Visit Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, plus Sail the Mighty Yangtze River

Have you always wanted to visit China, but its size, language, and complexity of travel arrangements kept you away? Why not take a combination land tour and Yangtze River cruise with iBestTravel?

iBestTravel offers three land and cruise tours in China. Each program includes hotel stays in Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, plus a Yangtze River cruise on the Viking Emerald. In May 2014, I took the basic 13-day tour, “Imperial Jewels of China”, which is described below. The 16-day “Roof of the World” includes everything in the Imperial Jewels tour, adding on three nights in Lhasa, Tibet. The 18-day “China’s Cultural Delights” features an 11-day Yangtze River Cruise on the Viking Emerald rather than the 6-day cruise in the other two programs.

Overview of Land Tour and Yangtze River Cruise

China is the 4th largest country in the world, almost as large as the USA. However, its 1.3 billion population far outnumbers the 318 million who live in the United States. This size can make travel around the country challenging. However, with an iBestTravel land and cruise tour, the company skillfully takes care of all hotel and intra-China flight details, allowing guests to enjoy the sights, sounds, and cultures of this amazing country.

The land tour includes visits to major attractions in and around Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. It also encompasses a 6-day cruise on the Yangtze River between Chongqing and Wuhan, enabling travelers to witness the picturesque Chinese countryside, visit significant sites along the way, and pass through the locks of the famed Three Gorges Dam.

Let’s delve into each of the destinations and sites included on the 13-day iBestTravel “Imperial Jewels of China” cruise tour. The tour begins in Beijing and concludes in Shanghai, though the itinerary can run in reverse.

First Two Days in Beijing

Day One – Arrival in Beijing

Most international flights arrive in the afternoon or early evening, so guests have the first night to rest or explore after checking into their hotel. Air travelers with iBestTravel are met at the airport and transferred to the hotel.

Our cruise tour was full, with almost 250 participants divided into seven groups, each with a tour leader who stayed with their group the entire 13 days. To avoid overwhelming the breakfast facilities at a single hotel, iBestTravel utilized two luxury hotels in Beijing— the Ritz Carlton Financial District and the Kerry Hotel, accommodating three groups at one hotel and four at the other. Each venue received outstanding reviews from guests.

Day Two in Beijing

The touring commences earnestly the following morning. Our first stop was one of China’s iconic landmarks—the Great Wall. Our tour visited the Badaling Hills entrance, which is about 40 miles north of Beijing. Guests had free time to walk along the Great Wall and explore the numerous shops lining the road to the entrance.

After the Great Wall, lunch was served, followed by a visit to the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs. This mile-long walkway is flanked by 15th-century pairs of giant animals, men, and mythical figures.

On our return to the hotel, we made a photo stop at one of Beijing’s newer iconic monuments, the National Olympic Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest), constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

After a delightful dinner at the hotel, our lengthy first day concluded with an optional performance at the Beijing Opera House. The elaborate costumes, unique music, and intricate plots made for an enchanting evening, compensating for the language barrier.

Days Three and Four in Beijing

Day Three in Beijing

The second full day in China began with a visit to Tiananmen Square located in the heart of Beijing. Spanning 100 acres, it is the world’s largest public square and contains Mao Zedong’s tomb and Memorial Hall. The square has been a site for public celebrations and rallies for centuries, and many visitors recall the pro-democracy demonstrations of 1989.

Next, we traversed a tunnel leading under the street that separates Tiananmen Square from the Forbidden City, now known as the Palace Museum. This vast area, paved with bricks, covers 175 acres. Groups enter through the nearest gate, touring the grounds and exiting out the back gate where buses await.

After lunch, some opted for a tour to the Summer Palace on the outskirts of Beijing. This 700-acre garden and complex of palaces served as a summer retreat for the emperor and royal family, with Empress Dowager Cixi overseeing the current layout. Exploring this site alongside the Forbidden City truly illustrates the lavish lifestyle of Chinese royal dynasties.

While most meals are included, many opted for a memorable dinner at a renowned Peking duck restaurant, which proved far superior to the included dinner at a local establishment. Preparing this dish is intricate, and its exquisite taste far exceeded any previous experience I had with duck.

Day Four – Beijing and Travel to Xi’an

On our last day in Beijing, checked baggage was left outside hotel rooms at the designated time, identified, and then loaded into the bus’s storage area. We wouldn’t see our checked bags until the hotel in Xi’an later that day.

Before departing Beijing, we visited an ancient bell tower, observed two men playing a traditional shuttlecock game, and toured one of the old hutongs in a rickshaw pedicab. Within the hutong, we engaged with a local resident and enjoyed a traditional tea ceremony at a local tea house.

Before heading to the airport, we had a boxed lunch on the bus. Tour leaders handled check-in and boarding passes, so all we needed to do was clear security and board the plane for Xi’an.

Xi’an – Terra Cotta Warriors

Xi’an was the capital for 12 Chinese dynasties and boasts a history of over 3000 years. As the starting point of the famous Silk Road, this city connected China with Europe, fostering a rich blend of cultures that persists today.

