Begin in 2000-year-old Beijing, China’s modern-day capital, and discover its legendary sites: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall. Learn about communal life along Beijing’s ancient alleyways or hutongs. Marvel at Xian’s terra-cotta army of nearly 8,000 life-size warriors, called the Eighth Wonder of the World. Board our Victoria Cruises ship at Chongqing for a three-night cruise on the Yangtze, one of the world’s longest and busiest rivers. Witness daily life along its shores and see the spectacular Three Gorges and its new dam. Explore Shanghai, a dazzling city that epitomizes 21^st-century China. Enjoy the European-influenced Bund, the Children’s Palace, and the renowned Shanghai Museum with its priceless collections. Optional extension to Hong Kong.