If sightseeing at the Forbidden City and Ming Tombs in the past two days is helpful for you in learning about the lives of China’s emperors, the half-day Hutong Tour reflects the lives of ordinary Chinese and the history of Beijing as a whole. You have dreamed of visiting Beijing’s lanes and experiencing life, history and culture first-hand in this city for a long time. The Hutong Tour makes it come true.

Finished all sightseeing in Beijing, it's time to go to Chongqing where you will start your Yangtze River Cruise. Chongqing is located in the southeast of the Sichuan Basin, where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet. Known as a city in the mountains, Chongqing is surrounded by waters on three sides, and by the mountains on four sides. It has moist climate with many cloudy days and less frost and snow.

Tonight you don't stay in hotel and wait for the next morning boarding. Instead of, you could be on board before 9:00 pm. The ship TCT recommended is luxurious 5-star ship of Victoria Cruises. The cruiser looks quite new and clean. All the stuffs are waiting along two sides to welcome you with sweet smile and fluent English. The standard two-bed sharing cabin is about 21 squarer meters with private balcony and bathroom. A good cabin is very vital for your cruise.

You depart from Chongqing at 9 o’clock in the morning. Sumptuous Western and Chinese buffet are offered as breakfast.

The 6300 kilometer-long Yangtze River is China's longest river and the third longest in the world. It originates in Qinghai Province and cuts its way through Tibet. It passes 7 other provinces before pulling itself into the East Sea just the north of Shanghai. Between the towns of Fengjie (Sichuan Province) and Yichang (Hubei Province) lie three gorges regarded as some of the best scenic attractions in China. With the completion of Three Gorges Dam in 2009, the water levels will rise to a level of 175m above the sea level. It will create a 600 kilometers long reservoir extending from the dam site all the way to Chongqing. Markers along the route indicate that there is only around 20m of rise to go now. The building of this huge dam is for the purpose of flood control, hydroelectricity, navigation and irrigation. Although about 1.5 million people in the process as well as countless historical and cultural sites will be placed, it is lucky that all historical and cultural cites will be reserved by rebuilding to a higher position above the required level.

Today you stop for an exploration of Shibaozhai, which represents one of the gems of Chinese architecture along the Yangtze River. From afar, the protruding 220-meter pagoda abuts against the north bank appears to resemble a jade seal. In Chinese myths, it is said that the creation of the pavilion is attributed to the goddess Nvwa, who caused a rockslide while she was redecorating the sky after a fierce battle between two warring dukes. A red pavilion abuts against one side of this rock. Its tall yellow entrance gate is decorated with lions and dragons.The pavilion itself is really impressive, clinging to the side of a sheer cliff face, as well as spread across the top of the hill. It takes a bit of time to get to the top, and there are some stunning views of Yangtze River when you get there. After return to the boat in the afternoon, you could enjoy your afternoon tea and share tales of today’s adventure with fellow travelers.

Or Fengdu, which is known as the 'Ghost City', remains hundreds of statues of ghosts and devils in a depiction of the afterlife. Or Wanzhou is famous as the 'Gateway to Eastern Sichuan'.

This morning you could get up early to see the sunrise of Yangtze River and the first gorge- Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and the most dramatic one of the three gorges. It is quite early so that it isn't actually daylight, so we could mainly see the silhouette in the half light. It is still impressive with sloping green surfaces, ridges and valleys running down to the water. The gorges rise straight out of the water on either side of you, dwarfing the boat. Lucky enough, as you progress through the light improved, you will have a good look of it. Two mountains, Mt. Chijia Shan and Mt. Baiyan Shan, guard the entrance to this gorge like giant castle doors. Moreover, you can take a practice of Taiji offered by crew on deck.

Today you have so many highlights to share with you. After the first two gorges you will stop at Mt.Wushan and then change to a smaller boat for the visit of Lesser Three Gorges. This is definitely the favorite part of the journey and the most impressive scenery. They are the 'Dragon Gate Gorge', 'Misty Gorge' and 'Emerald Gorge'. These gorges are far sheerer. They are incredible, majestic, humbling and wonderful to behold. If chances are, you will spot a few monkeys in the trees on both sides and also a few women singing and some guys playing something that sounds a bit like the bagpipes.

