DAY TO DAY ITINERARY FOR YANGTZE EXPERIENCE 2007
SHANGHAI/YANGTZE CRUISE/XIAN/BEIJING

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Yu Garden

Yu Garden, a classical garden in downtown Shanghai, boasts a history over 400 years. Each pavilion, hall, stone and stream in the garden is expressing the quintessence of South China landscape design from Ming and Qing Dynasty. Over forty spots, divided by dragon walls, wound corridors and beautiful flowers, form an unique picture featuring “one step, one beauty; every step, every beauty.”
It's reputed to be the most beautiful garden south of the Yangtze River. Built beside the Temple of the City God and covering only fives acres, it follows the Suzhou garden design of a world in microcosm, with 30 pavilions linked by corridors, artificial hills, bridges over lotus pools, groves of bamboo and walls occupied by stone dragons. The surrounding bazaar is packed with traditional and modern shops, restaurants and temples.

The Bund

The Bund is the birthplace of Shanghai. Cruise boats meander eastward along the golden   waterway to the intriguing "three-layer waters" at the Wusong Mouth.The Bund is the most famous sightseeing spot in Shanghai. The Waibaidu Bridge, the long embankment along the Hungpu River, and the imposing array of tall buildings known as "an international exhibition" together from a symbol of the East. The Bund has always been closely linked with the development of Shanghai.

Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Museum is situated at the southern side of the People's Square. Total construction space is 38,000 square meters. The museum structure, 29.5 meters in height, includes five floors aboveground and two floors underground. Total investment of the museum is 432.69 million yuan. The museum opened to visitors at the end of 1995. The design of the museum, a square foundation supporting a circular roof, incorporates ancient Chinese philosophy that the sky is round and the earth is square. The museum has 10 showrooms featuring bronze wares, ceramics, ancient Chinese paintings, calligraphy works, sculptures, seals, coins, jade wares, furniture and handicrafts of Chinese minorities. The museum now collects some 120,000 pieces of precious antiques, accounting for almost half of the total such collections in the country. The museum is highly acclaimed internationally.
Dim Sum lunch at local restaurant

CLICK HERE to register by FAX.

Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road, China's premier shopping street, 3.4-mile-long Nanjing Road, starts at the Bund in the east and ends in the west at the junction of Jingan Temple and Yan'an West Street. Today Nanjing Road is a must-see metropolitan destination attracting thousands of fashion-seeking shoppers from all over the world. Over 600 businesses on Nanjing road offer countless famous brands, superior quality, and new fashions. Many food vendors line both sides of the street. Upscale stores include Tiffany, Mont Blanc, and Dunhill. In addition, approximately a hundred traditional stores and specialty shops still provide choice silk goods, jade, embroidery, wool, and clocks.

Silk workshop

Textiles have a very long history in China, as garments, currency, tax goods, and commodities. Chinese domesticated silkworms no later than 3,000 BCE, but archaeologists have discovered cocoons at Neolithic sites. The ancient Chinese also wove ramie and hemp, which were worn by the common people. Nowadays, silk production is still one of the important parts of the people’s life.

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Day 4 SHANGHAI/YICHANG  (B/-/D)  
Breakfast at hotel
Free time until transfer to the airport for the flight to Yichang. 
It’s interesting to walk and enjoy the city on your own. You may find some local people want to practice English with you.
Lunch on own
Dinner at local restaurant.

Boarding MV Orient East Queen (22:00pm)
www.royalcruise.com
No trip to China is complete without an adventure to the world-famous, spellbinding Yangtze River and its Three Gorges.

East-Queen, China's only five-star deluxe cruisers awarded by National Tourism Administration in year 1997and renovated in early 2004 and 2006, now dubbed as the most expensive “facelift” in Yangtze River Cruise history.

Business leaders like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Gerald Levin, among the few, are all one in choosing this cruise for their memorable journey to these unique wonders.

Day 5 YANGTZE CRUISE (B/L/D) 
All meals on board.

