Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll meet your tour leader and other travelers at 6 pm at your hotel in central Beijing. After the group gets together, you can walk around the Beijing streets on your own and grab some Peking duck to start your China adventure.
Optional Activities
- Explore Beijing streets
- Sample Peking duck
- Day 2
Beijing
Walking and using public transport, you'll see Tiananmen Square and its Gate of Heavenly Peace, plus Mao's Mausoleum and flag ceremonies. Then you'll head to the Forbidden City to check out the great halls and courtyards. Your evening is free to hunt for street food and explore the historic hutongs.
Included Activities
- Tiananmen Square visit
- Forbidden City exploration
Optional Activities
- Witness flag raising and lowering ceremonies
- Explore Beijing street food scene
- Walk through historic hutongs
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Gate of Heavenly Peace Mao's Mausoleum Great Hall of the People National Museum Forbidden City - Day 3
Beijing
A private bus takes you to Mutianyu Great Wall, about 2 hours from Beijing. You'll walk along this restored section and learn its history while taking in the countryside views. For getting down, you can pick between a cable car, chairlift, or toboggan (all at your own cost). You'll be back in Beijing with a free evening.
Included Activities
- Mutianyu Great Wall visit and exploration
Optional Activities
- Cable car access to Great Wall
- Chairlift access to Great Wall
- Toboggan descent from Great Wall
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
You'll take the high-speed train to Xi'an, about 5.5 hours away, the old imperial center where the Silk Road started. Your leader will walk with you through the Muslim Quarter's narrow streets and busy markets. Later, you can explore the ancient City Wall, Bell and Drum Towers, or night markets on your own.
Included Activities
- Muslim Quarter walking tour
Optional Activities
- Visit ancient City Wall
- Visit Bell Tower
- Visit Drum Tower
- Explore night markets
- Sample local specialties including pao mo, hand pulled noodles, hot pot, and barbecue
Landmarks Muslim Quarter Xi'an City Wall Bell Tower Drum Tower 
- Day 5
Xi'an
Today you'll visit the Terracotta Warriors, one of the world's greatest archaeological sites. You'll learn how thousands of individually sculpted clay soldiers, horses, and chariots were made around 264 BC for Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. After exploring the three main pits, you'll head back to Xi'an for your final evening there.
Included Activities
- Terracotta Warriors tour with leader guidance
Landmarks Terracotta Warriors - Day 6
Xi'an to Chengdu
The high-speed train gets you to Chengdu in 3.5 hours, Sichuan Province's capital known for pandas and spicy food. Your leader will show you around Tianfu Square and People's Park, the liveliest park in China. You can check out traditional teahouses and try authentic Sichuan hotpot later in the evening.
Included Activities
- Leader-led walking tour of Chengdu
- Tianfu Square visit
- People's Park visit
Optional Activities
- Sample Sichuan hotpot
- Visit traditional teahouses
- Experience local head massage or ear cleaning services
Landmarks Tianfu Square People's Park - Day 7
Chengdu
You'll visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base to see conservation work for this endangered species. Across 600 acres, you'll watch pandas playing, eating bamboo, and climbing. If you're going July through September, there might be newborns in the nursery. Your afternoon is free to explore Chengdu or visit Wenshu Temple.
Included Activities
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base visit
Optional Activities
- Traditional Sichuan Opera performance
- Wenshu Temple visit
- Cooking class
Landmarks Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Wenshu Temple - Day 8
Chengdu to Emei Shan
A private bus takes you to the sacred mountains, about 40 minutes away. You'll stop at Leshan to see the World Heritage Leshan Giant Buddha, a 71-meter statue carved into a cliff about 1300 years ago. You can climb the mountain or take a river boat for the best views, then continue to Emei Shan for a 3-night stay.
Included Activities
- Leshan Giant Buddha visit with boat ticket and transport included
Optional Activities
- Climb Leshan Mountain for close-up views
- River boat tour for viewing the Giant Buddha
Landmarks Leshan Giant Buddha 
- Day 9
Emei Shan
You'll spend the day on Emei Shan, one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains. Taking the park bus and cable car takes about 3 hours total to reach the Golden Summit at 3,099 meters for big views. From there, you'll take a public bus down and then trek 3 hours with a local guide through steep paths back to your monastery. Bring sturdy footwear.
Included Activities
- Cable car and Golden Summit visit to Emei Shan scenic area
- Scenic area hiking with local guide
Landmarks Emei Shan Golden Summit - Day 10
Emei Shan
This day is about relaxing and enjoying the mountain base countryside with leisurely walks. You can visit a local hot spring resort, tour nearby villages, or head to the Crouching Tiger Monastery hidden in the forest to see its seven-meter copper pagoda with Buddhist images and texts carved into it.
Optional Activities
- Leisurely countryside walks
- Local hot spring resort visit
- Nearby villages tour
- Crouching Tiger Monastery visit
Landmarks Crouching Tiger Monastery - Day 11
Emei Shan to Yichang
You'll travel back to Chengdu, then board a train to Yichang, about 7 hours total. Yichang is where the Yangtze River starts and home to the Three Gorges Dam. You'll board your Chinese tourist riverboat for a 4-day cruise up the Yangtze. Your cabin has two beds and a private bathroom. Before boarding, stock up on snacks and drinks at the supermarket.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Buffet-style Chinese cuisine)
- Day 12
Yangtze River Cruise
In the morning you'll tour the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric project. After that, your cruise continues through the Three Gorges, a 200-kilometer stretch with dramatic walls 100 to 300 meters wide. There are optional riverside excursions and tributary trips, or you can stay on board to learn Mandarin, play mahjong, or relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Buffet-style Chinese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Guided Three Gorges Dam Project tour
Optional Activities
- Visit riverside attractions and towns via optional group excursions
- Side trip down Yangtze tributary
- Learn Mandarin words or character writing from leader
- Learn to play mahjong
- Sing Chinese songs
- Relax on board and chat with group members
Landmarks Three Gorges Dam Three Gorges - Day 13
Yangtze River Cruise
Your cruise keeps going along the Yangtze River while you enjoy the scenic landscape. There are optional activities available on board or at port stops, so you can choose to participate as much or as little as you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Buffet-style Chinese cuisine)
- Day 14
Yangtze River Cruise
You'll continue cruising the Yangtze River, taking in the scenery and deciding which optional activities appeal to you. Stay on board to relax or join excursions at the various stops along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Buffet-style Chinese cuisine)
- Day 15
Chongqing to Yangshuo
Your Yangtze boat trip ends in Chongqing, a massive city with over 20 million people. A private bus takes you to the train station where you'll board a bullet train to Yangshuo, about 5 to 6 hours away. Once you arrive, settle in and soak up this charming little town popular with both Chinese and Western travelers for its beautiful landscape and lively cafe and bar scene.
Optional Activities
- Explore Yangshuo town
- Visit cafes and bars
Landmarks Li River 
- Day 16
Yangshuo
You'll bike through the dramatic limestone karst landscape to get your energy back after the train. This is a chance to see how people live in rural China. You'll stop for lunch at a local friend's house with food grown nearby. Your guide, helmet, and bike rental are all included. Later, you can explore Yangshuo's cafes, bars, and local dishes.
- Meals
- Lunch (Meal made from locally grown produce at local friend's house)
Included Activities
- Cycling tour with local guide and bike hire included
Optional Activities
- Sample local dishes like pork stuffed tofu or beer fish
- Day 17
Yangshuo
Today is full of optional activities depending on what interests you. Start with morning tai chi or kung-fu, try Chinese calligraphy, or take a relaxing cruise down the Li or Yulong River. You could visit the market with locals, take a cooking class at Yangshuo Cooking School, tour the viewpoint at Xiangongshan and see a tea farm, or watch an outdoor light show from the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony director.
Optional Activities
- Morning tai chi class
- Morning kung-fu lesson
- Chinese calligraphy practice
- Li River cruise
- Yulong River cruise
- Local market visit
- Yangshuo Cooking School class with market tour
- Xiangongshan viewpoint tour with tea farm visit
- Impressions Liu Sanjie outdoor light show
Landmarks Xiangongshan - Day 18
Yangshuo to Hong Kong
A private bus picks you up from your Yangshuo hotel and takes you to Guilin West Station. You'll board a bullet train to West Kowloon station in Hong Kong, about 4 hours away. You'll arrive mid-to-late afternoon and your leader will walk you around near your hotel. Hong Kong mixes modern fast-paced energy with picturesque islands and beaches. There's an optional farewell dinner featuring the best Cantonese food.
Optional Activities
- Orientation walk near hotel with leader
- Final farewell dinner with Cantonese cuisine
- Day 19
Hong Kong
Your trip ends this morning with a 12 pm checkout. You can leave luggage at the hotel reception if needed for evening flights. Think about extending your stay to spend more time in Hong Kong.
