17 days China Extensive Tour Route D
China is a land of ferocious contrasts. Hongkong's ambitious skyline is a triumphant statement. If you are after history, indulge yourself in China's imperial monuments, stretching from Beijing to Xian and beyond. Seekers of modernity will find their requirements met in Hongkong and Beijing. If you are a nature lover, ...
Read Full Description- Destination:
- Trip Length:
- 17 days
- Price Range:
- From $3000 to $5000 per person See what this includes and what this excludes
- Best Time to Go:
- Any time.
- Recommended for:
-
Infants (under 2)
Children (2 - 5)
Children (6 - 8)
Children (9 - 11)
Children (12 - 14)
Children (15 - 17)
Adults (18 - 20)
Adults (25 - 29)
Family Trip, Group Retreat, Trip Around the World
Detailed Trip Description
China is a land of ferocious contrasts. Hongkong's ambitious skyline is a triumphant statement. If you are after history, indulge yourself in China's imperial monuments, stretching from Beijing to Xian and beyond. Seekers of modernity will find their requirements met in Hongkong and Beijing. If you are a nature lover, the amazing landscape and country scenery in Guilin, will never disappoint you. You will enjoy many places including Peking Duck Dinner and Hutong tour by rickshaw in Beijing, Dumpling dinner and Tang Dynasty Show in Xian, Li River cruise and cycling tour in Yangshuo.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 - Beijing
Arrive Beijing.
Commercial Flight
International Flight on your own arrangement.
Hotel
Upon your arrival at Beijing airport, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel.
Day 2 - Beijing
Visit Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Sightseeing
Today you will first visit the historic Tiananmen Square, and then the magnificent Forbidden City. In the afternoon, you will marvel at Beijing's splendid Temple of Heaven.
Tiananmen Square: the largest city square in the world and the spiritual heart of China, where the national flag is raised exactly at sunrise everyday.
Sightseeing
Forbidden City: located in the center of Beijing, used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years, it is the grandest integral palace complex still remaining in China.
Temple of Heaven: the place which was visited yearly by the emperors who performed intricate rituals to insure a good harvest for the whole nation at ancient times.
Hotel
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel. Meals: B,L,D
Day 3 - Beijing
Full-day excursion in Beijing.
Sightseeing
Today's full-day excursion will take you to the majestic Great Wall, Ming Tomb and Sacred road. Enjoy a famous Peking Duck Banquet for dinner.
Sightseeing
Sacred Road: the path lined with stone statues of animals, mystical beasts and officials who are supposed to serve the emperor in his afterlife, through which the sitting emperors would go to perform memorial rituals for the ancestors once a year.
Ding Tomb: the burial site of the emperor Wanli, the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty who ruled for 48 years until his death in 1620, it is the only underground tomb of the thirteen Imperial Ming tombs ever excavated.
Sightseeing
Great Wall: the most famous symbol of China and one of the world's most remarkable architectural wonders, it was built over 2,000 years ago and stretches about 6,700km.
Peking Duck Dinner: Peking Roast Duck is regarded as one of the most delicious dishes throughout the world. A Peking Duck Dinner is usually a fixed item on any Beijing tour itinerary. At time-honored restaurants such as Quan Ju De, you can savor the mouth-watering traditional Beijing specialty, and at the same time the chefs will show you how they cuts the meat into exactly 108 slices from one duck, each having a piece of skin.
Hotel
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel. Meals: B,L,D
Day 4 - Beijing
Visit Hutongs and Summer Palace in Beijing.
Sightseeing
After breakfast, you will first visit Hutongs by rickshaw. And then the Summer Palace.
Hutongs: the old narrow paths with lots of courtyard homes where common people are living. They are like villages within a megalopolis. Through the hutongs' teeming maze of alleyways, you will see the old houses and learn about the daily life of ordinary Beijing citizens.
Sightseeing
Summer Palace : Located on the northwestern outskirts of the city, it was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. With its perfect layout, magnificent buildings and enchanting landscape, it is the most splendid classical garden in China.
Hotel
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel. Meals: B,L
Day 5 - China
Beijing / Xian.
Commercial Flight
Be free until you take the morning flight to Xian. China domestic flight on our arrangement.
