Viking River Cruises - Imperial Jewels of China - 12 Days Guided Tour -- Program Details
Visiting Beijing, Chongqing, Lesser Three Gorges, Shanghai, Shibaozhai, Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam, Wuhan, Xian - Terra Cotta Warriors, Yueyang
Viking River Cruises
Day 1 Beijing
Welcome to Beijing, China’s former imperial capital whose rich
history dates back to more than 1,000 years B.C. We will meet you at
the airport and transfer you to your hotel.* After check-in, you have
free time to relax or explore.
Day 2 Beijing
This morning visit the enormous Tiananmen Square, which can accommodate
over 1,000,000 people. Then, tour Beijing’s Forbidden City. Nearly
800 buildings and 9,999 rooms make up this amazing site. As you walk
its grounds, marvel at the elegant palaces, pavilions, courtyards and
gardens within its walls. After lunch in a local restaurant, you visit
the Summer Palace, a 700-acre complex of gardens and elegant buildings.
Its Chinese name means Garden of Nurtured Harmony, and it was frequented
by the Imperial Court to escape the bustle of Beijing. Walk its landscaped
grounds, considered among the finest Chinese architectural gardens.
This evening, enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner. Then, you are
treated to a performance of the Peking Opera, a fascinating cultural
experience.
Day 3 Beijing
After breakfast, travel to the Badaling Hills to see one of the most
impressive and best-preserved sections of the fabled Great Wall of China.
Walk along its winding pathways and marvel at the excellent views. After
lunch in a local restaurant, visit the Sacred Way, a tree-lined avenue
guarded by massive sculptures of elephants, lions and camels. Tonight,
taste some local specialties at dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Beijing & Xian
Today tour Old Beijing’s hutongs (narrow alleys) via rickshaw.†
Discover the sights and sounds of traditional Chinese life. Visit a
silk carpet workshop for a demonstration of this ancient art. After
lunch, fly to Xian, key city of the Tang Dynasty. From 618 to 907 A.D.
this dynasty presided over one of China’s most glorious cultural
periods. Tonight, experience its grandeur as you dine surrounded by
the historic song and dance of this colorful era. (B, L, D)
†Rickshaw hutong tour only available on Beijing to Shanghai itinerary direction.
Day 5 Xian & Chongqing
After breakfast, tour the mausoleum where Emperor Qin Shi Huang was
laid to rest over 2,000 years ago. See the more than 6,000 life-sized
Terra Cotta Warriors, archers and infantrymen that were buried with
him, from the walkways that provide a bird’s-eye view. Each man
and horse is molded with his own distinct features. After lunch fly
to Chongqing, gateway to the Yangtze. You are welcomed aboard the Viking
Century Sky with a Western meal, and your ship sails this evening. (B,
L, D)
Day 6 Shibaozhai
This morning, you visit Shibaozhai Temple, a 12-story pavilion built
in 1650 and perched high above the Yangtze. Climb up to the top for
breathtaking views of the river below. Return to your ship and cruise
through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Three Gorges & Lesser Three Gorges
For the next 150 miles, you travel the most scenic stretch of the Yangtze
as it forces its way through a spectacular series of limestone ridges
known as the Three Gorges. During breakfast, cruise through Qutang Gorge,
the shortest, narrowest and most spectacular of the three large gorges.
Then, board a smaller boat for an excursion through the Lesser Three
Gorges. Sail through these remarkable canyons flanked by towering cliffs.
Along the way you see ancient sites including the hanging coffins of
the Ba people and the ancient plank road carved into the cliffside.
Enjoy lunch at a scenic stop overlooking the gorges. After, return to
your ship and sail through Wu (Witches) Gorge, renowned for its magnificent
scenery. Dinner is served aboard. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Three Gorges Dam
This morning, you disembark for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam. You
learn all about this immense engineering masterpiece—first conceived
by Sun Yat-Sen in 1919—and how it will affect the Chinese people
and the Yangtze. Then, you return to your ship and traverse the 5-stage
locks of the Three Gorges Dam. Lunch and dinner are served aboard while
you cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Three Gorges & Yueyang
This morning, cruise through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three
Gorges. Then arrive in Yueyang, where you visit an elementary school
sponsored by Viking River Cruises in this rural village. You will be
warmly greeted by the children and enjoy a performance. Return to your
ship for meals and scenic cruising. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Wuhan & Shanghai
After breakfast, disembark in Wuhan. Visit the Wuhan Museum. Then, fly
to Shanghai, China’s largest city and one of the world’s
most important ports. Here, you can see the modern metropolis of the
financial district juxtaposed with the other sections of the city. Check
in to your hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Shanghai
This morning, tour Old Shanghai and travel along the Bund, the city’s
elegant riverfront promenade. After lunch in a local restaurant, tour
a silk carpet workshop for demonstrations of this ancient art form.
Then visit the Shanghai Museum, featuring displays of ceramics, bronzes
and paintings. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant and a Chinese acrobatic
show. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Shanghai
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we will take you to the
airport for your return flight.*
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