China Explorer (15 days)

Shanghai – Yichang – Yangtze Cruise – Chongqing – Xi’an – Beijing

This 15-day China tour combines the country’s great historical landmarks with some of its most impressive natural scenery. From cosmopolitan Shanghai and the classical gardens of Suzhou to the ancient capital of Xi’an and imperial Beijing, the journey offers a fascinating look at China’s rich past and extraordinary transformation in modern times.

A major highlight is the four-night luxury cruise along the Yangtze River, featuring the magnificent Three Gorges and the world’s largest hydroelectric power station. With expert local guides, comfortable accommodation and a well-paced itinerary, China Explorer offers an excellent introduction to the Middle Kingdom.

Important Features

• Small group size – maximum 20.
• Intercity travel by high-speed train.
• Outside cabin on or above bridge deck for Yangtze cruise.
• Exclusive Yangtze cruise amenity package.
• No annoying forced shopping of any kind.
• Quality meals at non-tourist restaurants.
• Unlimited supply of bottled water during group activities.
• Free Wi-Fi in all hotels.
• Great Wall visit at Mutianyu including cable car rides.

Options Available

• Tang Dynasty cultural show in Xi’an
• Peking Opera performance in Beijing

China Explorer Tour Itinerary

Meal Code: B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner

Day 1/Thu: Departing for Shanghai
Depart from a city of your choice, losing a day upon crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2/Fri: Arrival in Shanghai
Meet our driver on arrival for your transfer to the hotel. You’ll have the remainder of the day at leisure. The guide will contact you in the evening.

Day 3/Sat: Shanghai (B/L/D)
With a population of nearly 25 million, Shanghai is China’s largest city and a major centre of international trade and commerce. Its modern skyline contrasts with historical landmarks that reflect the city’s colourful past.

We begin our day with a visit to Jade Buddha Temple in an old neighbourhood. We then walk along the famous Bund, a waterfront promenade with a fascinating history.

After lunch, we stroll through the historic People’s Park and adjacent People’s Square in the heart of the city. Originally part of the Shanghai Race Club, established in 1850, the park and square are surrounded by museums, shops and other cultural attractions.

We wrap up the day’s sightseeing with a tour of the exquisite Yu Garden in the old town centre.

Day 4/Sun: Shanghai (B)
Today is a free day.

If you are interested in Chinese art and history, Shanghai Museum East in Pudong would be an excellent place to spend half a day. The museum houses outstanding collections of ancient bronzes, ceramics, jade, paintings and calligraphy. The original Shanghai Museum at People’s Square now focuses mainly on special exhibitions.

The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum and Nanwaitan Fabric Market, known for its numerous tailor shops, are also recommended.

Optional Suzhou Day Tour

After breakfast we ride the high-speed train (30-40 minutes) to Suzhou.

Ancient Suzhou is best known for its classical gardens, canals and silk industry. The Venetian traveller Marco Polo visited Suzhou in the late 13th century and wrote admiringly of its prosperity and silk production. With its network of canals and waterways, Suzhou is often referred to as the “Venice of the East.”

Our sightseeing in Suzhou includes historic Tiger Hill, Humble Administrator’s Garden and a short canal cruise. We return to Shanghai by train in the late afternoon.

The all-inclusive price with lunch starts from US$250 per person and requires a minimum of 2 participants to operate.

Day 5/Mon: Shanghai – Yichang (B/D)
After breakfast, we board the high-speed train (D952, 08:30/14:43) to Yichang. Since lunch is not provided, please buy some snacks before boarding the train.

We’ll visit a riverfront park and a food market on arrival. We board the Yangtze cruise ship following dinner. 

Day 6/Tue: Yangtze Cruise (B/L/D)
At 6,380 kilometres, the Yangtze is Asia’s longest river and the third longest in the world, behind the Nile and the Amazon. The most spectacular stretch is the 119-kilometre Three Gorges, celebrated for its dramatic scenery and towering cliffs.

Our morning shore excursion takes us to the Three Gorges Dam, home to the world’s largest hydroelectric power station by installed capacity. Later, we cruise through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges, stretching approximately 66 kilometres. Its scenery combines steep mountains, narrow passages and broad stretches of water.

Day 7/Wed: Yangtze Cruise (B/L/D)
This morning, we transfer to a smaller boat for an excursion along picturesque Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze winding through steep limestone cliffs and lush mountain scenery. Depending on river conditions, Goddess Stream may be visited instead.

