Yangtze Explorer Land Cost per person $3490.00 Single Supplement $1030.00 High Season Surcharge Jun-Aug $70.00 Based on a minimum of 2 pax traveling. TOUR CODE GTB 8001 DAY 01 BEIJING Meet upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. Beijing, China's political capital and cultural heart is over 3,000 years old and is the second largest city and fastest growing municpallity in China. We are welcomed to China with a traditional Peking duck dinner this evening followed by the Peking Opera Show. DAY 02 BEIJING (B, L) You will begin the exploration of China by visiting the famous Great Wall. Constructed some 2,300 years ago and extending over 3,500 miles, it was one of the few landmarks on earth clearly viewed by the astronauts. Continue your tour to visit the Ming Tombs where the emperors and their consorts were laid to rest. The tombs feature a display of jewelry and regalia numbering 3,000 pieces. Evening at leisure. DAY 03 BEIJING (B, L, D) Today, you will visit the Imperial Palace also known as The Forbidden City. The 250 acre palace was the residence of former emperors with entry forbidden to all commoners. After lunch, you will proceed to The Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of 15th century architecture, built according to the most advanced principles of mechanics and geomtery available at the time. DAY 04 BEIJING / XIAN (B, L ) Before you leave the Capital of China, we would like to introduce you to the local life by visiting Hutongs with trishaw ride. Hutongs mean narrow lanes which form the residential areas for ordinary people living in the capital. These lanes exhibit the history and culture of the city and each lane tells a story. Then we will proceed to Tien An Men Square, the gate of heavenly peace. This is the largest public square in the world and was built in 1651. After lunch, you will be transferred to the Beijing airport for XIAN. After a 2 hour flight, you will arrive XIAN and be transferred to your hotel. DAY 05 XIAN ( B, L, D ) You will explore the greatest archeological discoveries in this century. Three vaults containing an estimated 8,000 figures of life- size terra cotta warriors. Each statue is different in size and expression. Lunch to be served at a local restaurant. Return to the city and visit the 2,000 anceint artifacts displayed in the Shanxi Provincial Museum. This evening you will enjoy a cultural dinner show featuring teh Tang Dynasty. Dazu is viewed as the best preserved of China's great Buddhist grottoes. Dazu dazzles the eye and mind with more than 50,000 larger-than-life statures. Among the most famous carvings are the Thousand-Arm Goddess of Mercy, the Sleeping Buddha. Continue tour of Dazu with visit to North Mountain (Beishan) and Treasure Mountain (Baodingshan). Return to Chongqing for overnight accommodation. DAY 08 EMBARKATION-YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE (B, L, D) This morning board the Ms Princess Jeannie, departing at 08:00 am. Fengdu is our first port of call-where temples adorned with statues of ghosts and devils dominate the hilly landscape. Not surprisingly, Fengdu became legendary in Chinese folklore as the "City of Devils". Our cruise continues onward to Wushan, passing through several scenic spots such as the Qutang Gorge, the Mengliang Staircase, the Ancient Zhandao (boardwalk and Footpath), the Kui Gate, the Seven Gate Cave, the Bellows Gorge and the "Rhinoceros Watching the Moon". DAY 09 ON CRUISE-THREE GORGES Arrive at Wushan this morning and travel by coach to the Daning River to view the rushing clear waters of the "Three Gorges"-Dragon Gate, Misty Gorge and Emerald Gorge. Return to the Regal Cruise ship in time for your departure for Shashi. Sail past the Wu Gorge, admired by many for its deep valleys and "Twelve Peaks" that line its banks. DAY 10 ON CRUISE-XILING GORGE Your journey through Shashi continues sailing past the Badong and Xingling Gorges. Covering the longest distance, the Xiling Gorge offers many scenic spots such as "Military Manual and Precious Sword Gorge", "Ox's Liver and Horse's Lung Gorge" and the "Kongling Shaol and Shadow Play Gorge". Huangling Temple and the "Three Travellers' cavern are among the cultural relics to be found. On arrival at Shashi a visit to the local museum will also be made. DAY 11 WUHAN/GUILIN (B, L) You will take the morning flight to Guilin, the beautiful scenic city. Upon arrival, lunch will be served. After lunch, visit to Reed Flute Cave, Piled Feston Hill and Elephant Trunk Hill. DAY 12 GUILIN (B, L ) Enjoy a relaxing boat trip on Li River downstream to Yanshuo, a town that boasts one of the area's most colorful local market. DAY 13 GUILIN / HOME (B ) After breakfast, you will be transferred to airport to take the connecting flight to U S A or continue your journey to the neighboring cities in Asia.