18 Days Educational Tour—Beijing/ Luoyang/ Xi’an/ Chengdu/ Guilin/ Hong Kong

Today, arrive and settle into your centrally located hotel in Beijing. Private transport is provided from the airport to hotel. Take rest of the time to adjust to jet lag or stroll the surrounding area.

• Hotels: Beijing Aman Summer Palace, Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel, Beijing Fairmont Hotel

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We’ll start the day with a stroll to Tian’anmen Square. If you wake up early enough, you’ll get to watch daily flag raising here. Your guide will introduce to you those architectures on the square. Across this enormous square, moving on to Forbidden City, located at the very heart of Beijing city. This complex of mesmerising structures is older than you expected. Built in the 1400s, it has witnessed the rise and fall of the last two dynasties in Chinese history. Stopover at Treasure Gallery for some amazing collections of ornamental valuables in the palace. After an authentic dim sum lunch, stroll Jingshan Park where the only hill in city area locates, for a panorama view of the surrounding area and Forbidden City from above. Next, head to bell and drum tower square to learn the basic technique of playing Chinese diapolo or the Chinese yo-yo with a local expert. From here, rest of the day is yours to rest, perhaps spending the night to watch kung fu show at Red Theatre or Peking Opera performance at Liyuan Theatre.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Enjoy your breakfast at leisure and move to Temple of Heaven, where emperors used to perform rites for worshipping the god or for good harvest. Majestic and intricate buildings, special layout and use of these structures are the highlights you are going to explore with your tour guide. Next, drive to Gubei Water Town, nesting below the magnificent Simatai Great Wall. This historic village was actually built in 2014, yet a cultural hub where you can experience different kinds of Chinese cultural immersion activities. A beautiful town that will illuminate after dark. In the evening, up Simatai Great Wall to admire the light show of water town and hike a short distance on the wall. Enjoy the rest of night on your own to further explore this town.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Beijing Gubei Water Town Hotel, Gubei Water Town Changcheng Inn , Gubei Zhiguang Hot Spring Holiday Hotel

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Simatai was built during Ming dynasty but heavily resorted and reopened in 2014. This section is famous for its steepness of the fortifications. Following your breakfast, hike Simatai Great Wall for splendid scenery. Round way cable cars are provided. Return to city area afterwards. In the afternoon, tour those ancient crisscross residential lanes of hutongs. They were first built in Beijing in Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). Visit one of the family living in hutong and attend an in-depth calligraphy writing class in the quadrangle courtyard with a local calligraphy master. From here, rest of the time is yours to relax, wander and dine on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Set off for one of the largest royal garden in China, Summer Palace. Appreciate its exquisite architectures and cruise the Kunming Lake in the garden for fascinating views. Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant before catch your train to Xi’an. Arrive in Xi’an, settle into your hotel in the heart of the ancient city.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian, Wyndham Grand Xian South

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This morning begin with a visit to terracotta army at Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum. This is a group of hyper realistic sculptures of thousands. Observe the subterranean life-size clay army while your guide tells you about the history of these terracotta clay structure. Next, visit a group of cave dwelling nearby. Cave dwelling is a unique type of housing specially found at the northwest corner of China. In one of the courtyard, participate on hands on activity of making a mini clay terracotta structure. Then, return to the city area. After your lunch, explore a well-preserved residence, Gao Family’s Courtyard, of an official in the Ming dynasty hidden in Muslim Quarter. Stroll this architectural complex filled with antique items and decorations can give you an illusion of travelling back in time. Catch a glimpse of what Chinese aristocratic family’s life was like centuries ago. Watch a short shadow puppetry here. Located in the same area at Gao Family’s Courtyard, Xi’an Great Mosque is one of the oldest and well-preserved Islamic mosques in China. This mosque is popular for its unique blend of Chinese and Islamic architectural designs. Though built during Tang dynasty, the present buildings are mostly from Ming and Qing dynasties after several renovations. We’ll set off for a gastronomy night tour. In the evening, with an eager palette and an empty stomach, roam the Muslim Quarter. These narrow and twisting streets are filled with authentic halal restaurants and food stalls. One of the best place to taste a spectrum of local Xi’an cuisine.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Xi’an City Wall is the best-preserved ancient city wall in China. This ancient wall was built during Ming dynasty in 1370, though mostly repaired and rebuilt. Enclosed by dry moat in a rectangular shape, Xi’an city area is a hodgepodge of old and new. In the morning we’ll bike the wall while having an open view of the city. Then, we’ll spend rest of the day at Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area, located two kilometres to the south of Xi’an. This scenic area mainly consists of Xi’an Museum and ancient Jianfu Temple other than the pagoda itself. Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built during Tang dynasty from 707AD to 710AD. Watch a short traditional Chinese marionette show here. Also, tour Xi’an Museum for fascinating history of Xi’an and some well-preserved historical relics. Lastly, experience First Writing Ceremony or “Kaibi Ceremony” here with Chinese Han costume on. This is an important event, which marks the beginning of an education journey, for pre-schoolers in ancient China. Though this session is available for people of all ages.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Following your breakfast, catch your train to Chengdu. Private transport between hotel and train station is provided. Check in at your hotel, and bring along your valuables with you before heading to Sichuan Cuisine Museum in Chengdu,providing you with a fascinating insight into Sichuan cuisine. Understand the gastronomy culture and development of Sichuan cuisine before participate in a cooking class. During this session, you will learn to prepare a number of local dishes such as Mapo Tofu, from a local chef in the museum. Taste your own dishes and get a certificate of participation at the end of the day.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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This whole day is devoted to volunteering at Dujiangyan Panda Base. This one day Panda Keeper Program allows you to get really close to those adorable pandas. An experience that can be once in a life time. You need to wake up early and report at Dujiangyan panda base before nine in the morning. Return to city area and enjoy the rest of your time exploring the city at night. Perhaps, watching local performance such as Sichuan Opera and face changing at Shufeng Yayun.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Ease into the day by strolling People’s Park and watch locals practicing Tai Chi, dancing and singing. Find a number of teahouses here and sample a cup of tea in one of those as you watch people pass by. Then, visit Wenshu Temple, a Tang dynasty monastery dedicated to Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. This is Chengdu’s largest and best-preserved Buddhist temple. Enjoy a leisurely stroll at Jinli Ancient Street, where lined with ancient Chinese buildings and countless stores selling local specialty and mouth-watering snacks. In the late afternoon, catch your flight to Guilin. Meet your tour guide at arrival hall, who can be easily spotted with your name sign. Drive to your central located hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel Guilin, Guilin Shangri La Hotel, Sheraton Guilin

