Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll arrive at Beijing Capital Airport where your local guide will be waiting. After the transfer to your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to settle in and recover from travel. It's a good time to rest and adjust to the time difference.
- Start point
- Beijing, China (Beijing Capital International Airport)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar), Hotel (Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar), Hotel (Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town Hotel or simiar)
- Day 2
Beijing
Start at Tiananmen Square and walk through to the Forbidden City, then head up Jingshan Park for views overlooking the palace grounds. After lunch, you'll take a rickshaw through the Back Lakes area to see old neighborhoods and courtyards, finishing at the Drum and Bell Tower. Stop by a tea house before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Chinese lunch at a local popular restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar), Hotel (Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar), Hotel (Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town Hotel or simiar)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit Forbidden City
- Hike Jingshan Park for panoramic views
- Beijing Hutong tour by rickshaw with courtyard and local family visit
- Visit Drum and Bell Tower
- Tea house visit
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Jingshan Park Back Lakes (Houhai) Drum and Bell Tower 
- Day 3
Beijing
Visit the Temple of Heaven, an ancient site and China's largest sacrifice location. On the way, you'll stop at a jade carving factory. Then head to Mutianyu Great Wall where you can hike or take the cable car up. Following lunch, see the Bird Nest and Water Cube before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Chinese lunch arranged nearby)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar), Hotel (Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar), Hotel (Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town Hotel or simiar)
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Jade carving factory visit
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall with option to hike or take cable car
- Photo stop outside Bird Nest and Water Cube
Optional Activities
- Cable car up Great Wall (alternative to hiking)
Landmarks Temple of Heaven Mutianyu Great Wall Bird Nest (National Stadium) Water Cube (National Aquatics Center) - Day 4
Beijing to Xian
After checking out, explore the Summer Palace, China's largest imperial garden. You'll have a boat ride on Kunming Lake before lunch. In the afternoon, you'll take the high-speed train to Xian where your guide will transfer you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Chinese lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Meihao Hotel Xi'an East Street or similar), Hotel (Grand Noble Hotel or similar ), Hotel (Sofitel on Renmin Square or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Summer Palace
- Boat ride on Kunming Lake
Landmarks Summer Palace Kunming Lake 
- Day 5
Xian
See the Qin Terracotta Warriors and learn pottery-making at a workshop. After lunch, check out the Bell Tower, then visit Gao's Courtyard to see traditional homes and try paper-cutting and shadow puppetry. The day ends with shopping time in the Muslim Quarter.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Chinese lunch arranged nearby)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Meihao Hotel Xi'an East Street or similar), Hotel (Grand Noble Hotel or similar ), Hotel (Sofitel on Renmin Square or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Qin Terracotta Warriors
- Pottery workshop visit
- Visit Bell Tower
- Visit Gao's Courtyard with paper-cutting and shadow puppetry demonstrations
- Walk around Muslim Quarter
Landmarks Qin Terracotta Warriors Bell Tower Gao's Courtyard Muslim Quarter - Day 6
Xian to Chengdu
After checking out, spend your morning on the Ancient City Wall by bicycle or sightseeing car. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and its north square before lunch. In the afternoon, you'll take the high-speed train to Chengdu for transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tianfu Sunshine Hotel or similar), Hotel (Grand Hyatt Chengdu or similar)
Included Activities
- Leisure tour of Ancient City Wall
- Bicycle or sightseeing car on city wall
- Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda and north square
Landmarks Ancient City Wall Big Wild Goose Pagoda 
- Day 7
Chengdu
Head to the Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Center in the morning to see the pandas. Return downtown for Sichuan lunch, then walk through People's Park to see locals enjoying their leisure time. In the evening, explore Jinli Street with dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Sichuan lunch at a local popular restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tianfu Sunshine Hotel or similar), Hotel (Grand Hyatt Chengdu or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Center
- Walk around People's Park
- Stroll around Jinli Ancient Street
Landmarks Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Center People's Park Jinli Ancient Street - Day 8
Chengdu to Guilin
Visit the Jinsha Ruins Museum to learn about ancient Shu culture from the Shang and Zhou periods. Have lunch or hotpot at a local restaurant, then visit Wuhou Temple, a large museum from the Three Kingdoms Period with peaceful grounds. Later, fly to Guilin for transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch or hotpot at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or similar), Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Guilin City Center or similar), Hotel (Sheraton Guilin Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Jinsha Ruins Museum
