Forbidden City, Beijing

Day 01Arrive in Beijing

Welcome to China! When you arrive in Beijing, TCG guide will wait for you at Beijing Airport, holding a banner with your name and the sign of “TravelChinaGuide” on it. After a brief introduction to each other, you will be transferred to the hotel we booked for you under your name. The hotel is the 3- star Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing (Address: 1 Nanwanzi Alley Nanheyan Street, Dongcheng District Beijing, 100006, Telephone: 86-10-6512 7788) for 4 nights stay with daily breakfast. For the rest day, you will be refreshed from the long journey on the flight by yourself without any activities by us. No meals will be served on this day.

Meals: No meals

Day 02Beijing

On the second day, Tiananmen Square (the world largest central city square), the Forbidden City (the world largest and the best-preserved Imperial Palace complex) and the Temple of Heaven (national largest group of structures dedicated to rituals that pay homage to the glory of heaven) will be arranged on the second day.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 03Beijing

On the third day, suburb tour will cover the Badaling Great Wall with the best tourist facility, the Sacred Path and then the Ming Tomb. On the way back, you will have a chance to visit the appearance of the Bird's Nest in the distance. If needed, you may taste the local flavor on the evenings with some suggestions by the guide.

Meals: Breakfast

Safeguard of the Forbidden City, Beijing Photo by our client Mr. Robin Pollock

Day 04Beijing

The fourth day is free while the hotel with breakfast is provided for you. On your first Beijing trip, the Summer Palace is a ''must'' sightseeing destination. You can take a taxi there to feel the harmony between man and nature. It creates a fabulous picture with different plants, rocks, paths, pavilions and a long corridorwith delicate ornaments. Beautiful scenes come into sight continuously as you stroll in the garden. It's best to prepare some food in advance since it takes a long time to walk around or you could have a meal at Yushanfang inside, but it is a bit expensive. During the rest of the day, you can have some happy hours at the Beijing Ocean Aquarium to seek for the mysterious underwater world. Please click for more Beijing free day suggestions.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 05Beijing - Lhasa

On the fifth day, see you off to board a morning flight to Lhasa and leave Beijing city. Be picked up by the local guide at Lhasa airport and transferred to register at the 3-star ShangBaLa Hotel for 3 nights (Address: No. 1 Danjielin Road, Lhasa, Tibet, 850001 China; Telephone: 86-891-6323888). Please put your curiosity away temporarily and have a good rest at the hotel to adapt to the high altitude. We intend to leave the dinner on your own and you may take it at a proper time at the hotel by yourself.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 06Lhasa

On the sixth day, have a morning tour  to the Tibet Museum and the Carpet Factory. In the afternoon, you will see the interesting sutra-debate in Sera Monastery and visit the famous Norbulingka Park. If you happen to meet the Shoton Festival during your stay, you're lucky to see ceremonious celebration in Norbulingka Park. At the end of the day, visit a local Tibet family.

Meals: Breakfast

The local Tibetans with the visitor

Day 07Lhasa

On the seventh day, we will start to explore this magic land and stop at the magnificent Potala Palace firstly. The whole tour inside should be finished within an hour and you're not permitted to stop anywhere during the visit. Acquainted yourself with some background information in the previous day will help you to understand its culture relics there better. In the afternoon, visit the Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor Street and the Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 08Lhasa - Xian

On the eighth day, see you off at Lhasa airport to board a flight to Xian.Be picked up by the local guide at Xian airport and transferred to register at the 3-star City Hotel staying 2 nights (Address: No. 70 Nandajie, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710002 China, Telephone: 86-29-8721 9988). The balance day is free.

Meals: Breakfast

Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xian

Day 09Xian

A guided day tour begins with the amazing Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum in the suburb area. In the afternoon, you will spend time visiting the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall in the downtown area.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10Xian - Guilin

Morning is free and you're advised to visit the Provincial History Museum and taste the local snacks at the Islamic Flavor Street. Please click for more Xian  free day suggestions.Take a shuttle bus or taxi to the airport. Board a flight to Guilin by yourself.  Be picked up by the local guide at Guilin airport and transferred to the 3-star Hotel Universal staying 2 nights (Address: No. 1 Jiefangdong Road, Guilin 541001; Telephone: 86-773-282 8228). The balance day is free.

Meals: Breakfast

Li River cruise tour, Guilin Photo by our client Mr. Robin Pollock

Day 11Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin

On the eleventh day morning, have a big breakfast at the hotel since the lunch provided on the coming Li River cruise is not up to the normal standard. The guide will transfer you to board the cruise ship and then the following Li River cruise tour and a half-day Yangshuo trip will be handled by yourself. The cruise gets to Yangshuo at about 2:00 in the afternoon. Upon arrival, you are advised to stroll along the famous Yangshuo West Street, where there are many bars, coffee shops, western-style restaurants and souvenir stalls. Alternatively, since Yangshuo is famous for the wonderful rural scenery, you could rent a bicycle or an electric car to tour around the countryside, which is not far away from the town and usually it will take one and a half hour. After that, it's time for you to go back to Guilin. Please purchase a ticket (CNY14 per person ) at the nearby bus station and take a taxi to the hotel by yourself.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Li River cruise tour, Guilin Photo by our client Mr. Robin Pollock

Day 12Guilin - Shanghai

The twelfth day is free for you as the highlight scenic spots of Guilin could be easily accessed. You're advised to Qingjiang mansion (CNY40) in Guilin city center and attempt the typical Guilin rice noodles. Please click for more Guilin free day suggestions.Late in the afternoon, take a shuttle bus or a taxi to the airport and board a flight to Shanghai by yourself. Upon arrival at the airport, take a taxi to the  3-star Holiday Inn Express Zhabei Shanghai staying 3 nights (Address: No.1738 Zhongxing Road, Shanghai 200070, China) and handle the check-in procedure on your own. The balance day is free.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13Shanghai

For the full free day in Shanghai, we suggest you visit the downtown for one day. You're advised to visit the sights of Shanghai Museum(CNY40 per person; Address: No. 201, People's Great Road, Telephone: 86-21-63723500), the Yuyuan Garden (CNY40 per person, Address: 218, Anren Jie, Old City, Telephone: 06-21-63559999), the Oriental Pearl TV Tower (CNY85-135 per person, Address: Lujiazui, Pudong District, Telephone: 86-21-5879-1888), the Jade Buddha Temple (CNY30 per person, Address: No. 170, Anyuan Lu, northwest of Shanghai, at the west of Jiangning Lu, Telephone: 86-21-62663688). Only breakfast with hotel is provided today.

Meals: Breakfast

Shanghai Bund area

Day 14Shanghai

On the second free day in Shanghai, tour to the surrounding water towns like the Qibao Old Town (free of charge, Address: 7 Yu'tang Street, Qi'bao Town, Min'hang District, Shanghai, Telephone: 86-21-34100341) or Zhujiajiao.(CNY 60 per person, Adress: Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu district; Telephone: 86-21-594771). Please note that half day is enough to cover Zhujiajiao (with about 2 hours on the way to and back), so you may walking around the city or leave the morning relaxing at your hotel. Only breakfast with hotel is provided today.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 15Departure from Shanghai

On the fifteenth day, check out of the hotel and board your homeward flight by yourself. A leisure China tour ends.

Meals: Breakfast

 
 Note: We are also glad to make arrangements for you in Shanghai if you want to avoid being a little bit adventurous and enjoy your stay in a sit-back manner. Your travel specialists will quote you the price for this part upon your requirements.