Our group at the Badaling Great Wall, Beijing

Day 01Arrival in Beijing

Today your international flight will touch down in Beijing. Our professional local guide will meet you at the exit of the airport after you reclaim your luggage. On the way to the hotel, we will give you a brief introduction to our capital city. After checking in at your hotel you will have free time for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Deluxe Holiday Inn Central Plaza Hotel - the best Holiday Inn Hotel in Beijing (3 nights)

Day 02Beijing

After enjoying a rich breakfast, you will meet other group members at the hotel. Our guide will give a tour briefing and provide you with a list of the members of the group and a copy of the complete itinerary. Your first stop today is the world famous Tian'anmen Square. We suppose you must have seen it on TV many times, while, today you will have a chance to walk on this square and feel the great changes in our country. Next we go to the Forbidden City where you can sense the vicissitude of our once feudal country. After lunch, we visit the Temple of Heaven. This evening, you can enjoy a delicious Duck Dinner which costs CNY122.00 net per person (inclusive) and the "quintessence" of Chinese opera, a Peking Opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre. (B+L+D)

Day 03Beijing

The highlight of today's trip is a visit to the Great Wall. Like a huge dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down, across mountains, grasslands, deserts and plains. The part we will visit is Badaling, which is the best section on the "neck of the huge dragon". Since a lot of energy will be consumed when climbing the wall, we have arranged a sumptuous lunch for you at a Sichuan restaurant which enjoys a good reputation among our former clients. In the afternoon, we visit the Sacred Way and the Ming Tomb. Then we drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium) to the urban area. (B+L+D)

Terracotta warriors, Xian

Day 04Beijing - Xian

This morning's tour will cover the Summer Palace and the Beijing Zoo where you can see the lovely Giant Pandas. Then an afternoon flight will take you to Xian. Your local guide and driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. For dinner, we have arranged a western style buffet at your hotel, which costs CNY170.00 net per person (inclusive).(B+L+D)

Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Hotel - downtown   (3 nights)

Day 05Xian

Today's highlight is a visit to the world's wonder - the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Lunch is served at a nice restaurant with an a la carte meal valued at CNY80.00 net per person (inclusive). Then we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the evening enjoy the best dinner show in Xian, the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show at the Tang Dynasty Palace (Add: No.75, Chang'an Road, Xian). (B+L+D)

Day 06Xian

Today is a full day of sightseeing. We will take you to the City Wall, visit with a local family and tour the Great Mosque. The Muslim bazaar beside the mosque is a good place for picking up souvenirs or gifts. You will have free time to explore the bazaar. An a la carte lunch and dinner both valued at CNY80.00 net per person (inclusive) will be arranged at local restaurants. (B+L+D)

Yangtze River cruise

Day 07Xian - Chongqing

This morning, on the way to the airport, we will visit the Hanyangling Museum. Upon arrival at Chongqing, our guide will pick you up and accompany you for a short city tour in Chongqing till you board the deluxe New Century cruise. A sumptuous buffet dinner at a 5-star hotel will be specially arranged for you. Your relaxing and fantastic Yangtze River cruise begins when the ship leaves Chongqing at about 23:30.(B+D)

Accommodation: New Century Cruises (3 nights)

Day 08Chongqing - Fengdu

After breakfast, the river guide will give a brief introduction to the cruise. Your first onshore excursion is to the Snowy Jade Cave this afternoon. Afterwards, continue sailing to the Three Gorges. The Captain's Welcome Party will be held tonight. (B+L+D)

Day 09Badong - Xiling Gorge - Sandouping

After a big breakfast, disembark at Badong to take an exciting pea-boat along the Shennong Stream. We suggest you take some change along in case you would like to tip the hard-working boat trackers. Return to the ship for lunch and continue the cruise into the western section of the Xiling Gorge. Pass through the splendid five-step ship lock in the evening. (B+L+D)

Our group at Shanghai Bund area

Day 10Yichang - Shanghai

Disembark for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam which is still under construction. Then pack your luggage and complete check-out procedures. Our guide will pick you up for a Yichang city tour and the Yichang Museum if time allows. Then take a flight to the coastal city - Shanghai and check in at a deluxe hotel on the famous Nanjing Road.(B+L)

Accommodation: JC Mandarin Hotel - Deluxe room (2 nights)

Day 11Shanghai

This full day of sightseeing will take you to the Shanghai Museum, the Yuyuan Garden and a Huangpu River cruise tour. This evening, we hope you will enjoy the the farewell dinner of authentic Shanghai cuisine served at the 260 years old Wang Bao He restaurant in the Central Hotel, valued at CNY105.00 net per person (inclusive), and the exciting Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Centre Theatre. (B+L+D)

Our group in Yangshuo

Day 12Shanghai - Guilin

You will have the whole morning free to rest at the hotel or to do some shopping on Nanjing Road. Our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby at noon and take you to have lunch. In the afternoon, you will fly to Guilin and check in at the best local hotel.(B+L)

Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel (2 nights)

Day 13Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin

Guilin is famous for its supernatural landscape. Today you will have a chance to appreciate its beauty by cruising on the picturesque Li River. The cruise will depart from Guilin at 09:00 and arrive at Yangshuo at about 14:00. The lunch provided by the cruise company may not meet your needs, so we suggest that you have a big breakfast at the hotel today. When you arrive at Yangshuo, you can walk down the well-known West Street and explore the sidewalk shops. Later, our guide will arrange a short bicycle trip for you to enjoy the rural scenery of Yangshuo. If you can not ride a bicycle, you can go by electric car at no extra cost. Along the way, we will visit a local peasant family. After finishing the tour in Yangshuo, our guide and driver will take you back to Guilin. (B+L+D)

Our group at Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Day 14Guilin - Hongkong

Today we will visit the Reed Flute Cave, the Elephant Trunk Hill and the Seven Star Park. Then our guide will take you to the airport for the flight to Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong is a free port and the transportation there is quite convenient and easy to access, you will need to take taxi or the airport shuttle bus to Kowloon, to your hotel at 70 Mody Road, Tsimshatsui East. The rest of the day is free time. Dinner is on your own.(B+L)

Accommodation: InterContinental Grand Stanford Hongkong (2 nights)

Day 15Hongkong

American breakfast is included at the hotel. You are on your own today. For sightseeing, we suggest you take a half-day Hong Kong Island tour which includes the Victoria Peak, the Repulse Bay, Aberdeen, the Stanley Market, and the star ferry riding. (B)

Day 16Departure from Hongkong

This is the last day of our tour. If you are catching your flight today, you should make your own arrangements to get to the airport. Also, you are welcome to look over our City Tour Packages to plan a subsequent China visit. The TravelChinaGuide Team feels honored to have had the chance to serve you for this 16-day trip. We hope we can meet you in China again. (B)