China 12 Days Private Highlight Tour of Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Xi’an and Chengdu

Attractions: Not Included

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Beijing

Beijing Airport Parking Lot

Upon your arrival in Beijing, your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Relax in the hotel during the remainder of the day, or you can have a self-exploration with suggestions from your guide.

Attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Back Lakes and Nanluoguxiang Alley

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Beijing

Today we start to explore this city treasure by a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest city center square, the locality of numerous major political and historical events. It is the witness of Chinese development. It is only a walking distance from Tian'anmen Square to Forbidden City, the world's existing largest and most complete ancient wooden structure buildings. You will explore the glorious palace halls and gardens for more than 2 hours in Forbidden City, learning the legendary story of the emperors and how the royal family lived there. You will be stunned by the numerous old art treasures exhibited in halls. A la carte lunch is served at a local restaurant to have a taste of the authentic Chinese food at noon time and have a break at the restaurant.

Hike to Jingshan Park, where gives a nice panoramic view of the Forbidden City at the top of Coal Hill. Have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant enroute to experience the authentic Chinese food.Drive to Back Lakes (Houhai), the marvelous place to discover the history of Beijing City and the endless charm.

Walk into Nanluoguxiang Alley which is one of the most famous Hutong districts in Beijing and mix of history, fashion and Souvenir Boutique. Then we will have stop at a tea house. Back to your hotel after today leisure tour. You are free to ask your guide for suggestion of evening activities, such as the night show and place to havePeking duck dinner.

Attractions: Mutianyu Great Wall, exterior of Bird Nest and Water Cube

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Beijing

This morning you will be taken to Mutianyu Great Wall to experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. The round-trip cable car will be arranged. Standing on the wall and looking at it stretching up and down into boundless distance is an exciting experience and will leave you a life-long memory. Lunch is on your own and your guide will gladly assist.

Afterwards, we visit the famous National Museum of China, one of the largest museums in the world, playing an important role in displaying systematically Chinese culture, cultivating national spirit, leading the development of the cultural relics and museum field. The number of collections in the museum is more than 120 million pieces, being the richest museums with the largest number of collections. There are a total of 48 exhibition halls and there are exhibitions showing the collections and Chinese culture often. It is closed on Monday. 

Attractions: Temple of Heaven, Old Beijing Hutong, High speed train to Xian

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Xian

You will be met at the hotel lobby and enjoy half day leisure tour before leaving Beijing.Visit Temple of Heaven, which is the masterpiece of ancient times and China's existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven. You could also see lots of local residents doing exercises in the square and full of vigor.In the visit of Temple of Heaven, you will be astonished by the exquisite ancient Chinese architectures. Then we move to a less commercial Hutong nearby. A short walking (around 30mins) along the authentic Hutong will give you a deep impression of the local residents’ live.

After that, step into the pure Hutong nearby and pretend to be a real Beijinger for a while. A La Carte lunch at a local popular restaurant, atmosphere might be loud but  the food is tasty.After lunch, be transferred to the train station for the 5 hours train to Xian. Your Xian tour guide will wait for you at the train station and help you to transfer to the hotel.

Attractions: Terracotta Warriors, Bell Tower, Gao's Courtyard, Muslim Quarter

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Xian

Today we start to explore the ancient city by driving to Terracotta Warriors and explore one of the world's most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation. It is the guardian of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and is a magnificent group of terracotta warriors considered one of the eighth wonders of the world.A Chinese Lunch will be arranged nearby the scenic area of Terracotta Warriors. Lunch is on your own, but your guide will recommend restaurants around the site according to your preference.

A Chinese lunch will be arranged nearby the scenic area of Terracotta Warriors.Afternoon visit the Bell tower, which is the largest bell tower in structure and shape and the best-preserved one in China. Then have a visit at Gao's Courtyard, which is a wonderful choice for you to appreciate ancient residences and explore local culture of paper-cutting and shadow puppetry. 

Continue to walk around Muslim Quarter and enjoy your shopping time there and you can also challenge the various local snacks.Back to the hotel. Tonight, we highly recommend you watch the Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner at your own cost.

Attractions: Ancient City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and north square, High speed train to Chengdu

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Chengdu

You will have enough time to pack up and check out. Be met at the hotel lobby and have one day leisure tour in Xian before leaving for Chengdu.Visit the Ancient City Wall, which represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. Bicycle or sightseeing car will be arranged on the wall to tour around. 

After that, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It’s the landmark building of Xian and symbol of China ancient capital and you will also have chance to watch the North plaza fountain show.After lunch, drive to Xian North Railway Station. Take a 4hrs high speed train to Chengdu. Your Chengdu tour guide will wait for you at the station and help you to transfer to the hotel.

