Oriental Discovery

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby, and then start the day with a visit to Tiananmen Square, at the heart of Beijing City. It is flanked by a lot of monumental buildings like Tiananmen Tower, the National Museum of China, and the Great Hall of the People.

Following our guide across the square, you will reach the entrance of the imperial palace - the Forbidden City. It is known as the world’s largest wooden palace complex consisting of over 9,000 rooms. This Chinese imperial palace was home to emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911), so you will see symbols of the royal family everywhere in the buildings, such as carved dragons, statues of lions and divine creatures, red walls and golden roofs. The magnificent palace structure was built in the early 15th century by about 200,000 to 300,000 workers for about 14 years. When appreciating the huge buildings and halls, you will be amazed at the workers’ wisdom and the effort they made. For example, the palace’s largest stone sculpture located behind the Hall of Preserving Harmony is a whole stone sculpture, weighing more than 220 tons. It is hard to imagine how it was transferred from Beijing’s suburban area to the city center without any modern technology at that time. It is said that the stone was moved by a special land boat in winter. A road was first built with wells every 500 meters along the way. Then pour the water on the ground to freeze a smooth surface. Load the giant stone on the land boat with rolling wood at the underside and then over 20,000 workers and 1,000 horses pulled the boat every day. Nevertheless, it took at least 1 month to reach the imperial palace. In addition to the grand architecture itself, the Forbidden City also houses tens of thousands of ancient artifacts, which would be a great cultural feast for you.After enjoying lunch, let's visit the imperial altar of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Temple of Heaven, where emperors renewed their divine rights to rule through sacrificial offerings to the gods. The iconic structure of the Temple of Heaven is the conically roofed Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with 3 tiers standing on a square yard, which demonstrates the old Chinese people’s belief: heaven is round and earth is square. Then you will be entertained by a lively Chinese Acrobatic Show at the Red Theatre.

Tonight, we will treat you to an a la carte welcome dinner with Peking duck, valued at US$22 per person and included in tour price, at an elegant Chinese restaurant off the regular tourist beat. After dinner, we'll escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, A la carte welcome dinner with Peking Duck

Today, we will set off early to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved Great Wall sections. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD), the old Great Wall watch towers had seen many military actions in defense of the empire. You will take the included round-trip cable car to reach the wall and see the grandeur in miles of walls sprawling along the tops of mountain ridges. Alternatively, you can try the chairlift up and toboggan down for a more thrilling experiene. After descending, we will surprise you with red wine for a toasting to commemorate the special moment on the Great Wall. Enjoy your buffet lunch then.

In the afternoon, we will return to the urban area. Have a brief stop near the Olympic National Stadium (Bird's Nest) to take photos with the tourist icon. You will then experience the unique Beijing Hutong culture by riding a rickshaw through the old Hutong alleys. You will also have a chance to visit a local family to take in the oldest grey bricks of courtyard residence and learn about the lifestyle of the local people. Finally, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Buffet lunch

In the morning, we’ll proceed to the Summer Palace, the former royal summer retreat of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD). With a typical Chinese landscape garden design, Summer Palace is covered by water for about three quarters and has the world’s longest corridor with gorgeous paintings. Apart from seeing lotus blooming on Kunming Lake in the summer, we will visit the other main body of the imperial garden, Longevity Hill, home to a large number of ancient halls, pavilions, and pagodas. You will also walk across the garden’s longest Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and soak up the beautiful Suzhou Market Street which is in imitation of the water towns in Southern China.

After lunch, you will be escorted to the railway station for a high-speed train to Xi'an, where our local guide will meet and transfer you to the hotel. As one of the most ancient cities in China, Xi’an boasts a long history of over 3,000 years. Thanks to its strategic location, it used to be the capital city of 13 Chinese dynasties, including China’s first unifying dynasty, Qin (221 - 207 BC). The world-famous Terracotta Army, the large underground army buried to protect China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huang, was unearthed from here. More than that, Xi’an had witnessed the glorious past of the powerful Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), the golden age when Chinese ancient culture and arts flourished.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you will be led to take in the city’s charm and absorb the ancient Chinese culture the whole day. Your first destination is the Terracotta Army. The life-size clay figures, probably fashioned after individual live models, are frozen in time, and arranged in battle order; even the expressions on the horses are individualized. You can also see the delicate Bronze Chariot and Horses, and bronze vessels and weapons. With the tour guide's detailed introduction, you will know the history behind the wonder. After that, you will have lunch at a nearby restaurant. Then take a family visit to the home of the first discoverer of the Terracotta Army, and make a mini clay warrior by yourself with the help of a local artisan.

