Compare Majestic China & Yangtze River 14 Days 12 Nights by Affordable World vs Journey on the Silk Road by Himalayan Glacier Adventure

Days 1 & 2: USA - Beijing

Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing or similar

Depart from the US and head overseas for an adventure of a lifetime. Spend the night aboard as the jetliner glides across the International Date Line.

Our local guide is there to greet us as we arrive in Beijing, the economic and political center of the nation. Transfer to the luxury accommodations provided for a good night’s rest.

Day 3: Beijing

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing or similar

Spend the day free or take the tour to visit the Great Wall, which is one of the man-built architectures that can be seen from the low orbit of the earth. The Great Wall is a massive defensive structure built to keep intruders from invading the mainland. It stretches an impossible 4000 miles across China's north, covering nine provinces. An enormous undertaking that originally began under Qin Shi Huang (first emperor of China) in 200 B.C., the Great Wall was not completed until the Ming Dynasty in 1640. This morning you have plenty of time to walk along its ancient path and experience part of China's fascinating history.

Optional Tours: Great Wall & Sacred Way $49 pp

Day 4: Beijing

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing or similar

Optional Tours: Forbidden City (only available for purchase prior to trip departure date**) $28 pp

Today, we start our Beijing Capital tour with Qianmen Street. Qianmen Street was a commercial and entertainment hub due to its convenient location, connecting the Imperial Palace with other communities in Beijing. In the run-up to the 2008 Olympics, the street underwent a rejuvenation to restore the streetscape to that of the early 20th. A visit to Tiananmen Square, the world-famous and historic Tiananmen Square, or “Gate of Heavenly Peace”. Located in the heart of Beijing, Tiananmen Square was once the main gate to the Imperial Palace during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Today, it is home to the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, National Museum of China, and the Great Hall of the People. Afterwards, we drive by the famed Olympic Site and have a photo stop at Olympic National Stadium (the Bird's Nest), Olympic National Aquatics Center (the Water Cube) and National Center for the Performing Art. In the afternoon, you have the opportunity to explore the home to Ming and Qing emperors, Forbidden City. Comprised of 800 buildings covering 720,000 sq. meters, it is the world's largest palace complex.

**For those travelers joining the Forbidden City optional tour - your passport is required for entry.  Please note if your passport does not match the passport on file for your reservation, you will be denied entry at the Forbidden City and your ticket will be nonrefundable**.

Day 5: Beijing-Yichang-Yangtze River Cruise

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Anna

Board a short flight to Yichang,the cultural and economic center of the western Hubei Province. Upon arrival , we board our ship sets for our Yangtze River adventure.

Day 6: Yangtze River Cruise

Meals: Breakfast at hotel or on cruise , Lunch and Dinner at Local Restaurant

Accommodation: Victoria Anna

Arrive at Sandouping, you can stay on board and rest or take the optional shore excursion to explore the Three Gorges Dam Site, located in the middle of the Xiling Gorge. Wonder at the magnitude of the dam and then cruise upstream, traversing the 5-stage Three Gorges Dam locks and breathtaking Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges.

Day 7: Yangtze River Cruise

Meals: Breakfast at hotel or on cruise , Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Victoria Anna

Depending on the weather today, enjoy a memorable excursion to cruise along the serenely beautiful gorges of the Goddess Stream or Shennong Stream, two tributaries of the Yangtze.  Afterwards, rejoin the cruise ship to glide past the elegant Wu Gorge, renowned for its vertical cliffs and 12 mist-shrouded mountains. Enter the final gorge, Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most impressive of the three.

Day 8: Yangtze River Cruise

Meals: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch and Dinner at Local Restaurant

Accommodation: Victoria Anna

Today, you can choose to stay on board or go ashore to visit either the Jade Emperor scenic area near Fengdu or the extraordinary Shibaozhai pagoda*, a 12-story wooden pagoda built 400 years ago without the use of a single nail and filled with Chinese art that rises from the banks of the Yangtze. 

*Visting site will be determined by local weather conditions.

