Highlights of China

Beijing arrival, Beijing Duck dinner

Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing. Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by your guide, and transferred straight to the hotel. Your tour begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm in your hotel lobby where your guide will go over more details about your trip including meeting up with your guides in each city. After that, you will take an orientation walk followed by a Beijing Duck dinner.

Beijing – Explore the Forbidden City and Hutongs

There will be a lot of walking today as well as using the subway to get around some of Beijing’s most famous sights. Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public squares, is home to the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. From here enter the Forbidden City (built 1406-1420), the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government for more than 500 years. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 and is listed by UNESCO as the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. After the Forbidden City, we will stroll through the alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyards known by Hutong and experience the local lifestyle of old Beijing.

Beijing Great Wall at Mutianyu –train to Xi'an

The Great Wall at Mutianyu is about 2 hours out of Beijing. This is one of the best-preserved and restored sections so it is easy to climb, but you can still appreciate the difficulty of its construction. Picnic lunch on the Wall is provided. Return to Beijing in the late afternoon and board the overnight train to Xian.

Xi'an – Terracotta Warriors & Muslim Quarter

Arriving in Xi’an head to the hotel for breakfast. Then today’s adventure starts with a visit to the Terracotta Warriors. You will learn about this incredible archaeological find, discovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well, after being buried for 2,000 years. Three main pits are open for you to view, where just under 2,000 of the total 6,000 warriors –each individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, and even facial
expression –stand in battle formation.

After marveling at this incredible display we will enjoy lunch in a local village before our private transport takes us back to central Xi’an. Later, take a walk around the Muslim quarter, home to the Hui Muslim community for centuries. Stroll through these narrow streets dotted with small shops, halal butchers, sesame-oil factories, small mosques markets, and restaurants.

Cycle Xi'an City Walls, train to Chengdu

Start the day with a circuit of Xi’an’s ancient City Wall. This is the most significant and best-preserved city wall extant in China, running over 8 miles around Xi’an. It takes about 2 hours to cycle around the wall. Then it is time for the bullet train to Chengdu where you will spend the afternoon exploring Jinli Street. This street is famous for its historic atmosphere, bustling businesses, and most of all for its local snacks. Enjoy sticky rice cakes with sesame sauce, spicy chicken on a stick, sweet rice jelly, fried beef pancakes, and for the more adventurous, seasoned rabbits’ heads. Later in the afternoon head to Kuanzhai Alley, a landmark of Chengdu. Here we will see the historical remains of the old Chengdu city and experience the leisure lifestyle of Chengdu locals.

Chengdu Panda center, flight to Guilin, Yangshuo

A morning visit to the Panda Breeding Center, where we can witness the conservation efforts being made to save this endangered species. Here they are bred and protected and you are able to get quite close, watching them at play, eating, napping, and munching bamboo. In the afternoon take a short flight from Chengdu to Guilin from where it is 2 hours by road to Yangshuo, a small village set amid green karst hills and rice fields. You will be impressed by the scenery from the time your plane starts its descent.

Yangshuo bicycle tour, local family lunch, Li River cruise

Yangshuo offers excellent opportunities for biking and hiking. Cycle through the surrounding countryside to gain an insight into China’s rural life and marvel at the surroundings. Each turn in the road reveals another picture-postcard view. Stop at the Moon Hill, one of the most popular attractions in Yangshuo, easily recognizable by its crescent-moon-shaped natural arch. Ascend to the summit via a steep and rough path to be rewarded with spectacular vistas. Stop for lunch at the house of our local friends and savor a tasty meal made from locally grown produce.

In the afternoon enjoy a relaxing Li River Cruise to sit back and marvel at the crystal clear waters and karst mountain scenery.

Shanghai

Transfer to Guilin airport for a morning flight to Shanghai. This afternoon, we will explore Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s premier shopping street. Nanjing Road features businesses ranging from small shops and stalls to massive department stores and malls. It’s the world’s longest shopping district, stretching 5.5km (3.4 miles) from Jing’an Temple to the Bund. Then it is time to visit the Bund -this spectacular array of Art Deco buildings line what was once the most important financial street in Asia.

Shanghai – Walking tour of Shanghai, City God Temple, Shanghai Museum

Today’s walking tour will take you back in time. The first stop is the City God’s Temple area; a folk temple neighboring Yuyuan Garden. It originated as the Jinshan God Temple, dedicated to the spirit of Jinshan or "Gold Mountain", an island off the coast of Shanghai, and was converted into a City God Temple in 1403. Its popularity turns the surrounding area into a large pedestrian area hosting an array of shops, restaurants, and teahouses, as well as annual temple fair events. Yuyuan Garden is an extensive ancient garden with Ming and Qing architectural styles. Later, we’ll stroll along the narrow winding lanes (longtangs) of Old Shanghai where we can get a real glimpse into the locals’ daily life. Shanghai Museum is a highlight of the tour. The museum design is in keeping with Feng Shui principles. It houses a great permanent collection and hosts various exhibitions with over 120,000 pieces.

Shanghai (Departure)

Today is your last day in Shanghai. There are no activities planned but depending on the time of your outbound flight you can spend the day exploring more of the busy city or indulging in the many cuisines that can be found here. A private transfer to the airport is included.