Tripology

Hotel

Welcome to Beijing, China’s former imperial capital whose rich history dates back more than 3,000 years. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Relaxation

After check-in, you have free time to relax or explore.

Sightseeing

This morning visit Tiananmen Square, built to accommodate over 1,000,000 people.

Sightseeing

Then, tour Beijing’s mysterious Forbidden City. Completed in 1420, it was off limits to visitors for 500 years.

Sightseeing

Explore the elegant palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens within its walls.

Sightseeing

After a local lunch you can tour the Summer Palace which is a 700-acre complex. Walk among its elegant buildings and landscaped grounds, considered to be among the finest of Chinese gardens.

Performing Arts

Tonight’s dinner features China’s famous Peking Duck followed by a performance of the world-renowned Peking Opera. (B, L, D)

Sightseeing

After breakfast, travel to the Badaling Hills to walk the ramparts of the fabled Great Wall of China.

Sightseeing

Lunch in a local restaurant is followed by a stroll along the Sacred Way, a tree-lined avenue with massive animal sculptures guarding the Ming Tombs.

Food and Dining

Tonight enjoy a dinner of local specialties. (B, L, D)

Sightseeing

Today tour Old Beijing’s hutongs (narrow alleys) via rickshaw. (Rickshaw hutong tour only available on Beijing to Shanghai itinerary direction.)

Sightseeing

Discover the sights and sounds of traditional Chinese life. Visit a silk carpet workshop for a demonstration of this ancient art.

Commercial Flight

After lunch, fly to Xian, key city of the Tang Dynasty.

Sightseeing

From 618 to 907 A.D. this dynasty presided over one of China’s most glorious cultural periods.

Performing Arts

Tonight, experience its grandeur as you dine surrounded by the historic song and dance of this colorful era.

Sightseeing

After breakfast, tour the mausoleum where Emperor Qin Shi Huang was laid to rest over 2,000 years ago. Marvel at his eternal minions—more than 6,000 life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors, archers, infantrymen and horses buried with him—from walkways that provide a bird’s-eye view.

Commercial Flight

After lunch fly to Chongqing, gateway to the Yangtze.

River or Barge Cruise

You are welcomed aboard the Viking Century Sky and enjoy a Western dinner. (B, L, D)

Sightseeing

This afternoon, you tour the 12-story red pavilion Shibaozhai Temple. An amazing piece of Chinese architecture built during the Qing Dynasty (c. 1650), it is set on a hill high above the Yangtze. Climb up to the top for breathtaking views of the river below.

Food and Dining

Lunch and dinner aboard. (B, L, D)

River or Barge Cruise

This morning, cruise past the spectacular limestone cliffs known as the Three Gorges. During your 150-mile journey, first pass Qutang Gorge, the shortest and narrowest of the three larger gorges.

Sightseeing

Then board smaller boats to the Lesser Three Gorges. Marvel at the hanging coffins of the Ba people and the ancient plank road carved into the cliffside.

River or Barge Cruise

After enjoying a scenic lunch stop, board your ship and cruise through Wu (Witches) Gorge.

Food and Dining

Dine aboard and sail overnight. (B, L, D)

Food and Dining

Enjoy breakfast aboard while traversing the 5-stage locks of the Dam.

Sightseeing

Disembark for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam. Learn about this immense hydroelectric engineering project and how it will affect the Chinese people and the Yangtze.

River or Barge Cruise

Then cruise through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges.

Food and Dining

Dinner is served aboard. (B, L, D)

Voluntourism

This morning, visit a rural village where Viking River Cruises has sponsored a much-needed elementary school. Arrive to a warm greeting from the children and be charmed with songs and stories.

River or Barge Cruise

Return to your ship for meals and afternoon cruising. (B, L, D)

Sightseeing

After breakfast, sail Dongting Lake, China’s second-largest freshwater lake. From here, tour 66-foot-high Yueyang Tower and its nearby pavilions, originally built during the Qing Dynasty.

River or Barge Cruise

Cruise overnight. (B, L, D)

Sightseeing

After breakfast, disembark in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. Tour the Hubei Museum with its many historic artifacts including a collection of ancient bronze bells. (B, L, D)

Museums

After breakfast, tour the Ceramic History Museum. Learn how ceramics were produced in ancient times and their significance to each dynasty.

Sailing

Dine aboard and sail overnight. (B, L, D)

Sightseeing

Marvel at the tranquil beauty of Mt. jiu hua, one of only four sacred buddhist mountains. Later, tour a buddhist temple.

River or Barge Cruise

Enjoy dinner onboard. (B, L, D)

Sightseeing

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic motorcoach ride to Suzhou, nicknamed “Venice of the East” for its intricate canals. Tour the Old Town and embark on a sampan ride. Tour a silk factory and the exquisite Fishermen’s Garden.

Bus

Have lunch and continue via motorcoach to Shanghai.

Hotel

Check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner with evening free time. (B, L, D)

Sightseeing

This morning, tour Old Shanghai and the Bund, the city’s elegant riverfront promenade.

Museums

Then, visit the Shanghai Museum which features displays of ceramics, bronzes and paintings.

Performing Arts

Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant, followed by a Chinese acrobatic performance. (B, L, D)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we will take you to the airport for your return flight. (B)