Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
You'll arrive in Beijing and your local driver will meet you at the airport for the transfer to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to recover from jet lag and settle in at your own pace.
- Start point
- Beijing Capital Int'l Airport 北京首都国际机场 (PEK), Airport Expressway 机场高, Beijing, 100621, China (Beijing Capital International Airport)
- Day 2
Beijing
This morning starts at the Temple of Heaven where you'll see locals exercising and practicing Taichi. A rickshaw tour takes you through the Beijing Hutongs with a stop at a family home, followed by trying your hand at Peking opera facial mask painting. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll head to Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City. If you're interested, Kung Fu or Acrobatic shows are available in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la carte Chinese lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Beijing Hutong rickshaw tour with local family visit
- Peking opera facial mask painting experience
- Visit Tian'anmen Square
- Explore Forbidden City (2+ hours)
Optional Activities
- Chinese Kung Fu Show at Red Theater
- Acrobatic Show at Red Theater
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Heaven Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City 
- Day 3
Beijing
An early morning drive of about 2 hours gets you to the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most visited sections. You can take the cable car or slideway down (additional fee applies). Lunch happens at a restaurant at the base, and then you'll drive back to Beijing with a photo stop at the Bird Nest and Water Cube from the 2008 Olympics before returning to your hotel by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A la Carte Lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall
Optional Activities
- Cable car at Mutianyu Great Wall
- Slideway at Mutianyu Great Wall
- Peking Roast Duck Restaurant dinner
Landmarks/POIs Mutianyu Great Wall Bird Nest Water Cube - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
After checking out, you'll visit the Summer Palace, one of China's largest imperial gardens. Walking the Long Corridor gives you views of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, and boating on the lake is available if you'd like. Following lunch, you'll head to Beijing West Railway Station for a 5 to 5.5 hour high-speed train to Xi'an (2nd class seats). Your guide meets you at Xi'an station and transfers you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (A La Carte Lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Summer Palace
- Walk Long Corridor at Summer Palace
- High-speed train Beijing to Xi'an (2nd class seat)
Optional Activities
- Boating trip on Kunming Lake at Summer Palace
Landmarks/POIs Summer Palace 
- Day 5
Xi'an
The day focuses on Xi'an's historical sites. The Xi'an City Wall is first, with optional cycling along the top if that interests you. A pottery workshop visit lets you try making miniature terracotta warriors before seeing the actual famous Terracotta Warriors archaeological site. After lunch, you'll walk around Bell Tower Square and spend time in the Muslim Quarter checking out shops and local snacks.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (A La Carte Lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Xi'an City Wall
- Cave dwelling pottery workshop - learn terracotta warrior making
- Visit Terracotta Warriors
- Walk Bell Tower Square
- Explore Muslim Quarter
Optional Activities
- Bicycle riding on Xi'an City Wall
- Tang Dynasty Show evening entertainment
Landmarks/POIs Xi'an City Wall Terracotta Warriors Bell Tower Square Muslim Quarter - Day 6
Xi'an to Guilin
You'll have a leisurely morning to explore on your own. Gao's Courtyard gives you a look at ancient residences and teaches you about shadow puppetry traditions. At Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza, there's a musical fountain show at 12:00 (if weather cooperates). An afternoon or evening flight takes you from Xi'an to Guilin in Southern China.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (A La Carte Lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Gao's Courtyard
- Photo stop at Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza
- Musical fountain show at Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza
- Flight Xi'an to Guilin
Landmarks/POIs Gao's Courtyard Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza 
- Day 7
Guilin
A 2 hour drive from Guilin brings you to the Longji Rice Terraces, where hillsides are built into terraces that wind around mountains like steps. Lunch in Ping'an Zhuang Village features bamboo-cooked local specialties. You'll then visit ethnic Yao and Zhuang villages to see traditional dress and needlework, returning to downtown Guilin around 17:00. A Four Lakes Night Cruise is available if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (Local restaurant in Ping'an Zhuang Village - bamboo-cooked specialties)