Back aboard our cruise ship, we sail through Wu Gorge, renowned for its forested mountains, towering cliffs and mist-shrouded peaks. We then enter Qutang Gorge, the shortest of the Three Gorges at approximately eight kilometres, but arguably the most dramatic. Here, sheer cliffs rise sharply above the narrow river channel, creating some of the finest scenery along the Yangtze.

Day 8/Thu: Yangtze Cruise (B/L/D)
Today’s shore excursion takes us to Xiaoguanshan Ancient Folk Culture Park near Fengdu, where historic buildings and cultural relics rescued from areas affected by the Three Gorges Dam project have been preserved.

Depending on river conditions and the cruise schedule, an alternative excursion may be offered. The remainder of the day is spent enjoying the scenery and facilities aboard our cruise ship.

Day 9/Fri: Chongqing – Xi’an (B/L)
We disembark our cruise ship in Chongqing after breakfast.

Situated at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, Chongqing is one of China’s largest cities and an important commercial and transportation hub in southwestern China. Its mountainous terrain, distinctive cuisine and dramatic urban landscape give the city a character all its own.

Our first stop is Chongqing Zoo, where we visit the giant panda enclosure. We then explore Ciqikou Ancient Town, a historic neighbourhood known for its traditional architecture, narrow lanes, teahouses and local snacks.

After lunch, we visit Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, a lively commercial district in the heart of Chongqing, before continuing to the Three Gorges Museum. Its extensive collections document the region’s history and cultural heritage, including the ancient Ba and Chu civilizations. Exhibits also examine the construction of the Three Gorges Dam and its impact on the environment and local communities.

We conclude our sightseeing before boarding the high-speed train to Xi’an (G2240, 17:22/22:50). Dinner is not included, so please purchase some food before boarding.

Day 10/Sat: Xi’an (B/L)
With a history spanning more than 3,000 years, Xi’an served as the capital of several Chinese dynasties, including the Han (206 BCE–220 CE) and Tang (618–907). It was also the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road, a network of trade routes connecting China with Central Asia and regions as far west as the Mediterranean.

We spend the morning visiting the Terracotta Army, located approximately 30 kilometres east of Xi’an. Discovered by local farmers in 1974, this extraordinary collection of life-sized terracotta warriors and horses was created to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor (221–210 BCE), in the afterlife. The site is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After lunch, we return to the city for a stroll along the ancient city wall. Originally built in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, it is one of China’s best-preserved city walls. The wall runs approximately 13.7 kilometres around the old city, enclosing an area of 14 square kilometres. Standing 12 metres high, it measures between 15 and 18 metres thick at its base.

Day 11/Sun: Xi’an (B/L)
Morning sightseeing begins at Xi’an Museum. One of the city’s leading cultural institutions, Xi’an Museum houses more than 110,000 historical artefacts, including ancient bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist sculptures and works of art spanning several thousand years of Chinese history. The museum complex also encompasses the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, built during the Tang dynasty (618–907), and the historic Jianfu Temple grounds. Together, these attractions offer a fascinating introduction to Xi’an’s rich cultural heritage and its importance as one of China’s great ancient capitals.

We then visit the Great Mosque in the old town centre and the adjacent Muslim Quarter. The mosque was established in the 8th century, although most of the surviving complex dates from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), with further additions during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Unlike many mosques in the Middle East, the Great Mosque is predominantly Chinese in architectural style, with traditional courtyards, pavilions and tiled roofs rather than the domes and minarets commonly associated with Islamic architecture elsewhere.

Free afternoon to explore on your own. Please ask your guide for recommendations.

Day 12/Mon: Xi’an – Beijing (B/D)
Our travel to Beijing is again by high-speed train (#G672, 09:04/14:21). Since lunch is not provided, please buy some snacks before boarding the train.

The capital of China, Beijing is a major cultural, educational and political centre with a population exceeding 20 million. One of China’s great historic cities, it served as the imperial capital for much of the past eight centuries. Beijing is renowned for its magnificent palaces, temples, ancient city gates and other historical landmarks, many of which date back to the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties.

Afternoon sightseeing features the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China’s finest imperial gardens. Originally known as the Garden of Clear Ripples, much of the complex was destroyed by British and French forces in 1860 during the Second Opium War. Reconstruction began in 1886, and the garden was renamed Yiheyuan (Garden of Nurtured Harmony). Covering approximately 290 hectares, the Summer Palace is dominated by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, with more than 3,000 bays of traditional buildings spread throughout the grounds.