After flying to Xi’an from Beijing, we enjoyed dinner at the “best dumpling restaurant” in Xi’an, Defachang Dumpling Restaurant. Our table savored appetizers of chicken on a stick, duck, cucumbers in vinegar with hot peppers, salad, tofu, soup, onions and mushrooms, concluding with a delightful noodle dish. Following the appetizers, various dumplings emerged, allowing us to try a dozen types—ranging from sausage, ham, and pork to shrimp, pickled cabbage, bamboo shoots, and others. The dinner was both fun and delicious.

After dining, we checked into the Hilton Hotel downtown, while some groups stayed at the nearby Crowne Plaza. Both accommodations were centrally located in the old downtown area of Xi’an.

Day Five – Full Day in Xi’an

Our day started early as we traveled 30 miles to the site where farmers discovered the terra cotta warriors in 1974. This location is primarily why many tourists visit Xi’an. Although we spent an entire morning exploring the three areas with warriors and the museum, I believe everyone would have been content to marvel at these life-sized figures with their distinct faces for even longer.

Post-tour of the terra cotta warriors, we stopped for lunch nearby before heading back to the city. Our restaurant was situated on the third floor of a retail building hosting a studio that makes replica terra cotta figures and lacquered furniture. The shopping and delicious meal, especially the freshly cooked noodles, were highlights of the day.

Xi’an – Old City Walls, Dinner Show, and Museum

Following a late lunch at the hotel, guests had free time to explore the old city walls and historic inner city. Later that evening, many attended an optional Tang dynasty dinner show, while others enjoyed dinner at a local restaurant. The return trip to the hotel was enchanting, particularly the illuminated Bell Tower.

Day Six – Shaanxi History Museum in Xi’an and Flight to Chongqing

Before flying from Xi’an to Chongqing, our group visited the Shaanxi History Museum, one of China’s national museums, showcasing 300,000 diverse pieces from the neolithic period to the Tang and pre-Ming periods.

Surprisingly, our meal at the Xi’an airport restaurant was superb. After a delightful spread, we promptly boarded our flight to Chongqing.

Boarding the Viking Emerald in Chongqing

Day Six – Chongqing, Pandas and Boarding the Viking Emerald

Chongqing has the largest metropolitan administrative area in China, housing over 32 million residents. (For comparison, Shanghai has about 25 million, and New York City approximately 23 million.)

Upon boarding the bus at the airport, we toured through the hilly city for nearly an hour, witnessing high-rise apartments and offices. The city is located on a peninsula, flanked by the Yangtze River on one side and the Jialing River on the other, necessitating numerous bridges.

Chongqing is often referred to as one of China’s three “furnaces” (along with Wuhan and Nanjing) due to its intense summer humidity and substantial pollution. The visible fog is primarily smog.

Our first stop was the Chongqing Zoo, arriving around 5:30 pm, shortly after closing. No issue; they allowed us to enter. We headed straight for the panda exhibit. The zoo housed both red lesser pandas and the giant pandas we recognize. The lesser pandas, with their reddish fur and dark markings, resemble oversized raccoons. We observed about six of them in one expansive enclosure— separated by a moat rather than cages. The giant pandas each enjoyed their individual spaces, also separated by moats. I nearly forgot how solitary they are, choosing to dine alone on bamboo.

After enjoying the pandas, we arrived at the Viking Emerald around 6:45 pm. As May is not peak season, we maneuvered down numerous steps and along a gangway approximately 100 yards over mud to board the ship. However, the benefit of smaller ships is the lack of long lines during boarding, permitting us to enter our cabin swiftly. Our bags soon followed.

Photo Tour of the Viking Emerald

The Viking Emerald is a 256-passenger ship with six decks, offering all cabins and suites with a private balcony. Guests can explore the various venues on this splendid Yangtze River cruise ship:

• Reception Area
• Dining Room
• Emerald Bar
• Observation Lounge
• Library
• Fitness Center
• Balcony Cabin

On the Yangtze River with Viking Cruises

Day 6 – Sailaway from Chongqing

The Viking Emerald was docked in downtown Chongqing, and as the ship departed around 10 pm, many guests gathered on the top deck to admire the beautiful city lights while passing under some incredible contemporary bridges. Our Yangtze cruise was underway!

Day 7 – Shibaozhai Temple

The following day, fog on the river delayed our arrival at the Shibaozhai Temple near Zhongxian. However, after six busy days in Beijing and Xi’an, we relished a much-needed day to unwind onboard. By the late afternoon, the Viking Emerald docked, and we disembarked with a local guide.

The Shibaozhai Temple, perched on a cliff, overlooks Zhongxian. Much of the town was submerged when the Three Gorges Dam raised the river, necessitating a large dam to protect the Temple from rising waters. Visitors can now stroll through the town and cross a high swinging pedestrian bridge to reach the site.

