Road Scholar : Home
Best of China: Imperial Capitals, Tibet and the Yangtze River

Program Number: 19406RJ
Start and End Dates:
8/29/2013 - 9/18/2013; 9/10/2013 - 9/30/2013; 10/10/2013 - 10/30/2013; 10/15/2013 - 11/4/2013; 4/3/2014 - 4/23/2014; 4/24/2014 - 5/14/2014; 5/15/2014 - 6/4/2014; 8/28/2014 - 9/17/2014; 9/11/2014 - 10/1/2014; 10/7/2014 - 10/27/2014; 10/16/2014 - 11/5/2014;
Duration: 20 nights
Location: China/Tibet
Price starting at: $4,561.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type:
Meals: 52; 19 Breakfasts, 17 Lunches, 16 Dinners    
Meal Options: Gluten Free; Vegetarian    

Absorb the complex identity of China on a grand journey that brings you face-to-face with the country’s glorious treasures and modern identity. Feel the energy of Beijing and Shanghai, experience life along the Yangtze River and discover the fascinating land of Tibet on the “Roof of the World.”




Highlights

• Travel to Tibetan grasslands where nomadic families raise yak, sheep and goats. Speak with pastoral villagers and the director of their small school.
• Marvel at the massive Buddhist cliff carvings of the Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Voyage down the Yangtze River, sailing through its legendary gorges, to the Three Gorges Dam to examine firsthand this extraordinary feat of engineering.
• Walk the “Wild Great Wall” – a natural section not often visited with astounding vistas of the wall scaling the mountains beyond.



Activity Particulars

Extensive walking over uneven terrain, up to three hours per day. Stairs are unavoidable on some field trips and as you embark and disembark ship on Yangtze River docks, which also may not have railings. Elevations up to 12,000 feet.




Date Specific Information

8-29-2013, 9-10-2013, 10-10-2013, 10-15-2013, 4-3-2014, 4-24-2014, 5-15-2014, 8-28-2014, 9-11-2014, 10-7-2014, 10-16-2014

Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Beijing (China), 4 nights; flight to Luoyang, 2 nights; train to Xi’an, 3 nights; flight to Lhasa (Tibet), 4 nights; flight to Chongqing; Yangtze River study cruise, 3 nights; disembark in Yichang, flight to Shanghai, 3 nights; departure.



Overnight flight from the U.S.A.
1 night
Arrival Beijing (China)
4 nights

Discover the Forbidden City — the former seat and residence of Qing rulers — and explore Tian'anmen Square before enjoying a dinner of traditional Peking Duck. Journey to the Great Wall at Jin Shan Ling where you walk through its battlements and watchtowers for views of the wall crossing mountains in the distance. Enjoy a sampling of colorful Beijing opera and explore the alleys of "old Beijing" where you visit with families in their courtyard homes.



Flight to Luoyang
2 nights

Stroll through the Temple of Heaven park where local people practice tai chi, play traditional instruments and practice ballroom dancing. Examine the massive Buddhist cliff carvings at Longmen Grottoes. Learn about life in a nearby village as you speak with teachers and children at its primary school.



Train to Xi’an
3 nights

Enjoy vantages of rural life on a morning train to the ancient capital of Xi’an. In the city’s lively Muslim section, savor the aroma of spices and the blend of cultures dating to the days of the Silk Road. Engage in informal chats with English-speaking students at the International Studies University. Contemplate one of the most astounding archeological finds of the 20th century -- the Terracotta Army in the tomb of China’s first emperor.



Flight to Lhasa (Tibet)
4 nights

Step inside the majestic Potala Palace, built into a mountainside to serve as the seat of the Dalai Lama. Journey to grasslands where nomadic families raise yak. Meet with pastoral villagers and the devoted director of their small school. At the Hospital of Traditional Tibetan Medicine learn about its centuries-old precepts.



Embark Yangtze River study vessel
Yangtze River
3 nights

Delight in a visit to Chongqing Zoological Gardens to meet its giant pandas. Voyage down the Yangtze passing beneath its legendary gorges, stepping ashore at river towns, and witnessing firsthand the immense Three Gorges Dam.



