Compare Grand Yangtze Discovery: Shanghai to Chongqing by Victoria Cruises vs China – Panda Conservation Adventure by Discover Corps
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 9 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 1,610 | $ 2,995 |
| Price Per Day | $ 179 | $ 499 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | River cruise | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
8 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 8 Dinners |
5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 5 Dinners |
| Description |
During this 9 day long Grand Yangtze Discovery tour from Shanghai to Chongqing you will sail on one of Victoria Cruises' comfortable ships. You will have the opportunity to visit Nanjing, tour the Sun Yat-sen Memorial, and enter the Wu Gorge that is known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains. You will also visit the Three Gorges Dam, the largest in the world, and sail through the Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest, and most dramatic gorge |
China’s 1.3 billion people have witnessed an extraordinary change of pace as the face of their country has seen rapid economic expansion. However, the pull of tradition remains strong. We’ll bring you together with residents of the bustling capital city of Beijing and go beyond the city boundaries to share a homemade meal with a welcoming local family. You'll also see China from two completely different points of view - the bustling metropolis of Chengdu and the conservation hub of Dujiangyan. |
Day 1 :
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Depart Shanghai - 12:00 noon: Sail today from Shanghai, China’s dynamic international commercial center.
Day 2 :
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Nanjing - Visit Nanjing, where you will tour the Sun Yat-sen Memorial and time permitting, a Qing Dynasty style bazaar surrounding a Confucian Temple.
Day 3 :
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Jiuhuashan - Full day excursion to Jiuhuashan or “Mountain of the Nine Lotuses”, one of the four sacred mountains in Chinese Buddhism. The one hundred square kilometer area is known for its quiet beauty, which includes ridges and peaks, winding paths, waterfalls, streams and ancient temples. (Huangshan or “Yellow Mountain” may be substituted if weather or road conditions do not permit a visit to Jiuhuashan.)
Day 4 :
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Wuhan - Evening excursion of Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. Visit the Hubei Provincial Museum. (Depending on arrival time, an alternate excursion may be substituted to the JiangHan Pedestrian Street, which contains hundreds of establishments, including food shops, retail stores and theatres.)
Day 5 :
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Sailing on the Yangtze River
Day 6 :
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Yichang / Xiling Gorge / Three Gorges Dam / Ship Locks - This morning, sail through Gezhou Dam near Yichang. In the afternoon, visit the Three Gorges Dam, the largest in the world. Sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest (41 miles), and the deepest of the Three Gorges. Later today, enter the Three Gorges Dam ship locks.
Day 7 :
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Wu Gorge / Qutang Gorge / “Small Gorges” - Enter Wu Gorge, known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains. Then sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest (5 miles), narrowest (500 feet), and most dramatic gorge. Transfer to another vessel for a relaxing excursion through the attractive gorges of Goddess Stream. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to the gorges of Shennong Stream. Additional optional Shore Excursion to White Emperor City (river conditions permitting), an ancient city overlooking the western end of Qutang Gorge.
Day 8 :
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Fengdu - Take a shore excursion to Fengdu’s “Ghost City” known for its statues of ghosts and devils on Mingshan Hill, or the new relocation village for families who have moved as a result of the Yangtze’s rising waters brought about by the Three Gorges Dam. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to Shibaozhai, with its impressive wooden pagoda.
Day 9 :
Meals: Breakfast
Arrive Chongqing - 8:00am: Disembark at picturesque Chongqing, the “Mountain City”
Day 1: Arrive and Enjoy a Sichuan Hotpot
Meals: Dinner
A warm welcome awaits at Chengdu International Airport where we’ll introduce you to your Discover Corps group. We’ll then whisk you away to your four-star hotel in Dujiangyan for a traditional welcome dinner. Enjoy a free evening to recharge before the morning's activities.
Day 2: Visit the Dujiangyan Panda Breeding Research Center to Begin Volunteering
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Your hands-on experience with the pandas begins today! We’ll introduce you to the conservationists at the Dujiangyan Panda Research Center who will introduce you to the pandas before your work begins. Your first task will be to help feed the pandas their bamboo breakfasts – an incredible way to start the day. After your own lunch, you will clean the fencing of the pandas gardens, clean their enclosures, break bamboo shoots for the pandas, and more to help the center. After volunteering, walk around the neighborhood before a local meal for dinner.
Day 3: Continue Lending a Hand at the Dujiangyan Panda Research Center
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
On your second day of volunteering, you’ll have the choice to help clean the enclosures before experiencing the magic of hand-feeding the pandas for a second time. These friendly animals will be familiar faces by now as you learn how to make special cakes for them and continue to provide the special care they need. Today, you’ll receive a certificate of recognition of your efforts.
In the late afternoon, head to the bustling city of Chengdu and enjoy dinner before a free night to explore the lively atmosphere of the city or relax in your hotel.
Day 4: Experience a Cooking Class with a Local Family
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Spend today joining a local family in the nearby markets gathering ingredients before a cooking class in their home. Learn how to make a number of Sichuan favorites before enjoying your lunch together. In the evening, watch a performance of a traditional Sichuan act of face changing, as well as other local performances.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Visit the Unforgettable Terracotta Warriors
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hit the road this morning for the 1.5 hour drive to the Terracotta Warriors. Marvel at the over 6,000 warrior sculptures, each with a different face, and learn more about their importance in teaching us about ancient China. For lunch, sample the unique flavores of Hui Muslim food before a bike ride around the top of Xi'an's ancient city walls.
Day 6: Depart from Xi'an or Continue on to The Great Wall of China Optional Extension
Meals: Breakfast
It's time for those on the six-day trip to say their goodbyes before being transfered to the airport for their flight home. If you're staying with us for The Great Wall of China extension, you'll hop on a flight to Beijing for your first adventure.
