Beijing: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square-Forbidden City, Hutong (L)

Temple of Heaven - Your tour guide and driver will meet you in the lobby of your Beijing hotel and take you directly to the Temple of Heaven.

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest - At the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors worshipped the God of Heaven, your guide will lead you through the park. In the morning, you can observe local retirees engaging in various exercises and are welcome to join them. Inside, you’ll visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Hall of Imperial Zenith.

Echo Wall - Walk across the Danbi Bridge to reach the Echo Wall and Circular Mount Altar.

Yuanqiutan - Proceed to Yuanqiutan to learn about ancient rituals of communicating with heaven and how emperors worshipped the God of Heaven. Your guide will share historical insights and stories along the way.

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - Next, head to Tiananmen Square, home to the Great Hall of the People, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall, and the Front Gate. Stroll around the square and learn about the history and stories of the surrounding buildings.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum - Enter the Forbidden City through the South Gate-Meridian Gate. This 250-acre complex of courtyards, palaces, pavilions, and gardens served as the imperial palace for over 500 years.

Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian) - Explore the courtyards and halls of the Forbidden City with your guide, learning about its history. Visit the Hall of Great Harmony, where the emperor conducted state affairs, as well as the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Complete Harmony.

Palace of Heavenly Purity - Continue to the living quarters, including the Hall of Union, Hall of Heavenly Purity, and Hall of Earthly Tranquillity.

The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum - Your tour of the Forbidden City concludes at the Imperial Garden, exiting through the North Gate.

Shichahai Scenic Resort - Head to the Shichahai area for lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a leisurely walk around Yandai Xie Street, Gulou East Street, and Nanluoguxiang Alley.

Nanluoguxiang - Explore the shops and hutongs around Nanluoguxiang Alley. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing.

Beijing: Great Wall of China-Olympic Park-Summer Palace (B,L)

Mutianyu Great Wall - Meet your tour guide in your hotel’s lobby and travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Your guide will share historical stories along the way, and you are welcome to ask questions.

Upon arrival, take a cable car or ski lift up to the Great Wall, marvel at the surroundings, and hike between different towers. You can decide how long to stay at the Great Wall.

Niaochao National Stadium - Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local village restaurant, dining with villagers and savoring cuisine from Northeast China.

On the way back to the city, drive past the Olympic Park to glimpse the modern stadiums built for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - Continue to the Summer Palace, a well-preserved royal garden known for its beautiful landscape and classical architecture.

Hall of Benevolence and Longevity - Learn about Empress Cixi and her living quarters with your guide.

Long Corridor at the Summer Palace - Walk along the world’s longest corridor, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Qingyan Stone Boat - Visit the Marble Boat, a foreign-style structure symbolizing the stability of the Qing Dynasty.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing.

Beijing - Xi’an: Big Goose Pagoda-City Wall-Muslim Quarter (B,L)

Capital Airport Residential District - Your driver will pick you up from your Beijing hotel and transfer you to the airport for a 2-hour flight to Xi’an.

Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the exit of the Arrival Hall and take you directly to Xi’an city.

Xi’an City Wall (Chengqiang) - Upon reaching the city, visit the Xi’an City Wall. Climb to the top, admire the city views, and optionally ride a bike around the wall.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) - Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built to house sutras and Buddha figurines brought from India by Monk Xuanzang. Explore the area with your guide and learn about its history.

Muslim Quarter - Head to the Muslim Quarter, the hub of Xi’an’s Muslim community. Stroll through the food and souvenir market, and try local snacks at your own expense.

After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Xi’an.

Xi’an: Terracotta Warriors Museum- Guilin (B,L)

The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses - Your guide will pick you up from your Xi’an hotel and take you to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Your guide will share historical stories along the way, and you are welcome to ask questions.

Start with a visit to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors Museum, known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” The museum is divided into three sections: No.1 Pit, No.2 Pit, and No.3 Pit. The original site was discovered by four local farmers in 1974 and is now Xi’an’s most important attraction. Explore the museum and gain rich information from your guide.

Guilin - After lunch at a local restaurant, you will be transferred to the airport for a 2-hour flight to Guilin.

Your driver in Guilin will meet you at the exit of the Arrival Hall and transfer you to your hotel in Guilin.

Guilin: Cruise to Yangshuo (B, L)

Li River - Your private English-speaking guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel’s lobby at 8:00 am and transfer you to Zhujiang Pier to start a boat cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo County. The Li River Cruise is a highlight of any visit to Guilin.

Gui Lin Zhujiang Pier - Enjoy breathtaking views of peaks, pinnacles, crystal-clear water, and picturesque countryside scenery along the river. The river has three sections, with various attractions like peaks and villages that have descriptive names. Listening to your guide’s legendary stories about the attractions enhances the experience. The cruise usually takes around 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on water conditions.

Xingping Fishing Village - The Li River takes a scenic turn at Xingping, known for its beautiful and poetic scenery, often depicted in Chinese landscape paintings. The newly-issued 20 RMB note features this scenery. A photographer once said, ‘Shots from any perspective here are impressive and stunning.’ Enjoy a simple lunch on the boat.

