Highlights of China inc. Yangtze River Cruise

Late this evening, we report to the airport
and join the overnight flight to Shanghai.

We arrive in Shanghai early this
morning and after clearing Customs
and Immigration formalities, we are
met and transferred to our hotel for a
two-night stay. There is time to rest
up after the flight until mid-afternoon
when we enjoy a tour of the Pudong
area. Dinner is included this evening.

We have some free time available this
morning before our transfer to Shanghai
Airport in time to join the flight to Yichang.
There is time for a city tour and dinner at
a local restaurant before we transfer to
our first class river ship for the start of
our 4 night cruise on the Yangtze River.

The Three Gorges Dam is the largest water
conservancy project ever undertaken by
man. The Dam is 2,335 metres long, 185
metres high, 18 metres wide on the top
and 130 metres wide at the bottom. The
Dam has raised the river to a level of 175 metres above sea level. The construction of
the dam formally began in 1994. The body
of the dam was completed in 2003, and
power generation began in 2005. We enjoy
a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam.
Alternatively, you have the opportunity
to pass through the Ship Lift (optional)
and then visit the Three Gorges Dam.

Before breakfast, the ship approaches
the entrance of the second of the Three
Gorges – Wu Gorge. Below Wushan is
the 25 mile long Wu Gorge, with cliffs so
sheer that the sun barely penetrates the
precipices. This middle gorge is best known
for twelve unique peaks. Often hidden in
swirls of mist, six peaks line the north side
of the river and six staggered peaks stand
to the south. After breakfast, on arrival
in Wushan we will disembark for a shore
excursion to Shennv Stream. Return to
the ship, and lunch is served. Continue
sailing upstream to the Qutang Gorge – the
last, shortest and most dramatic of the
Three Gorges. This afternoon you have the
opportunity to take part in an optional
shore excursion to White Emporer City.

After breakfast, we disembark for our shore
excursion to Fengdu Ghost City with 2000
years’ history. According to the Chinese
legend, two officials named Yin and Wang
from the Han Dynasty became immortals
through practicing Taoist teachings and
were then worshipped as the “Ghost King”
and “Ghost Queen” after their deaths.
Over time, Fengdu became associated
with the afterlife and was believed to be
where the dead passed through to reach
the netherworld. We return to the ship
for lunch and spend the remainder of the
day cruising on the scenic Yangtze River.

We disembark from our river cruise
ship in Chongqing after breakfast and
then onto Chongqing Zoo to see the
Pandas before joining the high speed
train to Xian, arriving late evening.

After a leisurely breakfast we join our high
speed train through to Beijing. Arriving late
afternoon, the remainder of the day is at
leisure until we meet for dinner this evening.

Our full day tour takes us 40 miles north
of the city to the Great Wall. The original
construction of the Great Wall started in
the 7th century B.C. to keep out the warring
invaders. Additional sections were added
for nearly 4,000 miles. A walk along this
Great Wall is truly inspiring. The afternoon
is equally as memorable and of a different
era as we visit the icons of the Beijing
Olympics – Bird Nest and Water Cube.

Beijing has been the heart and soul
of Chinese culture, politics and society
for over 5000 years. We commence our
sightseeing programme of this fascinating
city with a walk through the landmark
Tiananmen Square, followed by a visit
to the Forbidden City – the largest and
most complete ancient imperial palace
in the world. Thereafter, we spend time
at the Summer Palace – once a summer
retreat for the emperors and their families
and now one of China’s best-preserved
imperial gardens. Enjoy this masterpiece
of Chinese landscape garden design.
Tonight, enjoy a western dinner.

This morning we visit the Temple of Heaven
where the emperors of the Ming and Qing
dynasties worshipped. The surrounding
grounds of the Temple will give us an
insight into the local’s daily activities. In
the afternoon we visit Beijing’s famed
Hutongs near Houhai Lake. This evening,
we get together to enjoy the traditional
Peking duck dinner at a local restaurant.

Today we take the high speed train
to Suzhou. Upon arrival, we are met
and transferred to the hotel. A city,
often called the “Oriental Venice”, and
famous for its classic gardens. We
spend two nights in Suzhou.

On our tour today, we visit the Master
of the Nets Garden and the Humble
Administrator’s Garden, two of the finest and
most recognised gardens in China. Later,
we board a traditional boat in Suzhou and
cruise the canals that date back 1,000 years.

This morning, we depart Suzhou and
drive to Hangzhou, En route, we visit
Wuzhen – a river village known for its
ancient bridges. This is the China of picture
books, complete with narrow streets,
simple homes, tea houses and intriguing
shops. We arrive in Hangzhou in the
afternoon, where we spend two nights.

A full day tour visiting the Hua Gang Park
and West Lake. You will appreciate the
fabled scenery, such as ‘Broken Bridge’,
‘Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake’ and
‘Three Pools Mirroring the Moon’. We take a
short cruise tour on the West Lake then visit
the Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum.
The museum presents visitors with a style
of antique architecture, alongside a treasury
of traditional Chinese medical science
and technology. With Hangzhou being
famous for Longjing Green Tea, we visit a
tea plantation to taste its famous tea and
learn about the ancient tea making process

Enjoy some free time this morning until
we depart by coach for Shanghai. We arrive
into Shanghai late afternoon for a two night
stay. We enjoy dinner together this evening.

Stroll the Bund promenade along the
Huangpu River, where the old meets the
modern in Shanghai; then to the Old Town
with its winding alleyways lined with shops,
tea houses, restaurants and to the elegant
and tranquil Yu Garden. Xintiandi is a new
attraction in downtown Shanghai, featuring
the city’s unique “Shikumen” houses and
a maze of narrow alleys which have been
converted into cafes, restaurants, bars, art
and retail shops. In the evening, enjoy the
breathtaking Shanghai Acrobats whose
circus-like acts originated during the Han
Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago

A leisurely morning before we make
our way to the airport to join our
direct flight back to Auckland.

We arrive in Auckland early morning.
direct flight back to Auckland.