26 Days Chinese Art and Culture Tour-Xinjiang/ Xi’an/ Tibet/ Yunnan/ Guizhou

Arrive in Urumqi, meet your local guide and drive at the airport before check in at centrally hotel. Have enough rest and take some time to adjust to jet lag. We’ll start our journey tomorrow

• Hotels: Hilton Urumqi Hotel, Universal Hotel Urumqi, Wanda Vista Urumqi

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The best way to understand a city’s history and culture is to visit the museum. We’ll start the day with a visit to Xinjiang Provincial Museum to learn about the ancient Silk Road and the history of this remote city. Then, admire the beauty of Heavenly Lake on Tien Shan. We’ll take shuttle bus up to this small steely blue alpine lake with Mt. Bogda towering not far in the background. Following your lunch, tour the biggest bazaar in the world, Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar. In this bazaar, you can find facilities from theatre to mosque, and plenty of items ranging from local speciality to imported goods. Enrich your eyes, taste buds and mind all at once. From here, enjoy the rest of the day on your own. Probably you can spend the night watching local song and dance performance at Xinjiang Grand Theatre.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Following your breakfast, we’ll catch the flight to Kashgar. Arrives in Kashgar, head to Grand Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar. Though it is called Grand Sunday Bazaar, it opens every day, selling almost everything here. You can find more than just spices, naan, local teas, silks, Persian carpets and other imported goods from the neighbouring countries. Later, check in at your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Radisson Blu Kashgar

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The highlight of Kashgar is the old quarter. We’ll begin our day with a visit to Kashgar Old Town. Kashgar Old Town used to be the main trading town on ancient Silk Road. Stroll down those haphazardly twisted lanes and meet some friendly Kashgaris in the neighbourhoods. Then, move on to Abakh Khoja Mausoleum, the most beautiful and magnificent mausoleum in Xinjiang. This is a typical Islamic style mausoleum with mainly green decorative titles pave on the exterior. There will be a welcoming ceremony at noon. After your lunch, take a look at the largest mosque in Xinjiang, Id Kah Mosque, located at the center of Kashgar Old Town. From here, have rest of the day to explore on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Enjoy your breakfast at your leisure before catch your flight to Xi’an. Arrives in Xi’an and settle in your central located hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Hotels: Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian

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Begin the day with a visit to take a look at the mesmerising terracotta army at Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum. This is a group of hyper realistic sculptures of thousands. Take electric vehicles to visit different pits to observe those subterranean life-size clay structures. Visit a family living in a typical cave dwelling nearby, to learn about their way of life and traditions. Later, try your hand at making your own clay terracotta warrior there. Then, drive to Hu County which is famous for Chinese peasant painting. Stroll one of the village there and appreciate the beauty of Chinese folk art. Visit a local art studio and learn more about Shaanxi’s custom and culture through the perspective of peasant paintings. Return to city area afterwards.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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We’ll kick off the day with a visit to Xi’an City Wall, the best-preserved ancient city wall in China. Walk this Ming city wall to get a better view of the city. Then, stroll Muslim Street where we’ll stopover at Gao Family’s Courtyard. This ancient architecture was the residence of an official in the Ming dynasty. A wonderful place to catch a glimpse of what Chinese aristocratic family’s life was like centuries ago. During the visit, watch a short puppet show here. Then, pop in at a local family’s home, and learn how to make Chinese dumpling. Enjoy your own hard work as lunch. In the evening, join a city night tour with us. Get onto a tuk-tuk and down the Muslim Street for some of the most authentic halal food in Xi’an. Watch locals pass by at South Gate Square, and admire the glimmering view of south gate tower and the city wall. Then, enjoy a music fountain show at North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. End the day by visiting Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City to catch a glimpse of authentic night life in Xi’an.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Enjoy your leisurely breakfast before drive to airport to catch your flight to Lhasa. Arrives in Lhasa and settle in your hotel in the city area. Spend rest of the day to adjust to changes and to copy with altitude sickness. If you feel any symptoms of altitude sickness, you should contact your guide or hotel reception counter for assistance. Or, you can start from Yunnan and ascent gradually before travel to Lhasa.

