Find it hard to visit China in summer due to the Olympic Games? Here, we have a solution. Our 12-day Summer Culture Tour will avoid the hassle of Beijing this summer, while including some exotic areas of China such as: Yunnan, Guilin, a Yangtze Cruise and Shanghai.What about just combining the fantastic Yangtze Cruise with dynamic Shanghai? We have great special rates on Yangtze Cruises for this summer:

Itinerary:

Day 1 (D)

Arrival Kunming

Transfer via: International flight arranged by youUpon your arrival at Kunming, "the Spring and Flower City", our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yoursto rest, or head out into the city for a little adventure. In the evening, you will have a special dinner of crossing the bridge noodles.
Accommodations:  Golden Dragon ****

Day 2 (B, L)

Kunming
On this day you will be taken to visit the Stone Forest
- Stone Forest: a 270-million-year-old limestone karst formation of tightly bundled gray rocky outcrops. It is a natural wonder acknowledged as a "World Karst Landscape Museum". The Stone Forest's bizarre rock formations, have intrigued visitors for thousands of years, and represent one of the greatest gifts that nature has bestowed on us.
Accommodations:  Golden Dragon ****

Day 3 (B, L)

Kunming / Guilin
Transfer via: domestic flight on our arrangement
After breakfast, you will have a tour to West Hill and Dragon Gate, and the bird and flower market before you are escorted to the airport for your flight to your next destination, Guilin. Upon arriving in Guilin, the most picturesque city in China, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax.
- West Hill and Dragon Gate: located near Dian Lake, it is a natural park which features a series of winding paths, caves, and statue-filled grottoes leading to the top of the hill. After taking the cable car up the hill, visitors can walk down the hill along the paths, and stop now and then to enjoy the beauty of the scenery: blue skies, green water with slow sailing fishing boats.
- The Flower and Bird Market: located in the old section of the city, it is a bustling market selling birds, and flowers. It is here you can find out why Kunming is famous for being the Spring and Flower City.
Accommodations:  BRAVO HOTEL ****


Day 4 (B, L)

Guilin
After having breakfast in your hotel, you will be driven to Zhujiang Pier (about 40-minute drive) to take a cruise along the famed Li River, which is a must see for any traveler to Guilin. The cruise will take you to Yangshuo County. Along the river, you will be inspired by breathtaking views of Guilin's famous Karst mountain peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and serene pastoral views of rice paddies and water buffaloes cooling themselves in the river. It will feel as though you have stepped into a traditional Chinese painting. After checking in to your hotel in Yangshuo, you will be free to explore this wonderful village and its famous West Street.
- Yangshuo County: founded in 590 AD, Yangshuo County has been booming because of the tourism trade. With so many amazing mountains surrounding, it is described as "the world of green lotus and jade bamboo shoots".
Accommodations:  New Century Hotel ***

Day 5 (B, L)

Guilin
On this morning, you will be taken to Moon Hill. Along the way, a serene pastoral view of fantastic limestone mountains, peaceful farming villages, and roaming water buffalo will pass by you. You will also have the chance to visit one of the local farmer's homes en route. The rest of the day is yours to explore this lovely county.
- Moon Hill: renown for having a large circular cave that passes through the mountain near the peak, which gives this hill its name. Viewed from different places, the moon takes on different shapes. It sometimes resembles a full moon, sometimes a half-moon and sometimes a crescent, forming a marvelous spectacle in Yangshuo. By climbing about 800 steps to the very top, you will have a fantastic view of the surrounding countryside.
Accommodations:  New Century Hotel ***

Day 6 (B, L)

Guilin / Chongqing
Transfer via: domestic flight arranged by us
After breakfast, you will be driven back to Guilin (1.5-hour drive) to visit Seven Star Park before you are escorted to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon on your arrival, you will be escorted to your Regal China Cruise ship.
- Seven Star Park: covering an area of over 100 hectares, it is the biggest comprehensive park in Guilin with many attractive trails that wind around the seven peaks in the shape of the Big Dipper, where pavilions and platforms are nestled in the mountains. In the park's zoo, visitors can see China's living treasure, the Giant Panda.
Accommodations:  on the cruise ship

Day 7 (B, L, D)

Yangtze Cruise
Your cruise along the picturesque Yangtze River will depart Chongqing at 8:00AM. On your first day, there will be a shore excursion to the famous Fengdu Ghost city from 2:00-5:00.
- Fengdu Ghost City: constructed on Mingshan Hill along the river bank. It is so named because of the local legends. Approximately 1,700 years ago during the Western Jin Dynasty, two officials, Yin and Wang (the combination of their surnames means "Ghost King ") became Taoists here and eventually Immortals. Now the Ghost City with its fantastic temples and carvings of the underworld's demons and gods, demonstrate the Chinese ghost culture and is a place for punishing the evil and awarding the good.
Accommodations:  on the cruise ship

