D1. USA/Beijing
Depart USA to China, enjoy delicious meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for our journey.

D2. Beijing
The flight arrives at Beijing, we are met by our tour guide and to be transferred to our Luxury Hotel.

D3. Beijing (AB, L, SD)
Beijing is the capital of China, and the host city for the 2008 Olympics. We embark for a full day tour, begins at Tian An Men Square, the largest public square in the world, its monuments and buildings situated around the square's perimeter. Then we visit the Forbidden City and Summer Palace, enjoy a walk along Lake Kunming. Dinner is served at a fabulous Peking Duck Banquet.

D4. Beijing (AB, L, D)
The Great Wall of China is one of the seven great man-made wonders of the world and definitely the focal point of China . Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant followed by a visit to the historic Hutong and Alley of Beijing old town, take in the sights and sounds of the Beijing of olden times. Enjoy the Traditional Chinese Kung-fu Show tonight.

D5. Beijing/Yichang/Yangtze River (AB, L, D)
Visit the Temple of Heaven , where the Emperor prayed for harvest in Ming and Qing dynasty. Later in the day, we board a flight to Yichang and embark the President 2 (4 Stars).

D6. Yangtze River (AB, L, D)
Our cruise's first stop is at Taipingxi (or Sandouping), where we disembark to visit the massive Three Gorges Dam Project. The ship sails through Xiling Gorge, the longest one of the Three Gorges.

D7. Yangtze River (AB, L, D)
Disembark at Wushan where we board small riverboat for a leisurely ride through Shennong Stream, which offers clear running waters, picturesque rock formations, and even monkeys and goat along its banks. Sail through Wu Gorge, famous for its quiet beauty, and Qutang Gorge, the shortest and most dramatic one of the Three Gorges.

D8. Yangtze River (AB, L, D)
Excursion at Shibaozhai or ‘Ghost City' Fengdu, depends on the river condition. Shaibaozhai is famous for its 12-story tall, 400 year old wooden pagoda, which is balanced precariously on top of the steep cliff.

D9. Yangtze River/Chongqing/Xian (AB, L, SD)
Disembark at Chongqing, before boarding a short flight to Xian, we visit Chongqing Zoo, where we can have an intimate contact with pandas, stop at Ci Qi Kou old town if time permits. Xian was the starting point of the historic Silk Road. We drive by the Ancient City Wall, and stop to visit the Bell Tower. For dinner, we enjoy an Imperial Dumpling Banquet.

D10. Xian (AB, L, D)
Xian was the former capital of China and enjoys a 5000 year old history. In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang unified China and became its first emperor. When he died, an entire Terra Cotta Army was constructed and buried with him. It was uncovered serendipitously in 1974 by farmers, and then became one of the century's great archeological discoveries. Enjoy the world famous Tang Dynasty Stage Show after dinner.

D11. Xian/Lhasa (AB, IM, D)
Finish up our tour in Xian with a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Depart Xian for Lhasa by air, stop-over at Chengdu may be necessary. Lhasa is called ‘City of Sunshine', elevates over 12000 ft, with very thin air, take a good rest after arrival.

D12. Lhasa (AB, L, D)
Built in the 17th century, the Potala Palace took 7,000 workers and 1,500 artists and craftsmen more than 50 years to build the adjoining White and Red Palaces. It is the largest lamasery in the world. Walking along Barkhor Bazaar, we have the opportunity to experience the Tibetan culture and buy colorful ethnic handicrafts.

D13. Lhasa (AB, L, D)
We take a full day tour to the 1,300-year-old Jokhang Temple , where we are likely to see Buddhist pilgrims making clockwise circuits on their hands and knees in reverence to one of Tibet's most sacred sites. Thousands of yak-butter candles flicker inside beneath the enlightened gaze of the golden Jowo Sakyamuni, the 7th-century Buddha statue that the temple was built to house. Sera Monastery features the largest Tsokchen (main assembly hall) in town, it was built to house precious gifts from the Emperor to one of Je Tsongkhapa's disciples.

D14. Lhasa/Shanghai (AB, L, D)
Depart Lhasa for Shanghai by air, transfer at Chengdu. Upon arrival, we attend a Chinese Acrobatic Show.

D15. Shanghai (AB, SL)
The full day city tour includes a visit to Yu Garden, a classical Ming garden built by a wealthy businessman for his parents as an act of filial piety. Enjoy a traditional Mongolian BBQ Buffet lunch. visit Shanghai Children's Palace. Take in the local scenery at bustling shopping district Nanjing Road and travel along the famous Bund, a five-block long riverfront promenade containing many of Shanghai’s banks and trading houses. Hop aboard a cruise of the Huangpu River, taking in the magnificent twinkling night scenery of Shanghai. Today's dinner is on your side.

D16. Shanghai/USA (AB)
We are transferred to the airport for our flight back to the States, or begin the optional Post-Trip Extension.