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Hotels: The St. Regis Lhasa Resort, Lhasa Songtsam Choskyi Linka, House Of Shambhala, Lhasa

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After your breakfast, we’ll start the day with a visit to the historic Sera Monastery. It is one of the great Tibatan universities famous for its open debates among monks. You’ll listen to the hot debates among those monks on the Buddhist doctrines. Later, drive to Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet. This monastery was the residence of Dalai lamas before Potala Palace was constructed. Then, tour Norbulingka a surrounding park of Lhasa and former summer resort of Dalai Lama. Those buildings in Norbulingka reflect a strong sense of Tibetan culture and have remained spiritually relevant even through Tibet’s turbulent history. From here, return to your hotel, dine and explore the city on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Enjoy your leisurely breakfast before heading to one of the most famous spiritual sanctums in the world, Potala Palace. This over thousand year old structure was the winter residence of Dalai Lama since Tang dynasty, now a museum. Follow your guide into the history of this magnificent building and know its interesting past. Next, we’ll visit Jorkhang Temple, a more than thousand year old monastery. This two story Jokhang is the spiritual hear of Tibet. Jokhang means ‘chapel of Jowo’. In the morning, you can see pilgrims spooning yak butter, chanting and turning prayer wheels in the monastery. Later, tour Barkhor Street where you’ll spot monasteries, prayer wheels locals in traditional Tibetan costume. At the end of the day, try your hand at making Tibetan incense, which is an important part of Tibetan culture.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Before we catch our flight to Lijiang, visit Tibetan Tsha-tsha Art and Culture Exhibition Centre to learn about the history of tsha-tsha and Buddhist art. Tsha-tsha is a type of Buddhist clay art. Get an opportunity to make your own Tsha-tsha here in the exhibition centre. Later, fly to Lijiang, meet your guide at the airport with your name sign. Settle in your centrally hotel and take enough rest.

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Hotels: Banyan Tree Lijiang, Grand Hyatt Lijiang, Hotel Indigo Lijiang Ancient Town

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Begin the day with a visit to Lijiang Ancient Town. Gushing canals running through this town filled with ancient wooden housings. Shops and restaurants lined maze of cobbled streets. This charming place is also packed with visitors. Lijiang Ancient Town is a wonderful place to discover Nakhi culture. Later, climb Wangu Pavilion, which is an icon of Lijiang, to get an open view of the whole ancient town with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain towering at the back. To the north of Lijiang Ancient Town, we’ll visit Black Dragon Pool Park, is filled with pools mirroring the sacred snow mountain in a distance.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Today, we’ll journey north for a sacred mountain in Lijiang, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is southernmost snow mountain in China. The name of mountain also means heavenly mountain in Nakhi language. It has an elevation of 5,596. Due to consideration of high altitude sickness, we will visit areas that are under 3,500 meters below the snow line. Cable car and shuttle bus are provided within the scenic area. Spruce Meadow is a grassland hidden in primitive forest with majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain peak as backdrop. Descent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and visit a small serene village nearby. Baisha was the capital of Nakhi kingdom before the rose Yuan Empire. It is now a center of Nakhi embroidery. We’ll visit Baisha Murals in this village. With vivid colours and a combination of various religious cultures and painting styles, Baisha Murals represent the height of murals in Lijiang. On your way back to Lijiang Ancient Town, pop in at a local Dongba paper making workshop and get the chance to learn about Dongba culture and try your hand at Dongba paper making. Return to your hotel, and spend the rest of the day on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Following your breakfast, visit a Nakhi family and learn about their unique language and characters. In the afternoon, drive to Shaxi. Walk the timeless ancient town of Shaxi and take a look at the current life of locals here.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Shaxi Cato's Inn, Shaxi Old Theatre Inn

