Signature China & the Yangtze

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Beijing, China

Arrive in Beijing and check in to your hotel, located within walking distance of the Forbidden City.

The Peninsula Beijing

Day 2: Beijing

Journey to the Great Wall, walking along the ramparts of its best-preserved section at Mutianyu. This afternoon is at leisure.

The Peninsula Beijing   |   Meals: B

Day 3: Beijing

Spend the day discovering old and new Beijing. Visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Continue to Beijing’s top modern-day buildings, including the Grand National Theater, CCTV building and the 2008 Olympic sites.

The Peninsula Beijing   |   Meals: B L

Day 4: Beijing

Start the day with an early morning class with a tai chi master on the grounds of the stunning Temple of Heaven. Afterward, visit the Panjiayuan Weekend Market, with hundreds of open-air stalls selling a dizzying array of collectibles. The remainder of your day is at leisure to continue exploring Beijing on your own.

The Peninsula Beijing   |   Meals: B

Day 5: Beijing/Yichang

Fly to Yichang and embark on your Yangtze River cruise.

Sanctuary 'Yangzi Explorer'   |   Meals: B D

Days 6-8: Cruising the Yangtze River

Cruise the mighty Yangtze River, passing through the legendary Three Gorges: Xiling, Wu and Qutang. This is perhaps the most picturesque region in China, and your voyage is enhanced with shore excursions led by expert historians and naturalists. Gain eye-opening insight into the changing face of China when you visit with a family that was relocated during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.

Sanctuary 'Yangzi Explorer'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 9: Chongqing/Guilin

Disembark in Chongqing. Fly to picturesque, postcard-perfect Guilin, where your afternoon is at leisure to settle in to your hotel and explore the city.

Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin   |   Meals: B

Day 10: Guilin/Yangshuo/Guilin

The Chinese have a saying: “The scenery of Guilin is the finest under heaven; the scenery of Yangshuo surpasses Guilin.” Witness the fabled Yangshuo landscape for yourself when you float down the Li River amid forests of towering limestone peaks. Later, explore Yangshuo’s cobblestone lanes and bustling market.

Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin   |   Meals: B L

Day 11: Guilin/Xian

Fly to Xian and meander through the markets and winding lanes of the old city. Marvel at the exquisite beauty of the Great Mosque and the bustle of the Muslim Quarter. Then, climb an ancient gate of the City Walls and cycle along its ramparts.

Shangri-La Hotel, Xian   |   Meals: B L

Day 12: Xian/Shanghai

Continue your exploration of Xian today with special entry and enhanced viewing of the Terra Cotta Warriors, constructed to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi. After lunch, tour the Yangling Museum and gain special access to its conservation lab. Then fly to Shanghai, China’s economic capital.

The Peninsula Shanghai   |   Meals: B L

Day 13: Shanghai

In the morning, explore Zhujiajiao, a delightful canal town that evokes China’s past. Stroll its centuries-old narrow lanes and board a sampan to glide along its main canal. Your afternoon is at leisure. Later this evening, attend a Shanghai Acrobatic performance.

The Peninsula Shanghai   |   Meals: B

Day 14: Shanghai

Explore the 16th-century Yu Garden, and then join the throngs of people strolling the Bund, Shanghai’s most popular promenade. In the afternoon, explore artist studios and galleries in the M-50 Contemporary Art District.

The Peninsula Shanghai   |   Meals: B L

Day 15: Depart Shanghai

Transfer to the airport for your journey home.

Meals: B