Beijing

Xian
Xian reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty rule when it was the capital of the Middle Kingdom. During this time, the city’s position as the geographical beginning of China’s fabled Silk Road established it as one of the world’s biggest and richest cities. From 618 to 907, the Tang Dynasty presided over one of China’s most glorious cultural periods, spreading its influence throughout Asia and into Europe and Africa. While in Xian, visit China’s greatest archaeological treasure, the Qin Mausoleum. More than 2,000 years ago, the Emperor Qin Shi Huang was buried along with more than 6,000 life-sized terra cotta warriors, archers and infantrymen, together with their horses and chariots. In the early 1970s, farmers digging a well accidentally uncovered some of these soldiers. Walkways provide a bird’s-eye view of the stunning sight of an entire army molded in incredible detail (each man and horse with his own distinct personality).

Chongqing
Perched on steep hills at the confluence of the Yangtze and its major tributary, the Jialing River, Chongqing is the gateway for Yangtze River cruises. This proud mountain city was the capital of China during World War II when the American Volunteer Air Group, the "Flying Tigers," was based here. Visit the Stilwell Museum dedicated to "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, commander of American forces in China, Burma and India during World War II. Today, Chongqing is China’s most important inland industrial city in China, and is particularly lively at night with its neon-lit Liberation Monument.

Three Gorges
Sandouping village is the site of the monumental Three Gorges Dam project, the most ambitious engineering project of its kind. Here you will learn about the immense construction project and its effects on the people and landscapes of China. This hydroelectric project is planned for completion in 2009 when the river will rise to a final 575 feet above sea level, displacing 1.25 million people, submerging 13 cities, 140 towns and 1,352 villages and flooding the narrow gorges of the Yangtze’s tributaries, creating a lake behind the dam and smoothing out the shoals and rapids in the river. China’s new dam promises to yield the equivalent power of 15 nuclear plants as well as control the centuries-old problem of devastating Yangtze floods. While the dam has changed certain aspects of this experience, the gorges remain an impressive natural phenomenon.

Wuhan
This capital of Hubei Province is noted as the most important site of the republican revolution and as a gateway city to the Yangtze Gorges. Visit the Hubei Provincial Museum with its collection of elaborately decorated bronze bells. The city also boasts the remarkable five-tiered Yellow Crane Tower and the elegant Guiyuan Buddhist Temple.

Shanghai
The largest city in China and one of the world’s most important ports began as a tiny fishing village 5,000 years ago. Today, it is a modern metropolis, its skyline cluttered with twinkling skyscrapers. Travel along the famous Bund, the city’s elegant riverfront promenade containing many of Shanghai’s banks and trading houses, and tour Old Shanghai. The old section of Shanghai retains the narrow lanes, bustling street markets, sights and scents of times past. The renowned Shanghai Museum contains a wonderful collection of ancient Chinese art. Visit a silk carpet factory and the Shanghai Children’s Palace, housed in a grand, early 20th century building once known as the Marble House. Viking River Cruises passengers will be treated to a performance by China’s famous acrobats.

Fengdu
Called the "City of Ghosts" because of its temples filled with statues of demons, Fengdu boasts a population of 740,000 and features 70 temples, the oldest dating to the Tang dynasty, many climbing the Mingshan Hill above the city.

Dongting Lake
Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China, famous for its scenic beauty and tea production. On the lake is Yueyang Tower, a graceful pavilion made famous by popular poems dedicated to its beauty.

Jingzhou
In parts of rural China, village life goes on much as it has for centuries. To help bring education to the more remote villages, Viking River Cruises has sponsored a much-needed school in one of these villages. Viking River Cruises passengers will have an exclusive tour of the village and school, where they’ll be warmly greeted by the children and staff.

Shibaozhai
Shibaozhai (Precious Stone Stronghold) Temple is a gem of Chinese architecture. Built during the Qing Dynasty in 1650, the 12-story red pavilion is perched on a sheer cliff towering over the river.