Travel the breadth of China, from Shanghai to Beijing, on this First Class 14-day tour. Begin in Shanghai, where you will wander the classical YuYuan Garden, experience the old world charm of the Bund, Shanghai’s popular promenade, and visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Plus, with a full day at leisure, you can explore independently or join an optional tour of Suzhou. Next, fly to Yichang, where you will embark on a four day Yangtze River cruise, with spectacular views along the way.

Disembark your cruise and fly to Xian, where you will enjoy the city’s prized antiquities as you tour the archaeological site of the magnificent Terracotta Warriors, where a vast collection of life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots were buried. End your tour with three nights in Beijing, including a full day guided tour of the Forbidden City and Summer Palace, and a visit to the Beijing Zoo to see the famous Pandas, plus a full day excursion to the Great Wall, the longest man-made structure on Earth.

Grand Escapades ensures your comfort and ease of travel by looking after the details, so that you don’t have to. You are provided an English-speaking tour manager for the duration of your tour, many included meals and offer convenient optional tours to expand your touring, suiting your interests. Go see the best of China and let us bring you the trip of a lifetime!

DAY 1, Monday – Depart for China

Depart for China

DAY 2, Tuesday – Arrive in Shanghai

Arrive in Shanghai, the thriving metropolis on China’s eastern coast. This dynamic city is constantly changing and growing, with an unforgettable skyline. Remainder of the day is at leisure to rest, relax and acclimate to the time change
Overnight: Shanghai

DAY 3, Wednesday – Shanghai City Tour

Morning briefing with your Tour Manager about the exciting trip that awaits you. Then, on to see some of the city’s major highlights. Begin at the classical YuYuan Garden in the Old Quarter, built during the Ming Dynasty, a quiet and serene sanctuary in this frenetic city, with its scenic pavilions, ponds and streams. Continue to the lively Bund, Shanghai’s popular promenade; stroll along the park-like waterfront and experience the old world charm. After lunch at a local restaurant, on to the Jade Buddha Temple, one of the most active Buddhist temples in Shanghai, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Return to the hotel late afternoon and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Tonight, perhaps attend an optional performance by the world-famous Chinese acrobats that includes dance, magic, acrobatics and beautiful music after dinner at a local restaurant
Optional: Acrobatic Show with Dinner
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4, Thursday – Full Day in Shanghai

Today is at leisure in Shanghai. Join the optional full day tour to Suzhou, including lunch and a cruise on the Grand Canal. Morning departure from Shanghai for the drive to Suzhou, known as the “Venice of the East”. Upon arrival in this charming city, relax on a boat ride along the narrow waterways of the legendary Grand Canal. Later walk along bustling Pingjiang Road, where the locals gather for entertainment and food and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then, continue to the beautiful and fragrant Garden of the Master of the Nets, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Return to Shanghai later this evening
Optional: Full Day Suzhou with Lunch
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5, Friday – Flight to Yichang; Embark cruise

Morning at leisure for independent explorations in Shanghai. In the afternoon, visit to a silk carpet and embroidery shop in Shanghai to understand more about this ancient Chinese craft; see some of the beautiful creations, unusual styles and masterful techniques. Afterward, have a dinner at a local restaurant before transferring to the airport for the flight to Yichang, the second largest city in Hubei province after Wuhan, its capital. Upon arrival, continue to the Port for embarkation on your cruise ship. This evening, you’ll begin the scenic journey on the fabled Yangtze, the longest river in China and the third longest river in the world. You’ll be warmly welcomed aboard by the friendly international staff. A memorable voyage awaits you
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 6, Saturday – Xiling Gorge

This afternoon, an optional tour to the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest and most ambitious hydroelectric project ever undertaken by man, nearly six times the size of the Hoover Dam. In addition to producing electricity, the dam was constructed to increase the Yangtze River’s shipping capacity and reduce the potential for floods. This project has forever changed the landscape surrounding the Yangtze River and has also forced the relocation of people who once lived along the river. Tour the massive site to see this impressive achievement of engineering. Following the visit, return to the ship as it cruises upstream and enters the dramatic Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest section of the Three Gorges
Optional: Yangtze River Shore Excursion Package – Three Gorges Dam
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7, Sunday – Wu Gorge & Qutang Gorge

