12-Day Upstream Yangtze Cruise Tour: Shanghai, Xi'an & Beijing

Shanghai, Yichang, Yangtze Cruise, Chongqing, Xi'an, Beijing

Traveler Reviews

12 Days Upstream Yangtze Cruise Tour tour map

Yangtze River and Three Gorges travel experience

Forbidden City palace architecture in Beijing

Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Yangtze-03

Tour Highlights:

Begin in Shanghai and cruise upstream from Yichang toward Chongqing.
Sail through the Three Gorges with scheduled and optional shore excursions.
Continue by high-speed rail to Xi'an and Beijing for China's major historic landmarks.
Combine guided private sightseeing with three nights aboard the Victoria cruise.

Best Travel Time:
The itinerary operates year-round, with April through November recommended for the most suitable overall travel conditions.

From $ 1510

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Tour Itinerary

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Itinerary

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Day 1Arrival Shanghai

Transfer service to hotel

Meals: No Meals
Recommended Hotel: Sunrise On The Bund Hotel ★★★★

Arrive in Shanghai, meet your YUNSKY guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free after check-in.

Shanghai City View

Day 2Shanghai

Jade Buddha Temple, the exterior of Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Old Street, The Bund

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunrise On The Bund Hotel★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin the Shanghai sightseeing program.

[09:30-12:30] Visit Jade Buddha Temple and its seated, jewel-covered Buddha, described as weighing 1,000 kg. Continue to the exterior of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and walk along the Riverside Promenade.

[12:30-13:30] Lunch features the listed Shanghai specialties of dim sum and steamed buns.

[13:30-16:30] Explore Yuyuan Garden,, then browse Shanghai Old Street and Nanjing Road for local souvenirs and silk products. Finish with a walk along the Bund and its historic waterfront architecture.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. Ask your guide about the optional Acrobatic Show, including the ERA production.

Yuyuan Garden

Day 3Shanghai – Yichang

Zhujiajiao Water Town, fly to Yichang

Meals: Breakfast& Lunch
On board: Victoria cruise ★★★★★

After breakfast and check-out, drive to Zhujiajiao Water Town and take the scheduled boat trip through its preserved canal district. Lunch is arranged at a restaurant beside the waterway.

After lunch, transfer to the airport for the two-hour flight to Yichang. Meet your local guide and continue to Maoping cruise terminal to board the Yangtze River Cruise, which is scheduled to sail the following morning.

Zhujiajiao Water Town

Day 4Yangtze River Cruise

Tribe of The Three Gorges (optional), Three Gorges Dam Site

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
On board: Victoria cruise ★★★★★

[06:30-08:30] Begin with early-bird coffee and tea, Tai Chi practice and buffet breakfast onboard.

[08:30-12:30] The optional shore excursion to Tribe of the Three Gorges is available at additional cost.

[12:30-13:30] Buffet lunch is served onboard.

[13:30-17:15] Visit the Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping during the afternoon.

[18:15-21:00] Attend the captain's welcome reception before buffet dinner, followed by the Minorities and Dynasty Costumes Show.

Three Gorges Dam

Day 5Yangtze River Cruise

Wu Gorge, Goddess Stream (or Shennong Stream), Qutang Gorge, White Emperor City (optional)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
On board: Victoria cruise ★★★★★

[06:30-08:45] Begin with early-bird coffee and tea, Tai Chi practice and buffet breakfast while sailing through Wu Gorge.

[08:45-12:45] Join the shore excursion to Goddess Stream, or Shennong Stream depending on river conditions.

[12:45-14:00] Buffet lunch is served onboard.

[14:45-18:00] Sail through Qutang Gorge and choose the optional White Emperor City shore excursion at additional cost.

[19:00-21:00] Have buffet dinner and attend the onboard cabaret show.

Three Gorges

Day 6Yangtze River Cruise

Shibaozhai, Fengdu (optional)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
On board: Victoria cruise ★★★★★

[06:30-08:15] Begin with early-bird coffee and tea, Tai Chi practice and buffet breakfast onboard.

[08:00-13:15] Join the shore excursion to Shibaozhai, then return to the ship for buffet lunch.

[14:00-23:00] The optional Fengdu shore excursion is available at additional cost. Buffet dinner is served onboard, and any outstanding account should be settled at reception tonight.

Fengdu

Day 7Chongqing – Xi'an

Take high speed train to Xian, Free time in Xi'an

Meals: Breakfast& Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Bell Tower Grand New Century Hotel★★★★

After buffet breakfast, meet your guide at the cruise terminal in Chongqing and transfer to the station for the 5-5.5-hour high-speed train to Xi'an. Meet your Xi'an guide on arrival, continue to the hotel and keep the rest of the day free, with the Muslim Quarter available for an independent evening walk.

Xian City View

Day 8Xian

Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Bell Tower Grand New Century Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin exploring ancient Xi'an.

[09:30-12:30] Drive to the Terracotta Warriors and view the excavated soldiers, horses and chariots in battle formation. The shuttle bus is included.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at Lanchi Restaurant, where the listed buffet includes dim sum, noodles and Chinese hamburgers.

[14:00-17:00] Visit the Xian City Wall, where bicycle rental is optional and excluded from the price. Continue to the Muslim Quarter for time among its shops and food stalls.

[17:00-17:30] Return to the hotel. The optional Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner is one possible evening activity.

Terracotta Warriors

Day 9Xi'an – Beijing

High speed train to Beijing, Beijing Hutong

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing ★★★★

Keep the morning free, then transfer to the station for the five-hour high-speed train to Beijing. Meet your Beijing guide on arrival and continue to the Drum Tower area for a Hutong Tour by rickshaw and a closer look at local lanes.

