Great Wall of China

Day 01Arrival in Beijing

Today your international flight will arrive at Beijing Airport. After you reclaim your luggage and clear the customs, you will see our tour guide are expecting you outside the customs of the airport, holding a sign on which your name is written. We will transfer you to the downtown 5-star Crowne Plaza Hotel and help you finish the check-in procedure. The remainder of the day is free for you to rest or explore. For dinner on your own arrangement, we have some suggestions around our hotel.

Meals: No meals
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza

Temple of Heaven, Beijing Photo by our clients Bruce and Ruth Campbell with their feedback

Day 02Beijing

Our guide will take you to visit the grand Tiananmen Square and the splendid Forbidden City this morning. It is always a nice choice to preview the world largest city square before starting your China historical exploration in the 590-year's imperial palace. We know it will be a great physical challenge to visit the 9,999 rooms of the Forbidden City, of course, you don't have to. As is our practice to avoid the cheap tourist restaurants, you will enjoy an a la carte lunch at a noted local restaurant to taste the authentic Chinese food. This afternoon, you will take a leisurely pace to tour the Temple of Heaven - the largest royal temple in China. Travelers are always surprised by the predominant architectural and aesthetic achievements of ancient Chinese people. We also arrange the Chinese folk experience for you tonight. You could enjoy an amazing Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theatre. It will discover the mystery of Chinese martial arts to you.

Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza

Our clients enjoying their a la carte meal Photo by our clients Mr. David Herbert Poppe & Ms. Rose Anne Poppe

Day 03Beijing

Please wear a pair of light and skidproof shoes, because you will climb the zigzag Badaling Great Wall today. This section was constructed 600 years ago and is the best-preserved existing part of the Great Wall. To avoid the shopping site restaurants near the Great Wall, we will serve you a decent lunch of Sichuan food at the well-known best local restaurant. In the afternoon your excursion will be extended to the Ming Tomb. You have to walk along the paved Sacred Way before getting to the graveyard of the 13 Emperors, who controlled the nation successively from the 15th to the mid 17th century. The Sacred Way, which is set with stone statues of animals and officials, could guide the passed emperors to the heaven. Finally, on the way driving back to downtown Beijing, you will take a glance at the Bird's Nest for 2008 Olympic Games and take some pictures.

Meals: American breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza

Great Mosque, Xian Photo by our client Mr. Stephen Brant Weinstein with his feedback

Day 04Beijing - Xian

To spend your last day in Beijing, you will go to visit the existing largest royal garden – the Summer Palace. Once as the resort for the imperial families, the palace was constructed over 260 years ago. Then enjoy the old Beijing culture and local customs by visiting narrow alleys, also called Hutongs. You may take a special rickshaw riding through various Hutongs and enjoy the prosperous street view with dazzling goods on sale. Through a visit to the local family, you will get a further understanding of the old Beijing characteristics. We will serve you an a la carte lunch at a nice local restaurant with delicate cuisine and graceful environment. Late in the afternoon, you will take a flight to Xian. Our guide will expect you outside the airport baggage claim area and transfer you to the  5-star Shangri-la Golden Flower Hotel.

Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Shangri-la Golden Flower Hotel - South Wing

Terracotta army, Xian

Day 05Xian

This morning, you will see the splendid Chinese army of 2,200 years ago at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. All of the full-scale warriors and horses were used to protect the great Emperor Qin Shi Huang after his death. You will enjoy an a la carte lunch at the best local restaurant rather than having mass-produced food at the tourist eateries near the warrior site. Afterwards, there is a tour to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the representative Buddhist building of 1,300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty. The following Provincial History Museum will show you thousands of priceless historical relics of China spanning from the primitive society to the last empire. At night, you will watch a gorgeous Tang Dynasty Dinner Show at Tang Dynasty Palace (Addr: No.75, Chang'an Road, Xian). The melody music and graceful dance of the show is inspired from the Chinese royal court performance over 1,000 years ago.

Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch, Tang Dynasty dinner show
Accommodation: Shangri-la Golden Flower Hotel - South Wing

Local free market

Day 06Xian

The well-preserved City Wall of ancient Xian is your first destination today. Other than a military defense, the 13.7 kilometers wall has been an ideal place for holding a marathon game every year. Later, you will have a local family visit and a la carte lunch will be arranged in the home of the family that you visit, to taste the authentic home cooked Chinese food. If interested, you may choose your preferred dishes from our Chinese food cooking class and learn with the host. In the afternoon, you will tour the Great Mosque at a leisurely pace. We will give you some free time to explore the nearby lively Muslim bazaar on your own.

Meals: American breakfast, Home-cooked a la carte lunch
Accommodation: Shangri-la Golden Flower Hotel - South Wing  

Day 07Xian - Guilin

We will arrange a trip to the Hanyangling Museum this morning, an excavated mausoleum of the Han Emperor Liu Qi who ruled the nation from 157BC to 141BC. There are a large quantity of excavated terra-cotta officials, warriors, maidservants and animals in the tomb. After that, you will take a flight to Guilin. Our local guide will expect you at the airport and then accompany you to the downtown 5-star Sheraton Hotel.

