China Tour from Chicago

SG04-US: 16 Days Small Group Tour of Chicago - Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Chengdu - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai - Chicago
Tour Type: Small Group of maximum 18 travelers, guaranteed departures, all-inclusive
Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned coach
Accommodation: 11 nights at select 5-star/4-star hotels, 3 nights on Yangtze River cruise
Meals: 14 western buffet breakfasts, 7 lunches with some being a la carte style, 4 dinners

Highlights:
  • Man-made miracles in China - Mutianyu Great Wall & the Forbidden City.
  • Life-size Terracotta Army, a wonder constructed by China’s first emperor.
  • Enjoy a fantastic cruise tour on the Li River from Guilin to rural Yangshuo.
  • Once-in-a-life chance to visit the hometown of treasured giant pandas.
  • Take in the impressive Shanghai skylines as you walk along the Bund area.
From USD3289USD2960Free Inquiry
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Day 1 Flying from Chicago
Please take your flight to Beijing on your own. Welcome to China!
Today, fly to Beijing. According to the current flight schedule, there is no direct flight from Chicago to Beijing. You may consider to connect a flight via San Francisco where there is a direct flight to Beijing, which is operated daily and takes about 14.5 hours. Or you may choose your preferred connecting flights. You are advised to confirm the travel date with your private travel consultant before booking a flight.
Day 2 Arrival in Beijing
Welcome your arrival anytime at the airport and transfer to hotel.
On arrival at the Beijing Airport, your guide will meet you and transfer you to a luxury hotel we’ve booked for you. Boost your energy with a good rest to prepare for your coming adventure.

Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong
Day 3 Beijing
Visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City including Treasure Gallery; enjoy an a la carte welcome lunch with authentic Peking Duck; continue to visit Yonghe Temple and Temple of Heaven; and watch the classic Peking Opera in the evening. (B+L)
Forbidden City
Let’s kick off your China tour with a visit to Tiananmen Square, a landmark of the city where national-level gatherings like the Flag-raising Ceremony are held. Stroll north towards Forbidden City, the royal palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) and our next destination. Moreover, we will visit the Treasure Gallery inside.

At noon, an authentic Chinese a la carte welcome lunch with Peking Roast Duck will be served (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price).

The afternoon will see us seeking some spiritual enlightenment at Yonghe Temple and Temple of Heaven; the former is a lamasery and the latter the altar visited by Chinese emperor to ask Heaven to bless his nation. There is a treasure not to miss at Yonghe Temple: a huge copper pot. On December 8 of the lunar calendar each year at ancient times, it would fill with congee cooked by monks to be doled out among poor people. The tradition still remains. If today falls on the date, you will see people queuing at the temple for a blessing sip.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch
Day 4 Beijing
Visit Mutianyu Great Wall by round-trip cable car and toast for Great Wall challenge with red wine; drive by Olympic Bird's Nest; then take a rickshaw ride through Hutong alleys and visit a local family in a traditional courtyard house. (B)
Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing
Today’s highlight is the Mutianyu Great Wall, which we will ascend and descend by cable car. You will see how the Wall traces out the curve of steep mountain ridges, embellished with frequent watch-towers. Red wine will be offered to celebrate your Great Wall trip. We do not provide lunch today since the restaurants nearby are poorly-rated; we suggest you take some fast food by yourself.

