Beijing. O/N Beijing

Beijing - Today, your tour guide will meet you in the lobby of your Beijing hotel at 8:00 am. You will then be taken to Tiananmen Square.

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - At Tiananmen Square, you can capture stunning photos of the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People’s Heroes, and Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. Located in the heart of Beijing, Tiananmen Square has been the site of numerous historical events and gatherings over the centuries. Today, it hosts grand celebrations, military parades, and welcoming ceremonies for foreign dignitaries. Visitors can admire the towering Monument to the People’s Heroes and the solemn Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. The traditional Tiananmen Tower, Zhengyang Gate, and Qianmen Arrow Tower are also located here.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum - Next, you will cross the Tiananmen Tower to visit the Forbidden City, where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911) resided and managed national affairs. The Forbidden City served as the imperial palace during these dynasties and is the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden complex in the world. The palace is divided into the Inner Court and Outer Court by the Palace of Heavenly Purity, with the Outer Court for handling affairs and the Inner Court as the living quarters for the imperial family. The complex is also a vast museum with over one million national treasures on display.

Mutianyu Great Wall - Upon reaching the parking lot of the scenic area, you will take an electric car to the entrance and then a chairlift to the 14th watchtower. Enjoy a leisurely hike on the wall for about 2 hours, and then take the toboggan down. The Great Wall at Mutianyu, built and restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), is one of the most renowned sections of the Wall. Mutianyu is celebrated for its unique beauty. Explore the ancient structure and learn about its history and significance. Your professional guide will answer any questions and share exclusive stories and facts about the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Beijing - At the end of the day, you will be escorted back to your Beijing hotel.

Beijing. O/N Beijing.

Beijing - In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel to continue your Beijing tour.

Temple of Heaven - Your first stop will be the Temple of Heaven, the largest group of royal ceremonial buildings in China. In the past, emperors held annual sacrificial ceremonies here to worship heaven and pray for a good harvest. Today, it is a large park where you can see locals exercising and engaging in recreational activities.

Back Lakes (Hou Hai) - Next, you will visit Beijing Hutong, where you will take a rickshaw through the old alleys and visit a Hutong family to see how traditional Beijingers live. The area is home to many popular restaurants, cafes, and local food stores, making it a great place to enjoy lunch and taste local cuisine. Your guide will offer suggestions. After lunch, you can stroll around Houhai Lake and explore more of the Hutong area.

Lama Temple (Yonghegong) - After visiting the Hutong, you will be driven to the Lama Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Beijing. It combines architectural styles from various groups, including Han, Manchu, Mongol, and Tibet. Open to tourists since 1981, the temple attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for prayer and sightseeing.

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - A 30-minute drive will take you to the Summer Palace, known as the museum of ancient royal gardens. Your expert guide will show you around. The garden mainly consists of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The Long Corridor, 728 meters (796.2 yards) long, is the longest corridor in Chinese gardens. It ingeniously links Longevity Hill with Kunming Lake, beginning at the Yaoyue (Inviting-Moon) Gate and ending at Shizhang Pavilion. You can admire the exquisite murals and enjoy the melodious music while walking along.

Beijing - Finally, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Beijing - Xi’an by train. O/N Xi’an.

Beijing West Railway Station - Today, there are no activities planned. You will take a train to Xi’an in first class. The driver will take you to the train station, but there will be no tour guide. We may book the G429 10:45-16:25 or G667 11:19-17:08 for you, and the train journey takes around 6 hours.

Xi’an North Railway Station Parking Lot - Upon arrival in Xi’an, you will be picked up by your local Xi’an driver and transferred to your Xi’an hotel (driver only, no guide).

Xi’an. O/N Xi’an.

Xi’an - In the morning, your tour guide will meet you at your Xi’an hotel lobby at 9:00 am and transfer you to the Terracotta Warriors Museum, which is an 80-minute drive, 45 km away.

The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses - Your guide will reserve tickets for you online in advance and help you skip the line at the museum entrance. Following your guide, you will explore the Terracotta Warriors Museum by visiting the three excavated pits and the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall. Although the clay warriors and horses have been buried for over 2,200 years, they remain vivid with distinct appearances. You will spend at least two and a half hours exploring this incredible site.

Small Goose Pagoda - Next, you will transfer to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, located inside Jianfu Temple, about one kilometer south of Xi’an city proper. It is one of two famous and important Buddhist pagodas erected during the Tang Dynasty about 1,300 years ago. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda and its larger neighbor, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, are significant Buddhist sites dating back to the Tang Dynasty.

