China Wonders & Angkor Wat

Welcome to choose this Beijing, Xi’an, Guangzhou and Siem Reap tour package! Once you arrive at the airport, our guide will be waiting for you outside the arrival hall, holding a welcome sign with your name. Then our guide and the driver will escort you to the well-selected hotel and help you with the check-in procedures. You can either recover from jet lag or explore China’s capital city on your own.

➤ Recommendations upon Arrival
For early arrivals, stretch your legs and wander along the famous Wangfujing Pedestrian Street, a shopper’s paradise in the city center, lined with fashion trends, numerous eateries, malls, etc. Linger over the Heping Guoju, meaning ‘pastry shop’, hidden on the B2 floor of the Beijing Department Store. This vast space is characterized by recreating the old Beijing lifestyle in the 1980s, displaying retro bathhouses, hutong alleys, and old green trains. However, if you want to taste traditional Beijing pastries, this is not the right place; you can try jujube flower cakes and ox-tongue cakes at Daoxiangcun, the time-honored local bakery. You can also savor authentic Peking Roast Duck at Siji Minfu Restaurant on Dengshikou West Street nearby. Wrap the crispy and golden duck skin, juicy and tender duck meat, along with fresh scallions and crispy cucumbers, into a thin pancake, and then dip it in seafood sauce or sweet bean paste. Definitely amazing! Make a reservation in advance to avoid the long queue. It costs CNY 150-200 (USD 20-27) per person on average.

➤ Travel Tips in China
1. Online payment is king in China. It’s advisable to download an e-Wallet app like Alipay or WeChat Pay in advance, and then register it with your passport and link your credit card.
2. Beijing and Xi'an both feature four distinct seasons. It’s usually cold in winter (Nov.-Feb.), with the lowest temperature dropping to -10℃ (14°F), so thick clothing like down jackets is a must then.

Accommodation: Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel (4 stars) or similar

Today, your Beijing tour starts with Tiananmen Square, the heart of the capital city. Since the Founding Ceremony of the People's Republic of China in 1949, it has become a venue for holding major celebrations and political activities, said to be able to accommodate 1 million people! Then, head northwards to the Forbidden City, the renowned imperial palace for 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912), to get a close look at the royal family's life. Along the way, our knowledgeable guide will explain in detail the histories of some main halls like the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity, and Palace of Earthly Tranquility. You can also stop by the Cultural and Creative Store to browse ingeniously designed items like coiled dragon ornaments and seals.

Towards noon, we prepare for you an a la carte lunch in a popular restaurant to taste authentic-flavored dishes, valued at CNY 150 (USD 20) per person and included in our price.

After a short rest, head to the Temple of Heaven, the largest existing ancient sacrificial architectural complex in China, where emperors in the Ming and Qing Dynasties held rituals to pray for a bountiful harvest and the country’s prosperity. While strolling around the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar, take in the solemn and dignified ambiance. The former hall will be illuminated every Friday, Saturday and on major holidays from 19:30 to 21:30. If your visit falls on these days, you can appreciate it by yourself after today’s visit.

➤ Incredible Shooting Spots for the Temple of Heaven
1. At the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests’ east entrance: Standing on the upper stairs to be shot from a low-angle shot can help you avoid the crowds.
2. Red wall at the south gate of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: Use the red wall as the foreground, which is suitable for both large-scale scenes and close-up shots.
3. In front of the Imperial Hall of Heaven: Let your target person stand at the center of the door frame, and shoot from a low angle.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel (4 stars) or similar

★ Your Privilege: Round-trip Cable Car to Explore Mutianyu Great Wall

You must have heard that “He who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man!” Today, we’ll accompany you on a hassle-free Great Wall hike! As one of the World’s New Seven Wonders, this military fortress is always crowded with tourists. To ensure you have a quintessential Great Wall experience, we’ll drive around 2 hours to the Mutianyu section, the most picturesque part of the Great Wall. Winding through layers of mountains and surrounded by thick forests, Mutianyu features a harmonious integration of rich culture and natural splendor. The scenery varies with the four seasons, especially in autumn (Sep.-Nov.), when lush red leaves make the entire scenic area particularly splendid. Besides, we’ve also arranged a round-trip cable car for you, offering an extraordinary 360° panoramic view of the world wonder.
➤ Tips:
1. If you are an adrenaline junkie, the round-trip cable car can be replaced by an open-view chairlift up and a thrilling toboggan down, which is also included in the price.
2. As we hike long today, please wear sturdy hiking shoes.
3. There are relatively few food options here, so it’s advisable to bring some snacks to replenish energy.

Making our way back, we’ll pass by the National Stadium, aka the Bird's Nest, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games’ main venue. Admire its appearance from afar and snap a panoramic view of the impressive construction. On arriving at the downtown area, a fascinating Hutong exploration awaits!

