12 Days China Tour from Hong Kong with Yangtze River Cruise

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Guilin from Hong Kong

   Departing from Hong Kong, you will take a comfortable high-speed train at West Kowloon Station and head directly towards Guilin. After arriving in the picturesque Guilin, the local driver will wait for you at the station and transfer you to the pre-booked hotel.

   This afternoon is yours at leisurely. As night falls, you can head to Two Rivers and Four Lakes, an excellent place that combines natural beauty with urban scenery. You can leisurely stroll along the lakeside, admiring the sparkling lights reflected on the water surface, which is an excellent material for photography.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Guilin

   

2. Day 2: Guilin Rice Terraces Tour
   Have a Rice Terrace Excursion and Immerse in Local Ethnic Minority Culture

   After breakfast, take a Guilin tour to rice terraces. After 4-hour car ride to the foot of the mountain, walk about 35 minutes or so to the Ping'an Village. The village is home to the nationally renowned, 650-year-old Longji Rice Terraces. Your eyes will be treated to a spectacular view of the terraced fields, just like a cascading sea of green or yellow.

   

   Next, pay a visit to Huangluo Yao Village, which has beautiful scenery and Jinjiang River running through the village. Here resides the Yao ethnic group, the women of this ethnic group's long hair, singing and dancing, and clothing are beautiful folkloric scenery. After that, take a guided hike to the viewing platform of Nine Dragons and Five Tigers for more breathtaking views. During this time, you will learn about the other unique ethnic minority culture of the region.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Guilin

3. Day 3: Guilin to Yangshuo Tour by Cruise
   Capture the Karst Landscape on Your Li River Cruise

   After breakfast, your tour in China begins with a Li River cruise. Li River Scenic Area is the world's largest and most scenic karst landscape excursion area. Along the way you will see clear mountains, beautiful water, strange caves, deep pools and flying waterfalls. In about 4 hours, you will arrive at Yangshuo. Check in at your local hotel.

   

   In the afternoon, explore the Ten-mile Gallery, with the picturesque countryside views. You will visit the Big Banyan Tree and Moon Hill, where you can climb to its top for a panoramic view of the surrounding.

   As the sun sets, your guide will take you to explore West Street, which is located in the center of Yangshuo County. The street is famous for its rich exotic atmosphere. 517 meters long, West Street is lined with ancient houses and buildings. The small stores on both sides of the street offer a variety of tourist souvenirs and snacks and are well worth a visit.

   In the evening, you can enjoy the performance of Impression Liu Sanjie, a grand open-air show featuring local folk songs and stunning visual effects (optional).

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Yangshuo

4. Day 4: Yangshuo Tour back to Guilin
   Yulong River Cycling and Cooking Class

   In the morning, you will be arranged to ride a bike along the Yulong River lined with karst peaks. Then we pay a visit to a local farmer's family to get a glimpse of Chinese rural life and traditional farming. After that, you can experience an interesting bamboo rafting and enjoy the "Hundred Mile Gallery".

   

   In the afternoon, we drive back to West Street in Yangshuo to join a cooking class. At around 3:30 PM, you will learn to cook traditional Chinese dishes under the guidance of an expert chef. You will enjoy your 'achievements' as dinner. After the meal, your driver escorts you back to Guilin City for an overnight stay.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Guilin

5. Day 5: Guilin to Chengdu Tour

   After breakfast, your private driver will transfer you to Guilin Airport for a comfortable flight to Chengdu. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this city.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

6. Day 6: Chengdu Panda Tour
   Chengdu Panda Base and City Highlights Tour

   Today, you will be led on a panda tour of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This is the cradle of giant pandas, where you can closely observe pandas of different ages eating, playing, and resting. If you're lucky, you can watch female pandas nursing their cubs in the nursery. In addition to giant pandas, the base also inhabits other endangered wildlife such as peacocks, swans, and birds. Next, head to Wenshu Temple, which was built in the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and is still frequented by local people who come to pray and relax themselves today. It is a good place to learn Buddhism.

   

   In the afternoon, you will enjoy some relaxing time in Renmin Park. Here you can sip a cup of tea and watch local people playing mahjong or napping. Last, you will be guided to explore the bustling Jinli Old Street, a quite popular place in Chengdu. You can enjoy shopping and tasting some yummy food that you never saw before.

   Optional Activity: In the evening, you can pay extra to watch the Sichuan Opera Face Changing Show, a quick face-changing performance that is truly unique to the area.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

   

7. Day 7: Chengdu to Chongqing Tour
   Chongqing Highlights Tour and Board the Cruise Ship

   After a delicious breakfast, you will be escorted to take a high-speed train to Chongqing. Upon arrival, the local guide will meet you and then start your Chongqing tour directly! First, we head to Ciqikou Ancient Town, which is famed Little Chongqing. It is a time-honored place that has a long history dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). You can see many ancient architecture and try the local delicacies here.