Embarkation & Departing Yichang Pier 08:00 09:15
Passing Xiling Gorge - East Part 09:30 10:30

Xiling Gorge is famous for its strangely-shaped cliff faces and rock formations which have earned such names as Ox Liver, Horse Lungs, Yellow Cat and Precious Sword. The largest of the Three Gorges, it also used to be the most perilous part of the river journey, before its large river rocks were removed in 1950's. Now it is merely exciting, offering the "mountains beyond mountains" scenery of classic China.

Passing Xiling Gorge - East Part 09:30 10:30

Xiling Gorge is famous for its strangely-shaped cliff faces and rock formations which have earned such names as Ox Liver, Horse Lungs, Yellow Cat and Precious Sword. The largest of the Three Gorges, it also used to be the most perilous part of the river journey, before its large river rocks were removed in 1950's. Now it is merely exciting, offering the "mountains beyond mountains" scenery of classic China.

Arrive Yangjiawan Pier 11:00  

Yangjiawan ("Yang Family Bay") is a mini port exclusively for cruise ships to visit the Three Gorges Project (TGP). Opened in 1997 after the first daming, the port is located at the north bank of the Yangtze River, connected to the south bank by the graceful Xiling Bridge. It is around 30 milse or 40 minutes away to the Yichang port in the center of the city. It is only 5 minutes to drive to the Tanziling (Jar Ridge), on top of the mountain overlooking the whole project.

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Three Gorges Dam Project - Shore Excursion 14:00 17:00

One of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the world, the Three Gorges Project will forever change the face of the Yangtze River as we know today. Possessing comprehensive utilization benefits mainly for flood control, power generation and navigation improvement. It will be a vital important and backbone project in harnessing and developing of the Yangtze River.

The Dam site is situated in Sandouping of Yichang City, Hubei Province, 38km upstream from the Gezhouba Dam Lock. The project is designed to be built in three phases and is scheduled for completion in year 2009. Measures have been taken to preserve and move the historical and cultural relics found along its banks; however many scenic spots will be adversely affected. Unfortunately, the most dramatic section of the river, what we refer to as "the heart of the Yangtze"-the area from the Three Gorges all the way upstream to Chongqing-will eventually be drowned by the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, an integral part of the Three Gorges Project. We will only be able to experience the original wonders of the Three Gorges by boat until 2007, when water will cover forever the sights we cherish today.

Passing Three Gorges Dam 5-stage Shiplocks 18:00

Day 6  YANGTZE CRUISE   (B/L/D) 
All meals on board.

Passing Xiling Gorge - West Part 07:00 08:00

Shennong Stream - Shore Excursion 10:00 13:00

Shennong Stream starts at Mt. Shennong Jia in Hubei Province north of the Yangtze. It comprises of Parrot Gorge and Dragon Boat Gorge with breathtaking scenery. Sailing through the treacherous gorges with lush pine and translucent water, visitors can see spectacular sights like ancient plank roads, ancient cave coffins, aqueous caves, rainbow fountain and rare animals like macaques and mandarin ducks. It is also perfect to experience the culture of Tujia nationality.

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Passing Wu Gorge 13:30 16:00

Passing through wondrous Wu Gorge, home of the twelve peaks of the Wu Mountains, experience a meandering landscape of dazzling peaks and rocks, forming a whimsical gallery of natural beauty. Shennong Stream is located in this gorge.

Passing Qutang Gorge 17:00 17:40

Qutang Gorge finds the river carving its way between sheer precipices of overhanging mountains on both sides. It is the shortest, narrowest and rockiest of the three gorges. Qutang Gorge is abundant with historical relics and cultural heritage and is home to one of the earliest human cultures ever discovered in Asia. Here one can see the original site of the famous Fenbi Wall, the ruins of ancient cliff roads and the Mengliang Steps before the expected high water levels causes by the Three Gorges Project forces the government to move them to higher ground.

Day 7 YANGTZE CRUISE (B/L/D) 
All meals on board.

Wanzhou - Shore Excursion 08:00 10:00

"Wanzhou" literally means "myriad-prefecture", where "a myriad rivers converge and a myriad traders gather". It was a city on its own right until 1997, when it was agglomerated with Chongqing. Due to the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, 47% of Wanzhou's old urban area will be underwater by the time the reservoir is filled. Buildings in the submerged area have been torn down and new ones rebuilt on higher ground.

