Tiananmen Square, Beijing

Day 01Arrival in Beijing

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Beijing Airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Day 02Beijing

Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. A Beijing Duck Dinner will be served at a famous restaurant followed by a lively Peking Opera performance at Liyuan Theatre.(B+L+D)

Descriptions: Tiananmen Square - the largest square in the world, is situated at the center of Beijing city. The Square has become the symbol of Beijing, and even China. A monument to the People's Heroes stands upright in the center. Initially built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. - 1644 A.D.), Tiananmen Square was the entrance of your next destination, the Forbidden City. 
  
Forbidden City - To the north of the Inner Court of the Forbidden City is the Imperial Garden, Yuhuayuan in Chinese. Though small in size, it is decorated with beautiful towers, exquisite pavilions, artificial hills, emerald springs, old tress, rare rocks, charming flowers and lawns. It is regarded as a replica of the gardens of South China. Behind the Imperial Garden is the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu Men). There is a drum and a bell on the gate. The bell is used to announce a new day while the drum rataplaned the time at night.
 
Temple of Heaven - In the inner part of the Temple of Heaven, all of the main buildings are connected by a 360-meter walkway called Dan Bi Bridge. It has an intangible raise from southern end to northern end, because the emperor though he could go to heaven through it.

Day 03Beijing

Visit the Badaling Great Wall. To avoid having lunch at shopping site restaurants, you will be driven to have Sichuan food at a local popular restaurant. Visit the Sacred Way and the Ming Tomb in the afternoon. On the way back to downtown, drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium). You will see its appearance at a distance. (B+L, D is included for luxury series)

Differences
Luxury Series: We arrange an a la carte dinner at a famous Cantonese cuisine restaurant in the Wangfujing area. 
Standard Series: We intend to leave the dinner to your own choice. You may ask for some suggestions from your local guide.
 
Descriptions: Great Wall - A Chinese proverb says that a man who hasn't been to the Great Wall is not a real man. Until now, the Badaling Great Wall has welcomed and impressed more than 13 millions visitors, including the former US presidents Nixon and Reagan, the first woman Prime Minister of Great Britain Mrs Thatcher and other more than 400 heads of foreign governments and men of the time, which is rare among all the tourist sites in the world. So during your visit in Beijing, Badaling should absolutely not be missed!

Our clients at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian

Day 04Beijing - Xian

Visit the Summer Palace and the Lama Temple. Take a flight to Xian and transfer to hotel. (B+L, D is included for luxury series)

Differences
Luxury Series: we have arranged a buffet dinner for you at your hotel this evening.
Standard Series: we would like to leave this dinner to your own choice. You may have dinner at your hotel by yourself or ask for your guide's suggestion.
 
Descriptions:
Summer Palace - Upon your arrival at the Summer Palace, you will be firstly attracted by a grand gate, the East Palace Gate, the major entrance to the palace. Looking carefully, you will find that the gate has three grand doors in the middle exclusively for the emperor, empress and queen mothers; the other two doors on each side are for the imperial family members and the court officials. On the gate, there is a big plaque inscribed three Chinese characters, 'Yi He Yuan', which means to maintain the energy and to mellow the soul.
 
Lama Temple - The Lama Temple covers an area of about 66,000 square meters, spanning 400 meters from south to north. It combines the various architectural styles of different groups, including Han, Manchu, Mongol and Tibet. The temple's five main halls are located on the north-south axis, all of which have corresponding courtyards. From south to north, there are the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Hall of Harmony and Peace, the Hall of Everlasting Blessings, the Hall of the Dharma Wheel and the Pavilion of Infinite Happiness.

Yangshuo village

Day 05Xian

Visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Afterwards, a drive along the highway back to downtown for a superb lunch at a Cantonese cuisine restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall. This evening you will be entertained by the marvelous Tang Dynasty Show.(B+L+D)

Differences
Luxury Series: You will have Tang Dynasty Dinner and Show at Tang Dynasty Palace (Add: No.75, Chang'an Road, Xian).
Standard Series: You will enjoy Dumpling Banquet and Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show at Shaanxi Opera Theatre (Add: No. 165, Wenyi Road, Xian).
 
