Beijing. O/N Beijing

Beijing - Today, your tour guide will meet you in your hotel lobby in Beijing at 8:00am. Your first destination will be Tiananmen Square.

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - At Tiananmen Square, you can capture stunning photos of the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to People’s Heroes, and Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. Located in the heart of Beijing, Tiananmen Square has been the site of numerous historical events and gatherings over the centuries. Today, it hosts grand celebrations, military parades, and welcoming ceremonies for foreign dignitaries. Visitors can also admire the towering Monument to People’s Heroes and the solemn Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. Traditional structures like the Tiananmen Tower, Zhengyang Gate, and Qianmen Arrow Tower are also present.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum - Next, you will cross the Tiananmen Tower to visit the Forbidden City, the residence and administrative center for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911). The Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden complex in the world, served as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is divided into the Inner Court and Outer Court by the Palace of Heavenly Purity, with the Outer Court used for state affairs and the Inner Court as the living quarters for the imperial family. The complex also functions as a vast museum, showcasing over a million national treasures.

Mutianyu Great Wall - Upon reaching the scenic area’s parking lot, you will take an electric car to the entrance and then a chairlift to the 14th watchtower. Enjoy a leisurely hike on the wall for about 2 hours, ending with a toboggan ride down. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, built and restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), is renowned for its beauty. Your professional guide will share the history and significance of this famous section of the Great Wall.

Beijing - Finally, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Beijing.

Beijing. O/N Beijing.

Beijing - In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel to continue your Beijing tour.

Temple of Heaven - Your first stop will be the Temple of Heaven, the largest group of royal ceremonial buildings in China. Emperors once held annual sacrificial ceremonies here to worship heaven and pray for good harvests. Today, it is a large park where you can see locals engaging in exercises and recreational activities.

Back Lakes (Hou Hai) - Next, you will visit Beijing Hutong, where you will take a rickshaw ride through the old alleys and visit a Hutong family to experience traditional Beijing life. The area is filled with popular restaurants, cafes, and local food stores, making it a great place to have lunch and taste local cuisine. After lunch, you can stroll around Houhai Lake and explore more of the Hutong area.

Lama Temple (Yonghegong) - After visiting the Hutong, you will be driven to the Lama Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Beijing. It features a blend of architectural styles from the Han, Manchu, Mongol, and Tibetan cultures. Opened to tourists in 1981, the temple attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually for prayer and sightseeing.

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - A 30-minute drive will take you to the Summer Palace, known as a museum of ancient royal gardens. Your expert guide will show you around the garden, which mainly consists of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The Long Corridor, 728 meters (796.2 yards) long, is the longest corridor in Chinese gardens and links Longevity Hill with Kunming Lake. You can admire the exquisite murals and enjoy the melodious music while walking along the corridor.

Beijing - Finally, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Beijing - Xi’an by train. O/N Xi’an.

Beijing West Railway Station - Today, there are no planned activities. You will take a first-class train to Xi’an. A driver will take you to the train station, but no tour guide will accompany you. We may book the G429 (10:45-16:25) or G667 (11:19-17:08) for you, with the journey taking around 6 hours.

Xi’an North Railway Station Parking Lot - Upon arrival in Xi’an, a local driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel (Driver only, no guide).

Xi’an. O/N Xi’an.

Xi’an - In the morning, your tour guide will meet you in your hotel lobby in Xi’an at 9:00am and transfer you to the Terracotta Warriors Museum, which is an 80-minute drive (45km).

The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses - Your guide will reserve tickets for you online in advance and help you skip the line at the entrance. You will explore the museum with your guide, visiting the three excavated pits and the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall. Despite being buried for over 2,200 years, the clay warriors and horses remain vivid and distinct. You will spend at least two and a half hours at this remarkable site.

Small Goose Pagoda - Next, you will transfer to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, located inside Jianfu Temple, about one kilometer south of Xi’an city proper. This pagoda, along with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, is one of the two significant Buddhist sites from the Tang Dynasty, dating back 1300 years. The two pagodas symbolized Chang’an (Constant Peace) city, which was the name for Xi’an until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when Beijing became the capital of China.

