15-Day China: Beijing & Xi’an, Yunnan’s Natural Wonders & the Yangtze Cruise

Arrive in Beijing, China’s historic capital and the starting point of this cultural journey. Begin with Tiananmen Square, located at the heart of the city and long associated with important national ceremonies and public gatherings.

Continue to the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. As one of the world’s largest and best-preserved ancient wooden palace complexes, it offers a powerful introduction to China’s imperial architecture and court history.

Later, enjoy a city walk through Beijing’s historic hutong neighborhoods, where traditional courtyard residences and narrow lanes reveal a quieter side of local life.

After breakfast, travel to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, including cable car access. Set amid forested mountains, Mutianyu is known for its scenic ridgelines, restored watchtowers, and relatively comfortable walking conditions.

Later, visit Lao She Teahouse, a Beijing cultural landmark named after the famous writer Lao She. Here, guests can enjoy traditional folk art and theatrical performances while tasting tea, seasonal snacks, and Beijing-style refreshments.

After breakfast, fly from Beijing to Xi’an, one of China’s great ancient capitals and the eastern starting point of the Silk Road.

Upon arrival, visit Yongxingfang Cultural Food District, a lively area showcasing Guanzhong folk traditions and authentic Shaanxi snacks. Continue to the Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved and largest surviving city wall structures in China.

After dinner, transfer to the hotel for check-in and rest.

After breakfast, visit the Terracotta Army, including battery-operated vehicle and earphone service. Known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” this vast archaeological site presents thousands of life-sized warriors, horses, and military formations created for Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Return to Xi’an to see Bell and Drum Tower Square, then explore the Muslim Quarter, a vibrant food and cultural district shaped by centuries of trade and local community life.

Continue to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda area, associated with Buddhist translation and Tang Dynasty culture. In the evening, visit the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, where Tang-style architecture, lighting, street performances, and cultural displays recreate the atmosphere of ancient Chang’an.

After breakfast, fly from Xi’an to Lijiang in Yunnan Province. Upon arrival, transfer to the city and enjoy lunch before exploring Lijiang Old Town, a UNESCO-listed settlement shaped by Naxi culture, waterways, bridges, and traditional architecture.

See the famous Big Water Wheels at the entrance of the old town, then continue to Wanggu Tower on Lion Mountain. From the tower area, enjoy panoramic views over Lijiang’s gray-tiled rooftops and, on clear days, toward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance.

Today, explore Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a dramatic snow-capped mountain range north of Lijiang. Its main peak, Shanzidou, rises to 5,596 meters and remains snow-covered throughout the year.

Visit Yunshanping, also known as Spruce Meadow, an alpine meadow surrounded by forest. Continue to Blue Moon Valley, known for its striking turquoise-blue water and mountain setting.

Enjoy Impression Lijiang, a large-scale outdoor performance directed by Zhang Yimou and staged against the natural backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Later, visit the Baisha Murals and Baisha Village, important sites reflecting Naxi culture, religious fusion, and the historical roots of the Mu Tusi in Lijiang.

After breakfast, visit Black Dragon Pool, a classical park known for spring waters, historic temples, and mountain views on clear days. Continue to Shuhe Ancient Town, one of the earliest Naxi settlements in the Lijiang Basin and an important town along the Ancient Tea-Horse Road.

Later, continue to Shaxi Ancient Town, once an important post station on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. Its quiet streets, traditional courtyards, and well-preserved old-town atmosphere offer a glimpse into the region’s former trading culture.

Proceed toward the Dali area and experience Xizhou Bai cultural traditions. Explore Bai-style residential compounds and enjoy the Three-Course Tea of the Bai ethnic group, a traditional hospitality ritual symbolizing bitterness, sweetness, and lingering aftertaste.

After breakfast, explore Dali Ancient City, once the political, economic, and cultural center of Yunnan during the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom periods. The old city preserves layers of local history, religion, and ethnic culture.

Continue to the Erhai Ecological Corridor along the west side of Erhai Lake. Here, guests can enjoy lakeside scenery, birdlife, Bai villages, and views of traditional residential architecture.

Visit the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, one of Dali’s most recognizable landmarks and an important Buddhist heritage site from the Dali Kingdom period. Later, travel to Kunming for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, visit the Stone Forest Scenic Area in Shilin County, one of Kunming’s most famous natural attractions. This dramatic karst landscape features stone peaks, pillars, sinkholes, and unusual rock formations shaped over time by geological processes.

After lunch, fly from Kunming to Chongqing. Upon arrival, meet your local team and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Begin the day at Chongqing Zoo, one of China’s early breeding bases for giant pandas and red pandas. Observe the pandas and learn about the conservation work behind these much-loved animals.

Continue to Ciqikou Ancient Town, a historic riverside settlement known for Bayu-style dwellings, folk customs, and local snacks. In the afternoon, visit Eling Park, Liziba Light Rail Station, Huguang Guild Hall, Hongyadong, and Jiefangbei, experiencing Chongqing’s layered urban landscape and mountain-city character.

Later, 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.

After breakfast, visit Yu Garden, a classical Ming Dynasty private garden known for its Jiangnan-style design, elegant pavilions, rockeries, ponds, and traditional artistic details.

Continue to Shanghai Old Town and Shanghai Old Street, where historic lanes and traditional commercial culture reveal the city’s older urban layers.

Visit Jade Buddha Temple, a peaceful Buddhist temple in the heart of the city. Although located in a busy urban district, it is often regarded as a quiet spiritual space within modern Shanghai.

Later, explore the Bund and Nanjing Road. The Bund, located along the Huangpu River, is one of Shanghai’s most iconic historical and cultural districts, where colonial-era architecture faces the modern skyline of Pudong. End the day with a Huangpu River cruise, enjoying Shanghai’s illuminated waterfront from the water.

After breakfast, enjoy free time at leisure until your scheduled transfer to the airport. Depart Shanghai with memories of China’s imperial capitals, Yunnan’s ethnic and natural landscapes, the Yangtze River, and the modern skyline of Shanghai.