Classic China Tours: Sixteen Days China Tour - 01

Tour Map

Itinerary :

DAY1
Arrive in Beijing
Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)

DAY2
Beijing
Today's Activities: Great Wall at Mutianyu, Mutianyu Cable Car(round trip), Temple of Heaven, Roasted Duck at Hepingmen Quanjude
- Great Wall at Mutianyu: This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a pleasant drive 90km NE of Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Mutianyu Cable Car(round trip): It is a challenging climb up to the Mutianyu Great Wall for it is much steeper than Badaling section. Here you have the option of taking the Cable car to the highest point or down to the foot in a few minutes instead of climbing more than 1,400 steps, while you can also have a bird view of the wall.
- Temple of Heaven: One of the most famous sites in Beijing, this is Ming architecture at its best: beautiful, controlled, and highly symbolic. The surrounding gardens are full of interesting activity, particularly weekend mornings. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Roasted Duck at Hepingmen Quanjude: In the evening enjoy the Peking Roasted Duck which is renowned as the most delicious food of Beijing

DAY3
Beijing
Today's Activities: The Forbidden City, The Tian'anmen Square, Summer Palace, Boat-transfer in the Summer Palace
- The Forbidden City: The Imperial Palace, home to 24 Emperors between 1420 and 1911. Great squares, halls and gates contrast with the intricate networks of side halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters for those who lived in this 'city within a city'. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are also absolutely fascinating. Expect to spend at least 2-3 hours, wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- The Tian'anmen Square: The world's largest city square and enduring symbol of China's national pride, surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), Museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.
- Summer Palace : Much-loved summer retreat of the Imperial families, the lovely landscaped gardens, halls, pavilions and corridors are set around the lake and rivers in natural harmony. You can expect to spend 2-3 hours here, including a 10 minute boat ride. Renovations (complete in 2010) mean that an individual section or building may be closed at any one time, but this is a huge site. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Boat-transfer in the Summer Palace: It is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China with a history of over 800 years. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake by the ferry boat insteaf of walk.It takes 10 minutes.

DAY4
Beijing - Xian
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Hutong Tours in Rickshaw
- Hutong Tours in Rickshaw: A maze of historic alleyways and old single storey traditional courtyard houses, now fast disappearing. Dotted around the hutong are the Drum and Bell Towers, Kindergarten, Tea House, and local people's houses. Your tour includes a visit with a local family.

DAY5
Xian
Today's Activities: Terracotta Warriors, Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Evening Show at Tang Yuegong
- Terracotta Warriors: Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. Photos (no flash) are allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Bell Tower: One of the oldest and best-preserved Bell Towers in China, the ancient wooden tower stands on a huge brick base in the city centre. There are many legends attached to its past, and traffic is no longer allowed through the vast archways, which form the pedestrian access to the tower. There’s also an interesting exhibition of ancient musical instruments, with regular free performances.
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals. - Evening Show at Tang Yuegong: The show that presents the palace dances and sings in the Tang Dynasty when Xian was the capital of ancient China.

DAY6
Xian - Shanghai
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Shaanxi Historical Museum, City Wall
- Shaanxi Historical Museum: The history of Shaanxi is said to be the history of China, and this museum is quite simply one of the nation's best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. Most of the item labels are in English, although some other information on the exhibitions is not, but your guide can help here. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- City Wall: The walls, ramparts, gates and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defences still around. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city centre you can walk, rent a bike or take an electric cart around the full 14km circuit, with great views of the city on either side.

DAY7
Shanghai
Today's Activities: The Bund, Nanjing Road, Yuyuan Market, Yuyuan Garden
- The Bund: Once the home of the foreign traders and major banks, the embankment has taken on a new vitality; lovely old European-style buildings mix with futuristic developments, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do – and by night it's magic!
- Nanjing Road: One of the most famous shopping streets in the world. Giant shopping centres, specialist boutiques, international brands, local upmarket goods, it’s all here, it's all busy and at night it really glitters. A fascinating glimpse of modern, commercial China. - Yuyuan Market : Located at a very busy marketplace in a complex of traditional-style buildings, backing onto Yuyuan Gardens.You can find everything there from popular local snacks and food, crafts, antiques and souvenirs to Starbucks, tea-houses and some great restaurants. There is a small (reconstructed) Temple (Chenhuang: Temple of the City Gods) in there as well.
- Yuyuan Garden: In the centre of Shanghai next to the Yuyuan Bazaar, this exquisite old 5-acre garden is famous for its design. The paths wander across bridges, past rockeries and miniature lakes, and through pretty halls and pavilions. The trees and shrubs are planted with an eye to providing charming views, and a sense of peace and harmony.

DAY8
Shanghai
Today's Activities: Children's Palace, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
- Children's Palace: Children’s Palaces provide tuition in extracurricular activities such as music, dance, art, model making, science, technology and computer science. Visitors are welcome to watch classes, rehearsals or performances, depending on the day’s timetable.
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower: One of the tallest TV towers in the world, known for its distinctive spheres, or ‘pearls’, it stands across the river from the Bund, among the exciting architecture of the east bank. On a rare clear day you can see to the mouth of the Yangtze, but even in normal conditions there are great views of Shanghai's dramatic cityscape.
- Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall: A short walk across Renmin Square from the Shanghai Museum, this is a fascinating insight into Shanghai’s future. The 2nd floor has a giant walkaround model of the city, and other floors have great displays, interactive exhibitions and walkthroughs of aspects such as the ports, greening, leisure etc.

