Southeast Asia · River Cruise
Classic China with a Yangtze River Cruise
Beijing · Chongqing · Shanghai · 12 nights
Twelve nights on board and ashore, from Beijing to Shanghai.
The Journey
Twelve nights by ship, with days ashore at Beijing, Chongqing, the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges, Shanghai and Suzhou. Shore days are planned with private guides where shown, and you can always stay on board instead.
The days are built around Forbidden City and Tiananmen, Chongqing and Embarkation, Shibaozhai and Qutang and Wu Gorges. Each one is set out below with what you will see, how you get there and which meals are included.
The defining moment of this route: three nights sailing the Three Gorges aboard a balcony-suite river ship. Your travel specialist can add a night, swap a day or change the order before you book.
Signature Highlights
- Three nights sailing the Three Gorges aboard a balcony-suite river ship
- Forbidden City and Tiananmen, Beijing
- The Great Wall, Beijing
- Temple of Heaven and Peking Duck, Beijing
- Chongqing and Embarkation
- Shibaozhai, the Yangtze River
Day by day
Your Itinerary
- 01Day 1 · Beijing, China
Arrival in Beijing
Private transfer from Capital or Daxing airport and an evening walk through a hutong neighbourhood.
- Private airport transfer
- Hotel night in Beijing
- Hutong walk
- 02Day 2 · Beijing, China
Forbidden City and Tiananmen
The palace complex along its central axis with a private guide, then Jingshan hill for the view over the golden roofs.
- Forbidden City with a private guide
- Tiananmen Square
- Jingshan hill viewpoint
Meals:BL - 03Day 3 · Beijing, China
The Great Wall
A day at Mutianyu, restored and steep, with a cable car up and a stretch walked away from the busiest towers.
- Mutianyu section of the Great Wall
- Cable car up
- Quieter towers on foot
Meals:BL - 04Day 4 · Beijing, China
Temple of Heaven and Peking Duck
The Temple of Heaven and its morning park life, the Summer Palace lake, and a Peking duck dinner.
- Temple of Heaven
- Summer Palace
- Peking duck dinner
Meals:BD - 05Day 5 · Chongqing, China
Chongqing and Embarkation
Fly to Chongqing, about two and a half hours, see Hongya Cave's stilted terraces, then board your river ship for an evening departure.
- Flight to Chongqing
- Hongya Cave
- Evening boarding
Meals:BD - 06Day 6 · The Yangtze River
Shibaozhai
The red wooden pagoda of Shibaozhai, built against the face of a cliff, and an afternoon of river scenery.
- Shibaozhai pagoda
- Scenic cruising
- Talks on board
Meals:BLD - 07Day 7 · The Three Gorges
Qutang and Wu Gorges
Through the narrow Qutang Gorge and the Wu Gorge, with a smaller boat into the side gorges of the Shennong Stream.
- Qutang Gorge
- Wu Gorge
- Shennong Stream by small boat
Meals:BLD - 08Day 8 · Shanghai, China
Xiling Gorge, the Dam and Shanghai
The Xiling Gorge and the Three Gorges Dam, then disembark at Yichang and fly to Shanghai, about two hours.
- Xiling Gorge
- Three Gorges Dam
- Flight to Shanghai
Meals:B - 09Day 9 · Shanghai, China
The Bund and the Old City
The colonial-era Bund, the Yuyuan classical garden and the lanes of the old town, then the ferry across to Pudong.
- The Bund
- Yuyuan Garden
- Ferry to Pudong
Meals:B - 10Day 10 · Shanghai, China
French Concession and the Shanghai Museum
Plane-tree streets and shikumen lanes of the former French Concession, and the Shanghai Museum's bronzes and ceramics.
- Former French Concession
- Shanghai Museum
- Shanghai Tower observation deck
Meals:B - 11Day 11 · Suzhou, China
Suzhou's Gardens
About 30 minutes by high-speed train to Suzhou for the UNESCO-listed classical gardens and the canals of Pingjiang Road.
- Humble Administrator's Garden
- Pingjiang Road canals
- High-speed train day trip
Meals:B - 12Day 12 · Shanghai, China
Zhujiajiao Water Town
An hour out to Zhujiajiao's canals, stone bridges and courtyard houses, best early in the morning.
- Zhujiajiao canals
- Fangsheng Bridge
- Afternoon at leisure
Meals:B - 13Day 13 · Shanghai, China
Departure from Shanghai
A last walk along the river before the private transfer to Pudong or Hongqiao airport.
- Morning at leisure
- Private airport transfer
- Onward flight
Meals:B
Inclusions
- Handpicked luxury accommodations across the journey
- Daily breakfast; select lunches and dinners as noted
- Private airport transfers and inter-city ground movement
- Curated experiences and reserved access as listed
- 24×7 on-trip concierge from our India desk
Not included
- International airfare unless explicitly mentioned
- Visa fees, travel insurance and personal expenses
- Meals and experiences not listed in the itinerary
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Anything of a personal nature (spa, minibar, laundry)
Transfers
- Private arrival and departure transfers with a named driver
- Moves between stops by private car, rail, ferry or domestic flight, as shown day by day
- Timings reconfirmed with you the evening before each transfer
Visa & Documentation
- Visa guidance provided by our documentation desk
- Recommended to hold passport valid for 6+ months
- Digital pre-arrival forms handled on your behalf where possible
Common Questions
When is the best time for a Yangtze cruise?+
April to May and September to October, when the weather is mild and the gorges are clearest.
Do Indian passport holders need a visa for China?+
Yes. A tourist visa is needed before travel.
How many nights is the river cruise?+
Three nights between Chongqing and Yichang through the Three Gorges, as shown in the plan.
How far in advance should we book?+
Three to four months ahead gives the widest choice of rooms and guided days, and more for school holidays, festivals and peak season. Shorter notice is often possible; ask and we will check live availability.
Can the itinerary be customised?+
Yes. Every journey is a starting point: add or remove nights, swap a day's plan, change hotels or reorder the route, and your travel specialist re-plans the whole trip around it.
What is the payment schedule?+
Your quote sets out the deposit that confirms the booking and the date the balance is due. Both depend on the hotels, airlines and guides involved, so they are agreed with you before you pay anything.
Speak to a Curator
Let's shape this journey around you.
Share a few details and one of our curators will get in touch, usually within a working day, with a bespoke proposal and pricing.
Prefer to talk?
+91 98117 66362
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