11 Days Chinese RMB Note Scenery Highlights Tour to Beijing, Guilin, Hangzhou and Shanghai

Day 1

Arrive in 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.

Day 2

Beijing (B, L)

Sightseeing: the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the People's Congress Hall, Hutong Tour in Rickshaw

Today we will start our city tour with the visit to 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. In there, you will have a visit to the People's Congress Hall, which is located at the western edge of Tiananmen Square, and is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. It functions as the People's Republic of China's parliament building.

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. 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.

In the afternoon, 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.

Day 3

Beijing (B, L)

Sightseeing: Great Wall at Mutianyu, Ming tomb, Temple of Heaven,                               

After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Bill Clinton described it as an unbelievable achievement of the humankind. The hike takes about 2-3 hours. After lunch, continue to visit Changling, one of the 13 Ming Tombs the 13 emperors of the Ming.

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.

Afternoon, we will visit 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 you will see people practicing Tai Chi or singing relaxingly.

Day 4

Beijing to Guilin (B, L)

Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Summer Palace

This morning we will visit the famous royal garden-Summer Palace. In 1888, the notorious Empress Cixi used the money intended for the Chinese Navy to build this opulent summer retreat for herself. We will have a lakeside cruise on the lovely Kunming Lake and enjoy the magical views of the temples, pavilions and covered corridors around.

After lunch, you will be transferred to airport to take flight and fly to Guilin. Arrive in Guilin, you will be met and transferred to hotel. Free the leisure day, you can explore the neighborhood of hotel

Day 5

Guilin (B, L)

Sightseeing: Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Daxu Old Town.

This morning we will begin with visiting the Elephant Trunk Hill. Located at the conjunction of the Li River & the Peach Blossom River, the whole hill looks very much like a giant elephant with a long trunk drinking out of the river; it is the symbol of Guilin city.

We'll continue to visit Reed Flute Cave, which is a vast and very impressive cave system, and one of the most important sights of Guilin. Known as "the Palace of Natural Arts", you can see beautiful stalactites & stalagmites and learn how they are formed.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Daxu Ancient Town. Located to the southwest of Guilin, on shore of the tourists beaten Li River, Daxu is a time-honored town with well preserved traditional Chinese architectures and the time-worn shiny stone-paved streets. The place is the commercial premier in the area. First built in the Qin Dynasty, over 2,000 years ago, Dxu Town began to flourish during the Ming Dynasty when it became the commercial premier in the area.

Drive back Guilin after the tours.

Day 6

Guilin to Yangshuo (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.

Stay tonight in this lovely small town.

Day 7

Yangshuo to Guilin to Hangzhou (B, L)

Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Moon Hill, Big Banyan tree

Experience the hustle & bustle of the Yangshuo traffic for 10 minutes before you escape onto the country roads, lanes and tracks of the distinctive and beautiful Yangshuo countryside. Biking alongside the paddy field and orchards that surround the famous mountains will give a fascinating insight into life in rural China. You will have a visit to the Moon Hill and Big Banyan Tree on the way. It is an opportunity to see a real country life and talk to the local farmers.

After lunch in Yangshuo, you will be transferred directly to Guilin airport to take the flight to Hangzhou. Arrive in Hangzhou, your guide will greet you and transfer you to hotel.

Day 8

Hangzhou (B, L)

Sightseeing: West Lake, Six Harmonies Pagoda, Lingyin Temple, Meijiawu Village

This morning, we will first visit to beautiful West Lake. We will take a cruise boat across the lake to see the 3 pagodas in the lake. The West Lake is the most famous tourist spot of Hangzhou. Graceful mountains surround it on three sides. It has a charming scenery and many cultural relics and historic sites.

Then we will visit Lingyin Temple including the Feilai Feng. The Feilai Feng is situated in the east of Ling Yin Temple. Isolated from others, its stone quality is totally different from that of surrounding mountain groups. It is 167 meters high, on the peak there are many grotesque stones in the shapes of charming dragon, prostrate tiger, walking elephant and scared ape. The main hall of Lingyin Temple is about 34 meters (111 feet) tall - incredibly high for a one-storey building. In the center of the hall you'll find the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, which was carved from 24 pieces of camphor wood. The temple was named Lingyin Temple for its extremely beautiful environment which is serene and suitable for "Soul's Retreat".

After having lunch at local restaurant, we will drive to the Six Harmonies Pagoda, highly erected next to Qiantang River and in the south of the West Lake. It is a perfect example of brick-and-wood structure built in ancient China and was built in 970 AD in the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127) to press down the evil of the river tidal bore in Qiantang River.

Day 9

Hangzhou to Shanghai (B, L)

Transfer via: High speed train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Yuyuan Garden, The Bund, Nanjing Road

After breakfast, you will be transferred to railway station to take the high speed train to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your local guide will greet you and then start your Shanghai city tour.

First, we will take a relaxing walk to the lovely Yuyuan Garden, a beautiful garden in the south of the Yangtze River. Wandering through it, you will find pavilions, corridors, streams, courtyards as well as many other natural features.

Then, we will take a walk along the Bund, experience the smells, sights and sounds of the old "Wall Street" in Shanghai. Actually, some people say that the Bund is like "an exhibition of buildings". Finally we will walk along the famous pedestrian street-Nanjing Road, known as "China's No.1 Shopping Street".

Day 10

Shanghai (B, L)

Sightseeing: Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Today we will start with a visit of Shanghai Museum which is the biggest museum of China. It incorporates a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural relics and is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy.

Then we head to the Jade Buddha Temple. The old-time and classical architectural style makes the temple unique and inimitable in this modern city. Both, the Sitting Buddha and the Recumbent Buddha are carved with whole white jade. If you're lucky, you can watch the monks serving a ceremony in a side room.

After lunch, we will visit the Oriental Pearl Tower, the highest TV Tower in Asia, which creates a picture of twin dragons playing with pearls'. The entire scene is a photographic jewel that excites the imagination and attracts thousands of visitors all year-round.

Day 11

Depart Shanghai (B)

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Today will be free for your own purposes, until our guide will escort you to the airport for your next destination.