On arrival in Beijing Daxing or Beijing Capital Airport, be met in the arrival hall by your local guide and/or National Escort from Wendy Wu Tours. Together, with all other group members who may be arriving at a similar time, you will transfer approximately 1 hour to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. A tour introduction will be held in the hotel either this evening or the next. Food and drinks will not be served at this meeting, it is simply an opportunity for your group to meet and learn more about travelling in China.

Walk across Tiananmen Square into the magnificent Forbidden City and the Jingshan Park. Next, visit Yandaixiejie where you will have some free time to explore the Hutongs and enjoy a local lunch. Sightseeing will be approximately 4 hours. Later, enjoy some free time in the traditional Houhai area. The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays. If this day of touring falls on a Monday, your touring in Beijing will be switched around so that the Forbidden City is visited on an alternative day.

Rise early this morning and transfer 2 hours to the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall of China, one of the most picturesque sections. You will need to get on and off a boat, taking you across a lake to where you will begin your walk on the wall. First, you will be given a brief history of the area before having a couple of hours free to walk on the fortified wall. On your return to Beijing, visit the Jade Factory. This evening, stroll around Qianmen Street and Dashilan area. An optional Peking Duck dinner is available this evening (payable locally).

Wander around the beautiful grounds of the Summer Palace, former holiday home of the Qing emperors. Whilst here, climb magnificent Longevity Hill for spectacular views over the palace’s Kunming Lake. Make a photo stop this afternoon at the iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium, home of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The time at the Olympic Village will not include entry to any of the Olympic venues.

Begin today soaking up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven, an orderly oasis in a bustling urban landscape. Later, board the bullet train to the former capital city, ancient Xi'an. On arrival, transfer to your hotel to check in and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Transfer 1 hour to view the formidable ranks of terracotta soldiers and horses, lined up in ranks to protect the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. From the bus park to the museum entrance is a 15-minute walk. There are electric carts offered by private vendors which can be organised at your own cost. There are no electric carts available for the return from the museum exit to the bus park. Within the museum area the warriors can be seen in three different ‘pits’, which are active archaeological digs. The site is large and, towards the summer months, can be hot outside. Sightseeing here involves approximately 2 and a half hours on foot. After this, visit the Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Exhibition Workshop to see smaller models of the warriors being made. Return to Xian and explore the atmospheric alleys of the Muslim Quarter. This evening, there will be an optional Tang Everbright City Night Tour.

Today will be at leisure for you to explore the fascinating city of Xian. Your National Escort will arrange an optional cycle ride around the fortification of the Xian Ancient City Wall and in the evening, there will be an optional Tang Dynasty Dancing Show. There will be no other sightseeing or activities arranged, however, your National Escort will be happy to recommend places for you to visit （at your own expense） such as the lovely Little Wild Goose Pagoda the Xian Museum to see the 130,000 fine cultural relics on display.

Take a 4-hour bullet train to Chengdu, capital of fascinating Sichuan Province. Take a stroll around People’s Park and visit a teahouse for a cup of delicious Chinese tea （at your own expense）. Next, visit Matchmaker’s Corner, where parents search for suitable suitors for their children. This evening, there will be an optional Hot Pot dinner and Changing Faces show.

Today will be at leisure for you to explore the delights of Chengdu independently. There will be an optional day trip to Pingle Ancient Town for those who wish to take part. There will be no other sightseeing or activities arranged, however, your National Escort will be happy to recommend places for you to visit such as bustling Jinli Pedestrian Street or the peaceful Wuhou Memorial Temple.

Today you will visit China’s most famous resident, the Giant Panda. Visit the Panda Conservation Centre where you can learn about China’s celebrated bear. See these lovable creatures in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. Transfer 4-5 hours by coach to Chongqing, one of the most important cities on the Yangtze River, to board your Yangtze River Cruise ship for a 3-night stay. Please note: The Yangtze River cruise section of your itinerary will not be confirmed by the cruise operators until after you commence your tour as it is subject to local river conditions and water levels. Your Local Guide will do their utmost to keep you informed of any changes but cannot guarantee against delays or – in rare cases – cancellations of sections of your itinerary. Shore excursions are subject to change depending on local conditions. A detailed itinerary will be handed out on the vessel each day. If you do not wish to take part in a shore excursion but you still wish to disembark the ship, there is a mandatory port tax which must be paid by each customer. The port tax amount is approx. USD20-USD30 per person; however, this amount can vary and for security reasons, it is not always possible to disembark at all ports of call. You may be offered cabin upgrades locally which may include some of the amenity package services. Please note that the amenity package benefits start on the second day of the cruise.

As you cruise downstream, nature takes over, revealing some of the world's most dramatic scenery including the Three Gorges themselves. A voyage along China's riverine treasure is a chance to relax and enjoy a slower pace, whilst absorbing one breathtaking panorama after another. Over the next two days, take a side trip to the attractive Shennong or Goddess Stream and enjoy various shore excursions.

Visit the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. Disembark the ship and drive approximately 20 minutes through the surrounding areas (the coach is not permitted to stop for photos) to the viewing area above the ship locks where you can truly appreciate the scale of this hydroelectric project. There is a small museum and a lookout point here. The sightseeing will involve around 1 hour on foot. Later, transfer to Yichang and board your flight to the cosmopolitan Shanghai, the flight will take approximately 1 hour 50 minutes. Please note flights in this region are subject to change and can often be changed last minute, we aim to ensure passengers are transferred direct from Yichang. However, it may be necessary to transfer 6 hours by road to Wuhan to board your flight to Shanghai.

This morning, take an exciting breakfast tour around some of Shanghai’s most exciting districts, tasting local delicacies, including pancakes and fried bread sticks. Afterwards, wander the pleasant Yu Gardens, the bustling Old Town and the colonial Bund before visiting the informative Silk Factory. This evening, take a cruise down the Huangpu River to see the neon lights of Pudong.

Today is free to explore the vibrant city of Shanghai independently, or you can take an optional day trip to the laid-back water town of Zhujiajiao. There will be no other sightseeing or activities arranged, however, your National Escort will be happy to recommend things for you to do (at your own expense) such as heading up the Jinmao Tower, exploring the impressive Shanghai Museum or taking a ride on the futuristic Maglev Train. This evening, watch the fascinating ERA show before enjoying a farewell dinner of Shanghainese cuisine.

Any time before your flight is at leisure. You will be transferred from your hotel to Shanghai Pudong or Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Late check-out is not included. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged.