33 Days Complete China Tour

Entry Beijing

Day 1.

Arrive at Beijing airport.
Be picked by private vehicle and English-speaking tour guide from Beijingservice.com.
Be transferred to hotel for check in.
Remainder of the day is at leisure.

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Tea ceremony, Temple of Heaven

Day 2.

English speaking tour guide and private vehicle will pick you up from hotel at 08:30 am.

Visit Tiananmen Square - The biggest downtown Square of the world. Take a stroll in the square.

From the north end of Tiananmen Square, we will enter the Forbidden City -also called Palace Museum, is located at the center of Beijing. It was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Rectangular in shape, Forbidden City is the world's largest palace complex. Visit Forbidden City along the central axis from south to north for 1.5 to 2 hours.

Take a Chinese Herbal Medicine class for about 40 minutes before lunch.
Drugs that the Chinese medicine uses are usually plants, so it usually called Chinese herbal medicine.
In Chinese people's process of fighting with the disease for thousands of years, rich medical knowledge was gradually accumulated through the practice and understanding.
These medical knowledge be passed by apprentice dictation first, and then were written down in books, which helped the medical knowledge spread fast and farther.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we will drive 30 minutes to Summer Palace - 20 kilometers northwest of downtown Beijing. Summer Palace is the largest imperial garden of Ming and Qing dynasty. The whole Summer Palace covers an area of over 290 hectares including more than 3,000 buildings, such as halls, pavilions, towers, etc. Take sightseeing in this beautiful garden for one hour and twenty minutes.

Taste Chinese tea, enjoy Chinese tea ceremony and have a rest in a local tea house.
China is the hometown and birthplace of Chinese tea.
Being the national drinks of China, tea have a history of four to five thousand years.
Tea culture is one of the specific representative of Chinese culture.

Proceed to visit Temple of Heaven. Built in 1420 during Ming Dynasty, Temple of Heaven is the best preserved and largest sacrificial building complex in the world. The emperor came to the temple every winter to pray for ample harvests and good weather. Strictly built on the basis of philosophical requirements, the temple in many ways features the relationship between Heaven and Earth.
Visit Temple of Heaven for 1 hour.

We will transfer you back to hotel after the whole day tour.

Breakfast, Lunch

Ming Tombs, Lunch, Badaling Great Wall

Day 3.

Be picked up from hotel at 08:30 am.

Drive 1.5 hours to the Ming Tombs. Ming Tombs is the final resting place of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors, along with 23 empresses and a number of concubines. It has a history of over 600 years. Surrounded by mountains on three sides,

the Ming Tombs features splendid landscape.
Chang Ling (the Tomb of Chang) was built by the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty in 1409 AD. Chang Ling is the largest tomb in architectural scale. The hall of Chang Ling is the largest structure of nanmu wood in China.
Visit Changling for 1 hour.

On the way to restaurant, we will visit a large scale jadeware processing factory. Jade culture is one important part of Chinese culture. We hope foreign travelers can get a glimpse of Chinese Jade culture during this stop. Thousands of pieces of jade, jewelry and handicraft articles are exhibited, from small bracelet to huge carving. An open workshop is available to demonstrate Jade carving, which enable customers to get some knowledge of Chinese jade carving processes. Visit time is around 40 minutes.

Move on to the famous Badaling Great Wall.  The Great Wall was built and maintained between the 7th century BC and 17th century BC. It was originally built to protect the empire from northern invaders. The Great Wall stretches through the countryside over deserts, hills and plains for 8,851.8 kilometers.
Badaling was built in 1505 during the Ming Dynasty. This section of the Great Wall is the best preserved and most visited one. It is 7600 meters long and 1000 meters above sea level,commanding a strategic position in ancient times.
Take sightseeing on Badaling Great Wall for about 2 hours.

Be transferred back to your hotel after the whole day tour.

Breakfast, Lunch

Beijing - Xian

Day 4.

Take morning flight to Xi'an.

Be picked by private vehicle and English-speaking tour guide from Beijingservice.com.

Visit the Great Mosque -the largest and best-preserved mosques of China, which serves as an important spot for religious activities of over 60,000 Muslims in Xi'an.

Move on to visit the City Wall - the best preserved, oldest and largest ancient city defense system in China. The wall has a history of over 600 years.

Proceed to visit Bell Tower.

Be transferred to hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Terracotta, Banpo Neolithic Village, Tang Dynasty Show

Day 5.

Be picked up from your hotel at 08:30 am.

Visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses -the Eighth Wonder of the World. More than 6,000 different looking pottery figures depict the history of the Qin Dynasty from 221 BC-206 BC.

Visit the Banpo Neolithic Village -a stable village was built by late Neolithic people, which depicts a matriarchal society based on farming.

Enjoy Tang Dynasty Show -performance of Chang'an music and dances that was originated in the Tang dynasty over a thousand years ago. The musicians present the music with the Tang-dynasty-style musical instruments. You will enjoy a national art that reflects the glory and richness of the Tang Dynasty era.

