China, the Yangtze River & Hong Kong

Mist-blanketed limestone peaks stand like sentinels along the Li River, greeting all who cruise its placid waters. Meandering across mountains and valleys, the Great Wall invites you to stroll atop stonework that transcends the centuries; climbing to the top of this wonder of the world is an unforgettable experience. Tranquility and a deep spirituality still have their place in this teeming land... find them among the pavilions of Shanghai's Yu Gardens, before the altar of Beijing's sublime Temple of Heaven, and in the otherworldly landscapes of the Three Gorges – also home to the greatest modern engineering project on Earth. Secrets of life at both ends of the spectrum are revealed within the inner sanctum of the Forbidden City, where mere mortals dared not go... and inside one of Beijing's traditional hutongs, where the warmth of a family sharing a vanishing way of life in their private home stirs the soul.  Read Less