Itinerary Details
Abercrombie & Kent: China & the Yangtze
DAY 1 Beijing, China
Arrive in the capital city of Beijing, China’s longtime seat ofpower, where you are transferred to your luxurious hotel.
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing
Meals:
DAY 2 BeijingToday, participate in a privately led tai chi lesson taught bya master instructor at the Temple of Heaven, a stunningexample of classical Ming period architecture. After lunch,visit history-laden Tiananmen Square before exploring theimperial grandeur of the Forbidden City. Tonight, gatherfor a special welcome dinner at your hotel.
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3 BeijingThis morning, Ride Like a Local on a pedicab through ahutong, a vast yet intimate neighborhood of small, windingalleyways dating to China’s dynastic period. Then, travelto the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wallof China. Ride a cable car to the top of the wall to take in sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. Afterexperiencing this wonder of the world, return to Beijing.
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 4 XianFly to Xian, a modern city cloaked in over 3,000 years ofhistory. Once the eastern terminus on the Great Silk Road,Xian has become a melting pot of Middle Eastern and Asianinfluences. Upon arrival, enjoy a Chef ’s Table noodle-throwingdemonstration, followed by lunch. Visit the oldcity’s Muslim Quarter, with its teeming markets and beautifulGreat Mosque, a 14th-century national heritage site. A blendof classic Chinese temple architecture and central Asianembellishments make it one of the most fascinating sites inXian.
The Ritz-Carlton, Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5 XianToday, accompanied by an on-site specialist, visit theexcavation site of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, thelife-size army created during the Qin Dynasty to protect QinShi Huang, China’s first emperor, in his afterlife. More than8,000 remarkably crafted soldiers are spread throughoutthree dig pits, each revealing a unique face. After lunch, strollalong the impressive ramparts of the City Wall. Tonight,gather for dinner.
The Ritz-Carlton, Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6 ChengduTravel by bullet train to Chengdu, the capital of SichuanProvince. For lunch, enjoy a spicy Sichuan hot pot, a regionalspecialty. Afterward, immerse yourself in local life andculture at People’s Park, where area residents play traditionalChinese instruments, practice calligraphy and engage intai chi. While there, learn about unique, centuries-old matchmaking techniques still in use today before checkingin to your hotel, where you observe a traditional tea demonstration.
Waldorf Astoria Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7 Chengdu & ChongqingToday, visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and ResearchCenter. Enjoy the rare opportunity to observe theseendangered creatures roaming freely in their speciallydesigned habitat. Then, board a high-speed train for a ridethrough the Chinese countryside to Chongqing, where youembark on your river cruiser, Yangzi Explorer, for a three-night journey to Yichang. Settle into your cabinas the ship sets a course downstream to the stunning Three Gorges region.
Yangzi Explorer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 Cruising the YangtzeStart with tai chi on the deck before breakfast. Disembarkin the small city of Fuling and visit the 816 Nuclear MilitaryPlant, a massive yet unfinished Cold War era bunker.Back on board, learn about Chinese traditional medicineand reflexology. Tonight, attend the Captain’s Reception.
Yangzi Explorer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9 Cruising the YangtzeEarly this morning, Yangzi Explorer navigatesthe Qutang Gorge before docking at Wushan. Disembarkand take in the scenic splendor of this rugged yet lush regionon an adventure among the high peaks that surround theriver. In the afternoon, continue your journey downstream,passing through the majestic Wu and Xiling Gorges. Tonight,savor a “Taste of China” dinner, followed by onboardentertainment.
Yangzi Explorer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10 Yichang & ShanghaiThis morning, disembark in Yichang and fly to Shanghai,stopping briefly to photograph the Three Gorges Dam,a project that resulted in the resettlement of 1.2 millionresidents of the cities submerged behind it. Upon arrival inShanghai, transfer to your elegant hotel, located on the city’shistoric Bund.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai On The Bund
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 11 ShanghaiExplore dynamic Shanghai, where stunning modernskylines meet classic street markets and gardens. Head tothe observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, where you aretreated to a bird’s-eye view of the Huangpu River, the Bundand Shanghai’s panorama of skyscrapers. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.
Walk Shanghai’s Historic Jewish Quarter and learn howit became a haven for Jews fleeing Europe in World War II.
Enjoy a Shopping Excursion to the trendy FrenchConcession to browse the superb selection of artisan shopsand navigate the maze of shikumen homes.
Cycle through Pudong, exploring Shanghai’s newestdistrict filled with gleaming skyscrapers.
Then, toast your day with a relaxing Scenic Sundowner.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai On The Bund
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 12 ShanghaiToday, walk along the Bund, Shanghai’s most popular promenade. Then, explore the French Concession, a lively neighborhood with fine examples of 19th and early 20th-century architecture, with a local historian. Savor lunch at a local restaurant and later stroll the streets of Old Town, visiting the 16th-century Yu Garden, with its pavilions and ponds. Tonight, gather for a festive farewell dinner.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai On The Bund
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13 ShanghaiAfter breakfast, transfer to the airport to depart for home.
Meals: Breakfast