10 days Beijing - Yangtze River cruise - Shanghai tour

As the first city to visit in this tour, Beijing is a must-see city which holds rich resources of cultural heritages and natural landscapes. Upon arrival, be greeted by your local guide and get settled in the hotel. Have the rest of the day to retire or explore this capital city on your own. If you have no idea on where to go, please ask your guide or Travel Advisor for some suggestions. 

Today your amazing tour starts by heading to the Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing city. Regarded as the largest public square in the world, Tiananmen Square can accommodate up to a million people to hold ceremonies. Walk around the square before you come to the north end of the square and enter directly into the magnificent Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage site in China. Served as the the dwelling place for the emperors during Ming and Qing dynasties, the palaces in the Forbidden City are solemn and majestic, revealing its power of both imperial and divine.

After lunch, drive to the Temple of Heaven, the altar where the emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the God of Heaven for rich harvest. The circle was widely adopted in the design of the garden's main buildings since the ancient Chinese people believed the circular shape of these palaces symbolized the sky. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Kong Fu Show before you return to the hotel for retire. 

Morning drive over 2.5 hours to the Mutianyu Great Wall, which is located 70 km. (43 mi.) northeast of Beijing city. Upon arrival, have 2 to 3 hours to hike along the wall or take a cable car to the summit if you do not like feel like walking up. It is a fabulous experience to stand atop of the wall and watch it like a roaring dragon to wind its body across the endless mountains. 

After you drive back to Beijing city in the afternoon, head to Beiluoguoxiang for exploring the hutong culture of old Beijing. Travel through the zigzag and narrow alleys to see the local life and Beijingers. Learn about the traditional culture and folktales of old Beijing from your local guide. 

Start today with a visit to the Summer Palace, an imperial garden built in Qing dynasty. Listed as one of the four classic gardens in China, Summer Palace deeply influences Chinese horticulture and landscape with its famous natural views and cultural interests. During your visit, see the spectacular artificial structures combines the rolling hills and open water perfectly to form a harmony landscape. 

Before you head to the airport for the flight to Chongqing, stop at the Olympic Green, and have a glimpse at the iconic Bird's Nest and Water Cube. In the evening, ready to board on the ship. As the ship departs from Chongqing, your amazing Yangtze River cruise begins. 

Since it is the first day cruising on the Yangtze River, the river guide will give you a brief introduction in the morning. Yangtze River is the mightiest and longest river in China, as well as an important cradle of the ancient Chinese civilization. 

The first stop today is to disembark in Fengdu Ghost City. The town is regarded as the best place for people to learn about the Chinese ghost culture, as it has its own unique culture concerned with ghosts and the afterlife.

The highlight of your Yangtze River cruise is coming today as you can enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the Three Gorges. Three Gorges are divided into Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, each holds its own features. Qutang Gorge is the shortest but grandest one due to the majestic peaks and strangely shaped rocks, Wu Gorge is famous for the graceful view of the lofty and misty peaks while Xiling gorges are considered to be the most exciting one because of the countless reefs, riffles, and rocks along with the river. 

During your visit through Wu Gorge, have a short cruise on the Little Three Gorges or take a pea-boat floating along the verdant Shennong Stream (based on the seasons and your requirement). Dinner and supper are offered on board. 

End your memorable Yangtze cruise with a visit to the Three Gorges Dam, largest and most magnificent hydroelectric project in world. Afterwards, disembark in Yichang as you are driven to the airport for the flight to Shanghai. Get settled into the downtown hotel after your arrival in Shanghai. The rest of today is on your own. 

The tour today starts with a visit to the Yu Garden, a beautiful ancient garden built during the Ming Dynasty by a rich government officer. The architectural design of Yu Garden shows a pure feature of South China, which is totally different from the gardens you visit in Beijing. Walk around this garden before you head to the Yu Market for some good bargains, it is a place where you can find lots of antiques and souvenirs for sale. 

Afterward, go to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall to see a gigantic model of Shanghai city, along with photographs of old Shanghai during the years. Followed with a visit to the Shanghai World Financial Center. Ride to the observation deck of the city's tallest building to have a bird's eyes view of this modern metropolis. 

Continue next to the Bund is a famous attraction that leads directly to Nanjing Road. Walk along this road to see the modern city scenery or do some shopping. In the evening, have a pleasant cruise along Huangpu River to see the night scene of Shanghai. Then return to your hotel and prepare for the next day.

Take a private car to Suzhou in the morning for one day tour. Suzhou is an ancient city which is famous for the gardens in southeast region of China. Upon arrival, drive to the Humble Administrator's  Garden, one of the largest and most impressive gardens in Southeast China. While wandering in the garden, you can find the landscapes here are meticulously designed to make you impressed. After that, take a cruise on the Grand Canal, which is the longest artificial river in the world, used daily to connect north and south China. 

In the afternoon, visit another famous garden in Suzhou city, the Lingering Garden. This garden is separated into 4 scenic spots. They set off each other with certain connection, but distinguish from each other with different features. Afterwards, take a visit to the Silk Factory to learn about the long history of Suzhou's silk industry before you drive back to the hotel in Shanghai for relax. 

Pick up from your hotel and drive to the airport or train station for departure. Wish you have a pleasant journey home, and WindhoreseTour is ready to help adjust this tour in any way to better suite your personal travel needs.