In the afternoon, go back to the downtown to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The brick pagoda is an incredible, well-preserved 1,300-year-old structure built in the Tang Dynasty, in memory of the celebrated monk Xuanzang’s travel and to save the Buddhist scripts, stupas, and other relics he brought from India. Later, you will be entertained by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show while partaking of the famous Dumpling Dinner.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dumpling dinner

You will spend the whole morning around the City Wall area. The 12-meter high ancient City Wall built in the 14th century was the most complete well-preserved old city ramparts in China, surrounded by a moat. First, our guide will take you to the City Wall Park. It is a place full of life and vigor since a lot of locals, especially elders come here doing morning exercises, dancing, and singing local opera. You might want to join in the shadowboxing practice to experience the authentic slow-movement-art. Then follow the guide to the City Wall. Due to the sheer size of the wall, with a length of around 14 km and width of 12-14 meters, it is better to take a bike ride on the top of it (The bike rental is an out-of-pocket expense). You can also choose to take a stroll and take photos of the beautiful city views.

Around noon, we will proceed to the Muslim Quarter, home to the popular Chinese Muslim community. It is also famous as a local food market, where many types of dishes and local specialties are available, such as sweet persimmon cake, sticky rice cakes, and spicy lamb skewers. It is a good chance for you to try the local snacks. In the afternoon, visit the Great Mosque. Built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty, the mosque is the earliest Muslim house of worship in Xi'an, featuring blending architectural styles of Chinese traditional temples and Islamic mosques. The last stop will be the Shaanxi History Museum. inside, you can unveil Chinese history over thousand years ago by viewing relics, such as tripods, Tri-colored horse, and murals.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte local food lunch

Today you will check out of Xi'an hotel and catch a morning flight to Guilin. Our guide in Guilin will greet you in the airport and transfer you to the hotel in downtown. 

After a short break, your trip in picturesque Guilin will start with the Reed Flute Cave. It is a karst cave boasting varies shapes of stalactites and stalagmites. This is followed by a visit to Elephant Trunk Hill, a landmark in Guilin City. As the name suggests, it features a huge elephant-like rock with a long trunk on the tranquil Li River.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Fresh from a hotel breakfast, you will embark on the deluxe 4-star Li River Cruise down the 93-km-long beautiful waterway. The tour guide will accompany you the whole way and provide full explanations in 4 hours. You will take many wonderful photos and be mesmerized by clear waters and grotesque peaks along the river. A simple lunch box will be provided on the cruise today.

Disembark at Yangshuo and walk through the West Street, and then we will drive along country roads and take in the fresh and clean rural scenery in Yangshuo. A scheduled stop is at a local farmer's house to explore the local’s lives. Finally, you will be escorted back to Guilin city.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch on the cruise 

You have the whole morning to explore Guilin city on your own. Strolling around popular Zhengyang Street and finding some local delicacies like savory Guilin Rice Noodles, and light-sweet Osmanthus rice cakes is recommended.

In the afternoon, our guide will send you to the Guilin West Railway Station for a high speed train ride to Zhangjiajie, which takes about 7 hours. Upon arrival, the guide based there will pick you up at the station’s exit and take you straight to the hotel near the East Gate of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Check in and have a good rest.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In 1982, The State Council named the Zhangjiajie Forest Farm as Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which represents the birth of China’s first nation forest park. Accompanied by our guide, you will first take the eco-bus of the scenic area for about 20 minutes from the East Gate to the lower station of Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest sightseeing lift on the cliff side. Step into its glass carriage with three transparent sides, and as the door slowly closes, an amazing 88-second journey into the sky begins. At first, you are just in the dark, and in the twinkling of an eye, you will be in the white clouds that flutters like light gauzes. Then, welcome to the magical world of Pandora in the sci-fi film Avatar on the mountaintop, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. With our guide, feast your eyes on three thousands towering karst peaks capped by lush woods on naturally formed viewing platforms. Among them, there is one that stands out and has the momentum to soar to the sky, hence the name Southern Sky Column, which was later renamed to the Hallelujah Mountain.

After a simple lunch served at a restaurant in Yuanjiajie’s mountain village, hop in the eco-bus again and move to the Yangjiajie Scenic Area, which boasts more than 200 small spots, the most acclaimed of which is the Natural Great Wall, a rare wonder that has been hailed as “a major new discovery of Zhangjiajie landform” upon its debut. After 380 million years of weathering, the dozens of scattered and jagged peaks walls have grown to their infancy, leaving you to marvel at the power of nature when overlooking them. Next, the eco-bus will take you to Tianzi Mountain to see with your own eyes the stunning sunset that has appeared in some master photographers’ lenses. It was once the home of Xiang Dakun, the leader of the Tujia Minority, who led the local peasants in an uprising for a better life. Enter the highest site here, Helong Park, climb up to the observation deck to take in the majestic Imperial Brush Peak and Fairy Dispersing Flowers, and suss out intriguing legends behind. End up today’s sightseeing by taking the cable car down the mountain and back to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we will drive you for around 40 minutes to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, the city’s third largest scenic area. Because of its rich natural landscape, which includes peaks, valleys, caves, waterfalls and lakes, it has earned the reputation of a “museum of the unique Zhangjiajie landforms”. When you are here, all your passion will be lighted by the noted Yuntiandu Glass Bridge, which is not only the highest and longest of its kind in the world, but also the first bridge with toughened glass as the main stress structure, attracting thrill seekers from home and abroad to experience walking in the clouds. It is also friendly for those afraid of heights, as its sides are designed with opaque areas that can still be stepped onto for panoramic views of the canyon.

