The Experience

All ages experience China at its best on this special family journey where you travel with a dedicated Children’s Activity Coordinator who leads captivating child-friendly programming throughout. Day 1: Arrive Beijing, China Arrive in the capital city of Beijing, China’s long-time seat of power, where you are transferred to your luxurious hotel. Four Seasons Hotel Beijing Day 2: Beijing | The Great Wall This morning, walk or ride a cable car to the top of the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, enjoying sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. Four Seasons Hotel Beijing | Meals: B D Day 3: Beijing | Dynastic Capital This afternoon, explore Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square and a site of great political significance. Next, walk in the footsteps of legendary emperors in the Forbidden City. Once China’s former imperial palace, the Forbidden City is now a vast museum housing imperial treasures collected over centuries by 24 emperors. Later, visit the Beijing National Stadium (The Bird’s Nest,) and the National Aquatics Center (The Water Cube,), both of which were designed for the 2008 Summer Olympics. During your visit, you have an opportunity to fly your own kite or purchase a kite to take home. Four Seasons Hotel Beijing | Meals: B L Day 4: Xian | The Great Silk Road Start the day with a tai chi class taught by a master practitioner at the ancient Temple of Heaven, an exquisite example from the Ming period of a Chinese wooden building constructed without the use of a single nail. Afterward, climb in a pedicab and ride through a hutong, a vast neighborhood of small, winding alleyways that once numbered in the thousands. Fly this afternoon to Xian, a modern city at the eastern terminus of the Great Silk Road and cloaked in over 3,000 years of history. After your arrival, enjoy a special tour of the Yangling Museum to explore its Restoration Lab and new discoveries from Han Dynasty tombs. Shangri-La Hotel, Xian | Meals: B D Day 5: Xian | Terra Cotta Warriors Today, accompanied by an on-site archaeologist, visit the excavation site of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, the life-size army created during the Qin Dynasty to protect Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, in his afterlife. More than 8,000 soldiers are spread throughout three dig pits, each revealing a unique face while also demonstrating a remarkable level of craftsmanship. Later, enter the Ancient Gate of Xian’s impressive City Wall with the option to cycle along its ramparts. You also see a pottery-shaping demonstration and have the opportunity to make your own figure. Shangri-La Hotel, Xian | Meals: B L Day 6: Chengdu | Faces of Sichuan This morning, walk the Great Mosque and Muslim Quarter, where one of the oldest and best-preserved Islamic mosques reveals a fascinating mix of architecture. Later, fly to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, where abundant natural resources and Shu handicrafts have defined the region’s charm for centuries. Tonight, attend a face-changing performance at the Sichuan Opera, one of the China’s oldest and most popular operas. Shangri-La Hotel, Chengdu | Meals: B L Day 7: Chengdu | Pandas Visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, a project supported by A&K Philanthropy, where you witness the distinctive bear in its natural habitat and learn about China’s unofficial national symbol. Shangri-La Hotel, Chengdu | Meals: B Day 8: Chengdu to Chongqing | Board the ,˜Yangzi Explorer This morning, see the Buddhist sculptures of the Dazu Caves and visit a family home in a village. Later, board your luxury river cruiser in Chongqing for a three-night journey through the Three Gorges. Sanctuary ‘Yangzi Explorer’ | Meals: B L D Days 9-10: Cruising the Yangtze | Asia’s Great River Spend two days on the Yangtze, passing through the legendary Three Gorges: Xiling, Wu and Qutang. This is perhaps the most picturesque region in China, and your voyage is enhanced with shore excursions led by expert historians and naturalists, including a visit with a local family relocated during the world’s largest dam project. Sanctuary ‘Yangzi Explorer’ | Meals: B L D Day 11: Yichang to Shanghai | Disembark ,˜Yangzi Explorer” Disembark in Yichang. Later, fly to Shanghai and transfer to your hotel on the Bund. Sanctuary ‘Yangzi Explorer’ | Meals: B L Day 12: Shanghai | Pearl of the Orient Explore China’s dynamic and energetic Shanghai, where spectacular modern skylines meet with classic street markets and gardens. Visit Zhujiajiao, a traditional water village harkening back to China’s past, and glide through its main canal on a sampan (traditional wooden boat). Later, attend a Shanghai Acrobatic performance, one of China’s oldest performing arts. The Peninsula Shanghai | Meals: B Day 13: Shanghai | Life on the Bund This morning, stroll the streets of Old Town and visit the 16th-century Yu Garden with its pavilions and streams. Later, walk the Bund, Shanghai’s exciting and popular promenade. This evening, explore studios and galleries in the M-50 Contemporary Art District, then gather tonight for a festive farewell dinner. The Peninsula Shanghai | Meals: B L D Day 14: Depart Shanghai After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your international flight home. Meals: B