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China

Classic Icons of China and Yangtze River Cruise

Program No. 15122RJ
Sail the Yangtze River alongside experts as you learn about and explore the icons of China, enjoying lectures, gaining insider knowledge and walking on the Great Wall.
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Start
Small GroupBest Value
Length
16 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
4,749
Flights start at
1,450
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
16 days
15 nights
What's Included
38 meals ( 14B, 12L, 12D )
7 expert-led lectures
19 expert-led field trips
3 flights during the program
9 hands-on experiences
4 performances
An experienced Group Leader
14 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
After arrival at the airport, pass through quarantine inspection and immigration, then go to the International Baggage Claim Hall. Collect luggage and proceed to the International Arrivals Hall where a Road Scholar representative will be waiting and will accompany the group for transfer to the hotel. Hotel check in from 2:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
After getting your room assignment, take some time to freshen up and relax. We will then gather in a designated space for our welcome meeting and Orientation. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to applicable requirements and guidelines throughout the program. Group Leaders for the Road Scholar program are qualified national guides who are staff members of the Chinese American Educational Exchange (CAEE). All are university graduates, fluent in English, well-educated in safety and protocol, and supported by offices nationwide. Most lunches and dinners will be “family style” with various dishes placed on a “Lazy Susan” turntable in the center of the table where everyone helps themselves. Chopsticks and forks will be available as well as Chinese spoons used for serving and for soup at the end of a meal. Tea and water are served with all meals; other beverages available for purchase. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 36 miles throughout the day. Walking up to 1.5 miles throughout the day; generally flat, paved terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel 6:30-9:30 a.m.
Morning:
We will set out via motorcoach for a field trip to explore and enjoy the beauty of the Qing Emperors’ Summer Palace. Lily ponds and arched bridges border its serene lake and painted pavilions depict stories that reflect the rich history of Chinese life and art.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Returning to the city, we will stop at “the heart of Beijing” — Tian’anmen Square. Meaning “Gate of Heavenly Peace,” Tian’anmen serves as the location for formal celebrations and ceremonies. More commonly, this huge piazza is where families come to stroll and chat and where kites and balloons abound. In it are located the Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, the China National Museum, Great Hall of the People, Monument to the People’s Heroes, and the Tiananmen Tower. The square was the site of pro-democracy protests seen around the world in 1989. Our Group Leader will provide commentary. Returning to the hotel, we will gather for a lecture on China’s land and peoples.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant, we will enjoy a Beijing specialty: a Peking Duck dinner. Peking Duck was first created in Beijing for Ming Dynasty emperors six hundred years ago. Thinly sliced, with crisp skin, the duck is wrapped in light pancakes with julienned cucumbers and a variety of sauces.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Spend time with fellow Road Scholars or just relax.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving. Walking about 2 miles throughout the day; generally flat, paved terrain places to sit. Elective climbing 27 steps at Temple of Heaven, 80 steps with railings at Forbidden City.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our motorcoach for a field trip to the Temple of Heaven, a 15th century architectural masterpiece, symbolizing the relationship between heaven and earth. With our Group Leader, we walk the park-like grounds where local people gather every day to practice their calligraphy and tai ji, play musical instruments, learn various dance forms or simply fly fanciful kites.It is a pleasant place to meet local people in an informal and beautiful setting.
Lunch:
In an “Old Beijing” hutong, we’ll gather for a family-hosted lunch including jaozi (Chinese style dumplings). Hutongs are old residential neighborhoods with courtyard homes situated in small lanes and alleys that are rapidly disappearing due to urban development.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, we explore the Forbidden City imperial compound. It was called the Forbidden City because it was “forbidden” to enter without the Emperor’s permission. The world’s largest palace complex at 250 acres, it is surrounded by a moat 170 feet wide, a wall more than 32 feet high, and contains 8,700 rooms! Construction began in 1407, and, thanks to the labor of a million workers including 100,000 artisans, it was completed in 1420. The Forbidden City was not only the personal residence of emperors and their royal families, but China’s political center for more than five centuries.
Dinner:
At a nearby restaurant.
