Ancient China Plus Stunning Landscapes Tour

Day 1, Arrive Beijing

Meals: No Meals

Hello, welcome to China! Meet your private local guide and driver at the airport and head for your luxurious hotel in Beijing for check-in. Beijing, the ancient and modern Chinese capital, awaits your visit.

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, the Great Wall, Beijing Hutong Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

One of the most remarkable ancient man-made projects on earth, the Great Wall of China like a giant flying dragon traverses the mountains of north China. Ascend Mutianyu Great Wall, to learn from your guide about its history and take in the North China scenery.

Have a touch of the old Beijing on a hutong rickshaw tour. The winding, narrow lanes are lined with traditional courtyards, where you can see the friendly locals are playing chess, selling traditional snacks, and the dogs and cats enjoying quiet and sweet time.

Taste authentic Beijing Roast Duck for dinner (optional).

Day 3, Forbidden City, Summer Palace with Boat Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour China’s imperial city and visit Beijing highlight attractions. First of all, have a walk across the world’s largest city square – Tiananmen Square, which was an important witness of many great Chinese historic events. Then enter the Forbidden City. With a wealth of cultural and artistic treasures and massive ancient royal palaces, it is now a fabulous museum, and known as the Palace Museum.

Also visit Summer Palace, a royal garden and a summer resort of the emperors of Qing Dynasty. Appreciate its imposing architectures and beautiful landscapes, and take a boat at Kunming Lake for relaxation.

See a Kung Fu evening Show to experience authentic Chinese martial arts (optional).

Day 4, Temple of Heaven, Yonghe Lama Temple, Beijing to Zhangjiajie by Flight

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The largest architecture complex for sacrifice in ancient China, Temple of Heaven is now a peaceful public park. Admire ancient Chinese architecture gems, and take a Tai Chi lesson taught by a master. Thereafter visit Yonghe Lama Temple, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist shrine in Beijing. It used to the private mansion of Emperor Yongzheng of Qing Dynasty, thus was well built with meticulous design. If you happen to travel in Beijing on the weekend, your guide can lead you to the Panjiayuan Market.

Fly to Zhangjiajie, a remote area featuring China’s most peculiar mountainscape.

Recommended hotels:

• - Zhangjiajie luxury hotels: Pullman, Sunshine Hotel, or similar
• - Zhangjiajie comfortable hotels: Santa Daminga Internatianal Hotel, Best Western Grand Hotel, or similar

Day 5, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

You’ll find no place on Earth quite like Zhangjiajie. China’s first National Forest Park and a world geology park, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is world-renown for its concentration of quartzite-sandstone formations.

Take thrilling Bailong Elevator to rise for 326m in 66 seconds. Admire the “floating Hallelujah Mountains” in Avatar and “World’s No.1 Bridge”. Also explore Tianzi Mountain, another highlight attraction in Wulingyuan Scenic Area, to overlook the spiked sandstone forests, sometimes emerging from the seas of clouds.

Day 6, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Explore Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to hike for 2 hours along the streams and rivers, see waterfalls, bridges and go through the forests. Challenge yourself to walk on the world’s longest and highest glass bridge – definitely a thrilling sky walk.

Later visit Baofeng Lake situated on the waist of mountain. Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise to get to the middle of this emerald lake, surrounded by hills. You may feel like you have entered a secret fairyland.

Day 7, Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie to Xian by Flight

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Take the world’s longest cableway up to Tianmen Mountain and see the 99 Bends of mountain road in a distance. Walk through the 60-meter-long cliffside glass walk way for incredible views. And also walk up the stairways to admire the Gate to Heaven (may be closed in winter).

Fly to Xian – the Silk Road’s eastern departure city boasts numerous historical and cultural sites for you to explore.

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 8, Terracotta Warriors, Xian Muslim Culture Experience

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Marvel at Terracotta Army at the excavation pits, considered as the eighth wonder of the world. The life-sized terracotta warriors and warring horses were buried 2000 years ago to protect China’s First Emperor in the heaven.

Then go deep into the Muslim community of Xian. Walk through the Muslim Quarter, lined with both Muslim and traditional Chinese buildings. It is also a bustling food street with a dazzling array of local snacks to taste. Visit the Xian Great Mosque, one of the most famous and important mosques in China, featuring a mixed architecture style.

Attend a dumpling dinner banquet and watch the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show (optional).

Day 9, Xian City Highlights, Xian to Guilin by Flight

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The enormous Old City Wall of Xian dates to Ming Dynasty with a history of over 600 years. Enjoy a delightful stroll or a short bike ride on the wall to view Xian’s past and present. Marvel at 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. And visit Shaanxi History Museum, a treasure house of Chinese history. With your guide’s instruction, you will understand Xian’s glorious past as being the dynastic capital for over 1200 years.

Fly to Guilin, known as the most beautiful place in China.

Recommended hotels:

• Guilin luxury hotels: Shangri La, Sheraton or similar
• Guilin boutique hotels: Aroma Tea House, Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel or similar

Day 10, Guilin City Culture and Nature Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to visit Daxu Ancient Town dating to 200AD, favorably located beside Li River. Roam around the village to see the historical city gate, well-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasty residential houses, ancient arch bridge, abandoned wharfs, and meet local craftsmen busy working on their artistic works.

Explore 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! Climb up Folded Brocade Hill to watch the sun set over the saw-toothed peaks (if weather permits). The hill also offers the best panoramic view of downtown Guilin.

Day 11, Guilin to Yangshuo by Cruise, Chinese Calligraphy Learning

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Li River is an epitome of Guilin Karst landscape. Enjoy a 4-hour cruise voyage on the best section of Li River and feel like you are drifting on a Chinese landscape painting. Pass by the renowned Nine-horse Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal.

Disembark in Yangshuo, then walk along the West Street. This 1400 year-old street is now known among locals as the “Foreigners’ Street”, since it is very muchfavored by international travelers throughout the world. Afterwards, take a Chinese calligraphy lesson. Learn from a professional teacher about the skills and principles of writing Chinese characters with brush, as well as the essence of traditional Chinese art.

Enjoy the night show of Impression Liu Sanjie (optional).

Recommended hotels:

• Yangshuo luxury hotels: Banyan Tree or similar
• Yangshuo boutique hotels: Mountain Retreat or similar

Day 12, Leisurely Yangshuo Biking, Guilin to Shanghai by Flight

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Ride a bike on the most scenic routes to escape from the crowds and travel deep into the countryside of Yangshuo. You will see the picturesque Yulong River (bamboo-rafting trip is available), the lush farmlands and the serene traditional villages… Embrace the nature and the humble Chinese countryside lifestyle.

Relax on your own until your guide and driver escort you to the airport. Fly to Shanghai, you’ve come to the most dynamic city in China.

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 13, Shanghai Culture and Art Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center created by Mr. Yang Peiming, with a rich collection of original Chinese propaganda art works from 1949 to 1970s.

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.

Thereafter, see “the Universal Expo of architectures” on the Bund – the 52 colonial architectures of different styles have become a symbol of Shanghai. Ascend Shanghai World Financial Center to overlook the Huangpu River and Shanghai’s skyline.

Day 14, Depart Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast

It is the end of your China culture and nature discovery holiday. Meet your private guide and driver for a transfer to the airport. Fly back home safely.