terra-cotta warriors, Xi'an, China, sculpture, art, archaeology
Detail of the terra-cotta warriors of Xi'an, reflecting individual portraits

Imperial China and the Yangtze

Discover China's treasures, both ancient and modern, on a classic journey through China's Middle Kingdom including a Yangtze cruise
Starting at $5,034
Including airfare, airline taxes & departure fees
Call 855-330-1542
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Save $200* per person on the following departure when you book by May 24, 2013. Use promotion code LASTCALL online or when speaking to our travel specialists to secure these savings.
  • September 17, 2013
* Offer valid on new bookings only.
 
Overview
  • From the ancient Terra-Cotta Warriors of Xi’an to modern, bustling Shanghai, explore China in depth on our tour of the Middle Kingdom, featuring many World Heritage sites. In the capital city of Beijing, tour the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Temple of Heaven, and walk along a secluded section of the Great Wall. You’ll also meet a family in Beijing and feast on a traditional Peking duck dinner. Then fly to the ancient city of Xi’an, located at the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, to see the extraordinary Terra-Cotta Warriors and visit the Great Mosque and a Buddhist temple.

    Enjoy the breathtaking landscape of the Yangtze River with its many dramatic gorges, and learn about the dramatic impact of the Three Gorges Dam on modern China during a leisurely three-day cruise. Conclude in the dazzling commercial capital of Shanghai to view the impressive art collections of the renowned Shanghai Museum and meander the peaceful Yu Yuan Gardens. Throughout your tour, a China expert provides insight into the art, culture, history, and modern life.
    • Special Value
  • This tour is specially designed for a small group of 16 to 24 Smithsonian travelers and offers outstanding travel value. Prices include airfare, airline taxes, fuel surcharges, and departure fees.
    • Smithsonian Experts
  • Throughout this tour, travel in the company of an exceptional Smithsonian Study Leader. Dorothy (Dottie) Borei is an expert in East Asian history with interests ranging from Imperial to 20th-century China, the history of Chinese women, and contemporary Chinese society in film. Dottie will lead the May 2013 departure. Robert Foster has served as a Smithsonian lecturer in China and has led workshops on Asia with organizations as diverse as the U.S. military and secondary school educators in Kentucky. Robert will lead the September 2013 departure. Maggie Bickford is Professor Emerita of the History of Art & Architecture at Brown University, where for 25 years she taught the arts of China from the Stone Age to the 20th Century. Maggie will lead the October 2013 departure.
    • Special Highlights
  • Visit with a local family in one of Beijing's quickly disappearing communal neighborhoods.
  • Gaze upon the imposing ranks of the Terra-cotta warriors of Xi’an from elevated walkways that offer panoramic views of this splendid site.
  • Travel through the heart of China on a three-day Yangtze River cruise and transit partway through the locks of Three Gorges Dam.
    • World Heritage Sites
  • This tour features the following World Heritage sites in China:
    • The Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Beijing
    • The Summer Palace and Garden, Beijing
    • The Temple of Heaven, Beijing
    • The Great Wall, Beijing
    • The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, Xi'an
    See a complete list of all Smithsonian tours featuring World Heritage sites.


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