| Itinerary
Thu Day 01 Hometown / Beijing
You will begin your adventure by flying with Air Canada from your hometown.
Fri Day 02 Arrive Beijing
Arrive Beijing in the afternoon. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Hotel: 5* Oriental Bay Hotel or similar
Sat Day 03 Beijing / Urumqi
This morning fly to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Autonomous Region and one of the most inland cities in the world. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to lunch. Afternoon visit Hongshan Park to take a bird eye view of the city of Urumqi. Then tour Urumqi Museum where, among other relics, you'll view some over 2,000 year-old mummies. (B/L/D)
Hotel: 5* Hoi Tak Hotel or similar
Sun Day 04 Urumqi / Tianchi / Urumqi
Today visit Tianchi (Heaven Lake), up in the mountains at 2,600 metres above sea level - one of Xinjiang's most famous scenic spots. If weather permits, you will see the tallest mountain, Bagda Peak, which soars to a height of 5,446 metres. In the afternoon we will visit a Kazakstanian minority family at Nanshan (South Mountain) Grassland . Tonight enjoy Urumqi Cuisine – a Roast Lamb Dinner. (B/L/SD)
Mon Day 05 Urumqi / Turpan
A morning coach ride will take you to the town of Turpan near the Turpan Depression – the lowest point in China and the second-lowest point in the world. Turpan was the capital of the 2nd century state which brought Buddhism from India to China. Now mostly Moslem, Turpan features desert ruins, mosques, Buddhist caves, and Tang Dynasty tombs. On your afternoon tour you will view the Flaming Mountains, the crumbling remnants of the 9th Century Uighur Empire at Gaochang, and the Astana Tombs. Tonight enjoy a performance of Local Music and Dance. (B/L/D)
Hotel: Oasis Hotel or similar (best in town)
Tue Day 06 Turpan/ Dunhuang
After breakfast visit the ruins of Jiaohe. 1,600 years ago, Jiaohe was a prosperous trading center and military stronghold that served as the western frontier barrier for the dynasties. Then visit the ancient Karez Wells - a clever underground irrigation system which has prevented Turpan from becoming part of the desert. After lunch, visit Grape Valley where you'll sample some of the sweetest grapes and melons. After dinner, take an overnight train to Dunhuang. (B/L/D)
Overnight Train
(soft sleeper, 2 persons per cabin)
Wed Day 07 Arrive Dunhuang
Arrive Dunhuang in the morning. Meet your local guide and check into your hotel to freshen up. Dunhuang was one of ancient China's most important trading posts. Your afternoon tour will take you to the famous Magao Caves hollowed out of a desert cliff face southeast of Dunhuang. The 492 surviving grottoes are lined with Buddhist carvings, gilt and frescoes dating back to 366 A.D. (B/L/D)
Hotel: 4* Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel or similar
Thu Day 08 Dunhuang
In the morning, a two hour coach ride west of Dunhuang will take you to visit to view the ruins of Yumenguan Pass (Jade Gate). Back to Dunhuang for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring. If you're feeling adventurous, you can enjoy a desert camel ride for a magnificent view of the area from atop the dunes. (B/L/D)
Fri Day 09 Dunhuang / Xi'an
Morning flight to Xi’an. Xi'an served as the capital of 11 dynasties. After lunch you will visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum and the Ancient City Wall. This evening a special Dumpling Banquet and Tang Dynasty Show will be arranged. (B/L/SD)
Hotel: 5* Hyatt Regency Hotel or similar
Sat Day 10 Xi'an
Tour one of the most amazing archaeological finds of the 20th Century at the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum - the huge burial grounds of Emperor Qingshi Huangdi with its thousands of life-sized terra-cotta warriors and horses assembled to guard his afterlife. After lunch, visit Huaqing Hotspring and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Western buffet dinner at the hotel. (B/L/D)
Sun Day 11 Xi'an / Chongqing
Morning flight to Chongqing. If time permits, a Chongqing city orientation tour will be arranged. After dinner, board the MS East King for a 3-night Yangtze downstream cruise. (B/L/D)
Cruise: 5* MS East King (outside cabin)
Mon Day 12 Yangtze River Cruise
An onshore excursion will bring you to Temple of Shibaozhai Return to the ship for a Captain's Welcome Dinner. (B/L/D)
Tue Day 13 Yangtze River Cruise
In the early morning the ship will enter the first gorge, Qutang Gorge, the shortest but the most dramatic of the Yangtze’s Three Gorges. After breakfast, the ship will enter the second gorge, Wu Gorge, renowned for its odd, misty rock formations and its backdrop of soaring mountains. Board a local tender for a trip up the Shennong Stream. Where the Shennong Stream starts to become shallow, you'll disembark the tender to board a traditional wooden pea boat. Local Tujia boatmen will haul your boat up the fast running Shennong Stream by rope. Return to the ship for lunch. The ship will set sail again, entering the third gorge, Xiling Gorge, the longest and, before the flooding, the most hazardous. After dinner, the ship will step down through the 5-stage ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam. (B/L/D)
Wed Day 14 Yichang / Shanghai
Today an onshore excursion will be arranged to visit the Three Gorges Dam construction site - the largest hydro-electric project in the world. Return to the ship and set sail for Yichang. Upon arrival in Yichang, transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Shanghai. You'll be met on arrival in Shanghai and transferred to dinner at a local restaurant. Tonight, enjoy a skilful acrobatic show. (B/L/D)
Hotel: 5* Sky Fortune Hotel or similar
Thu Day 15 Shanghai
Tour a silk factory. From there you'll wander through Yu Yuan Garden in the heart of old Shanghai. After a local cuisine lunch, promenade along The Bund - a terrific vantage point from which to view the grand colonial buildings along Zhongshan Donglu, the busy traffic of the Huangpu River, and ultra-modern Pudong on the opposite shore. If time permits, some free time to shop on Nanjing Road. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner. (B/L/D)
Fri Day 16 Shanghai / Hometown
After a hotel breakfast you will be transferred to Shanghai's airport to catch your Air Canada flight back home. (B)
Bon Voyage!
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