Drive back to downtown. Have a photo stop at the National Stadium (the Bird's Nest) and view its distinctive appearance from a distance. Go on a tour by rickshaw through age-old Hutong alleys, and round off today’s trip with a family visit in one Hutong.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 5 Beijing - Xi'an
Visit Panda Hall and Summer Palace; taste local flavors for lunch; fly to Xi'an and transfer to hotel. (B+L)
Today's first stop is panda house in Beijing Zoo. Go on to the Summer Palace, a summer resort for Qing-era royal families. Engineered with an unprecedentedly massive effort, it beats all other imperial gardens in China. Qingyan Stone Boat is a special building - and the only one here - in a western style, a boat-like pavilion rising from a lake carved from a giant rock. It is as well-designed for draining water as it is beautiful.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xi’an. On arrival at the airport, your local guide will drive you to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an
Day 6 Xi'an
Visit Terracotta Army and the discoverer’s home of the first terracotta warrior; have a unique experience to make your own mini clay warrior; continue to visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, and then enjoy dumpling dinner and Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show in the evening. (B+D)
While in Xi’an, our biggest highlight is of course the world-famous Terracotta Army, built to guard the mausoleum and serve the afterlife of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC). After breakfast, we will wonder at this grand clay army and other unearthed relics on display. We will also visit the family of the man who excavated the first terracotta warrior of the Army. With the knowledge gap filled, let’s head to a workshop, where you will follow steps to craft a mini terracotta soldier of your own and take it home.

In the afternoon, proceed to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. 64 meters (210 feet) tall, the Pagoda is China’s oldest square brick tower dating back to Tang area (618 – 907 AD), and had been the highest building until the 1970s. For that reason, it was and still is a landmark of Xi’an, important enough for its image to be found on the city emblem. In the evening, a Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show will be arranged over a delicious dumpling dinner.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dumpling dinner

Tips:
Guests visiting in January, February, March, and December need to arrange the dinner and evening activity on their own for this day, since the theater is usually not available at these times.
Day 7 Xi'an
Connect with local people at City Wall Park and learn to practice Tai Chi from a master, then visit City Wall; taste local flavors for lunch at Muslim Quarter; in the afternoon visit Great Mosque and Shaanxi History Museum. (B+L)
Today's itinerary starts with the City Wall Park, where you can learn some moves of Tai Chi, a form of traditional Chinese martial art, from a master. Then, ascend the ancient City Wall and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Cycling around the City Wall is also interesting; you can rent a bicycle on the spot.

Towards lunch time, we will explore the Muslim Quarter, a busy snack street and neighborhood of Muslims in Xi’an, for some local food. Rou Jia Mo, Chinese Hamburger made by stuffing meat (usually pork) into flatbread or baked leavened flour dough, is a representative Shaanxi street food eaten across the region. While at the Quarter, pork is changed to beef, giving a different flavor and texture. Seasoned and braised, the beef will be shredded and filled into the flatbread. Try it and add a special flavor to your Xi’an tour! Next, visit the Great Mosque and the Shaanxi History Museum.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 Xi'an - Guilin
Fly to Guilin and transfer to hotel; visit Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill. (B)
Today, let’s explore the essence of Guilin, a city boasting world-class karst beauty. On arrival at Guilin’s airport by morning flight from Xi’an, your guide will meet you and accompany you to the Reed Flute Cave, a karst cave to find myriads of curious stalagmites, stone pillars and stone flowers; and then to the Elephant Trunk Hill. After that, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Sheraton Guilin Hotel
Day 9 Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin
Take a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo; explore West Street and have a countryside tour; drive back to Guilin. (B+L)
After breakfast, go for a cruise along the Li River, one of the biggest highlights of your tour, to appreciate a landscape painting enchanted by the overlapping green hills on the banks. After about 4 hours, we will dock at Yangshuo and go on a countryside tour via rental bike or a private car. We highly recommend you ride a bike to align with the nature, amid a landscape weaved with grotesque hills, paddy fields, rivers, and hamlets. Later, pay a short visit to a local peasant house for some hands-on experience of local rural life. Drive back to Guilin for an overnight stay.

