MAGNIFICENT YANGTZE (17 days)
BEIJING-XI'AN-YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE-GUILIN-SHANGHAI

Day 1 US-BEIJING
Fly from US to Beijing via Northwest Airlines or Air China (Flight details to be ascertained).

Day 2 ARRIVE BEIJING
Welcome to Beijing! Arrive at Beijing International Airport in the afternoon. Clear Chinese immigration/customs. Greeted by your friendly guide/ private transfer to Palace Hotel (5-star luxurious. Directly across Imperial Palace Museum / Tiananmen Square).

Day 3 BEIJING
AM: Private escorted excursion to Tiananmen Square (Gate of Heavenly Peace). This is the world's largest public square and represents the heart of Imperial and 'Tourist' Beijing. Continue your day by visiting Imperial Palace Museum (former Forbidden City). This architectural marvel was completed in 1420 after 14 years of hard work by 200,000 laborers. It was the symbol of Imperial power for over 500 years and was the home of 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Followed by a leisurely walk through Jingshan Park and a short comfortable hike to a nearby peak where you can get a fantastic view of the Palace.
PM: Private guided walking or pedi-cab (Tricycle) tour through Beijing's ancient back alleys and passageways known as Hutongs. You will have an opportunity to see this traditional communal life-style that has existed for hundreds of years. There will also be an opportunity for a private in-home visit with Chinese families in their Dazayuan which is a traditional courtyard house. These neighborhoods have their origins in the Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty. Hutongs and Dazayuan are unique Chinese structures and can be found nowhere else outside China. Unfortunately they are fast disappearing. You can also opt to visit the community clinic, the neighborhood day-care center or other places based on your own personal interests. Followed by a special interest program to Liulichang Cultural District for art lovers or Panjiayuan for antique lovers. Liulichang dates from the Ming Dynasty and encompasses more than 800 years of history. Here, you will be able to find many small galleries, traditional art implements and classical Chinese music stores as well as acupuncture and herbal clinics. This is certainly one of the best places to hunt for unique souvenirs. Ceramics, Chinese Paintings, Seal Engravings, Jade Carvings and Snuff Bottles are some of the most popular items. Panjiayuan is the largest and most active antique marketplace for local antique dealers. You will also visit Dong Yue Taoist Temple, built in the 13th century and once the most important Taoist shrine in China.
EVENING: Peking Duck Banquet at Chungjude Hepingmen Duck House. One of the best restaurants in China.

Day 4 GREAT WALL EXCURSION
AM: Private escorted excursion to Great Wall. The construction of the Great Wall (Changcheng) started in the 7th Century BC during the Qin Dynasty, making the Great Wall over 2,500 years old. Based on your interests, we will arrange for you to visit Mutianyu (a rarely visited section), Huanghua (a still unrestored section) Badaling (the most well known part) or Simatai (great for soft-adventurer). Take a cable car to the summit and walk around for 1-2 hours.
LUNCH: A Chinese picnic basket lunch will be provided if weather permits. In case of inclement weather, lunch will be in a local restaurant.
PM: Drive along the magnificent Sacred Way to Ming Tombs (Burial site of 13 Emperors of Ming Dynasty). Although Beijing was the capital city of five dynasties, the tombs of the Ming emperors are the only ones found in modern Beijing. Your guide will give you an introductory lesson on "Fengshiu" - one of the most popular concepts introduced to the Western world from China while you enjoy an afternoon tea of traditional Chinese desserts and Kung-Fu Tea in Tianqiaole Tea House (Afternoon tea accompanied by traditional performance. Programs vary daily).
EVENING: Peking Opera Performance at renovated Zhengyici Theater, the only surviving Peking Opera House constructed entirely of wood.

Day 5 BEIJING-XI'AN
AM: Private escorted tour to Yihe Yuan (former Imperial summer palace). Since it was for summer holiday use, the emphasis was therefore on the cooling features, such a natural underground stone cooler. You will see the famous Marble Boat and enjoy a ride on Kunming Lake. Visit both the old and new complexes.
SPECIAL LUNCH: Special lunch in Tinliguan Restaurant. Enjoy a meal based on an Imperial banquet. Enjoy delicious dishes elegantly prepared and served with the most luxurious tableware.
PM: Private escorted tour to Temple of Heaven (Tiantan Park), this perfect example of Ming architecture was built in the 15th Century. It was sacred ground where many of the emperors, as Sons of Heaven, performed major religious harvest ceremonies. Try the Whispering Wall. If time permits, also visit Lhama Temple (Yunhe Gong), the most colorful Temple in Beijing. Transfer to the airport to fly to Xi'an. Airport reception/ private transfer to Castle Hotel (5-star luxurious, in the center of ancient walled city, overlooking South Gate).
EVENING: Food is art! Let's prove it tonight. Enjoy a Sha'anxi local specialty and dumpling banquet at De Fa Chang (Mongolian Bar-B-Q Beef and Lamb, Dumplings and Sha'anxi local specialty and snacks), one of the most well-known restaurants in China.

