YANGTZE CRUISE · SMALL GROUP
Yangtze Cruise & Golden Cities
Max 16 travelersNo forced shoppingNo commission stopsLicensed local operator
T2C-YC-15
15 days / 14 nights
Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Yangtze River Cruise → Shanghai
Small group · max 16 · private departures available
Licensed English-speaking guides on land + English-speaking cruise staff · private AC vehicle, high-speed rail & cruise ship
4★ hotels in Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu & Shanghai + premium Yangtze river cruise cabin
Families, seniors and travelers who prefer a relaxed pace
Travelers seeking adventure itineraries — cruise days are gentle
Gentle; ship has elevators, sightseeing requires moderate walking
Light-to-moderate daily walking; sightseeing days include stairs
Some sites have uneven terrain — please advise us of any needs at booking
Most evenings are free for you to explore at your own pace
twin share · land only · no international airfare
How many travelers?
Select a day to see that day's activities, transport, meals and hotel.
Arrive in Beijing, private airport pickup and hotel check-in.
Today: Overnight in Beijing · No meals included · Private airport transfer · English-speaking guide · Light walking
After your flight lands at Beijing Capital International Airport, our English-speaking guide meets you at arrivals and transfers you to your 4-star city-center hotel. Rest and recover from jet lag.
Our guide holds a sign with your name at the arrivals gate and escorts you to a private vehicle for the 45-minute transfer to your city-center hotel.
Private transfer · ~45 min · Meet at arrivals gate
Overnight stay at Ramada Beijing North.
Explore the heart of imperial Beijing.
Today: Overnight in Beijing · Breakfast + Lunch included · Full-day sightseeing · English-speaking guide · Active walking
Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City — 24 emperors' palace complex spanning 600 years of Chinese history.
Visit Tiananmen Square — the world's largest city square. See the Monument to the People's Heroes and Tiananmen Gate.
~1 hour · Outdoor · Security check required
Explore the Forbidden City (UNESCO World Heritage) — the imperial palace complex from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
~3 hours · UNESCO · Most visited museum
Lunch at a local restaurant near the Forbidden City.
~1 hour · Chinese cuisine
Overnight stay at Ramada Beijing North.
Walk the less-crowded Great Wall.
Today: Overnight in Beijing · Breakfast + Lunch included · Full-day excursion · English-speaking guide · Active hiking
Day trip to Mutianyu Great Wall — one of the best-preserved and most scenic sections, less crowded than Badaling.
Scenic drive from Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall (~1.5 hours).
~1.5 hours drive
Explore Mutianyu Great Wall — restored section with watchtowers. Take the cable car up and walk along the wall.
~3 hours · Cable car included · UNESCO
Rustic lunch at a local farmers' restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall.
~1 hour · Home-style cooking
Overnight stay at Ramada Beijing North.
High-speed train to the ancient capital.
Today: Overnight in Xi'an · Breakfast included · High-speed rail · English-speaking guide · Moderate walking
Morning high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an (~4.5 hours). Afternoon visit to the Muslim Quarter and Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Take the high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an (~4.5 hours).
~4.5 hours · High-speed rail · Comfortable seats
Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda — 1,300-year-old Tang Dynasty pagoda, symbol of Xi'an.
~1 hour · Tang Dynasty · Iconic landmark
Wander the Muslim Quarter — Xi'an's famous food street with hundreds of street food stalls.
~2 hours · Free time · Street food dinner
Overnight stay at Sheraton Xi'an North.
World-famous Terracotta Warriors.
Today: Overnight in Xi'an · Breakfast + Lunch included · Full-day sightseeing · English-speaking guide · Active walking
Visit the Terracotta Army — 8,000 life-sized soldiers guarding Qin Shi Huang's tomb for 2,200 years.
Drive from Xi'an to the Terracotta Army site (~1 hour).
~1 hour drive
Explore the Terracotta Army (UNESCO World Heritage) — pits containing thousands of life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots.
~3 hours · UNESCO · Wonder of ancient world
Lunch near the Terracotta Army site.
~1 hour
Overnight stay at Sheraton Xi'an North.
Fly to Chongqing, board the Yangtze River cruise ship.
Today: Overnight on Cruise Ship · Breakfast included · Flight · Embarkation · English-speaking guide
Morning flight from Xi'an to Chongqing (~1.5 hours). Afternoon board your luxury Yangtze River cruise ship. Welcome dinner onboard.
Morning flight from Xi'an to Chongqing (~1.5 hours).
~1.5 hours flight
Transfer to Chaotianmen Cruise Terminal in Chongqing.
~30 min transfer
Board your luxury Yangtze cruise ship. Welcome briefing and ship tour. Sail down the Yangtze River.
Check-in 14:00 · Sailing 17:00 · Welcome dinner
Overnight stay at Victoria Sophia Cruise Ship.
Cruise along the Yangtze, visit Fengdu Ghost City.
Today: Overnight on Cruise Ship · Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner included · Full-day cruise · English-speaking guide
Full-day cruising on the Yangtze River. Stop at Fengdu Ghost City — ancient Taoist site exploring Chinese beliefs about the afterlife.
Stop at Fengdu Ghost City — ancient Taoist temple complex built on the hillside, exploring Chinese beliefs about the afterlife. Take the cable car up.
~3 hours · Cable car included · Taoist cultural site
Relax on the sun deck and enjoy the scenic Yangtze River gorge views. Onboard lectures about Yangtze history.
Free time · Onboard activities · Gorge views
Overnight stay at Victoria Sophia Cruise Ship.
Three Gorges highlights — Qutang, Wu, and Xiling Gorges.