★ Explore Old Hutongs by Rickshaw & Visit a Local Family

Hutongs, literally meaning narrow alleys among quadrangles, are deemed the soul of Beijing. Only by delving into them can you get a deep insight into old Beijing, and a Hutong rickshaw tour would be a blast! Hop on a rickshaw and zigzag leisurely through the labyrinth of alleys, passing by myriad elegant quadrangles, century-old eateries and boutiques, and seeing elderly people leisurely humming a Peking Opera tune or walking their birds. The hustle and bustle of the outside world seems to have nothing to do with the laid-back life here. Then, alight from the rickshaw, and walk into a genuine quadrangle to have a local family visit and take a close look at the local people’s lives.

Meal: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel (4 stars) or similar

This morning, we’ll take an excursion to the Summer Palace, which is known as the "Museum of Royal Gardens" and the best-preserved classical royal resort in China. The vast palace is four times the size of the Forbidden City, with its rippling Kunming Lake taking up around three-quarters! Numerous scenic spots, such as the Tower of Buddhist Incense, 17-Arch Bridge, and Wenchang Tower, are ubiquitous inside, and your private guide will show you around the essence within a limited time. You should not miss the Long Corridor, which is adorned with exquisite traditional Chinese paintings on the walls, pillars and roofs.

After the visit, your private Beijing tour concludes, and then you’ll board a 4-5 hours’ high-speed train to Xi’an, which once served as the capital for China’s 13 feudal dynasties. Upon arrival, your guide will pick you up outside the railway station and escort you to the hotel. After check-in, enjoy a good rest.

➤ Recommended Activities in Xi’an
If you’re still energized, stretch your legs and tour the Big Wild Goose Pagoda area by yourself. Enjoy Asia’s largest musical fountain show at its North Square, and then head southwards to Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City, a 3-km (2-mile) long pedestrian street beautifully lit at night, offering not only gorgeous night views but also splendid traditional Tang-style music and dance shows from time to time, and the ‘real-life roly-poly toys’ from 19:30 to 21:30. If hungry, head to the nearby time-honored Tong Sheng Xiang Restaurant to savor the authentic Crumbled Flatbread in Mutton Stew. The grilled mutton kebabs and scallion stir-fried mutton will also leave you with a rich aftertaste. The average cost per person is around CNY 50-70 (USD 7-10).

Meal: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Xi'an Big Goose Pagoda (4 stars) or similar

Xi’an stunned the world in 1974 with the discovery and excavation of the Terracotta Army, the splendid burial figures of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, boasting a history of over 2,200 years. This morning, we’ll mainly dive into the Terracotta Army Museum. The museum boasts 3 major pits, well arrayed with thousands of life-size infantry and charioteers in the largest Pit 1, kneeling archer warriors and general figurines in Pit 2, and the command post in Pit 3, accompanied by horses, chariots and weapons. With your guide’s excellent explanation, observe carefully each soldier’s unique facial expression. We’ll also take you to visit the new exhibition hall, where you can appreciate more than 200 newly unearthed cultural relics, including bronze waterfowls, gold or silver camel sculptures, and colorful figurines.
➤ Tip: To fully protect the relics, Pit 1 isn’t equipped with air conditioning, so if your visit falls on a hot July or August, a handheld fan will be helpful.

Afterward, we’ll drive to the Shaanxi History Museum, the first national-level modern museum in China. With a collection of 1,700,000 items, spanning over a million years, and 18 national treasures, including the Tang three-color pottery wares and the Tiger Talisman, a certificate for dispatching troops, the museum showcases China’s history in good sequence. While appreciating, don’t miss collecting free cultural relic seals at the Tourist Service Center to keep the wonderful memory.

Then, we’ll admire the well-preserved Xi’an City Wall, which was used as a military defense system over 600 years ago. Setting it as today’s last stop, you can not only admire the magnificent wall during the daytime, but also enjoy the sunset, and Xi’an’s night views. Cycling on the wall would be a cool experience, and you can rent a bike at your own expense if you like. After the visit, you’ll be escorted back to the hotel.

Meal: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Xi'an Big Goose Pagoda (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we’ll pay a visit to Xi’an Museum, which is nestled in Jianfu Temple. The museum showcases cultural relics of various dynasties discovered in the city and focuses on the history of Xi'an as an ancient capital for more than a thousand years. Take your time to appreciate the cultural relics mainly from the Zhou Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty (1046 BC-1911AD), spanning nearly 3,000 years, including the bronze and jade ware, Tang three-color pottery wares, porcelain and calligraphy artworks, as well as sculptures and seals. Then, walk several minutes northeast within the temple to admire the 1,300-year-old Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which houses the Buddhist scriptures brought back from ancient India by Yi Jing, a Tang-era eminent monk. Astonishingly, the pagoda had survived three miraculous cracks: it cracked due to an earthquake and then the crack was closed during another earthquake, and the miracle reoccurred later! While wandering around, immerse yourself in the serene ambience and listen to the deep hollow sound of the ancient bronze bell.