Attractions: Dujiangyan Panda Base, Jiezi Ancient Town

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Chengdu

Be met at the hotel lobby and start the Panda tour to Dujiangyan Base.Drive to Dujiangyan about 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, visit Dujiangyan Panda Base where you can take close encounter with a group of lovely pandas. It is also the only place that welcomes the tourists to experience volunteer program while taking care of the giant panda and feeding them. You will also have chance to hug the giant panda there.

Lunch time at a local popular restaurant where you may try Sichuan food.Visit Jiezi Ancient Town, which is of one thousand year history. The town is mainly composed of three parts: The Street, Guang Yan Temple and Fengqishan Forest Park. Enjoy walking on the bluestone road and explore this ancient town leisurely.Be transferred back to Chengdu city and we highly recommend you watch the Sichuan Opera or stroll around Kuanzhai Alley in the evening.

Attractions: Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum, Renmin Park

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Chengdu

Be met at the hotel lobby and start to explore the Sichuan Culinary Art.Drive to Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum. You will have a journey of cultural exploration, incl. tasting local popular snacks, sightseeing for cultural relics, walking through Old Sichuan restaurant alley.

Change into chef uniforms and start a cooking class to cook three typical Sichuan dishes: Panda Steamed Dumplings, Kung Pao Chicken and Mapo Tofu. Enjoy the meal you cooked together with daily soup, steamed rice, pickles as well as fruit juice.Enjoy leisure time in Sichuan tea house. Resting in a bamboo chair and desk, sipping a cup of covered-bowl tea and playing mahjong, you will feel like a real native here.

After that, pay a visit to Renmin Park, where you can meet the local residents and give them applause for their singing and dancing.A city park with many planted trees, beautiful scenery and pleasant environment. Founded in 1911, the park is one of the oldest parks in Chengdu, and is also a good place for Chengdu citizens and tourists to relax and have fun.Stroll around Jinli Old Street before transfering back to Hotel.

Attractions: Fly to Guilin, Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Guilin

In the early morning, our guide will pick you up from hotel and help you with the check-out. Then you take the morning flight from Chengdu to Cuilin, a small city in southern China with most beautiful natural view of China. The Guilin local guide will pick you up from Guilin airport. On the way back to hotel, visit Reed Flute Cave which is a famous scenic spot offering a magic fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites in fantastic shapes and colors. 

Then transfer to hotel for check in before A La Carte Lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. You will have stop at a pearl store. After a break at noon time, drive to Elephant Trunk Hill, the badge of Guilin city. The hill looks exactly like a huge elephant stretching its trunk drinking water of the Li River. Then have a leisure walk along the Shanhu Lake and Ronghu Lake.

Attractions: Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, West Street, Yangshuo countryside tour, Fly to Shanghai

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Shanghai

You will be met at the hotel lobby and start to explore the Li River on Cruise.Enjoy Li River Cruise tour with buffet lunch on board. Deluxe cruise will be arranged with decent facility and good service. Savor the fairy-tale scenery while cruising down the meandering river to Yangshuo. You can go on the sundeck or just sit and appreciate the picturesque scenery from the window. 

After docking at Yangshuo, you will walk through the well-known West Street.West Street is a historic pedestrian street in Guilin and a favourite shopping and dining area for tourists. West Street retains the traditional architecture and atmosphere of southern China, with many quaint shops and snack stalls. 

You will have biking tour in Yangshuo countryside and riding at Yulong river side leisurely and appreciate the clear river with countless hills surrounded.Then drive to Guilin airport directly to take a night flight for Shanghai. The local Shanghai guide is waiting for you at the exit of the airport, meeting your and tranfering you to check in hotel.

Attractions: Shikumen, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Lujiazui CBD, Shanghai Tower

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Shanghai

You will be met at the hotel lobby and start to explore the New and Old Shanghai.Walk into the Shikumen, the old alley with old buildings,  a blend of Western and Chinese traditional culture, where the local residents still live there. Enjoy orientation walk on the Bund which was a foreign trade center from the late 19th century. Then continue a visit to Yuyuan Garden, a traditional Chinese garden in Shanghai downtown.

A La Carte lunch at a local popular restaurant with the assistant of your guide.In the afternoon, visit Jade Buddha Temple and have a stop at silk museum. Then Reach to the Lujiazui CBD new area and enjoy your leisure time on the Riverside Promenade. Have a cup of coffee and take a short break. In conclusion, visit Shanghai Tower which is the city skyline and Shanghai tallest building. 

Enjoy your Top of Shanghai journey and panoramic view of Shanghai city. Back to the hotel. We highly recommend you watch the ERA Acrobatic Show, which is one of the most popular evening entertainments in Shanghai.Then take the elevator up to the 2nd ball of the TV tower, from which you will have a bird-eye view of Shanghai. Go on driving through Lujiazui, the finance & trade zone in Pudong of Shanghai, where you will find many skyscrapers. We will have a view of the modern skyline of Shanghai.

Attractions:Not Included

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Not Included

Free day at leisure and be transferred to the airport for return flight. We can arrange the Maglev train ride to Pudong airport if you are interested in, or we will drive you directly to the airport.