Beijing Hutong

Day 10Beijing

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Panjiayuan Antique Market

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin exploring historic Beijing.

[09:30-12:30] Start at Tian'anmen Square, enter the Forbidden City, and then climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic view over the former imperial palace.

[12:30-14:00] Lunch is arranged at Shi Yuan Restaurant, with braised eggplant, vegetable balls and diced chicken with walnuts in soy sauce among the listed dishes.

[14:00-16:30] Visit the Temple of Heaven, the ceremonial complex where emperors prayed for good harvests, then browse Panjiayuan Antique Market.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. Ask your guide for suggestions if you would like a night show or a Peking duck dinner.

Forbidden City

Day 11Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Park, the exterior of Bird Nest and Water Cube

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing ★★★★

[08:00-08:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and depart for the Great Wall.

[08:30-12:30] Drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall. Choose to hike after arrival or take the cable car up before walking along the restored wall.

[12:30-13:30] Lunch is arranged at Xiaolongpu Restaurant, with fried vegetables, dry-fried beans and sweet corn cake among the listed dishes.

[13:30-16:30] Drive back toward Beijing and view the exteriors of the Bird Nest and Water Cube, two landmark venues from the Beijing Olympic Games.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. Free-time options include a foot massage, Houhai bars or Sanlitun Bar Street.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 12Departure Beijing

Transfer service to airport

Meals: Breakfast

Keep the day free until your scheduled airport transfer for the return flight.

Service Ends

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Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class	Group Size	Dec. ~ Feb.	Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel ★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 1906	$ 1999
Economy Hotel ★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1510	$ 1603
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 1968	$ 2148
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1572	$ 1752
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 2365	$ 2716
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1968	$ 2320

Price includes:

♦ Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food

Price excludes:

* International Air tickets or Train Tickets to enter or leave China
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services
* China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance

Remarks:

※ Prices are valid from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027, except Chinese public holidays, local fairs or events.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right to adjust the price caused by exchange rate
※ No guide on the flight and Yangtze River cruise.
※ Recommended hotels are subject to change in actual booking
※ Special requirements should be advised to YUNSKY in advance.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.

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Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos
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5.0

PunkNelson

5.0

Great Hotel stay Very Nice Tour guides Convenient planned daily trips Average selection of restaurant for food though

Kiwimac53

5.0

We were looking for a tour in SW China while in the area for work and found this one. While we wouldn't normally get a private tour but surprisingly it was actually cheaper than most of the group tours in the area and was great value. While I would usually rather keep one guide for the whole tour, as you get to know each other and they get to know what you are interested in, we changed guides 5 times during this trip (fortunately we had the same guide in Kunming at the start and end of the tour which was a real bonus as Murphy, our Kunming based guide, was excellent.) In this case changing guides had the advantage of local knowledge at each site so compensated for the change. Of the 4 guides we had 3 excellent and 1 very good with each of them working hard to look after us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. Vicky, our Dali based guide was also extremely good making our time there a highlight. The tour gives you 2 days at each base ie travel in the morning, have the afternoon and the next day touring the area then drive to the next base. We chose the driving tour as we feel it gives you a better experience of the area and you get to see the locals in action. All the drivers we had were great – they went out of their way to look after us and were very safe, which is saying something for driving in China. While all of the guides were very fluent in English none of the drivers could speak English which was a slight disadvantage as you didn't have the guides with you when traveling between bases but the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers more than made up for this.
The tour was very well organised and we knew what we were doing from the time we met our guide on arrival at the Kunming railway station to when we walked through security at the airport on our way out. The tour comes with 4,5 and 6 star accommodation choices and we went for the cheapest 4 star option. While the English at the hotels was limited the guides made sure we were checked in and out and took care of any issues (which were minimal). The 4 star option is largely “Chinese style” hotels ie designed for Chinese visitors with breakfast consisting of what many westeners would consider dinner style food but there was always eggs and toast for the less adventurous. The hotels were all clean and comfortable and generally very well located. The Hotel in Kunming (Jin Jang Inn) was a bonus as it seemed higher than 4 star and we stayed there both on our way in and out. As well as breakfast, lunch came with the tour which was enjoyable as the guides choose the restaurants so we got a variety. I got the feeling that most of the restaurants were owned by friends or family or there was some arrangement with the guide, but as you get to formally review each guide and the meals at the end of each stop they work hard to make sure you enjoy the meal and there was always an abundance of food. We tried a range of local cuisine and there was only one meal we didn't think was up to par. You get your own dinner which also suited us as there is invariably a range of restaurants or for the more adventurous there is the street vendors and you can choose what you want. The vehicles we were driven in were all very good- plenty of space and very comfortable.
Being a private tour, while there was a set itinerary, which was diverse and very interesting with something for most people, the guides could tweak it to suit individual interests eg more time at one site and less at another. It is easy to get a bit templed out but overall the itinerary was a good mic of nature and culture. I would thoroughly recommend the tour and the company and we will be looking to the company if/when we go back – Guilin is next on the list as the guides were very happy to discus what they thought we would and wouldn't enjoy based on working with us on this tour,

N2265ZIinfo

5.0

Excellent guides, flexible and knowledgeable travel agent. They speak good English. Our trip was very well organized. We are 100% happy and I can recommend Yun Sky Travel to everybody.

Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Yun Sky Travel for a 13 day China vacation (Beijing/Xian/Yangtze River cruise/Shanghai) and right from the start Bonnie provided me with great choices and package options. Throughout the entire planning and even during the trip Bonnie was there for us following up and making sure everything was perfect. Thank you Bonnie for making our China vacation unforgettable.

Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Yun Sky Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect.
My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly.
Thank you Vicky and all at YUNSKY and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.

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