20 In-depth China discoveries by wheelchair: Days Shanghai-Beijing-Datong-Xi’an-Chengdu-Guilin-Hong Kong
This 20-day tour gives you the chance to explore China from north to south at a relaxing pace, enjoying the deep-rooted cultural and historical sites in Beijing and Xi'an and relaxing at breathtaking karst scenery in Guilin. All the sites chosen are disability-friendly.
Trip Highlights
- Visit the ancient water town with a rickshaw
- Overlook the one parts of the Great Wall in Beijing
- Explore the Yungang Grottoes in Datong
- Dumpling making experience in local family in Xi’an
- Date with the cute pandas in Chengdu
- Enjoy the gentle paced life in Guilin
Customizable Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Shanghai Arrival
Welcome to Shanghai, a metropolis of China. After landing, you will be met by our guide at the airport arrival and transferred to the hotel by a comfortable vehicle with an experienced guide. Hotel check-in will be taken care of by the guide. Rest of the day is for you to arrange.
Meals: No meal, advice freely available
- Hotels: Shanghai Fairmont Peace Hotel, Grand Central Hotel Shanghai, Central Hotel Shanghai
Day 2 Day tour to Tongli Water Town with rickshaw, the Bund
Tongli Water Town is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Shanghai, which is quite suitable for day trippers. With a history of more than 1000 years, it is packed with culture, history, pretty architecture, and plenty of novelty. As it is paved with stone road, a rickshaw tour is arranged for you instead. You could see what the real water town life is here.
Come back to Shanghai for a leisure stroll on the Bund. It is like an exhibition hall of different buildings.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch in the local 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,
Day 3 Fuxing Park, City God Temple, Shanghai Museum, private transfer to the train station in Shanghai. Private transfer from the train station to the hotel in Beijing
Welcome to Shanghai for the sightseeing. Watch the locals doing some morning exercises, Taichi, badminton, singing or dancing in Fuxing Park in the morning. Go on visiting Shanghai City God Temple (Chenghuang Miao), a Taoist temple known for its long history and grand architecture. You can also find a range of shops, restaurants, teahouses at the temple area.
Before going to the train station in Shanghai, go on a treasure hunting game in Shanghai Museum, which houses over 120,000 collections, like the marvelous bronze, ceramics, paintings and calligraphies, those valuable jades, coins, Chinese seals, furniture, sculptures as well as the exhibitions of minority nationalities.
A convenient bullet train travel is arranged from Shanghai to Beijing. Our guides will take care of the drop-off and pick-up.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
- Hotels: Regent Beijing, Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing, Pentahotel Beijing
Day 4 Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City (closed on every Monday), Walking tour in Hutong with Local family visit, ground calligraphy, Hutong vendors’ cries
After a good night rest in the hotel, you will first explore the center of Beijing and the largest urban open square in the world, the Tian’anmen Square. It is like the time tunnel, connecting the present and the past, the Forbidden City. It was home for 24 Emperors in Ming and Qing Dynasty, hosting numerous precious collections and relics.
Get an intimate glimpse of local life by when walking in the ancient narrow alleys in Beijing – Hutong. Talk with the locals and listen to their interesting stories. During this walking tour, you will also watch ground calligraphy and listen to the Hutong vendors’ cries. A free Chinese knot is given as a souvenir at the end of the tour.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch in 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
Note:
- We need the picture and size of your wheelchair to check with the staff in Forbidden City whether you can use your wheelchair in the attraction.
- Your touring route may be a little different from the regular route as the guide will choose to avoid the places with steps.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 5 Juyongguan Pass, Olympic Green for Exterior View of the Bird Nest and Water Cube
Juyongguan Pass is the closest part of the Great Wall to Beijing city center. Besides the ancient wall, many old buildings, like towers and temples, can be found there.
The Olympic Green was the center where a majority of the Olympic events took place during the 2008 Olympic Games. Instead of going in, you will just have an exterior view of the Bird Nest and Water Cube.
Note: There is no cable car and no wheelchair accessible passage, people in the wheelchair can only overlook the Great Wall from a platform.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 6 Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Panjiayuan Antique Market
As a large religious complex in Beijing, Temple of Heaven is regarded as a great achievement of architecture. It is the place for the emperors in Ming and Qing Dynasties to pray for good harvest.
