Wondrous China Adventure

After picking you up at the hotel this morning, the guide will first escort you to visit Yu Garden, a 460-plus-year-old private utopia boasting oodles of delicate bridges, ponds, rockeries, and pavilions. In addition to basic garden structures, one highlight that will delight you is the Dragon Wall. The black dragon, regarded as a symbol of auspice in China, is exquisitely carved on top of the undulating white wall, with its head soaring upward, its body coiling, and its tail ingeniously integrated into the wall, exuding an air of grandeur. 

Next, let’s head to the Former French Concession, a once serene and idyllic countryside that was built into an upscale residential district with structures in French Renaissance, Baroque, and Spanish styles in the early 20th century. Nowadays, those western-style houses are integrated into many “modern elements”, that is, art galleries and vintage cafes have been opened here. Enjoy a guided walk here and seize the chance to experience a coffee delivery service within half an hour. 

In the afternoon, make our way to the Shanghai Tower, the second tallest building in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Ascend to the viewing platform on the 118th floor, and you’ll be mesmerized by the panoramic view of this magic city, with the iconic Huangpu River winding in an “S-bend” among the skyscrapers. Then, the guide will accompany you on a leisurely stroll along the Bund, where 52 classical buildings with distinct designs, including Gothic spires, Romanesque columns, and Baroque carvings, will present you with an endless exotic charm.

To make today’s trip more terrific, we won’t let you miss a one-hour cruise tour on the Huangpu River. As the ship sets sail, the vibrant city scene gradually unfolds before your eyes. The retro architectural complex of various countries and the modern high-rise edifices face each other across the river, creating a sharp visual contrast. The Yangpu Bridge and Nanpu Bridge, spanning the river, resemble two giant dragons, and together with the landmark Oriental Pearl TV Tower in the middle, form a spectacular picture. Leaning against the railing, watching the breeze ripple through the water, and listening to the distant whistles of other ships, how pleasant you will feel! Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Today, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby depending on the flight time, and then transfer you to the airport for a 2.5-hour flight to Zhangjiajie, a city enjoying a high international reputation for its unique karst landforms. 

If the flight departs in the morning, the guide in Zhangjiajie will pick you up at the airport and escort you immediately to the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to have an exciting hike along the Golden Whip Stream, which flows through one of the world’s most beautiful valleys. Walking on the forest trails, with soft moss beneath your feet, sun-dappled trees above your head, and the murmur of the stream in your ears, it’s as if you are having a devout ‘conversation’ with nature. 

If the flight is in the afternoon, you’ll enjoy free time in the morning to discover more about Shanghai on your own. Rest assured that the guide will provide you with some recommendations on interesting activities. As soon as you arrive in Zhangjiajie, the guide there will directly send you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

After breakfast, receive a hello from your guide at the hotel and set off for the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the soul of China’s natural landscapes. Upon entry, a 20-minute eco-bus of the park will first shuttle you to the legendary Bailong Elevator, by which you’ll reach the mountaintop within 66 seconds. This Guinness World Record holder for the tallest and fastest outdoor elevator is completely attached to a vertical cliff approximately 100 stories high, allowing you to be pleased by heart racing while enjoying a 360-degree panoramic view of grotesque peaks on the way up. What welcomes you next will be the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, where you may feel as if you have traveled to the planet Pandora in the movie ‘Avatar’. Here, prepare to see the floating Hallelujah Mountain with your own eyes and get a fantastical sense in reality.

After that, let’s hop on the eco-bus again and proceed to the Yangjiajie Scenic Area to marvel at the Natural Great Wall. After 380 million years of baptism, these dozens of parallel quartz sandstone peak walls still stand firm and tell the magnificent epic of geological changes. The following destination is the Tianzi Mountain, named after the heroic legend of a Tujia leader, Xiang Dakun, who led uprisings here in ancient times. Known as the "King of Peak Forests", it offers thousands of stone peaks of various shapes to feast your eyes. With your guide, manage to identify the most famous Imperial Brush Peaks, which have been endowed with mythological connotations, claiming that they were used by King Xiang to review memorials. Finally, your guide will accompany you to take the cable car down the mountain and return to the hotel.