Day 6 TERRA COTTA WARRIOR MUSEUM EXCURSION
AM: Private escorted tour to the Qin Dynasty Imperial Tomb and the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum (Binmayong). The site was accidentally uncovered in 1974 by local peasants and is among the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century. Start today's tour by viewing an informative IMAX documentary that gives a brief overview of 2000 years of Chinese history. Followed by on-site inspection of the 6,000 terra cotta warriors, made in the 3rd Century BC and all with different faces, expressions and postures, they were modeled after real human beings. You may find it difficult to believe that originally, when found, all these life-size "soldiers" were mashed into powder and broken pieces. On-site archaeologists demonstrate how they restore them into their original condition. Also visit the newly-opened site #3.
PM: Private drive and escorted tour to Xiahe Village, the famous hometown of pomegranate orchards. President Clinton made a stop at this rarely visited village while visiting Xi'an in '97. Private in-home visit and lunch with local families can be arranged. Continue the private excursion to Banpo Neolithic Village, which is Xi'an's number two attraction. Banpo is the earliest example of Yangshao Culture, a representation of human life from 4500 BC to 3750 BC. Another interesting stop will be made at a bustling countryside open market en route before returning to the city.
Evening: Imperial banquet & restored Court music/dance in the luxurious Tang Dynasty Grand Dinner Theater.

Day 7 XI'AN/ WUHAN/YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
AM: Private escorted tour by car and on foot to Xi'an's Tang Dynasty site: Ancient walled city, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Big Goose Pagoda and Forest of Steles Museum (Beilin Museum). Xi'an used to be called "Chang'an," and was the capital of the Tang Dynasty. In Chinese, Chang'an means "forever-lasting peace and prosperity." It was also the ancient capital for eleven other Chinese dynasties. During the Tang Golden Age in the 10th Century, Chang'an was one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities on earth, and it was eight-times larger than Xi'an is now.
PM: Visit the Great Muslim Mosque, the Muslim market and Sha'anxi Provincial Museum. The museum is one of the world's greatest repositories of Tang Dynasty ceramics, painting, and textiles. Transfer to the airport to fly to Wuhan. Airport reception/ private transfer to the pier to board superior deluxe Yangtze River Cruise-MS VICTORIA, consider by many to be the best cruise along Yangtze. Ship sails at 10:00pm.

Day 8 YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE- Second Day
Ship sails along the magnificent Yangtze and stops at Yueyang for a shore excursion. Yueyang is a 2,000-year-old city in northern Hunan Province. Visit Yueyang Tower, Yueyang Mansion, Cishi Pagoda, Quzi and Wen temples.

Day 9 YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE-Third Day
AM: Arrive at Yichang. Excursion to Three Gorges Dam, located at Sandouping in Hubei Province, 38 km/ 24miles upstream from Gezhouba (Gezhouba Dam Lock). This project is one of the world's largest construction projects that will forever change the face of Yangtze River as we know it today. With the completion of this project come benefits such as flood control, hydro-electric power generation and better navigation. The project is scheduled for completion in 2009. Measures have been taken to preserve and move the historical and cultural relics found along its banks. However, many scenic spots will unfortunately be affected. We will only be able to enjoy the Three Gorges by boat till 2007, when water will forever cover many of the sights that you will have enjoyed today.
PM: Ship enters Xiling Gorge, the Gorge famous for its strangely -shaped cliff faces and rock formations. Try to see if you can identify Ox Liver, Horse Lungs, Yellow Cat and Previous Sword formations. This is the longest gorge of the three. Ship enters Wu Gorge at approximately 2:30pm. The wondrous Wu Gorge is the home of the twelve peaks of the Wu Mountains. You may experience a meandering landscape of dazzling peaks and rocks. Wu Gorge is also known as the Gallery of the Natural Beauty. Ship enters the third Gorge- Qutang Gorge in the late afternoon. This is the shortest, the narrowest and the rockiest gorge. Qutang Gorge is full of abundant historical relics and cultural heritage and is also home to the earliest human cultures ever discovered in Asia. You can see the original site of the famous Fenbi Wall, the ruins of ancient cliff roads and the Mengliang Steps. Chinese government plans to move these sites to higher ground so that they will not be submerged by water later.

