Scroll down for departure dates, prices and hotel list.

Day 1/Fri: Departing Home City
The journey begins with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. We lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2/Sat: Arrival in Beijing
Meet our guide on arrival in late afternoon and transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure.

Day 3/Sun: Beijing
Beijing, capital of China, is the country's second largest city in terms of population. Following a brief orientation we visit Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City and an old hutong - alleyway flanked with traditional residential courtyards. Welcome dinner features delicious Beijing roast duck, a local delicacy. (B/L/D)

Day 4/Mon: Beijing
Morning visit to the Temple of Heaven. Situated in southeastern Beijing the Temple of Heaven is China's largest extant sacrificial temple where, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the emperors conducted the elaborate and most exalted sacrifices addressed to "the Supreme Ruler of the Universe." Construction of the temple started in 1406, during the reign of the Ming Emperor Yongle, and took 14 years to complete. The temple was expanded under the Qing emperors Qianlong (1736-1796) and Jiaqing (1796-1820). Occupying 2,668 hectares (6,670 acres), the area of the Temple of Heaven is more than twice that of the Forbidden City.

Afternoon sightseeing at the majestic Summer Palace, a royal resort during the Qing Dynasty. We wrap up the day with a tour of Jingshan Park behind the Forbidden City. The evening Peking Opera show is optional if available. (B/L)

Day 5/Tue: Beijing
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall, 70km northeast of the city. Zigzagging over 6,000 kilometres from east to west along the undulating mountains, the Great Wall, said to be visible from the moon, was built to hold off tribal invaders from the north. On the way back to the city in the afternoon we stop by at the Spirit Way at Ming Tombs. The Spirit Way, serving as the entrance to the Ming Tombs, is lined with statues of guardian animals and officials. We spend the night at a small hotel beside the Great Wall. (B/L/D)

Day 6/Wed: Beijing - Xi'an
A second visit to the Great Wall at a different location early in the morning ensures there are few tourists around while you bask in the glorious sunrise on the mighty Great Wall. We fly to Xi'an after lunch and tour the ancient City Wall on arrival. (B/L)

Day 7/Thu: Xi’an
Eastern terminus of the fabled Silk Road and one of the ancient capitals of China, Xi'an is home to the Terracotta Army designed to follow the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) into eternity. Visit the excavation site of the Terracotta Army located 30km east of the city. Afternoon sightseeing at Shaanxi Provincial Museum. The modern, well-organized museum was completed in 1992 and traces the history of Xi'an from prehistory to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The extensive galleries and exhibitions offer the visitor an excellent introduction to the area that greatly improves understanding of the numerous historical sites in and around the city. Tonight we enjoy a spectacular music and dance show reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), a period generally considered a golden era of the Chinese civilization. (B/L/D)

Day 8/Fri: Xi'an - Guilin
Today's schedule takes in the Grand Mosque and the adjacent Muslim Quarter  Afternoon flight to Guilin. A medium-sized city by Chinese standard, the city has long been renowned for its unique scenery. The name Guilin literally means "forest of sweet osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees in the city. We visit the Elephant Trunk Hill Park after hotel check-in. (B/L)

Day 9/Sat: Guilin - Yangshuo
Day cruise on Li River. The 83km stretch of the river between Guilin and Yangshuo affords breathtaking scenery as the river snakes through tall karst mountains, gigantic bamboo sprays, and picturesque villages -- sights that have inspired countless poets and painters for generations. Disembark in Yangshuo and transfer to a local 4-star hotel for the night. For evening entertainment we recommend the nightly show Impression Liu Sanjie - a light and sound spectacle directed by China's most renowned film director Zhang Yimou. (B/L)

Day 10/Sun: Yangshuo - Guilin - Chengdu
Free morning to explore on your own. You may spend the morning browsing the numerous shops fronting popular West Street or pedaling into the countryside on rented bicycle to take in the mesmerizing scenery. An optional excursion to Moon Hill and surrounding villages can be arranged on request.  We drive back to Guilin later in the day and tour the scenic Fubo Hill before flying to Chengdu. (B/D)