Evening:
We’ll gather with our Group Leader and practice informal Chinese conversation.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoaches; driving about 100 miles throughout the day, approximately 4 hours total riding time. Getting on/off a cable car to a higher point on the Wall (weather and wind permitting). Walking up to 1.5 miles; steep sections, walking sticks or trekking poles helpful. Getting on/off an aircraft; flight to Xi’an approximately 2 hours.
Breakfast:
Early at the hotel.
Morning:
We board a motorcoach and ride outside Beijing to a green mountain range where we will explore the unique Great Wall of China amidst spectacular views of the Wall as it winds up and down the distant mountains. There are numerous sections of wall constructed over a period of 2,000 years and stretching from northern China to Mongolia.
Lunch:
At the Great Wall, we will have box lunches.
Afternoon:
We will ride to Beijing Capitol Airport for our flight to Xi’an, one of China’s oldest cities and the capital during the golden age of the Tang Dynasty.
Dinner:
In flight.
Evening:
Upon arrival, we will ride to the hotel and check in. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure.
Activity Note
Elective taiji session before breakfast with Group Leader, approximately 1/2 hour; no special clothes or shoes required. Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 2 hours; urban terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Elective taiji session before breakfast. We will board a motorcoach and ride to Xi’an International Studies University — one of China’s key, institutions of higher learning — and meet with a faculty expert who will teach us about Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism as a way of understanding Chinese character and customs.
Lunch:
In the university dining room, we’ll have a family-style meal with typical Chinese dishes.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, we take a short ride to the state-of-the-art Shaanxi History Museum, where we will gain an understanding of China’s dynastic history as well as its rich and enduring culture. The museum was built in the 1990s in the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty and named after Shaanxi Province, of which Xi’an is the capital city.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We’ll get together with our Group Leader to learn number counting and useful phrases.
Activity Note
Elective taiji session before breakfast. Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving. Walking up to approximately 2 miles; generally flat, paved terrain, places to rest. In the Muslim area, walking up to 0.6 mile, or 1.5 miles total if choosing to walk back to the hotel from the Muslim section.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Elective taiji session before breakfast. We will board a motorcoach for a field trip to the huge tomb site of the Qin Emperor, containing an army of life size terra cotta figures that was one of the most astounding archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. With our Group Leader and experienced local staff we will explore sections of this vast site where three huge pits are filled with the terra-cotta soldiers, cavalry, archers, their weapons, horses and chariots. It has been estimated that there are as many as 8,000 individual figures, but the total number is still unknown. Traces of paint suggest they were once brilliantly colored. Experimental digs in nearby areas have revealed other kinds of figures such as acrobats, dancers, and musicians.
Lunch:
At a nearby restaurant.
Afternoon:
With our Group Leader, we will reboard the motorcoach and ride to Xian’s Hui Muslim section for a walking field trip. Xi’an was a hub of the Silk Road in ancient times. Merchants, traders, and students from Islamic lands were drawn there and settled down. Over generations, they became known as the Hui people, officially recognized as one of China’s ethnic minorities. Those who would like to stay longer in the Hui Muslim area to explore independently are welcome to do so and walk or take a taxi back to the hotel. The motorcoach will return to the hotel with those who would like to get back sooner.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and our flight transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Elective taiji session before breakfast. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles throughout the day, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time. Getting on/off aircraft; flight approximately 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Elective taiji session before breakfast. We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach and ride to Xian International Airport for our flight to Guilin-Yangshuo. There is a saying, “Guilin’s scenery is the most beautiful in the world, Yangshuo’s scenery is far superior to that of Guilin’s.” Karst mountains and hills — covered in lush forests — punctuate the countryside, while meandering rivers flow green and clear.
Lunch:
In flight.
Afternoon:
After arrival at Guilin Airport, we will board a motorcoach, ride to Yangshuo, and check in to our hotel. Take some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner:
At a nearby restaurant.