Day 9: Yangtze River Cruise-Chongqing-Xian

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Grand Noble Xian or similar

Our Yangtze River journey comes to an end as we dock in Chongqing, a scenic cliff-side city that overlooks the conflunece of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. Transfer to Xian, the capital of Shannxi Province, one of the oldest cities in China. Xian is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China with more than 3100 years of history. The city was known as "Chang'an" before Ming Dynasty. Xian is the eastern teminus of the Silk Road and home to the Terra Cotta Warriors. Upon arrival in Xian, we will drive into town, passing through its massive City Wall, the best preserved defensive wall structure on earth and have a picture stop at Drum Tower and Bell Tower. In the evening, don't miss the chance to taste the local famous dumpling banquet.

Optional Tours: Dumpling Banquet $28 pp

Day 10: Xian

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Grand Noble Xian or similar

Spend the day free or take the tour to witness the famous "Terra Cotta Warriors." The serendipitous discovery of the Terra Cotta Warriors in 1974 has drawn throngs of visitors to Xian each year, and ranks as one of the world's most important recent archaeological finds. Three excavation pits have been opened to the public with a fourth underway. Spend some time admiring the fine troops, horses, and carriages in battle formation. After lunch, the motorcoach takes us back inside city limits to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It is rated as a National Key Cultural Relic Preserve as well as an AAAA Tourist Attraction. Tonight, take the opportunity to enjoy the cultural musings of the Tang Dynasty Show, a song and dance performance which reflects the rich cultural history and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Optional Tours: Terracotta Warriors, First Qin Emperor's Mausoleum & Big Wild Goose Pagoda $55 pp

Tang Dynasty Dinner Show $59 pp

Day 11: Xian-Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pullman Shanghai Jing'an Hotel or Similar

Board a flight to Shanghai, the largest metropolitan center of China. She is a bright pearl at the mouth of the Yangtze River and China's largest economic center.

Day 12: Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pullman Shanghai Jing'an Hotel or Similar

This morning, we visit the Shanghai Museum and view the exhibits of ancient Chinese art. Designed by a local Shanghai Architect, the current building was completed in 1993 and resembles the shape of a bronze cooking vessel. Afterwards, we visit City God Temple Bazaar, the Nanjing Road and the Bund. Spend the afternoon to relax at the hotel or take the optional tour to Lujiazui Finance and Trade Development Zone and a ride on Huang Pu River Cruise. In the evening, do not miss the opportunity to experience the exciting Chinese Acrobatics Show (with dinner).

Optional Tours: Lujiazui FTDZ & Huang Pu River Cruise $25 pp

Acrobatics Show with Dinner $40 pp

Day 13: Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pullman Shanghai Jing'an Hotel or Similar

Spend the day free at leisure or take an optional excursion to the charming water village of Suzhou. Suzhou, often known as the “Venice of the Orient”, is a historic city located at the heart of the Yangtze Delta in the southern part of the Jiangsu Province. Beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and classical gardens line the canals that cover 42 percent of the city.

Optional Tours: Suzhou One Day tour (min 6 pax) $62 pp

Day 14: Shanghai-USA

Meals: Breakfast

All good things come to an end. Board a return flight back home and bid farewell to China.

Day 1: Arrival and sightseeing in Beijing

After your arrival at the Beijing airport you will be greeted by our guide who will drop you off at your hotel. After checkingin, you will have the rest of the day to tour Beijing. With more than 3000 years of history, Beijing has rich assortment of well-preserved cultural and imperial relics. Today we tour Tian’anmen Square, which is an extensive open area in central Beijing. Then walk north into the Forbidden City. For five hundred years, it served as home for the emperors of China. Later we visit the Summer Palace which was constructedfrom 1749 to 1764 and is the grandest imperial playground in China with elaborate Qing-style pavilions, bridges, walkways, and gardens scattered around the immense Kunming Lake.Overnight in Beijing.

Day 2: Fly to Xian and tour Xi'an Ancient City Wall and Shaanxi History Museum

After flying to Xian in the morning, you will spend the rest of the day visiting the city’s beautiful landmarks. The City Wall of Xian represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls and also is one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Next, visit the Shaanxi History Museum, regarded as “the pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures”. It gives a miniature overview of the thousands of years of Chinese history and the splendid ancient cultures of olden times. Overnight in Xi’an.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Xi’an

Believed to be the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horse Museum includes Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3 as well the exhibition hall of the chariots and horses. After completing the tour at the museum, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. Later visit another archaeological site, Banpo, discovered in 1953, which contains the remains of several well organized Neolithic settlements carbon dated to 5600–6700 years ago. In the evening, enjoy the Tang Dynasty Song and Dance Show at Tang Yuegong Theatre. Overnight in Xi’an.

