+44 20 3769 6923   |   ltm@luxurytravel.pl   |
exclusive tour operator

CRUISE ON THE YANGTZE RIVER – 14 DAYS

CRUISE ON THE YANGTZE RIVER – 14 DAYS

Day 1. Arrive in Beijing
Upon arrival to the capital of the Middle Kingdom guests will be transported to Prime Hotel, where they will spend four consecutive nights.

Day 2. Beijing
The whole day is devoted to visiting Beijing. The first point of wandering around the city will be the largest square in the world – Tiananmen or Tian’anmen Square. It’s a huge, nearly empty space at the gates of the Forbidden City. The name derives from the square, Confucianism and refers to a state of harmony between all beings.

Tiananmen Square, the place where in the mid-twentieth century, modern China was born, almost half a century later it became the scene of mass murder mocking with irony the name of the place. On Tiananmen Square, guests will go to the Forbidden City – lying in the center of Beijing’s huge palace complex, which during the reign of Chinese emperors had their seat and a place inaccessible. Then they will visit the Temple of Heaven, also known as the Altar of Heaven – a monumental building, one of the largest temple complexes in China, a place symbolizing the connection of heaven and earth, where emperors worshiped and honored heaven.

During a trip through the streets of the capital of the Middle Kingdom guests will be provided lunch and then dinner, for which Peking duck is served. After the meal, in the evening, guests will go to the Peking Opera performance.

Day 3. Beijing
On the day scheduled for exploring the largest structures ever been built by man – the Great Wall of China, which charge the hill separating the Empire of the Great Steppe and stretches for almost 6,000 kilometers. It is the only structure visible from space.

Another popular place is Sacred Way leading to the tombs of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors. The Chinese believed that the emperor is the son of heaven-sent by the Holy Way to guard the nation, and after completion of life he returns to heaven the same way. The next main attraction of the day will be proved by Lama Temple, a place of worship and an important center of Tibetan Buddhism. During the trip guests will be provided lunch.

Day 4. Beijing
After breakfast, guests will choose to ride in a rickshaw out to Hutong, where in the shadow of modern urban buildings are preserved traditional buildings and streets. Then they will visit the Summer Palace, built on Longevity Hill and Kunming on the lake surrounded by a park which, together with palace buildings creates a beautiful landscape fully reflected in the Chinese name of the place – Hall of Preserving Harmony.

During the trip the day guests will be provided with lunch. In the afternoon they can enjoy shopping at the multi-story department store Hongqiao, where attractive prices are offered for a staggering quantity of goods such as traditional Chinese dresses, rich fabrics, painted fans, works of calligraphy and related accessories, as well as food, equipment, clothing and jewelry.

The second option is to visit the district Liulichang called ancient, as found in its stores offer authentic, certified antiques, literature, works of art and beautiful calligraphy. It was once a meeting place and create artistic and intellectual elite Beijing.

Day 5. Beijing – Xian
In the morning, after breakfast, guests will travel to the airport and will fly to Xian, where they will be greeted by a guide and an accompanying driver, and then after staying for two nights at the Hyatt Regency Xian. The city of Xian was the place where the Silk Road began. Hence the caravan merchants and travelers journeyed to the West to return with precious goods. The capital of Shaanxi Province is also one of the most important cities in Chinese history, seat of 73 emperors of 13 dynasties.

Tour of the area will begin a meeting of 8 thousand imperial soldiers gearing ranks around the tomb of the first emperor of China, creating his own infamous Terracotta Army. Another monument of historical Xian, which the guests will see will be the Wild Goose Pagoda, which has a foundation to ensure its survival during Xian earthquakes. The last visited place is the Museum of Banpo Neolithic Village. The remains of the village were discovered accidentally during construction of the plant. Excavations have helped reveal the fortified village people Yangshao a culture thousands of years ago.

Yangshao culture is known for its pottery, as evidenced by numerous fragments of pottery found in the moat around the fenced village. During a full day exploring the city and its surrounding area guests will be served lunch.

Day 6. Xian
After breakfast, guests will visit Shaanxi History Museum, then they go to the ancient city walls of Xian. Later they will go to the Muslim area full of shops with built in the Grand Mosque. In the meantime, guests will be provided with lunch, and the tour will go to the restaurant Defachang to eat dinner – traditional dumplings. In the evening, watch a performance dedicated to the Tang Dynasty.

Day 7. Xian – Guilin
That day, after breakfast, you will go to the airport and will fly to Guilin, where you will stay for one night at the Sheraton. On the first day in Guilin watch Cane Flute Cave. The interior of the 240-meter cave is dotted with impressive formations of stalactites impressively of illuminated color-changing light that plays on the rocks and the water creates very mysterious and surreal effects. The cave walls also cover several dozen inscriptions from the time the Tang Dynasty. In poems or diaries of people visiting this place gave it much praise. The cave owes its name to its inlet growing thick cane, from which traditional flutes were made.

