ICONIC CHINA September 2-18, 2012

Our carefully planned tour of popular cities – and the Yangtze River — will show you the best of China – from the ancient Imperial splendors of Beijing and Xi’an to the 21^st century exuberance of Shanghai and Hong Kong with glimpses of the countryside in between. In the intimate and engaging company of your own personal guide, your in-depth sightseeing will be unhurried and comfortably paced.

Sept. 2 Depart U.S., cross the International Date Line

Sept. 3 Arrive in Beijing, China – Welcome to China! Our English-speaking local representative will meet us after Chinese arrival formalities and coordinate our transfer to the modern Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel. (For more about all our hotels and the ship, please click HERE.) This centrally-located 5-star property is the perfect blend of comfort and luxury. After check-in, the rest of the day is at leisure. Our United Airlines flight is scheduled to arrive in mid-afternoon so we will have some quality time for our internal clocks to start adjusting to time that’s 12 hours different than home. It’s very safe to walk around our hotel’s neighborhood.

Sept. 4-5 Beijing – Enjoy a buffet breakfast in our hotel before starting the day. Walk from Tiananmen Square to the magnificent Forbidden City (a UNESCO site), both office and home of China’s rulers from 1420 until 1911, forbidden to all commoners for almost 500 years. After our Chinese lunch we’ll visit the Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved imperial garden in China. Tonight, enjoy a Peking Duck welcome banquet with a glass of locally produced wine to toast our new experiences. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner) 

Beijing Day 2 – See the 2008 Olympic Village, the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, bold architectural statements, and then walk the Great Wall (a UNESCO site). We’ll visit Badaling, where we’ll have time to climb the watch towers and photograph majestic views. After lunch we’ll learn about cloisonné production, a local art cherished for almost 500 years. Then walk leisurely along the Sacred Way to the Ming Tombs through impressive stone statues that stand guard. (B,L,D)

Sept. 6-7 Bejing-Xi’an – See the historic hutong lanes of old Beijing from the carriage of a pedicab/trishaw. One of our stops will be at the courtyard home of a local family for tea. Later, fly to Xi’an. This evening the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show features a colorful recreation of the lavish 7^th century Chinese Imperial Court where we enjoy dinner, music and dance. (B, lunch on plane, Dinner Show)

Day 2 – Marvel at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses underground army pits of the First Qin Emperor (a UNESCO site). During lunch, enjoy a noodle-making demonstration. Next, we visit the Xi’an Art and Ceramics Factory to learn how Terracotta Warrior replicas are made. We’ll visit the yet-to-be-really-discovered Ox Museum, a new cultural gem that pays homage to Chinese agrarian culture. We are invited to the private Curator’s Room to handle and closely inspect selected national treasures, a rare opportunity extended  to few. (B,L,D)

Sept. 8 Xi’an-Chongqing (Embarkation Yangtze River Cruise) – Today we may see some neighborhood seniors practicing their morning Tai Chi before visiting the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an and learning to write like a local during a Chinese calligraphy class. Next, fly to Chongqing, China’s capital during World War II. Visit the zoo to see pandas before boarding the luxurious Century Diamond. Relax as we sail downstream on the world’s third longest river, which has 400 million people living along its banks. (B,L,D)

Sept. 9 Yangtze River Cruise – Our excursion today is to the Snow Jade Cave, filled with stalagmites and stalactites that are still growing. This 1,000-mile-long cave wasn’t discovered until the mid-1950s. (If the Ghost City of Fengdu’s renovation is complete, we may visit that instead.) Continue sailing and see all the activity along the mighty river. The Captain’s welcome dinner is arranged for tonight. (B,L,D)

Sept. 10 The Three Gorges – Be awed by the majestic gorges today. Qutang Gorge, the farthest west, is the shortest and also the narrowest, with mountains on each side that reach up to 4,000 feet. Sailing downstream brings us to the 25-mile-long Wu Gorge. Weather permitting, we ride a motorized sampan up a tributary, Shennong Stream. Continue through Xiling Gorge and the Three Gorges Dam five-stage ship locks. (B,L,D)

Sept. 11 Three Gorges Dam-Yichang (Disembark)-Shanghai – Because of the once-treacherous current, this part of the river was seen as the most exhilarating. Go ashore to tour the massive (and controversial) Three Gorges Dam site, the world’s second largest. Back on board, we continue to Yichang where we transfer to the airport for our flight to cosmopolitan Shanghai. If flights are unavailable due to seasonal scheduling, we will ride through the fertile and scenic countryside to the nearest airport in Wuhan. (B,L)

Sept. 12 Shanghai – We stroll along the Bund/waterfront area on the Huangpu River and continue to the serene 400-year-old Yu Garden in the Old City. Learn about silk production—a national secret for centuries—and silk carpet weaving. Enjoy a Shanghainese lunch and tour the world-famous Shanghai Museum at our own pace. After dinner, see an astonishing Chinese acrobatic performance filled with amazing feats. (B,L,D)

Sept. 13 Shanghai-Guilin-Yangshuo – Fly this morning to Guilin and ride through the scenic countryside to Yangshuo. This afternoon we enjoy a cruise on the Li River, whose peaceful limpid water and otherworldly limestone Karst mountains come together to form unforgettable panoramas. Capture the unsurpassed beauty and serene tranquility right out of a painting. (B,L,D)

Sept. 14 Yangshuo – Have fun bamboo-rafting on the calm river while enjoying the breathtaking natural scenery. Visit Ten Miles Gallery; the beautiful landscapes here are sure to make us long to stay. We’ll have free time to explore this picturesque town and the local crafts vendors in the 1,400-year-old market, then select from the many restaurants for dinner on our own. Tonight an extravaganza awaits as we see the spectacular outdoor performance Liu San Jie, directed by Zhang Yimou, who created the 2008 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies. (B,L)

Sept. 15 Yangshuo-Guilin-Hong Kong – Enjoy the morning at leisure (perhaps with a foot massage) before sightseeing at the Silver Spring Cave. We then drive back to Guilin and visit a local tea farm for a hands-on demonstration of the tea making process followed by a tea ceremony. Later we fly to Hong Kong. (B,L)

Sept. 16 Hong Kong – The morning begins with a funicular ride up Victoria Peak for panoramic vistas of this one-of-a-kind port city. We’ll pass Repulse Bay, a popular beach area (which you might recognize from the movie, Love is a Many Splendored Thing), and stop at Aberdeen fishing village for a sampan ride in its harbor. Next up is free time at Stanley Market whose narrow streets offer bargains on clothing, arts and crafts. The afternoon is at leisure. Of course, we’ll provide you guidance to suit your interests. (B)

Sept. 17 Hong Kong – We have a free day to explore the city. One choice may be an optional excursion to view the giant Buddha on Lantau Island — or some may decide on a hydrofoil ride to the nearby gambling Mecca of Macao. Shopping is a highlight of Hong Kong with markets, malls and shops to fit any taste and budget. You might choose the Jade Market or Bird and Flower Market or ride the double-decker bus from one end of Central to the other. Our grand finale this evening is a special farewell dinner as part of a cruise that lets us enjoy night views of the Hong Kong harbor. Our destination, Lei Yue Mun Seafood Village in the eastern harbor, is widely known to gourmets as a fresh seafood paradise. Our return cruise allows more vistas of the nightscape as we say goodbye to new friends. (B,D)

Sept. 18 Hong Kong – Transfer to the airport for our flight home. (B)