China Highlights & Yangtze River Cruise: Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai - 11 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing, Peking Duck Dinner Experience

Welcome to Beijing! A private guide will be waiting at the airport to whisk you off to your accommodation for the next few nights. Beijing has been China's capital since the 13th century and has a rich history to show for it. From the Forbidden City to densely packed hutong neighborhoods, you'll be uncovering Beijing for the next few days, but first, take the rest of the day to recover from jet lag and settle in. Tonight, you're in for a classic Chinese culinary treat.

Beloved by all who sample it, no visit to Beijing would be complete without trying the city's signature foodie experience—Peking duck. Served since Imperial times and named after Beijing's Anglicized name "Peking," you'll head to a local restaurant to indulge in this royal delicacy. Known for having a delicate, crispy skin, the duck is traditionally served with spring onions, hoisin sauce, and cucumber before being rolled in thin pancakes. Sample this delicacy at one of the city's favorite restaurants as you dine shoulder-to-shoulder with both fellow visitors and locals. 

Day 2: Explore the Forbidden City & Hutong Neighborhoods

Begin your second day in Beijing by uncovering thousands of years of history with a local guide. Start at Tiananmen Square, best known for its modern political upheaval in 1989, but also a cultural mecca. Spanning 100 acres (40 ha), this is the largest public space in China and includes landmarks like the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Next, you'll make your way to the historic beating heart of China, Beijing's mysterious Forbidden City. Once the home of the Emperor of China, along with thousands of concubines and eunuchs, the city operated for hundreds of years without a single outsider entering its walls. 

Fortunately for you, you'll be allowed entry today. Follow your guide through its gleaming halls, countless pavilions, and the mesmerizing labyrinth of rooms, antechambers, and gates. To put it in perspective, this is the largest palace complex in the entire world. Later in the day, you'll discover more of Beijing on a visit to the hutong neighborhoods. You'll zoom through the alleyways by a traditional mode of transportation—pedicab. This beautiful maze of humanity has always been home to ordinary Beijing families and still offers a glimpse of authentic everyday life in the capital.

Day 3: Great Wall Hiking Excursion

When you picture China, one monument probably comes to mind. Snaking over 13,000 miles (20,921 km) through the countryside all the way to the Pacific Ocean, the Great Wall of China is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. Today you'll head for the Mutianyu section, a well-preserved segment with stately watchtowers that traverses rolling landscapes and was originally built to protect China from northern invaders like Genghis Khan. Hike for two to six hours, depending on how much of the wall you'd like to see. 

After visiting the Great Wall, you'll return to Beijing via the Changling Tomb, the final resting place of the Ming-era Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) and his empress, Xushi. The largest Ming tomb near Tianshou Mountain, it's particularly famous for its exceptionally preserved Ling'en Hall (Hall of Eminent Favor), made from rare Chinese cedarwood. The same towering trunks of these trees were used to construct various sections of the Forbidden City.

Day 4: Fly to Xi'an, Visit the Ancient City Wall, Drum Tower & Muslim Quarter

Kick off your fourth day in China with a flight to Xi'an. You'll arrive in the provincial capital of Shaanxi Province in 2.5 hours. Your private tour guide and driver will be awaiting your arrival, and then it's time to hit the ground running. Start among the famous Fortifications of Xi'an. These ancient stone walls were commissioned in the late 14th century by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, to protect the city. They run a length of 8.7 miles (14 km) in a rectangular pattern and are the most well-preserved ancient walls in all of China. 

Head to the Drum Tower next. Built in the Ming Dynasty, its name comes from the mammoth drum that the tower houses. Stay for the drum performance, held here every day, coupled with a show of traditional Chinese chime bells, also known as bian zhong. Spend the rest of the day exploring the Muslim Quarter. It's here where the start of the famed Silk Road began, leading 4,000 miles (6,437 km) to Turkey. Known for having delicious halal cuisine, don't miss the neighborhood's foodie favorites like roujiamo (lamb burgers) or yangrou paomo (lamb stew).

Day 5: Day Trip to the Terracotta Warrior Museum

Continue in your pursuit of ancient Chinese wonders today at the Terracotta Warrior Museum. Located about an hour outside of Xi'an, this enormous site covers approximately 38 square miles (98 sq km), and its discovery in 1974 represents one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. The massive collection of incredibly detailed, life-size clay sculptures guards the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, founder of the Qin Dynasty and the first emperor of China, reigning from 221 BCE to 210 BCE. 

The complex is split into two main sites, the Lishan Garden and the museum and pits. You'll visit both with a knowledgeable guide who will help explain this sprawling, subterranean necropolis. Touring the massive excavation pits, you'll see various warriors, chariots, and cavalry figures, each with unique expressions and even varying postures. Spend hours discovering the secrets of the army, then head back to Xi'an for the night. 

