Depart via the services of United Airlines from San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Seattle to Beijing, China on one of the following Tuesdays:

Sept 26
Oct 17 or 24

Passengers may depart from many other U.S. departure cities at additional costs per person. See click thru below for details.

LUXURY TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: USA to BEIJING
Fly transpacific aboard United Airlines.

Day 2: ARRIVE BEIJING
Upon Arrival in Beijing, China's Capital City, you are met by your professional U.S. Tour Director and escorted to the Grand Hyatt Beijing at Oriental Plaza to check in.


GRAND HYATT BEIJING

Day 3: BEIJING
After breakfast and a welcome orientation, today's sightseeing includes vast Tian An Men Square and the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City, including the living quarters, museum and jewelery sections. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner party featuring Beijing Duck.

Day 4: BEIJING
Today highlights the amazing wonders of the Great Wall. Take a scenic cable car ride back down to the base. Enjoy lunch in a unique mountain setting. Continue on to visit a cloisonne factory where you may observe the skilled artisans. This evening, you are invited to a delightful dinner party, followed by an entertaining and energetic show, "The Legend of Kung Fu", with great seats in the front section for an exciting up-close view of the performance.

Day 5: BEIJING
This morning, our tour takes you back to the old days of Beijing. Ride in an old-fashioned pedicab along the ancient narrow streets and visit with one of the local families. Continue on to view the city from atop the Drum Tower. Then tour the exquisite Summer Palace and enjoy a boat ride on serene Lake Kunming (weather permitting). Enjoy a dinner party this evening at a local restaurant.

Day 6: BEIJING to XI'AN
Fly to historic Xi'an this morning and check in to the Sofitel on Renmin Square Xi'an. Lunch is served in a private dining room at Defachang Restaurant, renowned for its delicious dumpling specialties. This afternoon visit the City Wall.


SOFITEL ON RENMIN SQUARE XI'AN

Day 7: XI'AN
Visit the famed legion of terra-cotta warriors, buried with the emperor for over 2200 years, Circle Vision Movie, and Bronze Chariot. Lunch at the Terra Cotta Museum includes a special hand-made noodlemaking demonstration. Later, visit the celebrated Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum.Tonight, from your front section seats, enjoy an entertaining dinner show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre.

Day 8: XI'AN to CHONGQING and YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
The morning is at leisure in Xi'an before flying to Chongqing. On arrival, tour the Stilwell Museum to see its collection of World War ll memorabilia, particularly the Flying Tigers, American pilots who volunteered to aid the Chinese against the Japanese invasion of China before Pearl Harbor was attacked. After dinner, board the Victoria Anna Cruise Ship -- Victoria's newest and most luxurious ship -- in a Junior Suite with Balcony to begin your memorable cruise downstream!


VICTORIA ANNA

Day 9: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: FENGDU*
A shore excursion at legend-rich Fengdu visits Snow Jade Cave, with its unique stalactite formations. Enjoy nightly a-la-carte dining and great views in the ship's lovely top deck restaurant.
*Alternate shore excursion may visit Wanzhou.

 

Day 10: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: QUTANG GORGE to DANING RIVER SMALL GORGES or SHENNONG STREAM/WU GORGE/ XILING GORGE
Unforgettable scenery unfolds as you cruise through the first of the fabled Three Gorges: Qutang Gorge, hemmed by towering cliffs. At Wushan, an excursion by cruiser takes you up the Daning River to view its renowned Small Gorges. Continue by sampan to the picturesque mini-gorges of the Ma Du River with its clear, swift running water, unusual rock formations, and monkeys and goats along the banks. Alternatively, your excursion may be on Shennong Stream with its impressive small gorges. Sail on from Wushan and pass through Wu Gorge, celebrated for its Twelve Peaks. Now cruise through Xiling Gorge, most scenic of all the gorges. Finally, sail through the Three Gorges ship lock.

Day 11: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: XILING GORGE/SAN DOU PING/ YICHANG to SHANGHAI*
At San Dou Ping, see the progress at the historic Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric project. Sail on to Yichang. After lunch, fly to Shanghai where you check in to the St. Regis Hotel Shanghai.
*If direct flight is not available, travel by motorcoach to Wuhan and fly to Shanghai.


ST. REGIS HOTEL SHANGHAI

Day 12: SHANGHAI
Sightsee Shanghai: the Shanghai Museum, including hand held recorder highlighting the special features of the museum's permanent collection, Nanjing or Huai Hai Road, Yu Yuan Garden, a carpet factory, The famous Bund and a performance at the Children's Palace. Enjoy a dim sum lunch in a private dining room. Tonight, attend a performance of the renowned Shanghai acrobats, where your seats are reserved in the front section.

Day 13: SHANGHAI to GUILIN
The morning is free; you may wish to indulge in some last minute shopping before flying to beautiful Guilin. Check in to a riverside room at the deluxe Sheraton Guilin Hotel.


SHERATON GUILIN HOTEL

Day 14: GUILIN
Delight in a cruise on the upper deck of a deluxe air-conditioned boat along the lovely Li River. The haunting beauty of Guilin's mist-wrapped monolithic peaks surround the river en route to Yangshuo.

Day 15: GUILIN to HONG KONG
This morning see dramatic karst formations at Reed Flute Cave and take a cable car up Yao Mountain (weather permitting) or Fu Bo Hill for panoramic views of beautiful Guilin, followed by a lunch of dim sum specialties. Later in the day, fly to scintillating Hong Kong. Check in to a harbor view room at the Hotel InterContinental Hong Kong.


INTERCONTINENTAL HONG KONG

Day 16: HONG KONG
Today's sightseeing circuit of Hong Kong Island passes its main attractions, from the cosmopolitan Central District to rural Stanley Market, fashionable Repulse Bay and the sampan community at Aberdeen. Then ride up to Victoria Peak for wonderful panoramic views.

Day 17: HONG KONG
Day at leisure. After breakfast, consider an optional excursion to Lantau Island (for an additional $85 per person) with its beaches, monastery and fishing villages. This evening, join in a farewell dinner party at your hotel.

Day 18: HONG KONG to USA
Fly homeward today aboard United Airlines.

Single Supplement: $2995 additional.

Tax & S/C of $325 per person additional.

Reservations subject to availability.

Names submitted must be spelled correctly & exactly match the names on Passports. Any fees associated with name changes are the passengers' responsibility.

Minimum of 6 passengers required for guaranteed departures. Supplemental charges apply if the group is less than 6 members.