Hotel
Upon your arrival, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Accommodations: Hotel Royal Garden. Meals: B,L
Sightseeing
In the afternoon, you will have a city tour to the Shaanxi Provincial Museum and Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Museums
Shaanxi Provincial Museum: opened in 1991, the largest comprehensive museum in the province. The museum exhibits over 3,000 historical relics which is just a fraction of their collection. Most of the exhibited items are rare treasures, showing you the splendid Chinese culture.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda: regarded by many as a symbol of the city Xian, 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.
Day 6 - China
Full-day excursion in Xian.
Sightseeing
Today, you will enjoy a full-day excursion to the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors and Horses. After lunch, visit the Ancient City Walls and the Bell Tower. Complete the day with a savory dumpling dinner and the Tang Dynasty show at Shaanxi Grand Opera Theatre.
Terracotta Warriors and Horses: discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, this is 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 QinShihuang for 2,200 years ago.
Ancient City Walls : built during the 14th century on Tang dynasty foundations and they date from the Ming dynasty. The walls are the largest and best-preserved ancient fortress in the world. There is a gate in each of the four sides, and the gate towers built over each gate look lofty and magnificent and form a tight defence engineering system.
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 give the correct time.
Dumpling Dinner: Dumpling or Jiaozi in Chinese is a traditional and popular food in China, especially in the north. At the dinner, nearly 20 varieties of dumplings that are steamed and stuffed with different delicious fillings such as vegetables, meats and seafood are served. These dumplings are not only tasty, but also characteristic with their colors and fragrance, style and culture meanings. All these make the dinner so unique that you should not miss it when traveling in Xi'an.
Performing Arts
Tang Dynasty Show: the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) was one of the most glorious dynasties in China's history, and Xi'an was the capital during the Tang Dynasty and called as Chang'an. Tang Dynasty Show is a performance of Chang'an music and dances in Tang Dynasty style laid out according to various historical records and ancient arts and relics discovered in Xi'an. During the show, the musicians present the music with the Tang-Dynasty-style musical instruments and the dancers dance by wearing a Tang-Dynasty-style robe with long white silk sleeves, and you will certainly enjoy this national art that reflects the glory and richness of the Tang Dynasty era.
Hotel
Accommodations: Guilin Park Hotel. Meals: B,L,D.
Day 7 - Guilin
Xian / Guilin.
After breakfast, you will visit the Great Mosque. If you feel like, you can spend some time strolling along the backstreets of the mosque which have been home to the city's Muslim community for centuries.
Great Mosque: the largest mosque in Xi'an and one of the four grand Islamic mosques in China with more than 1200 years' history. The mosque possesses not only traditional Chinese architectural style, but also features peculiar to Islamic mosques and now it is a major spot for religious activities of 50,000 Muslims in Xi'an.
Commercial Flight
Take your flight to Guilin. China domestic flight on our arrangement.
Hotel
Upon your arrival in Guilin, you will be escorted to your hotel. Accommodations: Guilin Park Hotel. Meals: B,L
Day 8 - Guilin
Guilin / Yangshuo.
Private Car Service
After breakfast, drive to Zhujiang Pier (about 40-minute drive) to start the boat cruise along the tranquil Li River, the highlight of your sightseeing tour in Guilin, until you get to Yangshuo County.
River or Barge Cruise
Li River Cruise: Along the river, you will be inspired by the breathtaking views of peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and reflections in the water together with the serene pastoral views of rice paddies and water buffaloes.You will certainly feel like you are walking into a traditional Chinese painting by cruising on this wonderful river.
Bicycling
After checking in the hotel in Yangshuo, you will have a cycling tour.
Yangshuo County: founded in 590 AD, Yangshuo County has been booming because of tourism. With so many beautifully shaped mountains surrounding this county, it is described as "the world of green lotus and jade bamboo shoots".
Hotel
Accommodations: New Century Hotel. Meals: B,L,D
Day 9 - Guilin
Yangshuo / Guilin.
Private Car Service
Today, drive back to Guilin (1.5-hour drive) and have a city tour of the Elephant Trunk Hill, the Fubo Hill and the Reed Flute Cave.
Sightseeing
Elephant Trunk Hill : the symbol of Guilin, which resembles a giant elephant drinking water from the Li River.
Sightseeing
Fubo Hill: where you can see lots of Buddha statues left about 1000 years ago in the Returned Pearl Cave and have a birds' eye view of the whole city after climbing up to the very top.
Sightseeing
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 illuminated by the lights of different colors. You will also learn how they were formed.
Hotel
Accommodations: Guilin Park Hotel. Meals: B,L.
Day 10 - Suzhou
Guilin / Shanghai /Suzhou.
Commercial Flight
You will take morning flight to Shanghai. China domestic flight from Guilin to Shanghai on our arrangement.
Private Car Service
Upon your arrival in Shanghai, you will be escorted to drive to Suzhou (100km away from Shanghai), which has been known as the Venice of the East. Then you will visit Lion Forest Garden, Master of the Nets Garden and Lingering Gardens in Suzhou.
Sightseeing
Lion Forest Garden: The Lion Forest Garden has a prominent part for series of man-made mountains with various buildings around the lake ,and an artificial waterfall and cliffs at the edge of the lake on the west.
Sightseeing
Garden of the Master of Nets: a miniature garden built around a pool and first laid out in 1140, its outstanding feature is that it combines living quarters with the landscape garden and is claimed as the best example of illustrating how the few surpasses many.
Sightseeing
Lingering Garden: is one of the four most famous gardens in China and was constructed in 1593 during the Ming Dynasty. It is famous for its artistic way of dealing with the spaces between various kinds of architectural forms and garden courts.
Hotel
Accommodations: Bamboo Grove Hotel. Meals: B,L
Day 11 - Suzhou
Visit Humble Administrator's Garden, Tiger Hill Park, Grand Canal,P an Gate and The No.1 Silk Factory in Suzhou.
Sightseeing
Your tour in Suzhou today includes: the classical Humble Administrator's Garden, the ancient Tiger Hill Park.
Sightseeing
Humble Administrator's Garden: covers 10 acres and is the largest garden in Suzhou. It was built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty and is divided into the eastern, middle and western parts. All of this centers upon the broad expanse of a lake to form the poetic and picturesque garden landscapes and waterscapes with exquisite buildings and luxuriant vegetation.
Sightseeing
Tiger Hill Park: a symbol of the city, with a history of over 2,500 years, the Tiger Hill has had the reputation of being the No.1 sight of Suzhou, with a Song-dynasty leaning pagoda on top which was built in brick to imitate wood architecture.
Small Ship or Yacht Cruise
Have a cruise on the Grand Canal and then visit the Pan Gate, and the No.1 Silk Factory.
Grand Canal: commenced in the Sui Dynasty (605-616 AD), 1794 kilometers long from Beijing to Hangzhou, the Grand Canal has created a bountiful agricultural region and served as a major transportation artery between north and south.
Sightseeing
Pan Gate: the only remaining city gate dating from the 12th century. It is built over Suzhou's former moat.
Sightseeing
The No.1 Silk Factory: Suzhou is famous for its silk production. In the factory you can learn more about silk production and detailed steps of the silk making process, and you will have an opportunity to purchase some of the incredibly delicate works as well.
Hotel
Overnight at Suzhou. Accommodations: Bamboo Grove Hotel. Meals: B,L
Day 12 - Hangzhou
Suzhou / Hangzhou.
Private Car Service
You will take the private vehicle to Hangzhou. Private car on our arrangement.
Sightseeing
After your arrival at Hangzhou, you will be met by our local guide. The tour in this beautiful city will include: West Lake by boat, Lingyin Temple, Feilai Peak and Dragon Well Tea Plantation.
Sightseeing
West Lake: There are 36 West Lakes throughout China, but the one in Hangzhou is the inspiration for them all. The name of the West Lake originated during the Tang Dynasty from its lying to the west of Qiantang County. Another saying is that the lake is also named after Xi Shi, a famous ancient beauty, because of the apt comparison made between the two by the famed poet Su Dongpo (1037-1101AD). Originally a lagoon, the lake was dredged in the 8th century and later diked. The entire lake is ringed on three sides by mountains and one side by the city proper. With the green hills, willow trees, elegant bridges and clean spring water around, the view of the West Lake is simply enchanting.
Lingyin Temple: a celebrated Chan (Zen) Buddhist temple founded in 326AD, despite being destroyed and rebuilt 16 times, it remains one of Hangzhou's main attractions. The current structure dates from the late Qing dynasty. Its highlights are the Great Hall with its 65 foot camphor-wood statue of the Buddha and the FeilaiPeak opposite the temple.
National Parks
Feilai Peak (Peak Flying From Afar): opposite the Lingyin Temple, 209 meters (about 700 feet) high,it is a hill covered with inscriptions and reliefs carved into the rock dating from the 10th to 14th centuries.