Day 8 CHONGQING/XIAN   (B/L/)  

Breakfast on board.

On arrival Chongqing in the morning and disembark 09:00am

A short private day tour, visit:

Chongqing Zoo

In Chongqing Zoo, there are more than ten enclosures for pandas, elephants, birds, monkeys, tigers and lions etc. It has now over 150 species of animals on display. The Panda house consists of 3 enclosed meadows where about 10 pandas live. On a fine day, one may see pandas sitting deep in through, or eating bamboo leaves slowly, staggering or lying on the grass at ease. Watching these funny clumsy pandas, one can’t help laughing a healthy laugh. Indeed it is an interesting sight and a lovely scene for taking pictures

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General Stillwell Museum
Joseph W. Stilwell was a famous American 4-star General during World Wall II. Joseph W. Stilwell first came in 1911, since then he had returned several times. In 1912, when the Chinese people were in the most difficult condition during the Anti-Japanese War Gen. Stilwell, then later 60, was entrusted by the U.S. President Roosevelt to come to China for the fifth time. Stilwell lived and working in Chongqing and served the U.S.

Transfer to airport for a flight to Xian. Arrive Xian. Meet & transfer to Sofitel Xian or similar.

Special lunch of Sichuanese Cuisine. Dinner on own.  We suggest you enjoy a light dinner at hotel.

Accommodation at Sofitel Xian (5 stars) or similar for 2 nights

CLICK HERE to register by FAX.

Day 9 XIAN (B/L/D) 
Breakfast at hotel
Full day private tour, visit:                    

Terra Cotta Warriors

This is the reason most visitors come to Xi'an, and unlike many big sights in China, it does not disappoint. Amazingly, the warriors are just one piece of Qín Shi Huáng's attempt to reconstruct his empire for the afterlife. The tomb to the west is still to be fully excavated, and is said to include a full reconstruction of the ancient capital, complete with rivers and lakes of mercury. According to historian Sima Qian, over 700,000 workers were drafted for the project, and those involved in the construction of the tomb were rewarded with graves beside their emperor. Tourism officials pray that the warriors are "just the tip of the iceberg," but it is just as likely that the tomb was plundered during the Táng or Sòng dynasties.

City Wall

The Xi'an City Wall is not only the most complete city wall that has survived in China, but it's also one of the largest and most complete ancient military systems of defense in the world. The city walls here were actually built on the fortifications of the Tang Forbidden City. The military defense facilities here including the city wall, city moat, drawbridges, watchtowers, corner towers, parapet walls and gate towers once made up a complete city defense system. Many sections have since been destroyed and the city walls are incomplete. The 14 km of wall does not stretch around the entire city. You can get up on the walls at the east of the railway station and at the south gate adjacent to the provincial museum.
 

Lunch at local restaurant. 

Pottery workshop

Make a pottery warrior at a workshop would give you an impressive experience to learn how a warrior is made.

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Tang Dynasty Dinner Show

The Tang dynasty (618-907 A. D.) was the height of China's development in music and dance which have been very influential for both China and Japan. Elegance and dignity are at the core of Tang dynasty dance.

People now compose the dance by sorting out historical data and then put it on at the Tang Music Palace. The musicians present the music with the Tang-dynasty-style musical instruments and the dancers wear a Tang dynasty-style robe with long white silk sleeves. The most famous item is the Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat Dance. Accompanied with dinner, you will enjoy a national art that reflects the glory and richness of the Tang Dynasty era.

Day 10  XIAN/BEIJING (B/L)    

Breakfast at hotel

Morning flight to Beijing. Arrive Beijing. Meet & transfer to Beijing China World Hotel.

Rest of day at leisure.  
You can explore the city by walking in the downtown shopping area or join the optional Summer Palace and Lama Temple.

Tonight join the optional Peking duck dinner with Opera show.  

Accommodation at Beijing China World Hotel (5 stars) or similar for 3 nights, centrally located at Beijing.

Day 11 BEIJING  (B/L/D) 

Breakfast at hotel.

An exciting Great Wall climbing will let you see one of the most astonishing feats of human endeavor, which is the only man-made object visible from the moon. Construction of the Great Wall began in the seventh century BC and was extended in the following dynasties.  Today we will hike on the Great Wall Ju Rong Guan Section

Jade Carving Workshop.

