This phenomenal itinerary presents China's key highlights in just 12 days. Explore cosmopolitan Shanghai, China's most cutting-edge, modern city. Cruise the legendary Yangtze between Wuhan and Chongqing through the wildly beautiful Three Gorges and mystical Lesser Gorges. You will also tour the Three Gorges Dam, an engineering marvel changing the face of China. Visit Xian and stare into the faces of thousands of Terra Cotta Warriors. In Beijing, explore historic imperial treasures like The Forbidden City, Great Wall and famed Summer Palace, and walk through Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public venue. Distinctive hotel stays and our Viking Century Sky round out an amazing trip.

Day 1: Beijing
Welcome to Beijing, China's former imperial capital whose rich history dates back more than 3,000 years. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.* After check-in, you have free time to relax or explore.

Day 2: Beijing
This morning visit the enormous Tiananmen Square, which can accommodate over 1,000,000 people. Then, tour Beijing's Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; made up of nearly 800 buildings, it is the world's largest surviving palace complex. Walk its grounds among the opulent palaces, pavilions, courtyards and imperial gardens within the 26-foot-high walls. After lunch in a local restaurant, see the Summer Palace, a 700-acre complex of elegant buildings and gardens (complete with manmade Kunming Lake) frequented by the Imperial Court when they wanted to escape the bustle of Beijing. This evening, enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner and a recital by Peking Opera performers. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Beijing
After breakfast, travel to the Badaling Hills. There, you behold one of the most impressive and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China-a 4,000-mile-long series of sandstone and earthwork fortifications built and maintained between the 5th century B.C. and the 16th century A.D. that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its winding pathways and marvel at the panoramic views from its ramparts. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the Sacred Way, a tree-lined avenue guarded by massive sculptures of elephants, lions and camels leading to the Ming Dynasty tombs. Tonight, taste some local specialties at dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Beijing & Xian
Today tour Old Beijing's hutongs (narrow alleys) via rickshaw.*** Discover the sights and sounds of traditional Chinese life. Visit a silk carpet workshop for a demonstration of this ancient art. After lunch, fly to Xian, key city of the Tang Dynasty. From 618 to 907 A.D., this dynasty presided over one of China's most glorious cultural periods spreading its influence throughout Asia into Europe and Africa. Tonight, experience the historic grandeur of the era as you dine surrounded by its traditional song and dance. (B, L, D)

***Rickshaw tour only available on Beijing to Shanghai itinerary direction.

Day 5: Xian & Chongqing
After breakfast, tour the mausoleum where Emperor Qin Shi Huang was laid to rest over 2,000 years ago. See the more than 8,000 life-sized terra cotta warriors, archers and infantrymen that were buried with him; each man and horse molded with its own distinctive features. Walkways provide a bird's-eye view of the entire manmade necropolis where the Terra Cotta Army was discovered in the 1970s. After lunch in Xian, fly to Chongqing, gateway to the Yangtze. You are welcomed aboard Viking Century Sky with a Western meal, and your ship sails this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Shibaozhai
This morning, visit Shibaozhai Temple, a 12-story pavilion built in 1650 along the Yangtze. Tour the pavilion and temple before returning aboard for lunch. Return to your ship and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Three Gorges & Lesser Three Gorges
For the next 150 miles, travel the most scenic stretch of the Yangtze as it forces its way through a spectacular series of limestone ridges known as the Three Gorges. During breakfast, cruise through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and most spectacular of the three large gorges. Then, board a smaller boat for an excursion through the Lesser Three Gorges. Sail through these remarkable canyons flanked by towering cliffs. Along the way, see fascinating sites including the hanging coffins of the Ba people and the ancient plank road carved into the cliffside. Enjoy lunch at an exclusive scenic stop overlooking the gorges. After, return aboard and sail through Wu (Witches) Gorge, renowned for its magnificent scenery. Dinner is served aboard. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Three Gorges Dam
This morning, disembark for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam where you learn about this immense engineering masterpiece and what it means for the Chinese people and the Yangtze. Return to your ship and sail through the five-stage locks of the Three Gorges Dam. Lunch and dinner are served aboard while you cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Three Gorges & Jingzhou
This morning, cruise through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges. Then arrive in Jingzhou, where you visit an elementary school sponsored by Viking River Cruises. You are greeted and entertained by the children, then return to your ship for scenic cruising. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Wuhan & Shanghai
After breakfast, disembark in Wuhan. Visit the Hubei Provincial Museum where you enjoy the music of ancient bronze bells. Then, fly to Shanghai, China's largest city and one of the world's most important ports. Here, you can see the modern metropolis of the financial district juxtaposed with the older sections of the city. Check in to your hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 11: Shanghai
This morning, tour Old Shanghai and travel along the elegant Bund, stopping to admire some of its historic buildings and city views. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit a silk carpet workshop for a demonstration. Then tour the Shanghai Museum, featuring displays of ceramics, bronzes and paintings. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant and see the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe show from the best seats in the house. (B, L, D)

Day 12: Shanghai
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we will take you to the airport for your return flight.*