Coach and flight to Shanghai
3 nights
Departure

Discover Shanghai’s intriguing cityscape from the neoclassical to the ultramodern and learn how it all comes to be at the Urban Planning Exhibition Center. Visit Shanghai's fashionable Xin Tian Di (New Heaven Earth) section as well as the Ming Dynasty Yu Garden in Shanghai’s historic district.
Accommodations
Beijing: Four-star hotel near historic sites. Luoyang: Hotel near renowned People's Square. Xi'an: Hotel inside city walls in heart of downtown. Lhasa: Three-star hotel on the northern bank of Lhasa River. Yangtze Vessel: First-class cruise ship. Shanghai: Five-star city center hotel.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
China's Cultural History Yang Hongying
Professor Yang Hongying is an expert in the study of foreign language and linguistics at Xi'an International Studies University, where she leads courses in Chinese culture and international studies. She has received numerous teaching awards, and also has received advanced degrees in cultural heritage studies from the Institute of European Studies in Macau, and in education from the University of New South Wales in Australia. Yang has published numerous papers on museum text translations and international culture studies, and has given lectures on Chinese culture and heritage in China, Macau, and Singapore. She has worked with and taught Road Scholar groups for more than 10 years.
 
Thangka Painting Wangdui Baima
Professor Baima Wangdui is a senior professor in the Art Department of Tibet University. He is an expert on Thangka painting and gives numerous student lectures on the subject. In addition, he has extensive knowledge in Tibetan Buddhism, to which Thangka art is very closely linked.
 
Tibetan Life, Culture, and Religion Wangmu Suolang
Professor Suolang Wangmu, a senior professor at Tibet University, received her doctorate in linguistics from the University of Bergen in Norway. She has been a visiting scholar at Sichuan University Department of Foreign Studies, and the University of York in Britain. Professor Suoloang Wangmu has often traveled abroad as an invited lecturer on the subject of Tibetan religion.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
  Beijing, China 4 nights
   Friendship Hotel
  Luoyang, China 2 nights
   Grand Noble Hotel
  Xi'an, China 3 nights
   Tibet Dekang Hotel Lhasa
  Lhasa, Tibet 4 nights
   Victoria Cruise Lines
  Yangtze River, China 3 nights
   Four Points by Sheraton Daning Hotel Shanghai
  Shanghai, China 3 nights
 Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Originally built in the 1950’s, this modernized hotel is located in a traditional district south of Beijing's famous Chang An Avenue, approximately a fifteen-minute drive to Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven.
  Contact info: 175 Yonggan Road
Xuanwu District
Beijing,  100050 China
phone: +86 10 6301 6688
web: www.qianmenhotel.com
  Room amenities: Satellite television, international direct-dial telephone, safe deposit box, mini-bar, laundry service, coffee and tea making facilities.
  Facility amenities: Four restaurants with Western and Chinese cuisine, rooftop bar, business center, fitness center, beauty salon, Liyuan Peking Opera theater. Wi-fi is available in the hotel lobby with free cost.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: Contact your Program Provider. Your Program Provider, the Chinese American Educational Exchange (CAEE), can make arrangements for pre-program hotel nights.

