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View a presentation about this memorable journey

Extraordinary Wonders of China & the Yangtze River

Itinerary

Aboard  Century Legend

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Please note: For those passengers making their own air arrangements, transfers between airport and hotel on arrival/departure day are not included, and are at your own expense.

Beijing to Hong Kong

DAYS 1-2:

Depart Home / Overnight Flight

Upon arrival in Beijing, you’ll be transferred to your downtown hotel.

DAYS 3-4:

Beijing

Welcome to Beijing, where you'll begin with a tour of famous Tian’anmen Square. Then, following lunch in a local restaurant, you’ll tour the Forbidden City, the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Learning Discovery: This evening, join your fellow travelers at a local restaurant for a traditional Peking duck banquet.

On Day 4, set out for a full-day tour featuring the Great Wall; the Beijing Zoo, home of the giant pandas; and a photo stop at the Olympic Stadium, with lunch included at a local restaurant. Your evening is at leisure.

Food icon Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinners

DAYS 5-6:

Xi'an

On Day 5 Learning Discovery: Before you leave Beijing, you'll slip into the daily lives of China's welcoming people as you take a ride on a trishaw, a bicycle-powered rickshaw, through the narrow lanes of a hutong, a traditional neighborhood. Here, you’ll join a local family for tea and later be the guest in another home for lunch. You'll then fly to Xi'an and check into your hotel. Your evening is at leisure.

On Day 6, you’ll tour Xi'an's Ming Dynasty walls and visit the exquisite Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Learning Discovery: For lunch savor jiaozi sculpted dumplings. Then, marvel at the life-size statues of the 2,200-year-old Terra Cotta Warriors on an afternoon tour. Learning Discovery: In the evening, attend a Tang Dynasty banquet with entertainment.

Food icon Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinners

DAYS 7-8:

Hangzhou

After a morning at leisure in Xi’an, you'll take a short flight to Hangzhou, renowned for its scenic beauty and a favorite destination for newlyweds. The city curves along lovely West Lake, with graceful pagodas dotting the shore and small islands. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening.

On Day 8, explore Hangzhou in depth on a full-day tour, beginning with a cruise on West Lake and a stroll among lakeside pagodas and gardens. Learning Discovery: You'll then go on a fascinating visit to a tea village just outside the city, where you’ll be a guest at a local farmer’s house for lunch — an intimate experience that's only possible in our small group. You’ll also have the opportunity to go into one of the area's renowned tea plantations to help harvest tea leaves with local farmers. Learning Discovery: See how the tea is dried and prepared for market. Then, visit a ceramic museum — the first special theme museum on ceramics in China. This evening, you may choose to join an optional "Image of West Lake" show.

Food icon Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 1 dinners

DAYS 9-10:

Shanghai

Learning Discovery: On Day 9, you'll visit the Huqingyutang Chinese Medicine Museum, attend a lecture about Chinese medicine, and tour a street where many of these potions are sold. After lunch in a local restaurant, enjoy a scenic First-Class train ride to Shanghai. The evening is at leisure, or join a "Shanghai acrobatic show."

On Day 10’s full-day tour of Shanghai, you’ll explore the Bund, a riverfront promenade with European-style architecture, the Shanghai Museum, the 400-year-old Yu Yuan Garden, and Old Shanghai Town with lunch included at a local restaurant. Be sure to save room for an included buffet dinner tonight!

Food icon Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinners

DAYS 11-14:

Yichang / Embark Ship / Cruise the Yangtze River

Explore Shanghai on your own the morning of Day 11, or join an optional "Fengjing Ancient Water Town Tour." You'll then fly to Yichang to board your Century Cruises ship. Learning Discoveries: As you cruise, you’ll be able to join in such cultural activities as tai chi, Chinese calligraphy, and kite making.

Tour the Three Gorges Dam project on Day 12. You'll cruise through the dam's impressive ship lock. Then, you'll cruise into Xiling Gorge.

On Day 13, our small group boards a motorboat, exclusive to Vantage travelers, for a scenic trip up one of the "little gorges" of the Yangtze. Afterward, you'll cruise between the twelve peaks of the Wu and Qutang gorges.

Stop at a small Yangtze River village, where you can visit with the locals on Day 14. Learning Discovery: Stop by one of the many homes that had to be relocated from the river's edge as a result of the dam project. Then, visit a local kindergarten.

Food icon Included meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners

DAYS 15-16:

Disembark Ship / Chongqing / Guilin

You’ll disembark your Yangtze cruise in Chongqing on Day 15, and visit the General Joseph Stilwell Museum. Afterward, you’ll fly to Guilin. Enjoy the evening on your own, or join an optional Guilin by Night tour with dinner.

On Day 16, embark on a scenic motorboat cruise down the serene Li River in Guilin. Lunch is served during your river cruise. Learning Discovery: Visit a local school in Guilin. This evening enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Food icon Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 1 dinners

DAYS 17-18:

Guilin / Hong Kong

After a morning at leisure and an included lunch on Day 17, you'll explore Guilin on a panoramic city tour which features a visit to the Chuanshan Cave. Learning Discovery: Learn about Chinese brush painting at a local art gallery. Then, fly to Hong Kong and settle into your hotel. Tour Hong Kong Island on Day 18, with views of Repulse Bay, a drive to Victoria Peak, and a sampan ride through Aberdeen floating village. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner this evening.

Food icon Included meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 1 dinners

DAY 19 :

Hong Kong / Return Home

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or, begin your optional three-day Hong Kong, China extension.

Food icon Included meals: breakfast

Trip Post-Extension: Hong Kong, China (*Not available for all departures)

Make the most of your visit to Hong Kong, the spectacular “shopping capital” of the Far East, by adding two additional nights at the end of your trip. Your Moderate Deluxe hotel is in a perfect location, and your Discovery Leader will be happy to give you tips on sightseeing, as well as tell you where to find the best bargains and luxury goods.
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most famous shopping destinations, and there’s very little you won’t find at Hong Kong’s lively and colorful outdoor markets, most of which stay open long into the night. You might treat yourself to a well-priced luxurious pair of silk embroidered pajamas, a watch, or fine jewelry. Other great souvenirs include jade, silks or Chinese tea, which is always available, affordable, and easy to pack. And you will also have the opportunity to join an optional full-day tour to Macau with lunch included.

Your Price Includes:

  • 2 nights accommodations at the Moderate Deluxe Hotel Nikko Hong Kong
  • Daily breakfast
  • All transfers and baggage handling (where permitted)
  • The services of an experienced Discovery Leader
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Please Note: The riverboat portion of this trip involves extensive stair climbing. Passengers will encounter several flights of stairs when disembarking the ship for day tours and when re-embarking in the evenings.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This day-by-day itinerary is preliminary and subject to change. If any major changes occur in advance of your departure, you will be notified in writing by Vantage. If changes occur while on tour, you will be notified by your Vantage Discovery Leader or local representatives. In addition, should there be an extreme change in water levels, Vantage will do everything possible to provide either the included excursion or an alternate excursion at Vantage’s discretion.

Please note: Cruise itinerary and port times are subject to change. Fluctuating water levels may affect cruise itinerary.