Day 01Arrival in Beijing

Our guide will meet you outside the customs at Beijing Airport and transfer you to register in the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Beijing at leisure. Taking photos to record various landscapes and people's lifestyles during your visit makes a photo tour of lifetime.

Meals: No meals

Forbidden City, Beijing

Day 02Beijing

This morning, you will have a stroll on Tiananmen Square, the world's largest urban city square. Then walk through the Golden Water Bridge to enter the Forbidden City, the best-preserved also largest imperial architecture complex in the world. To avoid having lunch at the tourist eateries arranged by most agencies, we will offer you an a la carte lunch at a noted local restaurant, where you can taste the authentic Chinese food. In the afternoon, tour the Temple of Heaven, one of the most delicate and beautiful of the existing ancient royal gardens. After that, you will enjoy a lively Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theatre.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Our travel consultant Abbey and her clients

Day 03Beijing

Today, you will take an excursion to the Great Wall, an ancient military defensive project which meanders over a vast land of China. The section you will visit is the Great Wall at Badaling, which is the best-preserved and most developed among all existing ones. At noon, rather than having lunch at shopping site restaurants, you will have Sichuan food at a popular local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the Sacred Way and the Ming Tomb. The Sacred Way is a road leading to the body part of Ming tombs which is decorated by stone statues in different postures and functions. The Ming Tombs is a group of ancient mausoleums while the oldest one can be dated back to 600 years ago. On the way back to downtown, you will pass by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium). Our driver will make a stop for you to view this magnificent edifice at close quarters.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Hanging Monastery, Datong

Day 04Beijing - Datong

This morning, you will first visit an imperial garden, the Summer Palace. As a royal garden, the Summer Palace has absorbed some best parts of China's traditional architecture and presented various gardening styles. To experience old Beijing history and special culture, you will be delighted by the Hutong tour. Hutong, dating back to Yuan dynasty, is an old alley or lane belongs only to Beijing. Scattered in Beijing city like stars, Hutongs attract tourists from home and aboard every year by showing the essential culture and characteristics of old Beijng. Around noon, you will enjoy a rich a la carte lunch at a decent local restaurant with nice environment. The sightseeing tour in Beijing ends here and you will take a soft sleeper train to Datong, where our local guide will greet you at the railway station and transfer you to register in the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Day 05Datong

You will explore the Hanging Monastery this morning. Seen from below, the Hanging Monastery looks like hanging in the air, hence the name. Then continue your tour to the Yungang Grottoes, one of the four most famous grottoes in China. The last site you will visit today is the Nine Dragons Screen, the oldest and largest glazed screen in China. As is implied in its name, the screen mainly displays nine vivid and different shaped dragons.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 06Datong - Pingyao

You will take a soft sleeper train to Pingyao. Upon your arrival, our local guide will meet you at Pingyao Railway Station and transfer you to register in the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to stroll along this ancient city.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Local people's life

Day 07Pingyao - Taiyuan - Xian

Today's tour will bring you to the City Wall of Pingyao, the best-preserved county-level ancient City Wall in China. Then get down from the wall and have a stroll on the Ming-Qing Street, which was once reputed as the 'No. 1 Financial Street of Great Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)'. Afterwards, visit Rishengchang Exchange Shop, the first private bank in China; and Tongxinggong, an establishment which provided private escort service in ancient China. After lunch, we will transfer you to Taiyuan. On the way, visit the Qiao Family's Compound, formerly the private house of a wealthy local merchant. If time permits, the tour will be extended to Jinci Temple in Taiyuan, which boasts sculptures, murals and tablet carvings. You will then take an overnight soft sleeper train to Xian.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Xian City Wall park

Day 08Xian

Upon your arrival, our guide will greet you at Xian Railway Station and transfer you to the hotel. After checking in and having breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the City Wall of Xian. Different from the one in Pingyao, the City Wall in Xian is much longer and grander. Then, pay a visit to a local Chinese family. As is our practice, an a la carte lunch is served for you at a well-known local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Great Mosque, one of the oldest and most renowned mosques in China, and its nearby Moslem bazaar.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Terracotta warriors

Day 09Xian

Explore the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Here, you will see the life-figured terracotta warriors arranged in a big, orderly arrayed combat formation, seem ready to set out anytime. To avoid the low-quality tourist eateries arranged by others, we will serve you an a la carte lunch at the best local restaurant. The tour this afternoon will take you to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Shaanxi History Museum. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a brick pagoda in the shape of a square pyramid, built for collecting Buddhism materials taken from India. Shaanxi History Museum is a comprehensive museum exhibiting almost all aspects of human life from primitive ages to the year of 1840. This evening, luxury series clients will appreciate a marvelous and imperial Tang Dynasty Dinner Show at Tang Dynasty Palace (Addr: No.75 Chang'an Road, Xian); while standard series clients will enjoy the local specialty Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Show at Shaanxi Opera Theater (Addr: No. 165, Wenyi Road, Xian).