Day 8 (B, L, D)

Yangtze Cruise
Traveling down the Yangtze River you will witness the amazing three gorges. It is something that no visitor to China will want to miss. First you will pass though Qutang Gorge and then pass through Wu Gorge. In the morning you will have a side excursion to the Shennong Stream from 11:30 to 3:00. You will have to transfer to a smaller vessel. The boat's captain will guide the boat upstream so you can experience this tributary's amazing topography. Back on board your cruise ship you will pass through the third gorge known as Xiling Gorge and then pass through the Three Gorges Dam Ship Lock. After which, your ship will anchor for the night.
- Shennong Stream: a small tributary of the Yangtze approximately 60 kilometers long. It is famous for its picturesque scenery. Shennong Stream is beautiful and ancient. When you take a sampan drifting along the stream you will be amazed by its crystal clear waters flowing swiftly from north to south through deep gorges,steep ridges, peaks, thick vegetation and wild flowers. During the trip you will see exotic flying birds, plank roads built along the cliffs and ancient hanging coffins. You will also witness the local minority people and their sweet love songs.
Accommodations:  on the cruise ship

Day 9 (B, L, D)

Yangtze Cruise
Today's Highlight is Shore excursion to the world famous Three Gorges Dam from 8:00 to 1030.
- The Three Gorges Dam: spanning the Yangtze construction began in 1994 and it is now the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. The Dam will be 2,335 meters long, 18 meters wide, after completion in 2009. The water level in the reservoir behind it will have risen to 135 meters above sea level. The reservoir began filling on June 1, 2003, and will occupy the present position of the scenic Three Gorges area, between the cities of Yichang, Hubei; and Fuling, Chongqing Municipality.
Accommodations:  on the cruise ship

Day 10 (B, L)

Wuhan / Shanghai
Transfer via: domestic flight on our arrangement
On this, your final day of your Yangtze River cruise you will disembark from the ship in Wuhan at 11:30A.M. Upon your arrival at Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out into this amazing city for a little adventure on your own.
Accommodations:  Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai(Plaza Wing)****

Day 11 (B, L)

Shanghai
Today, your tour of incredible Shanghai will include the Shanghai Museum, the Bund and the Nanjing Roads, Yu Garden and the Yuyuan Market.
- Shanghai Museum: often ranked as China's best museum, is the largest museum in China with a fine collection of over 120,000 Chinese artifacts.
- The Bund: often referred to as a "museum of buildings" this street used to be Shanghai's financial hub and features 19th century buildings built in Western styles. It offers great views of Huangpu River traffic, and the skyscrapers of the Pudong area.
- Nanjing Road: a shopper's Mecca with a huge selection of merchandise on sale. It is famous for its modern fashions.
- Yu Garden: located in the Old Town of Shanghai, was laid out in 1559 AD by a powerful Ming Dynasty official. Yu Garden recreates a beautiful landscape of pagodas, pavilions, rockeries, fountains, ancient trees and precious flowers.
- Yuyuan Market: outside the Yu Garden, a bustling market where snacks and items of every description can be found.
Accommodations:  Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai(Plaza Wing)****

Day 12 (B)

Shanghai / Exit
Transfer via: International flight arranged by you
On this your final day in China, you will be free until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your flight back to your next destination.

Rooms & Rates

Rooms	Twin Share	Single supplement
2-5 Pax	AUD$1999	AUD$628
6-9 Pax	AUD$1869	AUD$628
10 Pax and up	AUD$1769	AUD$628

* Note:The above quotations only valid in July and August

Package Inclusions:

• Entrance fees of the scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.
• Air tickets Kunming to Guilin, Guilin to Chongqing and Wuhan to Shanghai
• Twin-share accommodation as listed in the itinerary.
• Meals as listed in the itinerary: B stands for breakfast, L stands for lunch, D stands for dinner, SD stands for special dinner.
• Private transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing by the private air-conditioned vehicle with driver and English-speaking guide as listed in the itinerary.
• Service charge and Government taxes.
• China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty insurance.

Package Exclusions:

• Airfare and Airport Tax.
• Visa fees
• Sightseeing not listed in the itinerary.
• Meals not listed in the itinerary.
• Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional activities, etc.
• Gratuities, tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc.
• Excess baggage charge
• Surcharge if you pay with your credit card.