14-Day China Highlights: Great Wall, Pandas & Yangtze River Cruise

Upon arrival in Beijing, private transfer to your hotel for check-in and rest. The remainder of the day is at leisure to recover from international travel.

Begin at Tiananmen Square, then enter the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Continue to Yonghegong Lama Temple, one of Beijing’s most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries.

In the afternoon, explore traditional hutong neighborhoods to gain insight into courtyard life and community traditions. Evening dinner features Peking Duck, a culinary specialty long associated with the capital.

Travel to the restored Mutianyu Great Wall, known for its scenic setting and comparatively moderate gradients. Walk at a comfortable pace along this remarkable architectural achievement while taking in expansive views across forested ridgelines.

Pause for a Champagne toast set against a sweeping panorama of the Wall as it winds across the peaks, a quiet moment to appreciate both landscape and history.

Later, take part in a hands-on glazed tile craftsmanship workshop, gaining insight into traditional decorative techniques once used in imperial architecture. This experience offers a deeper understanding of material culture and historical construction practices.

In the evening, enjoy a refined Beigala-style hotpot dinner, where each guest is served an individual pot. This personalized approach allows for a balanced and unhurried culinary experience, highlighting the depth and nuance of Beijing flavors.

Overnight in a thoughtfully restored architectural residence nestled within the Great Wall landscape, where traditional materials meet contemporary comfort.

Seasonal Leisure Experience
Spring & Autumn: Relax in heated outdoor pools beneath open skies, with the Wall illuminated across the mountains after dusk.

Summer: Enjoy the outdoor pools during the day and take in evening views of the Great Wall softly lit against the night horizon.

This morning, explore the poetic landscape design of the Summer Palace, where pavilions, bridges, and Kunming Lake reflect classical Chinese garden philosophy: harmony between architecture and nature.

Continue to Prince Gong’s Mansion, offering insight into aristocratic life during the Qing Dynasty.

Later, transfer to the railway station and board China’s modern high-speed train to Xi’an. Watch the landscape shift from northern plains to the historic cradle of Chinese civilization.

Travel to the archaeological site of the Terracotta Warriors, where thousands of life-sized soldiers stand in silent formation. Your guide will contextualize the ambition of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and the scale of this funerary complex.

Return to Xi’an to visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square, once a key center of Buddhist translation during the Tang Dynasty.

In the evening, stroll through the illuminated Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, where architecture, performance, and lighting evoke the cosmopolitan spirit of ancient Chang’an.

Visit the elegant Small Goose Pagoda, a quieter architectural relic of the Tang era. Continue to the Bell Tower & Drum Tower Square, symbols of the city’s historical urban layout.

Walk through the lively Muslim Quarter, where Silk Road influences remain visible in cuisine and street culture.

In the afternoon, board the high-speed train to Chengdu. Upon arrival, experience the convivial atmosphere of Sichuan hotpot, where bold spices and layered flavors define the region’s culinary identity.

Travel to Dujiangyan Panda Base for a structured Panda Keeper Program. Under staff supervision, participate in bamboo preparation and observe feeding routines at close range.

Beyond the novelty of seeing pandas, this experience highlights China’s long-term conservation efforts and habitat protection initiatives. Return to Chengdu in the afternoon.

Explore Du Fu Cottage, once home to one of China’s greatest poets, before wandering through Kuanzhai Alley, where Qing-era architecture meets modern leisure culture.

Later, travel by high-speed rail to Chongqing, a city defined by dramatic topography and layered urban design. Evening views from Kuixing Pavilion reveal the vertical character of this mountain metropolis.

Visit Jiefangbei Square and Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street. Then the guide will walk you to the Liberation Monument and gradually reveal the stories of the city.

Complimentary Seasonal Saturday Night Special
Savor a dinner buffet and enjoy the Glamorous Chongqing Drone Show, available on Saturday nights only.

Note
Complimentary seasonal activities’ dates and times are subject to change based on weather and local conditions. These experiences are non-refundable if they cannot be arranged.

Begin the day aboard the Yangtze River Cableway, gliding above the river.

Explore Longmenhao Old Street and witness the surreal scene at Liziba Light Rail Station, where a train passes directly through a residential building, a striking example of Chongqing’s vertical planning.

After a traditional Chongqing hotpot lunch, visit Shibati and Shancheng Lane before your guide accompanies you to the embarkation port to board your Yangtze River cruise.

Settle into your balcony cabin, enjoy a welcome buffet dinner, and attend the cruise safety briefing. The Captain’s Welcome Reception will take place according to the onboard program.

As the cruise moves deeper into the Yangtze corridor, choose one of the following shore excursion options, depending on docking arrangements:

Option A: White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum (Default)

Explore this remarkable underwater museum, where ancient hydrological inscriptions preserved beneath the Yangtze River reveal centuries of river history and cultural heritage.

Option B: 816 Underground Project

Explore a vast Cold War-era military complex carved deep into the mountainside.

Important Note
If docking at Fengdu Port due to weather, hydrological conditions, or navigation restrictions, the excursion will be replaced with a visit to Fengdu Ghost City.

In the afternoon, return to the ship for leisure time and onboard cultural activities as the cruise continues downstream.

On departures where it is scheduled, attend the large-scale live performance War Fire of The Three Kingdoms Show, inspired by the history of the Three Kingdoms.

Important Note
If the performance is canceled or not scheduled, a small-boat excursion to Wushan Goddess Stream will be arranged the following afternoon.

This morning after breakfast, choose one of the following shore excursion options:

Option A: White Emperor City (Default)

Explore a historic riverside site associated with classical Chinese poetry and the history of the Three Kingdoms, with views toward the entrance to Qutang Gorge.

Option B: Three Gorges Summit

Enjoy panoramic views over Qutang Gorge and the winding Yangtze River.

In the afternoon, sail through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, where sheer cliffs, narrow passages, and misty peaks create some of the most memorable scenery on the Yangtze.

Selected winter sailings include a small-boat excursion to Wushan Goddess Stream, where steep canyon walls and quiet waterways reveal a more intimate side of the gorge landscape. On other departures, this excursion is arranged when the previous evening’s War Fire of The Three Kingdoms Show is canceled or not scheduled.

Continue through Western Xiling Gorge before enjoying dinner and an onboard performance presented by the crew.

After breakfast, disembark from the main cruise ship at Zigui Port (Maoping) and transfer to a sightseeing boat for the complimentary Three Gorges Ship Elevator experience.

Pass through this remarkable engineering system before continuing through Eastern Xiling Gorge, where steep riverbanks and layered mountain scenery provide a memorable conclusion to your Yangtze journey.

Important Note

1. The scheduled cruise program does not include onshore sightseeing within the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area. Guests can enjoy views of the dam from the sightseeing boat during the journey.

2. The sightseeing boat excursion is a complimentary program and remains subject to weather, navigation, and operational conditions. If the Ship Elevator cannot operate, the cruise company will arrange an alternative program according to local conditions. No refund applies if the complimentary program cannot be provided or guests choose not to participate.

After disembarkation in Yichang, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai.

Explore Yu Garden, a classical Ming Dynasty garden that contrasts sharply with the futuristic skyline of Lujiazui.

Visit the Shanghai Museum, then walk along Nanjing Road toward the historic Bund, where colonial-era façades face the towers of Pudong across the Huangpu River.

After breakfast, transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) according to your flight schedule.