Awake this morning to beautiful vistas on the river. Sail through the Wu Gorge, famed for its magnificent Twelve Peaks. Today, your optional tour will take you either on a scenic journey up Shennong Stream, travelling in small boats between rolling hills and rocky cliffs or on a scenic journey up Shennv Stream, the journey is accompanied by local folk songs and dances. Continue through the Qutang Gorge, the smallest of the three gorges, flanked by lush terraced hillsides
Optional: Yangtze River Shore Excursion Package – Shennv Stream or Shennong Stream
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8, Monday – Cruise to Shibaozhai

The ship arrives this morning at Shibaozhai, built during the Ming Dynasty. This pagoda is sometimes referred to as one of the eight construction wonders of the world, built into the side of a rocky cliff face and constructed without use of nails. This vermilion 12-story pagoda stands impressively over 100 feet high. The optional tour highlights the main attraction of the temple, with its traditional Chinese design. The structure is inspired by the mountains with patterns and figures that vary from odd to extraordinary. Climb the stairs and experience the most spectacular sights of the valleys below
Optional: Yangtze River Shore Excursion Package – Shibaozhai
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9, Tuesday – Disembark Cruise; Fly to Xian

Disembark the Yangtze River cruise this morning in Chongqing, a major metropolis and one of the top emerging cities in China. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Xian, ancient capital of eleven dynasties and an archaeological treasure trove. Visit the Muslim district of Xian; learn more about Chinese Muslims and witness the preparation of local foods in the market. This evening, an optional Tang Dynasty 6-course dinner followed by a historical dance performance by the Tang Dynasty Troupe
Optional: Tang Dynasty Dinner with Entertainment
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 10, Wednesday – The Terracotta Army

Morning visit to Xingqing Park, a hub of activity where you may have the chance to join the residents of Xian in their morning exercise, singing and dancing. Afterward, stop at a lacquer furniture shop to learn more about this technique. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then, an unforgettable experience! Continue to visit the archaeological site of the magnificent Terracotta Warriors, a vast collection of life-size soldiers, horses and chariots that were entombed with China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. This world-famous site, discovered by local farmers in 1974, is still being discovered and excavated today, more than forty years since the time of its unearthing. At tonight’s optionalDumpling Banquet, you can sample nearly 20 delicious varieties of dumplings
Optional: Dumpling Dinner
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11, Thursday – Flight to Beijing

Depart Xian on a flight to Beijing, sprawling capital of modern China. Afternoon at leisure – feel the pulse of this city of contrasts with its astonishing history and wondrous sights. Join the optional half-day Hutong Tour which begins with a Rickshaw ride through the old narrow streets and alleyways. See the courtyard homes which once covered all of Beijing – only a few still survive today. Hear more about “old China” from a local family who will welcome you to their home
Optional: Half Day Hutong Tour (PM)
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12, Friday – Summer Palace and The Forbidden City

Today, visit the fabled Summer Palace, resort of the Empress Dowager with its palace grounds, filled with a variety of picturesque gardens and architectural structures. Then continue to a local Pearl Shop to learn about the famous Chinese pearls. Have lunch at a local restaurant before  continuing to huge Tiananmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world built at the height of the Ming Dynasty. The square’s Gate of Heavenly Peace was once used as a staging ground for imperial edicts and by Mao Zedong himself to declare the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. Next, enter the Forbidden City, which served as the Imperial Palace until 1912. The extraordinary and immense walled complex is truly a masterpiece of Chinese architecture; its complex consists of 800 buildings with more than 9,000 rooms. Tonight, dinner at a Beijing restaurant
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13, Saturday – Great Wall of China

An amazing day! Travel to the extraordinary 2000-year-old Great Wall of China, one of the most spectacular structures ever built by man, spanning nearly 4,000 miles of China’s northern frontier. En route, stop at a local jade shop to admire wares crafted with one of China’s most famous materials. Then it’s time to climb the ramparts of this ancient wonder to view breathtaking mountain passes, plateaus and grasslands from this 7th-century defensive fortification. Afterward, relax at lunch in a local restaurant. Drive via the site of the 2008 Olympics to see the National Stadium and the sprawling Olympic Village followed by a stop at the Beijing Zoo to see the famous Pandas – a must for all travelers to China. Tonight enjoy a Farewell Dinner featuring China’s famous Peking Duck
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 14, Sunday – Depart China

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast

* Includes return airfare from Montreal plus all China-domestic flights, airport taxes, transfers, accommodations, most meals plus sightseeing & entrance fees as per itinerary. OPC Indemnity Fund fee of $1 per $1,000 of travel products sold is additional. Limited space, other conditions and restrictions may apply. Not all travel dates available. Limited space.