China's Great Cities and Waterways Tour

Set sail for your breathtaking Yangtze River voyage today!

Excurse through the amazing Three Gorges, which bridged through Yichang and Chongqing, then explore the Lesser Three Gorges by motorized sampans. Don't forget to look for the golden monkeys playing on treetops and caves that housed the coffins of ancient Ba people along the way. Approximately 100 towns vanished in 2003 due to the rise of water level, caused by the on-going Three Gorges Dam Project. More areas are expected to disappear, so treasure this valuable chance to explore the Gorges before the scenery changes once more!

Two percent of the standard tour cost would be donated to Lotus Travel's Orphans Improvement Program to improve the quality of life of orphans in China. By joining our China Homeland Heritage Tours, you help improve the lives of Chinese orphans!

Itinerary

Day 1: Canada/Beijing
accommodations: n/a
meals: n/a
Depart Canada to begin your explorations at China's most popular sites and cities. Cross the International Date Line enroute to China.
Day 2: Beijing
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: D
Arrive in Beijing and meet your English-speaking guide and driver after claiming your baggage. You will then travel to your hotel to settle down and adjust to the time difference. Attend a welcome dinner in the evening to get acquainted with the tour logistics.
Day 3: Beijing
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
Begin your day with a tour at the Forbidden City. Listed as a world heritage site in 1987, the Forbidden City contains the largest group of intact palace structures in the world. The palace is 720,000 square meters in size and contains 9,999 rooms, numerous pavilions, gardens and courtyards. In the afternoon, visit China's largest temple and altar-the Temple of Heaven, which is often depicted as the most recognizable symbol of China.
Day 4: Beijing
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
Visit two UNESCO world heritage sites today. Begin your day with a tour at the Great Wall. Constructed more than 2,000 years ago by China's first emperor, the ancient wall is 6,350 km in length and the only visible man-made structure that could be seen from space. Stop at the Beijing's Cloisonne (Jingtailan) Factory to learn about the intricate cloisonné making process after your great wall experience. Cloisonne originated in 1426 and became popular during the reign of Ming Emperor Jingtai. In the afternoon, explore the imperial gardens of the Summer Palace originally built in 1750 and later rebuilt in 1886. Located in the western outskirts of the city, the Summer Palace is the leading classical garden in China and a UNESCO world heritage site.
Day 5: Beijing/Shanghai
accommodations: Overnight Express Train
meals: B/L/D
Explore the fascinating Hutong neighborhoods. Beijing's oldest Hutongs were constructed during Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Your tour will take you through some of the best-preserved Hutong neighborhoods that represented the history, culture, and lifestyle of old Beijing. After a special homemade lunch at a local family residence in the Hutong Lane area, you and your children can relax and fly kites with the others at the Tiananmen Square. Noted as the largest city square in the world, the square was initially designed for political rallies and important gala events. Today the square is flanked by the Forbidden City in the north, the Great Hall of the People in the west, Mao TseTung's Mausoleum in the south and the Museum of Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History in the east. Early this evening, get onboard a luxury express train for your overnight journey to Shanghai.
Day 6: Shanghai
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
Arrive in Shanghai-"Paris of the East" in the early morning and your local English-speaking guide and driver will show you around. Your first stop will be the Bund, located near the Huang Pu River. Then visit the Yu Yuan Garden nearby, where you can view intricately designed gardens, pavilions, koi stocked pools and courtyards. In the afternoon, visit the Jade Buddha (Yufo) Temple, which is built in 1882.
Day 7: Shanghai/Zhu Jia Jiao/ Shanghai
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic one-hour drive to the ancient town of Zhu Jia Jiao. Opened recently to visitors, Zhu Jia Jiao retains its charm and grace reminiscent of traditional Chinese painting, along with its quaint buildings, traditional arched bridges and willow- lined canals. You will pass by traditional craft workshops, picturesque canals and teashops during your tour. Return to Shanghai in the afternoon.
Day 8: Shanghai/Yichang
accommodations: Victoria Cruises Ship
meals: B/L/D
Today you will fly to YiChang for the Yangtze River Cruise. After a half- day city tour in YiChang with included dinner, you will get onboard the cruise ship for your Yangtze River voyage.
Day 9: Yangtze River Cruise
accommodations: Victoria Cruises Ship
meals: B/L/D
Visit the Three Gorges Dam site at Yanjiawang for a comprehensive Three Gorges Dam visitors' center tour this morning. Then sail through the Xiling Gorge in the afternoon.
Day 10: Yangtze River Cruise
accommodations: Victoria Cruises Ship
meals: B/L/D
Explore the beautiful Lesser Three Gorges, where you will go upstream along the pristine waters by boat, pass by farmlands and villages, and at the same time enjoy the spectacular countryside sceneries. Then Return to your ship this afternoon and resume your journey. Sail through the first two gorges: Wuxia Gorge and Qutang as you enter Kuimen Gate.
Day 11: Yangtze River Cruise
accommodations: Victoria Cruises Ship
meals: B/L/D
Today you will enjoy a shore excursion to either the market town of Wanxian or the city of Fengdu (City of Ghosts).
Day 12: ChongQing/Guilin
accommodations: Guilin Ming Garden Apt Suites
meals: B/L
Arrive at Chongqing at 9:00AM. You will fly to Guilin from ChongQing today. After lunch, begin your tour with a visit to the Reed Flute Caves (Ludi Yan). Enjoy the spectacular views of beautiful backdrops created by the cool atmosphere and colorful lighting displays inside the caves as you pass by many fanciful shapes (don't forget to look for the Monkey King). Tonight you will stay at the Ming Garden Apartment Suites, which is located within the local Chinese residents' apartment complexes. Each unit is decorated in the Ming Dynasty Style with beautiful Ming furniture, an air-conditioning/heating unit, a private western-style bath, a kitchen equipped with microwave, refrigerator and cooking utensils; free Internet access, television set and telephone. The apartment units are rated above five-stars standard and guests can also enjoy free late checkouts until 6:00 p.m. (all hotels request checkouts before 12:00 noon). Although the Guilin Ming Garden Apartment Suites has no fancy lobby and swimming pool, all guests will have the rare chance to live among local residents within the same apartment complex. We can even arrange a nanny to take care of your children and make traditional Chinese meals for your whole family. What a great opportunity to experience the authentic lives of local Chinese people!
Day 13: Guilin
accommodations: Guilin Ming Garden Apt Suites
meals: B/L
After breakfast, embark on a Li River scenic cruise along the Li River and enjoy a delicious lunch onboard. The landscape of Guilin is noted as the most gorgeous in China, with sparkling clear waters and magnificent green hills; you will see fishermen fishing with their trained cormorant birds occasionally as well. Your children will be excited to watch water buffalos either grazing along the riverbanks or taking lazy afternoon swims. Visit the ShiWaiTaoYuan water garden on the way back to Guilin from Yangshuo.
Day 14: Guilin/Hong Kong
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
This morning you will visit the Seven Star Park and the Panda Zoo. After lunch, you explore the Duxiu Peak and Elephant Trunk Hill before transferring to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong.
Day 15: Hong Kong
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: D
Take a half-day city motor coach tour on Hong Kong Island and visit attractions, including Victoria Peak and its stunning panoramic views, bustling Stanley Market, Repulse Bay and the floating village of Aberdeen after breakfast. Your afternoon is free for shopping and independent explorations. Enjoy a fabulous buffet dinner cruise around Hong Kong Harbor before returning to your hotel to prepare for your journey back home.
Day 16: Hong Kong/Canada
accommodations: n/a
meals: n/a
Transfer to the Hong Kong airport for your flight back to Canada.