Following the Buddhist temple, the Great Mosque offers you insights into Xi’an’s Islamic culture. With a history of nearly 1,300 years, the mosque is the oldest, largest and only mosque perfectly blended with traditional Chinese style, which you can tell from its carved beams and upturned eaves, different from the conventional Islamic white dome. Afterward, let’s proceed to the nearby Muslim Bazaar, a microcosm of Islamic culture. You can have a simple lunch by yourself here, and sample local snacks like crispy beef, soup dumplings, grilled meat, etc.

After that, you’ll be transferred to the airport for a 2.5-hour flight to Guangzhou. Our guide will meet you on time at the airport, and then escort you to the hotel.

Meal: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Ocean Hotel, Guangzhou (4 stars) or similar

Today, we'll mainly dive into downtown Guangzhou. Begin with a visit to Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall, which was built in remembrance of the Chinese revolutionary Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The octagonal palatial architecture, covering an area of 4,000 square meters, is one of the most representative buildings in Guangzhou. The blue glazed tiles, red pillars and the plaque featuring the characters “the whole world as one community” in Chinese handwritten by Mr. Sun will surely catch your eye.

Then, have a leisurely walk through Yuexiu Park, Guangzhou’s biggest park. Immerse yourself in the graceful natural landscape, a variety of plants, and historical and cultural vestiges. Guangzhou is also called "Five Rams City", and the Five-Ram Statue in the park is regarded as the city's icon, symbolizing good luck and happiness. If your visit falls on mid-January to mid-February, when the Spring Festival Lantern Show occurs, you can seize the chance to appreciate the grand event at night.

In the afternoon, continue to admire the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, which was originally built in the 5th century. Marvel at the main octagonal Flower Pagoda, which appears to have 9 levels, but actually features 17 levels with mezzanine floors! Mingle with locals and walk around the pagoda three times for good fortune.

Are you curious about traditional Chinese medicine? In Qingping Market, you can find precious medicinal herbs like Cordyceps sinensis, ginseng, and deer antlers, as well as affordable ones like wolfberries and red dates commonly used for making soup. In addition, there is also fresh local produce and even pets, making it a great place to glimpse the local life. Then, travel to scenic Shamian Island, which is also known as the "Museum of European Architecture", as it was once the concession area of Britain and France, and preserves numerous Western architectural heritage sites like the Consulate of Poland, Germany, the United States, and the Czech Republic.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Ocean Hotel, Guangzhou (4 stars) or similar

Today, our guide and driver will escort you to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, home of the grandiose Angkor temple complex. Upon your arrival, our private guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel in the old town of Siem Reap. After check-in, rest to save energy for the coming exploration.

➤ Recommended Activities in Siem Reap
If you’re not bothered by the long flight and time allows, enjoy a stroll around the Old Market on your own. Teeming with eateries and stalls selling Khmer goods, including clothes, accessories and woven bags, the vibrant market offers an authentic insight into the community. Then, walk across the road to Pub Street, and maybe pick a bar or a massage shop to enjoy some leisure time. For dinner, head to the Khmer Kitchen to treat yourself to genuine Khmer cuisine, which generally has a balance of sour, salty and spicy flavors. Amok fish, minced meat eggplant and Cambodian curry are all worth a try. It costs about KHR 20,000-40,000 (USD 5-10) per person on average.

➤ Things to Know:
1. The riel is the official currency of Cambodia (USD 1≈KHR 4,000), and US dollars are also fully accepted. Besides, small denomination riel banknotes can save you from exchange rate loss when giving change, so it’s advisable to exchange some at a gold shop or a bank.
2. Cambodia features a tropical climate and has two seasons, dry and wet. Since it’s hot all year round and heavy rains frequently occur during the wet season (May-Oct.), we recommend you pack light and breathable clothes, sunscreen, and rain gear. Besides, in Angkor religious sites, off-the-shoulder tops, short skirts and shorts should be avoided.

Meal: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel, Siem Reap (4 stars) or similar

A memorable sunrise over Angkor Wat await today! Angkor Wat acts as an icon of the artistic heyday of the Khmer Empire (802-1431). Built in the 12th century by Suryavarman II, it is composed of five pagodas and a three-tiered corridor representing hell, earth and heaven. According to the weather, we’ll choose a day to view the haunting spectacle of Angkor Wat lit by the golden rays of sunrise.
➤ Tips:
1. You can pack some food in advance or return to the hotel for breakfast.
2. As it’s relatively cool in the early morning, bringing a light jacket is necessary.

