Destinations: Beijing, Great Wall of China, Xi'an, Yichang, Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze River Delta, F...
Destinations: Guilin, Shanghai
Journey through historic cities, towering karsts and modern metropolises to unearth the secrets of bygone eras on this captivating tour of China’s most spectacular sites. Begin your adventure in Beijing, where Tiananmen Square and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Forbidden City reveal centuries of imperial history.
Walk along the legendary Great Wall of China, surrounded by rugged mountain landscapes, and stand before Xi’an’s Terracotta Army, frozen in time. Glide through the breathtaking Three Gorges on a tranquil Yangtze River cruise, and uncover local traditions as you pass the unique hanging coffins of the Shennong Stream.
Navigate the breathtaking expanse in complete comfort with all-inclusive meals and onboard entertainment as you cruise. With high-speed train journeys connecting Beijing and Xi’an and expert, English-speaking local guides providing insight throughout your journey, no stone will be left unturned as you experience the best of diverse China.
Destinations: Beijing, Great Wall of China, Xi'an, Yichang, Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze River Delta, F...
Destinations: Guilin, Shanghai
Ni hao, and welcome to sprawling Beijing! Your adventure begins in China’s captivating capital, home to over 20 million people and millennia of fascinating history.
Upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), make your own way to your city accommodation for check-in. After settling in, you’ll have the evening free to relax or explore the local surroundings at your own pace.
Arrival & Transfers:
Please book your flights to arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at any time. Airport transfers are not included in your tour. The hotel is located approximately a 30-minute drive from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Check-in on Day 1 is at 2pm.
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby after breakfast to begin your Beijing exploration. Your day begins with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square, measuring 440,000sqm. Here, you’ll see the monumental Tiananmen Gate, the Great Hall of the People, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. This area has witnessed numerous historical events, including the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
Next, explore the Forbidden City, a vast UNESCO World Heritage-listed complex covering approximately 180 acres with nearly 1,000 buildings. This former imperial palace, which served 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties, features the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Imperial Garden. Discover the rich historical narratives behind its ornate architecture and ancient treasures.
Later, sit down for a traditional Chinese lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon is yours to enjoy as you wish. Perhaps you may like to join an optional theatrical performance, telling the story of a queen of the mythical Golden Mask Dynasty.
Optional Activities:
Begin with a visit to a traditional jade workshop, where you’ll witness artisans carving intricate designs into jade, a stone revered in Chinese culture for its beauty and symbolic meaning. Jade carving dates back over 5,000 years and holds deep cultural significance in China.
Then, venture to the Great Wall at the Juyongguan pass. This segment offers a less crowded experience compared to other areas, with panoramic views of rolling mountains and rugged terrain. Walk along the ancient wall, built to protect against invasions and showcasing various architectural styles from different dynasties.
After a traditional Chinese lunch, spend your afternoon at leisure exploring Beijing as you wish. Consider an optional tour of Oldtown Hutong for a glimpse into traditional life, or simply enjoy the city’s vibrant street life.
Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours
Optional Activities:
Start with a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple complex, used by emperors for annual ceremonies to ensure bountiful harvests, features intricate wooden carvings and a unique layout based on ancient cosmological beliefs.
Proceed to a traditional Chinese health centre where you’ll learn about acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other wellness practices integral to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Enjoy a hearty lunch at a local restaurant, then board a high-speed train to Xi’an. This train journey covers over 1,200km in a few hours, offering the perfect glimpse into the diversity of China’s landscapes.
Upon arrival in Xi’an, explore Muslim Street. This bustling market area is famous for its diverse food stalls, including local specialties like lamb skewers and hand-pulled noodles, as well as traditional crafts and souvenirs.
Check-in to your hotel later this evening, where you can spend the rest of your day relaxing or head out to explore Xi’an at your own pace.
Travel time: High-speed train – approx. five hours
After a satiating breakfast, start your day at a Terracotta Warriors replica workshop, where you’ll see artisans creating replicas of the famous Terracotta Army. The workshop provides insight into the techniques used to produce these lifelike figures, which were originally buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
Then visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum, where you can see thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots arranged in battle formation. These figures, discovered in 1974, date back to the 3rd century BC and were buried to accompany the emperor in the afterlife.
After lunch at a local restaurant, spend your afternoon exploring Xi’an at your leisure. You may wish to join an optional tour of the Grand Tang Mall this afternoon, a vibrant complex of lights and performance.
Optional Activities:
Begin today’s activities with a visit to the Little Wild Goose Pagoda, a serene Buddhist site built during the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda, a relic of ancient Chinese architecture, offers peaceful gardens and views over the city.
Enjoy a satiating lunch at a local restaurant before being transferred to the airport for your flight to Yichang. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to the port to embark on your Yangtze River cruise. Settle into your cabin onboard and set out to explore the ship’s amenities as your river journey begins.
Travel time: Flight – approx. 1.5 hours
Enjoy a delicious breakfast onboard as you sail through the Yangtze River to the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydropower project. This colossal structure measures 2,335m long and 185m high, playing a crucial role in flood control, power generation, and river navigation. Visit the observation deck for sweeping views of the dam and its engineering feats. You may like to witness the impressive ship lift mechanism, elevating vessels over 100m (surcharges apply).
Continue cruising through the Three Gorges, known for their dramatic landscapes of steep cliffs and lush hillsides. Choose to disembark for a taste of local life and explore small wooden houses during a village tour (surcharges apply). Enjoy a delicious lunch onboard, then relax as you take in the scenic beauty from the deck.