Day 11/Mon: Chengdu
Tour of the Giant Panda Breeding Centre is followed by a visit to the museum built on the archaeological site of Sanxingdui Culture (Bronze Age). First chanced upon by a farmer in 1929, Sanxingdui, 40km west of Chengdu, continued to surprise the archaeological community in the decades to come. In 1986, two major sacrificial pits were discovered and the breakthrough aroused widespread academic attention from around the world. The Sanxingdui finds are exciting, but they remain enigmatic. So far no written records of this 5,000-year-old civilization have been found. (B/L)

Day 12/Tue: Chengdu - Lijiang
Morning schedule includes Wangjianglou (river view) Park and a traditional tea house. Fly to Lijiang in late afternoon. Lijiang is home to the ethnic Naxi people whose intriguing Dongba religion and unique customs coupled with the region's enchanting scenery combine to make Lijiang and its vicinity a fascinating place to explore. The old town known as Dayan is protected as a UNESCO-designated World Cultural Heritage Site. (B/L)

Day 13/Wed: Lijiang
A walking tour of the old town is followed by an excursion to Yunshanping or Spruce Meadow, an alpine pasture surrounded by virgin forests at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. En route we stop by an ancient village. The evening concert of classical Naxi music is optional if available. (B/L)

Day 14/Thu: Lijiang - Dali
Free morning to explore the old town on your own. Following lunch on our own, we travel to Dali (190km) by first-class motor coach through mesmerizing high mountains. Once the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom, Dali is a charming town built on the shores of Erhai Lake, with a large population of the ethnic Bai nationality. Dali is also famous for the many types of marble it produces, which are used primarily in construction and for decorative objects. In fact, Dali is so famous for the stone that the name of marble in Chinese is literally "Dali Stone". (B/D)

Day 15/Fri: Dali
Today's schedule features the Old Town of Dali, the Three Pagodas and a short cruise on Erhai. The Three Pagodas are made of brick and covered with white mud. As its name implies, the Three Pagodas comprise three independent pagodas forming a symmetric triangle. The elegant, balanced and stately style is unique in China’s ancient Buddhist architectures, which makes it a must-see for any visitor to Dali. The Three Pagodas, visible from miles away, has been a landmark of Dali City and selected as a national treasure meriting special protection by the Central Government. (B/L)

Day 16/Sat: Dali - Kunming
The morning flight to Kunming takes less than 40 minutes. Capital of Yunnan Province, Kunming is widely known as the "city of eternal spring" due to its temperate climate year-round. Our sightseeing in Kunming includes the historic Western Hill Scenic Area, Bamboo Temple, and a flower market. (B/L)

Day 17/Sun: Kunming - Chongqing
Enjoy an excursion to Stone Forest. Located 126km southeast of Kunming, the Stone Forest is a massive collection of gray limestone pillars created by water erosion. The tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking like trees made of stone. Evening flight to Chongqing. (B/L)

Day 18/Mon: Chongqing
Chongqing is one of the People's Republic of China's four provincial-level municipalities, and the only such municipality in western China. The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the sub-provincial city administration that was part of Sichuan Province. The municipality of Chongqing has a population of 32 million and administers an area of over 80, 000 square kilometres. Chongqing served as China's provisional capital in the 1940's during World War II after the Kuomintang Government lost Nanjing (Nanking) to the Japanese invaders.