Then, walk through the imposing South Gate to the capital city of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom, expanded by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. Stroll to the city center to the Bayon Temple to exclaim over the astonishing "Khmer Smile": the 49 impressive pagodas and 5 gates, symbolizing the 54 provinces of Cambodia, each topped with four serenely smiling faces. The bas-reliefs, mainly featuring religious myths, war stories and ordinary people’s lives, are also worth careful appreciation. Then, linger to admire the remarkable Terrace of the Elephants, a royal reception platform carved with vivid elephant reliefs, and the Terrace of the Leper King, a royal cremation site with elaborate carvings including Apsara, a celestial nymph, and demons with evil expressions.

Afterward, hop on the private car and head to explore the jungle-entwined Ta Prohm Temple, where the famous film "Tomb Raider" was filmed. The towering ancient trees coexisting in harmony with the ancient temples will leave you awestruck.

Before dusk, we’ll reach the highest Phnom Bakheng Temple to enjoy the splendid sunset if the weather permits. Get your camera ready for the awe-inspiring moment when the golden rays of the setting sun shine upon the religious temples nestling amid the mysterious jungle!

★ Apsara Dinner Show: Enjoy Traditional Cambodian Dance

During the Angkor temple visits, you may be smitten by the Apsara images. Tonight, in an Apsara Dinner Show, unveil the graceful Apsara dance, which is hailed as the condensed essence of Khmer art! Dancers are dressed in distinctive Cambodian costumes, wearing earrings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets, and putting mysterious and dignified smiles on their faces. Besides, each of their finger gestures implies a meaning. For instance, a dancer pinches her index finger and thumb to form the shape of a flower bud and places it on her lower abdomen, symbolizing the origin of life, and implying that softness is also a kind of strength.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel, Siem Reap (4 stars) or similar

Today, we’ll keep discovering more about Angkor ruins. First, visit the Preah Khan Temple, aka Sacred Sword Temple, one of Angkor's largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII in memory of his father. The temple features a layout of a cross surrounded by three enclosures, and the arched corridors connect four main gates, leading to the central hall. Walking towards the hall, as the heights of the doorposts are getting lower and lower, people need to lower their heads - that’s how Jayavarman VII showed his respect to his father!

Then, we’ll drive northeastwards and have stopovers at some villages to observe local people's lives before we reach the Banteay Srei Temple, which enshrines the Hindu god Shiva and is honored as "the Jewel of Khmer Art". Unlike the massive Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat, the temple is on a smaller scale but really delicate, and boasts exquisite carvings and inscriptions on red sandstones, which made it once mistaken for a queen's palace.

In the afternoon, visit the ancient capital of King Indravarman I (877-889), now referred to as the Roluos Group and known as the birthplace of classical Khmer art and architecture. The group consists of three main temples: Bakong Temple, which is dedicated to the gods; and the Preah Ko Temple and the Lolei Temple, which are dedicated to ancestors.

If time permits, have a short visit at an Orphanage School nearby before driving back to the hotel in the late afternoon.

➤ Recommended Activities in Siem Reap (at your own expense)
After two consecutive days of visiting Angkor temples, let a traditional Cambodian massage relieve your fatigue. You can head to the highly praised Devatara Spa on Taphul Road. A 60-minute massage costs around KHR 80,000 (USD 20). They often offer discounts, so check in advance. After the massage, walk southward for 10 minutes and enjoy authentic LokLak stir-fried beef, pineapple rice and Cambodian curry at Khmer Taste Restaurant. The average cost is about KHR 20,000 (USD 5) per person.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel, Siem Reap (4 stars) or similar

As an escape from the hitherto concentration on temples, today, a relaxing boat trip to the Tonle Sap Lake, the biggest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, will show you the daily life of the floating village. After breakfast, we’ll visit a Khmer Village to enjoy the rice field scenery before arriving at the lake. Generations of fishermen, with tanned skin and in severely plain clothing, are living here. They built simple yet colorful wooden houses, schools, markets and hospitals on the lake. Even children are skilled at fishing, which is the main way people make a living!

After lunch, we’ll escort you to the airport and see you off on your flight home.

Southeast Asia attracts countless tourists with its beautiful natural scenery, rich historical culture and relatively low travel costs. If you want to explore more, such as the resplendent temples and scenic islands in Thailand, Ha Long Bay - one of the Seven Natural Wonders, and the quaint Hoi An Ancient Town in Vietnam, please feel free to contact us, and we’ll customize the most suitable itinerary for you!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch