Yangtze & Three Gorges Holiday Planner. Tailor-made Holidays to Yangtze & Three Gorges in China

Day 1: Beijing

Huan ying, welcome to China and the start of your holiday! Airport arrival transfer and hotel check in. The remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy at leisure.

Today is a free day for you. Make the most of your hotel's excellent facilities or head out to the streets of Beijing for a bit of shopping or to try the delicious snacks that can be found on most street corners.

Day 3: Beijing

This morning, we embark on a guided sightseeing tour of the nation’s capital. Tiananmen Square is essentially the heart of Beijing. Heading back a few centuries we step into the Forbidden City, the walled city of the former Chinese emperors.This afternoon we take rickshaws to explore the Hutongs of Beijing. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a city restaurant.

Day 4: Beijing

Today, we drive beyond Beijing to Badaling, where we can walk a section of the famous Great Wall, built during the Ming Dynasty. Later we visit a cloisonne workshop demonstrating the ancient Chinese art of combining copper and enamel to make decorative pieces. Tonight, an evening of choreographed acrobatic performance.

Day 5: Beijing - Xi'an

Morning market walk and a visit to the Summer Palace. We explore the lavishly decorated temples, halls and courts, reconstructed in 1902 at the whim of the extravagant Dowager Empress Cixi. Visit to the famed Silk Alley markets and drive by the Beijing 2008 Olympic Stadium en route to the airport for your flight to Xi'an.

Day 6: Xi'an

Xi’an in Shaanxi Province is perhaps most famous for the discovery of Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Warriors. The 2,200 year old warriors comprise more than 7,000 life-sized soldiers which stand battle-ready in excavated pits. We tour the site and a workshop where replicas are crafted. This evening we have free time to opt for a Tang Dynasty dinner and performance.

Day 7: Xi'an

Early this morning opt for our Panda excursion to the Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Centre. The centre offers care to a small number of injured Giant Pandas in the region. Later in the day we’ll visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and take a bike ride along the great old City Wall that offers unique views of the city and residence below.

Day 8: Xi'an - Yangtze & Three Gorges

We fly to Chongqing, the starting point for our exciting Yangtze River cruise. Before boarding the cruise the we can stroll along Chongqing’s People’s Square in the city centre.

Day 9: Yangtze & Three Gorges

Good morning from the River Yangtze! At 6340km in length, the Yangtze is the 3rd longest river in the world, neatly dividing China into north and south and wending its way through eight very different provinces. The Gorges are a breathtaking sight! The first gorge we pass, Qutangxia Gorge is the shortest and narrowest yet the most impressive.

Day 10: Yangtze & Three Gorges

During our cruise, we’ll also sail through the new ship locks of the impressive Three Gorges Dam construction. Shore excursions to mythical Fengdu - ‘Ghost City’ and Shennong stream, with its unique scenery and four natural gorges. Drift serenely along the stream in open ‘pea pod boats’, looking out upon lush greenery and ancient villages of the Tujia people.

Day 11: Yangtze & Three Gorges - Wuhan

After a morning shore excursion to visit the Three Gorges Dam we disembark from our cruise. We have a long afternoon of travel ahead of us and will stop for lunch en-route. After driving to Wuhan (approx 4 hours) we’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, hotel check in and overnight.

Day 12: Wuhan - Nanjing

This morning we take a high speed train bound for Nanjing. Reaching speeds of over 250km we arrive in Nanjing in just a little more than 3hrs. Upon arrival to Nanjing, our city sightseeing tour will commence. Former capital of the Ming Dynasty and capital of Republican China, Nanjing holds a rich history of both ancient and modern China. This afternoon we visit the Fuzi Miao (Temple of Confucius) and the Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre - moving experience that charts the atrocities committed at this very site.

Day 13: Nanjing - Suzhou

A short train journey East is Suzhou in Jiangsu Province. The charming city boasts extensive waterways and canals dotted with traditional bridges, houses and gardens. A cruise on the Grand Canal exposes Suzhou’s beauty, as does our exploration of the humble administrator’s house and garden.

Days 14-16: Suzhou - Shanghai

An hour’s journey brings us to bustling Shanghai. Days 14 and 15 are free for you to explore the city your own way. Perhaps visit the Oriental Pearl TV tower, the Jade Buddha Temple, French Quarter, The Bund or the Old City