Avalon Waterways

Magical China and the Yangtze River

Discover the history and culture of China including this 13-day river cruise on the magical Yangtze River! Begin your journey in Shanghai with visits to the museum and Yu Yuan Gardens, plus a variety of cultural experiences. Then travel to Yichang to embark on a four-night river cruise aboard the Victoria Anna. During your cruise, visit the Three Gorges Dam site—a marvel of modern engineering—and view breathtaking scenery as you sail through this history-steeped region. After disembarking in Chongqing, travel to Xi’an, where you will see the Dayan Pagoda, the terra-cotta warriors, and a Tang Dynasty dinner show. Finally, end your amazing China vacation in the capital city of Beijing. Here you will visit the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Imperial Palace and experience the unique culture of this ancient land.

Included Features

YICHANG - Begin your Yangtze cruise aboard the Victoria Katarina

THREE GORGES DAM SITE - Sightseeing of the impressive dam site with a local guide

SHENNONG STREAM OR DANING RIVER - Enjoy a boat excursion down one of the lesser gorges of the Yangtze

WANXIAN/SHIBAOZHAI/FENGDU - View a wooden pagoda, an acrobatic show or statues at numerous temples on Mingshan Hill

XI’AN - Visit the Dayan Pagoda and terra-cotta warriors, enjoy “The Tang Dynasty” dinner show

BEIJING - Sightseeing with local guide; visit the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian’anmen Square, Beijing Zoo, Summer Palace, Great Wall, Ming Tombs; Hutongs tour by rickshaw; Peking Duck dinner; Peking Opera

Detailed Itinerary

Day 2 - Arrive in Shanghai, China. (Wewd.) Welcome to China’s most populous city and center of trade and industry. Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in.

Day 3 - Shanghai. (Thu.) Full day of sightseeing. Stroll along the Bund, the city’s riverfront boulevard lined with historic buildings housing banks and trade houses. You’ll visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM and experience the YU YUAN GARDENS. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and visit the CHILDREN’S PALACE, one of China’s famous kindergartens. Your Tour Director will host a WELCOME DINNER tonight as you meet your traveling companions. This evening you’ll be amazed at the fabulous ACROBATIC SHOW.

Day 4 - Shanghai-Yichang-Yangtze River Cruise. (Embarkation) (Fri.) Visit the ornate TEMPLE OF THE JADE BUDDHA before flying to Yichang. Board the Victoria Katarina for a four-night CRUISE through the breathtaking Three Gorges of the Yangtze.

Day 5 - Cruising. The Three Gorges Dam Site. (Sat.) This morning visit the Three Gorges Dam Site where the Chinese progress toward building the largest dam of its kind in the world. After lunch sail through the Three Gorges ship locks and the Xiling Gorge.

Day 6 - Cruising. Shennong Stream or Daning River. (Sun.) This morning disembark for a BOAT EXCURSION down either the Daning River or Shennong Stream, depending on conditions. After lunch head upstream through the Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most dramatic gorge, and the Wu Gorge, known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains. You can nearly touch the perpendicular walls rising from the riverbanks as your captain negotiates this narrow gap.

Day 7 - Cruising. Wanxian or Shibaozhai or Fengdu. (Mon.) Depending on river conditions, one of the following shore excursions will be offered: Wanxian, “Gateway to Eastern Szechuan Province,” where you will see an acrobatic show, market and possibly a school; Shibaozhai with its 400-year-old, twelve-story red wooden pagoda perched high on a cliff side; or Fengdu, known as the “ghost city” where you’ll visit several temples.

Day 8 - Chongqing-Xi’an. (Disembarkation) (Tue.) This morning bid farewell to your ship’s crew upon arrival in Chongqing, China’s capital during World War II. The city is high on a hill overlooking the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers. Board your flight to the city of Xi’an in central China.

Day 9 - Xi’an. (Wed.) One of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xi’an today is an archaeological treasure-trove. Sightseeing begins with a visit to the nearby DAYAN PAGODA, built in 652 A.D. In 1974 the enormous TOMB of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, was accidentally discovered by local farmers. Marvel at the legion of terra-cotta warriors that has been guarding the burial site for 2,000 years. This evening, enjoy “The Tang Dynasty” DINNER SHOW featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances.

Day 10 - Xi’an-Beijing. (Thu.) This morning visit the Xi’an City South Gate; you may even see some locals practicing their morning Tai Chi. Fly to Beijing, China’s capital city. Journey by rickshaw through Beijing’s ancient alleyways, known as HUTONGS.

Day 11 - Beijing. (Fri.) Your full-day sightseeing starts with a visit to the FORBIDDEN CITY and its IMPERIAL PALACE, once the home of China’s Great Emperors. Nearby is TIAN’ANMEN SQUARE, the largest public square in the world spanning 100 acres. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and continue to the ZOO to see pandas. Next, see the former SUMMER PALACE, a complex of pavilions, temples and galleries set among beautifully landscaped grounds and situated on Kunming Lake. Tonight experience local culture at the PEKING OPERA its various forms of drama and music dating back to the late 13th century.

Day 12 - Beijing. (Sat.) The GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 3,000 miles across China’s barren northern terrain from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved and walk along the wall to enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress. After lunch in a local restaurant, you’ll visit the MING TOMBS, burial site for 13 of the 16 Ming emperors. This evening is the perfect finale to a great touring adventure as you’re hosted to a special Peking Duck FAREWELL DINNER.

Day 13 - (Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day.

Cost of This Trip