Day 13/Tue: Beijing (B/L)
We begin today with a visit to the Forbidden City, officially known as the Palace Museum. This vast imperial complex served as the residence and administrative centre of the emperors of the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties. Built between 1406 and 1420, it comprises approximately 980 buildings spread over 72 hectares (180 acres). Its traditional Chinese palatial architecture influenced palace design throughout East Asia. Although the Qing Dynasty fell in 1912, the last emperor, Puyi, was allowed to remain in the Forbidden City until his expulsion in 1924. The Palace Museum opened the following year. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the Forbidden City is one of the world’s largest and best-preserved complexes of ancient wooden buildings.

Next is Tian’anmen Square, measuring approximately 880 metres from north to south and 500 metres from east to west. Tian’anmen Gate stands at its northern end, with the Monument to the People’s Heroes near the centre. The Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China flank the square to the west and east, respectively, while Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum and Qianmen (Front Gate) lie to the south. Since the May Fourth Movement of 1919, Tian’anmen Square and its surroundings have been associated with major political events and demonstrations, including the pro-democracy protests of 1989.

Our afternoon sightseeing takes us to the Temple of Heaven, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in southeastern Beijing, this vast complex was where Ming and Qing emperors performed elaborate ceremonies and offered sacrifices to Heaven, praying for good harvests and the well-being of the empire. Construction began in 1406 under the Yongle Emperor and was completed in 1420. The complex was subsequently expanded and renovated during the Qing Dynasty. Covering 273 hectares (674 acres), the Temple of Heaven is nearly four times the size of the Forbidden City.

The Hongqiao Pearl Market is located across the street from the Temple of Heaven. Known for its freshwater pearls, jewellery and other merchandise, it attracts both local and international shoppers. If interested, you may ask the guide to drop you off there after sightseeing, but you will need to return to the hotel independently by taxi.

Dinner is not included for today. There are many restaurants around the hotel. Ask your guide for recommendations.

Day 14/Wed: Beijing (B/L/D)
After an early breakfast, we set out on a full-day excursion to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, approximately 75 kilometres northeast of central Beijing.

The Great Wall is one of China’s most impressive engineering achievements. Its earliest sections date back to the 7th century BCE, when individual states built defensive walls against rival states and nomadic groups. Following China’s unification in 221 BCE, the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, ordered existing fortifications to be connected and extended. Successive dynasties continued to build and maintain defensive walls, but the most extensive reconstruction took place during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), when much of the brick-and-stone Wall familiar to visitors today was built.

Stretching across northern China, the Great Wall was intended to defend against incursions from the north, regulate border crossings and facilitate military communications. Despite its formidable appearance, it was never an impenetrable barrier, as demonstrated by the Mongol conquest of China in the 13th century under Genghis Khan and his successors, including Kublai Khan.

The Mutianyu section, originally established in the 6th century and substantially rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty, is known for its well-preserved watchtowers and mountain scenery. Cable car rides are included, allowing visitors to spend more time exploring the Wall itself.

Dinner tonight features Peking roast duck, one of Beijing’s best-known dishes. Traditionally roasted until the skin is crisp, the duck is carved tableside and served with thin pancakes, scallions, cucumber and a savoury sauce.

Day 15/Thu: Returning Home (B)
The tour ends this morning. A private vehicle with a driver (no guide) is provided for your transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Travellers flying directly to North America arrive home on the same calendar day they depart Beijing after crossing the International Date Line.

Dates & Prices

Prices are per person based on double occupancy. International airfare is not included.

* Land Only price excludes international airfare. Please contact us for a fare quote.

Exclusive Yangtze Cruise Amenity Package

Your exclusive Yangtze Cruise amenity package includes:

• Welcome fruit plate.
• Access to Executive Lounge.
• Complimentary Wi-Fi service in the Executive Lounge and lobby areas.
• Diet soda included for lunch and dinner.
• Dining selection from two dining rooms (choice of dining room to be made at the beginning of the voyage).
• Hot & cold soft drinks available daily in Executive Lounge (Pepsi, Sprite, juice, coffee, and tea).
• Afternoon “Happy Hour” one hour before dinner (including house wine, beer, and soda).
• Complimentary house wine and beer offerings at dinner.