Past and Present Visit of China
Witness the glorious past and eye-popping present of China on a private luxury vacation. Charming cultures, vibrant cities, Chinese style countryside, incredible nature and man-made wonders are waiting for you to explore.
The tour starts in Beijing and then Xian, China’s present and ancient capitals, with some of world’s most important historical remains. Continue your journey to Guilin and Yangshuo, immersing yourself in the heaven-like places. Also travel through Shanghai and Hong Kong to see the highlights of New China.
CCT Advantages:
- 1. Go deep into the heart of ancient China with the visits of Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven;
- 2. See the mountaintop Great Wall, a signature highlight of China and the greatest military defensive project in ancient human history;
- 3. Venture into the Qing Dynasty First Emperor’s underground palace to meet his terracotta army;
- 4. Cruise through picturesque Karst scenery and wonder at magnificent Longji Rice Terraces;
- 5. Experience the history, culture, art and modern miracles of Shanghai;
- 6. Explore Hong Kong, a bustling global hub of both East and West cultures and a fascinating array of delicacies.
13 Days Beijing Xian Guilin Shanghai and Hong Kong Tour
Day 1, Beijing Arrival
Meals: No Meals
Hello, welcome to China! Your private guide and driver will meet you at the airport and transfer to your luxurious hotel. As the Chinese capital city for centuries of years, Beijing is full of charming contradictions for you to discover.
Recommended hotels:
- - Beijing luxury hotels: Four Seasons, Peninsula, Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, Regent Beijing or similar
- - Beijing boutique hotels: Double Happiness Beijing Courtyard Hotel or similar
Day 2, Beijing City Highlights, Forbidden City and Summer Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Start Beijing city tour with a walk through Tiananmen Square at the heart of Beijing, connecting some of China’s significant monuments and structures, as well as Forbidden City. Used to be the royal palace, Forbidden City is a distinguished symbol of ancient China. Marvel at world’s largest and best-preserved ancient wooden architecture cluster and the relics at Treasure House. Go across the avenue and ascend Jingshan Hill to overlook Forbidden City
Transfer to visit Summer Palace, known as the museum of royal garden in China, and designed and built by using the art techniques of Suzhou classical garden. Enjoy a short, relaxed boat trip on Kunming Lake in Summer Palace.
Enjoy Beijing Roast Duck for dinner (optional).
Day 3, Beijing Hutong Tour, The Great Wall, Exterior of Bird’s Nest
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Ride a rickshaw through the long, narrow hutong alleys to find out the hidden secrets and cultural essence of Old Beijing and encounter local people living peacefully at the traditional courtyards.
No visit to China is complete without the Great Wall. Take cable car up and down Mutianyu Great Wall, looking like a huge dragon flying on the air. Then you will wonder how it was built by hands in ancient times. On the way back to downtown Beijing, walk into the Beijing Olympic Park and marvel at the architectures of Bird’s Nest and Water Cube from the outside.
Enjoy the wonderful night life in Beijing, and perhaps watch a Kung Fu Show or a Peking Opera show (optional).
Day 4, Temple of Heaven, Panjiayuan Weekend Market, Bullet Train to Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Like a Chinese emperor pays a pilgrimage tour to Temple of Heaven. Apart from appreciating the grand temple architectures, you can see many local people doing morning exercises, and even attend a Tai Chi class yourself. Then visit the Panjiayuan Weekend Market – all sorts of articles, mostly old objects and antiques, are for sale, including wood carvings, calabash, bronze wares, earthwares, stones, bracelets, Chinese paintings, etc. And you will meet some Beijing local artisans. (Replace Panjiayuan with Lama Temple during the weekday.)
Take a high speed train to Xian, one of the most famous historic cities in the world.
Recommended hotels:
- - Xian luxury hotels: Wyndham Grand Xian South, Gran Meliá Xian, Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel or similar
- - Xian boutique hotels: Grand Mercure Xi'an on Renmin Square or similar
Day 5, Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter, Great Mosque Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Visit the Museum of the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, actually a huge tomb of Qin Dynasty First Emperor’s terracotta “armada” to protect him afterlife. They are soldiers and military officers, wearing different kinds of armors and holding various weapons.
Explore the bustling Muslim Quarter packed with diverse food stalls and restaurants. And walk to the Great Mosque of Xian at Huaxue Alley, dating to around 1000 years ago. Its beautiful architecture blends both Arabic style and ancient Chinese style.
Day 6, Xian City Highlights, Dumpling Making Experience, Flight to Guilin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Tour Xian Old City Wall in the morning, in a short distance to Xian Bell and Drum Tower. It is the longest and best-preserved of its kind in China and beyond. There’s chance to watch the performance of the ancient ceremony on the wall. Come to Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian’s landmark structure built in the 7th Century, inside honorable Ci’en Temple and embraced by a Tang Culture Square.
