12 Days Group Tour Beijing-Xian-Guilin-Kunming-Lijiang

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 

 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 highlightedsight 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

 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

  lunch & dumpling dinner

In the morning, we will pick you up from 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

 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

 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

 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

 Breakfast

This morning is free on your own. Your hotel is ideally sited in both Ronghu Lake and Shanhu Lake scenic area. So you can wander beside the lakes and see a different aspect of this spellbinding city. When lunch time approaches, you may dine at one of the delicate local eateries, which we believe will ensure you a pleasant experience. In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the airport and help you board the flight to Kunming. We will meet you in Kunming and transfer you to the hotel.

Hotel: Jinjiang Hotel or other 4-star hotel

  Breakfast & lunch

The only visit in Kunming we have arranged for you is to the notable Stone Forest. It is a cluster of black and grey limestone, a kind of karst landform, looking like a forest made of stone. Then take flight to Lijiang. We will meet you at the arrival exit and transfer you to the hotel.Meals included: Western buffet breakfast, LunchAccommodation: Ivy Garden Hotel Resorts or other hotel of the same class

Stone Forest

 Breakfast & Lunch

Lijiang, a characteristic old town, differs from other ancient towns due to its ethnic Naxi People, with their profound history and unique architecture. It will definitely appeal to those who like various canals with crystal mountain water running through an old town, where ladies and girls are dressed in traditional clothes, and there are brown wooden houses with grey tiled roofs.Today we will take you to experience this charming town by visiting the Baisha Village, Baisha embroidery shop, a local Naxi family, Baisha Murals, the Old Town of Shuhe and Tea-Horse Road Museum. In the afternoon, walk along the cobbled streets and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the Square Street of Lijiang Old Town.

Lijiang Ancient Town

Baisha Village

 Breakfast

Your 12 days China itinerary ends today. After breakfast, check out of the hotel and make your own arrangements for a taxi to the airport. Lijiang airport is about 27 kilometers away from the hotel and it will take at least 40 minutes to drive there. Please ensure you leave in good time according to your flight schedule. If you want an extended trip, please contact us directly.