West Street - Arrive in Yangshuo at 1:30 pm and stroll around West Street with your guide. Explore various shops, craft shops, painting and calligraphy stores, backpack shops, and cafes. Your guide can help you negotiate prices if you wish to purchase souvenirs.

Shili Hualang - In the afternoon, explore the Ten-Mile Gallery in Yangshuo. Walking down a country road feels like traveling in a painting, true to the Ten-Mile Gallery’s name. This picturesque road stretches from Yangshuo town to Moon Hill, featuring rolling hills, fields, villages, and clear rivers.

Butterfly Spring Park - Along the Ten-Mile Gallery, visit Butterfly Spring Park, known for its peculiar peaks, rocks, waterfalls, and springs. A winding path leads to a sightseeing terrace with a bird’s eye view of the Ten-Mile Gallery.

Big Banyan Tree - Continue to the Big Banyan Tree, over 1,400 years old. Learn about the love story of Liusanjie and see how new lovers make wishes for their future.

Moon Hill - Your last stop is Moon Hill. Let your guide know if you want to stop for photos.

After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Guilin.

Guilin City Highlights-Shanghai (B, L)

Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan) - Meet your guide in your hotel’s lobby and discuss the highlights and attractions you wish to see in Guilin City. Your guide will help you plan an itinerary based on your interests. Typically, you will start at Elephant Trunk Hill, the landmark of Guilin, famous since the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). The hill resembles a giant elephant drinking from the river.

Enjoy a walk to the top, visit the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) Puxian Tower, built to worship Samantabhadra. Learn its history from your guide and enjoy panoramic views of the city, Li River, and surrounding scenery.

Yunfeng Temple - Continue to Yunfeng Temple, one of Guilin’s famous ancient temples. It was the dwelling place of Monk Jianzhen, an eminent Tang Dynasty monk who traveled to Japan six times to spread Buddhist doctrines. Explore the temple and the exhibition gallery on the second floor.

Fubo Hill - Visit Fubo Hill, which stands next to the Li River and rises abruptly from the landscape. It is known for its natural beauty and historic art. Explore etchings of Buddha from the Song and Tang Dynasties (618 - 1279) at Thousand-Buddha Cave and Pearl-Returning Cave. Learn about the Sword-Testing Rock and its legendary stories.

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) - Head to Reed Flute Cave, where millions of years of dripping water have created a world of stalactites, stone pillars, and rock formations. Explore important spots like Tower-shaped Pine and Crystal Palace. The cave also features 77 travelogues and poems from the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Shanghai - You will be transferred to the airport for a 2-hour flight to Shanghai.

Your driver in Shanghai will meet you at the exit of the Arrival Hall and transfer you to your hotel in Shanghai.

Shanghai City Highlights (B, L)

Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Bowuguan) - Meet your guide in your hotel’s lobby and embark on a customized tour of Shanghai’s sights. Discuss the historical highlights and attractions you wish to see, and your guide will help you plan an itinerary based on your interests. Typically, you will start with the Shanghai Museum, which has eleven galleries and three exhibition halls. The museum boasts 120,000 pieces of rare cultural relics in 21 categories, with bronze ware, ceramics, and painting and calligraphy as its distinctive collections.

Jade Buddha Temple - Next, visit the Jade Buddha Temple to see the White Jade Buddhas brought from Burma in the nineteenth century. Stroll through the temple’s halls and courtyards, learn about its history and Buddhism in China, and observe locals worshipping and burning incense.

Yu Garden (Yuyuan) - After lunch at a local restaurant, explore Yu Garden, the largest ancient garden with Ming and Qing style architecture. Learn about garden design from your guide and visit the Old City God Temple, surrounded by local snack shops and streets.

The Bund - Continue to the Bund to see the city skyline, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and colonial buildings along the Huangpu River. Take a walk and stop for photos.

Former French Concession - Explore the Former French Concession, a great place for leisure time. Wander the narrow alleyways, dine in cafes or restaurants, or browse art galleries and photographic studios.

Xintiandi - Finish your tour in the lively nightlife district of Xintiandi. This area features Shikumen architecture and has been converted into a dining, retail, and entertainment center with international-standard restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and bars. Explore the area with your guide.

If you have already visited some of these places and want to do something different, discuss with your guide to choose attractions or activities based on your interests, such as the Shanghai Museum, Pearl TV Tower, World Financial Center, or Jinmao Tower.

After the tour, you can choose to end your tour in Shanghai or return to Beijing.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Economy class plane tickets included
• Round trip on cable car or ski lift and toboggan at the Great Wall
• Delicious lunch provided
• 4-star cruise ticket for Guilin to Yangshuo
• Overnight stay in a standard twin room (twin share option available)
• Breakfast included
• Knowledgeable English-speaking guide
• Comfortable transport by private air-conditioned vehicle
• All entrance fees covered

• Gratuities to tour guide and driver(recommended)
• Accommodation if you choose to have the tour only