The wonders of China

This 14-day multi-course tour highlights the Yangtze River cruise from Yichang to Chongqing, passing through the picturesque Three Gorges.

We travel on the world-famous bullet train. In a short time, China built an astonishing network of bullet trains.

The tour also covers China’s top cities, including modern Shanghai and ancient Xi’an and Luoyang.

The trip will also give us a unique experience as we visit Shaolin Monastery and a kung fu school in the city of Denfeng, where there are hundreds of kung fu schools.

We will visit the famous Industrial Heritage Street of Chinese History and Culture, the YTO Tractor Factory and its modern Agricultural Museum in Luoyang City, Jianxi District.

Itinerary

Day 1 (Thu 23 Oct) Flight from Finland to China
Juneyao Air, HO1608 at 16:55.

Day 2 (Fri 24 Oct) Shanghai – China’s Giant
We arrive in Shanghai at 06:35. Private transfer by bus to Shanghai. The city was China’s gateway to the West for 100 years and has been called the Paris of Asia. It was the birthplace of China’s first railway and the first cars, trams and traffic lights. The economy is still booming and the city is building more than anywhere else in the world, even though skyscrapers have been built as far as the eye can see. We enjoy a city tour.
After lunch, we check into the hotel and take a short rest.
For dinner tonight, we enjoy traditional Shanghainese cuisine. Meals: (L,I)
We will stay at the 4*Shanghai Rainbow Golden Tulip Hotel in Shanghai.

Day 3 (Sat 25 Oct) Shanghai
Today we explore a more exotic setting when we visit Yu Yuan Old Town, Yu Garden. Yu Garden, is one of the city’s 69 manicured gardens, of which 200 original ones remain. Here we find authentic Chinese quarters, a testament to the Chinese people’s love of the outdoors. The garden is surrounded by an acclaimed shopping mall full of antique and souvenir shops – the Yuyuan Bazaar.
Next, we take a walking tour of the French concession area. This is the area of Shanghai that was administered by the French government between 1849 and 1946. The tree-lined streets and many fine old houses in the area still create the atmosphere of “Paris of the East”. Later in the programme, we will take a cruise on the Huangpu River to see the magnificent views of the Shanghai skyline. Meals: (A,L,I)
We stay at the 4*Shanghai Rainbow Golden Tulip Hotel in Shanghai.

Day 4 (Sun 26 Oct) Take the bullet train from Shanghai to Yichang
Free time in Shanghai in the morning.
Transfer to the train station. Board the bullet train from Shanghai to Yichang (13:27-20:55), travelling 2nd class.
Arrive in Yichang, where our local guide will meet us in the arrival hall. Meals:(A)
We stay at the Enjoying 4* Hotel in Yichang.

Day 5 (Mon 27 Oct)
We visit Riverside Park and enjoy the beautiful river scenery. We are impressed by the promenade and local markets on Jiefang Road.
In the afternoon, we move to Wanda Plaza, a lively shopping mall where we can find delicious restaurants for dinner.
Transfer to Maoping Harbour for the Victoria Sabrina cruise. Victoria Sabrina is the largest and one of the top four newest Yangtze ships, all brand new and stylish. It will make its inaugural voyage in 2020. It is the best star ship of New York-based Victoria Cruises, trusted by international visitors for its American standards. Proudly the first eco-friendly luxury cruise ship on the Yangtze River, she meets the highest standards and is the best choice for a memorable “green” cruise holiday in China! Embarkation is from 17:30 to 20:30. Meals: (A,L)

Day 6 (Tue 28 Oct) Yangtze River cruise
07:00 Boat departs
13:00-15:30 – Excursion to the Three Gorges Dam area. Construction of the Three Gorges Dam began in 1994. The dam was completed in 2006. The Three Gorges Dam in Hubei province in central China splits the river into two upstream and downstream sections, with a height difference of up to 110 metres. Optional shore excursion – Tribe of the Three Gorges OR Qu Yuan’s hometown. Meals: (A,L,I)

