SHANGHAI TO BEIJING YANGTZE CRUISE TOUR-CENTURY SKY
Ship: Viking Century Sky
Cruise line:
Viking River Cruises
Duration:
13 Days
Destination:
River cruises - The Yangtze
Passenger Capacity:
306
Crew:
168
Ship Style:
Luxury River Cruiser
Itinerary:
Day 1 - LONDON HEATHROW TO SHANGHAI.
Fly by scheduled flight.
Day 2 - SHANGHAI.
Arrive and transfer to your hotel. Shanghai is China's largest city and one of the world's most important ports. See the modern metropolis of the financial district juxtaposed with the older sections of the city.
Day 3 - SHANGHAI.
This morning, you will see the best of the city on a tour of Old Shanghai and travel along the Bund, the city's elegant riverfront promenade. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit a silk carpet workshop for demonstrations of this ancient art form. Then visit the Shanghai Museum, featuring displays of ceramics, bronzes and paintings. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant and a Chinese acrobatic show.
Day 4 - SHANGHAI/YICHANG.
This morning, you have some free time to further explore Shanghai. After lunch in a local restaurant, fly to Yichang. Transfer from the airport to your ship, Viking Century Sky, which is docked close to the Three Gorges Dam. You will be welcomed aboard by a Western meal, and your ship remains docked overnight.
Day 5 - THREE GORGES DAM.
After breakfast, tour the Three Gorges Dam and learn about this immense engineering masterpiece and what it means for the Chinese people and the Yangtze. Return to your ship for lunch and scenic cruising through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges.
Day 6 - THREE GORGES & LESSER THREE GORGES.
For the next 150 miles, you will travel along the most scenic stretch of the Yangtze as it forces its way through a spectacular series of limestone ridges known as the Three Gorges. During breakfast, cruise through Wu (Witches) Gorge, renowned for its magnificent scenery. Later, board a smaller boat for an excursion through the Lesser Three Gorges. Sail through these remarkable canyons flanked by towering mountains. Along the way see ancient sites including the hanging coffins of the Ba people and the ancient plank road carved into the cliffside. Enjoy lunch at a scenic stop overlooking the gorges. Return to your ship and sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and most spectacular of the three large gorges.
Day 7 - FENGDU.
Cruise through breakfast and enjoy the scenic landscape of the mighty Yangtze River. After lunch, dock in Fengdu and join an excursion to Snow Jade Cave. Here, you will visit an underground labyrinth of streams and caverns with brilliant stalagmites. Return to your ship for dinner.
Day 8 - CHONGQING & XIAN.
Disembark after breakfast, enjoy a short city tour and lunch in a local restaurant. Then fly to Xian for an overnight stay. Xian is China's key city of the Tang Dynasty. From 618-907 A.D. this dynasty presided over one of China's most glorious cultural periods, spreading its influence throughout Asia and into Europe and Africa. Tonight, you will experience the grandeur of the era as you dine surrounded by the historic song and dance of this colourful period.
Day 9 - XIAN & BEIJING.
After breakfast, tour the mausoleum where Emperor Qin Shi Huang was laid to rest over 2,000 years ago. See the more than 6,000 life-sized terra cotta warriors, archers and infantrymen that were buried with him from the walkways that provide a bird's-eye view. Each man and horse is moulded with his own distinct features. After lunch fly to Beijing, China's former imperial capital whose rich history dates back more than 1,000 years before Christ. Check into your hotel. You will have some free time before tonight's dinner at the hotel.
Day 10 - BEIJING.
After breakfast travel to the Badaling Hills, to see one of the most impressive and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China. Walk along its winding pathways and marvel at the excellent views. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the Sacred Way, a tree-lined avenue guarded by massive sculptures of elephants, lions and camels. Tonight, taste some local specialties at dinner.
Day 11 - BEIJING.
This morning visit the enormous Tiananmen Square, which can accommodate over 1,000,000 people. Then tour Beijing's Forbidden City. Nearly 800 buildings and 9,999 rooms make up this mysterious site. As you walk its grounds, marvel at the elegant palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens within its walls. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit The Summer Palace, a 700-acre complex of gardens and elegant buildings. Its Chinese name means Garden of Nurtured Harmony, and it was frequented by the Imperial Court to escape the bustle of Beijing. Walk its landscaped grounds, considered among the finest Chinese architectural gardens. This evening, enjoy a traditional Peking Duck Dinner. Then, you will be treated to a performance of the Peking Opera, an amazing cultural experience.
Day 12 - BEIJING TO LONDON HEATHROW.
Check out and transfer to the airport for your return scheduled flight to London.
Fly by scheduled flight.
Day 2 - SHANGHAI.
