This morning we depart from one of New York's area gateways as we had east toward Beijing. Arrival into Beijing and transfer to the group hotel. Welcome dinner and overnight in Strasbourg. (D) We begin our exploration today by visit three of the nation's most revered sites, including Tian An men Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. (B, L, D) Today a true highlight of our trip! We will enjoy an excursion to the Great Wall, one of the world's most famous architectural marvels. Then we continue to the Ming Tomb Gardens, burial ground of thirteen emperors. On our way back to Beijing we will stop at Beijing's largest cloisonne factories. (B, L, D) Morning rickshaw tour of Beijing's old residential area of twisting lanes and courtyard homes. Enjoy lunch as the guest of one of the local families. This afternoon we will visit the Summer Palace. Tonight we will enjoy a traditional Beijing Duck dinner. (B, L, D) Flight to Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province. The neolithic and bronze age cultures reaching back 5,000 years make this province the cradle of Chinese civilization. Afternoon visit the Henan Provincial Museum. Morning excursion to the Yellow River. Continue by coach to Dengfeng County. Explore a local village and be a guest in one of the cave homes. Visit the school and enjoy leisure time with the local people. Morning visit to the Shaolin Monastery, the birthplace of China's martial arts tradition and enjoy a Kungfu demonstration. Afternoon to Luoyang by coach, stopping at the ancient White Horse Temple en route. Morning tour of ancient Buddhist sites. Explore the Longmen Grottoes, one of the nation's greatest cultural treasures, where up to 100,000 Buddhist statues, ranging in size from less than an inch to over 50 feet in height, are displayed in hundreds of grottoes carved into a great riverside rock face. Afternoon at leisure. Board the express train to Xian. En route view the terraced hills and deep gullies of the red earth country of one of the oldest settled regions of China. Full day exploration of China's richest historic area. First, the 5,000 year old Banpo Neolithic Village, then on to the favourite site of the emperors' concubines- beautiful Huaqing Hot Springs, and finally the amazing Museum of the Terra Cotta Warriors- the great underground army of the First Emperor of China, burried with him 2,200 years ago and discovered only in 1974. Morning visit the Tang Art Museum in Xian. Fly to Chongqing, gateway to the Yangtze River. City sightseeing tour of this beautiful mountain city. In the evening, board your cruise ship. Enjoy an exciting three day cruise: The cruise program offers tai-chi exercises on deck to begin your morning. Each day there will be a stop for an interesting guided land excursion, including one to the site of the massive Three Gorges Dam. Watch life pass by on the riverbanks as you sit under the deck awnings or dine in the excellent ship's restaurant. Attend the various lectures on Chinese crafts that are offered during the day, or simply relax with a professional massage. In the evening, enjoy a quiet drink with the many friendsyou have made on the trip, or even try your voice at karaoke. But most of the time you will be captivated by the spectacular and endlessly changing scenery as the boat makes its way along China's greatest waterway. Our Yangtze River Cruise continues. (B, L, D) Our Yangtze River Cruise continues. (B, L, D) The ship docks in the morning. Afternoon visit the Yellow Crane Pagoda and Hubei Provincial Museum. Fligth to Shanghai. Afternoon visit the newly built, state-of-the-art, Shanghai Museum. Board the morning train for Suzhou, known as the Venice of the East and the City of Gardens. Your visits will include Suzhou's most famous gardens, the Silk and Satin Factory with an embroidery workshop, and the legendary Grand Canal. Return to Shanghai in the evening. Full day sightseeing of the Children's Palace, the Yu Garden, and the Jade Buddha Temple. Evening enjoy the Shanghai Acrobats. Morning excursion to Xitang Village, an old settlement of white plaster row houses and narrow slate-paved streets along an ancient canal. Late afternoon return to Shanghai. Farewell dinner. Transfer to the airport and fly home.