Sightseeing
Dragon Well Tea Plantation: Dragon Well Green Tea is one of the most famous brands in China. In this Tea Plantation you can pick the tea leaves, taste a nice cup of tea and learn the history and processing procedure of tea.
Hotel
Accommodations: Lakeview Hotel. Meals: B,L
Day 13 - Hangzhou
Hangzhou / Shaoxing / Hangzhou.
Private Car Service
In the morning, drive to Shaoxing (59km away from Hangzhou), an old traditional town in south of China. There you will visit Temple of Yu, East lake and the Former Home of Luxun (including Sanwen Shuwu).
Sightseeing
Shaoxing: a city with 2500 years old, it is called "fenceless museum" and "history textbook". Thousands of Shaoxing celebrities have brought Shaoxing the unique phenomenon of celebrity culture in Chinese history. Shaoxing is also attractive because of its many old houses, streets, canals, and boats dating from centruies ago.
The Former Home of Luxun: Luxun is China's most influential modern writer and essayist who was born in 1881 in Shaoxing and became a leader of the New Culture Movement, which was a drive at cultural modernization.
Hotel
After the tour, drive back to Hangzhou. Accommodations: Lakeview Hotel. Meals: B,L.
Day 14 - Hangzhou
Hangzhou / Huangshan.
Bus
You will take public bus to Huangshan. Soft-seat Bus on our arrangement. It will take you more than 3-4 hours from Hangzhou to Huangshan by bus.
Mt. Huangshan: located in the southern Anhui Province, extending about 40km from north to south and 30km from east to west, the Huangshan Scenic Area is comprised of numerous peaks of various heights and grotesque rocks of different formation, and is well known for its extraordinary aesthetic mountainous features. Here we can find all of the beauties of nature, with its charm lying especially in its oddly-shaped pines, fantastic rocks, sea of clouds and hot springs--the four supreme sights on the mountain. The picturesque Mt.Huangshan has been a famed destination for scholars, poets and the occasional hermits in Chinese history, and has long been effusively described as "awesome," "a wonderland" and "Heaven on Earth."
Hotel
Upon your arrival at the city of Huangshan, you will be escorted to your hotel. Accommodations: Huangshan Media Hotel. Meals: B
Day 15 - China
Sightseeing on the mountain.
Bus
After breakfast, bus to Yungu cable car station.
Sightseeing
Sightseeing(start-to-believe peak,lion peak,bright summt) on the mountain. Overnight on the mountain. Accommodations: Beihai Hotel. Meals: B,L
Day 16 - Shanghai
Huangshan / Shanghai.
Sightseeing
Enjoy the sunrise at Mt. Huangshan, and then take the cable car down the mountain.
Sightseeing
Drive to Hongcun, where the movie 'crouching tiger and hidden dragon' was shot, also was listed as world cultur al heritage. Lunch in the villiage.
Hongcun: a model of the ancient villages in China with the features of beautiful lake, first class old dwellings, peaceful streets and lanes, and the perfect natural background, where the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was partly shot. Hongcun was first built during the Southern Song Dynasty, about 900 years ago, by the Wang Clan. The layout of the village resembles the outline of an ox, hence it is popularly called as "Ox-shapedVillage". The early ox-shaped village came into being in the Ming Dynasty when Wang Siqi, their 76th generation ancestor, hired a famous fengshui expert He Keda as their advisor. His advice resulted in the construction of ponds and water channels flowing through nearly every household within the village so as to keep the "internal Yang (masculine) water" and assure for "eternal prosperity extending to all later generations". Due to the scientific construction, the buildings in the Hongcun are in great harmony with nature, showing the traditional Chinese philosophy that Nature and Man are one.
Sightseeing
Back to the city and take a walk on the 600-year-old street.
Tunxi Ancient Street: a well preserved bustling center of trade since the Southern Song Dynasty. It is paved with slabs of stone and is one mile long with old shops lining both sides of the street. These old shops are in perfect order and an unmistakable Huizhou architectural style.
Commercial Flight
Then you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Shanghai.
Hotel
Upon your arrival at Shanghai, you will be escorted to your hotel. Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown. Meals: B,L
Day 17 - Shanghai
Fly back home.
Be free until you are escorted to take your international flight to your sweet home. International Flight on your own arrangement.
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