Meals for Luxury series: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch, Tang Dynasty dinner show
              Standard series: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch, Dumpling dinner

Hanyangling Museum, Xian

Day 10Xian - Chengdu

Before flying to Chengdu, you will visit the Hanyangling Museum on the way to Xian Airport. In the museum, a large number of figurines unearthed are prominently displayed. Compared with the solemnity of the terracotta warriors and horses, these pottery figurines appear to be calm and peaceful, reflecting its harmonious social background. Upon your arrival in Chengdu, our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Chengdu Airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 11Chengdu

Pay a visit to Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, where you can appreciate the lovely giant pandas in real life. Next stop will be the Wangjiang Tower Park and then the Tomb of Wangjian. After the sightseeing tour, you will have a stroll on Jinli Street, a place to experience the local folk customs.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Dazu Grottoes, Chongqing

Day 12Chengdu - Leshan - Emei

You will travel to Leshan by our private car to take boat to see the Leshan Giant Buddha, the biggest Buddha carving in the world. Then head to Mt. Emei and visit the Baoguo Temple, which is the entrance to Mt. Emei and the Buddhism activity center of Mt. Emei. The treasures in Baoguo Temple are a giant porcelain Buddha and a huge bronze bell. You will stay overnight at the hotel on Mt. Emei.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13Mt. Emei - Chengdu - Chongqing

Tour the Wannian Temple, one of the four must sees on Mt. Emei. It is well-known for its Buddhism culture and delicate architectural layout. After lunch, we will drive you back to Chengdu and arrange you to take a soft seat train to Chongqing. Upon your arrival, our local guide will pick you up at Chongqing Railway Station and transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 14Chongqing - Dazu - Chongqing

Today, you will head to Dazu and explore the Dazu Rock Carvings, which has collected the essence of carving arts of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. After the sightseeing tour in Dazu, we will transfer you back to Chongqing.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Rural life in Yangshuo

Day 15Chongqing - Guilin

Explore Ci Qi Kou, an old village once famous for producing high-qualified porcelain. Nowadays, the most attractive scenes in Ci Qi Kou are teahouses and various time-honored shops. Afterwards, visit General Joseph W. Stilwell Museum. General Joseph has founded deep friendship with Chinese people during the World WarⅡ. Then, you will take a flight to Guilin. Our local guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 16Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin

Enduring memories will be created today as you cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. During the cruise, you can appreciate the magnificent hills mirrored in the aquamarine water, buffaloes grazing along the banks and local peasants rowing a small boat or fishing raft along the river. After the cruise arrives in Yangshuo, a short bicycle trip to the countryside will then be arranged for you to enjoy the natural and rural beauty there. You will also visit a local villager's home to experience the farmers' lifestyle in this small town. Alternatively, we will drive you there instead of riding bicycles. Late in the afternoon, we will transfer you back to Guilin. (Tips: Lunch will be provided on the cruise today. We suggest you have a larger breakfast at the hotel since the lunch on the cruise can not meet the serving standard of TravelChinaGuide).

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Stone Forests, Kunming

Day 17Guilin - Kunming

A city tour in Guilin today includes the Reed Flute Cave, a brilliant water-eroded cave. This is a spectacular world of stalagmites, stalactites, stone pillars and stone flowers created by carbonate deposits. Then the Elephant Trunk Hill, famed as the symbol of Guilin city. The hill has impressed visitors by its distinctive appearance, which resembles an elephant sucking water with its long trunk. Take a flight to Kunming. Our local guide will greet you at Kunming Airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 18Kunming - Lijiang

Today, you will take an excursion to the Stone Forest, a typical example of karst topography which is reputed as 'No. 1 Wonder of the World'. Here, you will appreciate numerous stones in intricate but vivid shapes or postures. Then fly to Lijiang in the afternoon. Our local guide will welcome you at Lijiang Airport and transfer you to the well-located hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Lijiang Old Town

Day 19Lijang

Travel to Baisha Village, once the political, economic and cultural center of Lijiang. You will see some constructions in traditional Chinese style in the village. Then visit a local Naxi family, where you may get a sense of the minority people's life. Next, you will appreciate the Baisha Murals, a wonderful art form of minorities in west Yunnan, and finally come to the Joseph Rock's Former Residence in Yuhu Village, which was also the base of Yunnan Expedition of the National Geographic Society once upon a time. Afternoon is free for you to explore this fantastic and beautiful old town on your own.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 20Lijiang - Shanghai

