24 Days In-depth food discoveries: Beijing-Qufu-Jinan-Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La -Shanghai

Say hello to your guide upon arrival, who has been there waiting for you for some time. You will be greeted with a warm smile from our guide and driver. They will take care of you during your stay in Beijing.

Meals: No meal, advice freely available

• Hotels: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, Regent Beijing, Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing, Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel

Beijing

Stroll in Tian’anmen Square, where the Founding Ceremony of the People's Republic of China was held in 1949. Behind the square, stands the Forbidden City, a treasure trove with many collections hidden in. Go with the guide to explore and understand more about this imperial palace.

After lunch, take a short visit to Jingshan Park where you can get a nice shot of one watchtower of Forbidden City and take a panoramic view of Forbidden City.

While the emperors lived in the palace, the locals lived in Hutong area in the past. Get lost in the Hutongs and talk with the locals you encounter on the road. A look at the old items and listen to the sound of Hutongs will bring you back to the past.

Peking duck is unmissable for the first comer especially during the food tour. See how the chef slice the roast duck and the guide will teach you the way to eat it.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at Jindingxuan Dim Sum Restaurant with a la carte menu

Feature Dinner option: Peking Roast Duck (Dadong Peking Duck, Qianmen Quanjude Peking Duck), Fangshan Restaurant, Mei Family Restaurant, Bai Family Restaurant)

Optional evening activity: Kungfu show or Peking opera

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Tian’anmen Square

After a sound sleep, you will visit one of the seven world wonders, the Mutianyu part of Great Wall. It is less crowded and less commercial than Badaling Great Wall. You can take the round ways cable car up and down to save your energy. Or you can try the toboggan down, which is very exciting. You can hike on the Great Wall for a while to take some more pictures if you like. You are a really hero now after the visit to the Great Wall.

With more than 150 storefronts are scattered along this street, 90% of which are restaurants, Guijie Street is one of the paradise for food lovers in Beijing.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Mutianyu Great Wall

After breakfast, you will do some morning exercises by taking a Taichi lesson with a master in Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of architecture in the ancient times. It was a place to perform sacrifices and solemn rites to worship Heaven and Earth for good harvest and for longevity of the Emperor and the sovereignty during the past.

Continue your food tour to Chinese Royal Gastronomy Museum, where you could gain a deep understanding of history and development of the royal cuisines and have a chance to taste them.

In the afternoon, you will get rid of the heat in Summer Palace, a retreat for the royalties in summer in the past. A boat cruise in Kunming Lake is quite agreeable.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at Chinese Royal Gastronomy Museum

Note: boat cruise is not available from December to March as the water in the lake may be frozen.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Temple of Heaven

You may be a little tired of the buffet breakfast in the hotel. Today you will do something different, eating like a local in the local breakfast restaurants. During this morning exploration, you will taste the local breakfast like stir-fried Liver Beijing Style, soybean milk, deep-fried dough stick, noodles with soybean paste.

Panjiayuan Antique Market is a living museum containing many kinds of antique articles, jewelry, crafts, collectibles, and decorations. Go on a treasure hunting here and bring some home as souvenirs if you like. 

After lunch, you will go to the train station and head to Qufu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at Dawanju Restaurant with a la carte menu

Note:

• Some specialties may be hard to accept for you. You may discuss with the guide to choose the ones that suitable your appetite.
• If you are quite in a product at Panjiayuan Antique market, remember to bargain with the vendors.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Shangri-La Hotel Qufu, Queli Hotel Qufu

Panjiayuan Antique Market

Qufu Confucius Temple was the original sacrificial site of Confucius and became the biggest one among its kind. If you happen to travel during the Confucius Day (to celebrate the birth of Confucius), you will be lucky to see the performance for worshipping Confucius (like the opening ceremony and playing music). Located right next to Confucius Temple is the Confucius Family Mansion, which was resided by the Kong family and houses 450 halls. 

For lunch, you will enjoy the famous Confucius family meal (Shandong cuisines).

After lunch, visit Cemetery of Confucius. It is the family cemetery of Confucius and his descendants and the longest continuous family cemetery in the world.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Confucius Family Mansion

No trip to Qufu is complete without a visit to Nishan. After a sound sleep, take a day tour to Nishan Mountain including the Confucius Temple there, where you could explore many historical sites about Confucius. Besides, there is a Fuzi Cave, which is said to be the birthplace of Confucius.