► Note: As Zhangjiajie's popularity has soared, it can be quite crowded during peak seasons, especially during Chinese holidays. Please keep in mind that you might encounter long queues for entrance, cable cars, and elevators. Be ready to potentially stand on the park’s shuttle buses for quick rides between sights, as seats aren't always available. Your understanding is appreciated!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

This morning, your private guide will escort you from the hotel to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Clouds and mists billow among the mountains covered with lush vegetation and brooks gurgling in the deep valley bottom, making you can't help but imagine yourself in a flowing Chinese landscape painting. Surprisingly, it is also an excellent spot to challenge yourself, with the transparent ribbon-like Glass Bridge, which ranks first in the world in both length and height, allowing you to harvest the thrill of walking in mid-air. Afterward, we will leave the Canyon and set aside some time for you to have a lunch break. 

In the afternoon, let’s continue our sightseeing to Tianmen Mountain, the highest and most sacred mountain in Zhangjiajie. Take a 28-minute ride on the world’s longest cableway, connecting the urban area and the summit of the mountain, and expect to appreciate the primitive forest, pastoral scenery, and distinctive cityscape along the way. Uncover the mystery of the landmark Tianmen Cave, which can be reached by a 7-level escalator, and be shocked by the extreme sports events, such as wingsuit flying, once held here. Also, take an audacious walk on the Glass Skywalk hanging over the sheer cliff to exhilarate in the strong sense of weightlessness and admire the uncanny craftsmanship of nature in the meantime. Before dark, the guide and driver will escort you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Early in the morning, the guide will show up at your hotel lobby punctually and then escort you to Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, where you’ll take a 7-hour high-speed train to Guilin, whose landscape is recognized in a popular Chinese saying as “tops those elsewhere in the world”. Once there, our local guide will meet you at the exit and transfer you to a downtown hotel for check-in. The rest of the day will be at your disposal, and you can either rest at the hotel or explore the local food and life nearby on your own. If needed, the guide will be willing to give you some practical dining advice.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

From the hotel, your guide will accompany you to the pier for a cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo. Seeing the rolling verdant mountains and oddly shaped peaks on both banks reflected in limpid water, with the occasional canoes passing through, this visual impact is a genuine exposure that no HD photo or 4K video can replicate. Along the way, take your time to witness those steeds in totally different shapes on the Nine-Horse Mural Hill and taste the beauty of abstraction. When reaching the mirror-like Yellow Cloth Shoal, the origin of the background pattern on the RMB 20 note, frame yourself with the scenery to capture an exclusive memory of you and the Li River. A simple Chinese box lunch will be served on the cruise.

When arriving in Yangshuo, let’s embark on a relaxing cycling tour in the countryside. As your bike wheels roll over the country roads, you’ll pass through patches of rice fields and catch the scent of moist earth mixed with grass. Occasionally, a few egrets will spring up from the fields, leaving elegant silhouettes in the air. Looking further into the distance, the looming karst peaks lie on the horizon like sleeping giant beasts. During the 1.5-to-2-hour journey, stop at any time to get up close and personal with nature. If you are not good at cycling, you can also opt to ride in our private car to immerse yourself in the idyllic beauty. At last, the guide will help you settle into a well-conditioned local hotel we carefully selected for you.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, your guide will pick you up for a breathtaking bamboo rafting adventure along the Yulong River. Most of the rafters are local villagers, who are very familiar with every whirlpool and shoal, and can skillfully steer the raft through the crystal clear river with swaying water plants and swimming fish. When passing by a dam, the raft will dive down along the artificially-built slide, and the splashes will bring you a refreshing coolness, offering you the opportunity to have the most intimate interaction with nature.

Afterward, we’ll drive back to Guilin. After arriving, follow the guide to visit the Reed Flute Cave, the “Palace of Natural Arts” that has been highly praised by over 100 foreign presidents and political dignitaries. In the cave, the stalactites hanging from above resemble the ceiling adorned with crystal chandeliers, and the stalagmites clustered at the feet look like a crowd of curious onlookers. You can also hear the clear echo of water droplets falling from a height and hitting the stone surface. Then let’s move to the Elephant Trunk Hill, which got its name because of its resemblance to a giant elephant dipping its nose into the Li River to drink. Here, the vegetation coverage rate is extremely high and the negative oxygen ion content is rich, making it a natural "forest air conditioner". When finished, the guide will escort you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Today, your Guilin guide and driver will see you off at the airport for the flight to Xi’an, the ancient capital of the Chinese 13 dynasties. After landing, a private Xi’an guide and a driver will show you sincere greetings and then drive you to the downtown area.

