16-Day Beijing Xian Chengdu Guilin Hangzhou Shanghai Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

   Welcome to our 16-day private China tour! Upon your arrival at the capital of China - Beijing, our driver will be at the airport to welcome you. Then she/he will escort you to your selected hotel. Once check-in, you can relax on a comfortable bed or explore nearby on your own. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing City Tour
   Explore Royal Heritage and the Lives of Locals in Beijing

   After breakfast, your guided China tour in Beijing starts at one of the world's largest public squares - Tiananmen Square. Learn the stories of some iconic sights from your well-informed tour guide, including the Monument to the People's Heroes and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.

   Next, walk to the nearby Forbidden City, which was the imperial palace of 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, it is now open to the public as the Palace Museum. The Forbidden City is very large, but our time is limited. Your guide will take you on a classic and time-saving tour route. Admire the magnificent palace architecture and appreciate some precious cultural relics. If time permits, hike to Jingshan Park to enjoy the panoramic view of Beijing.

   

   After lunch, we take a rickshaw through the hutongs to appreciate the traditional courtyard architecture of old Beijing. In the evening, you can taste delicious Beijing Roast Duck (on your own) at one of the most famous restaurants in Beijing, Quanjude.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

3. Day 3: Beijing Great Wall Tour
   Hike on the Beautiful Mutianyu Great Wall and Capture Magnificent Scenery

   Today, your guide will take you to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Temple of Heaven. It is a special altar used by the Ming and Qing emperors to offer sacrifices to the heavens, ask for rain and pray for a good year.

   After that, it’s time to embark on an exciting Great Wall tour. You will be taken to the Mutianyu Great Wall. Built in the early Ming Dynasty in 1368 and stretching for 5,400 meters, it is the most scenic part of the Chinese Great Wall. 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. You can choose to go up by cable car or take an exhilarating Toboggan ride down the Great Wall (at your own expense).

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing to Xian Tour
   Spending a Leisurely Morning at the Summer Resort of the Qing Dynasty Emperors

   Today is the last day of your China tour of Beijing. After breakfast, transfer you to Summer Palace, 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, etc. You can take the option of a boat ride to enjoy the Kunming Lake (at your own expense).

   Following lunch, your driver will escort you to the railway station to take a high-speed train to Xian.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xian

   

5. Day 5: Xian Highlights Tour
   Experience Making a Mini Terra Cotta Warrior, Which Can Be Taken Home

   This morning, your local guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Its is known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". You will be guided through Pits 1, 2 and 3 of the Terracotta Army, where you can see life-sized warriors, and many horses and chariots. After a Chinese-style lunch in Lintong, we will take you to experience making a mini terracotta figure. It will be once-in-a-lifetime.

   

   Return to downtown Xi'an to visit the Bell Tower. Located in the center of Xi'an, the Bell Tower is one of the landmarks of the ancient city. Afterwards, enjoy the shadow play at Gao's Courtyard. It is about a 5-minute walk to Muslim Quarter. This is a centuries-old Hui people gathering area filled with a strong Muslim atmosphere. Here, you can enjoy almost all Shaanxi snacks.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xian

6. Day 6: Xian to Chengdu Tour
   Ride a Bicycle on the Ancient City Wall

   After breakfast, you will be guided to ascend the Ancient City Wall, a military defensive system in old times. You can optionally ride a bike on the top of the City Wall and enjoy the amazing view of the entire area inside the City Wall.

   In the afternoon, your private driver will transfer you to the train station for a high-speed train to Chengdu, the hometown of the world-famous pandas.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

   

7. Day 7: Chengdu Panda Experience
   Observe the Daily Life of Cute Pandas Up Close

   Your Chengdu tour of China takes you to visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. It is well known for the protection and breeding of the endangered giant pandas that are unique to China. The base is definitely a highlight for visitors to Chengdu. There are adorable pandas everywhere. Watch them eating bamboo, playing with each other, and of course sleeping. Your tour guide will lead you through the huge area, share some information about the pandas, and help you take amazing photos.