 Friendship Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: This hotel boasts the best location in Luoyang, just across from the People's Square where locals gather on a daily basis to practice tai ji, ballroom dancing, martial arts, and to air pet birds.
  Contact info: 6 Xiyuan Road
Luoyang,  471003 China
phone: +86 379 6468 5555
  Room amenities: private bath and shower, TV, A/C, IDD phone, in-room safe, hair dryer, minibar, laundry service, internet access.
  Facility amenities: Daily Laundry, Gym, beauty salon, shopping arcade, lobby bar, dance hall, currency exchange.Wi-fi is available in the hotel lobby and restaurant with free cost.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Grand Noble Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Located inside the city walls in the heart of 'downtown' Xi'an, the Grand Noble (formerly known as the Royal Garden Hotel) is close to the city's main attractions, including the Bell Tower and Muslim Section.
  Contact info: 334 DongDaJie (East) Street
Xi'an,  710001 China
phone: +86 29 8769 0000
  Room amenities: air-conditioning, television, mini-bar, hair dryer
  Facility amenities: laundry service, business center, coffee bar, room service, Wi-fi is available in the hotel lobby with free cost.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Tibet Dekang Hotel Lhasa
Type: Three-Star Hotel
  Description: This small, warm family-owned hotel is situated in old Lhasa within view of the Potala Palace.
  Contact info: No.2 Shengtai Road
Lhasa,  671003 Tibet
phone: +86 891 6307 555
  Room amenities: A/C, TV, hair dryer, laundry service.
  Facility amenities: currency exchange, shops, beauty salon, barber shop, coffee shop, business center, Wi-Fi is available in the hotel lobby with free cost.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Victoria Cruise Lines
Type: Cruise Ship
  Description: Victoria vessels are four-deck river cruisers, newly built or re-constructed between 2002 and 2004, and range in length from 280 ft to 324 ft. Cruising at 15 knots, they can carry between 198 to 266 passengers of which up to 24 may be Road Scholars. Spacious public areas linked by stairs include Dynasty Dining Room, library, cafe bars, fitness room, mini-spa, beauty salon, gift shops, observation deck, and Yangtze Club for evening performances. Vessels have central air conditioning, latest satellite communications, and internet access. All cabins are outside, with picture windows, private balcony, lower twin beds, air conditioning, private bathroom with tub, HBO and BBC.
  Ship Information: In case of emergency, contact CAEE, the Program Provider. Yangtze River, China
  Contact info: Yangtze River,   China
web: www.victoriacruises.com
  Room amenities: A/C, TV, all outside cabins with picture windows and private balcony, private bathrooms with showers. Two lower berth twin beds.
  Facility amenities: Gym, Internet access, laundry service, beauty salon, barbershop, shops, currency exchange, bar, Wi-fi is not available.
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 Four Points by Sheraton Daning Hotel Shanghai
Type: Five-Star Hotel
  Description: This five star hotel is in the city center, close to many of Shanghai's highlights and within walking distance of one of Shanghai’s most popular parks where locals gather for traditional exercises and exchange of local news.
  Contact info: No.1928 Gonghexin Road, Zhabei District
Shanghai,  200070 China
phone: +86 21 2602 2222
  Room amenities: Air-conditioning, television, mini-bar, hair dryer, room service, rooms will be no smoking but hotel has smoking areas.
  Facility amenities: AC, daily laundry, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, cafe, bar, restaurants, business center, currency exchange, free wi-fi in hotel lobby
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: Contact your Program Provider. contact your Program Provider;


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Meet your Group Leader in the hotel lobby at 6:00 pm on the arrival day and join a welcome meeting. Check-in time for your hotel is 2:00 pm. You will be staying at Qianmen Jianguo Hotel that night.
  End of Program:
your program ends at 11:30 am. Check-out time from your hotel is 12:00 pm/noon. You will be staying at Four Points by Sheraton Daning Hotel Shanghai the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. A passport which must be valid for at least 6 months past trip return date; US passports need a minimum of 2 blank visa pages and Canadian citizens also need a minimum of 2 blank visa pages. A visa is required for travel in China and is not included in the program fee.
  Parking availability:
n/a
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
  Train or bus availability: n/a
To Start of Program
  Location:  Beijing
  Nearest airport:  Beijing
  Transportation to site: Arrive in Beijing from international flight. If you purchased International air from Road Scholar Travel Services and arrive the day your program begins, you will be met at the airport for included transfer to the hotel. Participants making their own international travel arrangements or arriving 1 or more nights earlier than program can take a taxi from the airport. Program materials include a sheet in English and Chinese with hotel information to show taxi drivers plus Beijing phone contact information. Taxi cost is about $25 US (170 Chinese yuan) per car. No tip is expected.
  From End of Program
  Location:  Shanghai
  Nearest airport:  Shanghai Pudong Airport
  Transportation from site: For those who have purchased International air from Road Scholar Travel Services and are not staying extra nights, depart for Shanghai International Airport with your Group Leader. For those who are Program Only Participants (POP), your Group Leader can help you arrange a taxi. Cost is about $35 US (240 Chinese yuan) per car. Tipping taxi drivers is not expected.
Elevation Note: Highest elevation is 12,000 feet in Lhasa, Tibet.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Departures
(Thursday, October 10)
   
 Afternoon: Depart from the U.S. on overnight flights.

