Classic China & Yangtze River Cruise

Fly overnight to Shanghai.

Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel, before enjoying a guided introduction to this amazing city. The colonial grandeur of the buildings that line the west bank of the Huangpu River, on the famous Bund, hint at past glories, and are now surrounded by the modern city's gigantic skyscrapers.

Your tour will include a visit to the rocket-shaped Pearl TV Tower, which surveys the city, and the fascinating Shanghai City History Museum.

This morning, you'll tour Shanghai's Old City, at the heart of which is the 16th-century Yuyuan classical Chinese garden, with its pools, walkways and bridges - a haven amongst the bustling bazaars and street markets.

After a fascinating day, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Yichang, to meet your five-star ship and begin your Yangtze cruise. Spend three unforgettable days enjoying the ever-changing vistas from your ship, as you cruise the mighty Yangtze River. Rest and relax on board, join early morning Tai-Chi sessions and hear the legends of the Three Kingdoms.

Today you'll visit the immense Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectricity project - a controversial feat of engineering that has wrought drastic change on the riverscape. You'll then sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest of the Three Gorges, which together stretch over 200km and vary from 100 to 300 metres in width.

The 'Small Three Gorges' on the Daling River are a stunning backdrop for an excursion by boat, today. Sail through Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge, admiring the sights of one of China's most dramatic regions. Though changed forever by the Dam's construction, the landscape retains the spectacular grandeur of its 900-metre cliffs and jagged peaks.

This morning's port of call is the 2000-year-old 'Ghost City' of Fengdu, a place shrouded in ancient legend and Taoist teachings about the afterlife.

For your last evening on board, join the Captain for a Farewell Dinner and crew show.

Disembark in Chongqing, and enjoy a guided introduction to one of modern China's fastest-growing cities. Visit the contrasting 100-year-old streets of Ciqikou and explore beautiful Goose Neck Park, before boarding a fast train into Sichuan province and the relaxed, modern city of Chengdu, where you'll stay for the next two nights.

In Eastern Sichuan's capital, modern developments contrast with the traditional tea-houses and colourful shops of old Jinli Street. One of the highlights of your stay in Chengdu will be a visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre, where you'll be able to learn about these wonderful creatures and the steps being taken to ensure their future survival.

Dinner this evening will give you an opportunity to sample traditional Sichuan cuisine.

Travel to China’s ancient capital for a two-night stay. Upon arrival, you'll visit the imposing, preserved walls and fortifications of this fascinating city, see the Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter and the city's Tang dynasty monuments.

This evening, enjoy a traditional Dumpling Dinner.

An unforgettable day awaits, as you visit the legendary Terracotta Army - some 8,000 lifelike foot-soldiers, horsemen and charioteers discovered in 1974, and now one of the world's greatest tourist attractions. Close by, the yet-to-be-excavated tomb of emperor Qin Shi Huang is said to contain a vast underground city.

You'll complete your tour of Xi'an's ancient treasures with a visit to the Small Goose Pagoda, before an evening in the city.

This morning, board a high-speed train north to Beijing, where you'll spend the next three nights. Once here, celebrate your first evening in the city with a traditional Peking Duck dinner.

Today you'll take a guided tour of the Chinese capital. See Tiananmen Square, Chairman Mao’s tomb, the Great Hall of the People, the museums of Chinese History and the Revolution, and the great Imperial Palace (the iconic Forbidden City). In the Palace's ceremonial halls and living quarters, you'll gain an insight into the extraordinary lives led by the 24 Chinese emperors who called it home.

This afternoon, you'll also visit the tranquil Summer Palace at Yiheyuan.

The Great Wall of China is famously (though not entirely accurately) the only man-made structure visible from space. Travel to Badaling, where, amid steep, forested hills, part of the wall has been lovingly restored, and it's easy to appreciate the immensity of this marvellous feat of engineering. Your day will also include the opportunity to see the exterior of the amazing 'Bird's Nest' stadium from the 2008 Olympic Games.

This evening, why not join an optional excursion to the world-famous Beijing Opera, to discover its mix of song, dance and acrobatics?

Step back in time, this morning, on a walking tour of the ancient hutongs, Old Peking's fast-disappearing labyrinth of narrow alleyways and hidden courtyard houses, before bidding farewell to Beijing to catch a high-speed train to Suzhou.

With its treelined waterways, UNESCO-listed classical gardens and its silk-trade associations, Suzhou is a breath-taking treasure chest of sights and history. Discover the old city, visit the beautiful Lingering Garden and the Silk Embroidery Institute, and enjoy a canal cruise as this fascinating place is brought to life by your guide.

Late this afternoon, drive south to Shanghai where you'll have the chance to enjoy an optional night cruise.

Transfer to the airport, early this morning, for the daytime flight home at the end of a wonderful holiday.