China, the Yangtze River & Hong Kong - Eastbound 2016

16 days
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
Tauck's 16-day China trip includes ancient cities and tranquil country villages, a culturally enriching Yangtze River cruise, special talks and presentations by local experts, and cultural connections from Beijing to Shanghai to Hong Kong.

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • 3-night Yangtze River cruise
    • Hutong visit in Beijing
    • meet a curator at the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi'an
    • local dining experiences
    • acrobatic show
    • sampan ride on Shennong Stream

What's this trip about?

    Tauck's 16-day China trip includes ancient cities and tranquil country villages, a culturally enriching Yangtze River cruise, special talks and presentations by local experts, and cultural connections from Beijing to Shanghai to Hong Kong.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityBeijing, China
End CityHong Kong

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Hong Kong

Attractions

  • Beijing
  • Chongqing
  • Guilin
  • Hong Kong
  • Shanghai
  • Three Gorges Dam
  • Tiananmen Square
  • Xian

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • 3-night Eastbound Yangtze River cruise aboard the Yangzi Explorer - Westbound trip includes a 4-night Yangtze River cruise Insider experience in Beijing's disappearing hutongs including a rickshaw ride and a visit with a local hutong family Private talk with a conservation expert at the Terra Cotta Warriors museum in Xi'an Special visits to the Han Yang Ling Underground Museum and the Shaanxi History Museum Introduction to Shanghai at the Shanghai Urban Planning Center Unique dining experiences at local restaurants Performance of Shanghai's daring, hi-tech ERA acrobatic show Sampan ride on Shennong Stream during your Yangtze cruise Small Group Departures - Select small group departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from $7,490 per person double (eastbound) and $8,090 per person double (westbound) plus on-tour air; specific dates apply - ask at booking for details. Special Solo Traveler Savings - on select special departures you save $500 on the single room price; specific dates apply; ask at booking Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 37 meals (15 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 dinners) with gratuities to ship staff, local guides, taxes, service charges, admission fees and porterage

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing
Tour begins: The Waldorf Astoria Beijing at 6:30 PM. Transfers are included from Beijing Capital Int'l Airport to the Waldorf Astoria Beijing. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening. MEALS : D LODGING : Waldorf Astoria Beijing PORTOFCALL : Beijing, China

Day 2 The Great Wall & Beijing's Hutongs
They don't call it "The Great Wall" for nothing... Besides being the only man-made structure visible from space, the Great Wall of China tops most travelers' lists of the Earth's must-visit places. And today, you'll not only visit it, but experience it in more ways than ...
Day 3 A Day in Beijing - Forbidden City and more
This morning, visit a grand example of traditional Chinese architecture - Beijing's Temple of Heaven, a round, three-tiered wood structure intricately decorated with gold leaf and colorful designs; try to imagine a long-ago time when the emperor and his entourage would t...
Day 4 Fly to Xi'an and Visit an Underground Museum
Board a flight to 3,000-year-old Xi'an, one of China's great ancient capitals. Upon arrival, you'll visit an amazing place - the Han Yang Ling Underground Mausoleum and museum. Known locally as "the most underrated tomb in Xi'an," it was undisturbed for about 2,100 years...
Day 5 Terra Cotta Warriors & Shaanxi Museum
8,000 lifelike soldiers guarding an emperor's tomb for 2,000 years... get an insider's view of the Terra Cotta Warriors from a leading museum staffer! Enjoy a traditional dumpling lunch at a local restaurant. Explore ancient China further with a special visit to the Sha...
Day 6 On to Guilin & a Canal Cruise
Fly to Guilin, among China's most picturesque places, whose landscapes have inspired poets and artists for centuries. After checking in and relaxing at bit at your hotel, the Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin, set out on an evening cruise through the center of the city along its ...
Day 7 Cruising the Li River & a Cooking Lesson
Spend the morning on a private Tauck cruise along the storied Li River today; feast your eyes and your soul on tranquil groves, fishermen on bamboo rafts, breathtaking limestone peaks and views of traditional village life that seem to be lifted from an ancient Chinese sc...
Day 8 Chongqing / Embark Your Yangtze Cruise
After touching down in Chongqing, enjoy lunch and a visit to the Chongqing Zoo before boarding the Yangzi Explorer this afternoon for the start of your three-night Yangtze River cruise. MEALS : B, L, D LODGING : Aboard Yangzi Explorer PORTOFCALL : Chongqing, China