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Xian - Chengdu

Day 6.

Take morning flight to Chengdu, be met and transferred to your hotel in Chengdu upon arrival.

If time permits, drive from Chengdu to Sanxingdui (40km, 1 hour drive), on the way. The relics at Sanxingdui are precious cultural heritage of mankind, which contain rich historical, cultural and scientific value. Sanxingdui dates back to Shang Dynasty ( 16th-11th century B.C.).

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Chengdu - Lhasa

Day 7.

Be transferred to airport to connect flight to Lhasa.

Arriving in Lhasa, be met by tour guide and private vehicle in airport.

Acclimatize yourself to the high altitude. Remainder of day at leisure.

Breakfast

Potala Palace, Sera Monastery, Norbulingka Park and typical Tibetan Family

Day 8.

Be picked up from your hotel at 09:00 am.

Visit the Potala Palace. Originally built in the seventh century, Potala Palace is landmark of Lhasa. It is famous for its grand buildings, complicated constructions, devotional atmosphere and splendid artworks.

Then we will visit the Sera Monastery - one of the three largest monasteries of Gelugpa. Completed in 1419, the collection of murals is maintained in perfect, original condition.

Move on to visit the Norbulingka Park. Built in the 1740s, Norbulingka Park was Dalai Lama's summer palace.

Visit a Tibetan family to get some information of Tibetan's life and local custom.

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor Street, Local Carpet Factory

Day 9.

Be picked up from your hotel at 09:00 am.

Visit the Drepung Monastery - known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. Established in 1416, Drepung Monastery houses many cultural relics, which make it more superb.

Then we will visit the Jokhang Temple -the holiest site in Tibet and is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists.

Move on to visit the thriving bazaar of the Barkhor Street -

Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble and a place to which a visit must be paid.

Visit the Tibetan Traditional Hospital and the local Carpet Factory.

Be transferred back to your hotel after the tour.

Breakfast, Lunch

Lhasa - Kunming

Day 10.

Take morning flight to Kunming.

Take half Day city tour of East Tower or West Tower where you will see the local life. You will have chance to see local shops, seniors playing Chinese chess, Birds and Flowers market.

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Kunming - Stone Forest

Day 11.

Full day tour to Stone Forest with a visit to Wukeshu Village local Sani minorities house.

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Kunming - Lijiang

Day 12.

Take flight to Lijiang to visit Naxi settlement first built about 8 centuries ago; you'll have a chance to hear Naxi ancient music, feel their rich culture and tradition, see their costume, house; Walk through Lijiang ancient town in the afternoon, enjoy ancient Naxi Music concert performed by Xuanke and his musician tonight.

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Lijiang

Day 13.

Visit Baisha ancient fresco; Heilong Tan (Black Dragon pool). Take a cable car ride up to the Yunshan Ping scenic area where you have close view of the Jade-Dragon Snow Mountain.

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Lijiang - Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruises

Day 14.

Be transferred to airport for your flight to Kunming, met and transferred to Chongqing by bus.

Arrive in Chongqing, met and transferred to your cruise.

Departure Chongqing at 23:00pm. If time permits, Half Day city tour to Erling Park.

Breakfast

Yangtze River Cruise Ship

Day 15.

In the afternoon, go ashore to visit Fengdu, the "Ghost City", where the Chinese believe the soul of the dead goes. They say that spirits go to heaven, and evil goes to Fengdu.

The balance of the day is free for you to explore the ship's amenities. The only people here are those who make a living from visiting cruise boats.

In the evening, you will be the guests at the captain's cocktail party.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Yangtze River Cruise Ship

Day 16.

Cruise through the two of the great Three Gorges: Qutang Gorge, framed by steep mossy cliffs and Wu Gorge, celebrated for its 12 peaks.

Then shore excursion to Shennong Stream, Shennong Stream is another tributary of the Yangtze River, and its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges.

Next, sail through Xiling Gorge, the last and most scenic of the Three Gorges. Pass through the five-step ship locks.

Enjoy Farewell Party in the evening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cruise ship- Yichang - Shanghai

Day 17.

Shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Site, the largest hydroelectric project in the world. Construction of the dam formally began in 1994. The body of the dam was completed in 2003, and the whole construction will be competed in 2009.

Arrives in Yichang at 11:30.

Met in the pier and transferred to Wuhan. Arrived in Wuhan and transfer to your hotel.

Breakfast

Wuhan - Shanghai - Suzhou

Day 18.

Transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai; Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel in Suzhou.

Breakfast

Suzhou

Day 19.

Visit Lingering Garden (elaborate succession of small gardens), Zhuozheng Garden (best representative of Chinese classical gardens in the Ming dynasty) and the Chinese Silk Museum.

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Suzhou - Shanghai

Day 20.

30 minutes Rickshaw ride from your hotel to Ouyuan Garden through the old part of the town. Watch the local opera under the Pavilion of the Qu garden while taking a cup of tea. Then Cruise on the ancient cannel which was made 1500 year ago.