Evening:
We will take a short ride to enjoy a special open-air musical, “Third Sister Liu,” directed by Zhang Yi Mou, the acclaimed filmmaker who staged the magnificent opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Set amid the natural scenery of the Li River and surrounding mountains, Zhang’s musical folk opera uses actors and singers from local fishing families wearing ethnic costume and singing traditional folk songs in a magical setting.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 38 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Getting on/off a cruise boat. Walking up to 1/4 mile; generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Elective taiji before breakfast. We will board a motorcoach and ride into the nearby countryside, passing country villages and beautiful rice fields amid the magnificent karst mountains. Along the way, we’ll stop to get a closer view of rice paddies. A local expert will explain how terraces are cultivated along the hillside and how local farmers plant and harvest their crops. Stopping at a village, we’ll visit a family and learn about local history and aspects of farm family life such as schooling, roles of women and children, and about the migration of youth to urban areas.
Lunch:
At a riverside restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will board a passenger vessel to sail along the Li River. This serenely beautiful setting has inspired countless artists and poets. Commentary by a local expert. Returning to the hotel after our field trip, the remainder of the afternoon will be free.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy the foods of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
We will gather at the hotel with a master painter for a demonstration where we learn about Chinese landscape painting. Prepare for check-out and our early morning flight transfer.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 40 miles, up to approximately 1.5 hours, Getting on/off train; train to Chongqing approximately 4 hours; about 35 steps down to Yangtze River Dock with railings for embarkation.
Breakfast:
At the hotel from 6:30am to 7:30am
Morning:
After an early morning check-out, we will ride to Guilin Railway Station and take a high speed 'bullet train' to the port city of Chongqing, an independent municipality inside Szechuan Province and situated at the head of the navigable Yangtze River.
Lunch:
On the train.
Afternoon:
From the Chongqing West Station, we set out by motor-coach on a field trip to explore the Chongqing Zoological Garden which covers more than 100 acres. In addition to the other endangered species it protects, the zoo is dedicated to preserving the survival of native giant and lesser pandas along with their offspring. This has been the home of one of the few successful panda breeding programs. We will have an opportunity to observe these pandas which are primarily indigenous to Szechuan Province.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We coach to the Yangtze docks where we will board our Yangtze River vessel. After completing boarding procedures and getting our cabins, there will be a briefing for all passengers that will include a safety drill. In the evening, we can view the hill city of Chongqing as our ship begins its journey. Each day, we will be notified of times for shore visits, cultural programs, and talks on a daily basis. When possible, our national guide will also continue instruction in taiji and Chinese conversation.
Activity Note
Getting on/off vessel; steps at dock (10 to 130 depending on Yangtze River water level). Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile; paved terrain in village.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will gather for a presentation on traditional Chinese medicine and consider the Yangtze’s influence on China.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
We will ride to a new village for relocated families. The Yangtze River Three Gorges Dam project required the displacement and relocation of more than a million people. Many were re-housed in newly created villages at higher and safer locations. We will visit a family in one of those villages where we will have an opportunity to ask some questions (translated by our Group Leader) and explore their local agricultural market. Returning to the ship, all passengers are invited to join the captain for a reception before dinner.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
We’ll gather to enjoy an on-board performance of Chinese music and dance.
Activity Note
Walking about 1/4 mile at dock to ferry boat; paved platform. Getting on/off a ferry boat; life vests (provided aboard the ferry) required; sailing approximately 2 hours round trip.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
The ship will pass through the renowned Yangtze Gorges: the Qutang, the Wu, and the Xiling. Later, we will disembark at the Wushan Danning River dock, walk to a ferry boat, and board for a field trip to the Three Little Gorges, a quiet tributary of the Yangtze. We will sail upstream beneath an extraordinary natural backdrop. As we go, look up into the cliffs for “hanging coffins” suspended thousands of years ago by the Ba people. Further down the cliffs, watch for golden-haired monkeys and goats. We will return to our ship’s dock by the same ferry.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
As we sail along the Yangtze, we will attend one of the ship’s presentations or enjoy an opportunity to continue learning conversational Chinese with our Group Leader.
