THE SPLENDOR OF THE YANGTZE
China: A World of Contrasts
A refined journey into the heart of eternal China, combining the grandeur of its imperial capitals with the gentle rhythm of a river cruise along the legendary Yangtze. From monumental heritage sites and vibrant gastronomy to breathtaking landscapes, this carefully paced itinerary invites travelers to an authentic, cultural, and sensory discovery.
Designed for small groups, the journey offers a dynamic and immersive experience, highlighted by a hands-on Sichuan cooking class that provides deeper insight into local culinary traditions and everyday culture. On board, your cruise ship offers comfort and personalized service, seamlessly blending serene navigation with enriching shore excursions for a truly balanced and memorable exploration.
Day 1 Beijing
Arrival at Beijing Airport and transfer for a visit to the Summer Palace (UNESCO), the imperial garden and former summer residence of the Qing emperors. Stroll along Kunming Lake and discover the magnificent Long Corridor, renowned for its painted panels.
Arrival at Beijing Airport and transfer for a visit to the Summer Palace (UNESCO), the imperial garden and former summer residence of the Qing emperors. Stroll along Kunming Lake and discover the magnificent Long Corridor, renowned for its painted panels.
Day 2 Beijing (The Great Wall)
Drive to the Great Wall, Mutianyu section, winding dramatically along sculpted mountain ridges (optional cable car ascent). Return to Beijing and explore the historic Houhai area, discovering the charm of traditional hutongs and siheyuan courtyard houses. Visit a pearl workshop, followed by an introduction to the art of tea with tasting. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner featuring Peking duck, Beijing’s most famous culinary specialty.
Drive to the Great Wall, Mutianyu section, winding dramatically along sculpted mountain ridges (optional cable car ascent). Return to Beijing and explore the historic Houhai area, discovering the charm of traditional hutongs and siheyuan courtyard houses. Visit a pearl workshop, followed by an introduction to the art of tea with tasting. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner featuring Peking duck, Beijing’s most famous culinary specialty.
Day 3 Beijing → Xi’an (Overnight Train)
Visit the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO), where emperors once prayed for abundant harvests during the summer solstice. Enjoy a Tai Chi Quan session in the park, in harmony with nature. Immerse yourself in local life by sharing a choral singing moment with Beijing residents. Walk across Tiananmen Square, then explore the Forbidden City (UNESCO), the former imperial residence with its red-walled palaces and yellow-glazed roofs. Transfer to the railway station and board the overnight train to Xi’an.Day 4 Xi’an
Arrival in Xi’an and breakfast. Visit the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (UNESCO), China’s first unified emperor, guarded by his extraordinary Terracotta Army of over 7,000 life-sized warriors and horses. Visit the Great Mosque, a masterpiece blending Islamic art with traditional Chinese architecture. Dinner featuring a dumpling banquet, a regional specialty.
Arrival in Xi’an and breakfast. Visit the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (UNESCO), China’s first unified emperor, guarded by his extraordinary Terracotta Army of over 7,000 life-sized warriors and horses. Visit the Great Mosque, a masterpiece blending Islamic art with traditional Chinese architecture. Dinner featuring a dumpling banquet, a regional specialty.
Day 5 Xi’an → Chengdu (High-Speed Train)
Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an City Museum. Visit a jade workshop. Transfer to the station and travel by high-speed train to Chengdu, one of China’s oldest and most dynamic cities, known for its relaxed lifestyle, legendary tea culture, spicy gastronomy, and refined traditions.
Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an City Museum. Visit a jade workshop. Transfer to the station and travel by high-speed train to Chengdu, one of China’s oldest and most dynamic cities, known for its relaxed lifestyle, legendary tea culture, spicy gastronomy, and refined traditions.
Day 6 Chengdu
Visit the Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center, home to giant pandas and red pandas. Continue to Pixian to visit the Sichuan Cuisine Museum, a must-see for food enthusiasts. Take part in a hands-on Sichuan cooking class led by a chef, followed by tasting—an immersive culinary experience. Optional evening Sichuan Opera performance, famous for its spectacular face-changing act (payable locally).
