Best of China with Yangtze Cruise

Best of China with Yangtze Cruise
from $7,295 pp

Duration: 15 Days
Destinations: China

Discover the cityscapes of Beijing and Shanghai, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors and the rare giant pandas of Chengdu on this mesmerizing encounter with China, which includes a leisurely cruise along the Yangtze River.

Call to Book 1-800-222-7448

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Included With Your Trip

An expert Travel Director and professional Driver Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted All porterage and restaurant gratuities All hotel tips, charges and local taxes Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys) Optional Experiences and free time On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized. Flight from Beijing to Xi'an and Yichang to Shanghai.

Additional Information

Say Ni hao to China

Journey to the "Northern Capital" - a land of emperors, epic monuments and the cultural heart of China. On arrival in Beijing, you'll be transferred to your hotel where you can relax before meeting your Travel Director for a welcome drink and appetizers at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Novotel Peace

Journey to the Great Wall

Visit the iconic Great Wall of China at Juyongguan this morning - its stone ramparts and walls snaking thousands of miles into the distance to defend the empire against nomadic invaders since 5th century B.C. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure and this evening for dinner indulge in a Regional Dinner of succulent Peking Duck - a must during any visit to Beijing.
Hotel: Novotel Peace

Discover the Icons of Beijing

Surround yourself with the grandeur of Beijing's landmark Great Hall of the People, Qianmen Gate and the mausoleum of Mao Zedong as you walk through one of the world's largest public areas, Tiananmen Square. Delve into China's imperial heritage, passing the south gate into the frozen-in-time Forbidden City - once home to emperors and their households and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, indulge in a relaxing foot massage at the Foot Reflexology Center to ease you into an evening at leisure or consider joining an Optional Experience.
Hotel: Novotel Peace

Explore Beijing's Hutong and onwards to Xi'an Connect with Locals

Navigate the ancient alleyways of the courtyard Hutong residences, weaving through lively neighborhoods on the back of a traditional rickshaw. Stop at the home of a local family where you'll Connect With Locals, enjoying a Be My Guest experience with lunch of traditional Chinese cuisine, then visit a nearby tea house. Here, you'll delve into the art of chayi, joining a Local Specialist who'll share first-hand the age-old ritual of tea-making. Leave Beijing behind, bound for Xi'an, an ancient departure point on the Silk Road.
Hotel: Wyndham Grand Xi'an South

Marvel at the legendary Terracotta Warriors Make Travel Matter

Start your day at the Tang Dynasty Gallery, where you'll explore China's artistic legacy. Dive into Culture at a traditional calligraphy class, where you'll try your hand at Chinese writing, an art form dating back to the Han Dynasty. Then, step into history at the Yaodong cave dwellings on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience ingeniously crafted from Loess earth, these eco-friendly homes have sheltered families for centuries. After lunch, marvel at the UNESCO-listed Terracotta Warriors standing guard over Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb. Wrap up the day at a Jade factory, discovering the deep cultural significance of China's national stone.
Hotel: Wyndham Grand Xi'an South

Take the bullet train to Chengdu Dive Into Culture

This morning, your choice of activities gives you an opportunity to join a Local Specialist in their T'ai Chi practice or embark on a cycle tour around part of the ancient City Wall of Xi'an. Get stuck in to the ancient art of dumpling making next, with an opportunity to sample the juicy results for lunch, then transfer to the railway station for your high-speed bullet train trip to Chengdu. On arrival in the hometown of the giant panda, you'll Check in to your hotel and savor the leisurely pace of local life on your terms.
Hotel: Rhombus Park Auro

See the Giant Pandas of China Make Travel Matter

Witness the ground-breaking work being done by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding this morning. Join a Local Specialist and learn how this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience supports the non-profit research breeding facility which rescues and protects the endangered giant panda, of which fewer than 2,000 remain. Afterwards, return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.
Hotel: Rhombus Park Auro

Discover the cuisine of Sichuan Dive Into Culture

Indulge in the bold and spicy flavors of local cuisine as you Dive Into Culture and learn about regional cooking practices at the Museum of Sichuan Cuisine. Experience the art of grinding chili into powder using a Qing Dynasty pestle and mortar, and discover ancient kitchenware, books and manuscripts faithfully recording the history of Sichuan culinary cultures. Immerse yourself in the intoxicating scents wafting through Restaurant Alley, pay tribute to the Kitchen God before attempting to create your own culinary magic under the guidance of a local chef. Stomach and soul sated after a delicious encounter with Chengdu, you'll have an afternoon to relax, explore further or perhaps take the opportunity to do some shopping.
Hotel: Rhombus Park Auro

Board your Yangtze River Cruise

Rub shoulders with the locals during a visit to People's Park with its beautiful Chinese gardens, lake and tea houses. Gain insights into the day-to-day lives of the locals who spend their free time in tranquil surrounds indulging in a leisurely game of mah-jong, a quiet nap or neck massage. Venture to lively Jinli Old Street next, crossing beneath the imposing archway into a world of intricate handicraft, paintings and calligraphy. Stroll along the narrow street whose facades were modelled on the architectural style of a traditional old town in western Sichuan Province, then transfer to the railway station for a high-speed bullet train ride to Chongqing. Here, you'll enjoy a city orientation tour with dinner before boarding your Yangtze River Cruise.
Hotel: Victoria Jenna, Victoria Sabrina