These flutes are manufactured today and can be purchased near the cave, in a nice park with pavilions, ponds and bridges. Then the participants of the trip will go to the Seven Star Park. Located on the eastern bank of the Li River Park is a 120-hectare area named for arrangement of seven towering peaks within its borders to the position of stars in the constellation Ursa Major. There are crystal-clear ponds and streams, stone forest and tranquil valleys, and this beautiful, vibrant landscape is filled with lush greenery and magnificent flowers.

Thanks to the pleasant microclimate of the park, you can visit it at any time of the year. During the tour guests will be provided lunch.

Day 8. Guilin – Yangshuo
After breakfast, guests venturing into one of the most beautiful places in China, whose landscape can be found on the reverse of the 20 yuan banknote. Among the fantastic limestone hills with poetic names Li river meanders. Sailing her, guests will have the opportunity to admire the majestic landscape of Guilin, and along the way visit the picturesque villages. Another highlight of your trip will be of Yangshuo along with its markets. During the tour guests will be provided with lunch and afterwards will go to the center of Yangshuo Paradise Resort.

Day 9. Yangshuo – Guilin – Chongqing – Yangtze River Cruise
From breakfast until late in the afternoon, guests are free to explore the beautiful surroundings of Guilin. Late in the afternoon they will go to the airport and will fly to Chongqing, where they will be greeted by a guide and accompanying driver, and then be taken to the marina where a ship will be waiting (“Regal”, “Victoria”, “President” or other). Later that same day on board the ship, guests will begin their adventure on the Yangtze River. The meals of the day will also include lunch and dinner.

Day 10. Yangtze River Cruise
Already in the morning the visitors will traverse the most beautiful part of the river, one of the biggest attractions in China – Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. At a length of about 200 km. river overcomes steep hills three times, each time changing its face. Qutang breakthrough is called the roaring, because the water comes through here with a crash through a narrow passage between a towering rock gate.

After the roaring, the river calms down and flows through a hidden, deep valley Wuxia Gorge – the dark gorge of Witches, considered the most beautiful of the Three Gorges. At the turn of Xiling, called a breakthrough Shadow, the river again becomes wild and dangerous, hidden sharply, rising and falling to rock bottom. Along the entire section of the Three Gorges on both sides of the river there are many precious relics which could soon with the same breakthroughs be forever engulfed by the Yangtze River with the largest towering dam in the world. This day, guests will be given: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 11. Yangtze River Cruise
During the cruise, guests will come down to land in one of the three cities. The first is millions Wanxian, doomed by the rising waters of the Yangtze River, the second is Fengdu – the historical City of Spirits, where numerous temples were built associated with belief in various forms of human existence after death.

Also worth visiting is the Shibaozhai – built on a hill fortress of Stone Treasury, which houses the temple. Part of the building could share the fate of flooded cities, although efforts have been made to save them. The name of the temple derives from the legend, which says that a small pit in the temple daily served rice, exactly what was needed to feed the monks. One of them in a fit of greed increased opening of the Stone Treasury, but his action meant that the wells rice did not show up anymore. Also on this day guests will be provided breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 12. Yangtze River Cruise – Yichang – Shanghai
The ship, before it reaches the destination in Yichang, will reach the gigantic Three Gorges Dam – the largest of its kind in the world, whose completion will forever change the face of the Three Gorges. At noon, after defeating the last and longest at the same time Xiling Gorge, the ship landing location in Yichang, a city that was created thousands of years ago. After going ashore, guests will meet with a local guide and driver, and will then be taken to the airport and will fly to Shanghai, where you will also be welcomed by their guide. The next two nights you will spend in the Peace Hotel in Shanghai. That day, guests will be provided with breakfast and dinner.

Day 13. Shanghai
After breakfast, guests will venture out on a full day tour of Shanghai. This metropolis is oriental and futuristic at the same time, a brilliant neon forest of towering towers, a place where East meets West, creating the largest city of the Middle Kingdom and also one of the largest cities in the world.

Shanghai Visitors tour will start with a walk along the famed waterfront Bund lookout as it is named, where, thanks to deliberately restricted height buildings enjoy panoramic views of the city. Then they go down the street of Nanjing and visit such places as beautiful Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Museum, as well as two interesting neighborhoods. The first of these is the old quarter, the buildings and streets are of stylized French architecture, while the other are cutting-edge Pu Dong district style, resulting in futuristic skyscrapers. Visiting Shanghai will end the evening show of the famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe. That day, guests will be served lunch and dinner.

Day 14. Back to your country
After breakfast you say goodbye to the Center and will be transported to the airport, from where you will fly back to your country of origin.

The price includes: sightseeing and meals mentioned in the itinerary, domestic flight connections with airport taxes, all the rides and land transport, hotel accommodation and services such as the English-speaking guide and driver. Operator reserves the right to change to other hotels of the same class.

In price are not included: international flight connections from and to China, passport and visa fees associated with the entry into China, gratuities for guides and drivers, and all the expenses of a personal nature.

In order to receive more information about this offer,
please fill the form or contact our office.
+44 20 3769 6923, ltm@luxurytravel.pl

Rovos Rail – the world’s most luxuryous railways

Luxury Travel presents – Soneva Jani Maldives

Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens – Kostaryka