This 11-day suggested itinerary covers the most popular three destinations and five World Heritage sites in China. It makes an ideal tour for first-time visitors.
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.
Accommodation: 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.
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
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
Peking Roast Duck(optional)
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. Finally we will transfer to Beijing west railway station for an overnight train to Xian(soft sleeper).
Accommodation: on the train
Beijing Hutong
lunch & dumpling dinner
In the morning, we will pick you up from the train station, 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.
Accommodation: Ramada Bell Tower Hotel, Xian
Terra-cotta Warriors
Breakfast & lunch
In the morning we will visit to the ancient City Wall. Xi’an City Wall is the most completely-reserved city wall with the longest history throughout the world. Walk on the wall to feel the chapter of thousands years of civilization; sense the history to embrace the magnificence of the Great Tang Dynasty. 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
Xian Museum
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.
Accommodation: Guilin Bravo Hotel
Reed Flute Cave
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
Yangshuo
Breakfast
This morning we will transfer you to Guilin airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival you will find us waiting for you outside the baggage claim area of the airport to take you to the hotel. The remainder of the day is left free for you.
Accommodation: The Bund Riverside Hotel,Shanghai
Breakfast & Lunch
In the morning we visit Shanghai Museum treasured with ancient art works of China, including bronze ware, chinaware, paintings and calligraphy. Then we tour the Yuyuan Garden, a famous garden in the south China. The symbol of Yuyuan Garden is the Nine Zigzag Bridge built of granite and grass-white jade and the quaint, elegant mid-lake pavilion.
At noon we have farewell lunch at a good restaurant with Shanghai cuisine.
Afternoon we visit Bund area, where you can see the famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower across the river, this is a good place to take pictures of Shanghai. Then have a short cruise tour along the Huangpu River. After that we will walk to Nanjing Road if time permits and then visit an old streets in Shanghai. At last, we will go back to hotel, and our guide and driver will say goodbye to you.
The Bund,Shanghai
Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, our package finished. You need find your own way to the airport for your homeward flight. Note that there are two airports in Shanghai: Pudong Airport (PVG) and Hongqiao Airport (SHA). We suggest you reserve a taxi at the hotel to save waiting time. Also if you wish to stay on in China, please contact us for an extension tour.
City | 4-Star Hotel |
Beijing | Sunworld Hotel, Beijing or Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel |
Xian | Ramada Bell Tower Hotel, Xian |
Guilin | Guilin Bravo hotel |
Shanghai | The Bund Riverside Hotel, Shanghai |
The group tour departs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday (low season, inquire us). For everyday departure, please check private tour 10 Days Memorable Private Tour (Beijing -Xian -Guilin -Shanghai).
Our tour guide was friendly and humorous.Everything was worthwhile visiting. Thanks to Chinatour.net! more..
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] by Edward Bentley,07/22/2018
I am thankful for the guides and drivers.The guide was very friendly.The tour was amazing. more..
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] by David Bui,07/22/2018
It was a fantastic tour and I highly recommend the tour guide Haha.We felt very happy! more..
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] by Dagmar Podieh,07/22/2018