---- 18 day tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Chongqing, Yangtze River Odyssey, Wuhan, Shanghai, Guilin and Hong Kong

View Larger Map		Yangtze
		A: Beijing   C: Chongqing E: Shanghai   G: Hong Kong	B: Xi'an    D: Yangtze River Odyssey F: Guilin

ITINERARY:

*ABF - American Buffet Breakfast; B – Breakfast; L – Lunch; D –Dinner; SD –Banquet;
** Time – All times listed in the itinerary are LOCAL TIME;

Day 01, International Gateway (Toronto or Vancouver) / North Pole
You will depart from the international gateway of Canada by your preferred airlines today and fly across the North Pole.

Day 02, Beijing
You will arrive in Beijing today. Beijing is a world-class capital with an incredible mix of historic and modern landmarks. Upon arrival you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to hotel.

Day 03, Beijing (ABF, L, SD)
After breakfast, you will start your tour from the largest public square in the world - the Tiananmen Square, and then enter the intriguing Forbidden City, home of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. In the afternoon, you will visit the harmonious Temple of Heaven, one of the best examples of Ming Dynasty architecture in China, also an ornate sanctuary where Chinese Emperors worshiped the Gods. Tonight, feast on the emperor’s cuisine - The Beijing Roast Duck Banquet will be arranged at a leading city restaurant.

Day 04, Beijing (ABF, L, D)
An unforgettable outing includes a walking to the wondrous Great Wall, Badaling part, where you will have the chance to climb a portion of this 3,700-mile vista and marvel. Its dramatic descends steep ridges and narrow valleys will scatter a good landscape for your camera. In the afternoon, visit the Ming Tomb and walk through the Sacrificed Way features the giant animal sculptures group.

Day 05, Beijing (ABF, L)
After having breakfast, enjoy a Pedi cab tour of the Hutongs, the "old city" neighborhood of narrow alleyways and courtyard gardens hidden behind Beijing's modern facade. Visit Prince Gong's Palace, the Drum Tower, and old-style courtyard houses still inhabited by Beijing residents. After lunch, visit the Summer Palace, where the Empress Dowager Ci Xi would go to escape the heat of the city. En route, you will drive around the intriguing architecture of the 2008 Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony venues, the National Stadium which is nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" because of the unique design and the National Aquatics with the nickname of "the Water Cube (H₂O³)

Day 06, Beijing / Xi’an (ABF, L, D)
A morning flight will bring your to Xi’an – the Ancient Chinese Capital thousands years ago. You will be greeted by local tour guide & transferred to hotel. Xi’an is a city of unsurpassed importance in China’s history; it is filled with archeological wonders and served as the capital for eleven dynasties. You will tour the Great Mosque, a haven of tranquility tucked into the bustling market areas of Xi’an. Also in your today’s itinerary will cover the Ancient City Wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Bell Tower.

Day 07, Xi'an (ABF, L, SD)
Today's highlight is a visit to the Archaeological Museum, home to more than 6,000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. After lunch, visit the Shanxi Provincial Museum which contains relics from the earliest known inhabitants of China. In the evening, attend a Tang Dynasty (AD 600 – 780) Dinner Show.

Day 08, Xi’an / Chongqing (ABF, L, D)
After breakfast, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival in Chongqing, you will take a brief city tour which includes the Farmer Painters’ Village, WWII Museum, the People’s Grand Square & enjoy the local flavor dinner – Szechwan Cuisine. By late evening, the tour guide will help you check-in one of the 5 star Deluxe Victoria Cruise Fleet. The Yangtze River Odyssey Tour will start right from there.

Day 09, Yangtze River Cruise (AB, L, D)
Start your spectacular cruise down the mighty Yangtze River. Relax on deck or in the lounge, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Three Gorges. Today you'll enjoy a shore excursion to Fengdu, the "Ghost City".

