| 13-day Yangtze
Expedition China Tour (2011)
Beijing - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise
- Yichang - Suzhou - Shanghai
Scroll down to bottom for departure dates,
prices and hotel list.
Day 1/Wed: Departing Home City
The journey begins with our transpacific flight departing the west coast
in early afternoon. Cross the
International Date Line.
Day 2/Thu: Arrival in Beijing
Meet our guide upon arrival in late afternoon and transfer to the hotel.
The balance of the day is at leisure.
Day 3/Fri: 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/Sat: 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. (B/L)
Day 5/Sun: Beijing - Chongqing
Morning sightseeing at the
Temple of Heaven.
Built for emperors to worship Heaven, the Temple of Heaven is China's
largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings occupying an
area of 273 hectares and three times the area of the Forbidden City. Late
afternoon flight to Chongqing. (B/L)
Day 6/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 the zoo (giant pandas), 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 7/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 8/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 9/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 10/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 11/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 12/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.
(B)
Day 13/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 140 yuan or $22.
(B)
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|
Dates & Prices 2011 |
|
Depart (Wed) |
Return (Mon) |
Full Package
from Vancouver
air add-ons from
other cities |
Land Package
excluding int'l airfare |
Single Supplement
applicable to travellers
without a roommate |
|
Oct 19 |
Oct 31 |
$3395 |
$2695 |
$1235 |
|
Oct 26 |
Nov 07 |
$3395 |
$2695 |
$1235 |
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|
Costs
Not Included in Tour Prices |
|
Taxes & Surcharges |
Recommended Tipping |
Chinese Visa Fee |
| Full Package |
Land Package |
| please contact
us for |
current amount |
$10/client/day |
Click
here for details |
|
China tours
since 1998 
