The rivers of China, one of the most mountainous countries in the world, have connected and delineated its peoples for millennia. The Yangtze (Long River) marks the border between south and north China, its dramatic gorges figuring in myth and legend. The serene waters of the Li River, flowing among mist-enshrouded green mountains, have long inspired Chinese poetry and painting. In this program, learn about China's heritage, contemporary life, its vast and varied terrain, and sail its renowned waterways.

Activity Particulars

Walking up to two miles over uneven terrain, unpaved paths, cobblestones, uneven stone stairs, steep stairs at Yangtze docks, some without railings.

Optional tai chi and Chinese conversation classes when time permits. Group leaders are full-time Chinese Foreign Affairs Office staff, university graduates who are fluent in English, well-educated in safety and protocol, and supported by offices nationwide.

Itinerary At-a-Glance

Beijing (China), 4 nights; aboard Yangtze study vessel, 4 nights; Xi’an, 3 nights; Yangshuo, 3 nights; Shanghai, 3 nights.

Walk the Great Wall and enter the Forbidden City. Explore "old Beijing" alleys and lanes; chat with courtyard residents at a family-hosted lunch and experience the magnitude of Tiananmen Square.
Lodging: Three-star hotel.

After exploring Beijing’s architectural masterpiece, the Temple of Heaven, fly to Yichang to board the Yangtze study vessel. Sailing through the Yangtze’s gorges, examine area history, culture, ecology, traditional medical practices and modern life. Visit river towns and the Three Gorges Dam, and pass through exquisite narrow gorges of a Yangtze tributary on traditional sampans, where you might catch glimpses of red monkeys amongst the trees.

Talk with students as they introduce you to the campus of Xi’an International Studies University. Experience the wonder of the terracotta army, buried in the tomb of a Qin Emperor 2,200 years ago. After a presentation of Chinese cultural history, explore Xi’an’s unparalleled Museum of History and then savor the special dumplings for which the city is famous.
Newly renovated three-star hotel located within Xi'an's city wall.

Sail down the Li River, amidst the beautiful karst mountains celebrated in painting and poetry. Learn about Chinese landscape painting at a master’s demonstration. Enjoy the open-air musical, "Third Sister Liu," directed by world-renowned Zhang Yi Mou, and discover traditional Chinese music at a private concert at Guilin Music Institute.
Lodging: Comfortable, centrally located hotel overlooking the River Li.

Stroll along Shanghai’s riverfront for views of colonial buildings and the skyscrapers of new Shanghai across the river. Discover China’s rich art treasures at its famed Art Museum and learn about classic Chinese landscaping at the Ming Dynasty Yu Garden. Visit the newly developed area of Pudong — until recently undeveloped farmland and now a glittering forest of skyscrapers. Enjoy an evening of amazing skill and prowess at a performance by the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe.
Lodging: Four-star hotel.

Victoria Cruises

Built in 2002 by the renowned Blohm & Voss shipbuilders of Germany, this ship measures 580 feet long and can sail at speeds of up to 28 knots, making it one of the fastest passenger ships of its kind. It is described by Maritime Telecommunications Network as “one of the safest ships afloat.” Learning amenities onboard include nine state-of-the-art classrooms, a library, computer and multimedia labs and a “student union.” The ship also has a pool, gym and wellness center.

China

From the opening of the Silk Road in the 1st Century BC, marking the beginning of trade between Central Asia and the burgeoning empires in the West, China has inspired global evolution. Six millennia of calligraphy, music, and dance emerged from the behemoth land during a dozen dynasties marked by conflicts of religion, power, and territory. Ruling emperors gave way to Communism and to Modern China, home to a fifth of the world’s population.

Travel Details