Panoramas of China – Yangtze River Cruise with Beijing and Shanghai

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Depart UK
• Day 2
  Arrive in Beijing - Touchdown in the vast sprawl of Beijing mid-afternoon, local time (flight dependent). Transfer and check in to your hotel, our base for the next three nights, and take a moment to exhale. A little over a century ago, Beijing was a walled imperial capital with gates that were sealed shut at dusk. Today, it's a city where dynastic echoes meet digital ambition. In this pulsating megacity, tradition and technology collide in the most captivating ways - centuries-old hutongs weave between shimmering towers of glass and steel, and time-honoured recipes are reimagined for a new generation of gourmands. With the rest of the afternoon at leisure, you have the choice to relax in our hotel and take advantage of its facilities or step out into the city's electric rhythm. Wander through the downtown streets or sip jasmine tea in a quiet courtyard. Later, meet your fellow travel companions and enjoy your first taste of China this evening with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
• Day 3
  Beijing - Today we step back into Beijing's past with a guided tour of the city's most iconic landmarks. We begin in Tiananmen Square. This monumental space is one of the largest public squares on Earth, and its significance is impossible to overstate. It was here, in 1949, that Mao Zedong declared the birth of the People’s Republic of China - and here, too, that the world watched the protests of 1989. Encircling the square are some of the capital's most emblematic structures, including the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, and the Tiananmen Tower. But it’s the Forbidden City that truly commands attention. A sea of golden rooftops and vermilion walls stretches across 250 acres, forming the largest imperial palace complex in the world. Once the private home of emperors, this architectural marvel has opened its gates to the world, offering a glimpse into five centuries of dynastic power and opulence. After an included lunch, we'll head to the Summer Palace, a serene contrast to the grandeur of the Forbidden City. The former Qing dynasty's lakeside retreat is a UNESCO-listed wonder - a masterclass in imperial garden design. Three-quarters of the gardens are covered by the waters of Kunming Lake and the rest is punctuated with hills and palaces ripe for exploring. Climb to the heights of Longevity Hill for sweeping views of the palace grounds, or stroll the Long Corridor, the world's longest-painted promenade, adorned with over 14,000 intricate artworks. Don’t miss the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the whimsical Qingyan Stone Boat, or the elegant Seventeen-Arch Bridge, which arcs gracefully across the lake like a brushstroke on silk. 
• Day 4
  Beijing - We venture beyond the city's edge this morning to tick off a true icon of world travel: the Great Wall of China. As we leave the heavily urbanised sprawl of Beijing, the landscape softens into a pastoral patchwork of orchards and farmland before catching our first glimpse of the Wall - serpentine and silent, stretching across the ridgelines like the spine of a sleeping dragon. We’ll explore the Mutianyu section, a beautifully preserved stretch known for its dense concentration of watchtowers and sweeping mountain views. Contrary to its name, you might be surprised to see the Great Wall is not, in fact, a single wall but a series of towers, barracks, and fortresses woven together to form one massive integrated defensive system (it's not hard to see why it took over 2,000 years to build).  After lunch at a local restaurant, we'll turn our attention to a different kind of grandeur: the Temple of Heaven. Set within a tranquil park of ancient pines, this architectural masterpiece was once the spiritual heart of imperial China. Its circular, three-tiered, conically roofed structure is set in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods and is designed to symbolise the relationship between earth and heaven. The temple’s triple-gabled roof, a vision in blue and gold, rises without a single nail—an enduring testament to the ingenuity of Ming dynasty craftsmanship. Here, emperors performed solemn rites to ensure harmony between heaven and earth. As you wander its echoing courtyards and gaze skyward, you’ll feel the quiet reverence that still lingers in the air.  This evening, we'll gather for a culinary rite of passage: Peking duck served in a local restaurant. Though its roots trace back to 13th-century Hangzhou, it was in the imperial kitchens of Beijing that the dish was perfected. Today, the duck is roasted to crisp-skinned perfection, suspended in fierce heat until the fat renders and the skin crackles, then the meat is wrapped in delicate pancakes with slivers of cucumber and sweet bean sauce.
