Modern Cities of China

Modern Cities of China

Category: China Tours

Duration: 9 days 8 nights

Itinerary: Beijing – Chongquing – Yangtze – Shanghai

Day 1: Arrival at Beijing

Upon your arrival at Beijing International Airport. Our guide will hold a sign with your name waiting for you outside the baggage claim area. Pick up and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Beijing (B/L/-)

This morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel. You will visit the Tiananmen Square firstly. Tiananmen Square is the world's largest city center square and was the locality of numerous major political and historical events. It is the witness of Chinese development. Then go through an underground tunnel to the imperial palace, also known as the "Forbidden City", which functioned as the house of emperors and their families, and also the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for up to 500 years. After lunch, continue to visit Temple of Heaven, the largest ancient imperial worship architecture group in the world where the ancient Emperors prayed for peace and harvest.

Day 3: Beijing (B/L/-)

After breakfast, begin the highlight of your Beijing tour; visit Mutianyu Great Wall, which is known for its beautiful surroundings - dense woods and rich pastures changing colors with the seasons of a year. Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Huai Rou County on the north-east of Beijing. This section of the Great Wall is about 75 KM from the center of Beijing. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, Mutianyu section of Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. Visit the Jade Museum to have a basic knowledge of China jade culture.

In the afternoon, move on to the Summer Palace, The Summer Palace is known as the Gardens of Nurtured Harmony, it has been included in World Heritage List in December 1998. It stated that the Summer Palace "a masterpiece of China landscape garden layout. Natural landscape of hills and open water is along with man-made features like pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to create a harmonious ensemble of remarkable aesthetic value."

On the way back to your hotel. You will have a short visit to see the exterior Bird Nest and Water Cube - the amazing architectures that built for Beijing Olympic Games.

Day 4: Beijing to Chongqing (B/-/-)

After breakfast, transfer you to Shichahai Area. Visit the Beijing Old Hutongs by taking rickshaw. Hutong means the lanes, an old city alleyway or lane specific in Beijing. Survived as earlier as centuries of years ago, narrow lanes, or Hutongs were most common in old Beijing.

Transfer to the airport, take flight to Chongqing. On your arrival at Chongqing airport, pick up. If time permits, visit the Ancient Town of Ciqikou with old houses and delicious local snacks. Transfer to the wharf and get on board of the Cruise Ship.

Day 5: Yangtze River (B/L/D)

Your memorable Yangtze River tour begins today. You will take a short break from the fabulous natural scenery to visit spectacular along the river, Fengdu Ghost City, which is famous for its ghost culture. First take a cable car up to the hill and visit the temples all over the mountain with many statues. Then, return to the ship and move towards the fantastic Three Gorges.

Day 6: Yangtze River (B/L/D)

This morning you will sail through miles of stunning gorges. You will encounter the charming sights of the spectacular Qutang Gorge and the pretty Wu Gorge. In the afternoon you will arrive at Badong where you will disembark for a magical excursion down the Shennong Stream. Local trackers will pull us in wooden sampans through awesome gorges and lush pine forests. Along the way you will see the remnants of ancient roads and pass cliff-top grottos that held the coffins of warriors. If you are lucky, you will glimpse rare animals, such as the golden-haired monkey.

Day 7: Yichang to Shanghai (B/-/-)

Pass through the Xiling Gorge which is the longest and historically the most dangerous of the Three Gorges. Then move on to the massive the Three Gorges Dam and disembark for a tour of this engineering marvel at Sandouping Village.

Then take your time to check out. Our local guide will meet you, transfer from cruise to airport in Yichang for your flight for Shanghai. Arrival at Shanghai, pick up and transfer to the hotel. You are at leisure for the remainder of the day.

Day 8: Shanghai (B/L/-)

This morning, you will visit Shanghai Museum. This museum holds the selection of hyper- 112,000 Chinese cultural tokens from the Old Stone Age to contemporary world, which contains bronze ware, calligraphy, paintings, clayware, porcelain, jade ware, stone sculptures, Jiaguwen imperial seals, old coins, silk embroidery, dyed materials, ivory carvings, cultural crafts.

Afterwards, visit the Nanjing Road - the earliest commercial street in Shanghai, and have a leisure walk along the Bund - famous as a group of building known as "a Gallery of world architecture".

In the afternoon, go to Yu Garden, which bearing the burden of being the most complete classical garden in urban Shanghai and therefore a must-see for every tourist. Then visit the nearby Chenghuang Temple (Old Street), There are over a hundred stores and shops in this area, and most of these store buildings are nearly a century old.

Day 9: Departure from Shanghai (B/-/-)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will find your own way to the airport for your next destination. (B)