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9 Days Golden Yangtze Cruise

Beijing, Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise, Yichang, Shanghai

Traveler Reviews

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Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Yangtze-01

Tour Highlights:

  Best combination of Yangtze River and two gateway cities Beijing and Shanghai
  Great short-term China tour to see the highlights of China
  Enjoy the history and culture in Beijing, leisure on cruise but not boring, stunned by skyline of Shanghai
  Free enquiry and tour can be customized according to your personal requests and interests

 

Best Travel Time:
Suitable for the whole year, best from April to November.

From $ 1382

Free Inquiry

Day 1Beijing
Transfer service to hotel

Meals: No Meals
Recommended Hotel: Citadines Ritan Service Apartment ★★★★

Arrive in Beijing, the capital city of China. You will be greeted and met by YUNSKY tour guide at the airport and transferred to your hotel, whenever your flight arrives in Beijing. After check-in, free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Beijing City View
Beijing City View

Day 2Beijing
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to explore the historical city of Beijing.

[09:30-12:30] You will reach the Tian'anmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Walk through the square and visit today's highlight: Forbidden City , the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant enroute to experience the authentic Chinese food.

[14:00-16:30] Visit Temple of Heaven, which was used to pray for harvest by the emperors. It is China's existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven.

[16:30-17:30] Back to the hotel, en route you can plan for the night show or the Peking duck dinner with your guide and ask for suggestions.


Forbidden City

Day 3Beijing
Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Park, the exterior of Bird Nest and Water Cube

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing★★★★

[08:00-08:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to start your tour to explore Great Wall.

[08:30-12:30] Drive to Summer Palace, which is the existing largest, best-preserved imperial garden in China. Boat ride on Kunming Lake is included. Then drive directly to Mutianyu Great Wall.

[12:30-13:30] Lunch time at Xiaolongpu Restaurant,famous for the vegetable food, such as fried vegetables, dry-fried beans, sweet corn cake

[13:30-17:30] Visit Mutianyu Great Wall, which section is more popular among foreign visitors. Upon arrival, you can choose to hike on the Great Wall, or take cable car up and walk around. Drive back to Beijing city, while you can take a nap in the car. Visit the exterior Bird Nest and Water Cube, the amazing architectures that built for Beijing Olympic Games. 

[17:30-18:30] Back to the hotel, en route you can plan for the night activities, such as foot massage, houhai night bars and Sanlitun bar street.


Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4Beijing – Chongqing
Fly to Chongqing, Eling Park, Chongqing People's Great Hall

Meals: Breakfast
On Board: Victoria cruise ★★★★★

Morning at leisure on your own, you could just relax at the hotel before transfer to airport to catch the morning flight for Chongqing.

Fly to Chongqing. Your Chongqing tour guide will wait for you at the airport.After lunch, have a visit to Eling Park displays the layout of Suzhou gardens. You can also take excursion to Kansheng Tower where the bird's-eye view of the Yangtze Riverand Chongqing city is breathtaking. And then, continue to visit the Chongqing People Grand Hall which looks like the enlarged version of the sacramental Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

Drive to Chaotianmen wharf and check-in at the Victoria cruise, which Set sail from Chongqing at 9:00 p.m.

Chongqing City View
Chongqing City View

Day 5Yangtze River Cruise
Fengdu Ghost City (optional), Fengdu Shuanguishan National Park, FengYan SanGuo “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” Show(optional)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch& Dinner
On Board: Victoria cruise ★★★★★

Enjoy a full day Yangtze cruise! In ther morning, you will have an optional shore excursion short visit to Fengdu (depends on river condition). Fendu is known as the ‘Ghost City' to most Chinese people. Fengdu Shuanguishan National Park is arranged as your shore excursion. You can also choose to take the additional shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City with extra fee. Tonight a captain welcome reception is arranged for all the tourists. Feng Yan San Guo “Rommance of the Three Kingdoms” Show is another show excursion for you in the evening.

Victoria Cruise Itinerary: (only for reference, may change by cruise without notice)

[06:30-08:30] Early Bird Coffee and Tea; Practice Tai Chi on board and Buffet breakfast.

[09:00-13:30] Shore excursion—Fengdu Shuanguishan National Park is arranged in the morning. Or take additional shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City with extra cost. Buffet lunch is served on board.

