Day 1: Guangzhou
Arrive in Guangzhou and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2: Guangzhou (B)
Today escape Guangzhou for the morning and explore the Kaiping Diaolou at the historic towns of Liyuan and Zilicun. Kaiping Diaolou and villages feature the Diaolou, multi-storeyed defensive village houses which display a complex and flamboyant fusion of Chinese and Western structural and decorative forms. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then transfer back to Guangzhou where the evening is spent at leisure.
Day 3: Guangzhou - Xiamen (B, L)
Spend the morning at leisure before catching a high speed train bound for Xiamen. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the evening is spent at leisure.
Day 4: Xiamen (B, L)
Located on the southeast coast of mainland China in the Fujian province, Xiamen also sits across the strait from Taiwan. Enjoy a five minute ferry to Gulangyu Island where you will visit Shuzhuang Garden and Piano Museum, the largest piano museum in Asia. In the afternoon, visit Hulishan Fortress, South Putuo Temple, Xiamen University and the Golden Island Ring Road, a 4-6 lane seaside road totally 43km in length, a green belt that offers beautiful seashores. You will also enjoy time to explore Zhongshan Shopping Street. The rest of the evening is spent at leisure.
Day 5: Xiamen (B, L)
Embark on a full day visit to the Yongding Hakka Building village, a unique site to China – explore Zhencheng Building, Kuiju Building, Rusheng Building and Fuyu Building. The first earthen buildings in the village were constructed here in the 13th century. During the different dynasties, new earthen buildings in different styles including square, oblong, round and half-moon, were built one after the other in the village, with families still living in them to this day. With earthen buildings, ancestral halls, temples, schools, the village and its surrounding natural scenery perfectly fuse together, creating a peaceful Chinese painting. Back in Xiamen, the evening is spent at leisure.
Day 6: Xiamen - Wuyishan (B)
This morning catch a high speed train to Wuyishan, home to Da Hong Pao, a Wuyi rock tea grown in the Wuyi Mountains. Heavily oxidized, this dark oolong tea is the world’s most expensive tea. Due to its high quality, Da Hong Pao tea is usually reserved for honoured guests in China. Enjoy a taste of this precious tea with an afternoon Da Hong Pao tea break. The evening is spent at leisure.
Day 7: Wuyishan (B, L)
Enjoy a full day exploration to Mt.Wuyishan. Hike to the Tianyou Peak, situated north of the fifth and the sixth bends of the Nine-Bend River and covers an area of 4sqkm. The Nine-Bend River is flanked on either side by mountain peaks and stones of unusual shapes that are interwoven with various watercourses. Each bend forms a unique picturesque and poetic landscape and each landscape has its own name. Enjoy bamboo rafting here followed by lunch at a local restaurant. The evening is then spent at leisure.
Day 8: Wuyishan - Wuhan (B)
This morning catch a high speed train to Wuhan where the rest of the day is spent at leisure.
Optional tour (additional cost) 4 hours biking along the East Lake + visit the Yellow Crane Tower with guide. The East Lake Scenic Area was formed around the many famous scenic spots along the bank.
Day 9: Wuhan - Yichang (B)
Spend the morning at leisure before catching a high speed train to Yichang where you will be transferred to Yichang Maoping Pier to board your Yangtze River Cruise. Spend the next four nights onboard the deluxe Sancturary retreats explorer.
Day 10: Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Set sail in the morning followed by your first shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam, a hydroelectric gravity dam. Enjoy a captain’s welcome aboard party followed by a cabaret show after dinner.
Day 11: Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
A shore excursion to Shennong stream by small boat awaits today.The stream is a 60km small tributary of the Yangtze River and is famous for its picturesque scenery. Back on board the ship, continue cruising and pass through Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge.
Day 12: Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Today enjoy a shore excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda, a wooden pagoda built along the cliff face of Shibaozhai. First built in the Qing Dynasty by local craftsmen, the pagoda is one of the largest existing wooden architectural structures using a cross bracket – not a single nail has been used in the construction. The overall layout of Shibaozhai Pagoda was designed according to the topography of the cliff. After, continue cruising towards Chongqing. This evening there is a captain’s farewell dinner for all.
Day 13: Chongqing (B)
This morning, disembark your cruise in Chongqing. You will be met at the pier and transferred to Chongqing Airport where tour arrangements end.
Inclusions
8 nights accommodation in 3 star hotels
4 nights aboard a Deluxe Yangtze River Cruise
Breakfast daily, 7x lunches, 3x dinners
All transfers and sightseeing including entrance fees as per the itinerary
The services of a local English-speaking guide in each city and high speed domestic trains Guangzhou-Xiamen-Wuyishan-Wuhan-Yichang
Excludes: Meals not specified, beverages, travel insurance, gratuities and any other personal expenses
Set on the banks of the Pearl River, Guangzhou is one of the bigger cities in China. It is home to China’s biggest trade fair – the biannual Canton Fair, and is an important trade region for New Zealand. The city has an excellent port and local railway network with quick access available from Hong 
A spine-tingling and glorious colossus of a country that charms all who travel there. We are constantly bowled over by China – its beauty, ancient history and powerful presence are all intoxicating, but what we feel is most fascinating is the unexpectedly fun and agile sense of humour of its people. China is the most 
Experience China’s longest and most famous river with its breath-taking scenery and historical sights. Winding its way through the heartland of China, the Yangtze River is a rich tapestry that encapsulates the country like nothing else. The most impressive section of the river is the three Yangtze River gorges – Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and