China is a land of mystery and magic, of incredible natural beauty and rich, exotic treasures. Its museums overflow with exquisite works of art and intriguing cultural artifacts from throughout the millennia. Its tombs are guarded by armies of crouching stone animals and fierce warriors, ancient, and eternally vigilant. Its cities teem with energy and motion; its temples radiate a spellbinding majesty. An experience of its greatest monuments is unparalleled.

We invite you to explore some of China's most impressive collections of art and culture; the Imperial Palace collection in the Forbidden City; the Sackler Museum in Beijing, with its thousands of artifacts dating from the Paleolithic period up to the present; the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, where the famous Forest of Stelles is home to a complete edition of the Confucian classics transcribed in stone; the Banpo Museum, a Neolithic village with an extensive collection of beautiful Stone Age pottery and burial jars; and the renowned Shanghai Museum, with its rich bronzes, Buddhist carvings, and fine funerary relics.

View the tomb of China's first emperor, defended by his terra cotta soldiers. Experience modern Beijing's bright lights and ancient markets. Gaze out over the Valley of the Thirteen tombs, the burial site of many generations. Bear witness to one of humankind's most amazing feats of construction, the Great Wall of China. Enjoy Suzhou's classic gardens. Watch as artists stitch their exquisitely embroidered, colorful silks.

In addition, take a six-day cruise on the Yangtze River, winding your way through its legendary Three Gorges, with their spectacular rapids and untamed natural beauty, soon to be lost to the dam that will improve China's energy resources.

To further enhance the journey, you have the privilege of being welcomed and personally guided by curators throughout some of China's most prestigious museums.