Oriental Elites Appreciation
104: 12 Days Private Tour of China Tours from Hong Kong to Guilin - Xi'an - Shanghai - Beijing


Tour Type: Private Tour, any parts of the itinerary can be customized
Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned vehicle
Meals: 11 western buffet breakfasts, 4 lunches with some being a la carte style
Tour Highlights:
- Must-see sights in China - Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army
- Feel the vibrant atmosphere & explore bustling markets freely in Hong Kong
- Take a Li River cruise down to Yangshuo & admire the essence of Guilin landscape
- Experience the Bund, classical garden, modern and old in contrast in Shanghai

From $2279 per person Free Inquiry
- Itinerary
- Tour Prices
- Price Includes
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Day 1 Arrival in Hong Kong
Airport-hotel transport by yourself.
Hong Kong is an international metropolis with easy access to the destinations. The cost is too high in Hong Kong. So we design your Hong Kong tours on your own. In this case, we only reserve the hotel accommodation with daily breakfasts for two nights stay for you and intend to leave the days free for your self-exploration. Upon your arrival at Hong Kong today, please get to the hotel we have reserved for you by yourself. For luxury series clients who will stay at 5-star InterContinental Grand Stanford, please proceed to counter C07 and C08 in the Arrival Hall of Terminal 2, where there are limousines departing to your hotel. For standard series clients who will stay at 4-star Regal Kowloon Hotel, please proceed to Commercial Counter B02 in the Arrival Hall of Terminal 2, where there are limousines departing to your hotel. In Hongkong you could find many restaurants serving food from all over the world, so please go and explore your food tour on your own.
Meals: No meals
Meals: No meals
Day 2 Hong Kong
Full day is free for your independent exploration with our suggestions. (B)

Our clients in Hong Kong
Your 12 days China itinerary from Hong Kong starts from today by yourself. First, you can visit the Victoria Peak, the highest mountain in Hong Kong. You may walk to MTR Hung Hom Station -D5 from InterContinental Grand Stanford (MTR East Tsim Sha Tsui Station -P2 from Regal Kowloon Hotel), and then take metro to Central Station. Get off and then walk to Central Star Ferry Pier or Hong Kong City Hall for a bus ride to the Peak. Have a stroll on the Peak. Then, take the bus down to the Central, get off and then change to bus No. 6 (Exchange Square) to the Repulse Bay. The drop-off stop is at 127 Repulse Bay Road. After visiting the Repulse Bay, please take bus No. 73 from Hacienda, Repulse Bay Road to Aberdeen. You may get off at Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market at Aberdeen Praya Road. The last site we recommend today is Stanley Market. From Aberdeen, you may also take bus No. 73 or 973 to reach Stanley Market. The drop-off station is Stanley Village. The visit will end here today. From Stanley Market, you may take bus No. 973 at Stanley Village to Tsim Sha Tsui East, get off and then walk to the InterContinental Grand Stanford, or get off at Granville Road, Chatham Road South Station and then walk to Regal Kowloon Hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 3 Hong Kong - Guilin
Relax in the morning, Take a 3.5-hour high speed train to Guilin by yourself, Train station to hotel transfer. (B)
Morning remains free for you. You will head to Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station by yourself and take a high speed train to Guilin. The train ticket of Hong Kong to Guilin will be reserved by us in advance. When you arrive in Guilin, our guide will greet you at the train station and transfer you to the hotel. Have a good rest and prepare for your Guilin tours from Hong Kong tomorrow.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 4 Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin
Li River cruise to Yangshuo, Countryside tour, Drive back to Guilin. (B+L)

Li River cruise
Photo offered by our clients Mr. Steven Edmonds & Ms. Kirsten Pitcher
Photo offered by our clients Mr. Steven Edmonds & Ms. Kirsten Pitcher
Unforgettable memories are created today as you cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. You may appreciate the picturesque peaks standing on both banks of the river and rows of cottages mixed with the rice field, which is a miniature of the tranquil Guilin rural landscape. Immersed in such a serene environment, you will feel like entering a wonderland. Upon your arrival at Yangshuo, a short trip to the countryside will then be arranged. Yangshuo is well-known for its graceful and outstanding natural scenery, especially its four wonders: green hills, clear waters, fantastic caves and spectacular rocks. Travel around this picturesque place will never be regretted. During the journey, you will also visit a villager's home to experience the local farmers' lifestyle. After the sightseeing visit in Yangshuo, we will transfer you back to Guilin.
Tips: As the cruise company offers box lunch on the ship. It may fail to meet with your approval. TravelChinaGuide is aware of the shortcomings and suggests you prepare for the cruise with a generous breakfast at the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Tips: As the cruise company offers box lunch on the ship. It may fail to meet with your approval. TravelChinaGuide is aware of the shortcomings and suggests you prepare for the cruise with a generous breakfast at the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 Guilin - Xi'an
Reed Flute Cave, Seven Star Park, Elephant Trunk Hill, Fly to Xi'an, Airport-hotel transfer.
(B)

