Shanghai China Highlight & Yangtze 12 Day Tour

Upon arrival in Shanghai, met by our English speaking tour guide and transferred to the pre-arranged hotel in Shanghai. You are at your leisure to take a good rest or explore the city for the remainer of the day.

First come to People's Square to visit Shanghai Museum. The museum has the selection of over 112,000 Chinese cultural relics from the Old Stone Age to modern times. Then walk along the Nanjing Pedestrian Road. It is regarded as the first commercial street in Shanghai. It was first built in 1851. Now Nanjing Road has turned into the number one site for shopping in the city.

Then move on to The Bund, one of the most noted architectural symbols of Shanghai. The Bund, or the waterfront,is now surrounded by about 50 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance.

After lunch, continue to visit Yu yuan Garden. Yuyuan is the famous gardens in Shanghai, Located in the center of Shanghai's Old City, one of the few remaining old tourist sites in Shanghai. Close to the gardens is Shanghai's bazaar, a great number of small streets and lanes where vendors sell their products and food stuffs to the tourists and local people.Shopping at a local silk store.

Finally visit the new development zone in Pudong - Lujiazui, which is teeming with the futuristic, avant-garde buildings - Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Building, Bank of China Tower. Taking the elevator to the 88-storey Observation Deck of Jinmao Tower to have a bird's eye view of Huangpu River.

Take the flight for Yichang. Arriving at Yichang, met and transferred to the pier. Board your plush cruise ship and begin your lifetime cruise upstream. Starts from Yichang in the evening.

Stop at Sanduoping and ascend the Jar Hill to have a bird's-eye view of the historic Three Gorges Dam. Reboard the ship and cruise through the fascinating Three Gorges 5-stage ship locks before going on through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the fabled Three Gorges.

Early this morning, cruise through the mesmerizing Wu Gorge's deep winding valley. At Wushan, transfer to a small ship for an amazing excursion boating on the Daning River (or the Shennong Stream ) to visit the mesmerizing small gorges. Come back to the cruise ship and soon pass through the fascinating grandeur of Qutang Gorge, the most awe-inspiring and the narrowest of the three.

Today's shore excursion visits the magnificent 12-story wooden pagoda known as the "Pearl of the Yangtze" in scenic Shibaozhai Town of Zhongxian County.

Alternate shore excursion may visit Fengdu or Wanzhou.

Morning sailing through the open and green countryside to Chongqing and disembark the ship. Take the flight for Xian. Arrival at Xian, met and transferred to your hotel in Xian. Free for the rest of the day.

After breakfast at hotel, have an excursion to the Terra-cotta Army - a lifetime viewing of the extraordinary 2200-year-old Terra-cotta Army of China' First Emperor-Qin Shihuang.

After lunch, drive back to the city center and visit the Xian City Wall, a symbol of great significance of the famous historic cultural city of Xian. Back to your hotel. After having the local flavor - Dumpling Dinner, enjoy Tang Dynasty Show in the evening. Back to your hotel.

After breakfast, city tour begins with a visit to the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum - a large modern museum of the national level. Then move on to the Great Mosque, the biggest and most preserved complete Chinese existent mosque. It was first built at the Tianbao first year (742 years) during Tang Dynasty.

After lunch, take afternoon flight for Beijing. Arrival in Beijing and transferred to your hotel. Free for the rest of the day.

After Breakfast at hotel, first visit Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. The move on to the Forbidden City, the complex of imperial palace, which was home to the Emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties for over 500 years.

After Chinese lunch, continue to visit the Temple of Heaven, the place where the Emperors prayed for peace and harvest. Then enjoy the tea ceremony at the Tea House.

Continue to visit , the largest imperial garden in China. The Summer Palace was a favorite haunt of the Dowager empress Cixi for her own enjoyment.