top of page

 Classic China

Beijing/Xi'an/Guilin/Yangshuo/Shanghai 

This slightly longer tour features everything that the Best of China tour offers plus a visit to ancient Guilin in the south of China. Here you board a boat in Guilin for a five-hour cruise down the fabled Li River...cruising amid spectacular and dramatic karst limestone mountains that have inspired Chinese poets and painters since time immemorial. En route - which includes lunch on board - you encounter authentic rural China scenes - villages, rice paddies, water buffalo and cormorant fishermen. Riding a bamboo raft on the Li River is a highlight...in fact, the whole destination is one of China's Top 5 tourist destinations.

 

Day 1

Arrive Beijing at the Beijing Capital International Airport where your professional local English speaking guide will meet you in the Arrival Hall.  With your guide, enjoy the views of Beijing CBD & the SOHO Business Street on your way to the hotel. After checking-in and freshening up, your guide will take you for a stroll of the area around your hotel - the famous Wanfujing Street. Visit the Snack street off Wanfujing street where where you can sample local delicacies before returning to your hotel.

 

Day 2

Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch, Show)

After breakfast, enjoy a full day tour of Beijing visiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.  Drive along Chang an Avenue  - and your guide will point out  the National Grand Theatre and Ancient City Walls. After seeing how the nobility lived, partake of Jiaozi (steamed dumplings) for lunch in the company of a Chinese family. Later, enjoy a pedi-cab tour of the ancient courtyard houses called the Hutongs and the popular Houhai Lake Bar Street. After dinner, enjoy the exciting and dramatic Kung-fu show.

 

Day 3

Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch, special Dinner)

After breakfast at hotel, journey to the The Great Wall at Mutianyu. Head to the top by cable car and stroll along this incredible wonder and enjoy the breathtaking view. After a late lunch at a good Chinese restaurant, return to Beijing to visit the tranquil Imperial Gardens of the Summer Palace. In the evening, enjoy a delicious Peking Roasted Duck.

 

Day 4

Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast, visit the holiest temple in Beijing - Temple of Heaven and then the Lama Temple. After lunch at a good Chinese restaurant, drive through "Chinese Wall Street"- Beijing Bank Street to get to the famous Xiushui market where you will put your bargaining skills to work at the. In the evening, transfer back to your hotel.

 

Day 5

Beijing - Xi'an (Breakfast, special Dinner)

After breakfast, have some free time in the morning before saying goodbye to your Beijing guide as you will be transferred to the train station. Enjoy the scenery en-route on your High Speed train journey from Beijing to the ancient city of Xi'an. Upon arrival, your local Xi'an guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit the Ancient City walls that surround this old city. If you are interested, you could even rent a bike on the wall and ride the entire wall in an hour and a half. visit the Big Goose Pagoda where you will be able to climb to the top of the pagoda for a bird's view of Xi'an. In the evening, enjoy a Dumpling banquet before returning to your hotel.

 

Day 6

Xi'an (Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast, visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum; here, you will learn about China's history and have a better understanding before your visit to the warriors. After some Hand-pulled noodles for lunch, you will visit the thousands of life size Terracotta Warriors and Horses about an hour and a half from Xi'an. Your visit includes a Circlorama 360 film presentation of the history of the warriors. In the afternoon, you return to Xi'an to visit the Grand Mosque with Muslim Quarter. Stroll on Muslim street and see how Chinese Muslims live. Your guide will show you the famous local snacks available here. After an exciting day, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Optional extra - if you like extravagant costumes, elaborate staging and Chinese dances, ask your guide to take you to the Tang Dynasty dinner and show.

 

Day 7

Xi'an - Guilin (Breakfast, Dinner)

After breakfast, hop over to Shu Yuan Men for some unique shopping experience. It is time to say goodbye to your Xian guide as you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guilin. Domestic Flight (included) from Xi'an to Guilin. Domestic Flight (included) from Xi'an to Guilin. Upon arrival, your local Guilin guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit Elephant Trunk Hill - an endearing symbol of Guilin - and the Reed Flute Caves. In the evening, enjoy a stroll at the "Two Rivers Four Lakes" scenic area and have dinner before transferring you to your hotel.

 

Day 8

Guilin - Yangshuo (Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast at hotel, enjoy a scenic Li River cruise to the village of Yangshuo. On the cruise, you will see magnificent scenery of spectacular limestone reflected in the shimmering waters, passing picturesque fishing villages and simple rural life along the riverbank. Lunch will be served on board. Your cruise will take you through some of Guilin's best scenery. Disembark at Yangshuo, visit the lovely small town, and enjoy a stroll through the tiny, pedestrian street (West Street) of Yangshuo and enjoy the atmosphere of this rural town in China. If you have the energy, you can choose to do a short bike ride in the country side. You will overnight in Yangshuo

Note: As large luggage is not permitted on the 5 hour ferry from Guilin to Yangshuo, your driver will transfer your large items of luggage to your hotel in Yangshuo.

 

Day 9

Yangshuo (Breakfast, special Lunch)

After breakfast at hotel cycle on a rural country road to the middle reaches of Yulong River, take a bamboo raft along the river. After rafting, go for lunch in a farmer's house.and visit Moon Hill.  Ride back to Yangshuo and enjoy breathtaking scenery and a taste of life far removed from the concrete metropolis. If you don't like cycling, your guide will take you for a drive in the countryside.

Optional Extra: If you like shows, ask your guide about the "Impressions of Liusanjie" spectacular light show with its backdrop of illuminated karst mountains and a cast of over 600 locals.

 

Day 10

Yangzhuo - Guilin - Shanghai (Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to your Guilin guide as you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your local Shanghai guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit the Oriental Pearl TV tower, for a bird's-eye view of this modern city. Then on to Shanghai's landmark - fpr a stroll along the historic riverside Bund. Later time for shopping in famous Nanjing Road. After dinner, have a cruise on the Huangpu River for the night view of Shanghai.

 

Day 11

Shanghai (Breakfast, special Lunch, Show)

After breakfast, spend precious time in the classic Yuyuan Gardens. On to the bustling Yu Bazaar nearby, where you can pick up some souvenirs. Lunch is at a Mongolian Barbecue, which is as much a show as it is an exotic eating experience. Later, enjoy a walk along the adjoining Shanghai Old Street, with its endless streams of pedestrians, traditional shops, tea houses and theatres. Later to the incredible Urban Planning Museum on the People's Square. This evening enjoy the feel of old Shanghai at Xintandi, where a plethora of restaurants will attract you for drinks and dinner.  Later, be amazed by the sensational performance of the famous Acrobatic Show before returning to your hotel.

 

Day 12

Shanghai (Breakfast)

After breakfast, you will have a full day at leisure for independent sightseeing or shopping.

 

Day 13

Shanghai – your onward destination

After breakfast, you will have a free day until your evening transfer to the station for the ride of your life. The Maglev bullet train will take you 431km/hr to the airport.

bottom of page