Vision Travel - do yourself a favor and take yourself away

Wonders of China

Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of China and Tibet during this unforgettable river cruise vacation! Begin in Beijing, where you.ll visit the Great Wall, the Imperial Palace, Tian.anmen Square, and the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs. On to Xi.an to marvel at the Dayan Pagoda and the famous legion of Terracotta Warriors guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi.s tomb. In Chengdu, visit the fascinating Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, then journey into the Himalayas to see the religious sites in the Buddhist city of Lhasa, Tibet. Stop in Kunming to view the Stone Forest, and travel to Lijiang to see the Black Dragon Pool and the medieval town. In Chongqing, embark on your 3-night river cruise on the magical Yangtze River aboard the Victoria Empress, where you will witness beautiful landscapes and visit the Three Gorges Dam Site. Your journey ends in Shanghai amid the spectacular beauty of the Yu Yuan Gardens.

Price: $5,645.00 Single | $4,349.00 Double

Program Day-by-Day
1	Board your transpacific flight
2	Welcome to China. Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in.
3	Today your full-day sightseeing starts with a visit to the Forbidden City's IMPERIAL PALACE, once the sacred home of China's Great Emperors. Nearby is Tian.anmen Square, the largest public square in the world, where the People's Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949. Then proceed to the former SUMMER PALACE, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries situated around Kunming Lake. This evening's special Chinese WELCOME DINNER features delectable Peking Duck. (B,L,D)
4	The GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 4,000 miles across China's barren northern terrain from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved. Walk along the wall and enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress. Then visit a CLOISONNE WORKSHOP where you will see local artisans use the echniques of this ancient art form to turn pieces of copper into colorful decorative items. Before returning to Beijing, take a leisurely walk down the SACRED WAY of the Ming Tombs and marvel at the impressive hand-carved stone statues. Tonight you may decide on the optional tour of the Peking Opera with its various forms of drama and music tracing back to the late 13th century. (B,L)
5	Built in 1420 A.D., TEMPLE OF HEAVEN has become a major landmark in Beijing. The main building is considered a masterpiece of ancient Chinese wooden architecture. Today, people who live in the surrounding neighborhood use the park as a common gathering place for their daily activities. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. This afternoon you may decide to take an optional Hutong tour through the city's ancient alleys. (B,L,D)
6	This morning is at your leisure. A short flight brings you to the city of Xi.an in central China. Look forward to this evening's highlight, .The Tang Dynasty. DINNER SHOW, featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances. (B,D)
7	One of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xi.an today is an archaeological treasure trove. Sightseeing starts with a visit to the nearby DAYAN PAGODA, built in 652 A.D. During lunch enjoy a NOODLE MAKING DEMONSTRATION by a master chef and learn how Chinese noodles are made by hand. In 1974 the enormous tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, was accidentally discovered by local farmers. Marvel at the impressive legion of TERRACOTA WARRIORS that has been guarding the emperor's burial site for 2,000 years. Also visit the Xi.an City Wall South Gate. (B,L,D)
8	This morning fly to Chengdu, the capital city of the province of Sichuan, best known for its flavorful food. A short city tour takes you to the WUHOU TEMPLE, built to commemorate Zhuge Liang, a famous statesman and ideologist during the Three Kingdoms from 220 A.D. to 280 A.D. Next, visit DUFU COTTAGE, home to a famous poet during the Tang Dynasty. Today, it is a shrine to Chinese literature, featuring several amazing structures surrounded by tranquil gardens. (B,L)
9	Today, enjoy beautiful scenery on the ride to the WOLONG PANDA RESERVE. Located 120 km from Chengdu, it is the largest and most important Panda reserve in China. The reserve covers almost a half-million acres and is the perfect habitat for the giant panda. Visit the research center to see pandas up close and to enjoy a lecture from one of the scientists who spend their life protecting these endangered animals. (B,L)
10	A morning visit to the SAN XING DUI Museum, which was built on an archaeological site. You will see elegant bronze wares, masks and jade objects made over 2,500 years ago by the local people of the Shu kingdom. Fly to Kunming after lunch. Enjoy a Western-style dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D)
11	Today visit the Western Hills and the magnificent Dragon Gate before traveling to the remarkable STONE FOREST, an area of limestone pillars, some almost 100 feet high, dotted with small lakes and waterfalls. Returning to Kunming you have free time to walk the city's wide boulevards. (B,L,D)
12	A short flight to Lijiang at an elevation of 8,530 feet. This afternoon, visit 18,464-foot Snow Mountain prior to enjoying dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D)
13	This morning tour BLACK DRAGON POOL, followed by a late afternoon stroll through the medieval town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by 16,000-foot-plus mountains. Dinner tonight is a fascinating experience at a local restaurant in the medieval town. (B,L,D)
14	Today, fly via Kunming to Chongqing, China's capital during World War II. The city is set high up on a hill overlooking the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers. Time permitting; take a stroll through one of its many attractive parks or through the historic Old Town. (B,D)
15	Today enjoy a full day excursion to the DAZU ROCK CARVINGS. The carving of the mountain cliffs started in Tang Dynasty (650 A.D.) and today there are over 50,000 statues. Start your visit at the elaborate and well-preserved Beishan site depicting the Buddhist faith. Next, visit the Baodingshan site which features 13 groups of carvings, totaling nearly 10,000 individual statues. Then, return to Chongqing and board the Victoria Empress to prepare for your 3-night cruise down the mighty Yangtze River. During the next few days, when not on deck, you can attend lectures on Chinese medicine, calligraphy, history, or the Three Gorges Dam project. (B,L,D)
16	Depending on river conditions, one of the following shore excursions will be offered: Wanxian, .Gateway to Eastern Szechuan Province,. where you will see an acrobatic show, free market and possibly a school; Shibaozhai, with its 400-year-old, 12-story wooden pagoda high on a cliff side; or Fengdu, known as .Ghost City. where you'll visit several temples. (B,L,D)
17	Head downstream through the first and second of the three gorges.Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most dramatic gorge, and Wu, known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains. You can nearly touch the perpendicular walls rising from the riverbanks as your captain negotiates this narrow gap. After lunch disembark for your BOAT EXCURSION down the Daning River or the Shennong Stream, depending on conditions. Continue through the passage, sailing through the Three Gorges ship locks. (B,L,D)
18	View tiny villages clinging precariously to hillsides as you proceed to Yang Jia Wang. This morning, visit the Three Gorges Dam site, the largest of its kind in the world. Upon arrival in Yichang, say farewell to your crew as you disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, China's most populous city. (B,L)
19	Full day of sightseeing at your leisure. Stroll along the Bund, the city's riverfront boulevard; visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM, and experience the YU YUAN GARDENS. Later, visit the CHILDREN.S PALACE, one of China's famous kindergartens. This evening your Tour Director hosts a lavish FAREWELL DINNER, a fitting finale to your exploration of Asia's most fascinating destinations. (B,L,D)
20	Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)