[16:00-21:30] Late afternoon Captain's Welcome Reception with buffet dinner. In the evening, you can choose to take the additional Shore excursion—FengYan SanGuo “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” Show.

Notes:
1. The cruise shore excursion and docks are subject to the arrangements which might influent by seasons, water levels, cruise canals and climates and subject to change without prior notice. During the cruise, you will receive the schedule from boat for declares the daily programme
2. Service fee to river guide and cruise crew on board is RMB150 per passenger which does not including in fare.
3. The other personal expense such as internet service, laundry, drinks and bar charge etc are not including.

Fengdu?Ghost City
Fengdu Ghost City

Day 6Yangtze River Cruise
White Emperor City, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Goddess Stream

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch& Dinner
On Board: Victoria cruise ★★★★★

Today, an optional excursion will be arranged at around 07:30 to the White Emperor City – a place offers a view looking toward the Qutang Gorge is depicted on the back of the Chinese 10-yuan bill. Back to the ship and then pass through Three Gorges that namely Qutang Gorge – considered the most dramatic by many visitors, Wu Gorge – known for its deep valleys and forest covered mountains, and then after lunch, you will have a boat excursion to Goddess Stream .

Victoria Cruise Itinerary: (A bit different from the itinerary of other cruises)
06:30 – 07:00 Early bird coffee and tea/ practice Tai Chi at upper deck
07:00 – 08:30 Breakfast (Buffet)
07:30 – 10:15 Optional Shore excursion – White Emperor City (at your own expense RMB295 P.P)
10:45 (Est.)    Sailing through Qutang Gorge
12:45 (Est.)    Scenic cruising – Wu Gorge
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch (Buffet)
15:15 – 18:15 Shore excursion – Goddess Stream (or Shennong Stream depends on river condition)
19:00 – 20:30 Captain's Farewell Banquet (set-menu table dinner)
21:00 – 21:45 Crew cabaret
(18:00-23:00) Check out and pay for the bills if any

Tips: Excursion trip to White Emperor City, you would take the coach directly to Baidi Temple in 20 minutes' drive. You will have two hours for your White Emperor City visit to appreciate the rich historic story and mysterious land.

Qutang Gorge
Three Gorges

Day 7Yichang – Shanghai
Three Gorges Dam, High speed train to Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast
Recommended Hotel: SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund ★★★★

[06:00-07:45] Buffet breakfast

[07:45-10:45] Disembark at Maoping cruise terminal, Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam Site;

After the visiting, the local tour guide will pick you up and transfer to a good local restaurant to have a lunch before being transferred to train station to take high speed rail (about 7.5 hours) to Shanghai. Your Shanghai tour guide will wait for you at the station and help you to transfer to the hotel.

Three Gorges Dam
Three Gorges Dam

Day 8Shanghai
Jade Buddha Temple, the exterior of Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Old Street, The Bund

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to explore the Modern city of China.

[09:30-12:30] Visit Jade Buddha Temple, which is famous for the seated Buddha, encrusted with jewels, which is said to weigh 1,000 kg.Then visit the exterior of Oriental Pearl TV Tower, while walking on Riverside Promenade Bingjiang Da Dao.

[12:30-13:30] Lunch time for the local special food, Dim Sum and Steamed Bun

[13:30-16:30] Visit Yuyuan Garden which is a Chinese classic garden in city downtown, shopping time at Shanghai Old Street and Nanjing Road which is the earliest commercial street in Shanghai, you could look for some special souvenirs and silk product there. After that, enjoy a leisure walk along the Bund, famous for groups of buildings known as “a Gallery of world architecture”.

[16:30-17:30] Back to the hotel, en route you can plan for the night Acrobatic Show, especially the ERA show, which is one of the most popular evening entertainments in Shanghai.

The Bund
The Bund

Day 9Shanghai
Transfer service to airport

Meals: Breakfast

Free day at leisure and be transferred to the airport for return flight. We can arrange the Maglev train ride to Pudong airport if you are interested in, or we will drive you directly to the airport.