Arrive and transfer to your hotel. Shanghai is China's largest city and one of the world's most important ports. See the modern metropolis of the financial district juxtaposed with the older sections of the city.
Day 3 - SHANGHAI.
This morning, you will see the best of the city on a tour of Old Shanghai and travel along the Bund, the city's elegant riverfront promenade. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit a silk carpet workshop for demonstrations of this ancient art form. Then visit the Shanghai Museum, featuring displays of ceramics, bronzes and paintings. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant and a Chinese acrobatic show.
Day 4 - SHANGHAI/YICHANG.
This morning, you have some free time to further explore Shanghai. After lunch in a local restaurant, fly to Yichang. Transfer from the airport to your ship, Viking Century Sky, which is docked close to the Three Gorges Dam. You will be welcomed aboard by a Western meal, and your ship remains docked overnight.
Day 5 - THREE GORGES DAM.
After breakfast, tour the Three Gorges Dam and learn about this immense engineering masterpiece and what it means for the Chinese people and the Yangtze. Return to your ship for lunch and scenic cruising through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges.
Day 6 - THREE GORGES & LESSER THREE GORGES.
For the next 150 miles, you will travel along the most scenic stretch of the Yangtze as it forces its way through a spectacular series of limestone ridges known as the Three Gorges. During breakfast, cruise through Wu (Witches) Gorge, renowned for its magnificent scenery. Later, board a smaller boat for an excursion through the Lesser Three Gorges. Sail through these remarkable canyons flanked by towering mountains. Along the way see ancient sites including the hanging coffins of the Ba people and the ancient plank road carved into the cliffside. Enjoy lunch at a scenic stop overlooking the gorges. Return to your ship and sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and most spectacular of the three large gorges.
Day 7 - FENGDU.
Cruise through breakfast and enjoy the scenic landscape of the mighty Yangtze River. After lunch, dock in Fengdu and join an excursion to Snow Jade Cave. Here, you will visit an underground labyrinth of streams and caverns with brilliant stalagmites. Return to your ship for dinner.
Day 8 - CHONGQING & XIAN.
Disembark after breakfast, enjoy a short city tour and lunch in a local restaurant. Then fly to Xian for an overnight stay. Xian is China's key city of the Tang Dynasty. From 618-907 A.D. this dynasty presided over one of China's most glorious cultural periods, spreading its influence throughout Asia and into Europe and Africa. Tonight, you will experience the grandeur of the era as you dine surrounded by the historic song and dance of this colourful period.
Day 9 - XIAN & BEIJING.
After breakfast, tour the mausoleum where Emperor Qin Shi Huang was laid to rest over 2,000 years ago. See the more than 6,000 life-sized terra cotta warriors, archers and infantrymen that were buried with him from the walkways that provide a bird's-eye view. Each man and horse is moulded with his own distinct features. After lunch fly to Beijing, China's former imperial capital whose rich history dates back more than 1,000 years before Christ. Check into your hotel. You will have some free time before tonight's dinner at the hotel.
Day 10 - BEIJING.
After breakfast travel to the Badaling Hills, to see one of the most impressive and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China. Walk along its winding pathways and marvel at the excellent views. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the Sacred Way, a tree-lined avenue guarded by massive sculptures of elephants, lions and camels. Tonight, taste some local specialties at dinner.
Day 11 - BEIJING.
This morning visit the enormous Tiananmen Square, which can accommodate over 1,000,000 people. Then tour Beijing's Forbidden City. Nearly 800 buildings and 9,999 rooms make up this mysterious site. As you walk its grounds, marvel at the elegant palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens within its walls. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit The Summer Palace, a 700-acre complex of gardens and elegant buildings. Its Chinese name means Garden of Nurtured Harmony, and it was frequented by the Imperial Court to escape the bustle of Beijing. Walk its landscaped grounds, considered among the finest Chinese architectural gardens. This evening, enjoy a traditional Peking Duck Dinner. Then, you will be treated to a performance of the Peking Opera, an amazing cultural experience.
Day 12 - BEIJING TO LONDON HEATHROW.
Check out and transfer to the airport for your return scheduled flight to London.
Departure Dates:
THEMED CRUISES
Call: 0800 756 9930
Special cruises with themes based on the Arts, cookery, golf, dancing etc.
SHORT CRUISES
Call: 0800 756 9930
Taster cruises and weekend cruises for those looking for a short break.
NO FLY CRUISES
Call: 0800 756 9930
Cruises without flights that depart from UK ports.
RIVER CRUISES
call: 0800 756 9930
Cruises on some of the world’s greatest rivers.
WORLD CRUISES
call: 0800 756 9930
Full world cruises and longer cruises around the world.
EARLY BIRD OFFERS
call: 0800 756 9930
SHORT CRUISES!