Afternoon tour to ancient Town of Luzhi before taking afternoon train to Shanghai.

Breakfast, Lunch

Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Nanjing Road, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the Bund

Day 21.

Be picked up from your hotel at 08:30 am.

Visit Yu Garden. Located in the southern part of Shanghai, Yu Garden is a well-restored Suzhou-style garden. It is one of the best gardens in southern China. With pavilions, halls, chambers, towers, ponds and rockeries, it presents more than 40 scenic spots. No wonder people say "Those who have come to Shanghai missing Yu Garden and the City God Temple Bazaar can not claim that they have been to the city."

Visit Jade Buddha Temple. Built in 1882, Jade Buddha Temple has 2 jade statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha, one seated and one reclining. The seated Buddha is 1.9 meters tall and was carved out of a single piece of white jade, wearing a robe inlaid with precious jewels. The temple also houses a number of ancient sculptures, rare paintings and Buddhist scriptures.

After lunch, we will visit Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road is one of the most famous and bustling business streets in the world. It is also called Chinese First Business Street. It is the window for Shanghai to open to the world and also shopping paradise for people at home and abroad.

Move on to Oriental Pearl TV Tower -the world's third tallest TV and radio tower, which combines ancient concepts with 21st Century technology.

Then visit the Bund. The Bund, also called Zhongshan Road, is a famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. The most famous and attractive sights are the 52 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance, which are also located at the west side of the Bund. The Bund was the centre of Shanghai's politics, economy and culture hundreds of years ago, consulates of most countries. Many banks, businesses and newspaper offices were settled there, and that's why we have these art-like buildings.

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Shanghai - Huangshan

Day 22.

Flight to Huangshan city, upon arrival Tunxi, met and transferred to your hotel in Huangshan.

Breakfast

Huangshan Mountain

Day 23.

Morning drive to the foot of the Huangshan Mountain, Take cable car to the top of Huangshan, overnight in Xihai hotel on top of Huangshan; tour to Jade valley and other different peaks; overnight on top of the mountain tonight.

Breakfast, Lunch

Huangshan

Day 24.

Ride down to the foot of the mountain, lunch at the foot of mountain, afternoon tour to YiXian, visiting Hong Cun (place where the film "Crouching Tiger" was filmed) and Xidi (famous for ancient Anhui folk architecture).

Breakfast, Lunch

Huangshan - Hangzhou

Day 25.

Drive to Hangzhou. Remainder of day at leisure.

Breakfast

Hangzhou

Day 26.

Cruise on West Lake, Linying Buddhist Temple, tea plantation and Tea Museum, visit Six harmony pagoda and Hupao Spring in the afternoon.

Breakfast, Lunch

Hangzhou - Guilin, Reed Flute, Elephant Trunk Hill

Day 27.

Be transferred to airport to connect flight to Guilin.

Arriving in Guilin, be met and transferred to your hotel with private vehicle and tour guide.

Have private city tour in this scenery city. Visit Reed Flute Cave -Known as "the Palace of Natural Arts" contains beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

Then we will visit Elephant Trunk Hill -the symbol of Guilin, looks like a giant elephant with a long trunk.

Be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Li River Cruise, YangShuo, Guilin

Day 28.

Pick up from your hotel in the morning.

Be transferred to the Zhujiang Pier (about 1 hour drive) for a 4.5 hours wonderful Li River cruise with lunch aboard. You will enjoy the picturesque mountains, peaceful green fields, farms and villages with water buffaloes, cows wondering around on both sides of the riverbank.

Disembark at the one thousand year old town YangShuo -one-thousand-year-old town, a lovely and relaxing place to break a journey and to soak up some of China's most beautiful scenery in the afternoon.

Have a short exploration to the old town.

Breakfast, Lunch

Yangshuo

Day 29.

Take bike through the old road via Aishan.

We will pass by picturesque villages, tucked among subtropical plants and stretched in between rice paddies. The ride one way covers 13 kilometers on well paved road, and should take up about one hour.

For those with more energy, you may climb 819 steps to get to the top of the Moon Hill to a get a birds-eye-view of the surrounding hills.

We will lunch at a local farmers house in the Moon Village.

Remainder of day at leisure.

Breakfast, Lunch

Yangshuo - Guangzhou - Hong Kong

Day 30.

Take morning flight to Guangzhou and connect your train to Hong Kong in the afternoon, if time permits, visit Sun yat-sen Memoria Hall, Chen Family Temple, free market and shopping before taking train to Hong Kong.

Breakfast, Lunch

Hong Kong

Day 31.

Full day tour to Victoria Peak, Aberdeen, Stanley Market and the Ocean Park, Middle Kingdom.
Lunch will be on your own.

Breakfast

Li River Cruise, YangShuo, Guilin

Day 32.

Free shopping in Hong Kong.

Breakfast

Departure

Day 33.

Be transferred to Hong Kong airport for departure.

Breakfast