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Start the day with a stroll in the pleasant Shaxi Ancient Town located on the ancient Tea-horse Road. Behold the antique structures in town and traces of its once bustling and glorious history. Next, take a 40 minute drive to Diannan Town and spend the afternoon here to learn the secret of wood carving. Diannan Town has been for millennial the origin of wood carving in China. Meet one of the artisans in the region and try your hand in carving some simple designs. From here, enjoy the night on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Following your breakfast, take a two hour drive to Dali. We’ll start from Dali Ancient City sandwiched by mountains and Erhai Lake. Dali Ancient City was built during Ming dynasty in 1382, though this place had been the political center of Yunnan since 739 AD in Tang dynasty before it was destroyed during Yuan dynasty. Climb the city wall for a satisfying view of the area. Then, head to Chongsheng Temple for its stunning Three Pagodas and historic atmosphere. Covering 250 square kilometres, Erhai Lake is the seventh-largest freshwater lake in China. In the evening, cruise the placid lake before we end the day. Check in at your hotel and spend the rest of the day to relax, wander, and dine on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Hotel Indigo Dali Erhai, Hilton Dali Resort & SPA, The Linden Centre

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Today, we’ll spend the morning explore Xizhou Bai Village in Dali. In one of the courtyard, attend a 1.5 hour cooking class to learn to bake Flower cake. This is one of the favourite dessert in Yunnan, which is a puff pastry stuffed with different edible flower jams and pastes. Then, in Zhoucheng Village which is not far from Xizhou Ancient Town, we’ll try our hand in tie-dyeing. The dye comes from natural pigment of an herb. Learn the beauty of this ancient art and amazed by the possibility of patterns create by our creative minds. Following your lunch, get onto horse-drawn carriages, and spend an hour admire the beauty of blue shimmering Erhai Lake and ancient town. Catch your train to Kunming and settle in your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Intercontinental Kunming, Crowne Plaza Kunming City Centre, Cachet Boutique Kunming Artime

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We’ll spend the day touring stone forest in Kunming. After your breakfast, take a 1.5 hour drive to Stone Forest. It is a massive exotic landscape of karst formations over 270 million years old. Stroll the area to admire those otherworldly structures while learning some geography knowledge about this type of formation. Return to city area and take the rest of the time to explore on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Enjoy your breakfast at your leisure and start the day with a visit to Cuihu Park. Appreciate the beautiful scenery here and if you are visiting during winter, there’s an opportunity to see great numbers of migratory seagulls in the park. Feel free to spend some time for bonding activities in the park. Walk the nearby Bird and Flower Market hidden in a narrow lane among high-rise buildings. This market was opened in 1983, with vendors selling flowers, potted plants, fish and birds. Wander around this market and get a taste of local life. Next, tour Haigeng Park for its tranquillity. Dianchi Lake in the park is the largest lake in Yunnan and another place for bird viewing. Later, take your flight to Guiyang. Meet your local guide at the arrival hall and drive to your hotel. Check in at your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Kempinski Hotel Guiyang, New World Hotel Guiyang, Sofitel Guiyang Hunter

