Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing Arrival
Your driver meets you at Beijing International Airport and takes you to your hotel. After you get settled and have a quick briefing from your guide about the trip ahead, head out for a welcome dinner in the evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner)
Included Activities
- Welcome Dinner
- Day 2
Beijing
Start early at Tiananmen Square to catch the sunrise flag raising, then walk through the Forbidden City to see the imperial palaces and courtyards. By afternoon, you'll head over to the Temple of Heaven where emperors once performed religious ceremonies.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit Forbidden City
- Visit Temple of Heaven
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Temple of Heaven - Day 3
Great Wall & Summer Palace
Drive about 1.5 hours north to Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and spend time walking the wall before riding the cable car back down. Afterward, visit the Summer Palace on Beijing's northwestern side, where you'll take a 15-minute boat ride through the classical gardens and see the traditional architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Great Wall (Mutianyu section)
- Return Mutianyu Cable Car
- Visit Summer Palace
- 15-minute boat ride at Summer Palace
Optional Activities
- Chair-lift at Great Wall (additional cost)
- Toboggan at Great Wall (additional cost)
Landmarks/POIs Great Wall of China (Mutianyu Section) Summer Palace - Day 4
Beijing to Xian
Head to the train station for a fast train to Xian. When you arrive, your guide picks you up and takes you to your hotel. The rest of your day is open so you can walk around the city and get your bearings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Xian city (free time)
- Day 5
Xian
In the morning, see the life-sized Terracotta Warriors, an archaeological discovery from the 1970s. After lunch, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda built in 652 A.D., then walk or drive along the Ancient City Walls that still encircle the old city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Warriors
- Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Visit Ancient City Walls
Optional Activities
- Golf car ride on Ancient City Walls (additional cost)
- Rickshaw ride on Ancient City Walls (additional cost)
- Bicycle ride on Ancient City Walls (additional cost)
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Warriors Big Wild Goose Pagoda Ancient City Walls of Xian - Day 6
Xian to Chengdu
Take the fast train from Xian to Chengdu. Your driver picks you up at the station and takes you to your hotel. You have the rest of the day to relax and check out the city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Chengdu city (free time)
- Day 7
Chengdu
Visit the Chengdu Research Base of the Giant Panda Breeding program to see the pandas. From there, head to Wenshu Temple, the city's oldest Buddhist temple, where you can sit in the tea house and have traditional Chinese tea. End your evening at Jinli Old Street, which recreates traditional Sichuan architecture from the Qing Dynasty.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Visit Wenshu Temple
- Visit tea house with traditional Chinese tea experience
- Visit Jinli Old Street
Landmarks/POIs Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Wenshu Temple Jinli Old Street - Day 8
Chengdu to Guilin
Take a short domestic flight from Chengdu to Guilin. Your guide and driver pick you up and take you to your hotel. You have the afternoon and evening free to settle in and explore the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Guilin city (free time)
- Day 9
Longsheng Rice Terraces
Drive 1.5 to 2 hours to Longsheng to see the terraced rice fields and visit villages of the Zhuang and Yao ethnic minorities. You'll see how they live and their traditional architecture. The trek takes about 40 minutes each way, so wear comfortable shoes. Your driver brings you back to Guilin after.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Longsheng Rice Terraces (Longji)
- Visit ethnic minority villages
Optional Activities
- Porter service for luggage - approximately 50 Yuan per piece each way
- Sedan chair (made by bamboo) - additional cost
Landmarks/POIs Longsheng Rice Terraces (Longji) - Day 10
Li River Cruise to Yangshuo
After breakfast, drive about an hour to the pier and board a scenic cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo, which takes around 3.5 hours. You'll see dramatic peaks and green countryside, and lunch is included on the boat. Once in Yangshuo, take a mini bus to your hotel and check in, then explore West Street.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Simple buffet lunch on Li River cruise)
Included Activities
- Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
- Simple buffet lunch on cruise
Optional Activities
- Explore West Street in Yangshuo (free time)
Landmarks/POIs Li River West Street, Yangshuo - Day 11
Yangshuo to Shanghai
Spend your morning free in Yangshuo before your driver takes you to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. After you land, your guide picks you up and takes you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Yangshuo (free time)
- Day 12
Shanghai
After breakfast, visit the Shanghai Museum, which holds over 120,000 pieces of Chinese artifacts and provides audio guides. Then explore Yu Garden and its market, walk the Bund waterfront, and go up the Shanghai World Financial Center for views of the city's modern skyline.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Shanghai Museum
- Visit Yu Garden
- Visit Yu Market
- Visit the Bund
- Visit Shanghai World Financial Center for bird's eye view
Landmarks/POIs Shanghai Museum Yu Garden The Bund Shanghai World Financial Center - Day 13
Suzhou - Shanghai
Drive 1.5 hours to Suzhou and see the Humble Administrator's Garden from the Ming dynasty, then visit the Lingering Garden known for its intricate design. Take a rickshaw tour through the old narrow streets and local markets, then enjoy a 40-minute boat ride through the canals. Return to Shanghai for a farewell dinner in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Special Farewell Dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Humble Administrator's Garden
- Visit Lingering Garden
- Old town tour of Suzhou by rickshaw
- Suzhou canal tour by hand-rowed boat (approximately 40 minutes)
- Farewell Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Humble Administrator's Garden Lingering Garden Suzhou Old Town - Day 14
Shanghai Departure
Depending on your flight time, your driver takes you to the airport for your flight back home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