Today: Overnight on Cruise Ship · Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner included · Full-day cruise · English-speaking guide
Scenic cruise through the Three Gorges — Qutang Gorge (narrowest), Wu Gorge (most beautiful), and Xiling Gorge. Stop at Shennong Stream for a small boat ride.
Cruise through Qutang Gorge — the shortest and most dramatic of the Three Gorges, with sheer cliffs rising 1,000m on both sides.
~1 hour · Narrowest gorge · Ancient inscriptions
Cruise through Wu Gorge — the most beautiful gorge, known for its misty peaks and lush vegetation. See the 12 Peaks of Wu Gorge.
~2 hours · Most scenic gorge · Misty peaks
Transfer to small wooden boats to explore Shennong Stream — a crystal-clear tributary with lush forests and Tujia minority villages.
~2 hours · Small boat ride · Tujia culture
Overnight stay at Victoria Sophia Cruise Ship.
World's largest hydropower project.
Today: Overnight on Cruise Ship · Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner included · Full-day cruise · English-speaking guide
Visit the Three Gorges Dam — the world's largest hydropower project. Watch the ship lock system in action. Continue cruising through Xiling Gorge.
Visit the Three Gorges Dam — the world's largest hydropower project, 2.3km wide and 185m high. See the ship lift system.
~2 hours · World's largest dam · Engineering marvel
Cruise through Xiling Gorge — the longest of the Three Gorges, known for its rocky cliffs and rapid currents.
~1.5 hours · Longest gorge · Rugged scenery
Overnight stay at Victoria Sophia Cruise Ship.
Disembark, fly to Shanghai.
Today: Overnight in Shanghai · Breakfast included · Flight · English-speaking guide · Easy day
Morning disembarkation in Yichang. Transfer to Yichang Airport for flight to Shanghai (~2 hours). Afternoon free to explore Shanghai.
Morning disembarkation. Transfer to Yichang Sanxia Airport (~45 minutes).
~45 min transfer · Flight to Shanghai
Free afternoon to explore Shanghai on your own. Visit the Bund, Nanjing Road, or Xintiandi.
Free time · Optional activities · City exploration
Overnight stay at Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Pudong.
The Bund, Yu Garden, and Shanghai Museum.
Today: Overnight in Shanghai · Breakfast + Lunch included · Full-day sightseeing · English-speaking guide · Active walking
Explore Shanghai — the Bund colonial architecture, Yu Garden classical Chinese garden, and Shanghai Museum. Evening Huangpu River cruise.
Walk along the Bund — Shanghai's iconic waterfront with 52 colonial-era buildings from the 1920s-30s.
~1 hour · Colonial architecture · Skyline views
Visit Yu Garden — 400-year-old classical Chinese garden in the old city.
~1.5 hours · Classical garden · Ming Dynasty
Lunch at a restaurant in the old Shanghai area.
~1 hour · Shanghai cuisine
Visit Shanghai Museum — one of China's best museums, with 120,000+ artifacts including bronze, ceramics, and paintings.
~2 hours · Top museum · Free entry
Overnight stay at Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Pudong.
Classical gardens and ancient water town.
Today: Overnight in Shanghai · Breakfast + Lunch included · Day trip · English-speaking guide · Moderate walking
Day trip to Suzhou — the 'Venice of the East'. Visit classical Chinese gardens and the ancient water town of Tongli.
Take the high-speed train from Shanghai to Suzhou (~30 minutes).
~30 min · High-speed rail
Visit the Humble Administrator's Garden (UNESCO World Heritage) — the largest classical garden in Suzhou.
~2 hours · UNESCO · Classical garden
Lunch at a local restaurant in Suzhou.
~1 hour · Suzhou cuisine
Visit Tongli Ancient Water Town — 1,000-year-old canal town with stone bridges and old canals.
~2 hours · Boat ride included · Water town
Overnight stay at Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Pudong.
Free day to explore Shanghai.
Today: Overnight in Shanghai · Breakfast included · Free day · English-speaking guide · Free time
Free day to explore Shanghai at your own pace. Optional activities: Disney, Shanghai Tower, French Concession, or shopping.
Free day to explore Shanghai. Optional: Shanghai Tower observation deck, French Concession walk, Xintiandi shopping, or Disney (extra cost).
Free day · Optional activities · Shopping
Overnight stay at Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Pudong.
Free morning, transfer to Shanghai Pudong Airport.
Today: Breakfast included · Private airport transfer · Free morning
Free morning to pack or do last-minute shopping. Transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) for your departure flight.
Free morning to pack, shop, or relax. Check-out by 12:00.
Check-out by 12:00 · Luggage storage available
Private transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) for your departure flight.
~1 hour transfer · Allow 2.5 hours before flight
Own room available with a single supplement (priced on request); roommate pairing available at no extra charge when possible.
Children welcome with adult supervision — please ask about age rules and family pricing.
Vegetarian, vegan, halal and allergy needs are accommodated when advised at booking.
Please advise us of mobility or accessibility needs — we will do our best to adjust hotels and pacing.
One suitcase plus one carry-on per person is recommended; larger items may affect transfers.
Gratuities are at your discretion and never required.
We run each tour with a small confirmed group (typically 4–16 travelers). If a departure cannot meet its minimum, you may reschedule or receive a full refund.
Free full refund when you cancel 30+ days before departure. Within 30 days, the deposit is non-refundable as it holds your places, hotels and tickets.
Date or itinerary changes are possible before final confirmation — contact your consultant. Your deposit can be transferred to a new departure.
If we cancel a departure or make a major change to the tour, you get a full refund of everything paid. Force-majeure cases follow the same full-refund principle.
Refunds are processed by the licensed operating agency shown in your contract, to the original payment method, within the timeline stated in your booking contract.