After the Qufu tour, you will be taken to Jinan.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Shangri-La Hotel, Jinan, Liangyou Fulin Hotel

Nishan Mountain

Daming Lake is a natural lake formed from many springs, which impresses you not only with the natural views, but also the cultural buildings and relics. Located in the city center of Jinan, Baotu Spring Park is one of the 3 most famous sites in Jinan. Baotu Spring was once named "the firstNo.1 spring in the world" by Emperor Qianlong because of its mellow taste when making tea.

Next you will go to visit Mount Qianfo, which is a large-scale scenic spot combining the mountains and historical sites. The carved stone Buddha figures are the highlights of this place.

End your tour with a visit to Furong Food Street or Kuanhouli Ancient Street. At either one, you could taste the local specialties and put a perfect end to this day.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Daming Lake

A direct flight is arranged for you from Jinan to Kunming. Our guides will take care of the airport check-in and pick-up.

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Hotels: Intercontinental Kunming, Green Lake Hotel, Crowne Plaza Kunming City Centre, Ytel Premium

Kunming

After a good rest, today a 1.5 hours’ drive is needed from Kunming city to visit the Stone Forest. The various shapes of limestone were formed due to millions of years' movement of the Earth, like bamboo shoots, forests and pagodas. Enjoy a local lunch here. After that, you will be transferred back to the city area to visit Green Lake Park, one of the most picturesque parks in Kunming downtown. Here you may take a leisure walk or enjoy the performance (playing Taichi, Mahjong and local opera) by local people. You are welcome to join them if you like.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Green Lake Park

After breakfast, you will visit the Black Dragon Pool, which is divided into two parts by a bridge. You will find it is quite strange that the water at two sides has different colors even though the water is connected. Go on having a stroll in the Bird and Flower Market. Hundreds of flowers, including orchids, camellias, lilies & roses bloom in profusion to sooth your soul. At the same time singing birds like parrots, mynahs, thrushes & cuckoos will harmoniously blend for a life-time pleasure of your hearing. Not like other temples, you will go downhill along the axis after go in Yuantong Temple. It is a destination of pilgrimage for Buddhist pilgrims worldwide.

This is the end of your Kunming tour. The guide and driver will take you to the train station and you will take the bullet train to Dali on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Hilton Dali Resort & SPA, The Linden Centre

Dali

With a history of 1200 years, Dali Ancient Town attracts visitors from far and wide especially by its city wall, a symbol of the town. Climb up to the city wall and have an overlook of the whole town. Covering covers 250 sq km, Erhai Lake is the seventh-largest freshwater lake in China. Implying that the lake is ear shaped and as large as a sea, hence it was so named. Relax yourself on the boat when taking the cruise in Erhai Lake.

You may have tried the flower cake, but do you really know how it is made? To satisfy your curiosity, you will see and learn how to make Yunnan flower cake with the guidance of the locals.

After that, you will be transferred to Zhoucheng to learn Bai Minority Tie-dyeing. You could Tie-Dye a cloth, a handkerchief or even a table cloth and bring them home.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Dali Ancient town

There are many wild mushrooms from spring to autumn in Dali. Today you will go on a wild exploration with a local. The local people will lead you to find some edible wild mushrooms.

After coming back, you will learn to cook some dishes with the mushroom picked by yourself. These dishes will be your lunch.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch in the local family or a local restaurant 

Note:

• Kindly note that usually wild mushrooms can be found from May to August, but we cannot promise. Rainfall capacity will also matter.
• The mushrooms grow in mountains, so it needs good physical condition and quite enough energy.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Erhai Lake

Nuodeng Village is famous for its ham. People in the village make Nuodeng ham with the salt extracted from the salt wells. Do not miss it when you visiting the village. 1km north of Yunlong County, the Bijiang river waters winds a "S-shaped" here, forming a natural landform resembling the "Tai Chi Eight diagram Symbol" of Taoism.

You will be transferred to Shaxi hotel after lunch.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Shaxi Old Theatre Inn, Shaxi Cato's Inn

Nuodeng Village

Instead of walking or private transfer, you will explore Shaxi Ancient Town by bicycle or horse riding. Pedal through this ancient town and feel its historical and tranquil atmosphere. Try your hands at making goat milk cake with the guidance of the teacher, which is one of the local specialties in Shaxi.

Shibaoshan is not only famous for its stunning landscapes, but also for its magical grottoes. Feel the historical grottoes art when watching those marvelous grottoes.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Shaxi Ancient Town

Jianchuan County is famous as the “hometown of craftsmen’’. The craftsmen are deft at sculpturing the wood or bamboo into different figures, like flowers, birds, dragons or landscape, which are used to decorate the doors and windows. Join in a wood carving lesson with a master and make your own ‘masterpiece. After the lesson, you will go to Lijiang by private transfer.

