Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll arrive in Beijing and meet your guide and driver for the transfer to your hotel. After you get settled in, the afternoon is free to explore on your own. Wangfujing Street is a good spot for shopping and street food if you're interested, or you could visit a tea house, spend time in a park, or just relax at the hotel.
Optional Activities
- Explore Wangfujing Street for shopping and street food
- Visit a local tea house
- Relax in a nearby park
- Day 2
Beijing
Following breakfast, you'll head to Tiananmen Square to see Mao's portrait and the historic area around it, then move on to the Forbidden City where 800 buildings reflect five centuries of imperial history. In the afternoon, the Temple of Heaven is next on the itinerary to see the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, an important architectural site. The rest of your day is free once you return to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit Mao's mausoleum
- Explore the Forbidden City (800 buildings and 9,000 chambers)
- Visit the Temple of Heaven and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Mao Zedong Mausoleum Forbidden City Temple of Heaven 
- Day 3
Beijing
You'll go to the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall for a moderate hike with views overlooking two lakes built in the 1970s and 90s. After the hike, there's a stop at a pearl store to see how local artisans work, and then you'll head back to your Beijing hotel.
Included Activities
- Hike at Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall
- Visit a pearl store
Landmarks/POIs Huanghuacheng Great Wall - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Beijing West Railway Station and take a high-speed train to Xi'an on your own (your guide meets you there). Once you arrive, your guide takes you to Xi'an's Muslim Quarter where you can walk through food stalls and try local specialties like Halal skewers, roast mutton, and persimmon cakes if you want. From there, it's a transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore the Muslim Quarter of Xi'an
Optional Activities
- Try local specialties such as Halal skewers, roast mutton, and persimmon cakes (at your own cost)
Landmarks/POIs Muslim Quarter of Xi'an - Day 5
Xi'an
Your guide takes you to the UNESCO-listed Terracotta Warriors site where you'll see over 8,000 life-sized warriors, horses, and chariots that guarded Emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb. Next you'll visit a jade carving factory to watch artisans working, then spend time on the ancient Xi'an City Wall, which you can walk or explore by renting a bike or e-bike.
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Warriors site with professional guide
- Visit jade carving factory
- Walk along the ancient Xi'an City Wall
Optional Activities
- Rent a bike or electric bike to cycle along the top of the Xi'an City Wall
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Warriors Xi'an City Wall 
- Day 6
Xi'an to Kunming
You'll fly to Kunming (flight included) and then transfer to Western Hill and Dragon Gate on the city's west side, where you can see nice views across Dian Lake. The Dragon Gate Grotto is carved into the cliffside and worth exploring. From there, you'll transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Included Activities
- Visit Western Hill and Dragon Gate
- Explore Dragon Gate Grotto
Landmarks/POIs Dragon Gate - Day 7
Kunming to Dali
You'll spend time at the Black Stone Forest walking through tall limestone pillars that have been shaped by time into an unusual landscape. Later, you'll head to the train station for an unescorted high-speed train to Dali. Your guide will meet you when you arrive and take you to your hotel.
Included Activities
- Visit Black Stone Forest
Landmarks/POIs Black Stone Forest 
- Day 8
Dali
After breakfast, you'll take a scenic boat ride on Erhai Lake with Mt. Cangshan on one side and Dali City on the other, and on clear days you might see snow-capped mountains. In the afternoon, you'll wander through Dali's old town and then visit the Three Pagodas, which sit at the foot of Mt. Cangshan facing the lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic boat ride on Erhai Lake
- Wander through Dali's ancient town
- Visit the Three Pagodas
Landmarks/POIs Erhai Lake Three Pagodas - Day 9
Dali to Lijiang
You'll start in Xizhou, an old town north of Dali with traditional Bai minority buildings and local culture. Then you'll travel by road to Lijiang (around 2.5 hours). Your guide meets you there, and you'll explore Lijiang Old Town, one of China's best-preserved old cities with Naxi culture throughout. The day ends at Black Dragon Pool where you can photograph the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflection.
Included Activities
- Visit Xizhou ancient town
- Explore Lijiang Old Town
- Visit Black Dragon Pool
Landmarks/POIs Xizhou Lijiang Old Town Black Dragon Pool 
- Day 10
Lijiang
You'll visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Snow Mountain), the southernmost snow-capped mountain in the Northern Hemisphere, with 13 peaks shaped like a flying dragon. After that, you'll see Baisha Village with its old temples and original Naxi murals, then walk through Shuhe Old Town, a historic stop on the Ancient Tea Horse Route.
Included Activities
- Visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Snow Mountain)
- Explore Baisha Murals in Baisha Village
- Walk through Shuhe Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Baisha Village Shuhe Old Town - Day 11
Lijiang to Shangri-La
Following breakfast, you'll drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge (about 1.5 to 2 hours), one of the world's deepest gorges with views of the Golden Sands River and the mountains around it. You'll continue driving to Shangri-La (roughly 2 hours more), then explore Dukezong Old Town, originally built in the 7th century as a key stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Visit Dukezong Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Tiger Leaping Gorge Dukezong Old Town 
- Day 12
Shangri-La to Kunming
After breakfast, you'll visit Songzanglin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery), Yunnan's largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex. Then you'll explore Pudacuo Forest Park, China's first nationally approved park, with scenic hills, meadows, and lakes where you might see bears, leopards, and the rare Yunnan snub-nosed monkey. Later you'll fly back to Kunming (about 1 to 1.5 hours, flight included) and transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Songzanglin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery)
- Explore Pudacuo Forest Park
Landmarks/POIs Songzanglin Monastery Pudacuo Forest Park - Day 13
Kunming to Guilin
You'll head to Kunming's train station and take an unescorted high-speed train to Guilin. After you arrive, you'll transfer to your hotel and the rest of the day is yours to spend however you like. You could wander through the city, take a boat ride on the Li River, visit local markets, or relax in parks and tea houses.
Optional Activities
- Wander through the picturesque city
- Take a relaxing boat ride along the Li River
- Visit local markets
- Relax in parks or tea houses
Landmarks/POIs Li River 
- Day 14
Guilin to Yangshuo to Guilin
You'll transfer to the pier for a Li River cruise, seeing rolling hills, bamboo forests, clear waters, traditional fishing boats, and cormorants along the way. When you reach Yangshuo, you'll have the afternoon to explore the town, check out Yangshuo Market for local produce, and walk down West Street where there are shops and unique items for sale. Then you'll transfer back to Guilin for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Li River Cruise
- Explore Yangshuo Market
- Stroll down West Street in Yangshuo
Landmarks/POIs Li River Yangshuo - Day 15
Guilin to Hong Kong
Your morning in Guilin is free, so you can explore local parks, take a quiet walk by the Li River, or just relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. Later you'll transfer to the train station to board an unescorted high-speed train to Hong Kong (about 3 hours 15 minutes). You'll make your own way to your hotel from the station and settle in for the evening.
Optional Activities
- Explore local parks
- Take a peaceful walk by the Li River
- Relax and soak in the natural beauty
- Day 16
Hong Kong
The tour ends after breakfast and hotel checkout. You'll arrange your own transportation to the airport for your next flight, as there's no included transfer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
