China Yangtze River Cruise and Tour

12 nights from Beijing to Shanghai, China

October 14 – 26, 2015
Viking River Cruises Viking Emerald

Join Pied Piper Travel as we return to China for our 25th Anniversary season of organizing gay groups on the world's most luxurious cruise ships and river cruises. Our 12-day excursion includes a 6-day Yangtze River cruise, hotel accommodations in Beijing, Shanghai and Xian and 12 guided tours in China. Intra-China flights are also included. In Beijing, explore the imperial treasures like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and famed Summer Palace and walk through Tiananmen Square. You will see the Terra Cotta Warriors, cruise the legendary Yangtze through the scenic Three Gorges and tour the Three Gorges Dam. Your tour will conclude in cosmopolitan Shanghai.

This phenomenal itinerary presents China's key highlights in just 12 days. Explore cosmopolitan Shanghai, China's most cutting-edge, modern city. Cruise the legendary Yangtze between Wuhan and Chongqing through the scenic Three Gorges and wildly beautiful Lesser Gorges. You will also tour the Three Gorges Dam, an engineering marvel that has changed the face of China. Visit Xian and look into the faces of thousands of Terra Cotta Warriors. In Beijing, explore historic imperial treasures like The Forbidden City, Great Wall and famed Summer Palace, and walk through Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public venue. Distinctive hotel stays and new Viking Emerald round out an amazing trip.

Viking River Cruises Viking Emerald

Cruise the Yangtze River on Viking Emerald, a beautiful, state-of-the-art river cruise vessel built for the 2011 sailing season. Accommodating 256 guests with full verandas, hotel-style beds in every spacious suite and stateroom and an outstanding crew, Viking Emerald is one of the most sophisticated river ships in the world. The ship's hotel operations are 100% managed by Viking River Cruises Swiss-trained management team, employing the best and most knowledgeable English-speaking staff.

Enjoy one of the Viking Emerald's roomy 250-square-foot staterooms, or treat yourself to a Suite or Junior Suite. Or perhaps you would enjoy one of the two 603-square-foot Explorer Suites, with king-sized bed, separate sitting room and private wraparound veranda. The choice is yours!

Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Poll Top River Cruise Ship

Fine dining aboard Viking Emerald

Our chefs create a variety of tasty offerings for you, with freshly prepared seasonal local vegetables, local specialties adapted to satisfy the tastes of our passengers, and homemade soups prepared daily. For breakfast, choose from our selections of pastries, cereals, breakfast meats, fresh fruit and selected cheeses. Or you may prefer a hot dish, such as an omelet prepared to order at one of our cooking stations. At lunch, select from the soup and sandwich bar, or a choice of entrées and dessert.

And for dinner, you are treated to a five-course gourmet menu with regional specialties designed by celebrity chef Martin Yan. You can also select from our European wines to perfectly complement your meal. And wherever you sail, you will find enhancements reflecting your itinerary—it is all part of experiencing the local culture.

China Yangtze River Cruise and Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - October 14, 2015
Arrive in Beijing, China

Fly to Beijing, China's imperial capital whose rich history dates back more than 3,000 years, then transfer to your hotel. After check-in, you have free time to relax or explore.

Day 2 - October 15, 2015
Beijing - Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace

This morning visit the enormous Tiananmen Square, which can accommodate over 1,000,000 people. Then, tour Beijing's Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; made up of nearly 800 buildings, it is the world's largest surviving palace complex. Walk its grounds among the opulent palaces, pavilions, courtyards and imperial gardens within the 26-foot-high walls.

After lunch in a local restaurant, see the Summer Palace, a 700-acre complex of elegant buildings and gardens (complete with man-made Kunming Lake) frequented by the Imperial Court when they wanted to escape the bustle of Beijing. Enjoy your final dinner this evening, or attend an optional Peking opera, a form of traditional Chinese theater.
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Day 3 - October 16, 2015
Beijing - Badaling Hills, Great Wall of China, Sacred Way

After breakfast, travel to the Badaling Hills. There, you behold one of the most impressive and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China — a 4,000-mile-long series of sandstone and earthwork fortifications built and maintained between the 5th century B.C. and the 16th century A.D. that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its winding pathways and marvel at the panoramic views from its ramparts.