Visit the Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center, home to giant pandas and red pandas. Continue to Pixian to visit the Sichuan Cuisine Museum, a must-see for food enthusiasts. Take part in a hands-on Sichuan cooking class led by a chef, followed by tasting—an immersive culinary experience. Optional evening Sichuan Opera performance, famous for its spectacular face-changing act (payable locally).
Day 7 Chengdu → Dazu → Chongqing (High-Speed Train)
Travel by high-speed train to Dazu, renowned for its Buddhist rock carvings (UNESCO). Visit the Baoding Mountain Grottoes, featuring 31 groups of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian bas-reliefs and statues.
Continue to Chongqing, the largest city in southwest China, famous for its mountain skyline, urban cable cars, and futuristic “cyberpunk” architecture. Visit the Hongyadong district, built into a cliffside, combining traditional architecture with shops, tea houses, and restaurants. Enjoy a spectacular night view of the mountain city.
Travel by high-speed train to Dazu, renowned for its Buddhist rock carvings (UNESCO). Visit the Baoding Mountain Grottoes, featuring 31 groups of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian bas-reliefs and statues.
Continue to Chongqing, the largest city in southwest China, famous for its mountain skyline, urban cable cars, and futuristic “cyberpunk” architecture. Visit the Hongyadong district, built into a cliffside, combining traditional architecture with shops, tea houses, and restaurants. Enjoy a spectacular night view of the mountain city.
Day 8 Chongqing — Embarkation
Discover Jiaotong Tea House, preserving the atmosphere of the 1970s–80s, the Tielusicun district with graffiti-covered buildings along former railway lines, and stroll through Huangjueping, famous for its colorful street murals. After dinner, embark on your Yangtze River cruise. Overnight on board.
Discover Jiaotong Tea House, preserving the atmosphere of the 1970s–80s, the Tielusicun district with graffiti-covered buildings along former railway lines, and stroll through Huangjueping, famous for its colorful street murals. After dinner, embark on your Yangtze River cruise. Overnight on board.
Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise Chongqing – Mount Shuanggui
Over the course of three days of cruising, sail through the spectacular Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, both particularly narrow and impressive, followed by the Xiling Gorge, before reaching Yichang and leaving the dramatic gorges behind. Approximately 200 km of navigation. Morning Tai Chi exercises on deck. Visit Mount Shuanggui, renowned for its historical, cultural, and spiritual significance, as well as the beauty of its landscapes. Welcome cocktail. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and overnight on board.
Optional excursion (payable locally): visit Fengdu, the mysterious Ghost City, reflecting ancient Chinese beliefs about the afterlife. Return on board. In the evening, welcome dinner. Optional show “The War of the Three Kingdoms” (payable locally).
Over the course of three days of cruising, sail through the spectacular Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, both particularly narrow and impressive, followed by the Xiling Gorge, before reaching Yichang and leaving the dramatic gorges behind. Approximately 200 km of navigation. Morning Tai Chi exercises on deck. Visit Mount Shuanggui, renowned for its historical, cultural, and spiritual significance, as well as the beauty of its landscapes. Welcome cocktail. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and overnight on board.
Optional excursion (payable locally): visit Fengdu, the mysterious Ghost City, reflecting ancient Chinese beliefs about the afterlife. Return on board. In the evening, welcome dinner. Optional show “The War of the Three Kingdoms” (payable locally).
Day 10 Yangtze River Cruise The Goddess Stream and the Three Gorges
Cruising begins through the Qutang Gorge, 8 km long, the shortest yet most dramatic of the Three Gorges, where steep mountain walls plunge directly into the river, creating a breathtaking landscape. Continue through the Wu Gorge, the highlight of the Yangtze cruise, famed for its misty scenery and poetic panoramas. Board a small boat to explore the Goddess Stream (Shennü), winding between sheer cliffs and lush, forested mountains. Continue cruising.
Breakfast, lunch, farewell dinner, and overnight on board. Optional excursion (payable locally): visit White Emperor City (Baidi), a historic site offering panoramic views over the Yangtze River.
