Itinerary
- Days 1 - 4
Hong Kong
You'll arrive in Hong Kong and head straight to Victoria Harbour, where you can see the red-sailed junks against the modern skyline. The harbor sits at the center of everything here, so it's a good spot to get oriented. Walking along the waterfront gives you a real sense of how the city blends old traditions with contemporary architecture. You'll find temples and markets tucked between glass skyscrapers, and the energy is constant throughout the day. By evening, the harbor lights reflect off the water and the skyline becomes even more dramatic.
Landmarks/POIs Victoria Harbour 
- Days 5 - 7
Shanghai
You're heading to Shanghai, which sits on the Yangtze River estuary. The city transformed from a small fishing village into China's major modern center, so there's layers of history to see. Walking through different neighborhoods, you notice how traditional buildings stand near contemporary development. The Bund area shows off colonial architecture along the river, while across the water the Pudong district has all the modern towers. You can spend time in old Chinese neighborhoods with narrow streets and family-run shops, then transition to sleek shopping districts. The contrast between what was here decades ago and what's built now really shapes how the city feels.
Landmarks/POIs Yangtze River 
- Days 8 - 9
Guilin
You arrive in Guilin, known for its natural karst scenery along the Li River. The landscape here is dramatic with limestone peaks rising from the water and valley floors. You'll explore the river itself, either by boat or walking nearby trails to see how the rock formations create these unusual shapes. The Longji rice terraces are about an hour or so away, where you can see how farmers have built step-like fields into the hillsides over centuries. The Reed Flute Cave offers a completely different experience underground, with stalactites and underground lakes that you'll walk through. These three areas together show both the natural geology and how people have lived and farmed in this region.
Landmarks/POIs Li River Longji Rice Terraces Reed Flute Cave 
- Days 10 - 11
Chengdu
You're traveling to Chengdu, Sichuan Province's capital and home to giant pandas. The city sits in the Sichuan Basin, which has had irrigation systems since ancient times that still function today. You can see how this agricultural infrastructure shaped the region's development. Chengdu itself has a slower pace than the coastal cities, with lots of tea houses and local restaurants where people spend hours relaxing. The panda reserves let you see these animals in settings closer to their natural habitat. Beyond that, the city offers traditional architecture, local markets, and food that's known for being spicy and full of flavor.
- Days 12 - 14
Xi'an
You'll get to Xi'an to see the Terracotta Warriors, one of archaeology's major discoveries. These thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots were created as funerary statues for China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Each figure was hand-molded with individual details, and they're arranged in military formation underground. Walking through the excavation pits, you see how many are still being uncovered, with new pieces emerging regularly. The craftsmanship and scale of the project is what really strikes visitors. Beyond the warriors, Xi'an itself is an ancient capital with city walls and museums that tell the story of China's early dynasties.
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Warriors - Days 15 - 16
Beijing
You're arriving in Beijing during the Spring Festival celebrations, so the city has decorations and events happening throughout. Tiananmen Square is where you'll start, and it's massive with historical significance as a gathering place for major moments in modern Chinese history. From there, you can enter the Forbidden City (also called the Imperial Palace), which has 8,706 rooms that housed 24 emperors and their court members over centuries. Walking through the courtyards and pavilions takes several hours, and each area shows different aspects of imperial life. The scale and detail of the architecture demonstrate the resources and power concentrated here. During the festival season, you'll see families visiting the same sites, and there's energy and celebration throughout Beijing.
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Gate Forbidden City 