   After lunch, explore the Renmin Park for a leisure afternoon. Sip a cup of tea and get a good relaxation.

   

   In the afternoon, you will explore the bustling Jinli Street, a must-see place in Chengdu. You can see that the buildings here are built in Qing Dynasty style, and meandering through the street gives people the feeling of traveling back in time. Enjoy shopping and tasting some yummy food that you never saw before. After that, transfer you back to your hotel or you can continue exploring on your own.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

8. Day 8: Chengdu to Guilin Tour
   Visit the Landmark Buildings in Guilin City Center

   After breakfast, take a morning flight to Guilin. Enjoy your lunch upon arrival. Then, the Guilin tour guide will lead you to visit the Reed Flute Cave. Filled with stalactites, the cave just looks like a magnificent underground palace carved from gemstones, coral, and jade. So it is known as the "Palace of Natural Art".

   The next attraction on your Guilin tour is the Elephant Trunk Hill, located at the confluence of the Li River and Taohua River. It is the most iconic landmark in Guilin city. This hill is like an elephant sticking its long trunk into the river to drink water. There is a cave under the elephant trunk, and a Buddhist pagoda from the Ming Dynasty on the hill.

   After that, take a leisurely stroll in Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park, Sun Moon Twin Towers. This is a stunning night view destination for Guilin tour, where you will admire the "World's First Copper Tower". The Sun Pagoda is 41 meters high with nine floors while the Moon Pagoda, a glazed pagoda, is 35 meters high with seven floors.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Guilin

   

9. Day 9: Guilin Rice Terraces Tour
   Hike on Spectacular Terraced Fields and Explore Local Ethnic Cultures

   Today, spend your whole day in rice terraces. After arrival at the foot of a mountain, you will hike about 35 minutes to the Ping'an Village. The village boasts the nationally renowned, 650-year-old Longji Rice Terraces. You will be treated to a spectacular view of the terraced fields, just like a cascading sea of green or yellow.

   Your lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Then, explore the picturesque minority villages here. Huangluo Yao Village has beautiful scenery and the Jinjiang River runs 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 an easy-going hike to the viewing platform for more breathtaking views. Do not miss the chance to photograph the stunning rice terraces. During the time, you will also learn about the other unique ethnic minority culture of the region.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Guilin

   

10. Day 10: Guilin to Yangshuo Tour
    Take Photos of Picturesque Karst Peaks during a Cruise on the Li River

    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, your guide takes you to explore the 517-meter-long West Street, which is located in the center of Yangshuo County. The street, famous for its rich exotic atmosphere, 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.

    Later, embark on a countryside cycling, passing through lush fields and quaint villages. You can stop at any time along the way to capture the charming rural scenery of China. Perhaps you can also happen to see local farmers farming. Return to Guilin in the evening.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Guilin

    

11. Day 11: Guilin to Hangzhou Tour
    Ride along West Lake and Enjoy the Scenery on the One Yuan Banknote

    After breakfast, take a flight to Hangzhou to start our a leisure China tour. It would be hardly complete without a visit to the impressive West Lake. As one of the top sought-after scenic spots in China, it has been praised by many Chinese literati. The scenery in all four seasons is beautiful and worthy of visiting.

    You will enjoy a bike ride from Su Causeway to West Lake Colored Port View Fish Garden. Then, explore the Bai Causeway. Originally named "Baisha Causeway", it is about 1 km long and stretches across West Lake. The scenery of Bai Causeway is distinct in four seasons - you can see pink peach blossoms in spring, green willows in summer, smell the fragrance of osmanthus in autumn, and enjoy snow in winter.