After lunch, and we’ll reenter the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, where there is such a picturesque place that Mr. Shen Congwen, a famous Chinese writer, praised as the “Maid of Zhangjiajie”; and that is the Golden Whip Stream. This afternoon, take a relaxing hike down the level path next to this beauty. Named after the Golden Whip Rock, the 7.2-kilometer-long (4.5-mile-long) natural stream sneaks through one of the most beautiful valleys in the world and never stops even in the dry seasons. Strolling along it, your clothes seem to be “tinged” with a faint green by the surrounding exuberant vegetation, your eyes may be caught by the shimmering pebbles of various colors, and your brain will be excited by the melody played by monkeys, birds and babbling water. Afterwards, get back to the hotel and drift off to sleep with pleasant sightseeing memories of the day.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After meeting the guide in the hotel lobby, let's set out to spend a wonderful morning on Tianmen Mountain (Heaven's Gate Mountain), the highest in Zhangjiajie. Our considerate inclusion of a round-trip cable car up and down the mountain enables you to save more time and energy for sightseeing. After arriving,  wonder at the highlight of the mountain, the Tianmen Cave. It is said that in 263 AD, one of the cliffs “carved” a hole with a bang, bright like the door to heaven was suddenly opened, mysteriously spitting clouds and mist throughout the year since then. And so far, there is no convincing scientific explanation for its true formation. When reaching the mountaintop by the 7-level transmountain escalator, you will also be welcomed by the thrilling Glass Skywalk hanging off the cliff. Be bold enough to walk over the abyss and see if you are so mesmerized by the surrounding views that you won’t notice your legs trembling and heart racing. Also, expect to experience the thrill of the 99-bend mountain road on a 20-minute ride on the scenic area's shuttle bus.

In the afternoon, our guide will transfer you to the railway station to take a 2-hour flight to Shanghai. Once arrive, a local guide will welcome you at the airport and escort you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Known as the most modern city in China, Shanghai offers more than skyscrapers and gorgeous night views. It also boasts a historical and traditional side, waiting for your exploration. After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to the Yu Garden, a typical Chinese-style garden which can be dated back to 400 years ago. The classic garden boasts its exquisite layout, with landscaped ponds, pavilions, old bridges and strange rockeries. Among a lot of rockeries, the Exquisite Jade Rock (aka Yulinglong Stone) is the most famous one, with a height of 3 meters and weight of 3 tons, featuring elegant edges and interesting shapes. It is said the famous stone once served as a dowry to be sent to the son of the garden’s owner to show the large wealth of the two powerful families. Another iconic sight in the garden is several imposing Dragon Walls, stretching over 20 meters. The black dragon’s body is made of tiles winding on top of the white wall, and there is a feeling of flying out. Chinese dragon with five claws on each foot is always considered the symbol of emperors and normal people who used related objects would be put to death. It is said the garden’s owner cut all the claws of the dragon in the garden into three claws, arguing that they were three-clawed pythons, not dragons. Then the Dragon Walls could be saved from the wrath of emperors. We will continue to explore the Yuyuan Bazaar surrounding the garden, where there are many traditional Chinese buildings, which nowadays are used as commercial stores to sell local products, arts and crafts, antiques, snacks and so on. You will enjoy some free time there.

Our next stop is Shanghai Museum, which features an ancient Chinese bronze vessel-shaped outer appearance and houses over 120,000 pieces of cultural relics including bronze wares, jades, ceramics, Chinese Calligraphies, and coins. 

Afterward, proceed to the Bund area, where you will also take a one-hour cruise tour along the Huangpu River to take in 19th-century colonial buildings on the west bank and high-rise buildings on its east bank. Finally, we'll escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Please check out after packing your luggage before 12:00. For private travelers, we'll escort you to the airport on a private car ride; group tour members need to arrange their own transportation to the airport. For reference, a 1.5-hour taxi to Pudong Airport takes about USD 30, and a 1-hour taxi to Hongqiao Airport takes about USD 15. Wish you a nice journey! 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast