March 6-24, 2008 October 29-Nov 16, 2008 (19 days) From $3,995 pp/do, airfare included

Described by Napoleon as a “sleeping giant,” China’s long slumber has amassed nearly 6,000 years of epic history. It has borne one of the world’s oldest surviving civilizations, 19 dynastic empires, and great innovations integral to humankind’s advancement, such as paper, printing, and the compass. Begin your 19-day odyssey in 2000-year-old Beijing, and savor the Chinese capital’s legendary sites, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City palace complex, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall. Next, fly to Xi’an — home to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda — and discover the widely acclaimed excavation site featuring a life-size army constructed of terra cotta. The army, which guards the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, numbers some 8,000 warriors, horses, and chariots. The journey continues with a three-day stop in the Chinese province of Tibet, located high in the majestic Himalayas — the planet’s highest mountain system. Spend three days in the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa, and adjust to the high altitude while exploring the sacred temples and vast Potala Palace, Tibet’s holiest center. Then, board a Victoria Cruises ship in Chongqing for a three-night cruise on the Yangtze River, China’s longest river and the country’s principal waterway. It’s also the world’s third-longest river, after the Nile and Amazon rivers. The cruise includes a tour of the spectacular Three Gorges region and the new Three Gorges Dam — a monumental construction project set for completion in 2009. The dam is the largest hydroelectric river-dam in the world, more than five times the size of the Hoover Dam. The tour concludes in Shanghai, a city that epitomizes 21st-century China and dazzles visitors at every turn. Shanghai is China’s largest city, and one of the world’s busiest ports and economic centers. A four-day/three-night post-tour extension to Hong Kong is available. Book early, the trip is limited to 24 passengers!

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