Enjoy some free time in the morning. Sightseeing in Chongqing takes in People's Square, Three Gorges Museum, and General Joseph Stilwell’s former residence - location of the US Forces’ headquarters in China during World War II. After dinner we board the Yangtze cruise ship to start our 3-day downstream journey. (B/L/D)

Day 19/Tue: Yangtze Cruise
At 6,380km the Yangtze is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon. The most impressive section of the Yangtze is the Three Gorges. Today’s shore excursion features Shibaozhai or Stone Treasure Fortress, an ancient wooden pagoda built against rock cliffs facing the Yangtze. (B/L/D)

Day 20/Wed: Yangtze Cruise
Admire nature’s grandeur while sailing through spectacular Wu Gorge (44km) and Qutang Gorge (8km) later today. Later this morning we navigate Shennong Stream on a small vessel. Originating in the southern slopes of Shennongjia Nature Reserve, the crystal clear river twists and turns 60 kilometres through forested mountains before emptying into the mighty Yangtze.  (B/L/D)

Day 21/Thu: Yichang - Suzhou
Morning visit to the site of the Three Gorges Dam. Construction of the dam started on December 14, 1994. It was expected to be fully operational in 2009. Due to additional projects such as the underground power plant with six additional generators, the dam is not expected to become fully operational until 2011. The dam raised the water level the third time to 172.5 metres by the end of 2008. The Chinese government estimated the cost of the construction to be $27 billion while some Chinese scholars and international organizations estimated the actual cost could be as high as over $80 billion. The project upon completion will become the largest hydroelectric dam in the world with a reservoir stretching hundreds of kilometres upstream. We disembark in Yichang around noon and fly to Shanghai where we transfer to Suzhou (85km) immediately on arrival. (B/L/D)

Day 22/Fri: Suzhou
The 25-century-old city is best known for its traditional Chinese gardens, silk industry and well-preserved Grand Canal. Our schedule today includes Master-of-Nets Garden, a short cruise on the Grand Canal, the Silk Embroidery Research Institute, a silk spinning mill, and the newly built Suzhou Museum - another masterpiece designed by world-renowned American architect I. M. Pei. (B/L)

Day 23/Sat: Suzhou - Shanghai
Drive to Shanghai (85km) after breakfast. Paris of China, Pearl of the Orient, city of quick riches, paradise of the adventurers - those were some of the names by which Shanghai was known before the Communists took it over from the Nationalist Government in 1949. Like the rest of the country Shanghai is currently undergoing one of the fastest economic expansions the world has ever seen, having experienced 19% GDP growth per year for the past 20 years. Our sightseeing in Shanghai begins with a stroll on the Bund - a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style, followed by Shanghai Museum and Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. Evening entertainment is a dazzling acrobatic show. (B/L/D)

Day 24/Sun: Shanghai
Today is a free day. Exploring China's most dynamic city on your own has never been easier. Our recommended list includes Jinmao Tower, a ride aboard the world's only commercially run Maglev train, and the popular evening cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy the city's spectacular neon-lit skyline. Farewell dinner features tasty Shanghai cuisine. (B/D)

Day 25/Mon: Shanghai - Home City
Free morning to pack and relax. Transfer to the airport by taxi to board return flight and arrive home the same day after crossing the International Date Line. The taxi fare from our hotel to Shanghai Pudong Internatioanl Airport costs about 150 yuan or $23. (B)

Back to top / or click here for more China Panorama Tour photos

Hotels & yantze Cruise Ship
City	No. of Nights	Hotel/Ship	Star Rating
Beijing	4*	The Great Wall Sheraton Beijing*	*
Xi'an	2	Sheraton Xi'an
Guilin	1	Sheraton Guilin
Yangshuo	1	Green Lotus Hotel
Chengdu	2	Jinjiang Hotel
Lijiang	2	Guanfang Hotel
Dali	2	Dali Regent Hotel
Kunming	1	Bank Hotel
Chongqing	1	Hilton Chongqing
Yangtze Cruise	3	Victoria Cruises
Suzhou	2	Pan Pacific Suzhou
Shanghai	2	Sheraton Shanghai Pudong
* including one night at a small 2-star guesthouse by the Great Wall. All rooms are clean, air conditioned and equipped with private bath. Please note that despite the official rating the hotels in Yangshuo and Dali may not appear to be in the same league as the five-star hotels in the big cities. It's important to adjust your expectations accordingly.

Back to top

Back to top