13 Days • 12 Nights
Yangtze River Cruise & China Highlights
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll walk the Great Wall and tour the Forbidden City, meet the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, then board a comfortable river ship to glide through the sheer cliffs of the Qutang, Wu and Xiling gorges, visit the vast Three Gorges Dam, and drift past hanging temples and misty peaks. Shanghai's skyline provides the finale.
With hand-picked hotels, a river cruise with all meals aboard and private guides in each city, it is China at its most unhurried and grand.
Trip Highlights
- The Great Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing
- The Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an
- A four-night cruise through the Yangtze's Three Gorges
- The dramatic Qutang, Wu and Xiling gorges
- The colossal Three Gorges Dam
- Shore excursions to hanging temples and the Lesser Gorges
- The Bund skyline and Yu Garden in Shanghai
- All meals included aboard the river ship
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 13-day journey.
Arrive in the capital and settle in, with a welcome dinner tonight.
Walk a scenic stretch of the Great Wall, with a hutong rickshaw ride and a Peking duck dinner.
The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven.
High-speed train to Xi'an and an evening at the Muslim Quarter.
The Terracotta Army and the Ming city wall.
Fly to the vast riverside megacity of Chongqing, gateway to the Yangtze, with a visit to a panda at the zoo or the Ciqikou old town.
Board your river ship and settle into your cabin as the cruise begins downstream through the heart of China.
Cruise past terraced hills and river towns, with a shore excursion to the Fengdu 'Ghost City' temples and evening entertainment aboard.
The dramatic day — sailing through the sheer cliffs of the Qutang and Wu gorges, with a sampan excursion into the tranquil Lesser Three Gorges.
Transit the great locks and tour the colossal Three Gorges Dam, an engineering wonder, before disembarking at Yichang.
Disembark and fly to Shanghai, settling in along the glittering Bund.
Yu Garden and the Old City, the Bund and the Pudong skyline, with a rooftop view.
A final breakfast before your transfer to the airport.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private airport transfers and a private guide and driver in each city
- 3 nights Beijing, 2 nights Xi'an, 1 night Chongqing, 4 nights Yangtze cruise, 2 nights Shanghai
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and a Peking duck dinner, plus all meals aboard the cruise
- A Great Wall excursion, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors
- A 4-night downstream Yangtze cruise with shore excursions and the Three Gorges Dam
- Shanghai city touring, Yu Garden and the Bund
- High-speed trains and the Xi'an-Chongqing and Yichang-Shanghai flights
- All sightseeing and shore-excursion fees per the itinerary
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from China
- China visa fees (we can assist)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Additional domestic flights beyond those stated
- Cruise gratuities and optional shore excursions
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities for guides and drivers
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa: Most nationalities need a China tourist (L) visa arranged in advance, though visa-free transit and regional schemes exist for some passports. We can advise, and your passport should be valid at least six months
- The Great Firewall: Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and many Western sites are blocked in China. Install a reputable VPN and download offline maps before you arrive
- Currency & payments: The currency is the Chinese yuan (RMB). China is largely cashless via WeChat Pay and Alipay; set these up if you can, and carry some cash as a backup
- Language: English is not widely spoken outside hotels, which is exactly why your guide and private driver make all the difference
- Getting around: China's high-speed trains are superb and some legs use domestic flights, all arranged for you with seat reservations
- Altitude: Tibet (Lhasa 3,650m) and Shangri-La sit high; we build in gentle acclimatisation, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor
- Best seasons: Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are ideal nationwide; summer is hot and can be rainy, and the far north is bitterly cold in winter
- Etiquette: Tipping was not traditional but is now expected for guides and drivers on tours. A little patience and a smile go a long way
- Health: Drink bottled or boiled water only, and carry hand sanitiser. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended
- Connectivity & power: Buy a local SIM or an eSIM for data, and bring a universal adapter (China uses types A, C and I at 220V)
Frequently Asked Questions
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, along with a welcome dinner and the specific lunches and dinners named in the itinerary, such as a Peking duck dinner or a dumpling banquet. Other meals are left free so you can explore China's incredible regional food.
Are transfers and touring private?
Yes — you travel with your own licensed guide and private driver in each city, so there is nothing to arrange on the ground.
Do I need a visa for China?
Most visitors need a China tourist visa arranged in advance, though some passports qualify for visa-free transit. We guide you through the requirements for your nationality.
Will my phone work in China?
Roaming works but Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked by the Great Firewall, so install a VPN before you travel. A local SIM or eSIM gives you reliable data.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer the most comfortable weather and clearest skies. Summer is hot and busier; winter is cold in the north but quiet and atmospheric.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Durations, hotels, cities and experiences can all be tailored, and we can add a Yangtze cruise, Tibet or Hong Kong. Just tell us what you have in mind.
How do we travel between cities?
By China's excellent high-speed trains and, for longer hops, domestic flights — all included and arranged with reservations.
Which direction is the cruise?
This itinerary cruises downstream from Chongqing to Yichang over four nights, the classic and most relaxing direction through the Three Gorges.
Are meals included on the cruise?
Yes — all meals are included aboard the ship, along with onboard entertainment and the scheduled shore excursions.
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