Globus > MAGICAL CHINA and THE YANGTZE RIVER

MAGICAL CHINA and THE YANGTZE RIVER
13 Days starting from $2,929

Countries Visited:
Not Available

Check Rates & Availability

Length: 13 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: CRUISE AND TOUR
Operator: Globus
Tour Code: WYC-2008
   
 
About This Tour


Discover the history and culture of China on this 13-day river cruise vacation on the magical Yangtze! Begin your journey with two overnights in Shanghai and visits to a silk factory, the Yu Yuan Gardens, plus a variety of cultural experiences. Next, travel to Yichang to embark on a 4-night river cruise aboard the Victoria Anna. During your cruise, visit the Three Gorges Dam site—a marvel of modern engineering—and view breathtaking scenery as you sail through this history-steeped region. After disembarking in Chongqing, travel to Xi’an, where you will see the Dayan Pagoda, Terracotta Warriors, noodle-making demonstration, and a Tang Dynasty dinner show. End your amazing China vacation in the capital city of Beijing. Here you will visit the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and its Imperial Palace, and experience the unique culture of this ancient land.

 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing Highlights
  • SPECIALS

City Highlights
SHANGHAI
Sightseeing with Local Guide; stroll along the Bund; visit the Yu Yuan Gardens, a silk factory, and the Children’s Palace; attend an acrobatic show; visit the Shanghai Museum

YICHANG
Begin your Yangtze cruise aboard the Victoria Anna

THREE GORGES DAM SITE
Sightseeing of the impressive dam site with a Local Guide

SHENNONG STREAM OR DANING RIVER
Enjoy a boat excursion down one of the lesser gorges of the Yangtze

WANXIAN/SHIBAOZHAI/FENGDU
View a wooden pagoda, an acrobatic show, or statues at numerous temples on Mingshan Hill

CHONGQING
Visit a local zoo

XI’AN
Sightseeing with Local Guide; visit the Dayan Pagoda and terracotta warriors; calligraphy class, lacquer workshop, noodlemaking demonstration, enjoy “The Tang Dynasty” dinner show

BEIJING
Sightseeing with Local Guide; Hutongs tour by rickshaw; visit the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian’anmen Square, Summer Palace, Peking Opera, Great Wall, and Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs; cloisonne workshop; Peking Duck farewell dinner

ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS

Meals
11 American breakfasts (B); 9 lunches (L); 9 dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Shanghai and a farewell dinner in Beijing

Hotels:
SHANGHAI Westin Shanghai (D), VICTORIA CRUISES Victoria Anna, XI’AN Shangri-la Golden Flower (SF), BEIJING Westin Beijing (D)
Day 1:
(Tue.) Board your transpacific flight.

Day 2:
Arrive in Shanghai, China. (Wed.) Welcome to China’s most populous city and center of trade and industry. Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in.

Day 3:
Shanghai. (Thu.) Full day of sightseeing. Stroll along the Bund, the city’s riverfront boulevard lined with historic buildings, housing, banks, and trade houses. You’ll visit a SILK FACTORY and experience the YU YUAN GARDENS. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and visit the CHILDREN’S PALACE, one of China’s famous kindergartens. Your Tour Director will host a WELCOME DINNER tonight as you meet your traveling companions. This evening, you’ll be amazed at the fabulous ACROBATIC SHOW. (B,L,D)

Day 4:
Shanghai–Yichang (Embarkation)–Yangtze River Cruise. (Fri.) Visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM before flying to Yichang. Board the Victoria Anna for a 4-night cruise through the breathtaking Three Gorges of the Yangtze. (B,D)

Day 5:
The Three Gorges Dam Site. (Sat.) This morning, visit the Three Gorges Dam site, where the Chinese progress toward building the largest dam of its kind in the world. After lunch, sail through the Three Gorges ship locks and the Xiling Gorge. (B,L,D)