Day 7 (Wed 29 Oct) Yangtze River cruise
Shore excursion – Shennong Stream and rapids. The Shennong is a 60 km long river that flows through three gorges with a variety of scenic landscapes. The three gorges are Mianzhu Gorge, Parrot Gorge and Longcangdong Gorge.
Scenic cruise – through Wu Gorge & Qutang Gorge.
Optional shore excursion – White Emperor City. Meals: (A,L,I)

Day 8 (Thu 30 Oct) Yangtze River cruise
On this day we will make a shore excursion to “Xiao Guan Shan” National Cultural Park and Fengdu “Snow Jade Cave”. “Xiao Guan Shan” is a famous place for the relocation and reconstruction of architectural and cultural relics after the water level of the Yangtze River rose as a result of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam Project. “Snowy Jade Cave” is a National Three Gorges Scenic Area.
Optional shore excursion – Fengdu “Ghost City”. Meals: (A,L,I)

Day 9 (Fri 31.10) Chongqing – Xi’an
At 09:00 we arrive in Chongqing, Chaotianmen harbour pier.
We visit Liziba express train station, Jiefangbei promenade, transfer to the railway station.
Liziba station is located on the sixth to eighth floor of a 19-storey residential building. It uses specialised noise reduction equipment to isolate station noise from surrounding apartments
We travel by bullet train to Xi’an (15:26-21:33) in 2nd class seats. Transfer to hotel at destination. (A)
We stay at the Bell Tower 4* Hotel, Xi’an.

Day 10 (Sat 1 Nov) Silk Road Xi’an and Terracotta Army
Full day excursion: after breakfast, we take a bus (about 1 hour, 41 km) to the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. On the way, we will stop and visit a pottery workshop.
The tomb is guarded by thousands of statues, the Terracotta Army (clay armies), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The emperor wanted to create a tomb area reminiscent of the capital of the empire at the time. The emperor died in 210 BC, but work on the tomb began decades before that. The Clay Army was not discovered near Xi’an until the 1970s, and more silent warriors were discovered in the 1990s.
We return to the old Silk Road terminus, Xi’an. The city has much more of the old China left than the country’s most famous metropolises. We visit the ancient city wall and the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, a landmark of Xi’an. Tang Dynasty dinner and show tonight. Meals: (A,I)
We stay at the Bell Tower 4* Hotel, Xi’an.

Day 11 (Sun 2 Nov) Xi’an – Luoyang
Transfer to the train station. We travel by bullet train Xi’an – Luoyang ( 09.49-11.28), 2nd class.
We arrive in Luoyang and meet our local guide in the arrival hall. We will visit the Longmen Grottoes, considered a treasure house of ancient stone carving with over 100,000 stone statues. It is one of the three most valuable Buddhist cave and rock carvings in China. Meals: (A,L,I)
We stay at the Holiday Inn Express Luoyang in a 4* hotel.

Day 12 (Mon 3 Nov) Luoyang-Denfeng
In the morning, we take an industrial tour of a tractor factory. After lunch break, we will take a bus to Dengfeng, about 1.5 hours. We will visit the Shaolin Temple (UNESCO). It was founded in the 500’s and is world famous for its connection with Chinese martial arts, including Shaolin Kung Fu. We can also enjoy a spectacular Kung Fu show performed by the Shaolin Temple’s fighting monks.
Meals: (A,L,I)
We stay in Dengfeng Guan Songshan Holiday, Denfeng at a 4* hotel.

Day 13 (Tue 4 Nov) Denfeng- Zhengzhou
The morning is free, for example for a massage. We check out of the hotel rooms at 12:00. Transfer and visit to a kung fu school (including a special kung fu demonstration for the group).
Afternoon transfer to Zhengzhou airport for departure.
Enjoy a farewell dinner, followed by transfer to the airport.
Meals: (A,L,I)

Day 14 (Wed 5 Nov) Flight home
We depart on flight HO1665 at 00:55. We arrive in Helsinki at 05:10.