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Following your breakfast, drive to Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area. Huangguoshu Waterfall is the largest fall in China. Its name ‘Huangguoshu’ is referring to Ficus Virens that has yellow coloured edible fruits. We’ll also tour Tianxing Bridge Scenic Area within the attraction. Later, return to Guiyang and enjoy the rest of the time to explore the city on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Start the day with a visit to Dragon Palace Cave, a network of underground caves and natural karst rock formations. With colourful lights casting on those stagnates and stalactites, the cave look as if an underground palace. Return to city area and enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant. Then, tour Jiaxiu Pavilion set on Naming River. This three-story pavilion was built in 1598 during Ming dynasty. An iconic landmark in the city area. Next, visit Qianling Park that is a forested park with verdant hills and a placid lake. Encounter some furry inhabitants in the park. Up the winding path to Hongfu Temple. This ancient Buddhist temple was built in 1672 during Qing dynasty. Smell incense burning in the temple and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. This park is simply a great escape form the bustling city. From here, rest of time is yours to dine and explore the city. Dining in street markets is a great way to eat out of your comfort zone and discover the full, appetizing variety of Chinese cooking.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Following your breakfast, we’ll drive southeast, snaking through suburbs, towns and villages en route to Shiqiao Village near Kaili. Try your hand at making paper in the traditional way in this village. This ancient technique of paper making from mulberry tree bark can be dated back to more than 2,000 years ago in the Han dynasty. Nowadays, only 40 families in the village are still carrying on this craftsmanship. Then, head to Qingman Miao Village that is set on a mountain slop and surrounded by idyllic fields. The village is filled with wooden stilt houses and Wind-Rain Bridge. Welcoming ceremony is included. Stroll the village to explore Miao Ethnic Minority culture. Enjoy the sparkling lights of Qianhu Miao Village at night before check in at your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Kaili Grand Metropark Hotel

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We’re hitting the road early and heading to Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village straight after your breakfast. Qianhu Miao Village is the largest settlement of the Miao people in China. Wander around the village and get in touch with the Miao culture that exudes from all sides. Later, drive to Miao village of Datang. Tour the village and see their unique water granaries, a typology, and uncommon miniskirt of the Miao women which contrasts with the more conservative long skirt that you found in Jidao Miao Village. Full outfits are usually worn during special occasions and celebrations. In the afternoon, take bullet train from Kaili to Tongren. Meet your private guide and driver at the train station before drive to your hotel. Check in at the hotel and enjoy rest of the day on your own. Later of the day, drive to Jiabang Village to admire the splendid scenery of Jiabang Rice Terrace.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Jiabang Yunshang Terrace View Hotel

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This morning, begin with a visit to Jiabang Village, a Miao ethnic minority village isolated by forested mountains. Though visiting the site may require long hours of hiking, the pleasing scenery and welcoming people along the way may make this visit a promising and unforgettable one. The colourful steps of Jiabang Rice Terrace are among the most beautiful rice terraces in China. You’ll find sky mirrors in spring, emerald waves in summer and golden steps in autumn. This fascinating landscape provide great shots for photographers and nature lovers. In the late afternoon, we’ll drive to Zhaoxing Dong Village. Check in at your hotel and remember to stretch out your muscles after a day of long hike.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Yinji Zuimei Hotel, Indigo Lodge Zhaoxing, Zhaoxing Creekside Inn-Mountain

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This morning, we’ll ease into the day with a visit to Zhaoxing Dong Village that tucks in the middle of lush mountains. This village is one of the largest dong village in Guizhou. One of the best place to experience traditional life of the Dong people. Find many old wooden stilted houses, Wind-Rain bridges and drum towers in this village. Learn about the unique culture and art forms of Dong ethnic group. Interact with a local artist, and learn to paint some of the designs that are commonly found on drum towers. In the afternoon, hike along the stone paved trails to Tang’an Dong Village, another minority village not far from Zhaoxing. Return to Zhaoxing Village. From here, you’ll spend the rest of the day explore the village on your own. Maybe, you can try batik in one of the many workshops here.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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On the last day of your trip, enjoy your leisurely breakfast and catch your flight home or onto your next destination. You will need to take bullet train to either Guilin or Guiyang for train to Hong Kong for international flight. Please consult your advisor to customise your journey, if you’re interested to visit and learn about the six classic styles of Chinese residences: Beijing-style courtyard, Xi’an cave dwelling, Suzhou garden, Hakka Tulou, Huizhou-style housing, and stilted housing.

• Meals: Breakfast,

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