The Li River twists and turns between lush, green rock formations known in geographic terms as karsts. The mountainous terrain is covered with lush bamboo and luxuriant forests, and the river itself is a highway of small boats from the villages that dot the shores.

You'll be cruising upriver for the next four hours, sitting in cushioned comfort in the main cabin or enjoying the open-air viewing platform. Bring lots of film because this is a photographer's dream, and you'll want to capture the dramatic landscapes that Chinese artists have been painting for centuries. Lunch will be served onboard, with local favorites and fresh catches from the Li River.

Your destination is the village of Yangshuo, where you'll disembark and stroll amid the colorful, bustling marketplace of local street vendors. After you stretch your legs and see the sights, it's a bus trip back to Guilin to see the farms and countryside away from the river. The trip doesn't end here, because you also get a choice of shopping stops and some real bargains in pearl and jade, or fine Chinese paintings.

The scenery of Guilin has been called 'the most magnificent under heaven'. It is famous for the verdant beauty of nearby mountains, elegant waterways, magnificent crags and fantastic caverns. Your full-day city tour begins with two attractions that features sculpted stone: one carved by man and the other by nature. At Fubo Hill, you will stroll along the pathways to see intricate carvings and stone Buddhas dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Then its on to Reed Flute Cave, where nature has sculpted the 'Palace of Natural Arts,' beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations.

After a leisurely stop to shop for local pearls, jewelry and crafts, it's on to the symbolic center of the city, Elephant Hill. Resembling an elephant drinking water through its trunk, this monolithic hill is approximately 3.5 million years old, with stairs to climb for a bird's eye view of Guilin. After lunch you will visit Solitary Beauty Peak and the ancient home of a nobleman in the Ming Dynasty. Here you'll tour the Mansion of Prince Jingjiang and stroll along the scenic waterways of nearby Seven Star Park.

At the beginning of World War II, about 30,000 Jewish refugees fled from Europe to Shanghai. Calling themselves 'Shanghailanders', most settled in the Hongkou District where the local residents kindly offered food and medicine for these displaced people. The Jewish community thrived in the Hongkou. Bakeries, stores, cafes, synagogues, schools, clinics, cemeteries, and even a Jewish newspaper all flourished there.

Built in 1927, the Ohel Moishe Synagogue served as the spiritual heart of Shanghai's Jewish community and currently houses the Museum for Jewish Refugees. It has been reconstructed to its original appearance and features a photo exhibition from the period. On this tour you'll also visit Huoshan Park, a peaceful retreat where the Monument in Memory of Jewish Refugees now stands. Duolun Road is also a must-see stop because of the history, culture and humanity of 1920s-30s Shanghai. You'll wander among the museums, antique and curio houses, calligraphers' and painters' studios, bookshops and literary clubs, teahouses and wine bars.

Highlights:

• Ohel Moishe Synagogue
• Hongkou District
• Monument for Jewish Refugees
• Duolun Road