11 Days China Private Tour of Beijing – Xi’an – Guilin – Yangshuo – Shanghai

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival (No meal)

   Our driver will meet you in Beijing airport or train station and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is free for you.

   Accommodation: 4-star Sunworld Hotel Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing
   Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, South Luogu Lane, Houhai, Chinese Kongfu Show (B + L)

   AM: Meet your guide and driver in hotel in the morning and then drive to visit Tian’anmen Square, the largest city square in the world. Then from the square you will walk to visit Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM: Then you will pay a short visit to a Silk Market and then head to Temple of Heaven where emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties went each year at fixed time to worship for heaven and pray for agricultural harvest. Afterwords, come to explore the time-honored South Luogu Lane( also called Nanluoguxiang). It is the only traditional residential area in China that has completely preserved the checkerboard-style layout of hutongs exclusively to the Yuan Dynasty. Walking around the alleys with your tour guide to feel the hidden culture and check out the bars, souvenir stores or cafes if you would like to. Houhai, known as Beijing’s bar street, is a large man-made lake which can date back to the Yuan Dynasty. Today your last scenic site will be here! In ancient times, the place was only for royal family. Now there are many bars, restaurants, cafes and shops along the lake. You can just walk around, do people watching, and try some snacks. Today you will also pay a visit to silk shop to appreciate delicate silk product.

   In the evening you will appreciate Chinese Kongfu Show in Red Star Theater.

   Accommodation: 4-star Sunworld Hotel Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing
   Mutianyu Great Wall, Dingling Mausoleum (B + L)

   AM: The first stop of today is Dingling Mausoleum, one of the 13 Ming Tombs in Beijing.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: We will continue to visit Mutianyu Great Wall . It would be around 2 hours’ driving, you can take this chance to see the urban and suburban scenery of Chinese capital on the way. Mutianyu Great Wall is the most scenic part of Chinese Great Wall. It was built in the early Ming Dynasty at 1368 and stretches for 5400 meters. 90 percent of the Mutianyu is covered by vegetation. So in each season this part of the Great Wall will treat visitors with its unique scenery. If pure-hiking is too much for you, there are also options of cable car and toboggan to see the spectacular scenery from different angles ( optional).

   Finish the amazing hiking, you’ll end today’s tour with an exterior visit of the marvelous Bird's Nest and Water Cube which were built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Walking around the outside of the building to appreciate the unique design and take some pictures would be perfect.

   Accommodation: 4-star Sunworld Hotel Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing – Xian by Flight
   Summer Palace, Hutong (B)

   AM: Enjoy your free time.

   PM: Meet your guide and driver in the afternoon. Before flying to Xi’an you will visit two more sites- Summer Palace. With an area of 2.9 square kilometers, this palace was the best place where the emperors of the Qing Dynasty spent their summers. Here you will enjoy the amazing lake view, explore the exquisite long corridor, appreciate precious cultural relics, step on the elegant stone bridge, see high old trees, etc. You will love every minute here with so much to see. You also can take the option of boat ride to enjoy the stunning Kunming Lake ( optional).

   Beijing Hutongs are full of history which attracts many worldwide tourists! Today your tour guide will take you to feel the charm of the hutongs in Shichahai scenic Area. Taking a rickshaw to ride along the ancient alleys, you will know more about the background information of the Hutongs, experience authentic old Beijing life, and witness the blending of tradition and modernity. Visit to a pearl store included.

   Evening: In the evening fly to Xi’an. Upon arrival meet your local driver and check in the hotel.

   Accommodation: 4-star Ramada Xi’an Bell Tower Hotel

   

5. Day 5: Xian
   Terracotta Warriors and Horses, City Wall, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty Show (B+ L + D)

   AM: Meet your guide and driver at 09:00 and drive to visit the world famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. On the way we will make a stop at Terracotta Figures Factory which is focusing on the reproduction of Terracotta Warriors and Horses.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM: Drive back to city area to visit the 600 years old City Wall, the best preserved and largest existed city wall in China. Biking riding on City Wall is available and optional. After that visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda. That pagoda built in the Tang Dynasty witnessed the ancient city’s ups and downs in the past thousands of years.

   Evening: In the evening you will have dumpling dinner and then enjoy the magnificent Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.

   Accommodation: 4-star Ramada Xi’an Bell Tower Hotel

   

6. Day 6: Xian
   Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum, Muslim Quarter, Great Mosque (B + L)

   AM: After hotel pick up you will pay a visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda was originally built in the early Tang Dynasty (618-907) to keep the sutras and Buddha statues brought back from ancient India by master Xuanzang. Now the Big Wild Goose Pagoda area is a popular amusement place among local people. You may see some people do morning exercise there. Later on, visit the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda here was built in the Tang Dynasty for keeping Buddhist Sutra and figurines of the Buddha that Master Xuanzang brought back from ancient India. Now surrounding the Pagoda is the large public square for leisure.

