Your holiday itinerary:

Day 1: Join the flight to Shanghai.

Day 2: Upon arrival in Shanghai we will transfer you to a local restaurant for an included lunch. This afternoon you will enjoy a short visit to the Bund area, once the most famous streets in Asia, before checking in to our centrally located 4: hotel in the city for a two night stay.

Day 3: After breakfast at the hotel we include a full day city tour of Shanghai, taking you to sample many of the city’s top attractions, including the classic Yu Yuan Gardens, the ancient Wu Xing Ting Teahouse, the traditional Old Town with its bustling market bazaars, and the lively shopping thoroughfare of Nanjing Road and more of the unmistakable Bund.

This afternoon we include a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple, the most famous Buddhist temple in Shanghai, which houses two precious statues - the Sitting Buddha and the Recumbent Buddha, beautifully carved from whole white jade. After dinner at the hotel, perhaps sample some of Shanghai’s lively nightlife!

Day 4: Today we fly from Shanghai to Chongqing, to board our 4* vessel for a three-night cruise along the magical Yangtze River - the longest river in China and the third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon. This afternoon we include a shore excursion to the famous Fengdu Ghost Town, said to be the abode of devils, with many temples and shrines dedicated to gods of the Underworld including ‘Ghost Torturing Pass’.

Day 5: This morning we include a shore excursion to the Lesser Three Gorges, in the Daning River, famous for their crystal clear rapids and sky scraping cliffs. This is followed by what is sure to be one of the highlights of your cruise as we sail through the breathtaking scenery of the renowned Three Gorges - Chutang, Wuhan and Xiling. Marvel at the world’s largest dam at Xiling and experience a stunning array of natural beauty unmatched anywhere else in China.

Day 6: A morning shore excursion to the site of the Three Gorges Dam Project, the largest hydro-electric power project in the world. We will re-board the ship in Yichang - the ‘Gateway of the Three Gorges’, and continue our cruise on to Wuhan.

Day 7: Upon arrival in Wuhan you will be met by a local guide for a short introductory tour, before continuing to our hotel for an overnight stay. This afternoon you are at leisure to explore Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and one of the six biggest cities in China.

Day 8: Join the flight back to Shanghai.

Day 9: You will have the morning at leisure for last minute shopping and sightseeing in Shanghai, before transferring to the airport in time for the return flight to the UK.