Morning is free for you to explore Lijiang Old Town further. In the afternoon, our Lijiang guide will meet you at the appointed time in the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. When you arrive in Shanghai, our local guide will welcome you at the airport and escort you to register in the hotel. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Our clients enjoying their a la carte meals

Day 21Shanghai

Your Shanghai tour starts from Shanghai Museum, which boasts numerous ancient artworks. Next stop is the classical Yuyuan Garden specializing in delicate design, quiet atmosphere and elegant scenery. At noon, you will enjoy a palatable a la carte lunch at a popular local restaurant. After lunch we will transfer you to the Bund area to take a short cruise tour on Shanghai's mother river, Huangpu River. Along this river, the best part of Shanghai landscape has gathered and you will see a typical urban city view during the cruise. You will have some free time to explore the Bund area, where more than 20 buildings of different eras, countries and styles stand and then visit an old street in Shanghai.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Day 22Shanghai - Suzhou

Today your tour extends to Suzhou by a soft seat train. Our Suzhou guide will meet you at the railway station and transfer you to the hotel. Following is a visit to the Tiger Hill, where a number of historical sites are located, among which the Tiger Hill Pagoda is the landmark of Suzhou city. Then, tour two most famous classical gardens in Suzhou, the Garden of the Master of the Nets, and the Humble Administrator's Garden.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Water town, Shanghai

Day 23Suzhou - Zhouzhuang - Shanghai

We will drive you to Zhouzhuang today, which truly merits its name as a water town in embrace of lakes. The local residences, unique traditions and people's lifestyle are well preserved in the township; hence comes the reputation of 'Number One Water Town in China'. In the town, you will visit the Shen House, which was the private property of the descendant of Shen Wansan, once the number one millionaire of south China 600 years ago. Then we will drive you back to Shanghai and transfer you to the hotel again.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 24Departure from Shanghai

Today, our guide will transfer you to the airport and see you off there. We wish you a pleasant journey home and thank you for choosing TravelChinaGuide.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Accommodation

Grade	Luxury	Standard
Beijing	Crowne Plaza	Holiday Inn Central Plaza the best Holiday Inn Hotel in Beijing
Datong	Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong	Datong Hotel
Pingyao	Yunjincheng Folk Hotel	Yide Guesthouse
Xian	Sheraton Xian Hotel	Grand New World Hotel
Chengdu	Sheraton Lido Hotel	Tianfu Sunshine Hotel
Emei	Building No. 5 of Hongzhushan Executive Room	Building No. 5 of Hongzhushan Executive Room
Chongqing	Harbour Plaza	Wanyou Confier Hotel
Guilin	Sheraton Hotel	Guilin Bravo Hotel former Holiday Inn Hotel
Kunming	Grand Park Hotel	Kunming Hotel
Lijiang	Crowne Plaza Lijiang Ancient Town	WangFu Hotel
Shanghai	Renaissance Shanghai Yuyuan Hotel	Ya Fan Long Men Hotel
Suzhou	Suzhou Marriott	Holiday Inn Jasmine Suzhou

• ◆ 2012 Price
• ◆ 2011 Price

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

Grade	Luxury				Standard
	High season (Mar 1st-Nov 30th)		Shoulder season (Dec 1st-Feb 28th)		High season (Mar 1st-Nov 30th)		Shoulder season (Dec 1st-Feb 28th)
	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single
2-5 persons	$5659	$7259	$5279	$6579	$4949	$5869	$4689	$5449
6-9 persons	$4639	$6239	$4249	$5559	$3919	$4849	$3669	$4429
10 & above	$4089	$5549	$3729	$4869	$3339	$4139	$3159	$3769

Based on per person and in U.S. dollars, valid from Mar. 1st, 2011 to Feb. 29th, 2012

Grade	Luxury				Standard
	High season (Mar 1st-Nov 30th)		Shoulder season (Dec 1st-Feb 29th)		High season (Mar 1st-Nov 30th)		Shoulder season (Dec 1st-Feb 29th)
	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single	Double	Single
2-5 persons	$5479	$6989	$5139	$6419	$4819	$5729	$4559	$5309
6-9 persons	$4499	$6009	$4159	$5439	$3839	$4749	$3579	$4329
10 & above	$3999	$5349	$3609	$4679	$3279	$4059	$3099	$3709

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