Explore the royal family’s garden, Summer Palace. It is now a summer retreat and recreation place for the publics.
If you are interested in Chinese antiques, Panjiayuan Antique Market is a paradise for you. Here you can find various antiques, like ancient books, vase, ornaments, jewelry and paintings.
Note:
- Electric wheelchair is not allowed in Temple of Heaven, but the manual wheelchair is OK. We will help you rent a manual one in the hotel or at the scenic area.
- Remember to bargain with the vendors if you are really interested in the goods.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 7 Half free day in Beijing, private transfer to the train station in Beijing. Private transfer from the train station to the hotel in Datong
After a week of tour, a half free morning is left for you to have some rest. The Beijing guide will meet you at the confirmed time at the hotel lobby and escort you to the train station. Check-in at the train station will be taken care of by the guide. The Datong guide will also meet you at the exit of Datong train station.
- Meals: Breakfast,
- Hotels: Yungang Meigao Hotel
Day 8 Yungang Grottoes
Yungang Grottoes represent the remarkable achievement of Buddhist cave art in China. The statues in it are magnificent and colorful, which are regarded as the champion of Chinese stone carving art in the 5th century AD and regarded as the treasure house of ancient Chinese sculpture art.
Note:
- Not like the grottoes scenic area, wheelchair accessible passage is available here.
- Except for the Yungang Grottoes, other sites in Datong are note wheelchair-friendly.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 9 Private transfer from the hotel to the airport in Datong. Private transfer from the airport to the hotel in Xi’an, rest in the hotel
Meet the guide at the hotel lobby at the confirmed time and go to the airport for the flight to Xi’an.
For the rest of the day, you may relax in the hotel or wander around the hotel on your own.
- Meals: Breakfast,
- Hotels: Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian, Wyndham Grand Xian South
Day 10 Terra-Cotta Warriors, Muslim Street, Great Mosque
To celebrate his great achievements and memorialize his life, Emperor Qin Shihuang ordered the construction of the Terra Cotta-Warriors. It is also for the protection of his after-life. There is a lot for you to explore and taste in Muslim Street, like the local snacks and souvenir shops. Hidden in the Muslim Quarter, there is also a quiet and authentic Great Mosque, which is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at local restaurant near the Terra-Cotta Warriors scenic area
Feature Dinner option: Defachang Dumpling Restaurant, Lao Sun Jia Muslim Restaurant, First Noodle under the Sun
Optional evening activity: Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with Dumpling Banquet
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 11 Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi’an Museum, Dumpling making in local family, private transfer to the train station in Xi’an. Private transfer from the train station to the hotel in Chengdu
Though not as well-known as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda is more peaceful and tranquil. Learn how Buddhism was introduced to China and integrated with the culture of Han nationality, the culture and history by visiting it and the Xi’an Museum in it.
Pay a visit to a local family and learn with the host to make Chinese dumplings from knead dough. Eat with the local family for lunch after the lesson.
After lunch and chat with the locals, drive to the train station and head to Chengdu to encounter the cute pandas.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
- Hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu, The Temple House, The St. Regis Chengdu, Tibet Hotel
Day 12 Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Kuanzhai Alley
As a marvel of Chinese science and engineering, Dujiangyan Irrigation System is the only immortal non-dam irrigation system that has survived ancient times. The natural scenery is also very beautiful here.
Come back to the city area to explore the Kuanzhai Alley, where you could find the architectures in ancient styles as well as many local snacks.
Optional Evening activity: face changing show
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 13 Chengdu Panda Breeding Base, People’s Park, Tea tasting in local tea house, Jinsha Site Museum, private transfer to the airport in Chengdu. Private transfer from the airport to the hotel in Guilin
Get up earlier today to have a close glimpse of the cute pandas in Chengdu Panda Breeding Base. Your heart may be melted when you see them playing, eating and sleeping.
After lunch, visit People’s Park, where you could see lots of locals do some recreational activities, like playing mahjong, singing, dancing and tea tasting. Slow down your pace here and drink some local tea in a tea house.
Gain a full understanding of Chengdu’s history and culture in Jinsha Site Museum with the explanation of the guide.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
- Hotels: Guilin Shangri La Hotel, Sheraton Guilin, Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel Guilin
Day 14 Reed Flute Cave (sedan chair), Yaoshan Mountain Tea Plantation, Relaxing Walk along Banyan Lake
Make your neon dream come true in the Reed Flute Cave, which is unmissable for the first timers. Feast your eyes with the stalactites in various shapes under countless multi-colored lights.