Our first stop will be the Xi’an City Wall, a military defense work with a history of 600-plus years. Upon ascending it, what comes into your view first is a wide road flanked with unlike brick walls. It is interesting to know that the side of the wall with crenels used for lookout and archery faces the outside of the city, while the lower side of the wall, mainly to prevent soldiers from accidentally falling, faces the inner city. Follow your guide to the best position to take in the panoramic view of Xi’an. Riding bicycles is also available here, and if you are interested, rent one at your own expense with the help of the guide.

End the day with a stroll around the lively Muslim Quarter, the best-known food district in Xi’an. At the doors of some eateries, the chugging sounds from the large boiling soup pot, the tantalizing aroma of naan in the oven, the sizzling oily kebabs, and the loud hawking from the vendors will stimulate your senses. After that, the guide will send you to the hotel for check-in. If you want to stay longer to taste some local specialties, you can try Biang Biang Noodles or Crumbled Flatbread in Beef Stew for dinner at your own expense, and finally take a taxi to the hotel by yourself. And the guide will be glad to recommend some well-rated restaurants.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In the morning, the guide will be waiting for you at the appointed time at your hotel lobby. As soon as you meet, take our private car to the Terracotta Army Museum, which has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is a wonder built on three main burial pits of the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC), the first emperor in Chinese history. Approaching Pit No. 1, you’ll be stunned by the over 6,000 neatly-arranged terracotta warriors. Look closely, and you’ll find that the texture pattern on the armor of the most intact general figure in the middle of the front row is clearly visible. Each of the 600 pieces of the armor is said to be individually crafted in such detail that it is a perfect interpretation of the ultra-high workmanship of more than 2,000 years ago. Also, examine hundreds of precious relics in the exhibition hall, including a green-faced figurine head, tiny gold and silver animal-shaped wares, and bronze weapons. There is a bronze sword that remains extremely sharp to this day and can easily cut through 20 sheets of paper.

★ Have a Good Taste of Xi’an Snacks
For lunch, we have specially arranged for you to taste the most typical Xi’an street food at a locally-famed restaurant near the museum. You can try Chinese Hamburger, made of minced, marinated meat, and freshly baked, crispy bread. The sour and spicy Cold Skin Noodles will be sure to make your mouth water as well. A glass bottle of Ice Peak, a local brand of orange-flavored soda, is also essential to this meal. The guide can assist you in ordering food according to your preferences.★ A Mini Terracotta Warrior Handmade Experience
Let’s spend about an hour at a local studio engaging in a meaningful DIY activity, which is to craft a small terracotta warrior. Under the guidance of the sophisticated artisans, knead the head, body, and limbs of the figure, and carve the hairstyle and expression in detail. After completion, you can take it home as a memento.  

Let’s return to the city center and continue the visit to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a sacred site built by a renowned Chinese monk Xuanzang over 1,300 years ago for the storage and translation of Buddhist scriptures. With your guide, you’ll learn that the eave angles of the 7-story square-shaped brick pagoda are exactly the same, which is a symmetrical aesthetic achieved by ancient craftsmen. Moreover, the brackets of it are connected entirely by mortise and tenon joints of wood without using a single nail. At the end of the tour, the guide will accompany you to the hotel. 

► FYI: A few steps from the Pagoda is the Great Tang All Day Mall, where you can enjoy some cultural performances staged by actors dressed in ancient costumes and stunning views on a bustling pedestrian street lined with archaistic buildings. If you feel up to wandering around there till night and getting back to the hotel by yourself, the guide will help you locate it.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, local food lunch

After saying ‘Good Morning’ to you at the hotel, the guide will accompany you to the railway station to take the high-speed train to the capital, Beijing. On arrival in the afternoon, your private Beijing guide will escort you to the downtown hotel for check-in. 

