Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll arrive at your hotel and meet your tour leader and group at a 6 pm welcome meeting. After that, the rest of the evening is yours to wander around Beijing on your own. Try some Peking duck at a local restaurant to get a feel for the city's food scene.
Optional Activities
- Explore Beijing streets
- Try Peking duck at local restaurants
- Day 2
Beijing
Head out by private bus to Mutianyu Great Wall, which takes about 2 hours from the city. Once there, walk through the restored sections covering roughly 5 kilometers over 2 to 3 hours across steep and uneven ground. You can take a cable car, chairlift, or toboggan down (costs extra). Bring lunch to eat while you rest on the wall. The bus brings you back to Beijing, leaving the evening free.
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall with private bus transport and entrance ticket
- Guided exploration of the Great Wall section
Optional Activities
- Cable car access to the wall
- Chairlift access to the wall
- Toboggan descent from the wall
- Picnic lunch on the wall
Landmarks/POIs Mutianyu Great Wall - Day 3
Beijing to Xi'an
Walk around and use public transport to see Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, two of Beijing's most important landmarks. The Forbidden City was built over 500 years ago and you'll see the imperial halls and courtyards that show the power of the Chinese court. That evening, catch an overnight train heading to Xi'an.
Included Activities
- Tiananmen Square walking tour
- Forbidden City walking tour with entrance ticket
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Gate of Heavenly Peace Mao's Mausoleum Great Hall of the People National Museum - Day 4
Xi'an
You'll arrive at Xi'an train station around 9 am and get transferred to your hotel. Join your leader for a walking tour through the Muslim Quarter, checking out the narrow streets, shops, and busy markets. See the City Walls and Gates, which are the most complete in China, and learn about the different cultures that mix together in Xi'an. The Bell and Drum Towers are worth a visit, and night markets are good for trying local food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Xi'an walking tour including Muslim Quarter, City Walls, and City Gates with private bus and tour leader
- Bell and Drum Towers (optional viewing during walking tour)
Optional Activities
- Visit Bell Tower
- Visit Drum Tower
- Explore night markets and local specialties
- Try local dishes such as Pao mo, hand-pulled noodles, hot pot, and barbecue
Landmarks/POIs Xi'an City Walls and Gates Bell Tower Drum Tower Muslim Quarter - Day 5
Xi'an
Travel by private transport for around 2 hours to the Terracotta Warriors, where nearly 2,000 clay soldiers, horses, and chariots were sculpted over 2,000 years ago for Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Walk through the three main open pits to see the warriors arranged in battle formation. The site was rediscovered in 1976. You'll have a free evening back in Xi'an to do what you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Terracotta Warriors visit with private bus transport and entrance ticket
Optional Activities
- Explore Xi'an in the evening
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Warriors - Day 6
Xi'an to Chengdu
Board a high-speed train from Xi'an to Chengdu, a 3-hour ride. After you settle into your hotel, go on a walking tour to downtown Tianfu Square and then relax at a traditional tea house in People's Park. Sample Chengdu's local specialties, which have UNESCO recognition for their culinary traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- High-speed train from Xi'an to Chengdu (included transport)
- Walking tour of downtown Tianfu Square and People's Park with tour leader
Optional Activities
- Tea house experience with ear cleaning and massage services
- Try local gourmet specialties
Landmarks/POIs Tianfu Square People's Park - Day 7
Chengdu
Spend the morning at the Panda Breeding Centre getting close to pandas while learning about conservation work to help this species. You'll watch them being fed and playing around. In the afternoon, check out Kuanzhai Lane or walk Jinli Street to hunt for spicy local snacks and get a sense of the city's hip neighborhoods.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Panda Breeding Centre visit with private bus transport and entrance ticket
Optional Activities
- Explore Kuanzhai Lane
- Search for spicy snacks on Jinli Street
Landmarks/POIs Panda Breeding Centre Kuanzhai Lane Jinli Street - Day 8
Chengdu to Lijiang
Fly from Chengdu to Lijiang and transfer to your hotel. This World Heritage town is home to the Naxi people, whose ancestors were Tibetan nomads. You'll have free time to wander the old town with its cobbled streets, climb up to Wangu Pagoda at Lion Hill for views, or walk through Heilongtan Park. The town draws big crowds these days from both local and international visitors.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Domestic flight from Chengdu to Lijiang (included)
Optional Activities
- Visit Wangu Pagoda at Lion Hill
- Explore Heilonglan Park
- Wander cobbled streets in the old town
- Shop in local markets
Landmarks/POIs Wangu Pagoda Heilongtan Park Lijiang Old Town - Day 9
Lijiang
Cycle through Lijiang's ancient stone streets with your tour leader to explore this World Heritage town. The Naxi people who live here wear traditional blue clothing. Stay in the atmospheric old quarter and you might catch a traditional music performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cycling tour through Lijiang with tour leader
Optional Activities
- Traditional music performance in the old quarter
Landmarks/POIs Lijiang Old Town - Day 10
Lijiang to Dali
Take a private bus for 3 to 4 hours to Dali, a popular spot known for its relaxed feel and beautiful surroundings. You'll see snow-capped mountains on one side and Erhai Lake spread out on the other. Walk around the ancient town with your guide to see how history blends with modern life. After that, you're free to explore Foreigner Street in the Ancient City for handicrafts and local items.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dali ancient town walking tour with tour leader