Tip:
The ship we’ve selected for you is the best-rated for its great cost efficiency, so please understand that you will eat a simple Chinese box lunch; you might have a hearty breakfast at the hotel if you like.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 Guilin - Chengdu
Fly to Chengdu and transfer to hotel; visit Jinsha Site Museum, and taste local Gai Wan tea and see the Chinese matchmaking corner at Renmin Park. (B)
Today, take a morning flight to Chengdu. Your guide in Chengdu will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Jinsha Site Museum. After that, stroll Chengdu’s most popular People's Park to experience the relaxed lifestyle of local life; have a pot of tea and live like a local.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza
Day 11 Chengdu - Chongqing
Visit Giant Panda Base and Wide and Narrow Alleys; take a high speed train to Chongqing and board the Yangtze River cruise ship for a 3-night stay. (B+D)
While in Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas, of course we won’t miss giant pandas at Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Let’s add some adorable fun to your journey! The next stop is Wide and Narrow Alley, a historical area of Chengdu with traditional buildings serving as souvenir stores, teahouses, and restaurants where you can try some authentic local specialties.

In the afternoon, drive to the railway station for a 2-hour bullet train ride to Chongqing. Our local guide will meet you at Chongqing Railway Station and help you board a 5-star Yangtze cruise ship, which leaves at about 21:30. Enjoy a buffet dinner on board and be a guest of your captain’s Welcome Reception Party.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dinner
Cruises: Century Glory
Day 12 Yangtze River Cruise
Take an onshore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City, then enjoy your leisure time on board or participate in some cultural activities; three buffet meals a day plus midnight snacks are served. (B+L+D)
Start today by doing Tai Chi martial art to stretch muscles before breakfast. Later, come ashore to have some spooky memories at Fengdu Ghost City, where dead people are judged by King of Hell according to Chinese folklore.

After lunch onboard, go on to soak in the charm of the Yangtze River and join cultural activities scheduled by the cruise ship company.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 Yangtze River Cruise
Admire Yangtze Three Gorges and take an onshore excursion to Shennv Stream. (B+L+D)
Today your cruise tour through the Three Gorges finally comes! Indicating Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge as a whole, the Three Gorges is acclaimed as “a gallery stretching hundreds of li” (1 li roughly equals to 0.3 miles), for the landscape that integrates mountains, rivers, and cultures into a splendid scroll painting. You are to travel through the only Must-See Gorge on Earth that can be cruised. Sailing through the Wu Gorge, we will also take a turn for a side shore excursion along Shennv Stream.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14 Yichang - Shanghai
Disembark from cruise ship and visit Three Gorges Dam; take a high-speed train to Shanghai and transfer to hotel. (B)
The cruise ship will come to Yichang today. Pack your luggage for disembarking and we will arrive before the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydro-electric project in the world. From the observation deck, you can overlook the Dam, as well as find a spectacular contrast between the serene Gaoxia Flat Lake at the upstream and the turbulent Yangtze River at the downstream. Afterwards, head for the Three Gorges Tourist Center where your guide will pick you up and take you for a 7.5-hour bullet train ride to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your local guide in Shanghai will meet you at the railway station and escort you to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World
Day 15 Shanghai
Visit Shanghai Museum and Yu Garden; enjoy an a la carte farewell lunch; have a panoramic view of the city skyline, and then explore the Bund with a Huangpu River cruise tour. (B+L)
Huangpu River Cruise
Our first stop is the Shanghai Museum, a window to peek into China’s artistic past from exhibited ancient artworks. Then, we will head to Yu Garden, once a private residence and thus more than a garden, to appreciate its intricate layout, exquisite pavilions, and rockeries. After that, an a la carte farewell lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) will be served.

