Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport and get transferred to your hotel. After you check in, the rest of the evening is free to rest and get settled.
- Day 2
Beijing
Start the day at Tiananmen Square, then walk through the Forbidden City which contains over 800 buildings. You'll see Mao Zedong's portrait displayed above the Tiananmen gates. After lunch, head to the Temple of Heaven and then check out the Marriage Market. The evening is yours to relax back at the hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Meal at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Explore Forbidden City
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Explore Marriage Market
Optional Activities
- Visit Lama Temple (alternative if Forbidden City closed)
- Visit Confucius Temple (alternative if Forbidden City closed)
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Temple of Heaven Marriage Market Lama Temple Confucius Temple - Day 3
Beijing
Following breakfast, travel to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, known for its seasonal appeal. You have the option to take the cable car. After lunch, stop at a pearl store to learn about pearl jewelry, then spend the afternoon at the Summer Palace walking through gardens and pagodas around Kunming Lake. The evening is free to unwind.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at your hotel), Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu section of Great Wall
- Explore Summer Palace
- Admire gardens and pagodas at Summer Palace
Optional Activities
- Take cable car at Mutianyu
- Explore and purchase at pearl store
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall Summer Palace - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Take a Hutong Walk through Beijing's historic alleyways, sampling street food and looking into courtyards including one the last Qing empress once visited. Following lunch, you'll head to Beijing West Railway Station and board a high-speed train to Xi'an. Your local guide meets you there and transfers you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Hutong Walk through Beijing's alleyways
- Sample Beijing street food during Hutong tour
Landmarks Beijing Hutongs Beijing West Railway Station - Day 5
Xi'an
Visit the Terracotta Warrior Museum to see the life-sized terracotta sculptures from Emperor Qin Shihuang's armies, about 8,000 soldiers, 100 chariots, and 600 horses, each one different. Stop at a jade carving factory and you might meet one of the farmers who discovered the warriors. Lunch follows at a local restaurant, then you're back at the hotel with the evening free for your own dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local Chinese restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Warrior Museum
- Explore jade carving factory
Optional Activities
- Meet farmer who discovered the Terracotta Warriors
Landmarks Terracotta Warrior Museum Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang - Day 6
Xi'an to Shanghai
Visit the Great Mosque, a significant Islamic site with Chinese-influenced architecture and pagoda-style construction. From there, explore the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a well-preserved ancient structure and one of China's oldest surviving buildings. After lunch, fly to Shanghai in the afternoon or early evening. Your guide meets you upon arrival and takes you to the hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Great Mosque
- Admire Big Wild Goose Pagoda exterior
Landmarks Great Mosque of Xi'an Big Wild Goose Pagoda 
- Day 7
Shanghai
After breakfast, drive about an hour to Zhujiajiao Water Town and walk through its cobblestone paths. You'll visit an old courtyard that once belonged to a wealthy merchant and can take a leisurely gondola ride along the canals if you like. Have tea in a tea house while listening to traditional Chinese music. After lunch, learn about silk production at a silk factory, then your evening is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at your hotel), Lunch
Included Activities
- Explore Zhujiajiao Water Town
- Visit old merchant courtyard
- Visit silk factory
Optional Activities
- Take gondola ride along canals
- Tea house experience with traditional music
Landmarks Zhujiajiao Water Town - Day 8
Shanghai to Guilin
Start with Yu Garden in Shanghai's old city center, a classical Chinese garden from the Ming Dynasty about 400 years old. After lunch, head to The Bund to see the contrast between Pudong's modern architecture and colonial buildings. Explore the Former French Concession with tree-lined streets mixing Chinese and Western influences. Late afternoon or early evening you transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin, then to your hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Yu Garden
- Explore The Bund
- Explore Former French Concession
Landmarks Yu Garden The Bund Pudong Former French Concession - Day 9
Longsheng - Guilin
Following breakfast, travel to the Longji Rice Terraces, also called Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces. These terraces look like dragon scales and are considered some of the world's top rice terraces. You'll have lunch locally, then transfer back to Guilin. The evening is free for you to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at your hotel), Lunch (Lunch locally)
Included Activities
- Visit Longji Rice Terraces
Landmarks Longji Rice Terraces - Day 10
Yangshuo - Guilin
Take a scenic cruise along the Li River, which appears on the Chinese 20 RMB note and ranks among the world's top ten scenic waterways. The roughly 4-hour journey from Zhujiang Wharf to Yangshuo shows you green hills, bamboo forests, clear water, fishing boats, and old villages. Lunch is on the boat. Then explore Yangshuo Market to see local produce and meats, and stroll down West Street, the town's oldest street now full of shops. Return to Guilin with your evening free.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch served on board during cruise)
Included Activities
- Scenic cruise along Li River from Zhujiang Wharf to Yangshuo
- Explore Yangshuo Market
- Stroll West Street in Yangshuo
Landmarks Li River Zhujiang Wharf Yangshuo Yangshuo Market West Street, Yangshuo - Day 11
Guilin to Hong Kong
Take a direct train from Guilin to Hong Kong. Your guide meets you upon arrival and transfers you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Hong Kong independently.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at your hotel)
- Day 12
Hong Kong
Have breakfast at your hotel and spend the morning at your own pace. In the afternoon, do a half-day Hong Kong Island tour starting with Victoria Peak for views of Hong Kong and Kowloon. Next is Aberdeen Fishing Village to see the floating community, then Repulse Bay with its scenic South China Sea views. Ride the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour, named by National Geographic as one of the top 50 must-do trips. Return to your hotel with the evening free.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at your hotel)
Included Activities
- Half-day Hong Kong Island Tour
- Visit Victoria Peak
- Explore Aberdeen Fishing Village
- Visit Repulse Bay
- Ride Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour
Landmarks Victoria Peak Aberdeen Fishing Village Repulse Bay Victoria Harbour Star Ferry Central District, Hong Kong - Day 13
Departure
Your China trip ends today. Have breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Safe travels.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at your hotel)
