Day 1  Arrival in Beijing

Upon arrival at Beijing Airport, please clear yourself through customs. We will meet you at the arrival exit, after which we will drive you to the hotel. Have a good rest to restore yourself for the following 16 days China tour. Or, you can take a short walk around on your own. O/N hotel 

Day 2 (B/L)  Beijing

After breakfast, your guide will offer a brief introduction to the group. The morning excursions will be the famous Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. As a palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it has a mysterious aura. An a la selected carte lunch at a nicely decorated and noted local restaurant will follow allowing you to taste authentic and diversified Chinese food.

In the afternoon we will visit the Temple of Heaven, a delicate ancient architectural complex where emperors once offered sacrifices to the God of Heaven. Later pick up and enjoy the evening with an exciting Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theatre return to hotel. O/N Hotel 

Day 3  (B)Beijing

No Beijing tour is complete without visiting the Great Wall. This morning, we will set off to the suburban Badaling Great Wall. A jade factory is scheduled on the way. It is an energetic climb to the Great Wall, and the restaurants nearby offer poor meals that do not meet our service standard. We therefore suggest you have a sufficient breakfast at the hotel and have some fast food for lunch by yourself.

Then, we will continue our trip to the Sacred Way. Our final destination for the day is to pass by the Bird’s Nest Olympic sports venue. You will be given some time to take pictures of the huge nest-shaped stadium. O/N hotel

Day 4 (B/L) Beijing-Xian

For first-time visitors, the Summer Palace, a former imperial summer resort, is one venue you should not miss. It is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden as well as a world-famous tourist resorts. After that go to a pearl store. A la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) shall be scheduled at an elegant local restaurant.

The next stop is the Hutongs. It is fantastic to experience the area by rickshaw and a stop at a resident’s home will help you get an insight into its culture. After that, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xian. Our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. O/N hotel 

Day 5 (B/L/D) Xian

We will visit the amazing Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum this morning to appreciate the undeniable excellent ancient craft works of the Qin dynasty. Then go to a pottery-making factory. The site mostly has cheap tourist restaurants nearby, so we would like to drive you back to the city center to have a real home-cooked a selected la carte lunch  at a local family home.

After lunch, a visit to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda & Xian Museum is scheduled. Also a delicious dumpling dinner will be served tonight along with the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.

Tips: Visiting in December, January, February and March the theater will not be open at that time. O/N hotel

Day 6 (B/L) Xian

Visit the ancient City Wall and have a panoramic view of the city while strolling on it. The brick road on top of the wall is broad and you can rent and ride bicycles for fun if you like, although bicycle rental fee is not included. Next we head to Shaanxi History Museum. Around noon, enjoy an a la carte lunch(valued at CNY120 per person and included in our price) at a famous local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue to visit the Great Mosque, which is one of the most famous Chinese mosques. On the Muslim Street where the mosque is located you will also find delicious Muslim food and interesting souvenirs. O/N hotel

Day 7 (B)  Xian-Guilin

Catch a morning flight to Guilin. Upon your arrival, our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area. Your Guilin sightseeing starts with the famous Reed Flute Cave, which is a 240 meter karst cave that has various shapes of stalactites and stalagmites. After that, we will transfer you to the hotel. O/N hotel

Day 8 (B/L)  Guilin – Yangshuo – Guilin

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Zhujiang Pier to appreciate the picturesque scenery of Li River by cruising down from Guilin to Yangshuo. As the lunch on the ship is the basic Chinese lunch box, it cannot be up to your taste, we suggest you have a big breakfast at the hotel this morning.

Disembark at Yangshuo in about 4 hours and we will transfer you to enjoy the scenery of rural Yangshuo. On the way, you also have a chance to visit a local family to get a close touch with the country life. After that, we will drive you back to Guilin city to visit the Elephant Trunk Hill. O/N hotel

Day 9  (B) Guilin – Chengdu

After breakfast, catch a morning flight to Chengdu. Upon your arrival, we will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim area and transfer you to the hotel. We will leave you free time for lunch and rest for the remaining time of the day. O/N hotel

Day 10   Chengdu

Today we will have a pleasant date with China’s national treasure giant pandas at the Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The pandas are very active in the morning. You will sure be entertained when you see the cute and chubby panda bears eating bamboo shoots or playing with each other.

After that, visit Jinsha Site Museum. You will also watch a 4D film “Dream Back to Jinsha” to get a better understanding of the life more than 2,000 years ago. Then, continue your China tour itinerary to the Broad and Narrow Alleys where old houses and alleys of the Qing Dynasty have been turned to tea houses, restaurants, shops and bars. O/N hotel

Day 11 (B) Chengdu – Chongqing

We remain the whole morning free for you. You can take time to explore this pleasant city further and have lunch by yourself.

In the afternoon, we will drop you off at the railway station and help you board a bullet train to Chongqing. It is a two hours trip. Upon your arrival, our driver in Chongqing will meet you at the station and drive you to the port to board the five-star Yangtze cruise ship, which sets sail at 21:30. O/N on boat 

Day 12 (B/L/D) Shibaozhai

The ship arrives at Zhongxian at about 14:00. We will disembark and visit this Shibaozhai. The onshore visit will enable you to witness the majestic and delicate wooden tower along with the giant rock. The unique tower, first built in Wanli reign of Ming Dynasty, is regarded as a fairy land in Yangtze River. Re-embark and continue the cruise. This evening, you will be invited to join in the Captain’s Welcome Party.  O/N on boat

Shore excursion: Fengdu Ghost City

Day 13 (B/L/D) Shennv Stream – Xiling Gorge

In the morning, the ship will reach Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. The cruise guide on-board is expected to make a formal presentation. Get your camera ready! After lunch, we will disembark to experience an interesting excursion to the Shennv Stream by boat which will add much joy to the marvelous day. It lasts 3 to 4 hours. Back to the ship and cruise down the western section of Xiling Gorge. In the evening, the ship will pass through the five-step ship lock. O/N on boat

shore excursion: White Emperor City

Day 14 (B/L) Yichang – Shanghai

The Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydro-electric project is your last excursion stop on Yangtze. Pack your belongings for disembarking as soon as it is over. Our guide will meet you on board. After lunch, visit Yichang Museum if time permits, then you will be taking a flight to your last scheduled destination, Shanghai. On landing in Shanghai airport, you will meet us outside the customs area and be transferred to a downtown hotel. O/N Hotel 

Day 15 (B/L)  Shanghai

After breakfast, you will start your trip from Shanghai Museum, one of the top four museums in China. Then head to the ancient Yuyuan Garden, where you can see traditional Chinese architecture, beautiful artificial hills and ponds. Followed is a silk shop. After that you will enjoy an a la carte farewell lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) at a popular restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the city’s landmark site, the Bund, and take a one-hour cruise tour along the Huangpu River. You will also have some time to explore the Bund area. Finally our guide will transfer you back to the hotel and bid farewell to you. 

Day 16  (B) Departure from Shanghai

Today you will check out of your hotel after breakfast, and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.