Climbing the 12-story pavilion presented an interesting view of the temple’s architecture. After the tour, we enjoyed ample time to shop on our walk back to the ship before dinner.

Day 8 – New Wushan and the Lesser Three Gorges

A highlight of any Yangtze River cruise is navigating through the Three Gorges and the Lesser Three Gorges of the Daning River, a tributary of the Yangtze. Our ship glided through the first of the Three Gorges shortly after breakfast, showcasing stunning scenery that promised even more wonders to come later in the morning.

Though the Viking Emerald is a smaller ship, it is not capable of traveling far up the Daning, so all guests boarded a day boat at New Wushan to view the Lesser Three Gorges. This comfortable boat featured covered seating, a snack bar, and restroom facilities for our morning expedition.

The Lesser Three Gorges, renowned for their breathtaking cliffs and lush hillsides, were every bit as magnificent as advertised. Our boat ride concluded by lunchtime, and we returned to the Viking Emerald for dining before continuing through the second of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze.

More Time on the Yangtze with Viking River Cruises

Day 9 – Three Gorges Dam

The Three Gorges Dam stands as one of the engineering marvels of the 21st century, boasting vast locks and a dam structure that offer intriguing views from the river. Our group disembarked to observe the complex from a sizable visitor center situated on a hill high above the dam.

In the afternoon, we sailed through the last of the Three Gorges, transitioning into a less mountainous region of China.

Day 10 – Visit to the Jing Zhou School

iBestTravel supports three schools along the Yangtze, giving guests on the Viking Emerald the chance to visit one school while cruising near Jing Zhou, an industrial city with approximately a million residents.

It was enjoyable for both students and guests to practice English, see the classrooms, and interact with the children.

Later that afternoon, we continued our journey toward Wuhan, and many of us joined in attending another educational lecture on China, which was one of the many informative sessions held during the cruise.

Day 11 – Wuhan and Flight to Shanghai

Our Yangtze River cruise wrapped up sooner than we anticipated, and we disembarked the following morning. Before flying to Shanghai, we visited the notable Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan.

This museum contains many captivating exhibits, but it is primarily renowned for the artifacts recovered from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, who died in 433 BC. The tomb, which remained unopened until 1978, revealed thousands of items, including his coffin and those of several young women believed to be his concubines. The ancient bronze bells displayed there are iconic symbols of China, and we enjoyed a musical concert featuring replicas.

We enjoyed lunch on the bus en route to the airport, and then we set off for Shanghai.

Two Nights and a Day in Shanghai

Our journey with iBestTravel culminated with a two-night stay in Shanghai. During our drive into the city, we briefly walked along The Bund, retaining its colonial Shanghainese charm. It was a sunny day, providing spectacular views of the modern Pudong section across the river.

As with previous cities, our accommodations were luxurious. We stayed at the Shangri-la Jing’an, a property located on West Nanjing Road within a massive complex housing a large shopping mall and offering easy access to the Shanghai subway system. Our rooms, situated on high floors, offered breathtaking city views, while some groups opted for the nearby Westin Hotel, also located close to The Bund.

We enjoyed a superb dinner at our hotel, and many opted to return to The Bund to appreciate the area’s evening ambiance.

Day 12 – A Full Day in Shanghai

The next morning commenced with a visit to the Yuyuan Gardens and the adjacent shopping bazaar. Dating back to the 16th century, the gardens exemplify a traditional Chinese garden’s tranquility.

Departing from the gardens and bazaar, we enjoyed lunch at a Mongolian restaurant that featured a retail area showcasing exquisite Chinese embroidery. This intricate craft, which demands hundreds of hours, is steadily declining as younger generations show less interest. Many embroidered pieces can fetch thousands of dollars, and it often takes nearly a year to complete one. How many would sew daily for a year to create a masterpiece valued under $10,000?

After lunch, we visited the renowned Shanghai Museum, housing diverse exhibits that span thousands of years of Chinese history. Our extended day in Shanghai concluded with a delectable dinner and a mesmerizing Chinese acrobat show, providing a perfect finale to this unforgettable journey with iBestTravel.

Day 13 – Time to Go Home (or not)

While most travelers prepared to head home the next day, some opted for either the escorted 4-night extension to Guilin and Hong Kong or stayed an additional two nights in Shanghai for leisure and the chance to visit the nearby city of Suzhou with a guide.

Summary and Closing Thoughts

Our time in China seemed to pass in an instant. Conversations with fellow travelers revealed everyone felt fortunate to have had exceptional tour leaders. The quality of iBestTravel’s guides and management was commendable, enhancing the overall experience.

The hotels, ship, and tour organization were outstanding, ensuring no time waste in airports while maximizing our time at various cultural sites. This itinerary allowed us to experience many highlights throughout China within a fortnight. The team at iBestTravel exceeded our expectations at every turn.

As a common practice in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary cruise and hotel accommodations for review purposes. While this compensation did not influence the review, iBestTravel believes in full transparency concerning any potential conflicts of interest. For more details, refer to our Ethics Policy.