After a lunch of local specialties, visit the Sacred Way, a tree-lined avenue guarded by massive sculptures of elephants, lions and camels leading to the Ming Dynasty tombs. This evening, dine at a local restaurant and relax at your hotel, or enjoy an optional Peking duck dinner, the region's famous dish.
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Day 4 - October 17, 2015
Rickshaw Tour in Beijing, Fly to Xian

Today tour Old Beijing's hutongs (narrow alleys) via rickshaw. Discover the sights and sounds of traditional Chinese life. Visit a silk carpet workshop for a demonstration of this ancient art.

After lunch, fly to Xian, key city of the Tang Dynasty. From 618 to 907 A.D., this dynasty presided over one of China's most glorious cultural periods spreading its influence throughout Asia into Europe and Africa.

This evening, you may choose to dine surrounded by the song and dance of this colorful era, or have dinner and relax at your hotel.
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Day 5 - October 18, 2015
Xian - Terra Cotta Warriors

After breakfast, tour the mausoleum where Emperor Qin Shi Huang was laid to rest over 2,000 years ago. See the thousands of life-sized terra cotta warriors, archers and infantrymen that were buried with him; each man and horse molded with its own distinctive features. Walkways provide a bird's-eye view of the entire necropolis where the Terra Cotta Army was discovered in the 1970s.

After lunch, you have free time to further explore Xian. This evening, you may choose to dine surrounded by the song and dance of this colorful era.
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Day 6 - October 19, 2015
Xian & Fly to Chongqing, Board Viking Emerald

Today, fly to Chongqing, gateway to the Yangtze, to board your ship and enjoy a Western dinner.
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Day 7 - October 20, 2015
Shibaozhai - Shibaozhai Temple, Yangtze River

This morning, visit Shibaozhai Temple, a 12-story pavilion built in 1650 along the Yangtze. Tour the pavilion and temple before returning aboard for lunch.

Enjoy Yangtze River scenery as you cruise this afternoon and through the night.
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Day 8 - October 21, 2015
Three Gorges & Lesser Three Gorges

For the next 150 miles, travel the most scenic stretch of the Yangtze as it forces its way through a spectacular series of limestone ridges known as the Three Gorges.

During breakfast, cruise through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and most spectacular of the three large gorges.

Then, board a smaller boat for an excursion through the Lesser Three Gorges. Sail through these remarkable canyons flanked by towering cliffs. Along the way, see fascinating sites including the hanging coffins of the Ba people and the ancient plank road carved into the cliffside.

Return aboard for lunch, and spend the afternoon sailing through Wu (Witches) Gorge, renowned for its magnificent scenery.

Dinner is served aboard.This evening, sail through the five-stage locks of the Three Gorges Dam.
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Day 9 - October 22, 2015
Three Gorges Dam & Three Gorges

This morning, disembark for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam where you learn about this immense engineering masterpiece and what it means for the Chinese people and the Yangtze.

Lunch and dinner are served aboard while you cruise through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges.
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Day 10 - October 23, 2015
Jingzhou

This morning, arrive in Jingzhou, where you visit an elementary school sponsored by Viking River Cruises. You are greeted and entertained by the children, then return to your ship for scenic cruising.
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Day 11 - October 24, 2015
Wuhan & Shanghai - Disembark

After breakfast, disembark in Wuhan. Visit the Hubei Provincial Museum where you hear the music of ancient bronze bells.

Then, fly to Shanghai, China's largest city and one of the world's most important ports. Here, you can see the modern metropolis of the financial district juxtaposed with the older sections of the city. Check in to your hotel.
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Day 12 - October 25, 2015
Shanghai

This morning, see Old Shanghai and travel along the elegant Bund, stopping to admire some of its historic buildings and city views.

Then tour the Shanghai Museum, featuring displays of ceramics, bronzes, calligraphy and paintings. Visit a silk embroidery factory to see a demonstration of this delicate art.

After lunch, we spend some time at the exquisite Yuyuan Garden, dating back to the Ming Dynasty.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe show from the best seats in the house.
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Day 13 - October 26, 2015
Shanghai

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight.

Consider extending your China journey with 2 extra nights in Shanghai, to further explore this fascinating city, or you may instead choose an escorted land program that includes 1 night in Guilin and 3 nights in Hong Kong.
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