   

   After that, head to the Three Gorges Museum, a comprehensive museum of Chongqing history and art, especially those of Ba-Yu culture and Sanxia culture. You will learn about the history of southwest China. After the museum visit, your guide will escort you to Chaotianmen Dock to board your Yangtze River cruise ship. Boarding time is usually from 6 pm to 8 pm.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: on Cruise

8. Day 8: Yangtze River Cruise
   Indulge in the Midst of the Splendid River Scenery

   After breakfast, your Yangtze River cruise tour starts! You will first take a Tai Chi class led by a seasoned instructor. Practicing Tai Chi can not only enhance physical fitness, but also promote blood circulation, relieve stress and anxiety. Next, have a lecture on the history of the Yangtze River area. Then, enjoy a cup of coffee on the sundeck.

   

   You will have a shore excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda. Known as one of the "Eight Strange Constructions of the World", the Shibaozhai is a wooden pagoda built on a cliff, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It has 12 floors and is 56 meters high, without using a single nail. Climbing up to the top, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the rivers.

   Optional Activity:
   Fengdu Ghost City, with a history of nearly 2000 years, is one of the popular cultural landscapes on Yangtze River cruise tours. You will learn about many Chinese ghost and god legends. Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, the temple fair here holds unique folk performances. ‌

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

   Accommodation: on Cruise

9. Day 9: Yangtze River Cruise
   Enjoy the Splendor of the Three Gorges

   After a hearty breakfast on board, the cruise ship will sail through the breathtakingly beautiful Three Gorges (Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Xiling Gorge). You will be amazed by the towering cliffs and lush greenery.

   

   You will be guided to take a smaller boat to explore the primitive Shennv Stream. Drift down the narrow stream, and take in the untouched natural beauty. And, you can experience the culture of the Tujia people through local music and dance performances. After that, return to your cruise ship. In the evening, enjoy the Captain's Farewell Party.

   Optional Activity:

   If you look for more exploration, consider a visit to White Emperor City. This scenic spot is famous for the story of Liu Bei entrusting his son to Zhuge Liang (a symbol of resourcefulness and wisdom in Chinese folklore). In addition, you can also learn about interesting things that happened in past dynasties in China. Due to its advantageous location, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of Kuimen at the entrance of Qutang Gorge in White Emperor City, which is printed on RMB 10 banknote.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

   Accommodation: on Cruise

10. Day 10: Yichang to Shanghai Tour by High-speed Train
    Admire the World's Largest Water Conservancy Project

    Have an early breakfast on board before disembarking. The impressive Three Gorges Dam is the last attraction during your Yangtze River cruise tour. The world's largest water control project, the Dam, has a total length of 2308 meters and a height of 185 meters. Tanziling, with an altitude of 262.48 meters, is the best location to see the Three Gorges Dam. The Commemorating Park is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River where you can capture a panoramic view of the Three Gorges Dam at the park.

    

    After the dam visit, take the bus arranged by the cruise company to the Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. There will be a private driver will be waiting to escort you to Yichang East Railway Station for your high-speed train ride to Shanghai.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

11. Day 11: Shanghai City Tour
    Discover the History and Prosperity of the Metropolis

    After breakfast, your Shanghai tour of China takes you to Shanghai Museum. Founded in 1952, the museum has a collection of nearly 1.02 million cultural relics, including over 140,000 precious cultural relics. You will see bronze, ceramics, calligraphy and painting, and so on. ‌

    Transfer you to Yuyuan Garden, a well-known classical garden in Jiangnan (the south of the Yangtze River). It was originally built by the owner as a place for his parents to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Adjacent to the garden is the Yuyuan Bazaar. You can taste local snacks and purchase some traditional handicrafts.

    

    Afterwards, ascend the Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC), where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Shanghai's modern skyline. Then, transfer to Nanjing Road, one of the world's busiest shopping streets. Last, take a stroll along Wai Tan, aka the Bund, a must see for visitors in Shanghai. What impresses tourists the most is the 52 buildings, which blend various international architectural styles and can be called the "International Architecture Exhibition".

    

    In the evening, you can enjoy a relaxing Huangpu River night cruise and watch the glamorous view of the dazzling city lights reflecting on the water.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

12. Day 12: Departure from Shanghai
    Explore Artistic Tianzifang's Old Shanghai Charm

    In the morning, take a guided tour of the Jade Buddha Temple, a Song Dynasty-style building named after the Jade Buddha enshrined in the temple. It is a quiet and peaceful environment, which is regarded by locals as "a piece of pure land in the midst of the downtown area". Next, transfer you to visit Tianzifang, a creative work base transformed from a group of Shikumen buildings. You can see numerous art and cultural studios. Experience its old Shanghai lifestyle and exotic charm.

    

    After the tour, your driver will escort you to the airport for your next destination. This is the end of your 12-day China tour from Hong Kong with Yangtze River cruise. Safe travels!

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A