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 BeijingTravel to the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the GreatWall of China. Ride a cable car to the top of the wall totake in sweeping mountain views. Enjoy lunch at a localrestaurant, and then return to the city to walk through aHutong, an intimate neighborhood of alleyways dating toChina’s dynastic period.
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 dumpling-makingdemonstration, followed by lunch. Visit the old city’sMuslim 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-oldmatchmaking techniques still in use today before checkingin to your hotel, where you observe a traditional teademonstration.
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 II, for athree-night journey to Yichang. Settle into your cabin as theship sets a course downstream to the stunning Three Gorgesregion. Tonight, attend the captain’s reception.
Yangzi Explorer Ii
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. Backon board, continue your journey downstream, observingvillages and farms set amid the lush mountainscape.
Yangzi Explorer Ii
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9 Cruising the YangtzeEarly this morning, Yangzi Explorer II navigates the QutangGorge before docking at Wushan. Disembark and take inthe scenic splendor of this rugged yet lush region on anadventure among the high peaks that surround the river. Inthe afternoon, continue your journey downstream, passingthrough the majestic Wu and Xiling Gorges. Tonight, savor a“Taste of China” dinner, followed by onboard entertainment.
Yangzi Explorer Ii
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, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before checkinginto your elegant hotel, located on the city’s historic 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.
Try Your Hand at Calligraphy at a class led by an expert in this venerated Chinese art.
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, and then explore the Shanghai Museum viewing exceptional collections of historically significant art and housewares. Savor lunch at a local restaurant, and later stroll the streets of Old Town and visit the 16th-century Yu Garden, with its pavilions and ponds.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai On The Bund
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13 ShanghaiAfter breakfast, transfer to the airport to depart for home.
Meals: Breakfast
Princess Cruises Certified Experts are here to help!
"One of the nation's BEST CRUISE specialists". In Arthur Frommer's The New World Travel
"Great Cruise Deals from one of the Top Cruise Brokers in the USA!" - Fox Business
Cunard Line Certified Experts are here to help!