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- Beijing
- Eastern China
- Guangxi
- Hong Kong
- Northern China
- Shanghai
- Sichuan
- The Yangtze River
- Tibet
- Xian
- Yunnan
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Tailormade China River Cruise Holidays
Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
Yangzi Explorer
Cabin
Cabin
Cabin
The Yangtze
Yichang Night Market
On the Yangtze
The Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
The Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer introduces a new standard of cruising in China - more intimate and luxurious.
With the largest cabins and suites on the river, all with private balconies, as well as the highest crew to passenger ratio on the river of 1:1, this is a Yangzi cruise unlike any other.
Carrying just 124 passengers, compared to the 300 plus accommodated on other cruise ships, the Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer offers the finest and most personalised service on the river.
Onboard facilities include a la carte dining, a luxury spa, an observation deck, 24-hour room service, a two-floor theatre, library, and beauty and fitness facilities.
The ship also has the most spacious and indulgent spa on board any cruise vessel on the Yangzi.
What's so Special?
The Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer had a comprehensive refurbishment in 2018, to reflects a contemporary design whilst maintaining local Chinese influences.
The new look cabins all offer a luxurious yet authentic feel. The 20 suites and 38 deluxe cabins have all been upgraded in a contemporary Chinese style, with artwork, stylish textiles and soft furnishings and ‘silver-leaf’ wallpaper designs featuring a 'mudan', or peony, which is native to the Yangtze region.
The Celestial and Imperial Suites, which are the largest specialty suites have also been updated reflecting a Colonial Chinese design.
- Highest crew to passenger ratio on the river of 1:1
- Largest cabins and suites on river, all with private balconies
- Spacious spa with variety of treatments
- Carefully planned itineraries with variety of on board activities and site visits
- Personalised service due to smaller number of passengers than other boats
Cabins
The Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer had a comprehensive refurbishment in 2018, to reflects a contemporary design whilst maintaining local Chinese influences.
The Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer has 38 deluxe cabins, 20 suite cabins and 4 specialty suites.
The new look cabins all offer a luxurious yet authentic feel.
The 20 suites and 38 deluxe cabins have all been upgraded in a contemporary Chinese style, with artwork, stylish textiles and soft furnishings and ‘silver-leaf’ wallpaper designs featuring a 'mudan', or peony, which is native to the Yangtze region.
The Celestial and Imperial Suites, which are the largest specialty suites have also been updated reflecting a Colonial Chinese design.
All cabins boast floor-to-ceiling windows providing access to private balconies with outdoor armchairs and coffee tables.
In addition to a choice of king or twin beds, connecting cabins are also available.
All cabins are equipped with private bathroom, hairdryer, safety deposit box, mini bar and LCD satellite television.
Deluxe Cabins (31 sq. m) are the largest entry level cabins of their kind on the Yangtze River.
Each has its own private balcony. The deluxe cabin is fully equipped with LCD Satellite TV, electronic safe, mini bar and fridge.
Day 1: Yangzi Explorer Cruise
On arrival in Yichang you will be met and transferred to the Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer.
Overnight Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer. All meals included.
Day 2: Yangzi Explorer Cruise - Three Gorges Dam
After breakfast view the Xiling Gorge, the longest of the three gorges (47 miles in length).
Enjoy the views of the sweeping river through the groves of orange and pomelo trees, before arriving at the Three Gorges Project Dam Site and Exhibition Centre for a private tour of the world's largest engineering project.
Lunch is served on the ship. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure with a complimentary afternoon tea and choice of lectures. In the evening dinner is served a-la-carte.
Overnight Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer. All meals included.
Day 3: Yangzi Explorer Cruise – Shennong Stream
Disembark Sanctuary Yangzi at Badong and transfer to a local longboat (sampan) poled by Tujia boatmen to explore the Shennong Stream.
In the afternoon explore the Wu and Qutang Gorges
After lunch, join an optional excursion to visit the White Emperor City, an historic site once the settlement of Gong Sunshu, an official turned soldier.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure with afternoon tea. Dinner is served a-la-carte, followed by a crew variety show.
Overnight Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer. All meals included.
Day 4: Yangzi Explorer Cruise - Fengdu
Start your morning with traditional Chinese exercise and work up an appetite for breakfast.
After breakfast, enjoy a shore excursion to Fengdu, where you can visit a local Kindergarten or join in with an exercise, singing and dancing regime for the local retired Chinese residents.
After lunch, join a tour of the wheelhouse, attend an arts & craft presentation or take part in our Chinese dumpling demonstration.
Tonight is a special 'Taste of China' dinner.
Overnight Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer. All meals included.
Day 5: Chongqing & Beijing
Arrive in Chongqing where you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Day 1: Fly Uk – Shanghai
Fly from the UK to Shanghai.
Day 2: Shanghai
On arrival you will be met and transferred your chosen hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight Shanghai. Breakfast included.
Day 3: Shanghai
Enjoy a full day tour of Shanghai, visiting some of the most important landmarks and locations in Shanghai, including the Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, Shanghai Old Street, the French Concession and Xintiandi.
The Jade Buddha Temple is an active temple, with 70 resident monks, and the centerpiece is a sitting Buddha carved out of white jade and encrusted with jewels, measuring over two meters tall and rumored to weigh over 1000 kilograms.
From the Jade Buddha, head over to the Yu Yuan Gardens, a classic creation of the Ming Dynasty. Nearby is Shanghai Old Street which had its origins in the Qing Dynasty.
