21st - 30th July 2007

The opportunity of a lifetime to explore the different sides of this fascinating country.....

The Itinerary

Day 1: Saturday 21 July Fly Heathrow to Shanghai with China Eastern Airlines	Day 5: Wednesday 25 July Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam site. The Three Gorges Dam is the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by man. Return to the ship and sail onto Xiling Gorge – the first of the three Greater Gorges. Overnight on the ship.
Day 2: Sunday 22 July    Afternoon arrival in Shanghai, transfer to the hotel. Settle in and relax. In the evening there will be a welcome dinner and an introduction to the tour.		Day 8: Saturday 28 July    9:00 am disembark Chongqing. Visit the Pandas, Asian Tigers and Asian Bears in the National Zoo before visiting the Porcelain Village – Chongqing’s only remaining old quarter. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for the flight back to Shanghai. On arrival, transfer back to the hotel. Free time in the evening.
Day 3: Monday 23 July In the morning, visit the Shanghai Museum – the newest and best in China where you can view 6000 years of Chinese history. After Lunch visit the Jade Buddha Temple where you will be given an introduction to the main aspects of Chinese Buddhism and visit the temple tea shop for an introduction to Chinese Tea. Return to the hotel in the afternoon and free time for the rest of the evening.
Day 4: Tuesday 24 July After breakfast, transfer to the domestic airport for your flight to Yichang. At Yichang, lunch will be served before a visit the aquarium to view the river life of the Yangtze. Dinner will be served in the late afternoon before transferring to the ferry wharf for your Yangtze River Cruise. Sail at 9pm	Day 6: Thursday 26 July    Shore excursion to Shennong Stream. Shennong Stream is a tributary of the Yangtze River and its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges. The stream races past large and small karst caves, flocks of swallows, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, three-coloured springs, rapids, the ancient plank path, a suspended coffin in the cliff, groups of ancient tombs and marvellous karst formations. Return to the cruise ship and sail on through the second and last of the Greater Gorges. Wu and Qutang Gorge. Overnight on the ship.	Day 9: Sunday 29 July After breakfast there will be a tour of the traditional Yuyuan Garden in the centre of old Shanghai. The afternoon will be left free to wander the Yuyuan Bazaar for any last minute shopping before returning to the hotel to freshen up before the evening’s farewell dinner.
	Day 7: Friday 27 July Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City 0900-1200). The whole place has an eerie feel to it with deserted streets, tower blocks, empty shops and banks. Overnight on the ship.	Day 10: Monday 30 July After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home, arriving in Heathrow later the same afternoon.

The expedition is being organised in partnership with Oriental Travel, a London based company that specialise in travel to mainland China. They are a member of ABTA and are IATA bonded.

Our guide will be Greg Stoneham.

Greg was born in Oxford but his father’s work took his family to Australia, the U.S. and Hong Kong during his early childhood. Later, he attended the University of Westminster where he studied Chinese history, politics and ancient language. After winning a scholarship from the British Taiwan Cultural Institute to study Mandarin in Taipei, he moved to Nanjing to continue his studies and research. After graduation, he joined the Foreign Office as a China Specialist, later returning to Taiwan to work for First International Computer. Greg is a lecturer in Mandarin at the University of Westminster, is a contributor to the Chinese Business Handbook and has specialist knowledge of the area to be toured.