Savor authentic dumplings hand-made by yourself. You’ll learn the dumpling making and cooking skills from the friendly host at a local family.
Fly from Xian to Guilin. Pick up and transfer to hotel for relax.
Recommended hotels:
- - Guilin luxury hotels: Shangri La, Sheraton or similar
- - Guilin boutique hotels: Aroma Tea House, Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel or similar
Day 7, Longji Rice Terraces
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life with a day trip to Longji Rice Terraces, a stunning cultural landscape created on the mountain slops by Zhuang and Yao tribes. With clean fresh air and magnificent view, it is a great place for sightseeing, hiking and photography. Meet local minority people at Longji Ancient Zhuang Village, to experience the exotic mountain tribal life and see their wooden diaojiaolou dwellings.
Guilin is quite beautiful at night. Enjoy yourself a brisk stroll around the Ronghu and Shanhu lakes, and pass by Elephant Trunk Hill and Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas.
Day 8, Guilin to Yangshuo, Li River Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The essence of Guilin Karst landscape, Li River is truly picturesque and nominated to be one of most beautiful rivers on the planet. A luxury boat cruise (about 4 hours) is definitely the best way to admire the sheer beauty of Li River.
On arrival in Yangshuo, walk through the West Street – the ancient street is now full of shops, boutiques, cafes, pubs, and features a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere. Venture to the deep of Yangshuo countryside by private car or by bike, meet local farmer at the ancient village, and be embraced by Karst hills, silky rivers and fields of crops and flowers.
Enjoy the Impression Liu Sanjie Night show (optional).
Recommended hotels:
- - Yangshuo luxury hotels: Banyan Tree or similar
- - Yangshuo boutique hotels: Mountain Retreat or similar
Day 9, Guilin City Highlights, Flight to Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Appreciate the beautiful karst scenery in the heights. Ascend Folded Brocade Hill, a typical karst limestone hill, to get a full view of Guilin city center surrounded by rugged mountainscape and see Li River flowing to the distance. For your trip in Guilin, the last but not the least, enjoy an exploration in Reed Flute Cave. A magic underground palace inside a mountain, the cave boasts a large number of colorful, peculiar stalactites and stalagmites with dramatic lighting effects. What a fascinating scene!
Fly to Shanghai in the afternoon. Pick up and transfer to hotel.
Recommended hotels:
- - Shanghai luxury hotels: Peace Hotel, Les Suites Orient Bund, Peninsula or similar
- - Shanghai boutique hotels: Hotel Indigo on the Bund, The Yangtze Boutique or similar
Day 10, Shanghai City Highlights
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Shanghai is an international metropolis, but it has legendary history and tales to tell. Begin your Shanghai city tour to discover its past and present, and the stylish Shanghai.
Visit Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, located northeast of People’s Square of Shanghai. It combines traditional and modern highlights by using high technology. Then learn Chinese garden art by touring Yu Garden. It is an outstanding reprehensive of classic Chinese garden, featuring extremely exquisite carvings, an old theatrical stage, and beautiful ancient pavilions, corridors. Come to the Town God Temple, the center of Old Shanghai, to explore the enticing old streets lined with food stalls, boutiques and souvenirs shops.
Walk all the way to the Bund, where the historic colonial buildings make a significant contrast against the skyline on the other shore of Huangpu River. Ascend the observatory of Shanghai Tower for a thrill.
Day 11, Shanghai to Hong Kong by Flight
Meals: Breakfast
Pick up from hotel and transfer to the Longyang Maglev Train Station, where you will take a maglev train on VIP seat to Pudong International Airport, to experience the world’s fastest means of land transportation.
Fly to Hong Kong. Pick up and transfer to hotel. It is right in Hong Kong that the East Culture and West Culture first met and mix together perfectly. For the rest of the day, you may explore Hong Kong on your own.
Day 12, Half Day Private Tour to Hong Kong Island
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy half day Hong Kong essence tour with private guide. Take one-way Peak Tram to ascend Victoria Peak, the highest peak in Hong Kong with incredible panoramic view of Victoria Harbor and the city skyline. Then enjoy a sampan ride across Aberdeen, previously a small fishing village, followed with visit to Repulse Bay, known as “the oriental Hawaii” or Stanley Market with various kinds of souvenirs and specialty crafts for sale.
Free time in the afternoon, you may go shopping and taste an array of foods and snacks.
Day 13, Shanghai Departure
Meals: Breakfast
It is the end of your China holiday. Time to say goodbye. Your private guide and driver will escort you to the airport. Fly home or proceed to another destination.
