The Landscapes and Legacies of China ![](/sites/default/files/2025-08/1%20Meals%20%28red%29_4.png) 38 Meals ![](/sites/default/files/2025-08/3%20CT%20Ratings%20%28red%29_4.png) CT Rating 3 - Moderately Challenging ![](/sites/default/files/2025-08/4%20Leader%20%28red%29_8.png) Led by Deb and Brian Tilson **Experience the best of China** Discover Beijing’s imperial landmarks, Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, Guilin’s dramatic landscapes, and cosmopolitan Shanghai. A highlight of the program is a three-night Yangtze River cruise aboard *Century Victory*, sailing through steep gorges and visiting the mighty Three Gorges Dam. Together, these experiences reveal the rich history, culture, and natural beauty of this extraordinary country. **This journey is now available on request.** .button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 20px; margin: 5px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; background-color: gray; /* default color */ color: white; } .button:hover { opacity: 0.9; } [Submit Booking Request](mailto:sbahadur@craigtravel.com?cc=sales@craigtravel.com&subject=China%20Yangtze%202026%E2%80%93ON%20REQUEST&body=Dear%20Craig%20Travel%20team%2C%0A%0AI%20would%20like%20to%20submit%20an%20online%20booking%20request%20for%20the%20**China%20Yangtze%20journey**%20departing%20in%20**September%202026.**%0A%0AI%20understand%20that%20this%20departure%20is%20not%20currently%20available%20for%20immediate%20confirmation%20and%20that%20availability%20must%20be%20requested%20with%20your%20local%20suppliers%2Fground%20partners.%20I%20realize%20it%20can%20take%20approximately%20**5%E2%80%937%20business%20days**%20%28sometimes%20longer%29%20to%20receive%20confirmation%20or%20an%20update%20from%20the%20suppliers.%0A%0AI%20give%20permission%20for%20a%20sales%20agent%20to%20contact%20me%20by%20phone%20or%20email%20to%20discuss%20availability%2C%20pricing%2C%20accommodation%2C%20any%20waitlist%20possibilities%2C%20or%20alternative%20departures%2Foptions%20if%20this%20journey%20cannot%20be%20confirmed.%0A%0A**My%20contact%20details%3A**%0A%0AFirst%20name%3A%0ALast%20name%3A%0APhone%20number%3A%0AEmail%20address%3A%0A%0APlease%20indicate%20whether%20you%20would%20like%20a%20double%2Ftwin%20accommodation%20or%20a%20single%20room%20%28single%20supplement%20applies%29.%0A%0A) [Download Brochure](https://mkt.craigtravel.com/ct--landing-page--brochure-download?brochure=china-yangtze-river-sep-2026) #### Alternate Departure:[ ](https://www.craigtravel.com/journeys/japan-november-7-2026) [September 12, 2027](https://www.craigtravel.com/journeys/china-yangtze-sep-12-2027) [![china map 2026](/sites/default/files/2026-06/map_China_2026-adj.jpg)](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-06/map_China_2026-adj.jpg) ### Tour Highlights - Special meals and entertainment including a traditional Peking Duck dinner, a hands-on dumpling-making class with a local family, a dumpling banquet, a Tang Dynasty show, and an acrobatic performance - Discover Beijing’s imperial treasures, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall of China - Marvel at Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, buried for over 2,000 years to guard the First Emperor’s tomb - Explore Guilin’s Reed Flute Cave and see Elephant Trunk Hill - Cruise the Yangtze River, sailing through Qutang and Wu Gorges, with an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam - Scenic boat trip along the Li River to Yangshuo, passing limestone peaks and rural villages - Tour Suzhou, the “Venice of the East,” with its classical gardens, canals, and silk traditions - Experience cosmopolitan Shanghai including the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, and the Jade Buddha Temple ### Inclusive Features - Return economy group airfare from Canada to China - All domestic flights in China - 12 nights in first-class hotels as indicated or similar - 3-night deluxe cruise on the Century Victory or similar - 38 meals included as noted in the itinerary (B - 15 Breakfasts, L - 13 Lunches, D - 10 Dinners) - Services of your journey leader plus our professional Chinese tour guide - All surcharges, taxes, and fees for included services - China visa fee for Canadian passport holders - Airport transfers in Canada or equivalent value with purchase of group airfare ### Itinerary Overview Full View CANADA / BEIJING September 13, 2026 Today we depart for Beijing, the political, economic, and cultural centre of the People’s Republic of China. BEIJING September 14, 2026 After arriving in Beijing, we transfer to our