Day 2: Welcome to Beijing
(Friday, October 11)
   
 Afternoon: Arrivals. In the late afternoon, begin with a program overview and welcome.
 Dinner: In the hotel.
 Evening: At leisure.
   
Accommodations: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 3: the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square/ Peking Duck Welcome Dinner
(Saturday, October 12)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Discover the Forbidden City, the former seat and residence of Qing rulers and forbidden to all others. Explore this vast "city" from its formal reception halls to the residential chambers of the Emperor and his family of wives, concubines, and attendants.
 Lunch: at a local restaurant
 Afternoon: Walk through Tian'anmen Square. Meaning "Gate of Heavenly Peace," the square, set in the heart of Beijing, serves as the location of formal celebrations and ceremonies. More commonly, this huge piazza is where families come to stroll and chat and where kites and balloons abound. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Choose to return to the hotel or explore independently.
 Dinner: Experience a Beijing specialty at a welcome banquet in a Peking Duck restaurant.
 Evening: At leisure.
   
Accommodations: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: The Great Wall/Beijing Opera
(Sunday, October 13)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel after early morning tai ji
 Morning: Drive out to the Great Wall at Jin Shan Ling -- sometimes referred to as 'the Wild Great Wall' as it is not overly restored. Take a gondola lift to the upper part of the wall, then walk along its battlements and through watchtowers to experience magnificent views of the wall as it climbs and descends over the distant mountains.
 Lunch: A picnic lunch is provided to enjoy in a spot of your choosing on the Wall.
 Afternoon: Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
 Dinner: In your hotel.
 Evening: At a nearby theater, enjoy a taste of Beijing opera, a unique art form that uses brilliant costumes, mannerized make-up, acrobatics and martial arts, various types of falsetto singing, and exuberant percussionists. The performance is presented with English and modern Chinese supertitles above the stage. Chinese Opera is an ‘acquired taste’ for Western ears.
   
Accommodations: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Old Beijing Hutongs/ Free Afternoon
(Monday, October 14)
   
 Breakfast: Before breakfast, tai ji instruction will be provided for those interested. Breakfast is in the hotel.
 Morning: Explore an old hutong - the traditional residential lanes and alleys - to visit with local families in their courtyard homes. Walk or pedicab around the district that houses many historic residences, including the former home of Song Qing Ling, political activist and wife of Dr. Sun Yat Sen.
 Lunch: Enjoy a simple family-hosted lunch.
 Afternoon: The afternoon is at your leisure.
 Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.
 Evening: at your leisure
   
Accommodations: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Temple of Heaven/ Flight to Luoyang
(Tuesday, October 15)
   
 Breakfast: At the hotel.
 Morning: This morning, explore the 15th century architectural masterpiece, the Temple of Heaven which symbolizes the relationship between heaven and earth. Walk the extensive grounds to the Temple itself or stay in its environs and enjoy the activities of local people practicing calligraphy, tai ji, musical instruments, dancing, or flying kites.
 Lunch: a light lunch served on your flight to Luoyang.
 Afternoon: Fly to the small city of Luoyang in Henan Province. Luoyang was one of the four great ancient capitals of China and is home to the extraordinary Longmen Buddhist cliff carvings.
 Dinner: At the hotel or a nearby restaurant.
 Evening: Enjoy a private introduction and demonstration of Chinese musical instruments at your hotel.
   
