Treasures of China with Yangtze Add-on

Day 1: UK/Beijing
You’ll depart on your scheduled flight to Beijing today via Abu Dhabi.

Day 2: Beijing
On arrival in Beijing this morning we have included a visit to the Summer Palace. The construction of these iconic gardens began in 1750 and they became the main royal residence at the end of the Qing Dynasty. You may choose to take a walk through the ornate ‘long corridor’ or a boat ride on the Kunming Lake for splendid views.

Lunch will be taken at the Summer Palace before transfering to your hotel. We have left this afternoon free for you to spend at leisure and acclimatise to the new time zone.

Day 3: Beijing
Today you’ll visit the beating heart of Beijing, Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in China. Look over to the Gate of Heavenly Peace with its huge portrait of Chairman Mao before continuing across Chang An Avenue to the incredible Forbidden City. Explore courtyards and pavilions from where imperial dynasties once ruled and pause to gaze at the many treasures in the Palace Museum.

A visit to the Temple of Heaven is included this afternoon. This strikingly beautiful and ornate wooden structure is still used as a place of prayer today. You’ll have time to stroll through the gardens where the locals gather to play chess amongst the ancient trees. As day turns to night the Beijing streets fill and the night markets burst into life. Colourful lanterns illuminate the narrow passages and eager crowds jostle at the food stalls.

Day 4: Beijing
You’ll drive out of the city this morning to the Sacred Way (Avenue of Statues) – also known as the Divine Road, the path slightly curved to fool evil spirits is lined with ornate carved animals, before continuing to Badaling. Here the Great Wall winds through the hills of northern China. A one-way cable car ride is included up to the historic ramparts. Step back thousands of years and imagine the manpower and time that went into the construction of this 3,800-mile symbol of imperial power. On your return to Beijing you’ll pass by the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, iconic symbols of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Day 5: Xian
You’ll depart Beijing early this morning for your flight to Xian. Once the flourishing capital of China, the archaeological discoveries here are quite staggering.

On arrival you’ll drive out to the Han Tombs. Two hundred Han burial sites have been discovered here and the rich array of terracotta treasures includes armoured warrior figures, elegant palace maids and countless animals. This afternoon you’ll visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and a final stop will be made at the ancient city walls of Xian, built during the Ming Dynasty. An optional lesson in calligraphy will also be available.

Day 6: Xian
Awake early and join your Local Guide for a walk. This is the best time of day to see the locals practicing tai chi and you are very welcome to join in. Later you’ll drive out to the Terracotta Army Museum. It is here that the first Qin emperor was interred in 200 BC with at least 6,000 life-sized terracotta figures of the Imperial Guard.

This afternoon you’ll return to the city for some time at leisure and the opportunity to take a walk around the Muslim quarter, where you can gain an insight into the daily life of the Hui minority. Try your hand at dumpling-making before returning to the hotel.

This evening enjoy an included meal at the hotel or there’s the chance to join an optional dumpling banquet dinner and folklore performance at the Tang Dynasty Theatre.

Day 7: Jiuzhaigou
This morning you’ll take an early flight to Jiuzhaigou and the remote Nine Villages Valley. This is one of China’s greatest areas of unspoilt natural beauty and was the backdrop to the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Relatively undiscovered by international visitors due to its remote location and protected by a soaring mountain range, the valley offers quite magnificent alpine scenery and a handful of preserved villages dating back to the 14th century where Tibetan pilgrims escaping from persecution chose to settle.

Arrive in Jiuzhaigou early afternoon, where the rest of the day is at leisure, giving you the opportunity to acclimatise to the altitude. You’ll stay here for two nights.

Day 8: Jiuzhaigou
Today you’ll drive to Jiuzhaigou National Park where a wealth of natural wonders awaits. Board environmentally-friendly buses which will take you into the park for a half-day tour. There are 220 species of bird, the rare giant panda and Sichuan golden monkeys all residing here and you’ll discover sparkling glacial lakes, cascading waterfalls, numerous orchids and rhododendrons too. The scenery is quite breathtaking.

Day 9: Leshan and Mount Emei
You’ll return by air to Chengdu this morning and continue by road to Leshan, home of the Grand Buddha, the world’s largest stone Buddhist statue, carved out of a rock in the 8th century. A boat ride on the river is included for a different view. This afternoon your journey continues by road to Mount Emei for an overnight stay.

Day 10: Chengdu
One of four of the most divine mountains in China and surely one of the most picturesque, Mount Emei is a Buddhist haven. This morning you will travel by cable car to the 400-year-old Wannian Temple. Spend some time with locals and pilgrims and discover sparkling waterfalls, magnificent forests and many species of wild flowers. You’ll then travel by road to Chengdu, where we have arranged a two-night stay.