DAY9
Shanghai - Suzhou
Today's Activities: Humble Administrator's Garden, The Grand Canal
- Humble Administrator's Garden: The garden is the best representative of Chinese classical gardens, constructed in the Ming dynasty,which focuses on a central pond with pavilions, terraces, chambers, and towers located nearby, the garden is divided into three parts: the eastern, middle and western parts.
At 5 hectares the largest of these beautiful gardens, it is one of the most famous one. It provides everyone with pleasure. Don't miss the Garden Museum - actually don't miss any of this lovely place. Tourists may wear comfortable shoes, as there's a lot of walking here.
- The Grand Canal: The Grand Canal ranks alongside the Great Wall of China as the country's greatest engineering achievement and it is the longest man-made waterway in the world. Cruising on the Canal, you can see the local peoples' life. Known as the land of rice and fish, Suzhou city has a network of picturesque lakes and canals both large and small, which all link in eventually to the Grand Canal. The view from the little boats that ply the smaller canals is enchanting, whilst the traffic on the Grand Canal reminds you of Suzhou that it was the original source of the ‘sea’ silk road.

DAY10
Suzhou - Hangzhou
Today's Activities: Hotel to Train station Transfer (Suzhou), Train station to Hotel Transfer (Hangzhou), Lingyin Temple/ Monastery of the Hidden Souls
- Lingyin Temple/ Monastery of the Hidden Souls : Lingyin Temple is one of the ten most famous ancient Buddhist temples in China. It also houses various Buddhist literature and treasures situated in front of Lingyin Temple, is famous for its more than 470 stone carvings of Buddhist figures, which dated from the 10th to 14th centuries.

DAY11
Hangzhou - Guilin
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Hangzhou), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Guilin), Cruise on the West Lake, Meijiawu Tea Plantation
- Cruise on the West Lake: Lying on the west edge of Hangzhou city, West Lake is the symbol of Hangzhou as well as one of the most beautiful sights in China.
- Meijiawu Tea Plantation: Tea village is seated at the hinterland of West Lake Park and it boasts the most important tea production basis. Here you are in an original natural environment, just relax your feelings and enjoy the special tea culture, taste the fragrant tea while appreciating the beautiful village scenery.

DAY12
Guilin
Today's Activities: Reed Flute Cave, Fubo(Whirlpool) Hill, Elephant Trunk Hill
- Reed Flute Cave: Known as 'the Palace of Natural Arts' this large and well-presented cave system has some remarkable formations. Make sure you have some small change for the children who sell flutes for as little as one yuan if you've got nothing less than a dollar you'll end up with their whole stock.
- Fubo(Whirlpool) Hill: It is located in the city proper. Fubo Hill is a 4A scenic spot of national grade. It is cliffy, propping up from the ground, famous for the Pearl-Returning Cave (nearly 350 steps to enjoy the view). - Elephant Trunk Hill: At the confluence of Li River and Peach Blossom River in the southwest of Guilin city It is a national 4A scenery spot. The Water Moon Cave is close to the river. The water flows through it and the cave looks like a moon floating in the water. The stone drooped into the water like an elephant drinking the water of the Li River.

DAY13
Guilin
Today's Activities: Li River Cruise
- Li River Cruise: A cruise along the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo is an unforgettable experience. As you take in the stunning scenery there's something interesting to see at almost every bend in the river. Between spectacular limestone peaks you'll see graceful bamboo groves, farmers tending rice paddies, and lumbering water buffaloes pulling carts or cooling off in the river. You may see fishermen gliding along on their narrow bamboo rafts, and if you're very lucky you might see one of the famous fishing cormorants. Boats depart from various wharves, according to the height of the river at different times of the year.

DAY14
Guilin - Guangzhou - Hong Kong
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Guilin), Airport Transfer (Guangzhou), Train station Transfer (Guangzhou), Train station to Hotel Transfer (Hong Kong), Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, Chen Ancestral Shrine
- Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall: a memorial building built in 1931 with the funds raised by the Guangzhou people and overseas Chinese in memory of Sun Yat-sen.
- Temple of the Six Banyan Trees: A world famous ancient Buddhist temple, built 1460 years ago. It has since been known as Temple of the Six Banyan Trees.
- Chen Ancestral Shrine: Nest to the Chen Ancestral Shrine Subway Station, No.7 Zhongshan Road, Liwan District, Chen Ancestral Shrine is a typical symbol of Lingnan traditional architecture achievement and is reputed as "Pearl of Lingnan Architecture".

DAY15
Place & Transport: Hong Kong

DAY16
Hong Kong
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Hong Kong)

Price Includes :

1. Entrance fees as it listed.
2. Scheduled sightseeing by private air-conditioned deluxe coach with English-speaking guide service
3. China domestic flights, with airport tax included.
4. Accommodations in 4/5-star deluxe hotel based on twin sharing, with daily breakfast included.
5. Transfer service RT Airport-Hotel
6. Entrance fee in Schedule sightseeing.
7. Meals

Price Excludes :

1. Personal expenses.
2. Tipping to tour guide and drive.
3. Excess baggage.
4. International air tickets.

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China Photo Album

Lots of beautiful pictures of China tours and China attractions.

The Great Wall

Wolong Panda

Yangtze River

Guilin

Guangzhou Museum

Victoria Harbour

West Lake

Stone Forest

Potala Palace

Yangtze River Bridge

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Sanya

Urumqi

The Terracotta Warriors