DAY 1 USA – Beijing, China: Fly to China

Depart from your home city and begin your journey to Beijing, the storied capital of China.

DAY 2 Arrive in Beijing: Arrival & Leisure Time in Beijing

Upon arrival, meet your local guide and enjoy a comfortable transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or begin exploring this fascinating city on your own.

DAY 3 Beijing: Full Day City Tour

Today enjoy an introductory tour of Beijing, whose origins extend back 3,000 years. The seat of the Ming and Qing emperors until the early 20th century, China’s capital fuses gleaming temples with austere public monuments built by Chairman Mao. Ogle Tiananmen Square, the world’s biggest public square, and visit the Forbidden City, the secret-steeped residence of 24 emperors. This UNESCO World Heritage site is girded by 10-metre high walls and consists of more than 8,000 rooms, all exuding imperial mystique. Later, visit the gorgeous UNESCO-protected Summer Palace. Walk around this entrancing park, a vision of Chinese landscaping, to view the elaborate bridges, temples and pagodas that flank Kunming Lake. In the evening, savor a traditional Peking duck dinner, a dish once reserved for the imperial court.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4 Beijing: Great Wall & temple of heaven tour

After breakfast at your hotel, venture to the legendary Great Wall at Badaling, a UNESCO site and enduring symbol of China’s resilience. Built over 2,000 years ago to stave off nomadic invasions from the north, the gargantuan wall trails for over 5,500 miles across China like an imperial dragon. Stride along the battlements and behold the views over the mountains and valleys stretching into the distance. Next, continue to visit Temple of Heaven, a fascinating complex of imperial cult buildings centered on a sacrificial altar pavilion. Constructed in the early 15th century, the temple compound was used by China’s emperors to perform animal sacrifices that they believed would secure bountiful harvests.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch

DAY 5 Beijing – Xian by flight: Fly to Xian + City Wall

Fly to Xian in the morning, one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China and the eastern starting point of the Silk Road. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel before visiting the 14th-century City Wall, one of the best-preserved and most formidable military fortifications in the country. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner at hotel

DAY 6 Xian: Full Day Xian Tour

Once the capital of multiple dynasties and the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, Xian boasts over 3,000 years of history. It is perhaps most renowned for the discovery of the Terracotta Warriors—an army of more than 6,000 life-sized soldiers and horses unearthed in 1974. Buried in battle formation to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient military might and imperial ambition. After lunch, visit the elegant Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in the 7th century to house sacred Buddhist scriptures brought from India. In the evening, enjoy a Tang Dynasty dinner show, a vibrant performance that brings to life the grandeur of imperial China.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner and show

DAY 7 Xian – Chongqing – Yangtze River Cruise: Fly to Chongqing + Board Yangtze Cruise

Fly to Chongqing, a historic gateway to the Yangtze River. Visit the Chongqing Zoo to see the endangered giant pandas, then explore Hongya Cave, an architectural homage to traditional Bayu culture perched on the riverbank. Savor Sichuan cuisine, famous for its bold, spicy flavors, before boarding the Yangtze River Cruise.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8 Yangtze River Cruise: Yangtze Cruise Shore Excursion

Enjoy a shore excursion to Shuanggui Mountain, a sacred Buddhist site with centuries-old temples and lush scenery. Depending on conditions, you may instead visit Shibaozhai, known for its remarkable 12-story wooden pagoda built without nails. 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9 Yangtze River Cruise: Yangtze Cruise Excursion + Gorge Views

Enter the Three Gorges, one of nature’s most extraordinary sculptures. Today pass through the first two—Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. Wu Gorge is known for its quiet beauty, forest-covered mountains, and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices. Transfer to another vessel for a relaxing excursion through the attractive gorges of Goddess Stream. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to the gorges of Shennong Stream. Enter Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest of the Three Gorges.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10 Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai: Disembark Cruise + Fly to Shanghai

Disembark in Yichang and visit the awe-inspiring Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric project and a modern engineering marvel. Explore the riverside promenade and a local market before flying to Shanghai, China’s dynamic coastal metropolis.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11 Shanghai: City Tour: Bund & Nanjing Road

Once a bustling treaty port in the 19th century and long known as the "Pearl of the Orient," Shanghai has evolved into a dazzling fusion of East and West, old and new. Begin your exploration at the Bund, where grand neoclassical buildings from the colonial era line the Huangpu River, facing the futuristic skyline of Pudong. Stroll down Nanjing Road, one of the world’s busiest shopping streets, before continuing to the historic City God Temple Bazaar and the fashionable Xintiandi district, where restored Shikumen architecture meets chic boutiques and cafes. In the evening, take a scenic Huangpu River cruise to admire the beautifully illuminated skyline—an unforgettable view of Shanghai’s dynamic spirit.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12 Shanghai: Leisure Day or Optional Suzhou Tour

Enjoy a free day at leisure to discover Shanghai at your own pace. Or join an optional full-day excursion to Suzhou, famed for its elegant classical gardens, silk legacy, and canal-lined streets.

Included: Breakfast at hotel

DAY 13 Shanghai - USA: Depart from Shanghai

Transfer to the airport for your return flight, concluding your enriching journey through China’s history, culture, and landscapes.

Included: Breakfast at hotel