Dinner:
Aboard ship, featuring the Captain’s farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll gather to enjoy an on-board performance of Chinese music and dance. Prepare for disembarkation and transfer to Shanghai tomorrow.
Activity Note
Getting on/off vessel; on/off motorcoach; on/off train. Driving about 30 miles to Yichang train station, approximately 1 hour. Riding about 700 miles on train, approximately 6.5 hours. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 2.5 hours, at dam site; 40 elective steps to observation tower. Disembarking ship, 30 steps; paved terrain.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We disembark in the morning prior to our field trip to the Three Gorges Dam Site. Large luggage will be transferred to the railway station by a separate van. Carry-on luggage can be brought on the motorcoach. We coach to the Three Gorges Dam site where, from an observation deck, we will have a bird’s-eye view of the dam, the five-step ship lock, the diversion canal, and power station. A nearby exhibition displays a dam model and, during a briefing, we learn about this largest water conservation project in world history.
Lunch:
En route to the railway station, we’ll have box lunches.
Afternoon:
We coach to the Yichang Railway station where we board a high-speed “bullet” train to Shanghai. Your Group Leader will give you custom handouts with information about sites and sights you will pass -- plus a custom map. Our ride of about 700 miles passes through countryside, suburbs, and three provincial capitals: Wuhan (Hubei Province), Hefei (Anhui Province), and Nanjing (Jiangsu Province). Our train conveniently arrives in Shanghai's city center. Situated in the Delta of the Yangtze River on China’s east coast, Shanghai is the country's most populous city and the world's largest port. We ride in 1st class carriages arranged with two seats on either side of the central aisle. Western style toilets and storage space for luggage are available at each end of the car. In addition to the dining car, there is trolley service offering water, soft drinks, beer, and snacks for purchase. Hot water for tea and coffee is available in every car.
Dinner:
Aboard the train.
Evening:
Upon arrival in Shanghai, we will ride to our hotel for check in.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving. Walking indoors and out; approximately 2 hours at museum; elevators and escalators available.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip to the magnificent state-of-the-art Shanghai Museum that is home to China’s finest collection of paintings, ceramics, bronzes, and sculptures — an impressive testimony to China’s long and rich culture. With provided audio guides, we have a self-directed exploration according to our own interests.
Lunch:
The museum has a small café. The Group Leader will also be happy to offer suggestions for restaurants nearby.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, we ride to the Bund, Shanghai’s iconic waterfront characterized by Art Deco and Neoclassical architecture dating from the time of foreign concessions. Our Group Leader will give us an introduction. We’ll view the busy river activity and the maze of glittering skyscrapers newly built across the river on what was, until recently, undeveloped farmland. The motorcoach will return to the hotel after our field trip.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We’ll walk to the Shanghai Acrobatics theater to attend an evening of amazing skill and prowess in a performance by the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe. Acrobatics has been an important component of Chinese performing arts for more than 2,000 years. Many of the feats performed originated with skills perfected by artisans and craftspeople. Acrobatics also figures in other performance genres such as Chinese opera.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time throughout the day. Walking about 1/2 mile.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out by motorcoach for a field trip to explore Shanghai’s historic old section and the nearby Yu Garden whose classical pavilions, fountains, and arching bridges exemplify traditional Chinese garden landscaping.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we will walk around the active and lively Longhua Si, Shanghai’s largest Buddhist temple. It is popular with locals who come to pray and worship. A much earlier temple was destroyed and then rebuilt in the 10th century CE, though much of what we see today came later. The Group Leader will give a brief background of the Temple and introduce some of the buildings and Buddhist sculptures. We’ll then ride to Shanghai’s Xin Tian Di district, a pedestrian-only locale and modern restoration project, for self-directed exploration. The district was formerly an old residential neighborhood composed mainly of “shikumen” housing, a combination of 19th century Western and Chinese architecture. Some shikumen have been restored and converted to high end shops, cafés, bars, and restaurants. One has been preserved as a small museum where we will glimpse life in this district at the turn of the 20th century; rooms have audio in English. We will rendezvous at an announced time and place, then return to the hotel.
Dinner:
Enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel depending on departure times. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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