   Noon: Have lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM:  Visit Shaanxi History Museum. The large quantities of historical relics in the museum will introduce the province’s history to you.  Then take a walk in Muslim Quarter – the best known food street in Xi’an. At last you will visit the Great Mosque. The Mosque was built in totally Chinese architectural style and is the major gathering place for all Muslims living in Xi’an.

   Accommodation: 4-star Xi’an Hotel

   

7. Day 7: Xian – Guilin by Flight
   Reed Flute Hill, Fubo Hill, Elephant Trunk Hill, Seven Star Park (B + L)

   AM: In the morning your driver will drive you to Xi’an airport for flight to Guilin. Upon arrival in Guilin meet your local guide and driver.

   Guilin is famous for its picturesque landscape and featured local culture. Today, your exploration begins with the amazing Reed Flute Cave. The cave got its name because there were reeds at its entrance and people can make flutes by using the reeds. Walking into the cave, you will be surrounded by all kinds of stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns, flowers, and curtains created by water erosion and carbonate deposition day after day and year after year.

   After that, move on to another wonderful site in Guilin, Fubo Hill. The hill boasts both natural beauty and historical relics. You just breathe the fresh air, enjoy the beautiful landscape, and feel the charm of grotto art.

   Later, heading to the Elephant Trunk Hill. The hill got its name from the shape of an elephant sipping water by the riverside. You will see a round opening between the elephant’s trunk and legs, and it has a beautiful name of Water Moon Cave. You can take beautiful pictures to record the pleasant time at this extraordinary place.

   Last, walk around the Seven Star Park to indulge yourself in the natural and cultural beauty of Guilin. The park is called Guilin’s green lung and has become the epitome of Guilin’s landscape and culture integrating mountains, water, caves, stones, courtyards, buildings, and cultural relics.

   Accommodation: 4-star Ronghu Hotel

   

8. Day 8: Guilin – Yanghsuo by Cruise
   Li River Cruise, Yangshuo (B + L)

   AM: Today is the highlight of your Guilin tour as you will embark on a ship to cruise down the picturesque Li River!

   Taking the cruise on the Li River, you will admire the picturesque scenery of this land with a harmonious combination of the green hills, rivers, lakes and fields. But its beauty is not like a still painting, it’s alive when vivid – brisk bamboo rafts leaving wrinkles on the water and cormorants hovering under the working fishermen… Our guide will uncover the hidden history and culture behind the natural screen before you during your cruise. You will learn from the local expert about how the city formed and developed and how local people manage their life along the famous Li River.

   Friendly Tips: The Li River Cruise takes around 4 hours, and you will be staying on the boat to enjoy the scenery for most time, so 3-star boat as included would be  adequate according to most tourists’ experience. Besides, you are suggested to have a good breakfast at your hotel and take some snack as there will be only simple box lunch be provided on the boat.

   Noon: Box lunch on cruise ship.

   PM: After the 4 hours’ cruise, you will embark at Yangshuo. Follow your guide to explore the famous Yangshuo West Street to admire the antique buildings and local crafts, hanging out in bars and coffee shops, and try some delicious local snacks.

   Accommodation: 4-star Yangshuo Hotel

   

9. Day 9: Guilin – Shanghai by Flight (B)

   Drive you to airport for flight to Shanghai. Your driver in Shanghai will meet you in airport and escort you to Shanghai hotel.

   Accommodation: 4-star Pullman Shanghai Jing’an

10. Day 10: Shanghai
    Shanghai Museum, People Square, Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Market, Tianzifang, the Bund,Old Frence Concession (B + L)

    AM: Today’s visiting begins with Shanghai Museum ( closed on every Monday ). The museum houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings and calligraphy works.  Finish the exploration of history, stroll on People Square to have a glimpse of the daily life of the locals. The square now is most famous for its match-making corner where parents try to seek partners for their children. The next stop will be Yuyuan Garden which is a representative of classical Chinese gardens with elegant pavilions, old bridges, artistic rockeries, small ponds, etc. It was originally built by Pan Yunduan in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty for his parents to enjoy their old age in peace. The garden has gone through a lot in the over 400 years’ history. It was once deserted at the death of Pan Yunduan, restored by new owners, badly damaged during the Opium War, and reopened in 1961 after a lot of repairs.

    Noon: Lunch at local restaurant.

    PM: Nearby is the lively Yuyuan Market, wonder around here you can get everything from traditional Chinese crafts like chopsticks, fans, and pottery to local delicacies such as steamed buns, crab shell cake, and pork chop with rice cakes. Don’t forget to haggle for a better price.

    Then take a walk in the Bund where you could see the best scenery of old and modern Shanghai. After then go to visit the charming area of Shanghai, Tianzifang the place mixed of old and modern, food, art, music, etc. The last stop will be Old Frence Concession which used to be one of the two largest concessions in Shanghai.

    Accommodation: 4-star Pullman Shanghai Jing’an

    

11. Day 11: Shanghai Departure (B)

    Our driver will meet you in the hotel 3-4 hours before the flight departs and transfer you to the airport. Your 11-day Beijing Xian Guilin Yangshuo Shanghai tour ends here.