Odysseys Unlimited

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Beijing, China

Day 2: Arrive Beijing We arrive in the Chinese capital and transfer to our hotel. After time to relax, we embark on a brief walking tour. Dinner tonight is on our own.

Day 3: Beijing After this morning’s briefing about the journey ahead, we begin our discovery of this 2,000­-year-old city at vast Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City, seat of imperial power from 1368-1911. Tonight we enjoy a traditional Peking Duck dinner at a local restaurant. B,D

Day 4: Beijing/Great Wall This morning we tour the splendid Temple of Heaven complex, where China’s rulers once worshipped. After lunch we visit the Great Wall, the network of ancient defense install­ations that stretches almost 4,000 miles from the East China Sea to Central Asia. B,L,D

Day 5: Beijing This morning we enjoy a small group highlight, as we ride rickshaws through Beijing’s an­cient back roads and alleys (hutongs) and enjoy a home visit, giving us a glimpse of the traditional communal lifestyle. Then we visit the Summer Palace, the ­former royal retreat that is now a lovely park. B,L

Day 6: Beijing/Xian We fly this morning to Xian, a provincial backwater until the accidental discovery of the Terra Cotta Warriors in 1974. Upon arrival we tour the impressive nine-mile city wall and moat, then enjoy a special dumpling lunch. Next: Shanxi Provincial History Museum, with an acclaimed ­collection of historic and cultural artifacts. Tonight we attend a Tang Dynasty show and dinner. B,L,D               

Day 7: Xian Our day begins with a visit to the revered Wild Goose Pagoda (c. 652 CE). After lunch we tour the museum housing the army of 7,000 life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors that had lain buried and forgotten for more than two millennia. B,L,D

Day 8: Xian/Chengdu We fly this morning to Cheng­du, where we visit the renowned Giant Panda Protection & Research Center, the only such panda ref­uge in the world. B,L,D

Day 9: Chengdu/Lhasa Early today we fly to Lhasa, Tibet’s capital and only major city. Sitting on a plateau between two Himalayan ridges, the Chinese province of Tibet covers an area as large as Western Europe. On the way to our hotel we stop to visit with a Tibetan family in their home. Since the altitude here is approx­imately 12,000 feet above sea level, we spend the remainder of the day acclimating. B,L,D

Day 10: Lhasa Our tour begins in the heart of the old city at Jokhang, Tibet’s holiest temple. Built in 647, Jokhang is an intriguing complex that attracts pil­grims day and night. Surrounding Jokhang is Barkhor, a plaza lined with chanting monks, street performers, and vendors. Later we tour the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas at Norbulinka; tonight, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. B,L,D

Day 11: Lhasa Opened to foreigners only since 1984, Tibet is a profoundly spiritual place where Buddhism has infused all aspects of life for 13 centu­ries. We see evidence of this at 17th-century Potala Palace, with 200,000 Buddha images and 1,000 rooms, some of which we explore this morning. This after­noon we visit the vast Sera Monastery. B,L,D

Day 12: Lhasa/Chongqing We depart for the flight to Chongqing, where we visit the Stilwell Museum commemorating WWII General Joseph Stilwell. ­Dinner tonight is at our hotel. B,L,D

Day 13: Chongqing/Dazu/Board Ship Today’s excursion features the Dazu Rock Carvings dating back more than a millennium – and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. These cliffside carvings ref­lect Buddhist teachings, tenets of Confucianism, and local folklore. Tonight we board our river ship and set sail downstream. B,L,D

Day 14: Yangtze Cruising – Fengdu Prized for its haunting natural beauty, the Yangtze is one of the world’s longest (3,600 miles) and busiest rivers. This afternoon we visit the “ghost city” of Fengdu, significant for its preservation of Chinese afterlife culture. Fengdu's otherworldly associations date back nearly two thousand years. B,L,D

Day 15: Yangtze Cruising – Qutang Gorge/Small Three Gorges/Wu Gorge/Xiling Gorge Today we pass through narrow Qutang Gorge then board a small sampan for a cruise through the stunning Small Three Gorges, among the most spectacular sights of our trip. Back aboard our Victoria Cruises ship this afternoon we enter tranquil Wu Gorge then cruise 42-mile Xiling Gorge. B,L,D

Day 16: Yangtze Cruising – Three Gorges Dam/Shanghai After visiting the site of the immense Three Gorges Dam we continue on to Yichang, where we disembark and transfer to the airport for the flight to Shanghai, the “Paris of the East.” B,L

Day 17: Shanghai Our day begins with a walking tour of the Xin Tian Di shopping and entertainment area of reconstituted traditional homes. We continue on to beloved 16th-century Yu Yuan Gardens, whose plantings, courtyards, and pavilions create the illusion of mountains, caverns, and lakes.  Then after lunch together we tour the acclaimed Shanghai Museum of ancient Chinese art and artifacts.  Tonight we dine on our own then attend a lively ac­ro­bat­ics show. B,L

Day 18: Shanghai This morning we visit the Bund, the mile-long riverside embankment where foreign investors – and their buildings – once held sway. Then the remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight we toast our China adventure at a farewell dinner. B,D

Day 19: Depart for U.S. We depart Shanghai for our return flight to the U.S. B

Please note: This trip involves full days of sightseeing and significant amounts of walking. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour.  Lhasa’s altitude (12,090 feet) could pose problems for travelers with certain health conditions. You should consult with your physician if you have concerns.