16-Nights China, Tibet and the Yangtze - Tailormade Journeys — CALL

Abercrombie & Kent

OFFER ID 1674905

As varied as it is vast, China rushes from the ancient to the futuristic at breathtaking speed: a place of soaring cityscapes and sacred waterways, where Buddhist prayers drift over epic mountain scenery. See the most iconic sights of China and Tibet as you cross this spectacular nation. Expect eye-opening cultural tours, scenic river cruises and close-up encounters with ancient history as you travel from the heart of the city to the distant peaks of the Tibetan Plateau. Using our expertise, A&K can tailor your adventure according to your desires, bringing you both the unmissable highlights and the surprising encounters that lie firmly off the beaten track.

16 nights | Call for pricing

Itinerary

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Itinerary Details

1 Arrive Beijing, China

Big, bold, bewildering: no adjective is too grand for the Chinese capital. It is a living, breathing timeline on the rushing banks of the Hai, where red lanterns flicker in the narrow alleys of hutong districts, the scents of Pekinese cuisine waft over busy markets, and each skyscraper looms larger than the last.

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2 Beijing | Iconic Sites

Walk in the footsteps of past emperors and their royal processions at the Temple of Heaven, explore the Forbidden City’s National Palace Museum and reflect on the legacy of Tiananmen Square.

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3 Beijing | The Great Wall

Leave the crowds behind as you scale the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, a wonderfully preserved, off-piste stretch of this iconic monument, before delving into one of Beijing’s traditional hutong neighborhoods. In this old-world maze of lanes and alleyways, visit the home of a local family for a rare glimpse into a bygone age.

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4 Xi’an | Silk Route Legacy

Stashed away like plundered gold, Xi’an is the China of your imagination. This grand city was once the final knot at the end of the Silk Route, its streets a raucous mix of faiths and fortunes, and still bristles with mystique today. Tour its 14th-century city walls or climb its square pagodas but leave the most awe-inspiring sight of them all for last: the Terracotta Army, a highlight of any visit to this ancient place.

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5 Xi’an | Terracotta Army

Built from clay to safely guide the first emperor, Quin Shi Huang, into the afterlife, the thousands-strong Terracotta Army, complete with horses and chariots, is a true sight to behold. Delve into the army’s history with your private guide, who can unravel the secrets of this epic sight.

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6 Chengdu | Cultural Hotpot

For many travellers, Chengdu means one thing: pandas. But Sichuan’s capital is a bubbling hotpot of local culture, where afternoons can be spent playing chess beneath the trees of the People’s Park, and the evenings browsing the night markets for a fiery introduction into Sichuanese cuisine.

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7 Chengdu | Giant Panda Encounter

Meet China’s most famous mascots on a guided tour of the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center. Learn more about the history of panda conservation, and meet some of the adorable, 100-plus giant and red pandas currently in the center's care.

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8 Lhasa, Tibet | Sky-High Cradle of Buddhism

Even if Lhasa were not the ancient cradle of Buddhism, it would be hard to refute the misty, spiritual quality of its geography, perched like an eagle’s nest on a lofty plateau. But faith is inescapable in this rich, altitudinous dream: fluttering prayer flags and monks’ crimson robes, butter lamps flickering in ornate temples, bazaars stocked with prayer beads, and grand palaces and shrines.

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9 Lhasa | Monastic Traditions

Visit the seventh-century Ani Tsankhung Nunnery and the Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most revered religious structure. In nearby Barkhor Bazaar, lose yourself among prayer beads and wheels, carpets, and thangkas. Then, see artisans at work in the Dropenling Tibet Handicraft Development Center. Later, pause at the serene Sera Monastery, watching the dramatic theological debates held in the courtyards.

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10 Lhasa | Potala Palace

Climb to the Potala Palace, the shining-white jewel in Lhasa’s crown. Commissioned by the Dalai Lama in 1645, the vast citadel became the winter residence of nine Dalai Lamas; take time to wander its sacred prayer halls, rich with icons, idols and lavish frescoes depicting key scenes from Buddhist scripture.

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11 Cruising the Yangtze River, China | Artery of Rural China

Spilling out of the Tibetan plateau, the great Yangtze runs 3,915 miles through soaring mountains and fertile farmlands, serving as the lifeblood to a third of China’s population. Steep gorges dwarf the forests and villages that cluster upon the banks – a fairytale setting for an intrepid, luxury cruise. From Chongqing, a former walled fortress and China's de facto capital during World War II, set sail aboard the sumptuous Yangzi Explorer II, sailing deep into the dramatic Three Gorges region.

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12 Cruising the Yangtze River | Hidden Marvels

Start with tai chi on the deck before breakfast. Disembark in the small city of Fuling and visit the 816 Nuclear Military Plant, a massive yet unfinished Cold War era bunker. Back on board, continue your journey downstream, observing villages and farms set amid the lush mountainscape.

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13 Cruising the Yangtze River | The Three Gorges

From your floating palace, explore the crystal-clear waters and forested slopes of Shennong Stream aboard a traditional sampan boat, pausing at a traditional trackers’ village for a fascinating glimpse into a rural Chinese community. Once your voyage reaches the vast engineering spectacle of The Three Gorges Dam, dine on a farewell feast of Chinese delicacies with your fellow guests.

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14 Shanghai | Evolution of an Eastern Icon

Gone are the days of a quiet, mysterious trading post on the East China Sea: Shanghai is the future, a glittering, global metropolis whose space-age buildings speak volumes of its sky-high ambitions. But beyond the gleaming malls and towering five-star hotels of China’s largest city, the old Shanghai still flaunts her jewels: the architectural gems of the Bund waterfront, wooden teahouses, curved-roof pavilions and beautiful gardens with lotus-strewn ponds.

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15 Shanghai | Canals of Zhujiajiao

Step away from Shanghai’s futuristic bustle on a guided tour of Zhujiajiao, nicknamed “the Venice of Shanghai.” In this peaceful town of gently winding waterways, glide past historic houses and beneath bridges on a private boat ride, watching life tick by as it has for centuries.

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16 Shanghai | Walking the Bund

Today, walk along the Bund, Shanghai’s most popular promenade, and then explore the Shanghai Museum viewing exceptional collections of historically significant art and housewares. Savor lunch at a local restaurant, and later stroll the streets of Old Town and visit the 16th-century Yu Garden, with its pavilions and ponds.

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17 Depart Shanghai

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Featured Destinations

Shanghai

Shanghai is a teeming metropolis of 11 million, bustling with energy, towering skyscrapers, art deco buildings, honking traffic, and shopping crowds. Once here, visitors will find Eastern ways abound: Tai Chi along the Bund, the serenity of exquisite ponds and gardens, and an endless flotilla of sampans edging along the Huangpu River. Explore Shanghai old and new: the busy bazaars and alleyways of the Old Town, Yu Garden, Wuxingting Tea House, Long Hua Temple and more.

Excursions

Shanghai: Yu Garden & Old Town Tour (4 hours)

Shanghai: French Concession & The Bund (4 hours)

Shanghai: Jewish Quarter Tour (4 hours)

Shanghai: Museum Tour (4 hours)

Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour (4 hours)

Shanghai: Disposal Tour (4 hours)

Shanghai City Tour (8 hours)

Shanghai: Disposal Tour (8 hours)

River Cruising

Yangtze River

Lhasa

Chengdu

Xi'an

Beijing

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

09/01/2025 - 09/01/2027

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* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

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Length

16 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Luxury

Remarks

Prices are per person, double occupancy and include internal air where applicable. Holiday surcharge may apply. Departure dates, prices and availability may change at any time. Some restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1674905

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