China: Tibet & The Yangtze River
May 6 – 24
From sacred temples to Giant Pandas, China offers the traveler a variety of experiences.
Your journey begins in Beijing, China’s modern-day capital. Experience its legendary attractions: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and, of course, the Great Wall.
A tour highlight is a special inside look at communal life along Beijing’s ancient alleyways, or hutongs, fast disappearing as the city rushes to modernize. Continue to Xian, site of the Terracotta Army. Visit the Giant Panda Protection and Research Center of Chengdu en route to Tibet.
Open to foreigners only since 1984, Tibet is a profoundly spiritual place where Buddhism has infused all aspects of life for 13 centuries. With three days in the capital, Lhasa, you’ll have time to acclimate to the high altitude, allowing you to explore sacred temples and the vast seventeenth-century Potala Palace.
Then board a cruise ship at Chongqing for a three-night cruise on the Yangtze, one of the world’s longest and busiest rivers. Witness daily life along its shores; see the spectacular Three Gorges region and its much-heralded new dam. Your tour concludes in Shanghai, the “Paris of the East.” This dazzling city epitomizes twenty-first century China, yet still maintains vestiges of Old Shanghai, such as the Yu Yuan Garden, which features scenic pools and walkways from the sixteenth century. Discover the Bund (Shanghai’s famous waterfront district), the Children’s Palace, and the renowned Shanghai Museum with its priceless collections.
An optional four-day/three-night post-tour extension to vibrant Hong Kong is available.
Price: from $4,995 per person, double occupancy