A few hours later you see the second gorge -Wu Gorge, known for its beauty, forest covered mountains and sheer cliff. The middle gorge is best known for twelve unique peaks. Often hidden in swirls of mist, six lines the north side of the river and six staggered peaks stand to the south. The cliff faces rise up almost 1,000m on either side of the boat. You could stand on the deck for minutes to enjoy this pretty breathtaking scenery. Last but not the least. The third gorge- Xiling Gorge is the longest and the deepest gorge with dangerous rapids like Xietan, Qintan and Kongling, collectively known as the Three Rapids of Xiling.

Then it is time to pass through the locks of Three Gorge Dam that is the climax despite of the nature sightseeing. You could really feel the might of the dam. Since the water level after the dam is much lower than before the dam, the boats have to pass through 5 sections of locks step by step to reduce the height. By closing and opening the locks, the water goes down and the boats are floating and going down with the water. The 5 sections are about 1.5 km long and it takes you about 3.5 hours to pass. Among you, there are some other boats that pass together and this is another reason that it takes a long time. The passage is at night. With all the ship and the surrounding illuminated it is very beautiful scenery to watch and you could not go to sleep until you pass the last lock. After all, not every day do you sail through locks.

Today you get off the boat to see the great Three Gorges Dam. Scheduled for completion in 2009, the Three Gorges Dam was the vision of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and will subdue the floodwaters of Yangtze while providing hydroelectric power to the people. It is no doubt that the highlight of the cruise is not only nature made (the Three Gorges) but also man made (the Dam). The dam is so enormous and impressive. It is the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken on this planet.

Return to your boat and have a nice lunch, it is really the time for you to say goodbye to the crews. You will take a flight from Wuhan to Guilin. Guilin is world-famous for its serene landscape, Karsts limestones formations, mist-covered hills and bamboo groves. Meanwhile it is the home to more than ten ethnic groups, such as Han, Zhuang, Miao, Yao, Hui and Dong. On the way from airport to your hotel, you'll see dozens of pretty hills everywhere in the city area. It is a city of hills and green trees and boasts one of the most photographed areas of China.

Depart from your hotel in the morning and be transferred to Zhujiang Pier for your Li River Cruise today. A double-decker river boat is waiting for your coming in the pier. The landscape from Guilin to Yangshuo is the masterpiece of nature. The crystal water, picturesque mountains, peaceful farm field, hard-working fishmen and wondering water buffalos compose a poem of Guilin scenery and life. Under the blue sky, your river boat is floating on the river, making you in an unreal dream. After about four and a half hours of sailing, the one-thousand-year-old Yangshuo Town comes into your sight. You disembark and browse around this small oriental but Western-influenced town. The West Street earns its name since almost every one in West Street can speak fluent English and every restaurant or bar offers menus in several languages. You feel no boarder and distance here and fall in love with the town at the first sight. Moreover, it is flanked by small shops and vendor stands selling different kinds of souvenirs, which are the best gifts for your friends and relatives. The West Street becomes more charming when it comes to night. Countless bars, cafés and bistros open till midnight with night time music and live band. You really have a good fun with your friends.

Tonight you could choose to enjoy a show named Impression of Liusanjie in the open-air theater. The show is performed on the water surface with surrounding 12 famous peaks and river forming a natural backdrop. Epitomizing the beauty of Li River, the cultures of ethnic groups in Guangxi and the creation of outstanding Chinese artists, the performance will give you a vivid picture that you have never saw and imagined before.

As it is said, Yangshuo is the paradise in the south of China. Today you have a whole day for exploring why it is said so. One delightful road leads to the aptly named Moon Hill - a great limestone pinnacle with a naturally created moon-shaped passage going through just below its summit. On the way to Moon Hill, you firstly visit a symbolized sightseeing of Yangshuo- Big Banyan Tree. Just off the road is the 1500-year-old Big Banyan Tree whose branches and roots spread over a large area close to the river. Reaching the upper section of Moon Hill requires you a steep climb up a well-made path through groves of dense bamboo. Once past the luxuriant vegetation, the path enters the great natural opening that distinguishes it from its neighbors. This landscape is peaceful and stunning viewed from Moon Hill. Further away still, the skyline is lined with peaks of almost equal height - resembling narrow triangles of rock pointing skywards. Most are dark green, being covered with a thick mass of fairly jagged vegetation. A patchwork of fields, in different stages of growth, produces abundant crops of rice and vegetables. The main road back to Yangshuo lies in the distance, cutting a sweeping path through this serene land.

Fenglou Primary School is located on the way between the Moon Hill and Big Banyan Tree. Join us to pay a visit to those lovely kids and bring them some educational gifts. Click to read more about Fenglou Primary School Program.