The ship docks at the 2,000-year-old mountain city of Chongqing, built on a rocky promontory overlooking the point where the Yangtze and Zialing Rivers join. Chiang Kaishek led his Nationalist government during World War II from this city.

You visit the old city area around Liberation Square full of small meandering alleys; steep steps lead down to the river edge. The houses are built into the slopes; often the front doors are actually on the top floor and the lower floors overlook the river. Nearly 85% of the new reservoir behind the Three Gorges Dam will fall within the city limits of Chongqing.

Later, you board your flight to Xi’an; capital of Shaanxi Province. During the Tang dynasty (618-907) Xi’an was the largest city in the world. The Silk Road linked the city to central Asia and Europe; thousands of traders lived here. The walls that surrounded the city during the Tang dynasty no longer exist, although portions of the wall built during the Ming dynasty still stand in the city center. Work is underway to reconstruct the 40-foot high walls, as well as the moat outside the wall.

You visit the Shaanxi History Museum, housed in a beautiful Chinese-style building, which has very impressive exhibits of pottery from the Ming and Qing dynastries, and Shang and Zhou bronze cooking vessels in addition to tools from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic ages.

Your hotel here is the Hyatt Regency Xi’an, without question the best hotel in the city, conveniently located within the old city wall near the heart of the shopping district. The elegant setting includes atriums, multi-tiered fountains, and expansive greenery. Join your companions for dinner this evening in the restaurant here, which features a wide selection of Chinese cuisine.

Day 13 Xi’an

Today you take an excursion to see the underground terra-cotta army of Bingmayong. This display is only part of a grand tomb built by Emperor Qin. Pit number 1 contains 6,000 life-size warriors and horses. The figurines are lined up in neat lines; many hold authentic weapons. The head of each soldier had been copied with the features of his live counterpart. Once, it was customary to bury the slaves of aristocrats when their masters died. When this practice was banned, the slave-owners began using figurines as funerary objects. Pits number 2 and 3 are smaller, but also feature figures in battle formation. Excavation is continuing, and you can watch the work in progress.

In an adjacent museum, you see a stunning model of a Qin dynasty bronze chariot with horses and coachman similar to those used by the Emperor during his inspection tours of the countryside.

There are also surveys which support the existence here of an immense necropolis of all of China in miniature, underneath a 154-foot hill. Old records indicate the ceiling of this buried necropolis is studded with jewels and mercury was pumped in to create flowing "rivers". (High contents of mercury have been found in soil tests.) It is not yet known if the entire area will be excavated; twelve villages and half a dozen factories would have to be relocated. (B,L,D)

Traveling northeast from Xi’an this morning, you fly to Beijing. The city of Beijing is laid out in a grid according to ancient feng shui principles. Feng shui (literally "wind" and "water") is a combination of traditional spiritual laws that are followed to attract good luck and prevent bad fortune. Masters of feng shui are consulted to advise on designs of buildings and layout of one’s home and office. The theories are primarily based on the principle of qi – life’s spirit - which is divided into yin and yang. Beijing lies on a plain bordered on the north by hills topped by the Great Wall and open to the south, an auspicious direction, as it is toward the south that the generosity and warmth of yang is thought to reside. All the important buildings in the old city face south, protected from harmful influences of the north.

Your hotel, The Palace, is located close to the Forbidden City. You enter at mid level of a five-level atrium enhanced with a cascading fountain, pale wood trim, and subtle marble. Dining this evening is a treat in one of the several restaurants at the hotel; select from excellent Cantonese, Chiu Chow, and Sichuan entrees, as well as International dishes. (B,L,D)

Beijing has been the primary center for three major dynasties over the past 1,000 years. It was the winter residence for the Yuan dynasty emperor. The layout of the city was designed during the Ming dynasty, which replaced the Yuan. The Qing emperors lived in the palace until the dynasty collapsed in 1912. But the history of the surrounding area goes back much further - the discovery of "Peking Man" is proof that prehistoric humans were settled in the area more than 500,000 years ago.

This morning, you go to Tian’anmen Square – large enough to hold one million people – to visit the Imperial Palace (the "Forbidden City") where you see the biggest and best preserved grouping of ancient buildings in China. There are numerous monuments from China’s past and present: the Gate of Heavenly Peace, the Great Hall of the People, the Mao Mausoleum. (B,L,D)

Today, you drive north out of the busy city to visit the famed Great Wall, a spiney-backed "dragon" that winds through five provinces, two autonomous regions and up into the Gobi Desert. The very earliest sections of the wall were built in the fifth century BC; but these segments were all connected and extended around 200 BC during the Qing dynasty. From the high points of the wall, the views of the city are magnificent.

Of the dynasties for whom Beijing has been the capital, only the Ming tombs in the peaceful Tianshan Mountain Valley are near the city. (The Qing tombs are 80 miles to the northeast, and there are no Yuan tombs because its Mongul rulers had no burial rites.) You pass through the numerous gates of honor along the Soul Path lined with figures depicting civil and military officials. Thirteen of the 16 Ming emperors lie here.

Returning to Beijing this afternoon, you will dine in one of the local restaurants for a Chinese banquet, complete with Peking duck. (B,L,D)

After breakfast today, you visit the Summer Palace, which was the residence of the Empress Dowager Cixi, last of the Qing dynasty rulers. It is a most pleasant place to walk; as in every classical Chinese garden, water and mountains (represented by rocks) are the focal point. You see the Hill of Longevity on the shore of the large Kunming Lake, the Pagoda of the Incense of Buddha, the particularly beautiful Garden of Joy and Harmony, and the Marble Boat.

In the afternoon, you tour old Beijing, going along ancient walkways (hutongs) originally used by residents several centuries ago. Each hutong is named; many indicate professions of the people who lived beside them: Cloth Lane, Hat Lane, Bowstring Makers Lane. You also see Drum Tower and Bell Tower; they once marked the northern edge of the city. The Drum Tower held 24 giant drums that were struck to mark the closing of the city gates. You can get a very good view of the traditional courtyard houses from the top of the 108-foot tower. Nearby there is a labyrinth of shops selling antiques, gems, and other Chinese goodies.

This evening you join your travel companions for a festive farewell dinner at one of the several excellent restaurants in the hotel - Cantonese, German, Chiu Chow, Italian, or International – none of the menus will disappoint. (B,L,D)

Your journey comes to an end today as you are escorted to the airport for your return flight to the States. (B)