Upon arrival at Lijiang, you will first wander around Lijiang Ancient Town, where you could appreciate the he architecture, blending of elements from several cultures — Naxi, Bai, Yi, Tibetan, and Han.

After that, go visit Black Dragon Pool Park, which provides a haven for bird and water-life, with spectacular plants. As a monumental building located in the ancient city of Lijiang, Wangu Tower is an example of wooden Dougong architecture with sets of brackets on top of the columns supporting the beams within and the roof eaves.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Banyan Tree Lijiang, InterContinental Resort Lijiang Ancient Town, Lijiang Ivy Garden Resort

Wood-carving

As an important well-preserved market town on the tea-horse ancient road, Shuhe Ancient Town offers an intimate look into culture, history, development of Naxi nationality. After that, go for the highlight of your Lijiang tour, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is winding like a flying dragon, hence the name. It is also deemed as the sacred mountain of Naxi people.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch in the local restaurant with a la carte menu

Optional activity: Impression Show of Lijiang

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Shuhe Ancient Town

Visit a local Naxi family and talk to them to get to know their culture. The written language is part of what makes the Naxi culture interesting to tourists since they are the only people who still use hieroglyphics in the world. Learn to write Dongba characters with the guidance of the host.

Next, go to Baisha Village to appreciate the Baisha Murals, which depict religious stories from Taoism, Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism. It gathers the labor of Han, Zang, and Naxi minority ethnic painters.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Baisha Murals

On the way to Shangri-La, you will feel the breathtaking magnificence of the Tiger Leaping Gorge Upper Section, a world famous Grand Canyon with steepness and grandeur. Follow on is the Stone Drum Town including the First Bend of Yangtze River, a well-known geological phenomenon and an extraordinary panoramic scene. Running from the north of China to the south, the Jinsha River makes a sudden V-shaped bend and flow to the northeast here in Shigu Town, hence the name “First Bend of the Yangtze River".

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Shangri-La Resort, Songtsam Linka Shangri-La, Songtsam Shangri-La (Lvgu) Lodge

Tiger Leaping Gorge

In the morning, visit a natural park, Pudacuo National Park, which includes Bita and Shudu Lake. Hike in the small trails through the forest and breathe in the oxygen offered by this amazing forest park. Look from its appearance, Songzanlin Monastery resembles the Potala Palace in Lhasa. It is a traditional Lama monastery and home for more or less 700 monks and Lamas for their monastic lives.

A local Tibetan family visit is arranged for you to have a close look at the local life of the minorities. Learn the secrets of making high land barley wine and buttered tea in the local family. Taste your work after the lesson.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Pudacuo National Park

Running on the vast grasslands at Yila Prairie, you may feel happy and relaxed. In summer and autumn, numerous little flowers bloom where while flocks of cattle and sheep graze on the grass. Located in the Yila Prairie, Napahai Nature Reserve is a wetland ecological protection zone, mainly protecting seasonal plateau lakes and marsh meadow, and is the wintering habitat of black-necked crane and other migratory birds.

Zhongdian is also called "Shangri-La". Its Ancient County is divided into two areas: Dukezong Ancient Town and a more modern city-like area. Dukezong, located in the southeast section of the county, has a history dating back over 1300 years. Almost all the buildings are white in color and feature the Tibetan style architecture. If you want to get to know more about local life, a visit to the local market is a must. Go to the airport after the tour.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: The Peninsula Shanghai, Shanghai Fairmont Peace Hotel, Les Suites Orient, Bund Shanghai, Central Hotel Shanghai

Napahai Nature Reserve

Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical private garden in south China. It was once the largest and most prestigious of its era in Shanghai. Nearby is the City God Temple, a main Taoism Temple in the city that enjoys a high reputation both at home and abroad by its long history and magnificent architecture. In this area, you will also have the chance to try Shanghai specialties like Nanxiang Steam Buns.

Admire the charm of Old Shanghai at French Concession. After that, have a leisure coffee time at Xintiandi. End today’s tour with a walk on the Bund.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at Xiangyefu Teahouse Restaurant with a la carte menu

Feature Dinner Option: Nan Xiang Mantou Dian, Green Wave Gallery, Lost Heaven-Yunnan Restaurant Bund Branch

Optional evening activity: Era Time or Shangcheng Acrobatic Show

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Yuyuan Garden

Today is a free day on your own arrangement.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Shanghai

Weave your hands to the guide and driver. Wish you a safe flight home with great China tour memories.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Shanghai