Descriptions:
Terracotta Warriors Museum - On talking about the Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, we should mention the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, which is located about 22 miles east of Xian, in the eastern suburbs of Lintong County. The Emperor Qin Shihuang began to build this huge mausoleum as soon as he ascended the throne. He carefully chose the site of the mausoleum which leans Lishan Mountain and overlooks the Wei River towards north. The surrounding landscape looks very much like a dragon, and the imperial mausoleum is located right at the eye of this dragon. 
 
Dumpling Banquet - If there is one kind of food that evokes delightful expectations and happy recollections, represents a better life and family reunions in China, it is definitely Jiaozi (dumplings). As the Chinese economy has thrived, eating Jiaozi is no longer a big event for the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), Jiaozi has become extremely popular in Northern China, especially Xian. So we feel honored to present you this traditional food.

Lijiang Old Town

Day 06Xian - Kunming

Visit the Great Mosque and a local family. After enjoying the a la carte lunch at a famous local restaurant, take a flight to Kunming and transfer to the hotel.(B+L)

Tips: Kunming is called a Spring City because of its nice weather all year long. It is also a clustering place of Chinese minorities with diversified cultures. Once you are in Kunming, you should not miss the local flavor food Over-bridge Rice Noodles (Guo Qiao Mi Xian) which is widely popular in every corner of China. It is noodles made from rice and cooked with meat and vegetables in light taste. It is the most welcomed food in Yunnan province and the stores selling that can be easily found anywhere in the street.

Descriptions: Great Mosque - Unlike authentic mosques in Arabic countries, the Great Mosque in Xian is in Chinese style with courtyards, except for some Arabic lettering and decorations. It has neither domes nor minarets of traditional Islamic mosque. However, as the largest and one of the earliest mosques in Xian, it is the major spot for religious activities of tens of thousand Moslems in the city. Around the mosque is the largest Moslem community, Hui Fang, where Islamic customs, tens of lanes and countless Moslem snack shops are well reserved.

Day 07Kunming - Lijiang

Visit the Stone Forest. Take a flight to Lijiang and transfer to the hotel.(B+L)

Descriptions: Stone Forest - it is totally a natural shaped site of Karst physiognomy. As its name implies, it is a forest made up of numerous stones. Going through years of erosion by the wind and rain, the stones are figured grotesquely in shape and make itself an attractive site for visitors.

Lijiang Old Town

Day 08Lijiang

Visit the Baisha Village and a local Naxi family, the Baisha Murals, the Rock Joseph's Former Residence in Yuhu Village. The afternoon is free for you to explore the Old Town by yourselves. Enjoy the Naxi Ancient Music and Dance Performance at Dongba Palace in the evening.(B+L+D)

Tips: You will have a totally exotic experience during the whole day visit. There are different minorities living here and each of them has their own unique customs and folk cultures. The Naxi people are one large group of them and they have lived for generations here. Approach these simple hearted and friendly people to learn more about their life in depth.

Day 09Lijiang - Kunming - Guilin

The guide will see you off to take a flight to Kunming and then please connect the flight to Guilin by yourself. All the flight tickets will be handled well for you. Please don't worry and it is easy for you to do the connecting. Upon arrival in Guilin, our guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for a brief refreshment.(B)

Tips: Guilin is entitled to be the city with the most beautiful landscape scenery in China. The Two Rivers and Four Lakes compose the main spirit of Guilin. Two Rivers, Li River and Taohua (peach blossom) River, flow through the city and the Four Lakes, Rong Lake, Shan Lake, Gui Lake and Mulong Lake, intersperse around the city. Decorated with the colorful glittering neon lights, the landscape with waters and mountains in Guilin is more charming and lovely. You can walk along the Binjiang Road after the show to enjoy this fairy land freely on your own.

