15 Days Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai-Guilin-Yangshuo-Guangzhou-Hong Kong Tour

Day 1

Arrival Beijing

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Upon your arrival in Beijing 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: 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.

Day 3

Beijing / Xi'an (B)

Transfer via: Overnight train (soft sleeper class) on our arrangement

Today is a free day to see some of the downtown sights of Beijing such as the Forbidden city, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. Make your own way to the station for an early evening departure by overnight train to Xi'an in a comfortable soft sleeper class compartment.

Day 4

Xi'an (B, L)

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

Arrive in Xi'an in the morning. Be met and transferred to your hotel with time for breakfast and a chance to freshen up before starting a full day tour.

You will visit the Banpo Museum, Banpo Neolithic Village Museum. The remains of this village, located just east of Xian and inhabited from about 4500 B.C. to 3750 B.C., were discovered in 1953.Inside the museum, there are the hall for the ruins, the hall for cultural relics, and the clay cave ruins. The Banpo Lady Statue o­n the rock in the garden pond bears a physical resemblance to the early Banpo people.

Then we will go on to 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, ordered the construction of a vast army of Terra-cotta warriors in search of immortality. After his early death they were buried with him to protect his empire. More than 7000 vivid figures in full battle array are formed for battle in several large pits.

Afterwards you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Day 5

Xi'an / Shanghai (B)

Transfer via: Overnight train (soft sleeper class) on our arrangement

Free morning in Xi'an to further explore such sights as the Drum and Bell Towers or a trip to the Hanyangling Mausoleum. Make you own way to the station for a mid-afternoon train to Shanghai in a comfortable soft sleeper class compartment.

Day 6

Shanghai (L)

Sightseeing: Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Oriental Pearl Tower

Early morning arrival in Shanghai, a cosmopolitan, modern and bustling city. Transfer to your hotel to freshen up and then a half day 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.

Continue, with a visit of 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.

Then we will head to 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 7

Shanghai / Guilin (B)

Transfer via: Overnight train (soft sleeper class) on our arrangement     

Free day in Shanghai for last minute shopping or sightseeing. Get to the station in mid-afternoon by yourself for the overnight train to Guilin in a comfortable soft sleeper cabin.

Day 8

Guilin

Early afternoon arrival in Guilin with a transfer to your hotel. Free time, perhaps to visit the Reed Flute Cave or Elephant Hill.

Day 9

Guilin / 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. Depart from your hotel in the morning. 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. Disembark at the old town Yangshuo in the afternoon. Making your own way to your hotel. Free time to explore this wonderfully laid back town.

West Street 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. Overnight in Yangshuo.

Day 10

Yangshuo (B)

A free day in Yangshuo to continue to explore the town and its surrounding countryside. A wide range of tours and activities can easily be booked locally. Overnight Yangshuo.

Day 11

Yangshuo / Guilin / Guangzhou (B)

Transfer via: Overnight train (soft sleeper class) on our arrangement

A free morning in Yangshuo. You will make your own transfer take a taxi or the local bus to the railway station for the sleeper train to Guangzhou. 

Day 12

Guangzhou (B, L)

Sightseeing: Six Banyan Tree Temple, Memorial Hall of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Ancestral Temple of Chen Family.

Early morning arrival in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, Southern China's most dynamic and developed commercial center and also the home place of the Cantonese culture. After breakfast and time to freshen up start a private city tour.

Visiting the Six Banyan Tree Temple, It has a long history in Guangzhou and is an ancient monastery famous at home and abroad. There are majestic towers, dense trees, plenty of antiques and valuable heritage from those famous people in the history. It is one of the four Buddhism temple complexes in Guangzhou is an important unit for the preservation of antiques.

Then visit Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. It is a magnificent building in the shape of octagon and an important place for large scale meeting and performance. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall was built in order to commemorate the contributions of Sun Zhongshan, the great predecessor of Chinese revolution for democracy. It is a memorial construction donated by the people in Guangzhou and the overseas Chinese and is listed as one of the first class cultural relics in Guangdong Province.

Afterwards you will visit the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family which is also called Chen Clan Academy. It is a place both for offering up sacrifices to ancestors and for study. Now the Chen Clan Ancestral Temple in Guangzhou City, the Ancestors' Temple in Foshan City, the former Residence of Sun Yat-sen in Zhongshan City and the Opium War Memorial Hall in Dongguan City are regarded as the four major cultural tourist sites in Guangdong Province.

Free time in the evening, perhaps to take a Pearl River Cruise and overnight hotel.

Day 13

Guangzhou / Hong Kong (B)

Transfer via: train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Aberdeen, Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay

After breakfast a transfer to the railway station for your onward journey to Hong Kong by train. Arrival in Hong Kong, be met and transferred to your hotel. Half day tour.

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.
 

Day 14

Hong Kong (B)

Today you will have leisure time to explore Hong Kong on your own.

Day 15

Hong Kong / Departure (B)

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Free at leisure until our guide escorts you to the airport for your flight departure.