11 Days Essential China Join-in Tour to Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai

Day 1: Meet you at Beijing International Airport and transfer you to the hotel, leisure for the rest of the day.

Program:

Arrival Beijing, your local guide will meet you at the airport then transferred to your hotel for check-in. Leisure for the rest of the day.

Meals: N/A

Accommodations: Beijing Shatan Hotel***or similar

Day 2: All day Beijing Tour Mudtianyu Great Wall

Program:

In the morning, you will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to the Mutianyu Great Wall, the less crowded and more untouched section of the Walls. Transfer back to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Beijing Shatan Hotel***or similar
--Badaling Great Wall: One of the Seven Wonders of the World and the symbol of China. With a history of more than 2000 years and approximately 6,700 kilometers The Great wall of China offers a unique opportunity to experience this wonderful country. Among the most popular sections, the Great Wall at Mutianyu is highly recommended.

Day 3: All day Beijing program: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace. Then transfer to Train Station for Xian.

Program:

Morning pick up at hotel and transfer to visit the Forbidden City. After lunch, you will visit Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. In the afternoon, your will be transferred to the railway station to catch overnight train to Xi'an.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: on train (overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an for soft sleeper T231 (18:55-07:42+1) or T43 (19:50-08:34+1))

--The Forbidden City: Listed by the UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage, the world's largest palace complex covers a floor space of 720,000 square meters. It houses numerous rare treasures and curiosities after 500 years being an imperial palace.

--The Temple of Heaven: China's largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings occupies an area of 273 hectares. It is three times the area of the Forbidden City, where you may see local people doing the morning exercises, practicing Taiji, dancing and even singing the Pecking Opera.
--The Summer Palace: Listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, The Summer Palace in Beijing is ranked among the most noted and classical gardens of the world.

Day 4: Meet you at Xi'an Train Station and today's program include: Xi'an Ancient City Wall and Muslim Quarter.

Program:

Arrival Xi'an railway station in the morning. Be met at Xi'an train station and transferred to catch the bus tour to the Ancient City Wall, the Wild Goose pagoda Square (with exterior visit to Wild Goose pagoda), the Shanxi Historical Museum, the Bell & Drum Tower Square, and the Muslim Quarter.

Meals: Lunch

Accommodations: Citadines Central Xi'an****or simila

-The Ancient City Wall: It is the largest and best-preserved present city wall in ancient China and is probably the best military battlement in the world.
-The Wild Goose Pagoda: It is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists.
-Muslim Quarter: Comprises a number of narrow and bustling streets in the vicinity of the Drum Tower. The main strip is called Beiyuanmen which runs north from the Drum Tower.  It is home to Xian's Hui population, one of China's many ethnic minorities.

Day 5: All day tour to Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. After that, transfer to Xi'an Airport to Guilin.

Program:

Check out from hotel, you will be transferred to Lintong County to visit the Terra-Cotta Warriors. After lunch, be transferred to airport to catch a flight to Guilin (Transfer via: by air-by DCT arrangement 18:35-20:20 or similar time). Guilin tour guide and driver will pick you up at airport and transferred you to hotel for check in. Free in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: HOTEL UNIVERSAL GUILIN***or similar

-The Terra-cotta Warriors: The greatest archaeological findings of the century: the army of terra-cotta warriors and the bronze chariots entombed in vast underground vaults at emperor Qin's tomb.

Day 6: We will enjoy Li River Cruise downstream to Yangshuo, then visit West Street, and back to downtown Guilin.

Program:

Bus tour to Li River Cruise downstream to Yangshuo with lunch on board, and visit West Street at Yangshuo, back to Guilin.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (really simple on cruise)
Accommodations: HOTEL UNIVERSAL GUILIN***or similar
-The Li River cruise: from Guilin to Yangshuo is the centerpiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province. The eye-feasting landscape and country scenery will never disappoint you.
-West Street: It is the oldest street in Yangshuo with a history of more than 1,400 years. Situated at the center of Yangshuo County, West Street has become, since the 1980's, a window of eastern and western culture and the biggest 'foreign language center' in China. West Street is the most prosperous district in Yangshuo, and, each year, approximately 100,000 foreigners come here on their travels or to attend advanced studies. Visitors are attracted to West Street by its unique mix of cultures.

Day 7: All day program to the amazing Longji Rice Terrace Field and visit local residents - Yao and Zhuang minority people.

Program:

Bus tour to Longsheng County, two hours' driving from downtown, to visit Longji Terrace and Ping'an minority villages. Taste local flavor lunch on the terrace and be transferred back to hotel in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: HOTEL UNIVERSAL GUILIN***or similar

-Longji Terrace: The terrace rice fields were first built in the Yuan Dynasty (about 800 years ago) and completed in the Qing dynasty. from the feet to the top of the mountains (elevation 300~1100 meters), there are miles of rice terraces. This ingenious construction makes best use of the scare arable land and water resources in the mountainous area. Also you can take this chance to have a close visit to the Villages of Zhuang Minority People and Red Yao Minority People. The distinguish minority customs and dressing styles will leave you a deep impression.

Day 8: Visit Guilin highlights: Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill and Fubo Hill. Then transfer to Airport for Shanghai.

Program:

Bus tour to Fubo Hill, Reed Flute Cave, and Elephant Trunk Hill. Transfer to Guilin airport. You will take a flight to Shanghai (by air-by DCT arrangement 19:25-21:25 or similar time). Shanghai tour guide and driver will welcome you at Shanghai airport and transfer you to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo***or similar

-Fubo Hill: Fubo Hill is famous for its picturesque shape and beautiful caves. Located in the northeastern part of the city, it stands by the Li River, with half of its eastern foot submerged in water. It is known for its Tang and Song Dynasty Buddhist carvings in the foot cave named Returned Pearl Cave, all accessible by steps leading up and down the east and west side.

-Reed Flute Cave: The Cave is Guilin's largest and most impressive cave. This cave is 790 feet deep. A visitor will walk for some 550 yards through a zigzagging way of stalactites and stalagmites in dazzling colors.

-Elephant Trunk Hill: As symbol of Guilin, it has become one of the most popular natural monuments. It resembles an elephant drinking from the Li River.   

Day 9: All day Shanghai tour: Yuyuan Market, Yuyuan Garden, The Bund, Old French Concession Area, Shikumen.

Program:

Shanghai bus city tour to the Yuyuan Market, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund, Old French Concession, and Shikumen.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo***or similar

-Yuyuan Market: Yuyuan Market found beside Yuyuan Garden is a bazaar of stores that sells traditional Chinese arts and crafts and souvenirs. The stores sell a mish-mash of items including chopsticks, Chinese medicine, walking sticks, fans, silk umbrellas, bamboo and rattan furniture, goldfish, pottery, plus much more. Part of the market has also been transformed into an indoor mall.
Food is also a great temptation in Yuyuan Market with local delicacies such as xiao long bao, pigeon egg dumplings and spicy cold noodles from the street stalls or numerous restaurants.
-Yuyuan Garden: It is characteristic of the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty and it used to be a private garden with 400 years' history. In front of the garden, there is a market called Yu Market.
-The French Concession: The French Concession is the area of Shanghai once designated for the French. Today, the area's central Huaihai Rd is a busy shopping street, but the tree-lined avenues and their many Tudor mansions still retain an air of the "Paris of the East".

Day 10: All day program to Water Town: Zhujiajiao.

Program:

Be transferred to Zhujiajiao Water Town by 1 hour' driving. Visit the water town and Silk Museum. In the afternoon, transfer back to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo***or similar

-Zhujiajiao Water Town: with a history of more than 1700 years. Zhujiajiao covers an area of 47 square kilometers, the little fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains. with a history of more than 1700 years. Zhujiajiao covers an area of 47 square kilometers, the little fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains.

Day 11: Transfer you to Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao Airport according to your flight schedule. End of Service.

Program:

Be transferred to Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao international airport. End of service.

Meals: Breakfast