- Visit Wuhou Temple
Landmarks Jinsha Ruins Museum Wuhou Temple 
- Day 9
Guilin to Longsheng
Drive about 2 hours to Longji Rice Terraces, also called Dragon Backbone. Trek through rice terraces built over 700 years ago by local residents. You'll explore minority villages, see locals working in the fields, and find women wearing traditional clothing. After lunch at a local restaurant in the village, head back to Guilin by afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant in minority village)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or similar), Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Guilin City Center or similar), Hotel (Sheraton Guilin Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area
- Trek through rice terraces
- Explore minority villages
Landmarks Longji Rice Terraces - Day 10
Guilin to Yangshuo
Take a Li River Cruise with buffet lunch on board. The deluxe cruise has good facilities and service, so you can relax on deck or watch the scenery from your window as you cruise toward Yangshuo. After arriving, walk or take a sightseeing car, then ride bicycles through the Yulong River area to see the river, hills, and countryside. You'll return to Guilin hotel for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch on board)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or similar), Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Guilin City Center or similar), Hotel (Sheraton Guilin Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Li River Cruise
- Buffet lunch on board
- Walk through West Street or sightseeing car tour
- Bicycle riding at Yulong River area
Landmarks Li River West Street Yulong River - Day 11
Guilin to Hangzhou
After a leisurely morning, check out and transfer to the airport for a noon flight to Hangzhou. Your guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. In the evening, you can explore Hefang Street on your own to try local snacks and food specific to the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wenhua Jinglan Hotel Hangzhou or similar), Hotel (Holiday Inn Hangzhou CBD or similar), Hotel (Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou or similar)
Optional Activities
- Walk through Hefang Street and taste local snacks/food
Landmarks Hefang Street 
- Day 12
Hangzhou
Following breakfast, head to Meijiawu tea village for a quiet morning away from the city. At a local farmer's house, you'll learn to pick, cook, and prepare tea. Then go to West Lake for views from Chenghuang Pavilion. Spend the afternoon boating on West Lake, then return to your hotel to rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wenhua Jinglan Hotel Hangzhou or similar), Hotel (Holiday Inn Hangzhou CBD or similar), Hotel (Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Meijiawu tea village
- Learn tea picking, cooking, and making at local farmer's house
- View West Lake from Chenghuang Pavilion
- Boating on West Lake
Landmarks Meijiawu Tea Village Chenghuang Pavilion West Lake - Day 13
Hangzhou to Suzhou
After a relaxed breakfast, your guide will take you to the train station for a high-speed train to Suzhou. Following lunch, explore classical Chinese gardens including Lingering Garden, the largest private garden in China with Qing Dynasty style architecture. Next is Lion Grove Garden, one of Suzhou's four greatest gardens with over 650 years of history. Finish with a walk along Pingjiang Ancient Street where locals still live.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Soul or similar), Hotel (Garden Hotel SuZhou or similar), Hotel (Pan Pacific Suzhou or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Lingering Garden
- Visit Lion Grove Garden
- Walk along Pingjiang Ancient Street
Landmarks Lingering Garden Lion Grove Garden Pingjiang Ancient Street 
- Day 14
Suzhou to Shanghai
Drive to Tongli Water town, established in the Song Dynasty with rich cultural heritage. Take a local boat trip along the waterways to experience this ancient water village. After lunch, fly to Shanghai where your guide will transfer you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo or similar), Hotel (Sunrise on the Bund Hotel or similar), Hotel (Grand Central Hotel Shanghai or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Tongli Water town
- Local boating trip along waterways
Landmarks Tongli Water town 
- Day 15
Shanghai
Explore Old Shanghai by walking through traditional Shikumen neighborhoods and along the Bund, Shanghai's famous foreign trade center from the late 1800s. Visit Yuyuan Garden, a traditional Chinese garden downtown. After lunch, see the Jade Buddha Temple and Silk Museum, then explore Lujiazui CBD's new area. Spend time on the Riverside Promenade and visit Shanghai Tower for city views. Consider the ERA Acrobatic Show in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local Chinese restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo or similar), Hotel (Sunrise on the Bund Hotel or similar), Hotel (Grand Central Hotel Shanghai or similar)
Included Activities
- Explore Old Shanghai via Shikumen
- Orientation walk on the Bund
- Visit Yuyuan Garden
- Visit Jade Buddha Temple
- Visit Silk Museum
- Explore Lujiazui CBD area
- Walk on Riverside Promenade
- Visit Shanghai Tower
Optional Activities
- Watch ERA Acrobatic Show
Landmarks Shikumen The Bund Yuyuan Garden Jade Buddha Temple Silk Museum Lujiazui CBD Riverside Promenade Shanghai Tower - Day 16
Shanghai Departure
You have a free day before departure. Transfer to the airport for your return flight. You can optionally ride the Maglev train to Pudong airport or arrange a direct drive instead.
- End point
- Shanghai, China (Shanghai Pudong International Airport )
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Maglev train ride to Pudong airport