Xi’an City Wall (Chengqiang) - After lunch, you will transfer to the city wall. You can walk or cycle around the wall, with bike rental fees paid locally if you choose to cycle. The ancient City Wall, which encircles the old city, is one of Xi’an’s most famous attractions. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved Chinese city walls and one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

Muslim Quarter - Your last stop will be the Muslim Bazaar, the most vibrant area of the city. You can explore the bazaar at your own pace and then return to your hotel independently. Your guide will provide directions for returning to your hotel. The Great Mosque and the Bell and Drum Tower Square are within walking distance of the Bazaar. The Bazaar offers many boutique stores with fair prices and numerous excellent dining options for dinner.

Xi’an - Finally, you will be driven back to your hotel in Xi’an.

Xi’an - Guilin by flight. O/N Guilin.

Xi’an - In the morning, your tour guide will meet you in your hotel lobby in Xi’an at 8:30am and transfer you to Hanyanglin, a 30-minute drive (15km).

Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling) - You will first drive for one hour to visit the Hanyangling Mausoleum, the site of the Mausoleum of Western Han Emperor Liu Qi, built in 153 AD. With your guide, you will have a close look at the thousand-year-old tombs through glass floors and walls in the tomb pits. The advanced Spectra Vision program will recreate the life of the Western Han Dynasty from 2,000 years ago. You will have two hours to explore the site.

Shaanxi History Museum - After lunch, you will continue your Xi’an tour at the Shaanxi History Museum. The museum, a treasure house of Chinese civilization, showcases the unique historical and cultural heritage of Shaanxi. It houses around 370,000 antiquities, ranging from prehistoric relics to those from the 1840s, spanning over a million years. Your guide will provide detailed explanations.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) - Instead of entering the temple to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, you will have a photo stop here for half an hour. Based on suggestions from previous guests, it is sufficient to see the pagoda and the statue of Monk Xuanzang at the south square outside the temple. The pagoda, built during the Tang Dynasty, is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists, where Xuanzang once translated Buddhist sutras.

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport - In the late afternoon, you will be driven to Xi’an airport for your flight to Guilin (CA1225 18:40-20:50). The flight takes around 2 hours.

Guangxi Airport Management Group Guilin Liangjiang International Airport Company - Upon arrival in Guilin, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel (Driver only, no guide).

Guilin. O/N Guilin.

Guilin - In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel at around 07:45 and escort you to the Zhujiang pier to start the Guilin Li River cruise to Yangshuo (4-star boat with buffet lunch).

Li River - Boarding is scheduled for 9:20am, and the journey takes about 4 hours. With your guide’s company and interpretation, you can immerse yourself in the stunning karst landscape of rolling hills, verdant forests, odd caves, and tranquil villages along the Li River. A buffet Chinese lunch will be served on board before you reach Yangshuo at 2:00pm.

Xianggong Mountain - After disembarking, you will drive to see the Yangshuo Xianggong Hill. You will climb for 15 minutes along a moderately sloped staircase to reach the top. Inform your guide in advance if you need a walking stick. Xianggong Hill, located between the famous Yellow Cloth Shoal and Mural Hill, offers one of the best views of the Li River. The 180-degree bend in the river attracts countless visitors and photographers annually.

Guilin - Afterwards, you will be driven back to your hotel in Guilin around 17:00, with free time for the rest of the day.

Guilin - Shanghai by flight. O/N Shanghai.

Guilin - Your guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby at around 08:30 in the morning and escort you to the famous Reed Flute Cave, a 30-minute ride away.

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) - Upon arrival, you will enter the underground karst cave and marvel at the stunning formations of stalagmites and stalactites. The Reed Flute Cave is renowned for its numerous stalagmites and stalactites, which resemble bamboo shoots, pillars, curtains, and flowers, creating a splendid underground palace. Inside, you will discover more astonishing sights, such as stone lions, miniature forests, pagodas, and crystal chambers, each with a romantic or interesting story. The vivid interpretation by your guide, along with the lighting, adds mystery to the scene. The cave tour lasts about 40 minutes.

Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces - After a two-hour drive, you will reach the entrance to the Longji Terraces in Ping’an Village, which has the most famous and beautiful rice terraces in Longji. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from the entrance ticket office to the village.

Guangxi Airport Management Group Guilin Liangjiang International Airport Company - Finally, your guide will escort you to Guilin airport for your flight to Shanghai (ZH1970 19:30-22:00). The flight takes around 2.5 hours.

Pudong International Airport - Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel (Driver only, no guide).

Shanghai. O/N Shanghai.

Shanghai - Your guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby at around 09:00 in the morning and escort you to the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, a 20-minute ride away.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall - At the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, you can view numerous textual and graphic files and architectural models, providing an overall understanding of Shanghai’s development.

Yu Garden (Yuyuan) - Next, enjoy a relaxing stroll through the beautiful Yu Garden. Located in the old town, Yuyuan Garden is the most famous ancient site in Shanghai, known for its ingenious layout and delicate architecture. The garden’s treasure, Yu Ling Long (an exquisite jade stone), and an artificial hill are considered among the three most well-known peaks in Southern China.

Yuyuan Bazaar - Then, visit the Yuyuan Bazaar, also known as Yuyuan Market, located outside Yu Garden in the heart of Old Shanghai City, near the Old City God Temple. The area features many traditional Chinese buildings now used as commercial stores selling local products, snacks, jewelry, souvenirs, antiques, and more.

Shanghai World Financial Center - Afterwards, visit the Shanghai World Financial Center and ascend to the 100th floor for panoramic city views. The building is the world’s 8th tallest and the 4th tallest in Mainland China. The 100th floor has a 55-meter-long viewing gallery, the second highest observation deck in China, higher than the viewing platforms on the Canadian TV Tower (447 meters) and the Dubai Tower (440 meters).

The Bund (Wai Tan) - Finally, visit the Bund area, the quintessential part of Shanghai. Located on the bank of the Huangpu River, the Bund offers charming riverside scenery and unique western and gothic architecture. You will have some free time to stroll around and take photos.

Shanghai - At the end of the day, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Shanghai. The tour ends.

Shanghai - Your guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby at around 09:00 in the morning and escort you to Zhujiajiao water town, a 60-minute ride away.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town - Zhujiajiao water town, known as Shanghai’s Venice, has a history of over 1,700 years. Covering 47 square kilometers (11,614 acres), the fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains. Three places in the water town are worth visiting: Kezhi Garden, Qing Dynasty Post Office, and Fangsheng Bridge. Your tour guide will accompany you to these sites.

Kezhi Garden, built in 1912, features various pavilions, buildings, a lotus pond, stele corridors, a bridge of nine turnings, and different kinds of plants. The stele corridor contains calligraphy inscriptions from the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD) with high artistic value.

In the Qing Dynasty Post Office, you can see precious old postcards and letters from the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD). A post box with a carved dragon, still in use today, is also on display.

Fangsheng Bridge, built in the Ming Dynasty, is the largest and longest stone arch bridge in Shanghai, with five arches.

You will take a local wooden boat from Kezhi Garden and disembark at North Street. You will have free time to wander around the ancient streets and interact with the local people.

Jade Buddha Temple - After lunch, you will visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Built in 1882 to house two white jade Buddha statues from Burma, the temple is a famous Buddhist shrine and an active Zen monastery. It plays a significant role in promoting Buddhism through cultural activities, including lectures, library services, academic publications, and regular cultural events.

Tianzifang - Later, you will visit Tianzifang, an old-style cultural block featuring distinctive Shikumen buildings with art studios, themed cafés and bars, and handicraft workshops.

Shanghai - Finally, your guide will escort you to your hotel, airport, or train station, marking the end of our 9-day tour services.

• Private car and personal guide throughout the tour
• First-class train tickets from Beijing to Xi’an
• Admission fees to all attractions
• Lunch included daily
• Air-conditioned transportation
• Economy class flights from Xi’an to Guilin and Guilin to Shanghai

• The hotel and dinner