In the evening, join the Captain’s Welcome Party for an energetic introduction to the cruise’s crew, complete with live entertainment.
Optional Activities:
Begin with a breakfast onboard accompanied by tranquil views of the river. Then, disembark for a smaller traditional boat for an excursion along Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze River. Navigate through narrow gorges flanked by towering cliffs and lush vegetation, listening to the stories of the Tuija people who have inhabited the area for centuries. Unique hanging coffins lie along the hillside, a traditional funeral custom dating back thousands of years.
Return to the cruise ship and continue sailing through the Yangtze’s Wu Gorge, renowned for its breathtaking deep valleys and stunning peaks.
After lunch, choose to join an optional shore excursion or simply enjoy leisurely life onboard.
Optional Activities:
Enjoy another tranquil start to the day onboard, taking in the morning views of the river. Then, disembark to visit the Xiaoguanshan Ancient Folk Culture Park, where you’ll explore traditional architecture, crafts, and cultural performances that showcase local customs and heritage.
After returning to the ship for lunch, spend your afternoon enjoying the onboard amenities such as the tranquil spa, or if you’re feeling adventurous, take a guided tour of the Fengdu Ghost City, steeped in mystery (surcharges apply). Conclude your Yangtze River journey with a Captain’s Farewell Dinner, reflecting on your voyage over a gourmet multi-course meal.
Optional Activities:
After an early breakfast onboard, disembark the cruise ship between 8am and 9am and make your own way to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) for your onward journey.
Departure & Transfers:
Disembarkation on your final day is between 8am and 9am. Please book your flights to depart from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) after 12pm. Airport transfers are not included in your tour. The port is located approximately a 30-minute drive from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG).
Discover the natural beauty and ancient cities along the Yangtze River on a cruise aboard a Victoria Cruise. Enjoy all delicious daily meals onboard with soft drink, juices and beers included, watch the romantic mountains drifting by on the sun deck, then retire to your well-appointed cabin for a restful evening on the water.
Sail through the dramatic landscapes of the Three Gorges, beginning with the colossal Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydropower project in the world. From its observation deck, take in sweeping views of this engineering marvel, which stretches over 2,300m. Glide along the narrow Shennong Stream on a traditional boat, where towering cliffs and verdant landscapes frame the journey. Keep an eye out for ancient hanging coffins along the cliffs—evidence of the region’s enduring traditions. Wu Gorge, with its deep valleys and towering peaks, offers a stunning continuation of the natural beauty that defines the Yangtze.
After 2,200-odd years underground, the unearthing of this archaeological wonder was entirely unexpected. While drilling a well in 1974, workers accidentally discovered a cavernous vault filled with thousands of terracotta soldiers positioned for battle. Alongside their sculpted steeds, each soldier’s face is unique, and the army comprises archers, swordsmen, wooden chariots and more.
Believed to be the work of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, this undocumented vanguard has stood watch over his nearby tomb in stony silence for millennia. Unlike anything else on earth, this subterranean display of military might is a reminder of the dynastic grandeur of ancient China.
Booking Summary: After you book, please follow the instructions in your booking summary email and ensure you complete your Traveller Details in full.
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Accommodation for the duration of your tour is included in the Tour package.
Please note:
Pre- & Post-Tour Accommodation
Pre- and post-tour accommodation can be booked to extend your stay before or after your tour by contacting our Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com.
Luxury Escapes uses a range of accommodation partners. For pre- and post-tour accommodation options where we can offer the same hotel as the start and end of your tour, your pre- and post-tour accommodation will be booked independent of your tour. If the hotel for your tour changes, this will be independent of your pre- or post-tour accommodation booking. In this instance, change fees may apply on your pre- or post-tour accommodation. If you choose to change, change fees can be found in your ‘My Escapes’.
For pre- and post-tour accommodation bookings, you may be required to check out of your room and check in again on the first or last day of your tour. You will need to confirm these details directly with the hotel.
Please contact the Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com for further information.
Transfers
Please Note:
Tipping
Optional experiences
Travel Insurance
Passports & Visas
Traveller Details
Tour Pace
Travel Styles
Health and Fitness Acknowledgement:
Your tour begins at your Beijing accommodation and ends at Chongqing Port, or your Shanghai accommodation for the extended tour option.
Return airport transfers are NOT included with your tour, please plan accordingly.
Return flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. ** If your chosen tour departure date is guaranteed at the time of booking, you may be able to purchase flights immediately. If your tour departure date is not yet guaranteed (still pending minimum numbers), flights should not be booked until you receive an update on the status of your tour.**
Please book your flights to arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at any time on Day 1 and depart from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) after 12pm on Day 10, or from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) at any time on Day 14 for the extended tour option.
Important: Please allow for travelling time from international countries. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive at your starting location on your chosen tour start date.
A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website, Visas Direct, to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa, please let us know and we will be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit the website.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements (subject to availability). Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
Important Destination Information:
China
Time zone: GMT+8 (China Standard Time)
Telephone: +86
Currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY or RMB)
Accessing money: ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within the city.
Language: Mandarin, Cantonese, Hunanese
Climate: In the north, the climate is temperate, with summer temperatures around 25°C and very cold winters. In the south, it is subtropical with very hot summers and mild winters.
Dress code: Relaxed but respectful, especially when visiting religious institutions.