15 Days China Highlight Budget Tour with Yangtze Cruise

Day 1

Beijing Arrival

Transfer via: Flight –on your own arrangement

You will be greeted by our local guide upon your arrival in Beijing and then be transferred to your hotel by a private air-conditioned car.  We will leave the rest of the first day free for you to recover from the jet lag or explore the city by yourself.

Day 2

Beijing (B)

Sightseeing: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City

We start today's highlights with a visit of the Temple of Heaven, The temple of Heaven was 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.

After lunch, we go on our city tours to visit Tiananmen Square, the symbolical 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 walk across the Golden River Bridge to visit the Forbidden City and experience ancient Emperor's daily life. Forbidden City was the largest palace in the world, and it was indeed a forbidden place limited to commoners for 500 year in the past. Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's palace.

Day 3

Beijing (B)

Sightseeing: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Sacred Way

After experience of the royal lifestyle, today we will spend about 1.5 hours to be transferred outside the city to the surrounding countryside for a visit to 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 saw it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. You will be able to climb and walk the 2,000 years old ancient wall, admiring the splendid mountain views.

This afternoon we will visit the legendary Ming Tombs, The Ming Tombs are situated at the foot of Heavenly Longevity Mountain, northwest of Beijing. Since there are 13Ming emperors buried there, there are also called the 13 Ming Tombs. Passing though the Sacred Way, a road guarded on both sides with stone statues by which the ancient emperors went to hold a memorial ceremony for the ancestors, you will encounter thea marble tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors.

Day 4

Beijing / Xi'an (B)

Transfer via: Overnight Train (soft sleeper) –on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Hutong Rickshaw Tour, Summer Palace, Yonghe Lamasery,

We experience an unique Hutong tour by taking rickshaw this morning. Hutongs are a kind of ancient city alley or lane that is typical in Beijing. Most of them are found around 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 continue to visit the Summer Palace. Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called 'Yiheyuan' (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. It is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. You may regret it if you come to Beijing without visiting this grand imperial garden.

Also, we will have a visit to Yonghe Lamasery. The YongHe Palace (Yonghe Gong) is Beijing's biggest Lama temple and is globally renowned.

In the evening, you will be transferred to railway station to take overnight soft sleeper train to Xi'an. Please note that four berths (two upper and two lower) are held in each compartment in the soft sleeper carriages. If you are reluctant to share with the strangers, you need to pay for the extra charge of the left berths except the one you occupied.

Day 5

Xi'an (B)

Sightseeing: Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower

Arrive in Xi'an in the morning, your local guide will greet you at the exit of the railway station and transfer you to the hotel. Depart from your hotel after breakfast. You will visit the amazing 2000-year-old Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. Regarded as the 8th Wonder of the World, the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Over 2,200 years ago, the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang in search of immortality, ordered the construction of a vast army of Terra-cotta warriors and buried with him to protect his empire after his early death.

Another highlight today is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Situated at south of the Xi'an city, as one of the main constructions in the famous Buddhist temple-Da-Ci-En Temple, where Famous Buddhist Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his well-preserved collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India in Tang Dynasty. Now it is the Landmark of the Xi'an.

Then we go on to visit the Bell Tower, which is the most well-preserved and best-known one among many ancient cities of China. The Bell Tower was built in 1384. In early morning of ancient times it had the mission of ringing the bell and giving the correct time to the whole city, so it is called "The Bell Tower". With magnificent carved beams and painted rafters, this classical building is truly elegant.

Day 6

Xi'an (B)

You will have a free day today and we do not arrange anything for you except for the hotel with breakfast. For your free time in Xi'an, you may explore the downtown area. The Bell Tower - the center of this historical city is just 5 minutes walking to the north of your hotel. Nearby you will find the Islamic Flavor Street and the Drum Tower. Please click Xi'an day trip for referrence.

Day 7

Xi'an / Guilin (B)

Transfer via: Flight –on our arrangement

Today you will finish the Xi'an tour and fly to Guilin. You can take a shuttle bus (CNY 26, the bus stop is quite near to your hotel) or a taxi (about CNY150) to the airport and board the flight to Guilin by yourself. Upon arrival, your local guide will pick you up at Guilin airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is for you to have a stroll in this scenic city by yourself.

Day 8

Guilin / Yangshuo / Guilin (B, L)

Sightseeing: Li River Cruise

Guilin is famous for its picturesque scenery, and the best way to see it is from the deck of Li River Cruise ships. We suggest a big breakfast at your hotel since the lunch on the Li River Cruise is not up to the normal standard. Be transferred to the Zhujiang Pier (about 1 hour drive) for a 4.5 hours wonderful cruise.

