures guard the tomb of Emperor Qin and are buried in the huge pit covering more than three acres. Then, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, brick-tower architecture boasted a five-storey structure about 60 meters high. Afterwards, you will visit the Ceramics & Pottery Center.  Tonight, enjoy a Dumpling Dinner followed by a delightful Tang Dynasty Show. (B/L/SD)

Day 11  Fri       Xi’an – Beijing

This morning, you will fly to Beijing.  Upon arrival, visit the Summer Palace, where presents a breathtaking arrangement of lake, landscape, pagodas and pavilions, a fine example of Chinese gardening art. You will enjoy Peking Opera.  (B)

Hotel: Grand Chang An or similar

Day 12   Sat      Beijing

Today, you will visit the Tian’anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world with the capacity of 1 million people.  Forbidden City, located in the centre of Beijing, it is the largest existing, best-preserved imperial palace in the world today covering a total area of 720,000 square meters.  Then visit the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of 15^th Century architecture inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritages List. (B/L/D)

Day 13   Sun    Beijing

Following breakfast, you will drive to the Badaling section of Great Wall, the world’s greatest man-made structure winding dragon-like across Northern China and praised as a “Wonder of the World”.  This is the only earthly evidence of man visible from the moon.  Next, visit the Changling of Ming Tombs, one of the Ming Tombs.  Then you will visit the Sacred Way – a boulevard lined with sculpture stone animals. Afterwards, visit a Jade stone carving factory enroute.  Tonight, you will enjoy a Peking duck Farewell Dinner with Cultural Show. (B/L/SD)

Day 14     Mon    Beijing – Homeward bound