hotel, where we’ll settle in for the next four nights. This evening, enjoy a buffet dinner at the hotel. **New Otani Chang Fu Gong** (4 nights) Dinner BEIJING September 15, 2026 In the morning, we stroll through historic Tiananmen Square, where Mao Zedong first raised the flag of the People’s Republic of China. We then visit the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace where only the Emperor and his family once resided. Our tour concludes at the Temple of Heaven, where we will see the magnificent Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Breakfast, Lunch BEIJING September 16, 2026 Tour Beijing’s Hutongs by rickshaw and visit a local family to learn more about Chinese culture. Together with our hosts, we’ll shop at a local market for ingredients before taking part in a dumpling-making lunch. Afterwards, we visit the Summer Palace, once the retreat of the imperial family and the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. Here, we’ll also enjoy a scenic cruise on Kunming Lake, the palace’s man-made lake. Breakfast, Lunch BEIJING September 17, 2026 Today’s highlight is a visit to the Great Wall of China, whose origins date back over 2,000 years to the reign of Emperor Qin. The section we explore at Mutianyu was built during the Ming Dynasty and is among the best-preserved. Back in Beijing, we stop at the National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, for photos before enjoying a special Peking Duck dinner this evening. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner BEIJING / XI’AN September 18, 2026 Xi’an, once the starting point of the Silk Road, combines the heritage of an ancient capital with the energy of a modern city. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll head to Huyi District to experience rural life and even try painting in the region’s well-known folk-art style. **Crowne Plaza Xi’an** (2 nights) Breakfast, Lunch XI’AN September 19, 2026 A full day excursion takes us to the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, one of China's greatest rulers and the builder of the Great Wall. Discovered in 1974, the tomb contains some 6,000 life-sized terracotta warriors and horses—the emperor’s guardians in the afterlife. We will then visit the Forest of Stone Steles Museum which exhibits ancient carved stone and calligraphy art. This evening brings a special treat: after a delightful dumpling dinner at a local restaurant, we'll head to a theatre for a Tang Dynasty performance. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner XI’AN / GUILIN September 20, 2025 This morning, we will explore Xi’an’s massive City Wall— over 50 feet thick and one of the best-preserved military structures in China, followed by a visit to the Wild Goose Pagoda. This evening we transfer to the airport for our flight to Guilin, known as China’s most scenic region. **Sheraton Guilin Hotel** (2 nights) Breakfast, Lunch GUILIN September 21, 2026 This morning, we explore Daxu, an ancient town where history lingers in cobbled streets, stone bridges, and traditional houses. We’ll also have the chance to visit a local family to learn about their daily lives. In the afternoon, we continue to the Reed Flute Cave, admired for its colourful stalactites and stalagmites, before visiting Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin, and ending the day at a lively local market. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner GUILIN / YANGSHUO September 22, 2026 A scenic boat ride along the Li River reveals miles of breathtaking scenery, with traditional farms and mist-shrouded mountains rising from the riverbanks. Since ancient times, this landscape has inspired countless poems and paintings. Our cruise ends in the colourful market town of Yangshuo, where we will have the opportunity to join a cooking class followed by dinner. *Note: This morning luggage will be transferred separately from Guilin to Chongqing in a different vehicle. An overnight bag is needed for Yangshuo.* **Green Lotus Hotel** (1 night) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner YANGSHUO / GUILIN / CHONGQING / EMBARK September 23, 2026 Today, we return to Guilin and take a high-speed train to Chongqing, the starting point of our Yangtze River cruise. After dinner, we board our ship and settle in for the journey ahead. **Century Victory** (3 nights) Breakfast, Dinner YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE September 24, 2026 After breakfast, take an excursion to Fengdu Ghost City, famous for its ghost culture and its blend of Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist traditions. In the afternoon, enjoy a choice of onboard activities and lectures. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE September 25, 2026 As we cruise the Yangtze River, striking scenery surrounds us—steep cliffs, jagged peaks, waterfalls, and terraced hillsides. Qutang Gorge, just 8 kilometres long, is considered the most dramatic of the Yangtze gorges, with cliffs that soar nearly 1,000 metres above the river. Wu Gorge, stretching 44 kilometres, is admired for its serene valleys and the famous “Twelve Peaks” rising along its banks. Later, we board a smaller boat to explore the Shennv Stream, a narrow tributary framed by towering cliffs and unspoiled landscapes. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE/ DISEMBARK / YICHANG / SHANGHAI September 26, 2026 We disembark at Maoping Port and join an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam site, the largest hydroelectric project in the world. The dam created a vast reservoir stretching more than 600 kilometres through the gorges we have just cruised. After our visit, we transfer by coach to Yichang for lunch and a museum tour before walking around Riverside Park and browsing a shopping mall. Dinner is on our own. We continue to the airport for our flight to Shanghai. **Crowne Plaza Shanghai** (3 nights) Breakfast, Lunch SHANGHAI September 27, 2026 Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before our afternoon visit of Jade Buddha Temple, the most famous and one of the most active Buddhist temples in Shanghai. It was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty to enshrine the two beautiful Jade Buddha statues that were brought from Burma. Indulge in a Chinese dinner at a local restaurant along with an acrobatic show. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner SHANGHAI / SUZHOU / SHANGHAI September 28, 2026 We tour Suzhou by private coach, including visits to Humble Administrator’s Garden, and the Master of Nets Garden, a canal cruise, and a visit to a silk-spinning factory. Following lunch at a local restaurant, we return to Shanghai in the late afternoon for a Western-style dinner at a local restaurant. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner SHANGHAI / CANADA September 29, 2026 Today’s tour of Shanghai introduces us to the classical beauty of Yuyuan Garden, the old-world charm of the Bund, and the former “Wall Street” of the foreign powers. Stroll along its park-like waterfront promenade between the Wusong River and Old Town before transferring to the airport with ample time for lunch on our own and check-in. Breakfast [Download Brochure](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-07/brx_TAS130926_China_and_the_Yangtze_River_REV03JUL26.pdf) [![Terracota Warriors](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-08/rasmus-gundorff-saederup-adbKvvJbd8U-unsplash%282%29.jpg?h=a141e9ea&itok=TmpMxJ2g "See the impressive Terracotta Warriors")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-08/rasmus-gundorff-saederup-adbKvvJbd8U-unsplash%282%29.jpg) [![Shanghai’s skyline ](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-08/edward-he-uKyzXEc2k_s-unsplash.jpg?h=eca8c794&itok=8dyuCfUy "Shanghai’s iconic skyline ")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-08/edward-he-uKyzXEc2k_s-unsplash.jpg) [![Li River](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-08/iStock-180312745%281%29.jpg?h=8d4dc6ac&itok=RmDPTXTm "Cruise past the dramatic karst peaks of the Li River")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-08/iStock-180312745%281%29.jpg) [![Reed Flute Cave](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2025-08/AdobeStock_230031095.jpeg?h=66a16534&itok=KsmhiFLu "Reed Flute Cave")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2025-08/AdobeStock_230031095.jpeg) ### Have any questions? Contact Sharon at sbahadur \[at\] craigtravel.com or call [1-800-387-8890](tel:1-800-387-8890) Century Victory Sail the Yangtze in style aboard one of its newest ships, the *Century Victory*. Built in 2022, this sleek, eco-conscious vessel spans seven decks and is staffed by a welcoming, English-speaking crew. All seven cabin types are designed for comfort and elegance, with most offering private viewing balconies overlooking the Yangtze River. Each room is arranged to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Onboard, guests can enjoy captivating performances in the Century Grand Theatre, unwind in the fitness centre, library, spa, or on the sun deck, and savour meals in the dual-deck Globe