• Day 5
  Chongqing - Leaving the imperial majesty of Beijing behind this morning, we fly to the city of Chongqing in Southwestern China. Perched at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, Chongqing is a vertical marvel. Entire neighbourhoods cling to cliffsides, metro trains emerge from mountain tunnels only to glide through the hearts of residential high-rises, highways soar twenty storeys above the ground, and dramatic glass skyscrapers sit by precarious stilted houses and centuries-old eateries. The city defies gravity and convention in equal measure. It's constantly evolving, constantly in motion. There's nowhere else like it. Upon arrival, we'll head to Ciqikou Old Town to get a glimpse of what Old Chongqing used to look like. Once known as Baiyachang, this riverside enclave dates back to the Song Dynasty (998–1003) and rose to prominence during the Qing era for its exquisite porcelain - 'ciqi' in Chinese, from which the town takes its name. Though much of Ciqikou has been restored and reimagined as a tourist destination with predominantly commercial outlets, look closely and you'll see it still hums with the rhythm of daily life. Wander its cobbled lanes and you’ll find incense curling from centuries-old temples and artisans shaping clay in tiny workshops. Later this afternoon, we make our way to Chaotianmen Port, where the Century Legend awaits. For the next ten nights, we will journey along the Yangtze. Settle into your spacious deluxe cabin, and as the city begins to glow in the soft light of evening, join the captain for a welcome party.
• Day 6
  Fengdu - Join your local guide for an excursion to Fengdu Ghost City – not only a place of worship for the gods, demons and serpents of folklore, but also a treasure house of folk culture and art integrating Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. With an initial ascent by cable car, then steps, this complex of temples, shrines and monasteries located on the Ming Mountain is dedicated to the afterlife and offers a unique attraction dating back over 2,000 years. This afternoon, after lunch on board, enjoy a lecture about the Three Gorges, relax with a refreshing drink from the bar or perhaps take a dip in the pool. After a short sail, we disembark this evening to see the ‘War Fire of the Three Kingdoms Show’, a large-scale outdoor performance set against the natural backdrop of the surrounding mountains. A stunning spectacle showcasing the culture and history of the Three Kingdoms over 1,800 years ago involving songs, dances, aerobatics and dramatic storytelling amid amazing sound and light effects. It’s certainly a show not to be missed!
• Day 7
  Fengjie - Today, choose your adventure - whether you are drawn to the mysteries of ancient dynasties or the majestic call of panoramic peaks, today offers you a choice of two unforgettable excursions. Sitting atop Baidi Hill, in Fengjie, is a miniature citadel of temples, gates, and legends.  It was built during the Western Han Dynasty and earned its poetic name thanks to the mysterious white mist that was once believed to shroud it. History pulses through its stone paths: In 222 A.D., the first king of the Shu Kingdom Lie Bei retreated here after losing a battle to the Wu Kingdom, he entrusted his country to Zhuge Liang his faithful prime minister and a brilliant strategist, whose statue has a prominent place in the city. Wander through the Mingliang Palace, where commemorative sculptures and ancient calligraphy whisper stories of loyalty and loss. From the Kui Gate, gaze out over the mouth of the Qutang Gorge, where the Yangtze narrows dramatically between towering cliffs - a view that has inspired poets for centuries and is famously known as the image on the 10 Yuan banknote. However, be warned: with 365 steps up to the White Emperor City – one step for every day of the year – reaching the city is not for the faint hearted! Alternatively, transfer by bus to the magnificent ‘Peak of the Three Gorges’. A 4A National Scenic Spot soaring 1388m, the views over the Yangtze River and the Three Gorges are well worth a visit! Set sail later this afternoon gliding past the majestic Qutang and Wu Gorges, where sheer cliffs rise like sentinels on either side of the river and the five-step ship locks of the dam. After some wonderful scenery, delight your tastebuds on board in the ship's restaurant.