Let’s head for Duo Yun Bookstore, “the bookstore above clouds”, at the 52nd floor of Shanghai Tower for a panorama of the cityscape beneath. Continue to take a walk at the Bund area, where to find a world-famous group of buildings in various western architectural styles and capture the impressive skyline of modern skyscrapers. From there, take a one-hour cruise on the Huangpu River. You will then have some time to explore the Bund area on your own. After that, we will take you back to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch
Day 16 Shanghai - Chicago
Please check out before 12:00, and head for the airport in our recommended ways; a pleasant journey home! (B)
Today, your China tour from Chicago has reached its end. Please arrange your own way to the airport for your homeward flight. As there is no direct flight between Shanghai and Chicago, you may fly to Chicago via Hong Kong, the two of which are directly linked by the flight CX806, available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You may also choose other connecting flights based on the latest flight schedule. We hope you have a nice journey home!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
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Prices are per person on twin sharing basis; departures are guaranteed even with two persons!
2024 & 2025 Special: 10% off - Book before Apr 30, 2024
Arrival DateDeparture DateDouble OccupancySingle Room Supplement 
Apr 07(Sun)Apr 22(Mon)USD3539 USD3185USD1139
Apr 18(Thu)May 03(Fri)USD3539 USD3185USD1139
May 09(Thu)May 24(Fri)USD3539 USD3185USD1139
May 23(Thu)Jun 07(Fri)USD3499 USD3149USD1139
Jun 09(Sun)Jun 24(Mon)USD3449 USD3104USD1069
Jun 20(Thu)Jul 05(Fri)USD3449 USD3104USD1069
Jul 04(Thu)Jul 19(Fri)USD3569 USD3212USD1179
Jul 18(Thu)Aug 02(Fri)USD3569 USD3212USD1179
Aug 01(Thu)Aug 16(Fri)USD3569 USD3212USD1179
Aug 15(Thu)Aug 30(Fri)USD3569 USD3212USD1179
Sep 05(Thu)Sep 20(Fri)USD3569 USD3212USD1179
Sep 15(Sun)Sep 30(Mon)USD3569 USD3212USD1179
Oct 06(Sun)Oct 21(Mon)USD3569 USD3212USD1179
Oct 17(Thu)Nov 01(Fri)USD3569 USD3212USD1179
Oct 31(Thu)Nov 15(Fri)USD3289 USD2960USD1049
Nov 14(Thu)Nov 29(Fri)USD3289 USD2960USD1049
Prices are per person on twin sharing basis; departures are guaranteed even with two persons!
2024 & 2025 Special: 10% off - Book before Apr 30, 2024
Arrival DateDeparture DateDouble OccupancySingle Room Supplement 
Apr 03(Thu)Apr 18(Fri)USD3439 USD3095USD1089
Apr 10(Thu)Apr 25(Fri)USD3439 USD3095USD1089
Apr 17(Thu)May 02(Fri)USD3439 USD3095USD1089
May 01(Thu)May 16(Fri)USD3439 USD3095USD1089
May 15(Thu)May 30(Fri)USD3439 USD3095USD1089
May 29(Thu)Jun 13(Fri)USD3349 USD3014USD1019
Jun 05(Thu)Jun 20(Fri)USD3349 USD3014USD1019
Jun 12(Thu)Jun 27(Fri)USD3349 USD3014USD1019
Jun 19(Thu)Jul 04(Fri)USD3349 USD3014USD1019
Jun 26(Thu)Jul 11(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Jul 03(Thu)Jul 18(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Jul 10(Thu)Jul 25(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Jul 17(Thu)Aug 01(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Jul 31(Thu)Aug 15(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Aug 07(Thu)Aug 22(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Aug 14(Thu)Aug 29(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Aug 21(Thu)Sep 05(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Sep 04(Thu)Sep 19(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Sep 11(Thu)Sep 26(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Sep 18(Thu)Oct 03(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Oct 09(Thu)Oct 24(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Oct 16(Thu)Oct 31(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Oct 23(Thu)Nov 07(Fri)USD3469 USD3122USD1129
Nov 06(Thu)Nov 21(Fri)USD3179 USD2861USD999
Nov 13(Thu)Nov 28(Fri)USD3179 USD2861USD999
Nov 20(Thu)Dec 05(Fri)USD3179 USD2861USD999
Price Includes
  • China domestic airfares & train fares
  • Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
  • A la carte lunches as itinerary specifies
  • Professional English-speaking guides
  • Drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
  • Entrance fees to tourist sites
  • Yangtze River cruise with full board
Price Excludes
  • International airfare
  • China visa fee
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
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