Day 11: Chengdu
Your day beings with a morning visit to the local vegetable market. Sichuan Province is renowned for spicy cuisine, and getting to know some of the ingredients is the perfect introduction to an included gourmet cookery class.

This afternoon you’ll visit the Chengdu Panda Base. These adorable black and white-coloured bears are regarded as national treasures and the base has endeavoured to create a natural habitat for them. The pandas here were born in captivity and a visit to the playground allows you to observe them as they feed and play – a truly memorable sight.

You’ll continue to a local park where a traditional tea ceremony has been arranged. You’ll also have the opportunity to play the ancient chinese puzzle game, Mahjong. This evening you can experience typical Sichuan cuisine at an included ‘hot pot’ dinner.

Day 12: Chengdu
Spend this morning at leisure. Alternatively, join an optional morning of volunteering at the Panda Research Centre. Returning to the centre as a volunteer allows you to observe the efforts being made to save these endangered animals from extinction.

Day 13: Chengdu/Yichang
Today you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Wuhan. Here you will travel on a high speed train to Yichang where you will board your ship and embark on your four-night Yangtze cruise.

Days 14 – 16: Yangtze
Your cruise begins with a visit to the site of the mighty Three Gorges Dam, the biggest in the world, you’ll then proceed upstream through the spectacular scenery of the Xiling Gorge. Your cruise continues through the Wuxia and Qutang Gorges and a fascinating trip will be taken up the Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze which is surrounded by lush, emerald-green forest, steep cliffs and caves.

Day 17: Chongqing/UK
This morning you will arrive in Chongqing and transfer by train to Chengdu where after dinner you will take your evening flight via Abu Dhabi to the UK.

Day 18: UK
Morning arrival in the UK.

Please note
Cruise itinerary is dependent on local conditions.

We want you to get the most from your holiday with us so please be advised that this tour is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility.

Your meals
Breakfast is Western continental style, followed by Chinese lunch and dinner, each consisting of a variety of local dishes.

During this tour you will travel to altitudes of 11,000ft where altitude sickness can occur. This should not be a problem although everyone should take it easy at first. Our tour has been designed to allow a more gradual increase in altitude, giving you more time to adjust to the lower oxygen levels. Other simple measures, such as eating light meals and drinking lots of fluids, can also help to alleviate the symptoms. If you suffer from heart or respiratory conditions or have any other concerns please consult your doctor.

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotels you will stay in are:

4-star Chang An Grand Hotel in Beijing
4-star King Dynasty Hotel in Xian
Gesange Hotel in Nine Villages Valley
4-star Hua Sheng Hotel at Mount Emei
4-star Tianfu Sunshine Hotel in Chengdu
These comfortable hotels feature a restaurant and bar. Guest rooms are equipped with satellite TV, telephone, air conditioning and en suite facilities.

Your ship

Victoria has been a leader in Yangtze cruising for 17 years because of the quality of its fleet and its outstanding service. Your cruise ship, part of Victoria’s luxurious five-star fleet, boasts beautifully furnished cabins – all of them are outside and all feature private balconies and bathrooms with shower.

Guests will enjoy sumptuous western and Chinese buffets at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a captain’s farewell banquet is served on the final evening of your cruise.

Facilities on board include a reading room, fitness centre, gift shop and beauty salon. Activities include lectures on Chinese history and culture, Tai Chi lessons and calligraphy demonstrations.

Amenity Package and suite facilities include choice of 2 dining rooms, free tea & coffee, complimentary Happy Hour before dinner and use of executive lounge. Please speak to a Holiday Advisor for further information.

Please note: The cabin size and decor will vary dependant on the vessel.

Please note: There is a mandatory one-off gratuity of US$24 per person (not included).

All hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Summer Palace (half day)
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven (full day)
Night market
Avenue of Statues and Great Wall (full day)
Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Han Tombs and Xian city walls (full day)
Xian morning walk, Terracotta Army (half day)
Jiuzhaigou National Park, Nine Villages Valley (half day)
Leshan and the Grand Buddha (half day)
Mt Emei and Wannian Temple (half day)
Chengdu vegetable market and cookery class
Chengdu Panda Base and traditional tea ceremony (half day)
Three Gorges Dam
Xiling Gorge
Wuxia Gorge
Qutang Gorge
Chongqing tour

Optional excursions

Calligraphy lesson
Dumpling banquet and Tang Dynasty Show
Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Centre volunteering (half day)

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights as detailed
Overseas transfers and other transportation
11 nights’ hotel accommodation
All meals except day 12, which is half-board
4 nights on board Victoria Cruises
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guide
Hotel and cruise boat porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”