Jade has a history in China of at least four thousands years. Unknown to some, jade is found contained within the development of religion and civilization, having moved from the use of decoration on to the others such as the rites of worship and burial. Although other materials like gold, silver and bronze were also used, none of these have ever exceeded the spiritual position that jade has acquired in peoples' minds .  Jade carving is  a piece of art which is fascinating to

see.

Hutong

A really unforgettable experience!  Roaming through Beijing's old, narrow streets - hutongs, by old fashioned rickshaw to visit 'siheyuan', the old quadrangles,.  Visit a local family and chat about the daily life of the Chinese family.

Lunch at local restaurant. Western dinner at local restaurant

Day 12 BEIJING (B/L/D) 

Breakfast at hotel

Full day, private city tour, visit:

Join the local to do the morning exercise at the park.  Following by tour the Temple of Heaven.

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Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is a worthwhile visiting place in Beijing. It is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace with an area of about 2,700,000 square meters. The Temple was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. As Chinese emperors called themselves "The Son of Heaven" ,they dared not to build their own dwelling,” Forbidden City" bigger than a dwelling for Heaven.

Tian’anmen Square 

The square, located in the heart of modern Beijing, covers 44 hectares Reputed as the largest square in the world, it can hold 500,000 people. The founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China was held here on October 1, 1949, which climaxed with 1 million people gathering to hear the late Chairman Mao Zedong proclaim the birth of New China.

Forbidden City 

The Forbidden City, also known as The Imperial Palace, is a maze of palaces built between 1417 and 1420 as the residence of the emperor.  It has 9,000 halls and rooms, containing many precious relics.  It is the largest palace in the world and one of the mankind’s major cultural legacies.

You will also learn about the traditional Tea Ceremony and have a sip of fresh brewed Chinese Tea. 

Special Noodle Lunch.

Special Farewell dinner at local restaurant with taste of Chinese wine.  The best way to Say Good by to China.

Day 13              DEPART BEIJING/USA                                      (B)   

Breakfast at hotel

Free for shopping until transfer to the airport. 

Transfer to airport for the int’l flight to home.

Listen to interviews and recommendations
regarding this trip on TravelTalkRADIO. Click HERE

----------------------------------------------------------------- BON VOYAGE ---------------------------------------------------------------

TOUR COST

Depart from San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco
September 13- 25 , September 27 – October 9, Oct 11-23, October 25-Nov 5, 2007
$2988 + tax per person on twin sharing     $ 892 single supplement
Tax and airlines fuel surcharge to be confirmed at time of issue the ticket

CLICK HERE to register by FAX.

SERVICE INCLUDED                                       

Shanghai (2 Nights) at Le Royal Meridien Hotel (5 stars)

Address:     789 Nanijing Road East Shanghai, 200001, China
Tel:            (86 21) 6361 6688
Fax:           (86 21) 6361 3388
URL:          www.lemeridien.com/shanghai

Yangtze Cruise (4 Nights)
Yangtze East Queen

Xian (2 Nights) at Sofitel on Renmin Square Xian (5 stars)

Address:    319 Dongxin Street, Shaanxi,
Xian, 710004 China
Tel:           (86 29) 8792 8228
Fax:          (86 29) 8792 8999
URL:         http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/mer/5974/fiche_hotel.shtml

Beijing (3 Nights) at China World Hotel (5 stars)

Address:    No. 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue,
Beijing 100004, China
Tel:           (86 10) 6505 2266
Fax:          (86 10) 6505 0828
URL:         http://www.shangri-la.com/beijing/chinaworld/en/

• China visa fee

• Gratuity for escort, local guide, driver and cruise staff. 

• Personal expenses and extra baggage

• U S departure tax and fuel surcharge

• Travel Insurance

• Any expenses due to daily or changes of schedule, over booking of accommodations, default of any third parties, sickness, weather, strike, acts of God, acts of terrorism, force majeure, acts of government disturbances, war, quarantine, customs regulations, epidemics, criminal activity or for any other cause beyond Asia Getaway’s control

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