Grand Yangtze

The Yangtze River is over 6,000km long and it is the country’s largest and longest river. This amazing waterway forms the backbone to this wonderful tour. Over eight nights you will cruise upstream onboard the 5-star Victoria Sophia. The highlight for many will be viewing the stunning landscapes, dramatic gorges, majestic peaks and ancient temples. Shore excursions will take you to sites such as Nanjing, Mt. Huang (Yellow Mountain) and Wuhan.

This special journey also goes beyond the Yangtze River. You will visit the ancient sites of Xian, see the adorable Giant Pandas in Chengdu and be captivated by the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai.

Your tour concludes in Beijing with an opportunity to enjoy its wonders and reflect on your unforgettable and truly diverse Chinese experience.

TOUR ITINERARY

DAYS 1- 2: NEW ZEALAND TO SHANGHAI

Fly overnight with Singapore Airlines to Shanghai for a two-night stay.

DAY 3: SHANGHAI

Tour the exciting city of Shanghai today, starting with a visit to the Yu Gardens and the Old Town. You will view the antiques and fine arts at Shanghai Museum and explore the Xintiandi area. Stroll along the famous Bund to see its collection of neo-classical buildings. Enjoy a cruise along the stunning Huangpu River this evening.

DAY 4: SHANGHAI - EMBARK YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

This morning is free at your leisure, until you board the 5-star Victoria Sophia cruise vessel this evening. Spend the next eight nights onboard sailing to Chongqing.

DAY 5: NANJING

Today you will enjoy a full-day shore excursion to the ancient capital of Nanjing. Continue cruising towards Mt. Huang this afternoon.

DAY 6: MT. HUANG

Enjoy a shore excursion to Mt. Huang (Yellow Mountain). Take a cable car to the summit to see the spectacular views of rock formations and thousand-year-old pine trees.

DAY 7: WUHAN

Continue cruising to Wuhan where upon arrival you will visit the Hubei Provincial Museum.

DAY 8: CRUISING

Spend the day relaxing onboard as you continue cruising towards Yichang.

DAY 9: YICHANG

Enjoy a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam before sailing through the Three Gorges Dam ship locks.

DAY 10: DANING RIVER SMALL GORGES

Sail through the Wu Gorge today and enjoy an excursion to the Daning River Small Gorges.

DAY 11: FENGDU

Early this morning you will explore Fengdu, the ancient ‘Ghost City’.

DAY 12: CHONGQING TO CHENGDU

Disembark your cruise in Chongqing this morning and transfer to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. Enjoy a sumptuous banquet of traditional Sichuan cuisine.

DAY 13: CHENGDU TO XIAN

Visit the famous Panda Research Centre to see these adorable animals being reared in surroundings reminiscent of their natural habitat. Later you will fly to Xian. This evening feast on a traditional Shui Jiao Dumpling banquet, a specialty of the region, whilst enjoying a performance of music and dance from the Tang Dynasty.

DAY 14: XIAN

Visit one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century, the life-size Terracotta Warriors. You will also visit the ancient City Wall, one of the best preserved in all of China.

DAY 15: XIAN TO BEIJING

Wander through the lively Muslim Quarter and explore the Islamic food markets. Fly to Beijing later this afternoon and visit the 15th-century Temple of Heaven.

DAY 16: BEIJING

Stroll through the famous Tiananmen Square, passing Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, and visit the treasure-filled Forbidden City. This evening watch a fascinating acrobatic show.

DAY 17: BEIJING

An often quoted saying in Beijing goes ‘you have not been to China until you have climbed the Great Wall’. Built over 2,000 years ago, it stretches all the way from the Shanhaiguan Pass on the east coast to the Gobi Desert in the west, more than 5,000km away. Walk along the wall, admire the panoramic views and reflect on the enormity of the material and labour required for its construction. This afternoon wander through the landscaped beauty of the Summer Palace. Sample the local delicacy, ‘Peking Duck’, this evening.

DAY 18: DEPART BEIJING

This morning you are transferred to Beijing airport to board your overnight flight to New Zealand.

DAY 19: ARRIVE NEW ZEALAND

Arrive home this morning.

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Images from Grand Yangtze