A fantastic Hutong rickshaw tour beckons to you after a short rest. As the skilled carter rings the bell on the carriage, you’ll be invited into the narrow alleys that can barely accommodate only one vehicle at a time. From time to time, you can come across locals peddling sugar-coated haws, playing chess, and repairing shoes, all of which are a true portrayal of the old Beijing life. What’s more, pay a family visit in one of the characteristic courtyards to get an in-depth observation of their dwelling environment and living customs. Afterward, let’s go back to the hotel to rest for tomorrow’s hike.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Start today with a 1.5-hour drive with your private guide from the hotel to Mutianyu Great Wall, rated as the most beautiful section in Beijing. It stretches over the continuous mountains, cleverly utilizing the natural terrain and combining it with dense watchtowers, forming an impregnable three-dimensional defense. Besides, the surrounding area is filled with endless green vegetation, adding luster to the Wall itself. To save your energy and time for a more enjoyable experience on the Great Wall, we have thoughtfully included a round-way cable car. When you are on the Wall, delve into those specific constructions, such as the most representative Zhengguan Terrace, which is composed of three connected two-story watchtowers and serves the functions of lookout, defense, and combat. 

In the afternoon, let’s return to the city and soak in the grace of the Summer Palace, a royal garden built in the 1750s. Step inside, and your mood will first be soothed by the shimmering Kunming Lake, which is precisely the great contributor that keeps the entire scenic area cool even in the hot summer. Then take a walk along the Long Corridor, whose beams and pillars are decorated with over 14,000 colorful paintings of natural scenery, mythological figures, and stories from Chinese classical literature masterpieces. Climbing up to the Tower of Buddhist Incense, you can overlook the panorama of this mecca. In the end, the guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Today, the guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to Tiananmen Square, where you may not be able to take your eyes off the solemn Tiananmen Tower. With vermeil imposing walls and roofs covered in golden glazed tiles, this venue, where ancient emperors and current chairmen held major celebrations and ceremonies, stands augustly on the central axis. Afterward, go on an exploration of Chinese imperial culture in the Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved wooden palace complex in the world. Interestingly, in this residence of the 24 emperors from the 14th to the early 20th century, the dragon, which is a symbol of supreme power in China, can be seen everywhere. Some experts have calculated that the dragon patterns and statues in the primary Hall of Supreme Harmony are as many as 13,844. Then with a total of over 8,600 halls, the number of dragon elements in the Forbidden City would be an astonishing 50,000.

★ A La Carte Farewell Lunch with Beijing Roast Duck
No trip to Beijing is complete without savoring its cuisine, so we have arranged an a la carte lunch for you at a well-received local restaurant. It is valued at about CNY 150 per person and the fees are included in our itinerary. Order dishes freely and it is especially recommended that you try Beijing Roast Duck. The ducks, already golden in the oven, were cut into slices by the chef and served on a delicate plate on the table. Pick up 2 to 3 pieces, dip them in sweet bean sauce, and then roll them up with a few shredded cucumbers and scallions in the thin rice paper. The multiple flavors are sure to amaze you.After that, we’ll visit another royal site, the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors offered sacrifices to heaven and earth. Inside, climb up to a high platform and cherish the divine architectural philosophy of the grand Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the most iconic erection here. Then stand on the Heaven Heart Stone right in the middle of the Circular Mound Altar, imagine how emperors recited the achievements of the year to the deities in heaven every Winter Solstice. Continue along the middle axis to the Imperial Vault of Heaven， where the gods’ tablets are worshiped, and stand with your partner on either side of the echo wall listening to each other's whispers.

★ Get Fun out of Robotaxi Experience
China's technological development will blow your mind when you visit Yizhuang to try Apollo Go’s autonomous ride-hailing service. After getting in the car and fastening your seat belt, just click "start" on the screen, and it will drive smoothly and safely to any place you specify. Throughout the entire journey, whether it is unprotected turns or meetings with other vehicles, it demonstrates outstanding planning and control capabilities. After the novel experience, you’ll be escorted back to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch

After checking out of the hotel, your guide will accompany you to the Panda Hall of Beijing Zoo to see the cute national treasures of China eating, rolling, climbing trees, and playing up close. A total of 11 black and white furry creatures await you in the halls that imitate the real natural environment. Among them, “Menglan” has attracted much attention due to its lively and active personality. It once contributed a series of famous scenes, such as ‘prison break’, disassembling video cameras, and digging tunnels.

It's now the end of this private 2 weeks China tour. The guide will say goodbye to you at the airport. Want to holiday in China for a longer time? Feel free to contact our travel consultants to customize an exclusive trip for you, such as extending your tour to Chengdu, Chongqing, Yunnan, or Tibet.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast