Classic China

Upon your arrival at Beijing airport, our guide will be waiting for you outside the customs of Beijing Airport, and then the driver will transfer you to the hotel. Relax during the remainder of the day.

Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing – the former Sheraton

Visit the world famous Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City this morning. To avoid the cheap tourist restaurant as the most are doing now, we specially serve you a welcome a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a very decent restaurant, where you can have a taste of authentic Chinese food and the most famous Peking Roast Duck. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven. The evening will be highlighted by a lively Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theatre. (B+L)

Today’s highlight is to visit Mutianyu Great Wall. The round-trip cable car is included. We will specially provide red wine for a group-toasting on the Great Wall. The restaurants nearby the site are of low standard, so we do not arrange the lunch today. It may be the best that you have a big breakfast at the hotel and have some fast food for lunch by yourself. Our guide will show you some restaurants. In the afternoon, on the way back to downtown we will have a photo stop at the Olympic National Stadium (Bird’s Nest). Afterwards, you will enjoy some free time at the famous Xiushui market. (B)

Visit the Summer Palace, and then take a rickshaw tour to explore the original Hutong alleys. You will have a chance to try your hand at Chinese Paper Cutting. We will serve you an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy restaurant. After that, take a flight to Xi’an and check in at the hotel. (B+L)

Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel

Today’s highlight is to visit the Terracotta Army. Then a special and authentic home cooked a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) is arranged at a local family. You can learn to cook Chinese food with the hospitable hostess for free. In the afternoon, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi’an Museum. A splendid evening is in store when you will be entertained by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show when partaking of the famous Dumpling Dinner. (B+L+D)

Tips: Dumplings are a traditional local food in northern China and are made of wheat flour with various indigenous fillings. This has long been a favourite food of the local people, so we have arranged for you to have a taste of this speciality today. You will also have an opportunity to learn more about the diversified Chinese food culture. However, we suggest you do not expect too much from this dinner, it is just a new and different experience during your trip.

The day begins with a leisure visit to the City Wall Park, where you can observe the day-to-day life of the locals and learn to practice Tai Chi with the master. Then continue to visit the ancient City Wall for an exciting experience. An a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) is served at a well-known restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Provincial History Museum and the Great Mosque. Spend some leisure time at the lively Muslim Quarter. (B+L)

This morning, take a flight to Guilin and check in at the hotel. Visit the Reed Flute Cave and the Elephant Trunk Hill. (B)

Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel

Appreciate the Li River scenery by cruising down from Guilin to Yangshuo. Disembark at Yangshuo in about 4.5 hours and walk through the famous West Street. After that, you will be driven to the countryside of Yangshuo to soak up the amazing rural views and pay a visit to a local villager’s home. Finally, we will drive you back to Guilin. (B+L)

Tips: The lunch served on the cruise today is simple Chinese box lunch. It cannot be up to your taste and also fails to meet the serving standard of our TravelChinaGuide, so we kindly suggest you have a hearty breakfast at the hotel this morning.

Take a morning bullet train for around 5 hours to Chongqing. When you arrive, explore Jiefangbei CBD and Ci Qi Kou ancient village, where you may have dinner by yourself before boarding the cruise. Our guide will offer you suggestions. After that, check in at the luxury President Cruise Ship. As the cruise departs from Chongqing at about 22:00, your relaxing Yangtze River tour begins. (B)

Cruises: President No. 8 with balcony

You will gain some knowledge of the cruise ship and its activities schedule through the river guide’s morning presentation. In the afternoon, an onshore excursion is arranged when the ship anchors at Shibaozhai. Tonight, you will be invited to attend the Welcome Party hosted by the Captain.  (B+L+D)

The most essential part of your Yangtze River cruise tour comes today as the ship sails through the Three Gorges: Qutang, Wu and Xiling gorges. Attend some cultural programs onboard and experience an exciting onshore excrusion to Shennong Stream. (B+L+D)

Disembark for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. Before that, please pack your luggage and complete check-out procedures. After the excursion, the cruise company will drive you to the Three Gorges Tourist Center in Yichang. Our local guide will meet you there and escort you to the railway station for a bullet train to Shanghai and check in at the hotel. (B)

Tips: The bullet train trip from Yichang to Shanghai takes more than 7 hours, which is a bit long. Therefore, we kindly suggest you bring your favorite books or download some music or movies in advance to spend time on the train.

Accommodation: Parkline Century Park Hotel Shanghai – the former Crowne Plaza

This morning, visit Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden and explore its nearby traditional bazaar. A farewell a la carte lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at an elegant restaurant. After that, we will guide you to discover the Former French Concession, and then to the thriving Bund area, where you will take a one-hour cruise tour on the Huangpu River. Enjoy some free time on the Bund. Upon returning to the hotel our guide will see you into the lobby to say bon voyage. (B+L)

Today you will travel to the airport for your departing flight by yourself. Due to different flight schedules, the hotel-airport transfer service is not included. But we are glad to assist you if you need. We wish you a nice journey home and memories to last a lifetime. (B)