• Day 8
  Yichang - This morning, we turn our gaze to one of the most ambitious engineering feats of the modern age: the Three Gorges Dam. Towering 185 metres high and stretching over 2,300 metres across the Yangtze River, this colossal structure took 17 years to complete and now holds back more than 39 billion cubic metres of water. According to NASA, it's one of the few man-made structures on Earth you can see from space with the naked eye. More than an architectural marvel, it protects over 15 million people from flooding and supplies electricity to around 200 million people - its significance to communities along the Yangtze River cannot be overstated. Today, enjoy panoramic views of the Three Gorges Dam at the River Closure Memorial Park. Then delve deeper at the Three Gorges Project Museum, where we'll learn more about the dam's impact, construction process, and cultural heritage. From ancient paintings, calligraphy and other artefacts from various periods in history, most of which were discovered during the dam’s construction.   This afternoon, settle in for a scenic sail through Xiling Gorge. Once notorious for its whirlpools and rapids, this stretch of the Yangtze is now a tranquil corridor of natural beauty. Karst caves, bubbling springs, and dramatic cliff faces line the route, offering a painterly backdrop to your journey.   Onboard, hear more about the Three Gorges and Ship Lock system with an on-board lecture. Tonight, enjoy a crew cabaret show or perhaps try a more traditional pastime in the Mahjong rooms (charges may apply). Mahjong is a traditional Chinese game of strategy and chance played with beautifully etched tiles - it can be noisy, but lots of fun. 
• Day 9
  Jingzhou - Today, we arrive in Jingzhou, a city where the past lingers in every stone and shadow. Once the seat of eleven emperors and a former capital of China, Jingzhou was the beating heart of the Chu Kingdom, a cradle of early Chinese civilisation.  Its legacy endures - etched into ancient walls and preserved in artefacts. The entire city is surrounded by a moat and divided into three distinct quarters - Water City, Brick City and Earth City. We begin our tour in Brick City with a visit to the Jingzhou Museum. This treasure trove holds more than 130,000 artefacts, including silks, pottery, lacquer, bronze and jade. Its most astonishing exhibit is a 2,000-year-old ancient corpse - one of the best-preserved of a male cadaver in the Western Han Dynasty - it still bears traces of skin and hair, a haunting testament to ancient burial rites. Later we trace the city's ancient wall defences. Originally built from tamped mud during the Eastern Han dynasty, over the centuries it has been restored and rebuilt in stone. The walls around the south gate are the oldest dating back to the Song dynasty, while other sections reflect the architectural styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties.  Alternatively, venture north of Jingzhou to the fascinating Xióngjiā National Archaeological Park, where the tomb of the Xióngjiā Zhǒng reveals a world of ancient ritual and royal splendour. The site features a vast collection of jade artefacts, skeletal remains of horses, and intricately preserved chariots.
• Day 10
  Wuhan - Set at the confluence of the Yangtze River and its longest tributary, the Han River, Wuhan is shaped as much by water as by land. First settled during the Three Kingdoms era, Wuhan remained enclosed by a city wall until the end of the 19th century - before merging with neighbouring cities to create central China's industrial commercial powerhouse, the largest city in central China. In the company of a local guide, we'll ascend Snake Hill to explore the Yellow Crane Tower, a traditional Chinese tower and one of the city's highlights. Immortalised by 8th-century poet Cui Hao, the tower has become a symbol of the city’s soul - its legendary crane has long since flown, but its spirit still lingers. Initially constructed in 223 AD, it has been rebuilt many times. The five-storey, yellow-tiled tower you'll see today was built in the 1980s - an homage to the Qing tower that was destroyed by fire in 1884. From its balconies, the views stretch across the Yangtze.   Continuing to the Hubei Provincial Museum, located on the shores of Wuhan's East Lake. The beautifully curated collection of over 2 million artefacts offers an extensive look at the area's history. From ancient bronze bells and ceremonial jade to delicate calligraphy and porcelain, the collection is a testament to Hubei’s role as a cradle of Chinese civilisation. Back on the Century Legend later, the evening is yours to enjoy. You could experience a treatment at the spa, browse the onboard boutiques or relax with a drink at the bar.