Private China & the Yangtze

Arrive in the capital city and transfer to your luxurious hotel.

Start the day with a tai chi class at the Temple of Heaven, a stunning example of classical Ming period architecture. Explore historic Tiananmen Square, one of the world’s largest public squares and a site of great political significance. Visit the Forbidden City, China’s former imperial palace, now a vast museum housing imperial treasures.

Travel to the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Ride a cable car to the top of the wall to take in sweeping mountain views. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then return to the city to walk through a Hutong, an intimate neighborhood of alleyways dating to China’s dynastic period.

Fly this morning to Xian, the eastern terminus of the Great Silk Road. After lunch, walk through the Muslim Quarter and see the Great Mosque.

Visit the excavation site of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, the life-size army created during the Qin Dynasty to protect China’s first emperor in his afterlife. Later, explore Xian’s impressive City Wall, with the option to stroll along its ramparts.

Travel by high-speed train to Chengdu. Upon arrival, enjoy a special Sichuan hot pot lunch, and then immerse yourself in local life and culture at the People’s Park where area residents play traditional Chinese instruments, practice calligraphy and engage in tai chi. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, where you experience the rare opportunity to observe these endangered creatures roaming freely in their specially designed habitat. Then, travel by high-speed train to Chongqing and board your comfortable river cruiser for a three-night journey through the scenic Three Gorges region.

Begin the day with tai chi on deck and take a private shore excursion in Fuling. Visit the 816 Nuclear Military Plant, a massive yet unfinished Cold War era bunker that was intended to produce nuclear weapons. Back on board, enjoy a Chinese medicine demonstration and a lesson on the art of Chinese foot reflexology. Tonight, attend the Captain’s Reception, followed by dinner.

Cruise the Qutang Gorge before docking at Wushan. Disembark and take in the scenic splendor of this rugged yet lush region on an adventure among the high peaks that surround the river. In the afternoon, continue your journey downstream, passing through the majestic Wu and Xiling Gorges. Later, cruise the Xiling Gorge and savor a “Taste of China” dinner.

This morning, disembark and stop over near the Three Gorges Dam. Following time for a photo opportunity, fly to Shanghai. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before checking in to your luxury hotel on the Bund. The balance of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.

Explore dynamic Shanghai, where stunning modern skylines meet classic street markets and gardens. Head to the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, where you are treated to a bird’s-eye view of the Huangpu River, the Bund, and Shanghai’s panorama of skyscrapers. Then, walk Shanghai’s historic Jewish Quarter with a guide and learn how it became a haven for Jews fleeing Europe in World War II. This afternoon, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Today, walk along the Bund, Shanghai’s most popular promenade, and then explore the Shanghai Museum viewing exceptional collections of historically significant art and housewares. Savor lunch at a local restaurant, and later stroll the streets of Old Town and visit the 16th-century Yu Garden, with its pavilions and ponds.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your departing flight.