    

    After that, we head to Lingyin Temple. The temple has a history of about 1,700 years and is considered one of the most significant Buddhist temples in China. You will listen to your guide about its history and stories and admire various buildings.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Hangzhou

12. Day 12: Hangzhou Exploration
    Sample Authentic Longjing Tea at Meijiawu Tea Village

    Today’s China tour in Hangzhou takes you to the first-class protected area of West Lake Longjing Tea, Meijiawu Tea Village. The village is the main source of the Chinese Longjing tea. Follow your guide to walk around the village, smell the faint aroma of tea in the air, and try some fine tea. If you come here in spring, you even can join the locals to pick up tea leaves.

    

    Explore the historic City God Pavilion after lunch. Located on the top of Wushan Mountain, City God Pavilion is a seven-storey antique style building with a height of 41.6 meters and a dazzling and magnificent architectural style from the Southern Song and Yuan Dynasties. Climbing to the top, you can enjoy the scenery of rivers, mountains, lakes, and city.

    Last, take a leisurely stroll through Hefang Street, which is a quite bustling marketplace in Hangzhou, full of local delicacies and traditional crafts.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Hangzhou

13. Day 13: Hangzhou to Suzhou Tour
    Surprised by the Exquisite Layout of the Classical Gardens of Suzhou

    After breakfast, you will take a high-speed train to Suzhou. This city is renowned for its classical gardens and nice silk production. Upon your arrival, the local guide will meet you and transfer you to visit the exquisite Lingering Garden, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As known as Liuyuan in Chinese, it is considered one of the four greatest classical gardens in China, alongside the Humble Administrator's Garden, Summer Palace, and Chengde Mountain Resort.

    You will see a meticulous arrangement of pavilions, corridors, rockeries, and ponds in the garden. It is a prime representation of Jiangnan aesthetic.

    

    Then, go to see Lion Grove Garden, which has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stands among the four most celebrated gardens in Suzhou. It is most famous for its amazing rockeries, crafted to resemble lions in all kinds of positions. So it is also known as the “Kingdom of Rockeries.”

    Last, wander along the popular Pingjiang Ancient Street, the grandest and best-conserved ancient block in Suzhou. Here you can see white-walled houses, gray-tiled roofs, stone bridges, winding alleyways, and performances of traditional Chinese art forms such Kunqu Opera and Suzhou Pingtan.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Suzhou

14. Day 14: Suzhou to Shanghai Tour
    Learn about the Characteristics of Suzhou Water Towns in Tongli

    After breakfast, take a Suzhou tour to another feature of Suzhou - water towns. We will take you to visit Tongli Ancient Town, which is surrounded by lakes. A network of rivers divides the town into 7 small islands, and almost every house in the town is adjacent to the water. Strolling along the narrow alleys, you can see many old buildings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

    Your guide and driver will then escort you to board the high-speed train to China's bustling metropolis, Shanghai.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

    

15. Day 15: Shanghai City Tour
    Explore the Past and Modernization of Shanghai

    Start your China tour with Shanghai's rich heritage of Shanghai Old Street. The street stands the earliest Banks, gold stores, jewelry shops, tea houses, theatre stages. When you stroll around the old street, you will feel as if you have been back to the bustling market of 100 years ago of Shanghai. Shikumen-style buildings can be seen everywhere and many Shanghai local People still live here. So you can approach to the authentic culture of old Shanghai.

    

    After that, wander along the must-see site in Shanghai - the Bund. Admire buildings of various styles, enjoy the beautiful Huangpu River, and listen to your guide explaining its history. Then, head to Lujiazui, Shanghai's financial district, to ascend Shanghai Tower. This is the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world, where you can enjoy the breathtaking skyline as well as panoramic views of the city.

    If you are interested, we can arrange a wonderful Acrobatic Show, which combines traditional Chinese acrobatic art with modern technology to present a visual feast. Performance time: 19:30 to 21:00. (at extra cost)

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

    

16. Day 16: Departure from Shanghai

    Enjoy your morning at leisure! And your driver will escort you to catch your flight or train to your next destination or back home. This is the end of your 16-day grand China tour. Hope you had a great time with us. Safe travels!

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A