Inspirational China & Yangtze Cruise

This 15-night escorted tour with Just You begins with three days in Shanghai, where the riverside Bund and the constant movement along Huangpu River provide a steady theatre of activity by day and night. After a high-speed train journey inland, the itinerary shifts focus to the Yangtze River, with three days cruising through the Three Gorges region, viewing the world’s largest hydroelectric dam and ancient hanging coffins nested in cliffs.

Leaving the river at Chongqing, the tour takes a high-speed train to Chengdu for a morning among giant pandas and an evening on Jinli Street, before another train carries the group to Xian. The Terracotta Warriors and the ancient City Wall bring history alive, complemented by a night stroll among bell and drum towers. The tour concludes with three nights in Beijing, including parts of the Great Wall and a Hutong rickshaw tour that offers an unvarnished look at traditional urban life.

Travelling by train and river rather than air between cities keeps the pace steady, and the mix of natural, cultural and historical sights ensures varied days with time to take things at your own speed in the evenings. There’s a quiet confidence in seeing China’s landmarks as part of daily life, not just as visitors passing through.