You may extend your tour to visit other cities in China, such as your child’s birthplace and finding site.

Inclusions

  • Prices listed above include Super Deluxe (5-Star) hotels. In the event that a 5-Star hotel does not exist in a city, we use a top-class hotel in that city.
  • Prices listed above are based on group size of 10 or more passengers.
  • In the event that less than 10 people sign up for a tour, Lotus Travel reserves the right to cancel the tour and issue a full refund to participants.
  • For private package tour under 10 passengers or different scheduled tour, please contact us for a price quote.
  • Tour price includes sightseeing and meals as noted in the itinerary, intra-China airfare, private transfers and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and the services of an English- speaking guide and driver.
  • All prices are quoted in Canadian Dollars and are subject to change without notice. Please check at time of booking.
  • All prices are quoted per person based on two people sharing a room (double occupancy). Single supplement applies for single travelers.
  • For Air and Land Packages, international airfare is included.

Exclusions

  • Airport tax.
  • Passport or China Visa Fees.
  • Tips to guides and driver.
  • Expenses of a personal nature.
  • Costs associated with side-trip to orphanage

Lotus Travel Terms and Conditions

Tour Overview
  • Trip Duration:
    16 days/15 nights
  • Price:
    Land Only: $3,350 (CAD)
  • Departure Dates:
    Please contact one of our experienced travel advisors for departure dates in 2008

  • For more information, please contact our Homeland Heritage Tour expert Louie.

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