After a Shanghainese lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Bund, Shanghai's waterfront, known for its grand display of colonial-era architecture and the wonderful views of both sides of the Huangpu River.
Visit Xintiandi, a stylish nightlife district with many boutiques, pubs, and restaurants and on to Shanghai's Art District. Xintiandi is a good place to return to for dinner this evening.
Finally visit the Shikumen Open House Museum, a well-preserved Shikumen house from the 1920's that displays furniture and articles for daily use during that time.
Overnight: Shanghai. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch included
Day 4: Suzhou
Today enjoy a full day in Suzhou. You will be collected from your hotel by your driver and guide for a private excursion to Suzhou, one of China's famous water towns.
Visit the Garden of the Master of the Nets, the smallest of the Suzhou residential gardens, yet the most impressive because of its use of space and the feeling of tranquility and harmony that it instills on visitors.
After lunch visit the Suzhou Institute of Embroidery and see some of the most valuable pieces of embroidery
ever made, including several priceless court gowns.
Finally visit the superb Suzhou Museum, itself an architectural masterpiece, containing over 15,000 ancient pieces in its collection, including paintings, ceramics & calligraphy.
Overnight: Shanghai. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch included
Day 5: Yangzi Explorer Cruise
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Yichang, where you will be met and transferred to the Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer.
Overnight Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer. All meals included.
Day 6: Yangzi Explorer Cruise - Three Gorges Dam
After breakfast view the Xiling Gorge, the longest of the three gorges (47 miles in length).
Enjoy the views of the sweeping river through the groves of orange and pomelo trees, before arriving at the Three Gorges Project Dam Site and Exhibition Centre for a private tour of the world's largest engineering project.
Lunch is served on the ship. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure with a complimentary afternoon tea and choice of lectures. In the evening dinner is served a-la-carte.
Overnight Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer. All meals included.
Day 7: Yangzi Explorer Cruise – Shennong Stream
Disembark Sanctuary Yangzi at Badong and transfer to a local longboat (sampan) poled by Tujia boatmen to explore the Shennong Stream.
In the afternoon explore the Wu and Qutang Gorges
After lunch, join an optional excursion to visit the White Emperor City, an historic site once the settlement of Gong Sunshu, an official turned soldier.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure with afternoon tea. Dinner is served a-la-carte, followed by a crew variety show.
Overnight Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer. All meals included.
Day 8: Yangzi Explorer Cruise - Fengdu
Start your morning with traditional Chinese exercise and work up an appetite for breakfast.
After breakfast, enjoy a shore excursion to Fengdu, where you can visit a local Kindergarten or join in with an exercise, singing and dancing regime for the local retired Chinese residents.
After lunch, join a tour of the wheelhouse, attend an arts & craft presentation or take part in our Chinese dumpling demonstration.
Tonight is a special 'Taste of China' dinner.
Overnight Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer. All meals included.
Day 9: Chongqing & Beijing
Arrive in Chongqing where you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Beijing.
On arrival in Beijing you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel with the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight Beijing. Breakfast included.
Day 10: Beijing – Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Enjoy a full day privately guided tour of Beijing.
Visit Tiananmen Square and prepare to be overwhelmed by the sheer size of one of the world’s largest public squares.
Pass several monuments, including Chairman Mao’s mausoleum on the way to the entrance the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City was completed in 1420, and was home to 24 emperors, the last of which left Beijing in 1924.
Stroll through what is arguably the best-preserved example of classical Chinese architecture in the world.
Enjoy an easy walk up Jingshan Hill, for a birds-eye view of the Forbidden City.
Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.
After lunch, recapture the feeling of Beijing’s past from the wooden seat of a traditional rickshaw, and visit a local family’s courtyard home along the way during a tour of Beijing's traditional Hutong district.
Overnight Beijing. Breakfast & Lunch included.
Day 11: Beijing - The Great Wall
Enjoy a full Day Tour to the Great Wall.
The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world.
Explore the much quieter Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, which was first begun in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557) and finished in the 17th century.
The 2.5-km stretch of the Wall allows you to walk along its storied length for over an hour and visit twenty-two watchtowers, should you so choose.
Also enjoy a cable car ride to the top.
Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.
On the way back, pay a visit to this art district of Beijing where Maoist slogans still adorn the walls, to experience a different side of Beijing.
Once a complex that manufactured electronics, Factory Number 798 was divided, rented out, and converted into galleries, artist studios, design companies, restaurants and bars at the turn of the 20th century.
Overnight Beijing. Breakfast included.
Day 12: Beijing
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
Day 13: UK
Arrive back in the UK.
Deluxe Hotel Suggestions Shanghai:
88 Xintiandi
Indigo on the Bund
Peninsula
The Puli
Deluxe Hotel Suggestions Beijing:
Opposite House
Peninsula
10 nights Sanctuary River Cruise Holiday - Deluxe:
- Price from £3,395 pp
This is a guide price only, based on travel in low season.
Prices will vary according to choice of hotel and seasonal airfare and hotel surcharges. Please ask us for any current special offers.
Contact Us:
All of our China Tours are completely tailor made and we can put together any kind of itinerary to suit your interests and budget.
Call us now to speak to a China holiday expert about your China holiday or honeymoon to China.
Call us now on 0333 7000 747
We're open from 9 until 9 daily and our 0333 number is a local rate number included in most call packages.
