October 3-21, 2019

East joyfully meets West on this distinctive 19-day small group journey. Begin by savoring Beijing’s legendary sites: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall. Ride rickshaws through the city’s hutongs (alleyways), glimpsing the traditional communal lifestyle with a home visit. Travel to Xi’an to see the astounding army of 7,000 life-sized terracotta warriors. Next, spend three nights in spiritual Lhasa, exploring sacred temples and vast Potala Palace and experiencing the Tibetan lifestyle. In Chongqing, see the pandas at the local zoo, view the Dazu Rock Carvings, a UNESCO site, then embark on a 3-night cruise on the storied Yangtze with its spectacular Three Gorges and immense Three Gorges Dam. Your tour concludes in dazzling Shanghai, where you discover the European-influenced Bund and the renowned Shanghai Museum. Spend additional time exploring dynamic Shanghai on your own on an optional 3-day/2-night post-tour extension.