A mommy with her children in their house
You will first visit the Reed Flute Cave today. Entering the cave, you will take a U-shaped route to see this spectacular world of various stalactites, stone pillars and rock formations created by carbonate deposition. Then, travel to the Seven Star Park, which is located on the east bank of Li River. Possessing the most concentrated sceneries of Guilin, the picturesque landscape will make you astonished. The last site you will explore is the Elephant Trunk Hill, which is thought to be the landmark of Guilin. The hill got the name for resembling an elephant sucking water with its long trunk. When the sightseeing in Guilin comes to the end, you will take a flight to Xi'an. Our local guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 6 Xi'an
Terracotta Army, Provincial History Museum, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. (B)

Terracotta Army
Photo by our client Mr. Peter Watson
Photo by our client Mr. Peter Watson
Your Xi'an tours from Hong Kong will start with a visit to the Terracotta Army, which is an underground military museum exhibiting life-size terra cotta soldiers and horses, ancient weapons and chariots. Praised as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World', this museum is a must when visiting Xi'an. Today's lunch is not included. Our guide will glad to help you to choose proper restaurants upon your request.
In the afternoon, you will first visit Shaanxi History Museum, which functions as an important ground for archeological research, education and relic preservation, meaning to expose the rich cultural deposit and civilized achievement of the history to the public. After that, you will be guided to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a brick pagoda built about 1,300 years ago to collect Buddhist materials taken from India.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
In the afternoon, you will first visit Shaanxi History Museum, which functions as an important ground for archeological research, education and relic preservation, meaning to expose the rich cultural deposit and civilized achievement of the history to the public. After that, you will be guided to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a brick pagoda built about 1,300 years ago to collect Buddhist materials taken from India.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 7 Xi'an - Shanghai
Xi'an City Wall, A local family visit and an authentic home-cooked lunch, Fly to Shanghai, Airport-hotel transfer. (B+L)

Our client learning to cook Chinese dishes in the family home visit
In the morning, you will visit another well-known attraction, the ancient City Wall. Then, visit a local family to experience Chinese common people's life. The hospitable host will prepare home-cooked a la carte lunch for you. This afternoon, you will fly to Shanghai. Our local guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Home-cooked a la carte lunch
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Home-cooked a la carte lunch
Day 8 Shanghai
Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, A la carte lunch, the Bund and Huangpu River cruise, a cultural street. (B+L)

Yu Garden, Shanghai
Photo by our client Mr. Terence Openshaw
Photo by our client Mr. Terence Openshaw
This morning, you will visit Shanghai Museum, a famous museum housing rich and high-quality collections of precious ancient artworks. Then come to Yu Garden, a classic south China garden with beautiful, gentle scenery and charming architecture. You will enjoy a palatable a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy and famous local restaurant. After lunch, transfer to the Bund area, where you will take a cruise on the Huangpu River, which is the mother river of Shanghai and where the highlights of the urban scenery gather. Standing on the cruise ship, you will see a historical Shanghai and a modern developing Shanghai co-exist on the banks of this river. After the cruise, continue to explore the Bund area, where you may appreciate the group of western-style buildings left-over from colonial period at close quarters and then visit an old street in the city.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Day 9 Shanghai - Beijing
A 4.5-hour high speed train to Beijing, Train station to hotel transfer, Temple of Heaven. (B)
Take a high speed train to Beijing, the last destination of your 12 days China tour package. Your private guide will pick you up at Beijing Railway Station and then transfer you to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven, which was built for worshipping the gods in heaven. With its quiet environment and spacious space, nowadays it also has become a gathering place for the retired local people to entertain themselves by playing chess, teasing pet birds, singing and dancing.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 10 Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall with a round-trip cable car, Olympic Bird's Nest. (B)

