Traveling by train, mostly in daylight, you have plenty of opportunities to observe the Chinese countryside, towns, and villages; passing through incredible scenery and busy farming areas as your journey between the main stops on your tour. Be overawed by the immensity of China, its history, its natural diversity, and its amazing modern cities and infrastructure.
Nihao! Welcome to Hongkong, home to the greatest number of skyscrapers in the world! This morning travel by MTR and Star Ferry then take the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak for unbelievable views across the densely packed city and the busy harbor of Hong Kong.
In the afternoon collect your luggage and head to the station for the fast train to Guilin from where it is a 2-hour drive to the rural resort town of Yangshuo set within a dramatic limestone karst landscape.
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Yangshuo offers excellent opportunities for biking and hiking. After breakfast, we head out of town on bikes to 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 Moon Hill, one of the most popular attractions in Yangshuo, easily recognizable by its crescent-moon-shaped natural arch. If you’d like to take a challenge, you can ascend to the summit via a steep and rough path, for which you will 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. Then, ride back to town and enjoy an evening at your leisure.
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Take a morning hike in the countryside followed by a relaxing cruise on the Li River. The afternoon is free for your own explorations – try Chinese calligraphy, visit local markets, relax in a café, shop for local handicrafts …
Make sure you try some local specialties for dinner.
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After breakfast, take a bullet train to Chengdu, soaking up the charm of the unique landscape as you travel through it.
After checking in to your hotel, 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.
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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 can get quite close, watching them at play, eating, napping, and munching bamboo.
Back in Chengdu city enjoy an afternoon walking tour around 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.
In the late afternoon, we will enjoy a walk around the people’s park and relax with a cup of tea in the century-old Heming Teahouse.
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Make an excursion south of Chengdu to one of the region’s most famous sites — the Leshan Buddha. This 71-meter-tall (233 ft.) statue is carved from a hillside and dates from AD713 (Tang Dynasty) when China was ruled by Lee’s imperial family. The carving took 90 years to finish and is complete with a well-designed drainage system at the back of the Buddha’s head and ears.
Back in town our dinner this evening is a spicy Sichuan hotpot, probably Chengdu’s most famous dish.
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It is about 4 hours by fast train to Xi’an, arriving early afternoon. Xi’an is not only the capital city of Shaanxi Province but also home to many imperial powers dating back to 2200 years. The development of the historic city is booming; however, many amazing historical sites are still very well preserved. Your orientation tour begins at the iconic Bell and Drum Tower then on to the popular food paradise of the Muslim Quarter.
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This morning’s visit is to the Terracotta Warriors; this incredible archaeological find, discovered in 1976, comprises more than 6,000 warriors, chariots, and horses – each individually sculpted from clay with different costumes, height, and even facial expressions – all in battle formation. 3 main pits displaying over 2,000 of the warriors are open for you to view.
After marveling at this incredible display we will lunch in a local village before returning to Xi’an city for a cycling tour on the ancient City Wall. This is the most significant and best-preserved city wall extant in China, running over 8 miles around Xi’an.
Later, board a bullet train to Luoyang (around 1.5 hours).
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Nearby Luoyang is the famous Longmen Grottoes. Steep limestone cliffs extend for almost a mile and contain approximately 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, 60 stupas, and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles. Most of the carvings at the Longmen site date between the end of the 5th century and the middle of the 8th century—the periods of the Northern Wei (486–534 C.E.) through early Tang dynasties (618–907 C.E.).
From here continue to the Shaolin Temple. Spend the afternoon visiting the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Pagoda Forest, the Dharma Cave, and the Martial Arts Training Center. Watch a live Kung-Fu performance and witness an incredible display of concentration and skills.
Evening board an overnight soft sleeper train to Beijing.
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Early morning, arrive in Beijing and head to your hotel for breakfast then head out to explore the city. There will be a lot of walking as well as using the subway to get around so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. First stop Tiananmen Square, one of the world’s largest public squares, home to the Monument of the People’s Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. Then enter the Forbidden City, built 1406-1420; a 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. From here continue on foot through the alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyards known as Hutong to explore and experience the local lifestyle of Old Beijing
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This morning we will make the 2-hour journey out of town to Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved sections. The wall stretches 6000 km along the mountain ridges. The Mutianyu section is well restored so that it is easy to climb up and down. At midday, enjoy a picnic lunch that is provided by your guide. From the stunning views, you can appreciate the difficulty of constructing the wall in ancient times. Return to Beijing in the late afternoon and relax or spend some time exploring the local market.
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Today is your last day in Beijing. You are free until being transferred to the airport for your departure.
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Price per person in double occupancy
The rate is based on 4-star accommodation
Price excluding international flights
This trip is customizable for your private travel.
