day 5
This 11-day suggested itinerary covers the most popular cities. It makes an ideal tour for first-time visitors.
Pick up from the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Welcome to majestic Beijing! To ensure your arrival is stress-free, your driver will meet you in the arrival hall holding a sign with your name on it and then transfer you to the Sunworld Hotel.
Hotel: Sunworld Hotel, Beijing or Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel
Free-time Ideas
Unlike other travel agencies choose hotel in remote area, we choose hotel in the famous Wangfujing Street, which is the very center of Beijing. It is very convenient to walk around and do some shopping.
Visit Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven and watch a Kung fu show.
Breakfast & lunch
In the morning we meet in the hotel lobby and you have the opportunity to meet other travelers. We will go to the Tian’anmen Square, where the most important national ceremonies are held, surrounded by many historical buildings. From the square, you can walk to the Forbidden City. Inside this imperial palace, we will explore its fascinating halls, pavilions with golden roofs and high red walls. After we exit the Forbidden City, we will enter another attraction – Jingshan Park where we will see local Chinese residents taking exercise, singing or dancing, and we will climb the hill inside the park. When we reach the top of the hill, we will enjoy the bird view of the whole Forbidden City and Beijing central city, which is a highlight of today.
At noon, we will have lunch at a very nice restaurant where you can have menu-ordered delicious Chinese dishes.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors came to worship the heavens in hopes of good harvests.
In the evening you will be entertained by a wonderful Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theater.
Beijing GPS Audio Guide: Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Badaling Great Wall
The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City -Get to know how emperors lived their lives.
When you visit the Forbidden City, you will see many big water tanks. Guess what they are used for?
The big water tank in the Forbidden City
Visit Badaling Great Wall,Scared Road.
Breakfast & lunch
Today we will hike on the Badaling Great Wall, the most highlighted
sight in Beijing.Please be prepared with your shoes since you will climb on the steps of the great wall. To reach the top of the great wall you can choose to hike on foot or take the cable car(optional with extra charge). You will never forget the view on the great wall, one of the seven wonders in the world.
At noon, we will have lunch in the nice restaurant of Jade Museum.
After lunch, we will visit the Sacred Road. Along the sacred road there are many stone statues of people and animals on both sides. These are the loyal guarders of the royal graveyard.
One the way back to the downtown Beijing, we will stop by the Olympic Stadiums, you can take photos of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.
Badaling Great Wall
Sacred Road
Visit the Summer Palace, Beijing Hutong. Take a flight to Xian.
Breakfast & lunch
In the morning we will visit the beautiful Summer Palace – the largest imperial garden in China. Walk along the elegant Promenade, see stone boat, visit Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. You will also enjoy the scenery on a boat. After Summer Palace, we will visit Panda House inside Beijing Zoo, where we will see lovely pandas. Then drive to hutong area, visit a local Beijing family and learn how to make a dumpling and cooking skills, you may try to make a dumpling by yourself and have dumplings as your lunch. After lunch we will enjoy a rickshaw Hutong tour where you will visit Shichahai, Yinding Bridge, Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street, etc. allowing you to experience the essence of Beijing and its old culture. If time permits, you can also visit Nanluoguxiang.
Finally transfer to Beijing airport for flight to Xian. Upon arrival at Xian, you will be transferred to the hotel.
Accommodation: Ramada Bell Tower Hotel, Xian
Summer Palace
Beijing Hutong
Visit the Terra-cotta Warriors, Xian Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Enjoy a dumpling dinner and a Tang Dynasty Show.
lunch & dumpling dinner
In the morning, we will pick you up from the hotel, and we drive to Terra-cotta Warriors, which is the most important attraction in Xian. There are three excavated pits exhibiting amazing Qin dynasty warriors and horses figures.
At noon we will have lunch at a well-known restaurant.
After lunch, we will visit Xian Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional dumpling dinner and a splendid Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.
Terra-cotta Warriors
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Visit ancient City Wall and Great Mosque.
Western buffet breakfast
After breakfast we will visit the ancient City Wall. It is the most complete existing urban fortification in China which was build in Tang Dynasty. You can walk or cycle on the ancient wall.
Then visit the Great Mosque, a nice place of serenity amid the bustling city. Surrounding the mosque is a Muslim bazaar for souvenirs and local snacks.
Xian Ancient City Wall
Great Mosque
Take a morning flight to Guilin, visit Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill.
Breakfast
A morning flight will take you to Guilin where you will meet your local guide at Guilin airport. A driver will then take you to the hotel. After checking in and a short rest, you will have a half day sightseeing trip to the Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill. The hill is the landmark of Guilin, looks like a huge elephant drinking water from the river.
Hotel: Guilin Bravo Hotel or Guilin Park hotel
Reed Flute Cave
Elephant Trunk Hill
Cruise on Li River and visit West Street in Yangshuo.Back to Guilin.
Breakfast & lunch
At 8:00AM-8:20AM, pick up from hotel to take cruise on Li River down to Yangshuo. Li River is the essence of landscape in Guilin, especially the section from Guilin to Yangshuo, which is reputed as ‘A Hundred Miles Gallery’. The cruise finish in Yangshuo at 13:30-14:30 depending on season. We will have a simple lunch on the cruiser (we suggest you have a big breakfast in the morning). After we reach Yangshuo, we will visit West Street where you will see many scenes like in a old Chinese movie.Then drive back to Guilin.
Li River
West Street,Yangshuo
Take a flight to Chengdu. Pick up and transfer to hotel.
Breakfast
After breakfast, catch a morning flight to Chengdu. Upon your arrival, we will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim area and transfer you to the hotel. Upon your arrival, our local driver will meet you and help you check in at the hotel. Lunch is not included today and you can have a taste of the famous Sichuan food on your own. This afternoon is left free for you to arrange activities on your own.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza
Visit Giant Panda Breeding Base, Jinsha Site Museum, the Broad and Narrow Alleys.
Breakfast & lunch
Today you will pay a visit to the lovely giant pandas in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding . Giant Panda only inhabits in China, so it is regarded as the national treasure.
After that, you will proceed to visit Jinsha Site Museum. Covering an area of 5 square kilometers, it is the historical remains of the Shang and Zhou dynasties (1700BC-221BC) focusing on the cultural relics' exhibit and the sacrificial site. Then our guide will escort you to explore the Broad and Narrow Alleys for a glimpse on local living style..
Broad and Narrow Alleys
Giant Panda Breeding Center
Arrange on your own.
Breakfast
Our group tour comes to the end today. The hotel check out time is 12:00 at noon. Since clients will have different flight schedules to leave Chengdu, we do not include the airport see-off service today. You can charter a taxi to the airport at about CNY100.00 per cab. Wish you a smooth and pleasant journey!
City | 4-Star Hotel |
Beijing | Sunworld Hotel, Beijing or Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel |
Xian | Ramada Bell Tower Hotel, Xian |
Guilin | Guilin Bravo Hotel |
Chengdu | Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza |
The group tour departs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday (low season, inquire us). For everyday departure, please check private tour 11 Days Tour (Beijing -Xian -Guilin -Shanghai).