China & the Yangtze

Arrive in the capital city of Beijing, China’s longtime seat of power, where you are transferred to your luxurious hotel.

Today, participate in a privately led tai chi lesson taught by a master instructor at the Temple of Heaven, a stunning example of classical Ming period architecture. After lunch, visit history-laden Tiananmen Square before exploring the imperial grandeur of the Forbidden City. Tonight, gather for a special welcome dinner at your hotel.

Travel to the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Ride a cable car to the top of the wall to take in sweeping mountain views. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then return to the city to walk through a Hutong, an intimate neighborhood of alleyways dating to China’s dynastic period.

Fly to Xian, a modern city cloaked in over 3,000 years of history. Once the eastern terminus on the Great Silk Road, Xian has become a melting pot of Middle Eastern and Asian influences. Upon arrival, enjoy a Chef’s Table dumpling-making demonstration, followed by lunch. Visit the old city’s Muslim Quarter, with its teeming markets and beautiful Great Mosque, a 14th-century national heritage site. A blend of classic Chinese temple architecture and central Asian embellishments make it one of the most fascinating sites in Xian.

Today, accompanied by an on-site specialist, visit the excavation site of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, the life-size army created during the Qin Dynasty to protect Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, in his afterlife. More than 8,000 remarkably crafted soldiers are spread throughout three dig pits, each revealing a unique face. After lunch, stroll along the impressive ramparts of the City Wall. Tonight, gather for dinner.

Travel by bullet train to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. For lunch, enjoy a spicy Sichuan hot pot, a regional specialty. Afterward, immerse yourself in local life and culture at People’s Park, where area residents play traditional Chinese instruments, practice calligraphy and engage in tai chi. While there, learn about unique, centuries-old matchmaking techniques still in use today before checking in to your hotel, where you observe a traditional tea demonstration.

Today, visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center. Enjoy the rare opportunity to observe these endangered creatures roaming freely in their specially designed habitat. Then, board a high-speed train for a ride through the Chinese countryside to Chongqing, where you embark on your river cruiser, Yangzi Explorer II, for a three-night journey to Yichang. Settle into your cabin as the ship sets a course downstream to the stunning Three Gorges region. Tonight, attend the captain’s reception.

Start with tai chi on the deck before breakfast. Disembark in the small city of Fuling and visit the 816 Nuclear Military Plant, a massive yet unfinished Cold War era bunker. Back on board, continue your journey downstream, observing villages and farms set amid the lush mountainscape.

Early this morning, Yangzi Explorer II navigates the Qutang Gorge before docking at Wushan. Disembark and take in the scenic splendor of this rugged yet lush region on an adventure among the high peaks that surround the river. In the afternoon, continue your journey downstream, passing through the majestic Wu and Xiling Gorges. Tonight, savor a “Taste of China” dinner, followed by onboard entertainment.

This morning, disembark in Yichang and fly to Shanghai, stopping briefly to photograph the Three Gorges Dam, a project that resulted in the resettlement of 1.2 million residents of the cities submerged behind it. Upon arrival in Shanghai, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before checking into your elegant hotel, located on the city’s historic Bund.

Explore dynamic Shanghai, where stunning modern skylines meet classic street markets and gardens. Head to the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, where you are treated to a bird’s-eye view of the Huangpu River, the Bund and Shanghai’s panorama of skyscrapers. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Walk Shanghai’s Historic Jewish Quarter and learn how it became a haven for Jews fleeing Europe in World War II. Try Your Hand at Calligraphy at a class led by an expert in this venerated Chinese art. Cycle Through Pudong, exploring Shanghai’s newest district filled with gleaming skyscrapers. Then, toast your day with a relaxing Scenic Sundowner.

Today, walk along the Bund, Shanghai’s most popular promenade, and then explore the Shanghai Museum viewing exceptional collections of historically significant art and housewares. Savor lunch at a local restaurant, and later stroll the streets of Old Town and visit the 16th-century Yu Garden, with its pavilions and ponds.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to depart for home.