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Day
1
Arrival Beijing
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival you will be greeted by our local guide and then transferred to your hotel by a private air-conditioned car. For the rest of the day you will enjoy some leisure time.
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Day
2
Beijing (B, L)
Sightseeing: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City
This morning our tour will begin with a visit of the Temple of Heaven, which was completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. It was the place where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. With the three blue-tiled cone-shaped roofs, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail, it has become a worldwide symbol of Beijing. In the park nearby local people practice Tai Chi or sing and dance relaxingly. They will invite you to join in with these activities which will become a very worthwhile and unforgettable experience.
After lunch, we will go on our city tour to visit Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, which can hold one million people.
From here we will walk across the Golden River Bridge to visit the Forbidden City and experience the ancient Emperor's daily life. For 5 centuries Chinese emperors carried out their administration here. With almost 10,000 rooms, it was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a massive complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens where 24 emperors used to live. (Also Bertolucci's film "The Last Emperor" was produced here). Forbidden City was the largest palace in the world, and in the past it was indeed a forbidden place for commoners. Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's palace.
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Day
3
Beijing (B, L)
Sightseeing: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Sacred Way
After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Badaling Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Richard Nixon described it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. You will be able to climb and walk one of the best preserved sections of the 2,000 years old ancient wall, admiring the splendid mountain views. Bring a jacket and layer- although it is breezy, the climbing is tough. So be in a good shape!
In the afternoon we will visit the legendary Ming Tombs, which are situated at the foot of Heavenly Longevity Mountain, Changping, northwest of Beijing. Since there are 13 Ming emperors buried there, this place was called the 13 Ming Tombs. You will walk along the Sacred Way, a road guarded by stone statues on both sides, as the ancient emperors did to hold a memorial ceremony for their ancestors. Finally, you will encounter the marble tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors and visit one of the spectacular tombs, indeed an underground palace.
On the way back to hotel, you will be driven to visit the main 2008 Beijing Olympic venues, take an exterior visit of both the, Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium), National Swimming Centre('The Water Cube'),feel free to take some photos of the stadiums.
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Day
4
Beijing / Chengdu (B, L)
Transfer via: Flight arranged by us
Sightseeing: Hutongs, Summer Palace
We will experience a unique Hutong tour by taking a rickshaw this morning. Hutongs are a kind of ancient city alley or lane and are very typical for Beijing. Most of them can be found close to the Forbidden City, and many were built during the three dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing. Today, the Hutong is a living museum of Beijing history showing the traditional lifestyle of Beijing people.
We will continue by visiting the Summer Palace. Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called 'Yiheyuan' (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. Until nowadays, it is the best preserved and the largest imperial garden in China. You will regret it if you leave Beijing without having visited this grand imperial garden.
Later that day you will take the flight to Chengdu. After your arrival there, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide.
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Day
5
Chengdu / Leshan / Emeishan (B, L)
Transfer via: Private vehicle arranged by us
Sightseeing: Leshan Giant Buddha Statue
Today we will make a trip to famous Leshan Giant Buddha Statue. Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest Buddha in the world, about 71 meters high. It is a statue of Maitreya (a Bodhisattva usually represented as a very stout monk with a broad smile on his face and with his naked breast and paunch exposed to view) in sitting posture. It started to be carved in 713 A.D and finished 90 years later. Facing the river, the Buddha has symmetrical posture and looks which have been beautifully captured in its solemn stillness. It has three-meter-long (about 11 feet) fingers. The eight-meter-long (about 27 feet) instep is big enough for one hundred people to sit on and the 28-meter-wide (about 92 feet) shoulder is large enough to be a basketball playground. You will be astonished by its grace.
Later that day you will drive to Emeishan, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide.
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Day
6
Emeishan / Chengdu (B, L)
Transfer via: Private vehicle arranged by us
Sightseeing: Mount Emei
This morning we will start off to Mount Emei. The first Buddhist temple in China was built here in Sichuan Province in the 1st century A.D. in the beautiful surroundings of the summit Mount Emei. The addition of other temples turned the site into one of Buddhism's holiest sites. Over the centuries, the cultural treasures grew in number. We will enjoy its well-known natural scenery, extensive Buddhist culture, abundant range of species and unique landform. Thus it gets such titles as 'Kingdom of Plants', 'Geological Museum', 'Animals' Paradise' and 'Buddhist Celestial Mountain'.