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Following your breakfast, drive northwest to Reed Flute Cave for its mesmerising karst cave formation with colourful lights casting on those stalagmites and stalactites. Next, head to Flying Tiger Heritage Park, where you can learn about the history of Flying Tiger, an American Volunteer Group that fought with China against Japan during World War II. Later, drive to Longsheng, where is famous for its breathtaking vistas of terraced paddy fields cascading in swirls down the mountain sides. Meet a local family living in Ping’an Village where views around the village is the most spectacular. Learn how to make oil tea step by step from them. Oil tea is a distinctive flavour of Guilin and one of the favourite delicacy of ethnic people in Guangxi Province. After your lunch, get down to the field and participate in some farm works. Then, stroll the village and surrounding area, and visit to a local primary school here. Please advise us, if you are interested in join bonfire dancing and singing with the villagers at night.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Longsheng Lian Lodge Hotel, Baike Hotel, Longji One Hotel

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We’ll spend the morning explore Ping’an Zhuang Village and its splendid rice terrace before hike from Ping’an Village to Ancient Zhuang Village. Along the way, see wooden housings scattered on the hills of either sky mirrors, emerald or golden steps depending on the seasons you are travelling. This route right among the photogenic rice terraces has a number of famous viewpoints for splendid photos. Enjoy an authentic meal in Longsheng. In the afternoon, drive back to your hotel in Guilin. Rest of the time is yours to explore the city on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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Hit the road early to catch Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. Outside the city area, karst landscape becomes even more surreal and otherworldly. We’ll follow the Li River and snake through the magical scenery. Upon reaching Yangshuo, stroll the oldest street in this county, West Street, with a history of more than 1,400 years. Then, take a bamboo-raft ride down Yulong River through the dreamy valleys. Shimmering river reflects the outlines and colour of green bamboos and verdant hills of both sides, forming a picturesque scroll. Rest of the time is yours to dine and walk the surrounding night streets. Or maybe, join Impression Liu Sanjie largescale landscape nigh show.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Alila Yangshuo, Yangshuo Banyan Tree Hotel, Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

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Begin your day with a Tai Chi lesson from a local expert in Yangshuo. Then, cycle through the dreamy landscape of conical limestone peaks. Explore the countryside of Yangshuo, where miles of paddy fields are interrupted by hills and local residences. Encounter one or two local homes and interact with them to know about their daily life. Following your lunch, explore Fuli Ancient Town market, where daily life of locals unfold. Fuli Ancient Town has already existed during Tang dynasty from, once an ancient port of the region. This ancient own is a famous hometown of Chinese painted paper fan. Visit one of the Chinese painting artists in town, see the making process and skills of Yangshuo paper fans and join a fan painting class here. Rest of the time is yours.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

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After your breakfast, your driver and guide will transfer you to Guilin train station to catch your train to Hong Kong. Arrive in Hong Kong, meet your local guide and driver before heading to your hotel. From here, rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to explore the area.

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Hotels: Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Harbour Grand Kowloon

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Enjoy your breakfast at your leisure. We will then take private transport to Victoria Peak and take a tram up to the summit. Victoria Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong Island to get a 360-degree views of forest of skyscrapers and skyline beyond. Next, stroll down to Aberdeen, once thriving fishing village, to enjoy a sampan ride and peek into the original Hong Kong here. Head over to Repulse Bay, one of Hong Kong’s most beautiful places. Amble down the lovely beaches in the upscale residential area. Or, you can choose Stanley Market as your last stop, to enjoy rich Chinese culture as you stroll down the narrow lanes with booths selling items at both sides. Rest of the day is yours to explore the city.

• Meals: Breakfast,

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Easy to navigate around the city, you’ll spend the day exploring Hong Kong on your own. You can ask your guide for any suggestions.

• Meals: Breakfast,

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After your leisure breakfast, catch flights home or head to your next destination. Until the next journey!

• Meals: Breakfast,

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