Day 10, Yangtze River Cruise (AB, L, D)
This morning you'll sail through Qutang and Wu Gorges. Enjoy a mid-day excursion to either Shennong Stream or the Lesser Three Gorges, depending on river conditions. This afternoon you'll enter Xiling Gorge, and then navigate the 5 stages of the new Three Gorges Dam Ship-Lock.

Day 11, Yichang / Shanghai (AB, L, D)
This morning enjoy a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam site, where you'll have a birds-eye view of this awe-inspiring engineering feat. Continue sailing downstream through the Gezhou Ship-Lock. Once upon your disembarking from the cruise ship at noon time, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, the economic heart of China.

Day 12, One Day Tour to Suzhou (ABF, L, D)
You will go to Suzhou today. The city of Suzhou is referred to as the “Venice of the East”. Take a relaxing stroll through one of Suzhou beautiful gardens, like the Humble Administrator’s Garden, one of the largest classical gardens in Suzhou as well as one the four best gardens in China. Enjoy a boat cruise along the Grand Canal, which is over 1,500 years old and connects Beijing to the rich coastal areas around Shanghai. Your tour programs will also include the Garden of Master Fishing Net.

Day 13, Shanghai (ABF, L, D)
Your first day of sightseeing in Shanghai will start from the Bund. Along the waterfront you will see the European-Style architecture of the buildings that once housed the institutions of the colonial powers in the 19th century. Followed program will be a visit to the Old Town and walk down its narrow lanes past traditional buildings to the once private Yu Yuan Gardens. A special lunch features local flavor will be booked for you in The Green Wave Pavilion Restaurant – right inside the Yu Garden. You end your full-day sightseeing tour with a stop at the Jade Buddha Temple. Tonight, you are sure to enjoy the amazing contortion and acrobatic show in Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Day 14, Shanghai / Guilin (ABF, L, D)
In the morning, you will make a visit the Shanghai National Museum. There you will find artifacts that span the length of China’s history, and enliven its cultural traditions. In the afternoon, you will fly to China’s most scenic city – Guilin. Best known for its immortal stone mountains, Guilin also is noted for fantastic caves, and this afternoon you’ll explore the finest Reed Flute Cave, full of oddities and historic treasures. Also you will visit the Fubo Hill, Elephant Trunk Hill, Seven Star Park & farmer’s free market.

Day 15, Guilin / Yangshuo / Guilin (ABF, L, D)
After breakfast, cruise in air-conditioned comfort on the Li River, where every turn offers breathtaking new views of vertical peaks, weathered stone pinnacles, caverns, soft bamboo groves, and other pastoral landscapes that have inspired so much Chinese art and poetry. You spend the entire evening in Yangshuo, a small town 100 km away from Guilin, to have a better study of Chinese farmers’ real daily life. By late evening, drive back to Guilin.

Day 16, Guilin / Hong Kong (ABF)
Continue your unfinished tour in Guilin this morning. In the afternoon, be escorted to the Guilin Airport for your flight to Hong Kong. Upon your arrival at Hong Kong airport, our CTS H.K. representative will meet you at the airport for your transfer to the hotel.

Day 17, Hong Kong (ABF)
Enjoy the free at leisure for self-exploration of this metropolitan city. In the afternoon, your tour guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for half day tour in Hong Kong Island. The tour will start from Victoria Peak’s classic tram and glittering new Tower Complex, to quaint Aberdeen, Repulse Bay and the teeming markets of Stanley.

Day 18, Hong Kong / Canada (ABF)
Be free in the morning. At around noon time, your tour guide will meet you at the hotel lobby for the transfer to the airport for your back home flight.

The whole trip is finished!

PRICES – “International transpacific airfare is quoted separately”:

NOTES:
* Guarantee Departure for group with minimum participants of 2 fully paid adults;
** Single Supplement: please check with our agent for single supplement;
**** “Early Bird” Special Discount Airfare with Air Canada, Air China or Cathay Pacific Airways – check with us at the time of booking;