Great Wall
Photo by our client Ms. Michelle Price
Photo by our client Ms. Michelle Price
Visit the world-famous Mutianyu Great Wall with the round-trip cable car in the morning. The dragon-like Great Wall has been considered a landmark construction of our country. Thus, a stroll on it has been a must when visiting Beijing. The section you will visit is at Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved and most popular among the existing sections. You will arrange lunch on your own today. On the way back to downtown, we will drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium). You may get off and appreciate its distinctive appearance. Today's trip will be ended with an exploration to a famous local market.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 11 Beijing
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, A la carte farewell lunch, Summer Palace. (B+L)

Our consultant Ruby and her clients
Explore Tiananmen Square in the morning. This is the largest urban city square with architecture of great historical, monumental and educational significance being built around it. Then, walk through the Meridian Gate and enter the world's largest palace complex, the Forbidden City. In Chinese history, common people were not allowed to enter this imperial palace except for the officials and royal family relatives, hence the name Forbidden City. Nowadays, it has been opened to public as a museum demonstrating Chinese ancient architecture, cultural relics and imperial life. As is our practice to avoid the poor food at the cheap tourist eateries, we will serve you an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a nice local restaurant, where you can taste the authentic Chinese food. In the afternoon, you will go on an excursion to the Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved imperial garden of the nation, once used as a summer resort by royal family. Mainly composed of Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, it has been a monument to classical Chinese architecture in terms of both garden design and garden construction.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Day 12 Departure from Beijing
Hotel-airport transfer & see you off, A pleasant trip home! (B)
Your private 12 days tour of China will come to the end today. Our guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport. Wish you a nice journey back home!
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
B-- Breakfast L-- Lunch D-- Dinner
Destinations | Luxury Hotels | Standard Hotels |
---|---|---|
Hongkong | InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Regal Kowloon Hotel ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Guilin | Shangri-La Hotel ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Guilin Bravo Hotel ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Xian | Wyndham Grand Xian South ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Holiday Inn Xian Big Goose Pagoda ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Shanghai | Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Ocean Hotel Shanghai ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Beijing | Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Pentahotel Beijing ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Earlier Booking, Bigger Savings
12% off - book 2020 tours by Dec 31, 2019; 5% off - book 2019 tours 30 days in advance
Tour Prices with Luxury Hotels | ||
---|---|---|
2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers | 6-9 travelers |
$2859 $2515 | $2639 $2322 | $2369 $2084 |
Tour Prices with Standard Hotels | ||
---|---|---|
2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers | 6-9 travelers |
$2499 $2199 | $2279 $2005 | $2009 $1767 |
- Prices are per person in US Dollars based on double occupancy.
- The prices in red reflect 12% discount.
- Any parts of the itinerary e.g. tour length, activities & hotels can be tailored to your individual interests.
Price Includes
- Domestic airfares & train fares
- Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
- A la carte lunches as itinerary specifies
- Private English-speaking guides
- Private drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
- Entrance fees to tourist sites
Price Excludes
- International airfares
- Entry Visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
Why Travel With Us


Other level available for this itinerary:
Hello Wendy and Lexi,We want to thank everyone associated with TCG for making our 16 day trip perfect! In working with us for 23 back and forth inquiries and changes we greatly appreciate your ... Read More
Mr. Carl Melberg & Mr. Alexander Melberg... from United StatesDear Abbey, Sophie and Kelly, Although a little late, we want to thank you for the wonderful experiences we had during our vacation. Although we read a lot about China and were informed by ... Read More
Mr. Frank Agnie & Ms. Diana Halfhide from NetherlandDear Abbey/TCG, I would like to tell you that we were very very pleased with our recent trip in your country. . The trip was excellent and I would have no hesitation in recommending your travel ... Read More
Mr. Robert Tolson & Ms. Susan Tolson from AustraliaDear Emily/Eileen, Just a quick note to say thank you so very much for looking after us at Travel China Guide. Right from the start when we first enquired about traveling with your Company ... Read More
Ms. Leanne Ashwood & Mr. Scott Leigh Ashwood ... from AustraliaHi Tina, I just got a chance to reply on this email. As for the sightseeing, we are extremely pleased with all the arrangement that you made for us. Meals The meals in Xi'An are great. ... Read More
Mr. Hin Lo & Mr. Joeng T Lo ... from United States