7 Days Beijing Highlights and Yangtze River Cruise Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

   Welcome to this 7-day Beijing and Yangtze River Cruise tour! Upon arrival in Beijing, your guide and driver will meet you at the airport. Then she/he will escort you to your pre-booked hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore bustling streets, sampling local snacks or just relax on your comfortable bed at hotel.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing Tour
   Discover the Grand Palace Complex with Over 9,000 Rooms

   After breakfast at hotel, your Beijing tour of China takes you to Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing City. It is the largest square in the world, capable of accommodating over one million people simultaneously. To the north of the square is the ancient Tiananmen Gate Tower, which is magnificent, with gold bricks covering the ground, shining brilliantly. Walking through Tiananmen Square, the splendid Forbidden City comes into view. This is a massive palace complex with over 9,000 rooms. Your tour guide will tell you the story behind the palace.

   

   In the afternoon, drive to the western suburbs of Beijing and spend a leisurely afternoon at one of the most popular attractions in Beijing - Summer Palace. This place was a summer retreat for the Qing emperors and their families, built on Wanshou Mountain and Kunming Lake.

   In the evening, you can consider an optional visit to the Red Theater for a Kung Fu show. It features rich tradition of Chinese Kung Fu. (at additional cost)

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing Tour
   Tour the Great Wall, Learn Its History, and Enjoy Scenic Views

   After breakfast, take a trilling tour to the world-famous Great Wall. Mutianyu is undoubtedly an ancient engineering miracle surrounded by lush vegetation. When you ascend the Great Wall, your guide will tell you the rich historical stories of the Great Wall and tell you the best shooting locations. You can choose to take the cable car to the Great Wall and recommend it to children and the elderly. The winding paths of this UNESCO World Heritage site stretch endlessly.

   

   After that, drive to visit the Sacred Way. This is an ancient pathway lined with massive stone sculptures leading to the Thirteen Tombs of Ming Dynasty. Learn about the significance of this sacred place.

   On the way back to Beijing, stopping to view the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube from the outside. They are the famous buildings from the 2008 Olympic Games. In the evening, you can enjoy the famous palace dish - the famous Peking Roast Duck at Quanjude Restaurant (additional charge).

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing to Chongqing Tour by Flight
   Visit the Grand Royal Temple Where Emperors Once Prayed for hHarvest

   After breakfast, we will go to admire the Temple of Heaven. Located in the southern part of Beijing, this magnificent royal structure served as a complex of sacrificial buildings where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest.

   Next, you will experience a rickshaw ride through the traditional hutongs. Go to visit a local family and learn about their daily life and even experience cultural activities such as learning calligraphy and weaving Chinese knots (extra charge).

   

   After lunch, your tour guide will escort you to the airport for a flight to Chongqing, known as the Mountain City of China. This city is the gateway for Yangtze River cruise tours (downstream). Upon arrival, you'll be escorted to the Chaotianmen Dock to board your Yangtze cruise ship (boarding time: 6 pm to 8 pm).

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: on Cruise

5. Day 5: Yangtze River Cruise
   Admire the Unique Architecture and Hear Intriguing Legends.

   Begin your Yangtze River cruise tour with relaxing and cultural activities on board. After breakfast, the first activity is a Tai Chi class on deck. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial arts program. People can exercise their bodies and hearts through slow, continuous movements and breathing exercises. Afterward, take a lecture on the history and culture of the Yangtze River area.

   

   Next, you will have a shore excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda. Known as the "Pearl on the River", Shibaozhai is one of remaining wooden structures in China. You will appreciate unique architecture and learn many interesting legends from your knowledgeable tour guide. Built along the mountain, with a total of 12 floors and a height of 56 meters, this pagoda is known as one of the world's eight strange buildings.

   Optional Activity:

   If you are interested in ancient Chinese legends, you can choose to visit Fengdu Ghost City (for an additional fee). This is a quite interesting place, known for its strange folk legends.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

   Accommodation: on Cruise

6. Day 6: Yangtze River Cruise
   Cruise through the Three Gorges, Enjoy Towering Cliffs, and Explore Shennv Stream

   Today, you will embark on a cruise through the glorious Three Gorges, one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese culture. The Three Gorges include Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, which is a highlight of your Yangtze River cruise tour.

   

   Along the way, you will see towering mountains and cliffs on both sides of the gorge. The steep and continuous peaks can usually rise about 700-800 meters above the river surface, which is quite spectacular. You will switch to a smaller boat to explore the primitive Shennv Stream. Shoot the sheer cliffs and lush greenery and experience the culture of the local Tujia ethnic minority. They are good at music and dance.

   Optional Activity:

   If you want a historical tour, you can choose an optional visit to the White Emperor City, which is perched on a hill. Many ancient Chinese poets once climbed to this city and wrote immortal poems. Therefore, White Emperor City is also known as the "City of Poetry". You will get a panoramic views of the Yangtze River from its top.

   In the evening, enjoy a Captain's Farewell Party, which features music, dance and farewell toasts for celebrating the end of your Yangtze River cruise.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

   Accommodation: on Cruise

7. Day 7: Departure from Yichang
   Discover the Engineering Marvel of the Three Gorges Dam

   Today, follow your guide to explore the engineering marvel of the Three Gorges Dam. It is the largest water conservancy hub project and the largest hydropower station in the world today. Standing on the dam crest, you can feel the magnificent white waves. If you visit on a sunny day, you may encounter a rainbow in the mist on the huge waves of flood discharge.

   

   After the dam visit, take the bus arranged by the cruise company to the Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. There will be an experienced driver will be waiting to escort you to the airport or train station for your onward journey. Your 7-day Beijing and Yangtze River Cruise tour ends here. Hope to see you on your next China tour with us!

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A