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Trip Itinerary:

• Day 1 - Shanghai

  Welcome to Shanghai, China’s largest metropolis. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

  Relaxation

  Take time to relax and explore the city, with its ancient architecture of old China and today’s modern financial district. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 2 - Shanghai

  Sightseeing

  After breakfast, tour Shanghai’s older district and elegant Bund.

  Museums

  A local lunch is followed by a silk carpet workshop tour and demonstration, and a visit to the Shanghai Museum, filled with ancient artifacts and art.

  Performing Arts

  Tonight, see famed Chinese acrobats at an amazing performance. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 3 - Wuhan

  Shanghai & Wuhan.

  Sightseeing

  Take morning free time to further explore Shanghai.

  Commercial Flight

  After lunch, fly to Wuhan.

  Museums

  Tour the historic Wuhan Museum.

  River or Barge Cruise

  Embark on your ship. Dine aboard. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 4 - At Sea

  Yueyang.

  Voluntourism

  Today, you visit a rural village’s elementary school, sponsored by Viking River Cruises. Enjoy sharing songs and stories with the children.

  River or Barge Cruise

  Then, cruise through the breathtaking Xiling Gorge, longest of the Three Gorges. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 5 - At Sea

  Three Gorges Dam.

  Sightseeing

  Disembark for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam, where you learn all about this ambitious engineering project.

  River or Barge Cruise

  This afternoon, cruise through the 5 stair-step locks of the dam.

  River or Barge Cruise

  Meals aboard; Cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 6 - At Sea

  Three Gorges & Lesser Three Gorges.

  Sightseeing

  Enjoy the Yangtze’s spectacular series of limestone ridges, known as the Three Gorges. Cruise through Wu (Witches) Gorge, noted for its sheer cliffs.

  Sightseeing

  Then, board a smaller boat for an excursion through the dramatic Lesser Three Gorges.

  Sightseeing

  Stop for lunch at a scenic overlook, then sail through these remarkable canyons flanked by towering cliffs. Along the way you see ancient burial sites and a plank road carved into the cliffside.

  River or Barge Cruise

  Return to your ship and sail through the most spectacular of the three large gorges, Qutang Gorge.

  Food and Dining

  Dinner is served aboard. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 7 - At Sea

  Shibaozhai.

  Sightseeing

  After breakfast, tour the 12-story Shibaozhai Temple, a red pavilion built in 1650. Experience breathtaking views of the river valley.

  Food and Dining

  Return to your ship for lunch and dinner.

  River or Barge Cruise

  Cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 8 - Chongqing

  Chongqing & Xian.

  Food and Dining

  Disembark after breakfast.

  Sightseeing

  Tour of the Chongqing Zoo and a local lunch.

  Commercial Flight

  Afterwards, fly to Xian, a key city of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.).

  Performing Arts

  Tonight’s treat is a banquet with food, song, dance and colorful costumes of the Tang Dynasty era. (B, L. D)

  

• Day 9 - Urumqi

  Xian & Urumqi.

  Sightseeing

  This morning, tour the famed burial site of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, laid to rest with more than 6,000 life-sized and individually molded Terra Cotta Warriors.

  Commercial Flight

  After lunch, fly to Urumqi and check in to your hotel. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 10 - Urumqi

  Sightseeing

  Explore the mountain valley of Urumqi, the world’s farthest city from the ocean. Urumqi has a unique multicultural population, influenced by neighboring countries of Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Turkey. Visit with local herdsmen and see their yurts, age-old dwellings where they still live to this day.

  Food and Dining

  Try regional specialties at today’s meals. This cuisine is far different from traditional Chinese food. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 11 - Turpan

  Urumqi & Turpan.

  Sightseeing

  A motorcoach ride brings you to Turpan, the lowest basin in China. Tour the New City and Old City; see centuries-old mud houses still inhabited by locals. Visit the ruins of the ancient city of Jiahoe, dating back 2,300 years to the Han Dynasty.

  Performing Arts

  Tonight, dine on regional cuisine and enjoy a performance by local musicians. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 12 - Turpan

  Turpan & Kashgar.

  Sightseeing

  This morning, you tour the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves followed by a visit to the Grape Valley. This oasis in the desert offers the best grapes for wine and raisins. See how the ancient karez irrigation system helped shape this industry.

  Commercial Flight

  After your visit, fly to Kashgar. (B, L, D)

• Day 13 - China

  Kashgar.

  Sightseeing

  As you drive through Kashgar, see the 59-foot-tall statue of Mao. Visit the Id Kah Mosque, built in 1442; this Islamic mosque is the largest in China.

  Shopping

  After lunch, go shopping in the city’s famous Bazaar, featuring everything from animals and food to handcrafted clothing and souvenirs. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 14 - Beijing

  Kashgar & Beijing.

  Commercial Flight

  This morning, fly to Beijing.

  Sightseeing

  After checking in to your hotel, take free time to explore China’s former imperial capital.

  Food and Dining

  Dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 15 - Beijing

  Sightseeing

  This morning, you will walk the ramparts of the fabled Great Wall of China.

  Sightseeing

  After lunch, stroll along the Sacred Way, a long tree-shaded avenue with massive animal sculptures that leads to the Ming Tombs.

  Food and Dining

  A dinner of local specialties highlights the evening. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 16 - Beijing

  Sightseeing

  After breakfast, visit the enormous Tiananmen Square, which can accommodate over 1,000,000 people.

  Sightseeing

  Then, visit the mysterious Forbidden City, with its elegant buildings and landscaped gardens, considered some of the finest in all of China.

  Sightseeing

  Later, tour the Summer Palace, a 700-acre complex of beautiful gardens and intricate buildings. Its Chinese name means Garden of Nurtured Harmony.

  Performing Arts

  Tonight, enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner and a performance of the amazing Peking Opera. (B, L, D)

  

• Day 17 - Beijing

  After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we will take you to the airport for your return flight.* (B)

  

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