Optional Activities
- Explore Foreigner Street in the Ancient City
Landmarks/POIs Erhai Lake Dali Ancient City - Day 11
Dali
Travel by private bus about 23 kilometers north to Xizhou for the day. The town is known for Butterfly Spring and traditional Bai architecture. Tour the town and local markets to learn about Bai building styles and traditions, then visit families living in traditional courtyards to see how locals actually live. Try local snacks like baba (fried rice cake) and local cheese. Back in Dali, you can take a cable car up Cangshan Mountain or see the Three Pagodas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Xizhou town and market guided tour with private bus transport
- Three Pagodas entrance ticket (optional viewing upon return to Dali)
Optional Activities
- Cable car up Cangshan Mountain
- Visit Three Pagodas
- Try local snacks like baba and local cheese
- Explore Butterfly Spring
Landmarks/POIs Xizhou Butterfly Spring Three Pagodas Cangshan Mountain - Day 12
Dali to Kunming
Take a high-speed train to Kunming and stop at Stone Forest, a geological site covering 400 square kilometers with limestone pillars and scenic spots. This is a must-see in Yunnan. After touring the forest, you'll have free time in Kunming to walk around the bridges and waterways or get a foot massage. In the evening, there's an optional group dinner to try Yunnanese food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stone Forest visit with entrance ticket (stop on high-speed train journey)
- High-speed train from Dali to Kunming (included transport)
Optional Activities
- Explore Kunming on foot
- Foot massage
- Optional final group dinner with Yunnanese cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Stone Forest - Day 13
Kunming to Yangshuo
Fly from Kunming to Guilin and then transfer to Yangshuo. The town sits surrounded by dramatic limestone karsts and attracts lots of tourists. There are cafes and bars alongside chances to experience local culture. Walk through town with your leader and head down to the Li River to see the landscape that appears in Chinese paintings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Yangshuo walking tour with tour leader, including Li River riverside visit
Landmarks/POIs Li River Yangshuo Town - Day 14
Yangshuo
Explore the countryside around Yangshuo on an optional Li River cruise floating past limestone formations, rice paddies, and water buffaloes. If you're active, cycle through the green surroundings and nearby villages or join a Tai Chi session. Walk through a local market with a guide and then visit a converted country house to learn how to cook local dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Yangshuo countryside cycling tour with private bus and tour leader
- Yangshuo west street and river bank walking tour with private bus transport
Optional Activities
- Li River cruise
- Bicycle tour of nearby villages
- Tai Chi session
- Cooking class at converted country house for local specialties
Landmarks/POIs Li River - Day 15
Yangshuo
You'll have a range of optional activities to choose from. Pick tea leaves and learn tea making at Seven Fairies Peak tea plantation. Climb Xianggong Hill for panoramic views of the Li River curving through the valley. Explore Ancient Stone Village to learn more about the region's geology and heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Pick tea leaves and learn tea making at Seven Fairies Peak tea plantation
- Listen to local rhymes at tea plantation
- Mountaineering Xianggong Hill
- View Li River meandering from Xianggong Hill
- Experience sunlight and shadow, clouds, sea, sunrise, sunset, and rosy clouds
- Discover Ancient Stone Village
Landmarks/POIs Seven Fairies Peak Xianggong Hill Ancient Stone Village - Day 16
Yangshuo to Longji Rice Terraces
Travel by private bus to Longji Rice Terraces, some of the most extensive ones around. The terraces look different by season, holding water before planting, turning green during growth, and golden at harvest time. Tonight you'll stay in Dazhai village with the Yao minorities who keep traditional ways alive. Leave your main luggage at the scenic zone entrance and carry only a small overnight pack to the guesthouse.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel to Longji Rice Terraces by private bus with entrance ticket
- Hiking tour on top of Longji Rice Terraces
Landmarks/POIs Longji Rice Terraces Dazhai Village - Day 17
Longji Rice Terraces
Hike through Longji Valley past rice terraces that were built over 500 years ago and resemble dragon scales (the name means 'Dragon's Backbone'). Walk through scenery with bamboo trees, chestnut forests, waterfalls, and rice fields, though some terrain is steep and paths can be slippery. After the day of incredible views, spend the night in Ping'an village.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike through Longji Valley and rice terraces with tour leader
Landmarks/POIs Longji Valley Ping'an Village - Day 18
Longji Rice Terraces to Hong Kong
Leave Ping'an and head to Hong Kong. Transfer to Guilin and catch a high-speed train for 3.5 hours to Hong Kong West Kowloon station. Check into your hotel in the city center. Walk around Victoria Harbour with your leader and check out Temple Street night market or catch the light show. End your trip with a final group dinner celebrating the end of your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer from Ping'an to Guilin by private bus
- High-speed train from Guilin to Hong Kong (2nd class)
- Victoria Harbour walking tour
Optional Activities
- Temple Street night market
- Victoria Harbour light show
- Final group celebration dinner
Landmarks/POIs Victoria Harbour Temple Street - Day 19
Hong Kong
Your China tour ends today with no scheduled activities. Check out of your hotel by 12:00 or whenever you need to leave. If you've booked an airport transfer with Truly China Travel, confirm the pickup time with your tour leader.