Cruise the Great Yangtze River

Disembark this morning for a short visit to Shibaozhai, home to a striking 12-storey cliff-top temple built in the 19th century. Stretch your legs and climb up to the temple, passing through the red pavilion that leans against the steep peaknow an island due to the rising waters of the Three Gorges Dam. You may choose to visit Fengdu's 'Ghost City' on an Optional Experience. Explore eerie temples and shrines depicting China's vision of the afterlife and hear the legend of two officials-turned-immortals. This evening, another Optional Experience awaits. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms retells the epic battle for dominance between three dynasties, with stunts, acrobatics and cutting-edge visual effects. Feel the excitement and intensity of the Three Kingdoms era come to life in this thrilling open-air show.
Hotel: Victoria Jenna, Victoria Sabrina

Sail through the imposing Three Gorges

Wake up to another day on the Yangtze. This morning, choose one of two Optional Experiences: visit the White Emperor City, where rulers and poets once admired Qutang Gorge, or head to Chijia Mountain's peak for sweeping views from the top of the Three Gorges. Return to your cruise and journey through Qutang Gorge's towering cliffs, past Wu Gorge's misty peaks, and into Xiling Gorge's dramatic landscapes. Swap the ship for a small motorboat this afternoon and explore the Goddess Stream, gliding past sheer limestone cliffs covered in lush greeneryyou'll gain another perspective on this mighty river.
Hotel: Victoria Jenna, Victoria Sabrina

Onwards to Shanghai Stays With Stories

View the engineering marvel that is the world's largest hydroelectric project, the Three Gorges Dam, before disembarking your cruise ship and transferring to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival into China's biggest city, check into your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Hotel: The Kunlun Jing An

Discover Vibrant Shanghai Dive Into Culture

Shanghai's famous 'Bund' waterfront is the first stop on a day of sightseeing with a Local Specialist. Admire the ornate neoclassical colonial buildings and skyscrapers that have sprung up from this former marshland, then Dive Into Culture during a visit to a silk museum. Embrace the tranquillity of the famous Yu Garden next, with its pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters. Then, enjoy some free time for a local lunch of soup dumplings perhaps and shopping in the Old Town, a treasure trove of winding streets and vibrant markets that was once enclosed by the ancient walled city of Shanghai. Our final stop this afternoon is a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple, built in 1928 after the original temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. Admire the beauty of its precious jade Buddha statues made out of crystal-clear white jade, before you settle into an evening performance by the world-renowned Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe.
Hotel: The Kunlun Jing An

More Treasures of Shanghai

Ascend to the 88-storey Jin Mao Tower for panoramic views of the skyscrapers that loom over the most populous city on earth. Then embark on a walking tour with a Local Specialist through the Shanghai French Concession, for an exhilarating encounter with the opulent age of French colonial China. Wander through the narrow alleyways, past elegant villas and apartments dating back to the early 1900s when the territory was proclaimed a French settlement. Later this morning, you'll see where the First Conference of the Communist Party took place in Xin Tian Di, whose charming antique facades hide a 21st century world of bars, cafes, boutiques and theme restaurants. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure, letting the sights and sounds of Shanghai infuse every sense or consider joining an Optional Experience. Say a fond farewell to newfound friends this evening during a farewell dinner.
Hotel: The Kunlun Jing An

Farewell to China

Our epic encounter with China at its end, take a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Departure Dates

Dates	From Price	Price My Trip
Mar 29, 2026 - Apr 12, 2026	$7,575 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip
Apr 12, 2026 - Apr 26, 2026	$7,575 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip
May 10, 2026 - May 24, 2026	$7,575 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip
May 31, 2026 - Jun 14, 2026	$7,295 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip
Jun 28, 2026 - Jul 12, 2026	$7,295 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip
Jul 12, 2026 - Jul 26, 2026	$7,295 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip
Jul 26, 2026 - Aug 9, 2026	$7,295 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip
Aug 23, 2026 - Sep 6, 2026	$7,575 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip
Sep 13, 2026 - Sep 27, 2026	$7,575 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip
Oct 11, 2026 - Oct 25, 2026	$7,575 pp \| Land Only	Price My Trip

Start: March 29, 2026 End: April 12, 2026 Price: $7,575 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip
Start: April 12, 2026 End: April 26, 2026 Price: $7,575 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip
Start: May 10, 2026 End: May 24, 2026 Price: $7,575 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip
Start: May 31, 2026 End: June 14, 2026 Price: $7,295 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip
Start: June 28, 2026 End: July 12, 2026 Price: $7,295 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip
Start: July 12, 2026 End: July 26, 2026 Price: $7,295 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip
Start: July 26, 2026 End: August 9, 2026 Price: $7,295 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip
Start: August 23, 2026 End: September 6, 2026 Price: $7,575 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip
Start: September 13, 2026 End: September 27, 2026 Price: $7,575 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip
Start: October 11, 2026 End: October 25, 2026 Price: $7,575 pp \| Land Only Price My Trip

Price My Trip

Product Code: TTUSAS-CLBYN26

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