Accommodations: Friendship Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Longmen Grotto Carvings and Village Life
(Wednesday, October 16)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel after early morning tai ji in the People’s Square just opposite your hotel.
 Morning: Discover the Longmen Grottoes, 1,500-year-old Buddhist cliff carvings that overlook the Yi River. Learn about the creation and the meaning of one of China’s “three treasures” of stone carving.
 Lunch: With families in Huaishuwan, an agricultural village.
 Afternoon: Explore this Han village. Visit its primary school and speak with its teachers and students. If time permits, on your way back, stop at Luoyang’s old section in town.
 Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.
 Evening: Practice Chinese conversation with your group leader.
   
Accommodations: Friendship Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: The Landscape of the Yellow Soil Plateau
(Thursday, October 17)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel after early morning tai ji
 Morning: Travel by train to Xi’an.
 Lunch: A box lunch is provided for the train.
 Afternoon: Enjoy the views of rural life as the train ascends China's Yellow Soil Plateau. Here, the land is covered with a thick layer of wind-blown loess soil, that masks the original geography. The deeply-eroded landscape is marked by deep ravines and almost-vertical cliff faces. Observe holes and caves in the faces of cliffs, known as 'yaodong' and used locally as dwellings. Arrive in Xi’an mid-afternoon to explore Xi'an's nearby bustling Muslim section with its historic and beautiful mosque built in Chinese temple style.
 Dinner: Dinner is at your hotel or nearby restaurant.
 Evening: After dinner, visit the campus of Xi’an International Studies University to join their ‘Thursday English Corner’ – a weekly gathering of students and some local citizens who want to practice spoken English and with whom you can have informal chats.
   
Accommodations: Grand Noble Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: History and Culture of China
(Friday, October 18)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel after early morning tai ji.
 Morning: At Xi'an International Studies University, one of China's key universities, you learn about Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism as a way of understanding Chinese character and customs. After, visit the campus with students from the university's renowned English Department and learn about student life in China.
 Lunch: at Xi'an International Studies University
 Afternoon: Explore Xi’an History Museum, one of China’s finest and which provides an enlightening window into China’s dynastic history.
 Dinner: Taste a selection of unique dumplings with amusing shapes and delicious variations in fillings -- a Xi'an specialty.
 Evening: Join your Program Leader for informal instruction in useful Chinese conversational phrases.
   
Accommodations: Grand Noble Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: a Qin Emperor's Terra Cotta Warriors/ China's Government Now
(Saturday, October 19)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel after early morning tai ji.
 Morning: Experience the unparelled wonder of an army of terra cotta warriors and graceful archers buried with a Qin Emperor and only uncovered in 1974 -- considered one of the most astounding archeological finds of the 20th century.
 Lunch: at a nearby restaurant
 Afternoon: Get together with your Program Leader for a discussion of Chinese government structure.
 Dinner: at hotel or nearby restaurant
 Evening: Meet with your group leader for a Orientation Session on High Altitude
   
Accommodations: Grand Noble Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Tibetan Life and Culture/ Norbulingka Summer Palace
(Sunday, October 20)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel after morning tai ji.
 Morning: Depart for flight to Lhasa, the ancient capital of Tibet.
 Lunch: a light lunch will be served in flight.
 Afternoon: This afternoon, At Tibet University, learn about Tibetan Life, Culture, and Religion. Then explore Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama which contains his residential quarters. (Note that although Tibet uses ‘Beijing time,’ it is actually about 2 hours ‘later’ than Beijing. Your itinerary adjusts for this time difference.)
 Dinner: In the hotel.
 Evening: Practice Chinese conversation with your group leader.
   
Accommodations: Tibet Dekang Hotel Lhasa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Monasteries, Medicine, Temples of Tibet
(Monday, October 21)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Explore the heart of Lhasa - Jokhang Temple, built in the 7th century. This is the most revered temple in Tibet, and the destination of pilgrims who journey by any means, even on foot, to worship here. Surrounding the temple, the Bokhor Bazaar offers an exciting array of Tibetan goods both old and new: Tools, cloth, thangkas, jewelry and yak hides.
 Lunch: At a restaurant overlooking the bazaar, serving Tibetan and international dishes.
 Afternoon: Walk to the nearby traditional Tibetan Medicine Hospital for an introductory talk by Dr. Chiwang, who explains the precepts of Tibetan medicine and treatments. Enjoy the hospital's colorful array of medical thangkas. Choose to return to the hotel or continue to the outskirts of Lhasa to experience the magnificent Drepong Monastery, Tibet's largest.
 Dinner: In the hotel or nearby restaurant.
 Evening: Discuss Tibetan culture and religion with your Tibetan guide.
   