The two pagodas were symbols of Chang’an (Constant Peace) city. Xi’an (West Peace) was known as Chang’an until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when Beijing became the capital of China. Chang’an served as the capital for ten dynasties.

Xi’an City Wall (Chengqiang) - After lunch, you will transfer to the city wall. You can walk or cycle around the wall, with bike rental fees paid locally if you choose to cycle. The ancient City Wall is the first landmark visitors encounter in Xi’an, encircling the old city. It is one of the most famous attractions in Xi’an and represents one of the oldest and best-preserved Chinese city walls, as well as one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

Muslim Quarter - Your last stop will be the Muslim Bazaar, the most vibrant area of the city. If you wish, you can explore the bazaar at your own pace and return to the hotel independently. Your guide will provide directions for returning to your hotel. The Great Mosque and the Bell and Drum Tower Square are within walking distance of the Bazaar. The Bazaar offers many boutique stores with fair prices and a variety of excellent dining options for dinner.

Xi’an - At the end of the day, you will be driven back to your Xi’an hotel.

Xi’an - Guilin by flight. O/N Guilin.

Xi’an - In the morning, your tour guide will meet you at your Xi’an hotel lobby at 8:30 am and transfer you to Hanyanglin, a 30-minute drive, 15 km away.

Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling) - You will first drive for one hour to visit the Hanyangling Mausoleum, located at the site of the Mausoleum of Western Han Emperor Liu Qi, built in 153 AD. With your guide, you will have a close look at the ancient tombs through the glass floors and walls in the tomb pits. Additionally, the advanced Spectra Vision program will recreate the real life of the Western Han Dynasty from about 2,000 years ago. You will have two hours to explore the site.

Shaanxi History Museum - After lunch, you will continue your Xi’an group tour to explore the Shaanxi History Museum. The unique historical and cultural heritage of Shaanxi is undoubtedly worth praising as a treasure house of Chinese civilization, and the Shaanxi History Museum is a palace of art displaying Shaanxi’s history and culture and China’s ancient civilization. The museum houses approximately 370,000 antiquities, ranging from prehistoric relics to those from the 1840s. The collection spans over one million years and is superior in value, quantity, rank, and variety. Your guide will provide professional and comprehensive explanations.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) - Instead of entering the temple to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, you will have a photo stop here for half an hour. Based on suggestions from previous guests, this is sufficient to see the pagoda and the statue of Monk Xuanzang at the south square outside the temple. As a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists, the pagoda, built during the Tang Dynasty, was once the site where Xuanzang translated Buddhist sutras.

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport - In the late afternoon, you will be driven to Xi’an airport for your flight to Guilin (CA1225 18:40-20:50). The flight takes around 2 hours.

Guangxi Airport Management Group Guilin Liangjiang International Airport Company - Upon arrival in Guilin, you will be picked up promptly and transferred to your Guilin hotel (driver only, no guide).

Guilin. O/N Guilin.

Guilin - In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel at around 07:45 and escort you to the Zhujiang pier, where you will start the Guilin Li River cruise to Yangshuo (4-star boat with buffet lunch).

Li River - Boarding is scheduled for 9:20 am, and the entire journey takes about 4 hours. With your guide’s company and interpretation, you can immerse yourself in the stunning karst landscape of rolling hills, verdant forests, odd caves, and tranquil villages along the Li River. A buffet Chinese lunch will be served on board before you reach Yangshuo at 2:00 pm.

Xianggong Mountain - After disembarking, you will be driven to see Yangshuo Xianggong Hill. You will climb for 15 minutes along a moderately sloped staircase to reach the top of Xianggong Hill. Please inform your guide in advance if you need a walking stick. Situated between the famous Yellow Cloth Shoal and Mural Hill, Xianggong Hill is one of the best viewing platforms in Guilin to appreciate the beauty of the Li River. The breathtaking view of the meandering Li River making a 180-degree bend attracts countless visitors and photographers annually.

Guilin - Afterwards, you will be taken by private car to your Guilin hotel around 5:00 pm, where you will have free time.

Guilin - Shanghai by flight. O/N Shanghai.

Guilin - Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 08:30 in the morning. You will be escorted to the renowned Reed Flute Cave, a 30-minute ride away.

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) - Upon arrival at the cave, you will enter the underground karst cave and marvel at the incredible formations of stalagmites and stalactites.

The Reed Flute Cave is a famous karst cave with numerous stalagmites and stalactites in the shapes of bamboo shoots, pillars, curtains, and flowers, transforming it into a magnificent underground palace. Inside the cave, you can discover more astonishing sights, such as stone lions, miniature forests, pagodas, and crystal chambers. Each has a romantic or intriguing story associated with it. The vivid interpretation by your guide, along with the lighting, adds mystery to the scene. A trip to the cave lasts about 40 minutes.

Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces - After a two-hour drive, you will reach the entrance to the Longji Terraces, where you will purchase entrance tickets for the rice terraces in Ping’an Village. This village boasts the most famous and beautiful rice terraces in Longji and requires an additional 30-minute drive from the entrance ticket office.

Guangxi Airport Management Group Guilin Liangjiang International Airport Company - At the end of the day, your guide will escort you to Guilin airport for your flight to Shanghai. You may take ZH1970 19:30-22:00, and the flight takes around 2.5 hours.

Pudong International Airport - Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will be picked up promptly and transferred to your hotel (driver only, no guide).

Shanghai. O/N Shanghai.

Shanghai - Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the renowned Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, a 20-minute ride away.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall - At the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, you can view numerous textual and graphic files and architectural models, providing an overall understanding of Shanghai’s development.

Yu Garden (Yuyuan) - Then, enjoy a relaxing time strolling through the beautiful Yu Garden. Located in the old town, Yuyuan Garden is the most famous ancient site in the city, known for its ingenious layout and delicate architecture. The garden’s treasure, Yu Ling Long (an exquisite jade stone), an artificial hill, is considered one of the three most renowned peaks in Southern China.

Yuyuan Old Street - Next, visit the Yuyuan Bazaar, also known as Yuyuan Market, located outside Yu Garden in the heart of Old Shanghai City and close to the Old City God Temple. The area features many traditional Chinese buildings, now used as commercial stores selling local products, snacks, jewelry, souvenirs, antiques, and more.

Shanghai World Financial Center - Afterwards, visit the Shanghai World Financial Center and ascend to the 100th floor for panoramic views of the city. It is the world’s 8th tallest building and the 4th tallest structure in Mainland China. The 100th floor features a 55-meter-long viewing gallery, the second-highest observation deck in China. It is higher than the viewing platforms on the Canadian TV Tower (447 meters) and the Dubai Tower (440 meters).

The Bund (Wai Tan) - After that, visit the Bund area, the quintessential part of Shanghai. Located on the bank of the Huangpu River, travelers visit the Bund not only for the charming riverside scenery but also for the unique Western and Gothic architecture. We will allow some free time for you to stroll around the Bund and take photos.

Shanghai - At the end of the day, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Shanghai. The tour ends.

Shanghai - Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the renowned Zhujiajiao water town, a 60-minute ride away.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town - The Zhujiajiao water town is famous throughout the country, with a history of over 1,700 years. Covering an area of 47 square kilometers (11,614 acres), the fan-shaped town, known as Shanghai’s Venice, shines like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains. Three places in the water town are worth visiting: Kezhi Garden, Qing Dynasty Post Office, and Fangsheng Bridge. Your tour guide will accompany you to these sites.

Kezhi Garden, built in 1912, features various pavilions and buildings, a lotus pond, stele corridors, a bridge of nine turnings, and diverse plants. You can see the calligraphy inscriptions of Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD) literati with high artistic value in the stele corridor.

In the Qing Dynasty Post Office, you can see precious old postcards and letters from the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD). There is a post box with a carved dragon on it, still in use today.

Fangsheng Bridge, built in the Ming Dynasty, is the largest and longest stone arch bridge in Shanghai, featuring five arches.

You will take a local wooden boat from Kezhi Garden and disembark at North Street. The remaining time is for you to freely explore the ancient streets.

You will have the opportunity to interact closely with the local people and experience their way of life.

Jade Buddha Temple - After lunch, you will visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Built in 1882 to house two white jade Buddha statues from Burma, the Jade Buddha Temple is a renowned Buddhist shrine and an active Zen monastery. The temple plays a significant role in promoting Buddhism through cultural means, including lectures, library services, Buddhist academic publications, and regular Buddhist cultural activities.

Tianzifang - Later, the tour will conclude at Tianzifang, an old-style cultural block featuring distinctive Shikumen buildings with art studios, themed cafés and bars, and handicraft workshops.

Shanghai - At the end of the tour, your guide will escort you to your hotel, airport, or train station. This marks the end of our 9-day tour services.

• Private car and personal guide throughout the tour
• First-class train tickets from Beijing to Xi’an
• Admission fees to all attractions
• Lunch included daily
• Air-conditioned transportation
• Economy class flights from Xi’an to Guilin and Guilin to Shanghai

• The hotel and dinner

• Can add more days if you want

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.