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China, Yangtze River & Hong Kong

Includes 3-Night Yangtze River Cruise ~ Beijing ~ Xi’an ~ Shanghai ~ Kowloon

13 Day Itinerary from Hong Kong, from $4,990 per person, based on double occupancy

16 Day Itinerary from Beijing, $5,990 per person, based on double occupancy

Departure Dates Available in 2009:

May 10, 17, 22
June 7, 21
July 10
August 7, 21, 30
September 6, 15, 22, 27
October 9, 13, 25

To check space availability or to register, contact SMA Tours at (800) 239-7444.

Explore a different world during this trip of a lifetime! Take a trishaw tour of the hutong quarters of Old Beijing for private tea with a local family. A private cruise on the mystical Li River provides an in-depth look at traditional Chinese villages along its shores. Discover age-old cultural traditions as you step back in time 1,700 years to the remarkably preserved city of Zhu Jia Jiao, and learn how silk is created from worms to cocoons at a silkworm factory. Attend an evening performance of the internationally renowned Shanghai Acrobats, justifiably considered the world's finest acrobatic troupe. Board a traditional Chinese sampan for a cruise through Aberdeen Harbor, home to a community of boat people who have lived afloat their entire lives. Enjoy all this and more during this exciting tour.

Itinerary

Day 1 – 16/Day Tour - Arrive in Hong Kong

Your transfer from Hong Kong International Airport is included to Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, where your extraordinary journey through China begins with a three-night stay on the Tsimshatsui East waterfront.

Day 2 – 16/Day Tour - Sightsee Hong Kong

Ride the funicular tram to Victoria Peak for a stunning view of Hong Kong, before driving to Repulse Bay. Take a traditional Chinese sampan through the busy harbor at Aberdeen, home to a unique community of boat people who have lived afloat their entire lives. Visit the old fishing lanes of Stanley Market, now bustling with open-air vendors selling Chinese artwork, silk collectibles and more. The remainder of the day is free. (Breakfast and Dinner included)

Day 3 – 16/Day Tour - Explore Kowloon

Explore local markets hidden amidst the maze of busy streets in Kowloon, renowned as a shopping mecca. Visit colorful fish markets to inspect some of the local specialties. The remainder of the day is free for you to do as you wish in this dynamic city. (Breakfast included)

Day 4 - Fly to Beijing / Peking Duck Dinner

Members of the 16-Day Tour fly today to Beijing for a three-night stay at The Peninsula Beijing, one of the world’s best hotels.  Members of the 13-Day Tour join the group following their transfer from Beijing Capital International Airport to the hotel.  Both groups join us this evening for a cocktail reception followed by dinner at your choice of hotel restaurant. (Breakfast for 16-Day Tour members and Dinner for both groups included)

Day 5 - Tiananmen Square / Forbidden City

Walk into Tiananmen Square and imagine the historic events of the 20th century that took place here. The memory of Mao Tse-Tung dominates the square where his enormous portrait hangs above the “Gate of Heavenly Peace” – behind these walls, the Forbidden City looms. Step inside and tour the palace where China’s emperors ruled in absolute isolation. Take a trishaw ride into the back streets of old Beijing, known as the hutongs, and have tea with a local family for a taste of daily life. Later, enjoy a culinary experience tonight at a dinner followed by Peking Duck. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 6 - Great Wall / Summer Palace

Travel outside of the city limits today to the Great Wall; ride a cable car to the highest point and take a walk along the wall. Spend the afternoon at the 18th-century Summer Palace, once a summer retreat for emperors of the Forbidden City. View the pavilions and gardens before boarding a dragon boat for a lakeside cruise. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 7 - Temple of Heaven / Fly to Xi’an

Visit the Temple of Heaven, built in the 15th century; it is considered the supreme achievement of traditional Chinese architecture. Fly to Xi’an, once the ancient capital of China, and journey through scenic countryside before arriving at your hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 8 - Terra Cotta Warriors / Theater

