China, Tibet & the Yangtze

Starting from	R77 390
Package Validity	Set departure date: 02, 09 & 16 SEP 2016 & 07 OCT 2016
Duration	13 nights
Destination	China, Tibet & Yangtze
Starts in	Beijing
Ends in	Shanghai

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- All transfers on arrival & departure days
- Internal flights between Beijing - Xi'an - Lhasa - Chongqing - Shangahi
- 3 nights cruise in a riverview signature suite on-board the Century Legend
- 10 nights hotel accommodation
- Breakfast daily
- Selected lunches & dinners
- Complimentary wine & beer with all dinners, complementary coffee, tea, soft drinks, local beer & local spirits throughout the cruise.
- Captain Welcome Reception & Farewell dinners
- 11 excursions
- Assistance of an English-speaking local expert & experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
- Hutong family hosted lunch, traditional dumpling banquet, a kung fu show, Tang Dynasty dinner, dinner with folk show in Lhasa, dim sum lunch & Shanghai Acrobats.
- Port charges

 

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Beijing
A Uniworld representative will greet you at the airport & transfer you to the opulent Ritz-Carlton Beijing.

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Beijing
 
Your first full day in Beijing takes you to Tiananmen Square, which is both a centre of contemporary civic life in Beijing & the gateway to the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, you’ll take a rickshaw ride through thehutongs, the historic neighborhoods of Old Beijing. A local family will invite you into their home for lunch. Later in the evening, you’ll enjoy a Welcome Dinner of succulent Peking duck, a signature dish of the city, served with wine. 

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Beijing
 
Walk along the UNESCO-designated Great Wall. Later in the evening, be treated to a mesmerizing show that combines kung fu prowess with acrobatics & dance; it’s the best performance in town. 

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Beijing, fly to Xi'an
 
The Temple of Heaven is a UNESCO-designated site that dates back to the 15th century. A masterpiece of architectural & landscape design, it influenced architecture throughout China for centuries. After lunch, you’ll fly to the ancient city of Xi’an, where you’ll settle into the elegant Shangri-La Xi’an hotel. Later, head to a local restaurant to feast on the delicious dumplings that are a specialty of the region. 

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Xi'an
 
Visit the museum that is home to over 8,000 life-sized Terra-cotta Warriors & Horses. You’ll then see the ancient city wall built to protect Xi’an from invaders. This evening, enjoy a traditional dinner with rice wine & a cultural performance that re-creates the music, folk dances, & traditional costumes of the Tang Dynasty. 

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Xi'an, fly to Lhasa
 
Fly to Lhasa, the ancient cultural & religious centre of Tibet, & check into the supremely comfortable Shangri-La Lhasa hotel, where you’ll enjoy dinner in the evening. 

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Lhasa
 
See the holiest site in Tibet: gold-domed Jokhang Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains a seventh-century statue of Buddha. Tour the rich collection of prehistoric artifacts at the Tibet Museum. Visit a Lhasa family’s home, then savor dinner accompanied by a traditional folk show. 

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Lhasa
 
The vast, UNESCO-designated Potala Palace is exceptionally well preserved. Wander through its chapels as pilgrims make offerings at thousand-year-old altars, & admire the religious paintings called thangkas. From here, you’ll head off to see Sera Monastery’s colorful murals & mandalas. 

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Lhasa, fly to Chongqing, cruising the Yangtze River
 
Fly to Chongqing, where you’ll visit the giant pandas at the city’s wonderful zoo before boarding your comfortable ship. 

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Cruising the Yangtze River, Shibaozhai
 
Mist-shrouded peaks loom above the winding Yangtze for miles as you cruise through the Three Gorges region. Every view is a picture straight out of China’s iconic watercolor illustrations. Your ship will stop at the Shibao Pagoda, a colorful 12-story temple built into the side of a hill that is now an island as a result of the rising waters from the Three Gorges Dam. Enjoy a Captain’s Welcome Reception with complimentary wine in the evening. 

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Cruising the Yangtze River, Shennong Stream
 
You’ll get a close-up view of the breathtaking landscape as you board a small boat &  cruise along the Shennong Stream, a tributary to the Yangtze. Later in the day, your ship will navigate the enormous Three Gorges Dam locks. In the evening, a Farewell Dinner with complimentary wine will be served.
Note: Due to water conditions we may substitute a Lesser Gorges boat tour for the Shennong Stream boat tour. 

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Cruising the Yangtze River, Yichang (disembark), fly to Shanghai
 
Before you disembark in Yichang, you’ll tour the world’s largest hydroelectric project, the Three Gorges Dam, which supplies power to millions of people. Following your visit, you’ll fly to Shanghai. Settle into your lovely room in the peaceful Pudong Shangri-La & relax over a buffet dinner at your hotel. 

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Shanghai
 
Shanghai, located at the mouth of the Yangtze, has been a trading centre for 400 years. Today, it’s an economic dynamo with one of the busiest ports in the world. Stroll along the Bund, Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade, & take in its historic buildings & its spectacular view of the high-rises that typify China’s largest city. Savor a dim sum lunch at your hotel, then take some time to browse through the district’s unique shops. In the evening, prepare to be dazzled by the world-renowned Shanghai Acrobats. 

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Shanghai, transfer to the airport
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or continue your adventure with one of our memorable optional extensions.

 

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