Cruising begins through the Qutang Gorge, 8 km long, the shortest yet most dramatic of the Three Gorges, where steep mountain walls plunge directly into the river, creating a breathtaking landscape. Continue through the Wu Gorge, the highlight of the Yangtze cruise, famed for its misty scenery and poetic panoramas. Board a small boat to explore the Goddess Stream (Shennü), winding between sheer cliffs and lush, forested mountains. Continue cruising.
Breakfast, lunch, farewell dinner, and overnight on board. Optional excursion (payable locally): visit White Emperor City (Baidi), a historic site offering panoramic views over the Yangtze River.
Day 11 Cruise → Yichang → Shanghai
Continue cruising and pass through the Xiling Gorge. Disembark and visit the Three Gorges Dam, including the spillway, the Tanziling viewpoint overlooking the dam, and the water-retention memorial park.
Optional excursion (payable locally): the Three Gorges ship lift, allowing vessels to ascend more than 100 meters. Meet your Yichang local guide. After lunch, visit Binjiang Riverside Park along the Yangtze River and discover its leisure and sports areas, traditional tea houses, and bonsai garden—a true immersion into local life, with groups practicing traditional dance, Tai Chi, music, and singing. Visit a local market. Transfer to Yichang Airport for the evening flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and check in. Overnight in Shanghai.
Continue cruising and pass through the Xiling Gorge. Disembark and visit the Three Gorges Dam, including the spillway, the Tanziling viewpoint overlooking the dam, and the water-retention memorial park.
Optional excursion (payable locally): the Three Gorges ship lift, allowing vessels to ascend more than 100 meters. Meet your Yichang local guide. After lunch, visit Binjiang Riverside Park along the Yangtze River and discover its leisure and sports areas, traditional tea houses, and bonsai garden—a true immersion into local life, with groups practicing traditional dance, Tai Chi, music, and singing. Visit a local market. Transfer to Yichang Airport for the evening flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and check in. Overnight in Shanghai.
Day 12 Shanghai
Visit the Yu Garden, a masterpiece of traditional Chinese garden art located in the heart of Shanghai’s old town—an oasis of calm amid the city’s vibrant energy. Enjoy free time to wander through the lively historic quarter. Depart for Zhujiajiao, known as the “Venice of Shanghai.” With over 1,700 years of history, it is one of the region’s best-preserved water towns. Discover its whitewashed houses with black-tiled roofs, cobbled lanes, stone bridges, and buildings dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Visit a silk factory, a renowned specialty of the region. After dinner, optional Shanghai by Night excursion (payable locally).
Visit the Yu Garden, a masterpiece of traditional Chinese garden art located in the heart of Shanghai’s old town—an oasis of calm amid the city’s vibrant energy. Enjoy free time to wander through the lively historic quarter. Depart for Zhujiajiao, known as the “Venice of Shanghai.” With over 1,700 years of history, it is one of the region’s best-preserved water towns. Discover its whitewashed houses with black-tiled roofs, cobbled lanes, stone bridges, and buildings dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Visit a silk factory, a renowned specialty of the region. After dinner, optional Shanghai by Night excursion (payable locally).
Day 13 Shanghai
Visit the splendid Shanghai Museum, home to an outstanding collection of ancient Chinese art. Stroll along Nanjing Road, the city’s most vibrant shopping street. Walk along the Bund, lining the Huangpu River and bordered by historic concession-era buildings, offering magnificent views of Pudong’s skyline.
Explore the Tianzifang and Taikang Road neighborhoods, discovering traditional lilong alleyways, boutiques, and small terraces. Continue with a walk through the former French Concession and its commercial streets. Farewell dinner featuring Xiaolongbao, Shanghai’s signature soup dumplings.
Visit the splendid Shanghai Museum, home to an outstanding collection of ancient Chinese art. Stroll along Nanjing Road, the city’s most vibrant shopping street. Walk along the Bund, lining the Huangpu River and bordered by historic concession-era buildings, offering magnificent views of Pudong’s skyline.
Explore the Tianzifang and Taikang Road neighborhoods, discovering traditional lilong alleyways, boutiques, and small terraces. Continue with a walk through the former French Concession and its commercial streets. Farewell dinner featuring Xiaolongbao, Shanghai’s signature soup dumplings.