Located not far from the city center, Yaoshan Mountain Tea Plantation is easy to reach. Wander in the large field of tea plantation and feel the aroma of the tea. Here you could also see the process of making tea and enjoy a tea ceremony.
End today’s tour with a leisure walk along the Banyan Lake. It is even more spectacular with the night lights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at Mc Found Restaurant with a la carte menu
Feature Dinner option: Xiaonan Guo, Gold Dragon Village Restaurant, Yilu Restaurant, The Taste-Made Restaurant
Optional evening activity: Night cruise in Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area
Note:
- There are many steps, sometimes slippery in the cave, so if you are seniors or sit in wheelchair, a sedan chair is available at the entrance of the cave.
- Kindly note that there is shopping opportunity in the tea plantation. You are free to say no if you do not want to buy.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 15 Li River cruise by big deluxe 4-star boat, West Street, Calligraphy learning
Get up earlier and meet the guide at the confirmed time to board the Li River cruise ship. Each step brings a new landscape with the limestone Karst Mountains passing by. The destination of the cruise is Yangshuo.
After disembark and a while of walk, you will arrive at the famous West Street. It is the oldest and most bustling street in Yangshuo with many bars, restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops. Here you will take a calligraphy lesson to feel the cahrm of Chinese culture.
Meals: Breakfast, Buffet Lunch on the Li River cruise boat
Optional evening activity: Impression Show of Sanjie Liu
Note: Please be on time as the cruise company will not change the departure time for anyone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
- Hotels: Yangshuo Banyan Tree Hotel, Green Lotus Hotel, Amari Yangshuo
Day 16 Cooking Class, Countryside tour by private transfer, Jiuxian Village
In the morning, explore the local market and buy some ingredients for the cooking class. The teacher will teach you how to make these common ingredients into authentic Guilin cuisine. Enjoy the dishes made on your own after the lesson.
Sit back in the private vehicle and enjoy the natural countryside view in a relaxing way. Get off to get some fresh air and good photos from time to time. Pay a visit to Jiuxian Village during the countryside tour, which is along the Yulong River. Historical relics can be found throughout Jiuxian Village. There are city walls from the Tang Dynasty, buildings from the Ming Dynasty, and villa gardens.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 17 Private transfer from Yangshuo hotel to the train station in Guilin. Private transfer from the train station to the hotel in Hong Kong
Owing to the development of the railway network, bullet train between Guilin and Hong Kong is opened. Within several hours, you will reach Hong Kong, a shopping paradise totally different from Guilin.
- Meals: Breakfast,
- Hotels: Harbour Grand Kowloon, Metropark Hotel Kowloon
Day 18 Half day tour to Hong Kong Island
See the best of Hong Kong on this half-day tour. Enjoy panoramic views at Victoria Peak and ride a tram to descend the hill. Visit Aberdeen Harbour for its fishing boats and floating restaurants, then shop for the best picks at Stanley Market. If you are not interested in Stanley Market, you may relax or do some aquatic activities at Repulse Bay.
- Meals: Breakfast,
Day 19 A free day in Hong Kong
Explore more about Hong Kong on your own during the free day or have a good rest before taking the long time international flight home.
- Meals: Breakfast,
Day 20 Hong Kong Departure
The guide and driver will escort you to the airport for your international flight. You will wave goodbye to China. Thanks for allowing us to create such a wonderful journey and we hope to see you again soon!
- Meals: Breakfast,
Price Includes
- In-country transportationas noted in the itinerary.
- Admission fees and activity expenses as noted in the itinerary.
- Luxury or boutique hotels centrally located.
- Meals in local restaurants as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water.
- Your own English-speaking guide service.
- Your own chauffeur and vehicle service.
Price Excludes
- International transportation.
- Chinese tourist visa. (which enquired for most foreign passport holders)
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Meals, snacks, alcohol, etc. apart from those included in the itinerary.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Personal expenses.
- Sights, excursions and activities not included in the itinerary.
- Gratuities to guide and driver.
ANY QUESTIONS?
This tour is tailor-made and we can tailor to meet your reqeusts. Your personal travel consultant will contact you within 24 working hours!
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