Meals: American breakfast
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel

Our clients on Li River cruise tour, Guilin

Day 08Guilin - Yangshuo

Please enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and then our guide will transfer you to take a cruise along the Li River downstream to Yangshuo. On the cruise, you could enjoy a series of charming sceneries and astonishing landscape. Upon arrival at Yangshuo, you will check in at the 5-star Green Lotus Hotel. After a short rest in the hotel, you will take a short bicycle trip to the countryside of Yangshuo to appreciate the rural scenery. Along the way, a visit to a villager's home will be arranged, where you can experience the local farmers' lifestyle. Of course, if you do not like taking bicycle, we can transfer you there to finish this special trip. For dinner tonight, we suggest you dine at one of many cafes and restaurants in the famous West Street. Tips: Today we have to provide you a poor lunch on the cruise which can not meet the serving standards of TravelChinaGuide. This is a long-standing problem that nobody can solve it. We recommend you take a hearty breakfast at the hotel this morning. The cruise arrives at terminal Yangshuo around 13:30 to 14:30 according to the different water flows. There are plenty of coffee shops ashore for your choice.

Meals: American breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Green Lotus Hotel

Pupils in Yangshuo

Day 09Yangshuo - Guilin

We remain the whole morning free for you to walk around this small but charming town, such as visiting the exotic West Street and enjoying your time leisurely in some cafes or bars. For new couples, having a leisurely honeymoon tour here would be a special experience. Our guide will transfer you back to Guilin in the afternoon and arrange a half day Guilin tour. Your first stop will be the Reed Flute Cave. This limestone cave consists of various kinds of stalactite and stalagmite, a great creature of the nature. The following Steven Star Park should be a large treasure house of natural scenery, including graceful water, charming hills and magnificent limestone cave. The last stop is the Elephant Trunk Hill which is the landmark of Guilin. The huge hill just looks like an elegant elephant drinking water in the wild Li River.

Meals: American breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel

Captain's welcome party, Yangtze River tour

Day 10Guilin - Chongqing

You will take a morning flight to Chongqing today. Our local guide will expect you at the airport and transfer you to downtown to have lunch. Afterwards, you will go to Chongqing Zoo to see the cute giant pandas and then visit the Residence of General Joseph W. Stilwell who was an American general contributing a great deal to China during the World War II. The next stop is the bustling ancient town of Ci Qi Kou, where there are many characteristic stores selling local snacks, Chinese paintings, antiques and traditional tea houses for you to explore. After that, we will transfer you to the pier to board the luxurious President Cruise Ship. As the cruise sails at 22:00, your exciting Yangtze cruise tour begins.

Meals: American breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: President No.1

Day 11Chongqing - Shibaozhai

At about 14:00, you will have a shore excursion to Shibaozhai, which was constructed in the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 400 years. Built against the mountain, the tower is magnificent with 12 stories and 56 meters high. There are ancient temple, cultural relics' showrooms, duck cave and other landscapes on the top of it. Then the Captain's Welcome Party will be held tonight. You are welcome to join in.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Three Gorges, Yangtze River cruise

Day 12Badong - Xiling Gorge - Sandouping

Today you will see one of the highlights of the Yangtze River - the Shennong Stream. On the sailing to Badong, the cruise ship will pass the steep Qutang Gorge and the zigzagging Wu Gorge. Upon arrival at Badong, you will board an Eco-friendly ferry for one hour's sailing into the remote section of the Shennong Stream, where you will take a pea boat to drift along the river between cliffs. The tour guide and boat trackers are all the local Tujia minority people, who are good at singing and dancing. They will sing the folk songs for you while hauling the pea boat forward. After three to four hours' adventure, you will be back onto the cruise ship. The cruise continues sailing into the Xiling Gorge and will pass the Five Level Ship Lock of China Dam tonight.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13Yichang - Shanghai

Disembark early in the morning for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. There is a bus driving you to the peak where you could overlook the huge Three Gorges Dam composed of the dam, the hydropower stations and the navigation facility. After returning to the ship, please follow the check-out procedure. Your memorable Yangtze cruise tour will end here. Our Yichang guide will come to the cruise ship to meet you and transfer you to downtown. If time permits, you will visit the Yichang Museum. After that, take a flight to Shanghai. Our local guide will expect you at the airport and transfer you to the downtown 5-star Renaissance Shanghai Yuyuan Hotel.  

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Renaissance Shanghai Yuyuan Hotel

Huangpu River cruise, Shanghai

Day 14Shanghai

Your first stop in Shanghai is to visit Shanghai Museum, which is a fantastic art gallery exhibiting bronze, ceramics, paintings, jade and furniture of ancient China. The next destination is the famous Yuyuan Garden, an elegant private garden built 400 years ago. You will feast on an a la carte farewell lunch at a fancy and famous local restaurant, which offers authentic Shanghai and Cantonese cuisine. In the afternoon, you will take a short cruise tour along the Huangpu River to obtain different city views of both banks. After that, we will leave you some free time to walk along the Bund area at a leisurely step and then visit an old street in Shanghai. 

Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Renaissance Shanghai Yuyuan Hotel

Day 15Departure from Shanghai

Our guide will transfer you to the airport today. You will take the homebound flight with uncountable pleasant memories. Wish you a safe journey back home. As also, you are welcome to look over our City Package to plan a subsequent China visit.

Meals: American breakfast

• ◆2012 Price

Based on per person and in U.S. dollars, valid from Jan. 1st, 2012 to Feb. 28th, 2013

Season Group Size		2-5 travelers	6-9 travelers	10 travelers & above
High season	Double Occupancy	$3319	$2859	$2609
	Single Occupancy	$4379	$3909	$3619
Shoulder season	Double Occupancy	$3279	$2819	$2569
	Single Occupancy	$4299	$3839	$3549

Note: For the Yangtze portion of this itinerary, we quote the price based on the President No.1 cruise ship. The quotation is subject to change if you happen to meet the sailing date of any other cruise ships. Besides, the prices also exclude the service charge of CNY150.00 per person recruited by the cruise company, you need to pay on the spot when you board the cruise.

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For our special terms of quotation inclusions & exclusions, reservation, payment and cancellation, Please click Terms and Conditions.