11 days Best of China


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Detailed Trip Description

The golden route showcases China's past and present by combining both Chinese culture and natural beauty. An ideal choice for your first visit to China. Visit many places including Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall at Badaling, Sacred Road, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Ancient City Walls, Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Yangshuo County, Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, Reed Flute Cave, The Bund, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market, Jade Buddha Temple and many more beautiful places in China. Enjoy the world-renowned Shanghai Acrobatic Show, a visually-impressive show highlighting the wondrous talents of the Chinese acrobats.


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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Beijing

 
Arrival in Beijing.
Commercial Flight

Transfer via International flight arranged by you. Beijing is an ancient city with a long history. It is the political, cultural and economic center of China.

Beijing Commercial Flight picture
Hotel

Upon your arrival at Beijing's international airport, your personal tour guide will meet you with a welcome sign and escort you to your hotel. Your guide will confirm your Beijing itinerary with you and be glad to introduce some good local restaurants near your hotel, where you will be free to have a small adventure by trying China's traditional cuisine on your own. The rest of the day you will be yours to rest and adjust to the time zone difference before you begin exploring the ancient and cosmopolitan city of Beijing the next day.

Beijing Hotel picture

Day 2 - Beijing

 
Beijing city tour to the Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven.
Sightseeing

After breakfast, you will first visit Beijing's historic Tiananmen Square, followed by a visit to the magnificent Forbidden City.

Sightseeing

Tian'anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) Square: the largest city square in the world and the political heart of China, where the national flag is raised at exactly at sunrise everyday to great ceremony.

Sightseeing

The Forbidden City: located in the center of Beijing, was the formal imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of over 600 years. It is the grandest integral palace complex still remaining in China, and the largest palace complex in the world.

Sightseeing

In the afternoon, you will marvel at another Beijing's famous landmarks, the Temple of Heaven built in 15th century.

The Temple of Heaven: in ancient times this was the place which was visited yearly by China's emperors who performed intricate rituals to insure a good harvest for the whole nation.

Nightlife

In the evening you will be free to explore Beijing and its nightlife. Accommodation: Jianguo Garden Hotel. Meal :(B, L)


Day 3 - Beijing

 
Drive to outskirt of Beijing; visit the Great Wall & Ming Tombs.
Sightseeing

Today you will visit China's famous Great Wall (Badaling section), and the Sacred road.

The Great Wall at Badaling: The Great Wall is one of the most famous symbols of China and one of the world's most remarkable architectural wonders. It was built over 2,000 years ago and stretches over 6,700kilometers, or 4163miles. The Badaling section is one of the most breathtaking sections of the Great Wall. This section of the wall is located 70 kilometers NorthWest of Beijing at an elevateon of over 1,000 meters, this section was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and heavily restored in the 1950's and 1980's.
Badaling stands at the most strategic point North West of Beijing and has an excellent view in every direction. In ancient times the Badaling section was the most important passes protecting Beijing.
The Badaling section is composed of wall platforms and watchtowers. The Wall at this section is 8.5 meters high, 6.5 meters wide at the bottom and 5.7 meters wide on the top, which made it possible for 5 horses or 10 people to march abreast on the top.



The Sacred Road: the path lined with stone statues of animals, mystical beasts and officials who would serve the emperor in his afterlife, through which the reigning emperors would annually go to perform memorial rituals for the ancestors.

Lunch will be served at a Chinese restaurant located near the wall.

Sporting Events

On your way back from your visit to the Great Wall, you will be driven around Beijing's main Olympic venues, the National Stadium (Bird's Nest) where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held, and the National Aquatic building (Water Cute). Feel free to take some beautiful photographs of those stadiums.

For dinner you will enjoy one of China's most famous dishes, Peking Duck. Dinner will be held at Beijing's famous Quanjude restaurant. The restaurant is the most famous Peking Duck restaurant in China was established in 1864 during the late Qing dynasty. Accommodation: Jianguo Garden Hotel. Meal : (B, L, D)


Day 4 - Beijing

 
Visit the Summer Palace; fly to Xian.
Sightseeing

After having breakfast at your hotel, you will visit the exquisite Summer Palace.


The Summer Palace: Located on the northwestern outskirts of the city, it was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). With its perfect layout, magnificent buildings and enchanting landscape, it is the most splendid classical imperial garden in China.

Commercial Flight

In the afternoon you will take a flight from Beijing to Xian. During the Tang Dynasty (618-905), Xian was the largest city in the world and the starting point of the world-famous Silk Road.

Hotel

Upon your arrival, your personal tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Accommodation: Hotel Royal Xi'an. Meal : (B, L).

Beijing Hotel picture
Relaxation

Take your time to refresh yourself after your exciting Beijing tour and be prepared for your adventure in Xian tomorrow.


Day 5 - China

 
Visit the Terracotta Army; Xian city tour.
Adventure

Today, you will explore the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It's one of the main highlights of your China tour and really worth visiting.

China Adventure picture

Terracotta Warriors and Horses: discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, it was one of the most significant archeological finds of the 20th century. These 6,000 life-size painted terracotta warriors and horses --individually sculpted from real-life models and arranged in battle formation have been protecting the mausoleum of the first emperor in Chinese history—Emperor Qin Shihuang for over 2,200 years.

Sightseeing

After lunch at a Chinese restaurant, you will enjoy strolling along the Ancient City Walls and then visit distinctive the Bell Tower located in the city's center.

The Ancient City Walls: built during the 14th century on previous Tang Dynasty foundations, date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The walls are the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in the world. There is a gate in each of the cardinal directions. The gate towers guarding over each gate look lofty and magnificent and form a tight defensive network around the ancient city.