Later that day you will drive back to Chengdu, there you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide.
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Day
7
Chengdu / Wolong (B, L)
Transfer via: Private vehicle arranged by us
Sightseeing: Wolong Giant Panda's Museum
Today’s destination will be Wolong Giant Panda's Museum which exhibits the history, present and future of the giant panda. You will get to know a lot of interesting facts about the living environment, historical evolution, living habits and characteristics, and neighbors of the giant panda. Furthermore about the breeding, reproduction, protection research and natural reserves of the giant panda; research achievements in cooperation with international organizations and institutions who are concerned with the giant panda.
Afterwards you will be transferred back to your hotel.
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Day
8
Wolong / Chengdu / Guilin (B, L)
Transfer via: Private vehicle & Flight arranged by us
Sightseeing: Wolong Nature Preserve
We will drive to Wolong Giant Panda Reserve Centre, a natural reserved area for protecting Pandas. It is also a research centre of pandas. People can get very closely to the cute animals. In 1982, it was admitted by the UNESCO to be part of "the International Reserve Net of Man and Biosphere." Lying on the complicated land formations of transition area from the Qinghai and Tibet Plateau to the Sichuan Basin, and with a cool climate, it's endowed with favorable conditions for the preservation and reproduction of a number of living beings. In the Reserve, there are over 4,000 species of plants, which have a very conspicuous vertical spectrum of vegetation. It differs with different elevations above sea level.
Later that day you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Guilin. After your arrival there, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide.
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Day
9
Guilin / Yangshuo / Guilin (B, L)
Sightseeing: Li River Cruise, West Street
Guilin is famous for its picturesque scenery, and the best way to see it is from the deck of Li River Cruise ships. In the morning you will depart from your hotel and be transferred to the Zhujiang Pier (about 1 hour drive) for a 4.5 hours wonderful cruise. You will enjoy the unique mountains, peaceful green fields, farms and villages with water buffalos, cows wondering around on both sides of the river bank.
In the afternoon you will disembark at the old town Yangshuo. Having a history of more than 1,400 years, West Street is the oldest street in Yangshuo. You will have some time to explore the old town’s lovely attractions and will be transferred back to Guilin city in the evening.
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Day
10
Guilin / Hong Kong (B, L)
Transfer via: Flight arranged by us
Sightseeing: Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo (wave-subduing) Hill, Reed Flute Cave
This morning we will start off with visiting the Reed Flute Cave, which is a vast and very impressive cave system. Known as "the Palace of Natural Arts" where you can see beautiful stalactites & stalagmites, it is one of the most famous attractions of Guilin.
Later we’ll head for Fubo Hill. There, you can see lots of rock stone carvings & Buddha statues from Tang Dynasty. If you climb to the summit, you will have a wonderful bird's-eye view on Guilin city.
We will continue our tour and visit Elephant Trunk Hill. Located at the conjunction of the Li River & the Peach Blossom River, the hill looks very much like a giant elephant with a long trunk drinking out of the river; it is the symbol of Guilin city.
Afterwards you will take the flight to Hong Kong. Arriving in Hong Kong, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide.
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Day
11
Hong Kong (B, L)
Sightseeing: Aberdeen, Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay
Today we will start to explore Victoria Peak first. The Peak is Hong Kong’s number one tourist destination. It features the city's oldest mode transport, the 112-year old Peak Tram and Hong Kong's most unusual building and icon, The Peak Tower where you will find shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.
Then you will visit lovely Repulse Bay: Primarily an exclusive residential area, Repulse Bay has a relaxed, resort-like atmosphere. You will find statues of Kwun Yum and Tin Hau, both protectors of fishermen.
The tour will continue with a visit to the Aberdeen fishing village where you will enjoy a Sampan Ride on the harbor to get a close-up look at this unusual way of life. For the rest of the day you will have leisure time to explore Hong Kong on your own.
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Day
12
Departure Hong Kong (B)
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
You will have the last hours in Hong Kong for yourself until our guide will escort you to the airport for your flight to your next destination.