Li River cruise, Guilin

Day 10Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin

Enduring memories are created today as you cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. Upon arrival in Yangshuo, a short bicycle trip to the countryside will then be arranged. You will visit a local villager's home to experience the farmer's lifestyle there. Alternatively, you can take our electric car instead of taking bicycles. Transfer back to Guilin.(B+L)

Tips: Lunch will be provided on the cruise today and since it may not meet your expectations, TCG suggests that you have a larger breakfast at the hotel.
 
Descriptions:
Li River - The Li River Scenery is the most picturesque and largest Karst scenic area in the world. Originated in Mao'er Mountain in Xing'an County, the Li River passes through Guilin, Yanshuo and Pingle County. Its course of 83 kilometers from Guilin to Yangshuo is like a green ribbon flanked by numerous verdant hills. The odd peaks standing along the river course reflect on the crystal-clear water, creating a splendid landscape painting. Fields and gardens strew at random on the bank, which brings you the reminiscence of idyllic lifestyle depicted in Ancient Chinese poetries.

Day 11Guilin - Shanghai

Visit the Reed Flute Cave, the Seven Star Park and the Elephant Trunk Hill.  Take a flight to Shanghai and transfer to hotel.(B+L)

Descriptions: Elephant Trunk Hill - The Elephant Trunk Hill is a representative of Karst formations. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, it has become a popular tourist resort. With a history of more than 1,000 years' history, it has been well developed as an emblem of Guilin sceneries.

Shanghai Pudong area

Day 12Shanghai

Visit the Shanghai Museum and the Yuyuan Garden. Then for the afternoon activities, please see the following different arrangements for the luxury and standard series. Tonight a memorable a la carte dinner is served at Central Hotel, whose restaurant Wang Bao He has a history of around 260 years and is the best place to serve Shanghai Cuisine. The dinner will be followed by the Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Centre Theatre.(B+L+D)

Differences
Luxury Series: After lunch we will transfer you to the Bund area, where you will take a cruise tour on the Huangpu River. The cruise will start at 14:00, reach the Wusongkou pier and then get back to the Bund at 17:00. Then leave you some free time to explore the Bund area on your own.
Standard Series: You will be taken to visit the Bund along the Huangpu River and the famous Nanjing Road, and then a local family visit is scheduled.
 
Descriptions:
Shanghai - Shanghai, the largest city in China, has allured countless tourists to China. It is a city of modernization and reminiscence and a city of orient and occident. Westerners are drawn by its rich history and oriental charm. People from other Chinese cities are fascinated with modern face. There are both ancient Chinese architectures and western structures. The historical landmark the Bund and the modern ever-expanding Pudong area symbolize the ancient and modern faces of the metropolis respectively.
 
Shanghai Museum - Situated in Renmin Dadao on the south side of the People's Square, Shanghai ranks among the four greatest museums in China, together with the National Palace Museum of Beijing, Shaanxi History Museum in Xian and Nanjing Museum in Jiangsu Province. Its rich collection of artistic works includes bronze objects, calligraphy and paintings, potteries, jade wares, stone sculptures, seals, coins, silk and embroideries, handicrafts of ethnic minorities, inscriptions and carvings on bones and ivories.
 
Yuyuan Garden - Yuyuan Garden is located in the center of old Shanghai, close to the ancient Town God's Temple and the Yuyuan Department Store. Built in 1559AD in the Ming Dynasty, it was originally the private garden of Pan Yunduan, the son of a high-ranking official in the court. The garden is picturesquely laid out with exquisite pavilions, small lakes, little bridges, rockeries and flowers. It is considered to be one of the most elegant gardens in the southern China.

Day 13Departure from Shanghai

From the hotel you will be taken to the airport so that you can board the flight back home loaded with pleasant memories.(B)