Day 6:
Shennong Stream or Daning River. (Sun.) This morning, disembark for a BOAT EXCURSION down either the Daning River or Shennong Stream, depending on conditions. After lunch, head upstream through the Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most dramatic gorge, and the Wu Gorge, known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains. You can nearly touch the perpendicular walls rising from the riverbanks as your captain negotiates this narrow gap. (B,L,D)

Day 7:
Wanxian or Shibaozhai or Fengdu. (Mon.) Depending on river conditions, one of the following shore excursions will be offered: Wanxian, “Gateway to Eastern Szechuan Province,” where you will see an acrobatic show, market, and possibly a school; Shibaozhai, with its 400-year-old, 12-story red wooden pagoda perched high on a cliff side; or Fengdu, where you’ll visit Snow Jade Cave. (B,L,D)

Day 8:
Chongqing (Disembarkation)–Xi’an. (Tue.) Bid farewell to your ship’s crew upon arrival in Chongqing, China’s capital during World War II. The city is high on a hill overlooking the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers. Visit a local zoo to see pandas before boarding your flight to the city of Xi’an in central China. (B,L,D)

Day 9:
Xi’an. (Wed.) One of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xi’an today is an archaeological treasure-trove. Sightseeing begins with a visit to the nearby DAYAN PAGODA, built in 652 A.D. Then learn to write like a local during a traditional Chinese CALLIGRAPHY CLASS. During lunch, enjoy a NOODLE-MAKING DEMONSTRATION by a master chef and learn how Chinese noodles are made by hand. In 1974, the enormous tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, was accidentally discovered by local farmers. Marvel at the legion of TERRACOTA WARRIORSthat has been guarding the burial site for 2,000 years. This evening, enjoy “The Tang Dynasty” DINNER SHOW, featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances. (B,L,D)

Day 10:
Xi’an–Beijing. (Thu.) This morning, visit Xi’an’s South Gate; you may even see some locals practicing their morning Tai Chi. Visit a LACQUER WORKSHOP before flying to Beijing, China’s capital city. Enjoy a rickshaw ride through one of Beijing’s HUTONGS, the city’s ancient alleys. During this visit, you’re welcomed into the courtyard of a family’s home and a daycare center to experience life in this historic neighborhood.

Day 11:
Beijing. (Fri.) Your full-day sightseeing starts with a visit to the FORBIDDEN CITY and its IMPERIAL PALACE, once the home of China’s great emperors. Nearby is 100-acre TIAN’ANMEN SQUARE, the largest public square in the world. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and continue to the former SUMMER PALACE, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries set among beautifully landscaped grounds and situated on Kunming Lake. Tonight, experience local culture at the PEKING OPERA, including a behind-the-scenes look at the colorful make-up being applied to the performers. (B,L,D)

Day 12:
Beijing. (Sat.) The GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 4,000 miles across China’s barren northern terrain from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved and walk along the wall to enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress. Then visit a CLOISONNE WORKSHOP, where you will see local artisans use the techniques of this ancient art form to turn pieces of copper into colorful decorative items. After lunch in a local restaurant, take a leisurely walk down the SACRED WAY of the Ming Tombs and marvel at the impressive hand-carved stone statues. This evening is the perfect finale to a great touring adventure as you’re hosted to a special Peking Duck FAREWELL DINNER. (B,L,D)

Day 13:
(Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)


Click here
to check rates and availability online, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Or, to speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.

Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

         
Touring Date
Land Only
Land + Air
Single
(Land Only)
Single
(Land + Air)
9/2/2008 - 9/14/2008
$2,929
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/9/2008 - 9/21/2008
$2,929
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/16/2008 - 9/28/2008
$3,289
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/23/2008 - 10/5/2008
$2,929
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/7/2008 - 10/19/2008
$2,929
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/14/2008 - 10/26/2008
$2,929
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
4/21/2009 - 5/3/2009
$3,089
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
4/28/2009 - 5/10/2009
$3,089
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
5/12/2009 - 5/24/2009
$3,089
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
5/19/2009 - 5/31/2009
$3,089
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
5/26/2009 - 6/7/2009
$3,039
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
6/2/2009 - 6/14/2009
$2,989
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
6/7/2009 - 6/19/2009
$2,989
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/1/2009 - 9/13/2009
$3,129
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/8/2009 - 9/20/2009
$3,129
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/13/2009 - 9/25/2009
$3,129
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/15/2009 - 9/27/2009
$3,129
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/20/2009 - 10/2/2009
$3,129
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/22/2009 - 10/4/2009
$3,129
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/29/2009 - 10/11/2009
$3,129
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/6/2009 - 10/18/2009
$3,129
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/13/2009 - 10/25/2009
$3,129
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
         
SHANGHAI
Sightseeing with Local Guide; stroll along the Bund; visit the Yu Yuan Gardens, a silk factory, and the Children’s Palace; attend an acrobatic show; visit the Shanghai Museum

YICHANG
Begin your Yangtze cruise aboard the Victoria Anna

THREE GORGES DAM SITE
Sightseeing of the impressive dam site with a Local Guide

SHENNONG STREAM OR DANING RIVER
Enjoy a boat excursion down one of the lesser gorges of the Yangtze

WANXIAN/SHIBAOZHAI/FENGDU
View a wooden pagoda, an acrobatic show, or statues at numerous temples on Mingshan Hill

CHONGQING
Visit a local zoo

XI’AN
Sightseeing with Local Guide; visit the Dayan Pagoda and terracotta warriors; calligraphy class, lacquer workshop, noodlemaking demonstration, enjoy “The Tang Dynasty” dinner show

BEIJING
Sightseeing with Local Guide; Hutongs tour by rickshaw; visit the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian’anmen Square, Summer Palace, Peking Opera, Great Wall, and Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs; cloisonne workshop; Peking Duck farewell dinner

ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Book now and take $200 off per couple on any air-inclusive European Low Season Vacations.*

* Book a 2008/2009 Globus Europe Winter air-inclusive vacation on select carriers to receive the $100 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between June 4 and August 31, 2008 for travel commencing between October 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009. To secure the air booking, an additional deposit of $250 is required, which is refundable until the time that the flight information is confirmed. Offers not valid with one another or any offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


Save up to $600 per stateroom on 2009 Globus River and Small Ship Cruises

Discover an entirely new way to uncover the wonders of the world with river and small ship cruises. From a wine tasting adventure through the vineyards of France to island hopping in the Galapagos Islands, you’re sure to find a Globus river or small ship cruise that speaks to your heart. There’s simply no more peaceful way to sample the charming cities and awe-inspiring sights of Europe, China, Egypt and the Galápagos Islands.

*Book a 2009 Globus River Cruise air-inclusive vacation to receive the $300 off per person offer. Cruise-only bookings are eligible for the $125 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between May 14 and August 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. To secure the air booking, an additional deposit of $250 is required, which is refundable until the time that the flight information is confirmed. Offers not valid with one-another or any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus

Discount for young travelers

Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.

Pay less for your second vacation

We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent.

Triple room reduction

On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. A word of caution: Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms and the third bed, if there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room.

Avoid the single room supplement

We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!


Do you have a large party of friends or family that wants to travel?

Right now when you book between 5 and 7 people before December 31, 2008, each passenger will save $75.* For example, book 5 passengers and receive a $375 discount, 6 passengers equals a $450 discount and 7 passengers will receive a $525 discount. With an offer like this, the world’s greatest destinations are now closer than ever!

*Book a 2009 Globus vacation for five, six or seven travelers to receive the $75 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between Jun 4 and Dec 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. Individuals must be traveling together from the same origination point to receive the discount. Not valid with any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


   
Send This Tour to a Friend:
   
Your Name: Required.
Your E-Mail Address: Required.Invalid format.
   
Your Friend's Name: Required.
Your Friend's E-Mail Address: Required.Invalid format.
   
Comments:  
Required.