The following Li River cruise tour and a half-day Yangshuo trip will be handled on your own. 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. Disembark at the old town Yangshuo in the afternoon around 14:00pm. Then, you can wander around the famous West Street, which is the oldest street in Yangshuo with a history of more than 1,400 years. You can have a short exploration to the old town's lovely attractions. Also, you could rent a bicycle or an electric car to tour around the countryside, which is not far away from the town and usually it will take one and a half hour. You will enjoy the wonderful rural scenery.

In the late afternoon, it's about time to go back to Guilin. You could go to the bus station to purchase the bus ticket (CNY15 per person) and then take the bus back to Guilin (it will take around 1.5 hours). Upon arrival, it's easy for you to take a taxi to the hotel in Guilin by yourself.

Day 9

Guilin / Chongqing (B)

Transfer via: Flight –on our arrangement

On your own arrangement to get to Guilin airport to board the flight and fly to Chongqing. Upon arrival at the Chongqing airport, you will be met by the local guide and Visit the Panda House in Chongqing Zoo, the Residence of General Joseph W. Stilwell and Ciqikou Ancient Town. Then be transferred to dock to board the cruise ship. Your memorable Yangtze Cruise begins at 22:00.

Day 10

Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)

(8:00-10:00) Shore excursion to either Fengdu Ghost City or Wanxian, or Shibaozhai (depending on river conditions). Then return to the ship and sail towards the magnificent Three Gorges.

Fengdu, with fantastic temples of underworld demons and gods, is constructed on the Mingshan Hill by the river band. It is known as the "Ghost City" and is a place for punishing the devil and awarding the good.

Wanxian is one of the most important and largest ports on the Yangtze. It is widely known for its variety and hustling markets. Fifty percent of the city will be resettled after the Three Gorges Dam Project is completed.

Day 11

Yangtze Cruise (B, L, D)

(08:00-13:00) Passing through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge.
(13:00-16:30) Boat excursion to Shennong Stream.
(17:30) Passing through Xiling Gorge.

Shennong Stream is another tributary of the Yangtze River, and its fast-flowing, clear water runs southwards through deep gorges. The stream races past large and small karst caves, flocks of swallows, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, three-colored springs, rapids, the ancient plank path, a suspended coffin in the cliff, groups of ancient tombs and marvelous karst formations.

Day 12

Yangtze Cruise / Yichang / Shanghai (B, L)

Transfer via: Flight-on our arrangement

(08:00-10:00) Shore excursion to The Three Gorges Dam Site
(13:00) Disembark at Yichang.

Three Gorges Dam is the largest water conservancy project undertaken by man. The construction of the dam formally began in 1994. The body of the dam was completed in 2003, and the whole construction will be competed in 2009. It will be 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, 18 meters wide on the top and 130 meters wide at the bottom. Tourists can get access to the top of the dam.

Your tour guide in Yichang will meet you on board and transfer you to Yichang City and visit the Yichang Museum if time permits. Then see you off at the airport for a flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival at the Shanghai Hongqiao airport, take a taxi (it is about CNY80 to CNY100 per car from the airport to your hotel) to the reserved hotel in Shanghai and handle the check-in procedure on your own.

Day 13

Shanghai (B)

Today is a free day is for you to explore this international metropolis by yourself. It is advised to walk around the famous Shanghai Bund and see the towering buildings scattered near and far, a perfect mixture of the eastern and western cultures. Visit the symbolistic scenic spots as Shanghai museum, Yuyuan Garden Take a boat tour on the Huangpu River and have a great view of the Pudong district on your own. The boat usually runs from the Zhongshan Dong Lu (East Zhongshan Road) to the Wusongkou dock every one hour in the day time.

Day 14

Shanghai (B)

One more free day for you in Shanghai so that you could savor the international metropolis flavor further. You could refer to Shanghai Day Trip to choose your favourite tour schedule.

Day 15

Shanghai Departure (B)

Transfer via: Flight –on your own arrangement

Today you will check out the hotel and arrange the way to airport to board the flight leave Shanghai by yourself. There are two airports in Shanghai, one is Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and the other is Shanghai Pudong Airport. Please confirm the right one to take your flight 2 hours ahead of the schedule.The taxi fare to the Shanghai Hongqiao airport is around CNY80 and the fare to Shanghai Pudong airport is around CNY200.