11 Days Beijing – Xi’an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Xiamen – Shanghai

When people mention about China, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors will jump into your mind. But there are some other wonders in other places of China need to be unveiled. The Earth building in Xiamen is worthy to visit.

DAY 1 Beijing Arrival – Exploration or Relax
Hotel:Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Chaoyang U-Town (Superior Room)(TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2015)On arrival in Beijing, your guide, driver and private car will be ready and waiting to transfer you to the hotel, assisting you with your luggage and check-in. This team will ensure your room is in order and will take care of you during your time in Beijing.

Today we’ve left this afternoon or evening free for you to recover, relax or explore by yourself. If you’re not suffering from jet-lag feel free to seek ideas from our guide during your transfer. It’s a good time to get some local tips or ideas for places nearby to see, dinner, or ask about tickets to see a show. In Beijing, watch a Kungfu show is recommended.

Good to Know
All our drivers have a minimum of four years driving experience. The vehicles are all clean, air-conditioned, and we ensure you have complimentary water, snacks and a map. Your guide will tell you his/her cell phone number and they are available 24 hours if you need any help.

DAY 2 Hiking on the Great Wall
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Chaoyang U-Town (Superior Room)
Breakfast & Lunch

Your professional guide will meet you at hotel lobby to start hike between Jinshanling and Simatai west. This section of the great wall covers some wilder parts, reinforced, partial restorations and full restorations, giving you the full flavor of the Great Wall.

The hiking route takes from 3 to 4 hours and offers you spectacular views. It’s no wonder its a favorite of photographers.

Good to Know
We choose our hiking guide very carefully. They are energetic and hiking on the Wall over 200 days a year! If hiking is not your thing, or three hours of hiking sounds a little long, you are also able to enjoy a few hours strolling on one of these sections, which is unlikely to affect the price of this tour.

DAY 3   Beijing & Flight to Xi’an
Hotel: Sofitel on Renmin Square Xian
Breakfast & Lunch

Your guide and driver are get ready to escort you visit highlights of Beijing. The Forbidden City is full of stories; you get to know Chinese royal family and experience life of the last emperor. The Tian’anmen Square is the heart of China, walk around and take a look at Chinese political center. Visiting to hutongs by taking on rickshaw is a pleasant experience. Your guide is very familiar with the host who has lived in the courtyard for generations. Have a cup of tea at the courtyard and have a nice chat with them. In the afternoon, not in hurry, your guide will confirm your flight to Xi’an and avoid traffic jam to see you off at airport. Your flight is not at late evening, your vacation, not tired.

Good to Know
To give authentic experience to customer, we choose local restaurant with good quality. You can order dishes with guide’s recommendation no longer only sweet and sour pork, spicy diced chicken with peanuts at every meal.

DAY 4  Xi’an – The Terra-cotta Warriors
Hotel: Sofitel on Renmin Square Xian
Breakfast & Lunch

Enjoy breakfast and freshen up, take your time and when you’re ready your guide and driver will be in the lobby ready to escort you to visit the iconic sight of Xi’an, the Terra-cotta Warriors. After lunch, we drive back to down town. Xi’an Ancient City Wall, one of the oldest and most complete city defenses. You can biking on the wall to enjoy sunset.

DAY 5 Xi’an & Flight to Guilin
Hotel: Shangri La Hotel Guilin (Deluxe Room)
Breakfast & Lunch

It is your second day in Xi’an. The historic city becomes unveiled step by step. Shaanxi History Museum shows you the history of China. You will also know more about muslin religion by visiting to the Great Mosque. One of today’s highlights is visiting to a local family and learning how to make dumplings. Friendly host is happy to communicate with guests and make dumpling banquet to show her hospitality. It is a wonderful personal touch. Then you will visit Xi’an’s Big Wild Goose Pagoda, unusually this pagoda has survived since around 400 AD, as it is made of bricks.

Good to Know
The view over Xi’an from the pagodas is arguably the best in the city. The pagodas and gardens are lit up at night and offer a wonderful stroll.

DAY 6 Yangshuo
Hotel: Green Lotus Hotel
Breakfast & Lunch

Today’s activity is taking the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. The boat can hold about 140 passengers with two stories. We choose the upper storey with better view and less people. Four hours on board, just relax on the soft chair or go to deck to enjoy breath-taking view. Your guide will show you the highlights on the Li River at the right time and right place.

Good to Know
Only several minutes walk from Sheraton Guilin to a lake and the Li River. If you energetic, you are suggested to have jogging in the morning along the Binjiang Road near the river.

DAY 7 Yangshuo
Hotel: Green Lotus Hotel
Breakfast & Lunch

Cooking class offers an opportunity to learn how to cook local dishes. Usually English-speaking teacher will introduce you three dishes such as beer fish, the most famous dish in Yangshuo, spicy diced chicken with peanuts. The teacher will give everyone a recipe in English after the class. Biking along the Yulong River and visiting local farmer’s house that has over 100 years give you a better understanding on Chinese rural life.

Good to Know
Teacher will guide you to a local market to experience Chinese people’s daily life before the class. Fresh food is what Chinese people prefer, so live frogs, chickens even snakes are available in the market.

DAY 8 Yangshuo to Guilin & Flight to Xiamen
Hotel: Pullman Xiamen Powerlong
Breakfast

Private Transfer to Guilin airport and to the hotel in Xiamen
Say goodbye to the lovely Yangshuo. Driver and guide will escort you to the Guilin airport. The next station is also beautiful but different. You will meet a smiling face at the airport in Xiamen.

DAY 9 Gulangyu
Hotel: Pullman Xiamen Powerlong
Breakfast & Lunch

Wondering on the Island to Enjoy Different Architecture
On the island there are many colonial buildings built after the Opium War, including the Britain, the America, France, German, Spain, etc. Crag of Sunlight and Shuzhuang Garden are highlights. Shuzhuang Garden is connecting with the sea, you can enjoy the sea-view along the corridor above the sea. It is very relaxing to wander along the winding small paths and hunt for some interesting souvenirs at shops.

DAY 10 Xiamen to Tulou
Hotel: Pullman Xiamen Powerlong
Breakfast & Lunch

Tulou in Nanjing and Yongding—you never see them at somewhere else
Today your guide and driver will escort you to Tulou in Nanjing and Yongding. Tulou means earth building that is Hakka people’s traditional house. A four-store earth building can hold over 60 families with more than 400 rooms. The architecture reflects Chinese philosophy and culture.

DAY 11 Flight from Xiamen to Shanghai
Meal: Breakfast

Relax, our guide would have called to confirm your return flight. He’ll assist with check-out and handle your luggage, transfer and accompany you to the correct check-in desk, saying goodbye at the security gate. We’re confident you would have enjoyed your trip and look forward to serving you again.

Good to Know
It is easy for westerners to travel in Shanghai. You can spend some days to visit highlights of the city such as Yuyuan Garden, the Bund or catch your international flight by taking maglev train.