NORTH AMERICA/CHINA

Board your flight this morning and begin your journey to the ancient wonders of China.

ARRIVE BEIJING

Arrive in Beijing, the ancient capital city of People's Republic of China, the capital city for over 3,000 years. Rest of the day is at leisure to shop, sightsee or explore the city. REGAL COURT BEIJING HOTEL OR SIMILAR 

BEIJING TOUR

Many buildings were destroyed to create Tian An Men Square. Since 1949 it has been the venue to major rallies held during the Cultural Revolution. Forbidden City, A Tang Dynasty poet wrote, "Without seeing the magnificence of the royal palace, one can never sense the dignity of the emperor.” Completed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty was home to 24 emperors and where many important events affected the course of Chinese history. The Summer Palace is the second largest imperial garden in China. The Summer Palace is called Yiheyuan. REGAL COURT BEIJING HOTEL OR SIMILAR BLD

GREAT WALL & MING TOMBS EXCURSION

Visit the Badling Great Wall. Construction began more than 2,000 years ago meandering more than 6,000 kilometers across the country. In ancient China, emperors were believed to be the Son of Heaven, therefore, prepare the way home after their deaths. The Sacred Way was a road usually built in front of an ancient Chinese mausoleum, symbolically lead emperors to heaven. Tour the Changling of Ming Tombs represents the addition of three Imperial Tombs of the Qing Dynasty in Liaoning to the Ming tombs inscribed in 2000 and 2003. They were built for the founding emperors of the Qing Dynasty and their ancestors, built on the principles of traditional Chinese geometry and fengshui. The Tombs are masterpieces of human artistic brilliance. The Sacred Way is part of the Ming Tombs complex, located in the front part of the royal cemetery, which means the path leading to heaven. This archway is the earliest and largest in China, constructed in 1540. REGAL COURT BEIJING HOTEL OR SIMILAR BL

BEIJING - TEMPLE OF HEAVEN & HUTONGS TOUR

The Temple of Heaven or the Altar of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings. The complex was visited by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although Chinese Heaven worship, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism. The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor. The complex was extended and renamed Temple of Heaven during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor in the 16th century. See local people participating in Taiji and morning exercise. Continue to the Hutongs developed around the Forbidden City as early as the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). In order to strengthen their authority, emperors planned city housing according to an etiquette system. Hutongs follow a strict quadrangular layout, with four buildings arranged around an open inner courtyard. There were 3,600 hutongs at the beginning of this century and now there are 2,000. Evening enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner followed by a Cultural Show. REGAL COURT BEIJING HOTEL OR SIMILAR BLD

BEIJING/XI’AN

Fly to Xi’an, known as Chang'an in ancient times. Xi’an is one of the six ancient capital sites in China. Tour the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the famous Buddhist pagodas in China. When Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), captured Huizhou, a hermit named Zhu Sheng advised him to enlarge the wall built initially during the old Tang dynasty ( 618 -907), creating the modern Xi'an City Wall. Continue to the Provincial History Museum, constructed, where once, a Confucian Temple stood. On display are mostly historical remnants of previous dynasties, such as the Han and Tang dynasties. Walking through the Provincial Museum, takes one back in history of what was known as the Silk Road. AURUM INTERNATIONAL OR SIMILARBL

TERRACOTTA MUSEUM

In the spring of 1974 peasant workers unearthed an archeological find, lost for 2,200 years. Buried were hundreds of battered but beautiful terra-cotta statues of armed warriors, servants and horses pulling manned war chariots, the retinue of unified China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Ti. Evening attend a Tang Dynasty show followed by Dumpling Dinner. AURUM INTERNATIONAL OR SIMILAR BLD

XI’AN/CHONGQUIN

This morning fly to Chongqing. Tour the 2nd World War Museum, Stillwell Museum and the Painters Village. Later, board your cruise to enjoy the Three Gorges. Settle into your cabin and check out the numerous amenities on board. Cruise on the Yangtze has been the dream of many travelers. You will discover the stunning natural beauty of Yangtze and its cultural legacy.  MV PARADISE BLD 

YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

Your cruise continues into Qutang Gorge, the shortest and narrowest of the Three Gorges. Go out onto the deck to take in the natural beauty. Your boat then docks at Shibaozhai, famous for the nine-storey Precious Stone Stronghold representing the first gem of Chinese architecture. This structure, built without nails, and was erected in two phases. The lower portion was built into the cliff face while the upper portion was built above the cliff-line. Return to ship and resume cruise for overnight stay. MV PARADISE BLD

YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

Another day of incredible views awaits you upon entering Wu Gorge. The gently layered peaks form a surreal backdrop as the ship courses through the rugged canyons. Wu Gorge, celebrated for its twelve misty peaks soaring above, has been the inspiration of Chinese painters and poets throughout the centuries. Transfer to a smaller motorized sampan for an excursion either to the Lesser Three Gorges or to the fabled Shennong Stream, depending on the water levels. While sailing upstream, see the many hanging coffins at the high cliffs as well as the coffins of the Ba people suspended from the cliffs above. The contrasting heights of these gorges and the narrowness of the river make this area one of the most dramatic scenes in the world. Return back to boat and resume cruise for overnight stay. MV PARADISE BLD

YICHANG/SHANGHAI

Each day 18,000 Chinese mobilize to build the most powerful and most disparaged new hydroelectric and China’s most ambitious engineering project – the construction of Three Gorges Dam and its hydroelectric power plant. View the current phase of this 17-year project. When completed in 2009, the dam will be 610 feet high and over a mile wide. The hydro electrical power plant will be driven by the world’s largest turbines and have the generating capacity of 18 nuclear power plants. Afternoon, fly to Shanghai, the largest and most populated city in China. It is also China's main center for industry, commerce, foreign trade, science and technology located at the spot where the mighty Yangtze meets the East China Sea. GALAXY HOTEL OR SIMILAR BL

SHANGHAI CITY TOUR

Drive along the Bund. Stroll along the world famous Bund waterfront, one of the world's highest buildings in the newly developed land across the bustling Huangpu River. Yu Yuan Garden exquisite layout, beautiful scenery and artistic style of the garden architecture are where the charm of Yu Fo Temple lies; also known as Jade Buddha Temple built in 1919. End the tour with a visit to a carpet factory. This evening, attend a performance of the famous Chinese Acrobat troupes. GALAXY HOTEL OR SIMILAR BLD

SHANGHAI/ZHUJIAJIAO EXCURSION

Drive into the countryside to the ancient water village of Zhujiajiao. Continue to the famous Shanghai Museum, constructed in 1952, is one of the largest and comprehensive art museum of China, renowned for its collection of Chinese art. The Museum houses 123,000 piece collection of cultural relics. GALAXY HOTEL OR SIMILAR BL

SHANGHAI/HOME

Depart Shanghai and board your homeward flight filled with memories of your exciting journey through ancient China. B