OnThe

Water

Itinerary*

China and Yangtze River

Shanghai to Chongqing

aboard the MS Victoria Prince

plus Beijing and Xian

Day 1—2   Thu/Fri   June 10/11		Fly to Shanghai, Crossing Dateline
	Depart YOUR GATEWAY on your flight(s) to Shanghai. Upon your arrival in Shanghai, please proceed through customs. In the arrival hall you will be met by one of the cruise managers and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. In-flight meals and beverage services are provided as per individual airline policy.
Day 3   Sat   June 12 (B/D incl.)		Shanghai
	Your morning panorama tour of this magnificent & growing city will include new and old highlights such as the Bund and the Yu Yuan Gardens. Return to your hotel for lunch (on your own) and a short rest. This evening depart for a special welcome banquet at a local restaurant followed by a performance of the fabulous Chinese Acrobats!
Feeding Koi at Pond in Yu Yuan Gardens Shanghai			Chinese Acrobat Show (Included Excursion)
Day 4   Sun   June 13 (B/L/D incl.)		Shanghai Embarkation
	This morning, tour the Children's Palace where talented children of all ages are taught the arts. Return to the hotel for check-out. Then enjoy a Mongolian style BBQ lunch followed by a visit to a local Art center. Tonight dinner will be served at a local restaurant, before transfer to board your luxurious floating hotel before it begins an overnight sail?.
Day 5   Mon   June 14 (B/L/D incl.)		Nanjing
	Today, enjoy a sightseeing tour of this former war capital of China. On your shore excursion you will visit Dr. Sun Yat Sen's (Father of China) Mausoleum and a Qing Dynasty bazaar surrounding a Confucian Temple. Return to the ship and sail on.
Day 6   Tues   June 15 (B/L/D incl.)		Huangshan
	Today, a full day excursion will take you to the legendary Mt. Huangshan, famous for its natural beauty and as a fixture in Chinese lore. Continue sailing once back on board.
Yellow Mountain (Mt. Huangshan)			Lovers Padlocks on Yellow Mountain (Mt. Huangshan)
Day 7   Wed   June 16 (B/L/D incl.)		Wuhan
	A merger of 3 cities, Wuhan lies on the confluence of two great rivers — the Yangtze and the Yellow River. Your city tour of this bustling capital will include a visit to the Hubei Provincial Museum.
Day 8   Thu   June 17 (B/L/D incl.)		Sailing
	A wonderful day to enjoy your sailing experience to the fullest! Watch the magnificent passing scenery or participate in one of the many on board activities arranged by our crew and/or our dancing program.
Day 9   Fri   June 18 (B/L/D incl.)		Yichang & Three Gorges Dam
	Today is an exciting day as you first sail through the old Gezhouba Dam and then visit the new gigantic 3 Gorges Dam set into operation in 2003. Return to the ship and then marvel at human ingenuity as you sail through 4 of the gigantic locks which will lift your ship 70 meters up and whose gigantic steel doors are 90 meters high and 2 meters thick!
3 Gorges Museum with Dance Group			3 Gorges Lock with "traffic"
Day 10   Sat   June 19 (B/L/D incl.)		Lesser Gorges
	First sail through the peaceful and mysterious Wu gorge before arriving to the Danning River. Here you will take a smaller steamer ship into this Yangtze tributary where you will see unique wildlife, wild monkeys as well as the famous "hanging coffins" of the ancient Ba people — etched into the cliff sides over 1000 years ago! Then you will enjoy boarding smaller sampan boats which will take you even further into the winding tributaries and streams, to view channels previously not accessible by any means. Return to your ship via steamer.
Day 11   Sun   July 20 (B/L/D incl.)		Fengdu
	Today brings you to Fengdu, China's fabled "Ghost City". The Chinese believe that when they die, their souls must first come to Fengdu and based on their life are either sent to heaven or hell! A colorful temple reached by a ski lift sits on top of a 210 meter hill — and here is where you will have to pass the tests and see where your soul will be headed to! On your return to the ship, prepare for your final and fancy Captain's Farewell dinner, followed by a crew show.
Day 12   Mon   June 21 (B/L incl.)		Chongqing Disembark – Fly to Xian
	As all great things must end, so does your magnificent journey from the mouth of the China Sea to the heart of China's inland — Chongqing, the World's largest municipality with over 37 million people!. Disembark and transfer to the airport for your late afternoon flight to Xian. Upon arrival in Xian, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Docked in Harbor Chongqing
Day 13   Tues   June 22 (B/L/D incl.)		Xian
	Full day of sightseeing in Xian. Included sights include the Terracotta Warriors Museum, Banpo Museum, and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the evening enjoy the Tang Dynasty show.
Terracotta Warriors Xian			Terracotta Warrior Museum (Included Excursion)
Day 14   Wed   June 23 (B/D incl.)		Xian — Fly to Beijing
	This morning visit the ancient Xian city walls. In the afternoon fly on to China's capital- Beijing. On arrival, dinner will be held at a local restaurant prior to reaching your hotel for check-in and overnight.
Day 15   Thu   June 24 (B/L incl.)		Beijing
	Your morning tour will encompass the giant Tianamen Square followed by a tour of the Imperial ("Forbidden") Palace. Then it's on to the old part of the town — the Hutongs — where families still live in a communal setting. Here you will meet a local family who will invite you into their home and cook a home made lunch for you! This delightful day will end with an exciting cyclo ride through the narrow maze of the Hutong streets. Return to your hotel and if you can eat any more - the meal is on you! This evening we will try to arrange folk dancing experience with local Chinese folk dance enthusiasts.
Day 16   Fri   June 25 (B/L/D incl.)		Beijing
	This morning take the excursion to the Great China Wall. Here you will have time to walk the ramparts and wonder in amazement how a structure of such size was ever built. After the tour, you will head back towards Beijing and stop at a local Jade and Silk factory where you will have lunch and enjoy some time shopping. Return to your hotel for a short rest before heading out for your farewell dinner featuring - what else - the famous Peking Duck!
Great Wall (Included Excursion)
Day 17   Sat   June 26 (B incl.)		Beijing - Home
	Pack your memories away as you are transferred to the airport for your flight back to the US, recrossing the dateline and regaining a day. (Connecting flights in Asia depending on airline used). In-flight meals and beverage services are provided as per individual airline policy. For those who choose the Hong Kong Extension, we will fly to Hong Kong to finish our Asia adventure.
* Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to changing weather and other local conditions.

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