Bell Tower: standing in the center of the city and built in 1582, the Bell Tower is a three-story wooden structure with traditional Chinese architectural features. It is so called because an iron bell is hung in the tower to ring out the time.

Hotel

Accommodation: Hotel Royal Xi'an. Meal : (B, L)


Day 6 - China

 
Enjoy the farmers' painting in Xian; fly to Guilin.
Sightseeing

After breakfast, you will first visit the historic Big Wild Goose Pagoda and temple.



Big Wild Goose Pagoda: regarded by many as a symbol of the city. It is not only a pagoda, but also a huge temple complex. The pagoda was built in 652 A.D in the Tang Dynasty to house the sutras brought back from India by the famous monk Xuan-zang.

Private Car Service

After your trip to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, you will be driven by private car to Huxian County.

You will discover the secret of traditional Chinese "farmer's paintings". By using their brushes and artistic talents, peasants record their everyday life, the beautiful landscape, the great harvests and the busy festivals vividly. It's an excellent chance to appreciate not only the farmer's paintings, but also witness what life is like for Chinese farmers.

Commercial Flight

After your tour in Xian is complete, your will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Guilin.

Hotel

Upon your arrival at Guilin, the most scenic city in China, your guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Meal : (B, L)

China Hotel picture
Relaxation

The rest of the day is free for you to do a little exploring at your own leisure.


Day 7 - Guilin

 
Li River cruise to Yangshuo; bike ride in the countryside.
Private Car Service

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven to Zhujiang Pier (about 40-minute drive) to start a boat cruise along the famed Li River which is a must see for any traveler to Guilin. The cruise will take you to Yangshuo County.

Guilin Private Car Service picture
River or Barge Cruise

Along the river, you will be inspired by breathtaking views of Guilin's famous Karst mountain peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and serene pastoral views of rice paddies and water buffaloes cooling themselves in the river. It will feel as though you have stepped into a traditional Chinese painting. A Chinese lunch which is cooked on board will be served.


Yangshuo County: founded in 590 AD, Yangshuo County has been booming because of the tourism trade. With so many amazing mountains surrounding, it is described as "the world of green lotus and jade bamboo shoots".

Bicycling

After checking in to your hotel in Yangshuo, you will explore the spectacular karst countryside along Jima road by your choice of either bicycle or small electric tour bus.

Hotel

Accommodation: New Century Hotel. (B, L).

Guilin Hotel picture

Day 8 - Guilin

 
Drive back to Guilin; Guilin city tour.
Private Car Service

On this day you will be driven back to Guilin (1.5-hour drive) by private car.

Sightseeing

Upon arriving in Guilin have a tour of the Elephant Trunk Hill Park and the Fubo (Wave Subduing) Hill Park.

Elephant Trunk Hill: the symbol of Guilin. This unique hill resembles a giant elephant drinking water from the Li River.

Fubo (Wave Subduing) Hill: where you can see hundreds of statues of the Buddha carved about 1000 years ago in the Returned Pearl Cave and experiences a bird's eye view of the whole city after climbing up to the very top.

Sightseeing

After lunch you will visit the fabulous Reed Flute Cave.

Reed Flute Cave: 5 kilometers away from the city center, famed as "A Natural Palace of Art", in which you can see lots of stalactites & stalagmites. There is an underground lake the rock formations and stalactites and stalagmites take on a myriad of bizarre forms.

Hotel

Accommodation: Guilin Park Hotel. Meal (B, L)


Day 9 - Shanghai

 
Fly to Shanghai; night tour.
Commercial Flight

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Shanghai.

Shanghai Commercial Flight picture
Hotel

Upon your arrival at Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai (Plaza Wing), Meal : (B, L)

Shanghai Hotel picture
Sightseeing

In the evening you will stroll around the bund and Shanghai's famous Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road enjoys the reputation of being China's number one shopping street.

The Bund (the word "Bund" was derived from Anglo-Indian word meaning quay): where the great trading houses and banks had their headquarters in 1920s and 1930s. It is about a mile long and is the city's fulcrum.

Sightseeing

Nanjing Road: known as "China's No.1 Shopping Street" with has a myriad of merchandise on sale, everything from traditional Chinese arts and crafts, to the most modern fashions can be found here.


Day 10 - Shanghai

 
Shanghai full day city tour.
Sightseeing

Shanghai can be called a "Museum" of China's modern history. Today you will first visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and have a glimpse of not only how Shanghai looked in the past, but also how Shanghai will look like in the future. In the afternoon, you will continue to explore the Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market and the Jade Buddha Temple. In the evening you will enjoy an unforgettable Acrobatic Show.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall: This museum has five floors that detail the ambitious plans of Shanghai's urban planners. It fully displays the achievements of Shanghai in city planning and construction and embodies the theme of "city, man, environment, and development".

Sightseeing

Yu Garden: located in the Old Town of Shanghai, was laid out in 1559 AD by a powerful Ming Dynasty official. Yu Garden recreates a beautiful landscape of pagodas, pavilions, rockeries, fountains, ancient trees and precious flowers.

Shopping

Yuyuan Market: outside the Yu Garden, a bustling market where snacks and items of every description can be found.

Jade Buddha Temple: named after its exquisite milk-white jade Buddha brought from Burma in the 19th century by a Chinese monk, it is a spiritual oasis in the midst of a modern metropolis.

Performing Arts

Acrobatic Show: Chinese Acrobatics is one of the oldest performing arts with its history tracing back to Neolithic times, during its development it has been absorbing aspects of Chinese opera, dance and Kungfu to develop into a unique art form not found anywhere else in the world.

Hotel

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai (Plaza Wing), Meal : (B, L)


Day 11 - Shanghai

 
Shanghai / Final departure.

On your final day in China you will be free to explore on your own until your tour guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination. Please double check your luggage before you leave your hotel.


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