Accommodations: Tibet Dekang Hotel Lhasa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Tibetan Village/ Lhasa Museum
(Tuesday, October 22)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel. Before breakfast, meet in the hotel courtyard to learn Gorshay, an exuberant circle dance.
 Morning: Travel to Nomadic grasslands beyond Lhasa where pastoral families raise yak, sheep, goats and horses. If it is grazing season, visit with nomadic families and then observe Tibetan rural life in a small village. Visit its primary school and meet with its dedicated director.
 Lunch: a picnic on a knoll beside the village.
 Afternoon: On the way back, stop at the Tibet Museum, home to a rich collection of cultural relics, antique thangkas, scriptures, costumes, and folk art. For those who would like to continue on to your hotel, feel free to do so.
 Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.
 Evening: Practice Chinese conversation with your group leader.
   
Accommodations: Tibet Dekang Hotel Lhasa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14: Potala Palace/ Thangka Painting
(Wednesday, October 23)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Explore the Potala Palace, seat of the Dalai Lama and one of the most awe-inspiring princely residences and palaces in the world.
 Lunch: At Lhasa cuisine restaurant
 Afternoon: Learn about traditional Thangka painting (Tibetan religious scrolls) through a talk and demonstration by a Master at Tibet University.
 Dinner: at your hotel
 Evening: Enjoy a private Farewell Tibetan Dance and Singing party.
   
Accommodations: Tibet Dekang Hotel Lhasa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15: Chongqing Pandas/Yangtze River Embarkation
(Thursday, October 24)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Depart for flight to Chongqing, an independent municipality situated inside Szechuan Province and at the head of the navigable Yangtze.
 Lunch: a light lunch will be served in flight.
 Afternoon: At Chongqing Zoological Gardens, meet its giant pandas, indigenous to Szechuan Province only.
 Dinner: at a restaurant near the Yangtze piers.
 Evening: Board your Yangtze vessel and, as you depart, view the hill city of Chongqing at night.
   
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Lines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16: Sailing the Yangtze
(Friday, October 25)
   
 Breakfast: Ship's Buffet
 Morning: Discuss traditional Chinese medicine and consider the Yangtze's influence on China. Where possible, your national guide will also continue instruction in Tai Ji and Chinese conversation.
 Lunch: ship's buffet
 Afternoon: Visit a new village for relocated families. Explore their agricultural market and visit with a local family.
 Dinner: Before a set dinner on board, the Captain invites you to a welcome reception.
 Evening: Evening entertainment includes performances of Chinese music and dance
   
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Lines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17: Sailing through Yangtze Gorges/ Sampan cruise on Mini-Gorges
(Saturday, October 26)
   
 Breakfast: ship's buffet
 Morning: Today, pass through the magnificent Yangtze Gorges and cruise in sampans up a mini-gorge on a pristine tributary of the Yangtze where you can catch glimpses of red monkeys amongst the trees, goats clinging to the craggy cliffs, and 'hanging coffins' secured in the cliff face by the Ba people centuries ago.
 Lunch: ship's buffet
 Afternoon: Free afternoon to enjoy sailing on the river, ship's presentations, or Chinese language learning with your program leader.
 Dinner: Set dinner in ship's dining room.
 Evening: Enjoy an on-board performance of Chinese music and dance.
   
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Lines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18: Three Gorges Dam/ Disembark for flight to Shanghai
(Sunday, October 27)
   
 Breakfast: Ship's buffet
 Morning: This morning, take a short coach ride to the Three Gorges Dam site. From an observation deck, you have a bird's-eye view of the dam, five-step ship lock, diversion canal, and power station. A nearby exhibition displays a dam model; a briefing will explain this project, one of the largest construction ventures ever.
 Lunch: early lunch on board
 Afternoon: Disembark in the Yangtze town of Yichang for a late afternoon flight to Shanghai.
 Dinner: at a nearby restaurant.
 Evening: If time permits, join your Program Leader for Chinese conversation.
   
