11 Days Private China Tour: Shanghai-Nanjing-Yichang Yangtze Cruise to Chongqing-Chengdu

Your spectacular China river & culture journey kicks off with a seamless arrival at Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao International Airport. Our attentive local guide and private driver will greet you at the exit gate with a personalized name board, assist with luggage collection, customs clearance and hassle-free private transfer to your pre-booked downtown hotel. After quick check-in, your guide will walk you through the full 11-day itinerary, share practical travel tips and local customs notes. Spend the rest of the day resting to beat jet lag and wander nearby pedestrian streets to soak up Shanghai's unique blend of old Shikumen alleys and modern skyscraper vibes.

Start your day with a stroll along the world-famous Bund, a 1.5-kilometer riverfront lined with over 50 classic European-style colonial buildings boasting Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance facades. Facing the Huangpu River, this iconic waterfront frames the striking contrast between old Shanghai's colonial legacy and futuristic Pudong skyline across the water. Your guide will lead you to exclusive riverside photo spots to capture panoramic shots of the landmark skyline.

Next, visit Yu Garden, a UNESCO-listed classical Jiangnan private garden built in the Ming Dynasty. Featuring winding rockeries, tranquil lotus ponds, exquisite carved pavilions and compact elegant corridors, it perfectly embodies the delicate aesthetics of southern Chinese garden design. Adjacent to the garden lies the bustling City God Temple pedestrian block, filled with traditional snack stalls, silk boutiques and handcraft shops selling paper cuttings, jade and tea. Sample classic Shanghai street food including xiaolong soup dumplings, crispy shengjian buns and sweet osmanthus cakes.

After lunch, cross the Huangpu River to Lujiazui Financial District, home to three landmark skyscrapers: Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center and Shanghai Tower. Optional Activity: Buy observation deck tickets to ascend the Shanghai Tower for a bird's-eye panoramic view of the entire city (extra fee). As dusk falls, return to the Bund to witness the dazzling nightly light show illuminating the historic waterfront buildings.

After breakfast, your guide escorts you to Shanghai High-Speed Railway Station, handling all ticketing, boarding and luggage arrangements for a smooth 2-hour ride to Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties. 

Upon arrival, local driver and guide pick you up and transfer straight to scenic spots.First stop: the Presidential Palace, a grand complex combining ancient Chinese courtyard architecture and Western neoclassical design, once the core political hub of modern Chinese history. Your guide narrates pivotal republican-era stories and royal legends of the former Ming imperial garden inside the compound.

In the afternoon, explore Nanjing Confucius Temple by the Qinhuai River, the cradle of southern Chinese literary culture for over 1,000 years. Wander stone lanes lined with red lanterns, antique calligraphy shops and time-honored snack houses. Taste local specialties like salted duck, duck blood vermicelli soup and osmanthus glutinous rice.When night comes, stroll along the illuminated Qinhuai River waterfront. Optional Activity: Leisurely river cruise along Qinhuai River with traditional wooden painted boats to view lit ancient pavilions from the water (extra fee). Check into your downtown Nanjing hotel after sightseeing.

Spend the morning visiting Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the grand resting place of the Ming Dynasty's founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. Nestled at the foot of Purple Mountain, the mausoleum features a 1,800-meter sacred stone way lined with lifelike stone beast and official statues, solemn ancient cypress forests and symmetrical imperial burial architecture reflecting ancient Chinese feng shui rituals.

Short drive uphill to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, a solemn memorial complex built to honor the father of modern China. Climb the 393 stone steps to the top memorial hall, enjoying sweeping views of the entire Purple Mountain scenic area and listening to the guide's introduction of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary legacy.

After local Nanjing-style lunch, wander Laomen East, a restored ancient alley blending Ming-Qing courtyard houses, trendy art galleries and quiet teahouses. The guide recommends hidden niche cafes and family-run restaurants away from crowded tourist zones, allowing you to experience slow ancient Nanjing local life. Return to hotel for rest after the full-day exploration.

Early morning private transfer to Nanjing High-Speed Railway Station for a cross-country high-speed train journey to Yichang, the gateway to the Three Gorges. Your guide accompanies you through the entire boarding process, with comfortable private vehicle waiting upon arrival in Yichang.

In the afternoon, head to the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area, the world's largest water conservancy project. Stand at the viewing platform to admire the giant dam body, ship locks and vast reservoir waters, learning about the engineering marvel and ecological transformation of the Yangtze River from your professional guide.

As evening arrives, transfer to the cruise terminal for check-in and boarding your premium upstream Yangtze River cruise ship. Settle into your private river-view cabin, enjoy a welcome dinner onboard featuring both Chinese and Western buffet dishes, and attend a pre-cruise briefing introducing the next 3 days' shore excursion schedules. Spend your first night drifting gently on the Yangtze River.

Wake up to stunning river views from your cabin as the ship sails through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges, famous for rolling green mountain ridges, rushing clear water and scattered fishing villages clinging to river banks. Join the complimentary morning shore excursion to Three Gorges People's Village, a well-preserved ancient riverside hamlet showcasing traditional Tujia ethnic culture. 