Day 6: Train to Chongqing, Board Yangtze River Cruise (Day 1)

Hop aboard one of China's high-speed trains this morning as you make your way five hours southwest to Chongqing. You'll glide through the countryside in style—these trains are notoriously modern—to reach the Yangtze River and your cruise ship. This is the third longest river in the world, and you'll spend the next three days cruising up it to discover abandoned cities and witness the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. 

Although you might be tempted to get lost in the chaotic buzz and tantalizingly spicy cuisine of Chongqing (this is China's largest city by area after all, with over 30 million residents), a driver will be waiting at Chongqing Station to bring you straight to the cruise ship. Step aboard at Chaotianmen Port and settle in for check-in procedures and a welcome party before departing just before nightfall. 

Day 7: Yangtze River Cruise (Day 2): Visit the Fengdu Ghost City

Spend the morning enjoying life on the Yangtze. Watch the sunrise from your balcony, indulge in a slow morning with breakfast and coffee or tea as the river slowly slips by, or take up tai chi with a master on the deck. Your shore excursion for the day is a visit to Fengdu, also known as the "Ghost City." The site itself is over 2,000 years old and steeped in myth, folklore, and ancient Chinese history. Broken up into two areas, one representing Tiāntáng (heaven) and one Diyu (hell), you'll visit both sides of this historic city.

Head up Mount Ming to learn more about ancient Chinese beliefs surrounding the afterlife and to see features like the Tianzi Palace. You can't miss the Ghost King, a massive stone sculpture that overlooks the city and is carved into the hillside. It holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest stone carving. Admire the intricately carved and painted architectural features alongside the beautiful mountain scenery, then head back to the cruise ship for the rest of the evening, taking part in traditional performances and a delicious dinner.

Day 8: Yangtze River Cruise (Day 3): Qutang & Wu Gorges, Shennv Stream

Make your way up to the deck bright and early this morning to watch as the ship glides past spectacular scenery. First up on the docket is the narrow Qutang Gorge, where you'll catch glimpses of towering mountain peaks as you pass under sheer cliffsides. Admire the Chalk Wall, a whitewashed cliffside engraved with calligraphy at the entrance to the gorge, and the Chijia and Baijan Mountains, looking as if they might touch at some angles. Shortly after passing through the Qutang Gorge, you'll continue through the Wu Gorge, known for its lush landscapes. 

Stretch your legs this afternoon on an excursion to the Shennv Stream. Also known as the "Goddess Stream," you'll take a sightseeing tour in a traditional boat down this idyllic tributary of the Yangtze River. Glide through the narrow gorge in the shadow of craggy cliffs that rise thousands of feet on either side of the stream. Spend the rest of the evening back onboard, soaking up the last night of your voyage. You'll enjoy a farewell party to remember and a sumptuous dinner banquet.

Day 9: Yangtze River Cruise (Day 4): Three Gorges Dam, Train to Shanghai

End your cruise with a visit to the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. After its construction in 2012, the dam forever changed the Yangtze River. Disembark at Maoping Port before making your way to the main viewing platform for the dam itself. Originally built to help control flooding, which was a problem for communities situated along the Yangtze for thousands of years, the Three Gorges Dam also produces hydroelectric power and is the most successful dam of its kind. 

You'll get up close and personal with this monumental feat of human engineering, cruising up its five-level locks and touring the museum with a local guide. After your excursion, head to the train station in nearby Yichang City—you're headed for the grand finale of the trip, a visit to the "Pearl of the Orient." The bullet train journey takes anywhere from 6 to 8 hours, and you'll soon arrive in the gleaming city of Shanghai. Also known as the "Magic City," you'll spend tomorrow exploring this capital of culture and finance in Eastern China. 

Day 10: The Bund, Yu Garden & Shanghai Walking Tour

Your one and only full day in Shanghai will be spent on an eight-hour excursion, seeing the city's best sites. Head off with your guide, getting acquainted with the whimsical skyline that Shanghai is famous for at The Bund. Spanning over 1 mile (1.6 km), this colonial symbol of the city has changed dramatically over the last century. The waterfront promenade is situated along the Huangpu River and offers truly stunning views with a beautiful mix of both modern and historic architecture. 

Head for the Yu Garden next, a sprawling green space tucked against the City God Temple. The first iteration of these gardens was built in the 16th century by a Ming governor and dedicated to his father. You'll make a beeline for the French Concession after lunch. Visit Fuxing Park, where locals take part in leisurely activities like tai chi, explore the lilang neighborhoods of the Bugaoli Community, and see the traditional shikumen, also known as stone gatehouses. End your tour of the city by popping into a local market for a dim sum dinner—a Shanghai specialty.

Day 11: Depart Shanghai

Your private driver will be waiting to whisk you off to the airport today. Wave goodbye to Shanghai's famously colorful skyline as you ascend into the clouds. Whether you're headed home or to your next destination, safe travels! 

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