= Journeys Featuring AKP Projects
China | Highlights of China
 Great Wall of China |
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Click to download PDF itinerary:
12 days / 11 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Beijing | 3 |
| Xian | 2 |
| Yangzi Cruise | 3 |
| Shanghai | 3 |
Day 01 Arrive Beijing
Arrive into Beijing, China’s capital since the 13th century. A private A&K welcome awaits and you are escorted to your luxury hotel.
Beijing (Choice of category)
Day 02 Beijing
A full day in this fascinating city. Start with a stroll around Tiananmen Square, the largest in the world, and continue on foot into the Forbidden City, home to the Imperial family during the Ming era. After lunch a pedicab whisks you into the delightful hutongs, Beijing’s maze of old neighbourhoods, where you are welcomed into a traditional courtyard house for conversation with a local family. Try your hand at dumpling making while you’re there. Continue on to the beautifully restored Temple of Heaven for a tai chi demonstration and visit the nearby pearl market – a must for shoppers (B,L).
Beijing (Choice of category)
Day 03 Design Your Day Beijing
With so much more to see, plan your day to suit. Choose one of the following half day activities: a visit to the Great Wall of China, recently voted one of the new ‘Wonders of the World’ where A&K visits the Mutianyu section. Ride the cable car up to the wall for a walk along the impressive ramparts and on your return a drive past the Olympic sites or take a boat cruise on Lake Kunming to see the Summer Palace (B,L). Beijing (Choice of category)
Day 04 Beijing – Xian
A transfer for the *flight to the Tang Dynasty capital Xian. En route to the hotel visit the small but well designed Yangling Museum which houses recent archaeological discoveries from Han dynasty tombs (B).
Xian (Choice of category)
Day 05 Xian
Ancient history comes to life as you explore this treasure trove of Chinese civilisation. From a VIP viewing point, you will be dazzled by the amazing Terracotta Warriors. Regarded by many as the most sensational archaeological discovery of the 20th century, you will see up close the army of life-sized figures. After an authentic Shaanxi dumpling lunch visit the Xian Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda (B,L).
Xian (Choice of category)
Day 06 Xian-Chongqing
Xian was the start of the ancient Silk Road, the historic junction of East and West. There is time to explore the Old Quarter and Great Mosque beside the ancient city walls before an onward transfer to the airport. *Fly to Chongqing to board Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer (B,L,D).
Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer (Deluxe cabin)
Days 07 – 08 Cruising the Yangzi
Considered one of China’s iconic experiences, the next two days are a river journey through the breathtaking Three Gorges with a variety of shore excursions included en route. It is the perfect way to explore in comfort this rather inaccessible part of the country. See thriving riverside towns, temples, pagodas, dramatic cliff faces and sheer peaks and of course the impressive Three Gorges Dam, China’s biggest construction project since the Great Wall (B,L,D).
Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer (Deluxe cabin)
Day 09 Yichang – Shanghai
Disembark for your orientation of Yichang and lunch. *Fly to Shanghai, the ‘Paris of the East’ (B,L).
Shanghai (Choice of category)
Days 10 – 11 Design Your Days Shanghai
The glittering metropolis of Shanghai is China’s commercial heart with diversions aplenty. Over the next two days, choose two of the following half day activities: a visit to the Shanghai Museum, the world’s finest showcase of Chinese art and antiquities, as well as the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall which houses a vast scale model of Shanghai in 2020; see the peaceful Ming era Yu gardens, the grand colonial waterfront strip, the Bund, and the Old Town; stroll the charming tree-lined avenues of the French Concession; head to M50, the city’s new gallery precinct where studios, cafes and boutiques stand alongside old industrial warehouses; or venture into the countryside to the peaceful waterside town of Zhujiajiao where a boat ride on the canals is the best way to appreciate its well-preserved Ming architecture and ancient stone bridges. Lunch is included one day at Shanghai institution, Meilongzhen, and a lively and energetic acrobatic show one evening (B,L).
Shanghai (Choice of category)
Day 12 Depart Shanghai
The adventure in China comes to an end as the high speed Maglev train spirits you to the airport for your departure flight (B).
*Flights not included.
Optional Extensions
For a relaxing add-on, A&K recommends the breathtaking scenery and rich cultural heritage of Hangzhou, one of China’s most beautiful cities.
Book a cruise on Yangzi Explorer for travel in November 2010 and save $600 per person. Contact A&K for further information.
Nine Pond Village School
Guests traveling onboard Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer have the privileged opportunity to stop and visit a local school supported by AKP. The unforgettable experience in rural villages outside either Fengdu or Wanzhou lends itself to a rare glimpse into the young minds and the future of China - a unique cultural exchange treat, with an authentic first-hand look at the education system in China. A visit to these elementary schools offers a chance to interact with curious local students and drop in on a Chinese class to see their enthusiastic attitude and discover what and how they learn.
Choice of Accommodation
| City | Platinum | Gold |
| Beijing | The Peninsula Beijing (Grand Deluxe) | Regent Beijing (Deluxe Room) |
| Xian | Shangri-La Xian (Horizon Floor) | Shangri-La Xian (City or Garden View) |
| Shanghai | The Peninsula Shanghai (Deluxe Riverview Room) | Hyatt on the Bund (Guest Room) |
Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer is without compare. Supremely elegant, she sets a new standard of cruising in China with strong environmental commitments. Just 124 passengers are privileged to enjoy the friendly and intimate onboard service, in surrounds which are more private club than cruise ship.
Click here to read more about Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
Click here to view the Yangzi Explorer Fact Sheet