Day 9 Yangzi Explorer & a Relocation Village
Learn the secrets of tea preparation and dumpling making; after lunch, visit Fengdu or Wanzhou (depending on river conditions) to meet families in a dam project "relocation village." Join us for the Captain's welcome reception and dinner tonight. MEALS : B, L, D LODGING : Aboard Yangzi Explorer PORTOFCALL : Fengdu, China

Day 10 Cruising the Three Gorges
Otherworldly vistas greet you as the Yangzi Explorer takes you into the Yangtze River's Qutang and Wu gorges. Following a Shennong Stream excursion via sampan, cruise Xiling Gorge. Tonight offers a calligraphy lesson and a crew show. MEALS : B, L, D LODGING : Aboard Yangzi Explorer

Day 11 Three Gorges Dam & On to Shanghai
Tour the site of the Three Gorges Dam, one of the largest engineering projects ever attempted, this morning; disembark Yangzi Explorer in Yichang for your flight to Shanghai. MEALS : B, L, D LODGING : Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund PORTOFCALL : Three Gorges Dam, China

Day 12 In Shanghai, the Bund and Acrobats
Explore Shanghai's famous waterfront Bund today. Visit the historic and harmonious Yu Gardens, whose original grounds and temple date back to the 1550s; the word yu translates to "peace and health." Pathways wind through rock gardens and bamboo stands, and stone bridges ...
Day 13 The Past Meets the Future in Shanghai
Get a good introduction to Shanghai at the Shanghai Urban Planning Center, showcasing the city's past and future urban development through detailed models and multimedia displays, including a mock-up of 1930s Shanghai; a huge model of what the city might look like in 202...
Day 14 Welcome to Hong Kong
Fly from Shanghai to Hong Kong this morning, exploring the city as you wish for the rest of the day. During your stay in Hong Kong, admission to the Hong Kong Museum of History is included; enjoy lunch and dinner on your own today. MEALS : B LODGING : InterContinental Hong Kong PORTOFCALL : Hong Kong

Day 15 Hong Kong from Many Viewpoints
Ferry, private double-decker bus, and a funicular tram to Victoria Peak are all great ways to see the city, followed by a dim sum lunch. Join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner. MEALS : B, L, D LODGING : InterContinental Hong Kong PORTOFCALL : Hong Kong

Day 16 Journey Home
Tour ends: Hong Kong. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the Kowloon Shangri-La to Hong Kong International Airport. Please allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. MEALS : B

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,690
Price per day$418
Last Updated: 2/22/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Ship & cabin information
YANGZI EXPLORER
YANGZI EXPLORER Our 4-night Westbound cruise aboard Yangzi Explorer takes you through the scenic heart of the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges, with included shore excursions – note that the 16-day Eastbound itinerary (downstream) features a 3-night cruise. The 5-star Yangzi Explorer carries no more than 124 guests with a crew of 130, and boasts the highest ship staff-to-guest ratio on the river. All cabins include a mini bar, bathrobes and slippers, phone, private safety box, TV, hair dryer, and private balcony. Offering all the amenities one would expect at a 5-star hotel,Yangzi Explorer features a fitness center; multi-language library; spa facilities; theater; lounge; and espresso bar. International buffets are offered for breakfast and lunch, while dinner tempts with a variety of international and Chinese specialties; wine and beer are included with meals aboard the ship. The Yangzi Explorer cruise runs west from Yichang and east from Chongqing.
Built: 1995; refurbished 2008 Length: 300 ft. Draft: 9.2 ft. Beam: 54 ft. Tonnage: 5,900 tons Cruising Speed: 10 knots upstream, 16 knots downstream Air Conditioned: Yes Elevator: Yes Number of Guests: 124 Crew Members: 130 Registry: China Crew Nationality: International Internet: Yes
YANGZI EXPLORER
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-CEE2016

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