Accommodations: Four Points by Sheraton Daning Hotel Shanghai
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19: Shanghai Arts Museum/Xin Tian Di/ Urban Planning Center/ Acrobatics
(Monday, October 28)
   
 Breakfast: in the hotel. Tai ji is offered before breakfast.
 Morning: This morning, explore Shanghai Art Museum which houses China’s finest collection of ceramics, painting, sculpture, and bronzes. If you like, join your local guide for a ride on the Shanghai metro to the Museum stop – or take the coach.
 Lunch: Coach to Shanghai's fashionable Xin Tian Di (New Heaven Earth) section. Explore its lanes, cafes, shops, and a small restored residence/museum independently. Take lunch of your own choosing.
 Afternoon: Learn the background of new Shanghai at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. View archival photos and a vast scale model of Shanghai as projected in 2020.
 Dinner: in a local restaurant
 Evening: Acrobatics is considered one of China's performing arts 'treasures'. It has a history of thousands of years and figures in other genres such as Chinese opera. This evening, enjoy a performance by the famed Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe.
   
Accommodations: Four Points by Sheraton Daning Hotel Shanghai
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 20: Shanghai's Changing Citiscape/Yu Garden/ the Bund
(Tuesday, October 29)
   
 Breakfast: at your hotel
 Morning: Explore the Ming Dynasty Yu Garden in Shanghai’s historic district. The garden’s classical pavilions, fountains, and arching bridges exemplify traditional Chinese garden landscaping.Continue on to the riverfront Bund beside iconic art deco and neo-classic buildings stemming from Shanghai's history as a foreign 'concession'. View across the river 'new Shanghai' -- until recently undeveloped farmland and now a forest of glittering skyscrapers.
 Lunch: Experience a delicious and imaginative vegetarian meal, supervised by monks at the active Longhua Temple.
 Afternoon: Free time.
 Dinner: Farewell Banquet in nearby restaurant.
 Evening: At leisure.
   
Accommodations: Four Points by Sheraton Daning Hotel Shanghai
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 21: International Departures or Post-Program Extension in Hong Kong
(Wednesday, October 30)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel.
 Morning: Departures. This program offers a post-program extension in Hong Kong. See program #19409.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Luoyang People's Square
Stroll in the People's Square. This huge square right across from the hotel is filled in the mornings and evenings with families, couples, and singles of all ages studying English, practicing tai chi, sword play, martial arts, ballroom dancing, and qi gong. The adjacent thriving night market bustles with food stalls and vendors.
  Xi'an Forest of Stone Steles Museum
This small, pleasant museum- once a temple with peaceful gardens- houses ancient stone tablets with exemplary Chinese calligraphy.   As well, it has a small collection of sculpture and ceramics.
  Night Market
Xi'an's night market bustles with activity. Locals and visitors stroll, chat and look for bargains.
  People's Park
Typical meeting place where various generations gather for tai chi, airing pet birds, playing traditional musical instruments or practicing local opera.
  Xi’an City Wall
The ancient city wall forms a complete rectangle around the oldest part of the city. Climb the stairs up to the top of the wall for 360-degree views or rent bicycles for a ride along the wall.
  Lhasa Bicycling
Bicycle rentals are available at some hotels. Your Group leader will tell you how and where you can rent a bike. Cost is about 50 cents per hour with a deposit of about $40 US. NOTE: If you're having discomfort at high altitude it is important to not overdo your physical activity, and cycling is not recommended in that case.
  Bokhor Bazaar and Jokhang Temple
Beyond the main circle of the Bokhor Bazaar are labyrinthine alleys and lanes worth exploring. Behind Jokhang Temple there is a small Muslim section as well as old residential dwellings.
  Lhasa River
Walk along the Lhasa River, where you may encounter children swimming, women washing, and others crossing the river in small yak-hide dinghies.
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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