Dining Room, VIP Restaurant, and scenic observation areas. [Deck Plan](/sites/default/files/2025-08/Century%20Victory%20Deck%20plan.pdf "Century Victory Deck plan.pdf") (4.43 MB) ![Book early and save](/sites/default/files/2025-08/2026_NEW_EBB_Banner_800x753_China-Yangtzee.png) ### Cost in Canadian Dollars Per Person Land Only* (Join / Leave at hotel) $7,775 Vancouver $9,475 Victoria / Calgary / Edmonton $9,545 Regina / Saskatoon / Winnipeg $9,745 Toronto $9,725 Montreal / Ottawa $9,825 Halifax / St. John’s / Fredericton $9,975 Single Supplement $1,995 [Submit Booking Request](mailto:sbahadur@craigtravel.com?cc=sales@craigtravel.com&subject=China%20Yangtze%202026%E2%80%93ON%20REQUEST&body=Dear%20Craig%20Travel%20team%2C%0A%0AI%20would%20like%20to%20submit%20an%20online%20booking%20request%20for%20the%20**China%20Yangtze%20journey**%20departing%20in%20**September%202026.**%0A%0AI%20understand%20that%20this%20departure%20is%20not%20currently%20available%20for%20immediate%20confirmation%20and%20that%20availability%20must%20be%20requested%20with%20your%20local%20suppliers%2Fground%20partners.%20I%20realize%20it%20can%20take%20approximately%20**5%E2%80%937%20business%20days**%20%28sometimes%20longer%29%20to%20receive%20confirmation%20or%20an%20update%20from%20the%20suppliers.%0A%0AI%20give%20permission%20for%20a%20sales%20agent%20to%20contact%20me%20by%20phone%20or%20email%20to%20discuss%20availability%2C%20pricing%2C%20accommodation%2C%20any%20waitlist%20possibilities%2C%20or%20alternative%20departures%2Foptions%20if%20this%20journey%20cannot%20be%20confirmed.%0A%0A**My%20contact%20details%3A**%0A%0AFirst%20name%3A%0ALast%20name%3A%0APhone%20number%3A%0AEmail%20address%3A%0A%0APlease%20indicate%20whether%20you%20would%20like%20a%20double%2Ftwin%20accommodation%20or%20a%20single%20room%20%28single%20supplement%20applies%29.%0A%0A) ### Payment and Booking Terms Deposit is **$900 per person** Final payment is due **June 10, 2026** \*Land only clients join at the Beijing hotel and leave at the Shanghai hotel. The land only price includes domestic flights within China but does not include international airfare or airport transfers. Airfares from other gateways are available on request. Air inclusive prices are estimated and subject to confirmation before final payment. Refer to inclusive features for details. Tour price is based on sharing a twin room at hotels and on a minimum of 20 members, based on rates, taxes and fees effective July 2025 and are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. Group to be escorted from Canada with a minimum of 20 members.Insurance is NOT INCLUDED but is highly recommended. Premiums are calculated based on the individual’s age, destination (country), trip length, and trip booking window – please contact our staff to receive a quote. Your coverage starts on the effective date of your confirmation of coverage. Please discuss your insurance coverage prior to booking. Refer to [terms and conditions](https://www.craigtravel.com/terms-conditions) for more details. #### CT Rating **3/5 - MODERATELY CHALLENGING** This program involves some long travel days and extended walking, often over uneven surfaces and in places where facilities may be limited. Most meals will feature traditional Chinese cuisine. Do you have any questions about this journey? [Email Us]() #### Journey Leader ![Profile picture for user Brian and Deb Tilson](/sites/default/files/styles/user/public/pictures/2025-03/tilson.jpg?h=416153eb&itok=g4Z7N2Dq) Brian and Deb Tilson - lead an active lifestyle of hiking, biking, and canoeing. They also love pickleball! They have travelled to many parts of the world, including Hawaii, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, and Canada, from coast to coast. Brian is a skilled photographer and is looking forward to sharing his love of photography with you. Deb is a recently retired music teacher, and has been singing and entertaining on stage for many years. ![](/sites/default/files/2025-08/1%20CT%20Loyalty%20Points_4.png) [Craig Travel Loyalty Points](/loyalty-club) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-08/2%20Pay%20By%20Cheque_4.png) [Pay by Cheque Discount](/pay-cheque-discount) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-08/3%20Refer%20a%20Friend_4.png) [Refer a Friend](/refer-friend) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-08/4%20About%20CT%20Ratings_4.png) [About CT Ratings](/craig-travel-ratings) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-08/5%20Travel%20Insurance_4.png) [Travel Insurance](/travel-insurance)