China & the Yangtze River (2012)

Beijing • Shanghai • Wuhan • 4-night Yangtze River Cruise • Chongqing • Xian • Guilin • Hong Kong
  • 20 days
  • from only:
  • $2495
  • $125 per day
    River Cruise Only
  • 21 days
  • from only:
  • $3695
  • $176 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
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What Makes This Trip Unique
It's Included
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Pre- & Post- Trip Extensions
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Grand Circle Foundation
Know Before You Go
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Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your River Cruise, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two vacations to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the Grand Circle Cruise Line River Cruise that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • International airport transfers to and from your ship or hotel are available for purchase
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your vacation
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your vacation with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of Grand Circle Cruise Line vacations to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Portland, OR, San Francisco

18hrs

Baltimore, Seattle

17hrs

Chicago, Orlando

19hrs

Detroit

14hrs

Houston

21hrs

Miami, New York (JFK), San Diego, Tampa

20hrs

Newark

16hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Beijing, China. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the Grand Circle Cruise Line family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on a Grand Circle Cruise Line trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-221-2610
or click here.

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Grand Circle Foundation

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Supporting a World Classroom: China

By seeing how children are educated all over the world, we gain a rare understanding of different cultural values—as well as the common values that unite us all. When you visit China, we bring you into one of two local schools supported by Grand Circle Foundation and introduce you to China's future as part of our World Classroom experience (provided class is in session).

"This was one of the high points of the trip. We had a chance to interact with the kids and observe what they were learning. Both teachers and students were very eager to show us their progress, and it appears this is an excellent school. "

Ann & Barry Muhs, 7-time traveler

Rochester, New York

Huo Kou Primary School

Partner since: 2004 • Total donated: $38,283

Engaging a group of students at the Huo Kou Primary School in a handgame of

Since Grand Circle Foundation first partnered with the Huo Kou Primary School, we have been able to enrich the students' learning and growth by funding the purchase of books, desks, chairs, sporting goods, musical instruments, art supplies, cameras, computers, and audio equipment. Donations from Grand Circle Foundation have also gone to improve the grounds of the school, helping to install new toilets and improve the roads around the school. The Foundation has also provided scholarship money to help offset the tuition of low-income students.

Shao Ping Dian Primary School

Partner since: 2004 • Total donated: $37,255

Playing tug of war with children at the Shao ping dian school

Located in the village of Shao Ping Dian, just outside of Xian, the Shao Ping Dian Primary School has 180 students, 18 teachers, and 6 classrooms, and students can take classes in Chinese, English, math, music, painting, and sports. Grand Circle Foundation donations have improved the learning environment here by helping to fill the school's need for educational materials and funding upgrades to the building's infrastructure. Recent contributions include new computers, an LCD announcement board, cameras, desks, chairs, playground equipment, musical instruments, and art supplies, along with renovations to classrooms and roads. The Foundation has also helped to cover the school's heating bills in the winter, supplemented teachers' salaries, and provided tuition assistance to low-income students.

In addition to the Foundation's ongoing monetary support, a team of 38 Grand Circle associates based in our China office recently painted the school's windows and doors during a Grand Circle community service project. The team was welcomed not only by teachers and students, but also by members of the local community.

School in session:

Late February through mid-December

Gifts to bring if you're visiting:

  • Pens and pencils
  • Drawing paper
  • Educational toys

Alan and Harriet Lewis founded Grand Circle Foundation in 1992 as a means of giving back to the world we travel. Because they donate a portion of the profits from every trip, we consider each one of our travelers as a partner in the Foundation’s work around the world. To date, the Foundation has pledged or donated more than $91 million in support of 300 different organizations—including 60 villages and nearly 100 schools that lie in the paths of our adventures.

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