Sightseeing today includes China’s largest and best-preserved city wall, 7th-century Little Wild Goose Pagoda and the amazing Terra Cotta Warriors. See an army of more than 8,000 life-sized terra cotta statues, each with distinctive physical features, which has been guarding their emperor’s underground tomb for over 2,000 years! (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 9 - Fly to Guilin

Take a flight to Guilin this morning for an overnight stay. One of the most picturesque places in China, Guilin boasts an inspirational setting that never fails to stir the soul. Visit Ludi Yan, the impressive Reed Flute Cave, and enjoy a therapeutic foot massage, before arriving at your hotel, flanked by the Li River and the new Zhengyang Pedestrian Street. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 10 - Yangtze River Cruise

A private cruise on the Li River sets the stage for your three-night cruise through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. An evening flight brings you to Chongqing, where you embark on your Victoria Cruises’ ship. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 11 - Yangtze River Cruise

Witness the beauty of China’s longest river, the mighty Yangtze, aboard one of the finest ships to cruise these waters. Start your day with relaxing Tai Chi exercises, followed by on-board lectures about the history of the Yangtze and Chinese healing arts. This afternoon, take a shore excursion to a “relocation village” newly built for local villagers whose traditional homes and land were affected by the Three Gorges Dam project. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 12 - The Three Gorges

A shore excursion to the Daning River enhances your viewing of Qutang Gorge this morning. Back aboard ship, see Goddess Peak as you pass through 25-mile Wu Gorge, then join a kite master for a kite flying lesson. You will have an opportunity to learn some basic Chinese and attend a freshwater pearl lecture as the ship makes its way through Xiling Gorge, the last and longest of the Three Gorges. Enjoy a farewell dinner banquet and cabaret tonight starring the ship’s crew. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 13 - Yichang / Fly to Shanghai

Sail to Yichang through the locks adjacent to China’s new engineering marvel, the Three Gorges Dam. The largest project of its kind in the world, it is scheduled for completion this yearand will continue to change the face of China’s interior and economy throughout the 21st century. Disembark the ship and fly to Shanghai, which is one of China’s most cosmopolitan cities. Note: Due to limited flight schedules, some groups will fly from Wuhan to Shanghai. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 14 - Shanghai’s Sights and Sounds

Shanghai, once known as the “Paris of the East,” is now a dynamic city with a population that surpasses 16 million people; enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city today.  Visit Yu Gardens, classical Chinese gardens with over 30 pavilions linked by a maze of corridors and bridges over ponds, and tour the Shanghai Museum, frequently cited as the best museum in China. See a daring performance by the world-renowned Shanghai Acrobat Troupe after dinner; Shanghai's dazzling troupes are considered China’s very finest at this ancient craft. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight; Shanghai is known for its wonderfully diverse dining venues, including traditional teahouses and restored colonial mansions; your choice! (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Day 15 - Discover Zhu Jia Jiao

Explore Zhu Jia Jiao, dating back more than 1,700 years; walk along lovely willow tree-lined streets descending from the Ming and Qing dynasties and see centuries-old bridges still in use today. Learn how silk is created at a local silk weaving factory before returning to Shanghai for a farewell cocktail party and dinner. (Breakfast and Dinner included)

Day 16 - Journey Home

Tour ends: Shanghai, China. A transfer is included from Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. You should allow 21/2  hours for flight check-in at the airport. (Breakfast included)

Pricing

Note:
International Airfare is additional. Call for special rates on international air, in coach or business, for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability). On-tour air does not include the Hong Kong – Beijing flight on Day 4 which must be purchased with your international airfare.

 

Hotels

Kowloon Shangri-La, Kowloon, Hong Kong (3 nights)

The Peninsula Beijing, Beijing, China (3 nights)

Golden Flower Hotel, Xian, China, by Shangri-La, Xi'an, China (2 nights)

Sheraton Guilin Hotel, Guilin, China (1 night)

Aboard Victoria Cruises, Yangtze River, China (3 nights)

Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, Shanghai, China (3 nights)