Service Ends

Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class Group Size Dec. ~ Feb. Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel
★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

$ 1752

$ 1902

6 ~ 9 pax

$ 1382

$ 1532

Comfortable Hotel
★★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

$ 1852

$ 2058

6 ~ 9 pax

$ 1483

$ 1688

Deluxe Hotel
★★★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

$ 2142

$ 2354

6 ~ 9 pax

$ 1773

$ 1984

Price includes:

♦ Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food

Price excludes:

* International Air tickets or Train Tickets to enter or leave China
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services
* China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance

Remarks:

※ Prices are valid from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027, except Chinese public holidays, local fairs or events.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right to adjust the price caused by exchange rate
※ No guide on the flight and Yangtze River cruise. 
※ Recommended hotels are subject to change in actual booking
※ Special requirements should be advised to YUNSKY in advance.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.


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Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos
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5.0

PunkNelson

5.0

Great Hotel stay Very Nice Tour guides Convenient planned daily trips Average selection of restaurant for food though

Kiwimac53

5.0

We were looking for a tour in SW China while in the area for work and found this one. While we wouldn't normally get a private tour but surprisingly it was actually cheaper than most of the group tours in the area and was great value. While I would usually rather keep one guide for the whole tour, as you get to know each other and they get to know what you are interested in, we changed guides 5 times during this trip (fortunately we had the same guide in Kunming at the start and end of the tour which was a real bonus as Murphy, our Kunming based guide, was excellent.) In this case changing guides had the advantage of local knowledge at each site so compensated for the change. Of the 4 guides we had 3 excellent and 1 very good with each of them working hard to look after us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. Vicky, our Dali based guide was also extremely good making our time there a highlight. The tour gives you 2 days at each base ie travel in the morning, have the afternoon and the next day touring the area then drive to the next base. We chose the driving tour as we feel it gives you a better experience of the area and you get to see the locals in action. All the drivers we had were great – they went out of their way to look after us and were very safe, which is saying something for driving in China. While all of the guides were very fluent in English none of the drivers could speak English which was a slight disadvantage as you didn't have the guides with you when traveling between bases but the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers more than made up for this.
The tour was very well organised and we knew what we were doing from the time we met our guide on arrival at the Kunming railway station to when we walked through security at the airport on our way out. The tour comes with 4,5 and 6 star accommodation choices and we went for the cheapest 4 star option. While the English at the hotels was limited the guides made sure we were checked in and out and took care of any issues (which were minimal). The 4 star option is largely “Chinese style” hotels ie designed for Chinese visitors with breakfast consisting of what many westeners would consider dinner style food but there was always eggs and toast for the less adventurous. The hotels were all clean and comfortable and generally very well located. The Hotel in Kunming (Jin Jang Inn) was a bonus as it seemed higher than 4 star and we stayed there both on our way in and out. As well as breakfast, lunch came with the tour which was enjoyable as the guides choose the restaurants so we got a variety. I got the feeling that most of the restaurants were owned by friends or family or there was some arrangement with the guide, but as you get to formally review each guide and the meals at the end of each stop they work hard to make sure you enjoy the meal and there was always an abundance of food. We tried a range of local cuisine and there was only one meal we didn't think was up to par. You get your own dinner which also suited us as there is invariably a range of restaurants or for the more adventurous there is the street vendors and you can choose what you want. The vehicles we were driven in were all very good- plenty of space and very comfortable.
Being a private tour, while there was a set itinerary, which was diverse and very interesting with something for most people, the guides could tweak it to suit individual interests eg more time at one site and less at another. It is easy to get a bit templed out but overall the itinerary was a good mic of nature and culture. I would thoroughly recommend the tour and the company and we will be looking to the company if/when we go back – Guilin is next on the list as the guides were very happy to discus what they thought we would and wouldn't enjoy based on working with us on this tour,

N2265ZIinfo

5.0

Excellent guides, flexible and knowledgeable travel agent. They speak good English. Our trip was very well organized. We are 100% happy and I can recommend Top China Travel to everybody.

Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Top China travel for a 13 day China vacation (Beijing/Xian/Yangtze River cruise/Shanghai) and right from the start Bonnie provided me with great choices and package options. Throughout the entire planning and even during the trip Bonnie was there for us following up and making sure everything was perfect. Thank you Bonnie for making our China vacation unforgettable.

Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Top China Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect.
My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly.
Thank you Vicky and all at YUNSKY and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.

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