12 Days Lifetime Yangtze Cruise from Guangzhou

Welcome to Guangzhou – one of the most popular destinations for business travelers of the world! After arrival in Guangzhou, our local tour guide and driver will escort you to your hotel. Rest of the day is free to explore the metropolis on your own.

Today’s tour will start from visiting the Chen Clan Academy (Chenjia Ci). It is not only an important heritage site under protection by the country, but also a local Guangdong handicraft museum. Then head to visit the Dr Sun Yat-sen’s Memorial Hall, a landmark of Guangzhou. Afterwards, the Nanyue King’s Tomb Museum in Tang Dynasty is a must-see! The tomb has a history of more than 2,000 years and it is the oldest underground structure ever discovered in southern China.

Dr Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall

Today will be free for you to explore on your own until your guide escort you to the airport and take the flight to Guilin. After arrival in Guilin, the city with the most beautiful landscape under the heaven, your local tour guide and driver will meet and pick you up to your hotel in Guilin from the airport. Rest of the day is free to explore the picturesque city on your own.

After breakfast today, you’ll be driven to Zhujiang Pier (40-minute drive) to start your boat cruise down the picturesque Li River, which is the highlight of any visit to Guilin, until you get to Yangshuo County. Along the river, you’ll be inspired by breathtaking views of peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and picturesque pastoral views of rice paddies and water buffaloes. Visitors feel they have stepped into a traditional Chinese painting. After checking into your hotel in Yangshuo, free to explore the beautiful town and its famous West Street.

Guilin Li River Landscape

Today, you will be driven back to Guilin (1.5-hour drive), where you will tour Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill and Reed Flute Cave.

Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin, got its name because it looks like an elephant drinking water. The round opening that would be under the elephant’s trunk is known as Water-Moon Cave because at night the reflection of the moon can be seen through the arch and it looks like it is under the water and floating on the surface of the water at the same time.

Fubo Hill is a solitary peak, standing elegantly half on land and half on water, situated to the west of Li River and the north of Guilin. Reed Flute Cave known as the Palace of Natural Arts is is a fantastic cave decorated by peculiar-shaped stalactites, stalagmites, and rock, being in Guilin urban area.

The Famous Elephant Trunk Hill

Today will be free until your guide picks you up to the railway station to catch the high speed train to Chongqing. After arriving in Chongqing city be met and transferred to the Chongqing downtown. Your tour guide and driver will take you to the Chongqing zoo to see the Giant Panda, and then visit the Ciqikou Old Town, if time permits.

Then, you'll be transferred to the Cruise pier, and board the shipin the late afternoon. Your lifetime Yangtze River Cruise starts! (Note: the boarding time changes based on the cruise ships, season, water level, weather, etc.)

Chongqing Zoo

Today you will embrace your first shore excursion site-Shibaozhai Pagoda. With 278 kilometers away from Chongqing, Shibaozhai is a pearl on Yangtze River. As the gem of Chinese Architecture, the 12-story, 18th Century red wooden temple is an architectural delight full of Legends and beautiful stories. Climbing on the top, you can have a panoramic view of the Yangtze River.

Optional Site: Some cruise ships make the shore excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City instead. Also called as the City of Ghosts, it endows kinds of mysterious stories about the underworld cruel tortures and kinds of devils. Enter inside, you can find more devil statues and vivid cruel scenes.

Note: Once you told us which excursion site you choose, we’ll arrange the right cruise ship for you at great rates.

Shibaozhai Pagoda, a Pearl of Yangtze River

Shore excursion to Shennv Stream by smaller vessels. Shennv Stream, called Goddess Stream, is reputed as the Original Virgin Valley of Yangtze where you could see extraordinary view.

Note: Some cruise ships make the shore excursion to the Shennong Stream. Shennong Stream is a collection of local culture. The nature scenery, boat tracker, local sampan, ancient hanging coffins, unique ethnic minority Tujia culture… all is worth your exploration.

You have the final say on which excursion to make, as we can book any of the cruise ships at great rates!

Shennv Stream with Primitive Gorge Scenery

Today's highlight is your morning excursion to the world-famous Three Gorges Dam. Be prepared for your check-out procedure and the ship will arrive in Yichang at about 11:30. Our guide will expect you on board and visit the Yichang Museum if time permits. After lunch at a local famous restaurant, drive to the Yichang airport and take a flight to Beijing. After arrival in Beijing, your local tour guide and driver will escort you to your hotel in Beijing from the airport. Rest of the day is free to explore on your own.

World-famous Three Gorges Dam

Beijing Today you will first visit the world's biggest city plaza, the Tiananmen Square; then walk to the marvelous "Egg" (National Centre for the Performing Arts) to take some pictures from its outside; subsequently, go to the Forbidden City, the most complete imperial palace in China; and later proceed to the impressive Temple of Heaven. After the sightseeing tour, be driven back to your hotel.

Enjoy Panoramic View of Forbidden City

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests of Temple of Heaven

After breakfast, drive to the Badaling Great Wall (about 80 km, 1.5hours) where you will experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. For lunch you'll sample some delicious fare in a local restaurant. Afterwards, visit the Sacred Way and Changling, one of the Ming Tombs; on the way back to your hotel, you might make a stop at the Beijing Olympic Village to take some photos of the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube from the outside; With a Peking Roast Duck dinner you will complete today's tour!

Summer Scenery of Mutianyu Great Wall

After breakfast, you will marvel at the exquisite Summer Palace, the imperial garden. Then head to visit the Drum Tower dating from 1420. Ascending the big Drum Tower, you will have a bird's eye view of the surrounding communities of Hutongs and Siheyuan from here. And then move on to an ordinary family courtyard home for a tea break. Afterwards, take a rickshaw to visit the most famous Hutongs keeping the original layout in the Shichahai area. Then move on to the Prince Gong's Mansion.

After the tour, our guide will escort you to the airport to your next destination or return to your home.

Beijing Hutong Rickshaw

Longevity Hill & Kunming Lake of Summer Palace