Included Activities
- Visit Longji Rice Terraces (Dragon's Back)
- Explore ethnic villages (Yao and Zhuang)
Optional Activities
- Four Lakes Night Cruise
Landmarks/POIs Longji Rice Terraces Ping'an Zhuang Village - Day 8
Guilin to Yangshuo
Morning takes you to Zhujiang Pier for about a 4 hour Li River Cruise to Yangshuo through scenic, fairytale-like landscape. After disembarking, you'll walk along the famous West Street with free time to explore at your leisure. You'll then drive back to Guilin for the night, though the Impression Liusanjie show is an option if you decide to stay longer in Yangshuo.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (Lunch-box)
Included Activities
- Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
- Walk along West Street in Yangshuo
Optional Activities
- Impression Liusanjie show in Yangshuo
Landmarks/POIs Li River West Street - Day 9
Guilin to Hangzhou
A leisurely morning comes before you check out and transfer to the airport for a noon flight to Hangzhou. Your guide meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. After checking in, you'll explore the famous Hefang Street with your guide, tasting local snacks and food unique to Hangzhou.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Dinner (Local Snack Dinner)
Included Activities
- Explore Hefang Street
- Local snacks and food tasting at Hefang Street
- Flight Guilin to Hangzhou
Landmarks/POIs Hefang Street 
- Day 10
Hangzhou
Following breakfast, you'll head to Meijiawu tea village for a peaceful morning away from the city. A local farmer teaches you how to pick, cook, and make Longjing (dragon well) tea. Chenghuang Pavilion offers bird's-eye views of West Lake before you spend a leisurely afternoon boating on the lake. The Grand Canal Museum comes next, where you can learn about canal history, and there's a pavilion for painting your own umbrella. The Impression West Lake show is available in the evening if you choose.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (A La Carte Lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Meijiawu tea village
- Tea picking, cooking, and making experience
- View West Lake from Chenghuang Pavilion
- Boat trip on West Lake
- Visit Grand Canal Museum
- Visit workmanship and demonstrations pavilion
Optional Activities
- Impression West Lake evening show
Landmarks/POIs Meijiawu West Lake Chenghuang Pavilion Grand Canal Museum - Day 11
Hangzhou to Suzhou
After breakfast, you'll take a high-speed train to Suzhou, arriving around noon. Following lunch, the day focuses on this historic city known for its Chinese gardens and silk. Lingering Garden, one of China's four great gardens, is a main stop. Panmen Gate, the only existing water and land gate in China, comes next, with a leisurely walk at Pingjiang Road afterward.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (A la carte Lunch)
Included Activities
- High-speed train Hangzhou to Suzhou (2nd class seat)
- Visit Lingering Garden
- Visit Panmen Gate
- Leisure walk at Pingjiang Road
Landmarks/POIs Lingering Garden Panmen Gate Pingjiang Road 
- Day 12
Suzhou to Shanghai
After breakfast, you'll check out and head to Tongli Water Town, established over 1,000 years ago during the Song Dynasty. This UNESCO World Heritage tentative site offers exploration before lunch at a local restaurant in the water town. From there, you'll drive directly to Shanghai.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A La Carte Lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Tongli Water Town
Landmarks/POIs Tongli Water Town 
- Day 13
Shanghai
Your final touring day in Shanghai starts with walking through Nong Tang alleys in the Shikumen district to see local life and unique Shanghai architecture. The classic Yuyuan Garden downtown is next, followed by the nearby Yuyuan Bazaar for shopping. After lunch, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower area includes the Shanghai City History Museum and an elevator ride to the 2nd ball for panoramic city views. A drive through Lujiazui shows Shanghai's modern skyline before finishing at The Bund to see the illuminated buildings along the Huangpu River.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (A La Carte Lunch)
Included Activities
- Walk Shikumen alleyways
- Visit Yuyuan Garden
- Explore Yuyuan Bazaar
- Visit Shanghai City History Museum at Oriental Pearl TV Tower
- Take elevator to 2nd ball of Oriental Pearl TV Tower
- Drive through Lujiazui financial district
- Visit The Bund
Landmarks/POIs Shikumen Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Bazaar Oriental Pearl TV Tower Lujiazui The Bund - Day 14
Departure from Shanghai
You'll have a leisurely morning before transferring to the airport for your homebound international flight, saying farewell to China.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast)