Day 10 YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE- Fourth Day
AM: Shennong Stream or Danning River Excursion to see Three Lesser Gorges. Transfer to a smaller craft to drift along the Little Gorges. One of the most stunning scenes: the drift along the Little Gorges. One of the most stunning scenes: the Hanging Coffin can be found along the side. The excursion lasts about 2 hours. Return to your cruise ship.
PM: Ship enters Qutang Gorge. Qutang is the shortest, narrowest and rockiest gorge. It is full of abundant historical relics and cultural heritage and is also home to the earliest human cultures ever discovered in Asia. You can see the original site of the famous Fenbi Wall, the ruins of ancient cliff roads and the Mengliang Steps along this gorge. Chinese government plans to move these sites to higher ground so that they will not be submerged by water later.

Day 11 YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE-Fifth Day
Depending on the water level, ship disembarks at either Fengdu or Wanxian for shore excursion. Both are interesting places and are worth a visit!
Fengdu has another intimidating name: Ghost City. During Han Dynasty, two Taoist priests created rituals here that they claimed rendered people immortal. These spurious claims caused the town to be given its nickname. Take a cable car to the summit and visit the attractive temples, shrines and ghost statues.
Located halfway between Chongqing and Yichang, Wanxian used to be a major port for East Sichuan. Today, local markets are still bustling. Escorted tour will take you to silk-weaving and cane-furniture factories and to see two churches: one Catholic and one Protestant both built in the 1940's.

Day 12 YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE - CHONGQING-DAZU- GUILIN
AM: Ship disembarks at Chongqing at 9:00am. Pier reception/ private drive through ancient Yangtze River Valley hamlets to Dazu (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the home of grotto art. Dazu is rated alongside China's other great Buddhist cave sculptures at Dunhunag, Luoyang and Datong. In Beishan, you may find more than a thousand large and small carvings and statues with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian influences. A short drive brings you to Beishan; you may find more than a thousand large and small carvings and statues with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian influences. A short drive brings you to Baodingshan, where you will see more amazing sculptures. Here you can find China's largest Sleeping Buddha (31m /103 feet long and 5m/17 feet high) as well as thousands other figures. These works were done in 12th Century during the Tang and Song Dynasties and took 70 years (AD 1149-1249) to complete. They were recently discovered and are virtually intact.
PM: Return drive to Chongqing airport for flight to Guilin. Airport reception/private transfer to Guilin Sheraton Hotel (5-star luxurious, traditional Chinese garden setting).

Day 15 SUZHOU & ZHOUZHUANG EXCURSION
AM: Relaxing two-hour drive to Suzhou, the famed silk production center and the 'Garden City.' Walk through Suzhou's ancient gardens, including Garden of the Master of the Nets (Wangxhi Yuan), Humble Administrators' Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan), and Surging Wave Pavilion (Cunlang Ting), Optional visit to the silk factory and silk museum.
PM: Private escorted drive through the local countryside (about 1 1/2 hours) to 'water village' of Zhouzhuang. Zhouzhuang is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a 1000 year history. A private boat excursion on the canal. The 'boatmen' are usually a husband and wife duo and are good singers. Optional shopping can be arranged in old town. Local specialties include woven goods, wood carvings, teapots and locally harvested water pearls. Return to Shanghai and transfer to Hyatt hotel.

Day 16 SHANGHAI
AM: Private escorted walking tour including Nanjing Road, Huihai Road, and Maoming Road -- the most famous historic roads and delightful shopping districts. Huihai Road is the former French Concession, and is nicknamed 'Frenchtown.' Find an entrance back to the 1920's from a side street. You can expect to see some of the best old architecture from Art-deco apartment buildings to classical mansions and villas. Take a coffee break at a cafe and try some delicious French pastry. The bakeries and antique shops around the area have been here for almost 100 years. Walking tour ends on the Bund and the waterfront of Huangpu River for a breath-taking panorama of the world's famous "Shanghaitan"!
PM: Special arranged "Make-A-Friend" program with families in Shanghai Workers Housing Estate and in Children's Palace (Xiaoniangon) - a government sponsored after-school center for talented children. You will meet with gifted children and watch them perform traditional arts, music, dance and crafts. Also visit the Chinese Sex Museum, a collection of works with the theme of the history of sex.
EVENING: Shanghai style farewell dinner.

Day 17 SHANGHAI-US
AM: Say Zaijian (Now you should know how to say good-bye in Chinese) to China. Private transfer to the airport to board return flight to US. Back home the same day.