Day 4: Fly from Xi'an to Zhangye

Today we fly to Zhangye and tour its famous landmark, the giant Buddha temple which is a complex consisting of the Giant Buddha Hall, the Buddhist Classics Hall, and a Clay Pagoda. The Giant Buddha statue of 34.5m lying in the middle of the hall is the temple’s main attraction. It is also believed that the famous Italian traveller Marco Polo was very impressed by the magnificent architecture of the Giant Buddha Temple and by the prosperity of Zhangye city and lived here for more than a year. Overnight in Zhangye.

Day 5: Morning sightseeing then take a train to Duhuang

Today we visit the famous Matisi grottos or caves. The Thousand Buddha Caves are just inside the entrance gateway to the Matisi Scenic Area, and walking up the road is a pleasant experience, with the river rushing past on one side, and the decaying niches studding the cliff face on the other. Later we visit the temple of the legendary King Gesar. In the evening, you get to witness the excellent sunset over the picturesque landscape of Danxia. Later, take a train to Duhuang to spend the night.

Day 6: Sightseeing in Duhuang: Hechang Military Depot: 95km, 3-4 hours

Today we visit Hechang Military Depot, which is located in the northwest part of Dunhuang, about 20km away from Yumen Pass. The military depot was used to store food and clothing when fighting with the nomadic Xiongnu people during the Han dynasty. Overnight in Duhuang.

Day 7: Sightseeing in Duhuang: Crescent Lakeand Mogao Grottoes

We begin the day by visiting the beautiful Crescent Lake, which is a small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. We even enjoy the beauty of the area with a camel safari. Next, you will tour Dunhuang’s famous Mogao Grottoes also known as the Dunhuang Grottoes. The site showcases China’s largest collection of Buddhist grottoes, the oldest ones dating back to as early as a thousand years ago. While touring the site you will also get to marvel at the murals that have Buddhist stories, folk culture, farming, and hunting as their main themes. Take a train to Yumen and finally to Turpan to spend the night.

Day 8: Sightseeing in Turpan

Begin sightseeing in Turpan with a visit to the Suleiman’s Minaret also known as the Sugong Pagoda. Built in Uighur architectural style, the Pagoda is an old brick tower dating back to 1778, almost as old as the United States! Next, visit the grape valley, a small paradise with a thick maze of grape trellises. Today you will also tour the Karez channels, which is a unique underground water system, invented and built by ancient farmers from various ethnic minorities of Turpan. Another highlight of today would be visiting the Astana Tombs from where thousands of priceless historical relics have been unearthed. End the tour by passing through the legendary Flaming Mountain, believed as the hottest place on earth.

Day 9: Drive to Urumqi

Drive to Urumqi after breakfast and visit the Terai Camp followed by Nanshan Grassland, both beautiful natural sites. Nanshan Grassland, also known as Mount Nan Pasture, is a large pasture region with many beautiful streams and a waterfall. While in Urumqi you can also enjoy a traditional meal of ethnic Kazakhs, who were traditionally nomadic, tribal shepherds and ranchers of cattle, sheep, goats, and horses.

Day 10: Fly to Kashgar

After checking in at your hotel in Kashgar, you will visit the Etigar Mosque, a famous mosque, which is well known among muslims in central and west Asia with the name of “Little Mecca”. Also visit the Tomb of Abakh Khoja, a much revered muslim leader and prophet of the 17th century. Next, enjoy strolling in the world’s livelest market in Kashgar, an oasis in the centuries-old Silk Road before calling it a day.

Day 11: Sightseeing in Kashgar: Karakuli Lake

You will spend the whole day enjoying the beauty of Karakuli Lake which is popular among travellers for its beautiful scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. The lake lies at an altitude of 3,600m, and is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tian Shan and Kunlun mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztagh Ata (7,546m), Kongur Tagh (7,649m) and Kongur Tiube (7,530m). Overnight in Kashgar.

Day 12: Final departure

Your journey on the Silk Road ends today. You will fly to Beijing and board an international airplane to fly home. On the way, you can reminisce on your incredible journey on the Silk Road.