Watch vivid Tujia folk dances, visit stilt houses built along cliffs, and taste homemade local wild vegetable stew and corn wine.Back onboard, enjoy a leisurely lunch buffet, then relax on the open observation deck to watch the winding gorge scenery glide past. 

In the evening, watch a live onboard cultural performance featuring Sichuan opera face-changing, folk instrumental music and traditional Chinese dance shows included in your cruise package. Overnight onboard the Yangtze cruise vessel.

Early morning shore excursion to Shennong Stream, a crystal-clear tributary of the Yangtze winding through Wu Gorge, widely hailed as the most poetic section of the Three Gorges. Board a small wooden sampan to drift along emerald waterways flanked by towering green cliffs, listening to local boatmen sing ancient river folk songs. 

Witness primitive hanging coffins embedded high on limestone cliff faces, a mysterious millennia-old local burial custom explained by your guide.Return to the main cruise ship and continue sailing through Qutang Gorge, the shortest yet most precipitous gorge with sheer vertical rock walls rising thousands of meters above the river. 

Capture dramatic postcard-perfect photos of the narrow water passage surrounded by jagged mountain peaks. Free afternoon onboard: unwind at the ship's lounge, spa or outdoor viewing deck. Another night onboard cruising toward Chongqing.

Morning ship docking at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port. Complete disembarkation procedures with your private guide and driver waiting to transfer you into downtown Chongqing.

First attraction: Hongyadong, a signature mountain-city landmark built on steep cliff slopes, featuring stacked stilt houses illuminated by thousands of warm golden lanterns. Its fairy-tale layered architecture makes it the top photography spot in Chongqing. Wander winding terraced lanes filled with hot pot restaurants, craft souvenir shops and riverside teahouses.

After lunch, drive to Ciqikou Ancient Town, a 1,000-year-old riverside commercial town preserving authentic Bayu folk culture. Roam flagstone alleys, watch artisans hand-make sesame cakes and spicy bean curd, and sip local jasmine tea at old courtyard teahouses. Your guide helps you avoid overpriced tourist stalls and find authentic local snacks.

As night falls, ride up Eling Park observation deck for a panoramic overlook of Chongqing's layered skyline, where twin rivers converge and countless skyscrapers cling to rolling hills. 

Optional Activity: Private cable car ride across the Yangtze River for unique aerial night views (extra fee). Check into your Chongqing downtown hotel after sightseeing.

Post-breakfast private transfer to Chongqing West High-Speed Railway Station for a short 1.5-hour high-speed trip to Chengdu, the laid-back capital of Sichuan Province. Local guide meets you at Chengdu East Station and heads straight to Dazu Rock Carvings, a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. Carved over 800 years during the Tang and Song dynasties, thousands of intricate Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian stone statues cover hillside cliffs, showcasing extraordinary ancient Chinese stone carving craftsmanship and harmonious folk religious culture. Your guide interprets the profound moral stories and artistic details behind each grand Buddha sculpture.

Return to downtown Chengdu in the late afternoon and visit Jinli Ancient Street adjacent to Wuhou Shrine. This restored Three Kingdoms-themed pedestrian street is lined with red lanterns, Sichuan opera stages, sugar-figure artisans and hot pot specialty stores. Try classic Sichuan snacks: spicy rabbit heads, mapo tofu skewers and sweet glutinous rice cakes. Settle into your Chengdu hotel for overnight stay.

Optional Activity: Watch a live Sichuan opera show with face-changing and fire-spitting performances. 

Spend the early morning at Chengdu Giant Panda Base, the world's most renowned panda conservation sanctuary. Observe fluffy adult giant pandas munching fresh bamboo, playful panda cubs tumbling in outdoor gardens and rare red pandas roaming subtropical bamboo forests. Your guide shares professional wildlife protection knowledge and guides you to the best morning photography spots when pandas are most active.

After lunch, drive to Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a 2,200-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's only still-functioning ancient water conservancy project. Built during the Warring States Period, this ingenious damless irrigation system tames the Min River, nourishing the fertile Chengdu Plain for millennia. Walk along ancient water division dykes and stone passageways while your guide explains the brilliant ancient hydraulic engineering wisdom.

Back to Chengdu city center for an optional authentic Sichuan tea ceremony experience: sit in a traditional old courtyard teahouse, learn to brew jasmine and dragon well tea, and experience the slow, relaxed Chengdu leisure lifestyle beloved by locals.

Your incredible 11-day cross-China river and cultural tour reaches its finale today. Enjoy a leisurely unstructured morning for souvenir shopping in central Chengdu. Your guide will recommend reliable local specialty stores selling Sichuan peppercorns, aged tea, giant panda themed handicrafts, spicy hot pot seasoning and silky Sichuan silk fabrics. Browse freely and select thoughtful gifts for family and friends at your own pace without rush. 

In the afternoon, our private driver will provide door-to-door transfer to Chengdu Tianfu/Shuangliu International Airport for your outbound flight. Bid farewell to the stunning landscapes, profound history and warm local hospitality of China with unforgettable memories of river cruises, ancient relics and vibrant city culture.