23 Days Heritage and Confucianism tour: Beijing-Qufu-Tai’an-Jinan-Guizhou-Guilin-Hong Kong

Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing, a magical city! Upon arrival at the airport, your guide and driver will meet you at the arrival hall and transfer you to the hotel in the city center with a private car which is comfortable, air-conditioned and non-smoking.

Meals: No meal, advice freely available

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

Beijing

After a sound sleep in the hotel, you will explore the Tian’anmen Square, the center of Beijing and the largest urban open square in the world. Walking through Tian’anmen Square, you will tour the Forbidden City, home to 24 Emperors from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). 

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. Walk around the Hutongs and visit the Hutong family and you will experience the “old” Beijing in the new Beijing. Here you will also listen to the sound of Hutong and watch the ground calligraphy, which are the epitome of old Beijing.

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: Peking Opera, Kungfu Show

Note: Usually there is about 2 to 3 hours’ walk for visiting the Forbidden City. Stop for a rest if you are tired.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Tian’anmen Square

After a taste of Chinese history and culture on the first day, you will first visit the most complete existing temple structure in China, Temple of Heaven.A Taichi lesson is arranged here for you to experience the charm of Chinese martial art. 

In the afternoon, you will visit the less crowded and less commercial part of the Great Wall – Mutianyu Great Wall. Cable car and toboggan are available there for you to save energy. Just tell your guide your preference.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Temple of Heaven

Drive about 15km from the city center and take in the stunning view in the imperial summer resort, Summer Palace. Except for the chilly winter, boat cruise is usually available in the Kunming Lake, which allows you a different angle to see the garden.

You will be transferred to the train station after lunch. Take the bullet train to Qufu, the hometown of Confucius.

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

Summer Palace

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, Confucius Family Mansion, which was resided by the Kong family and houses 450 halls.

Go mourn Confucius in Cemetery of Confucius in the afternoon. It covers an area of more than 3,000 mu and is the oldest and largest clan tomb and artificial garden in China.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Temple of Confucius

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. There is a cave called Fuzi Cave, also known as Kun Ling cave, a natural stone cave, located in the Southeast of Nishan Mountain. It is said to be the birthplace of Confucius. 

After the Qufu tour, you will be taken to Tai’an.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Ramada Plaza Tai'an, Lijing Plaza Hotel

Nishan Mountain

Mount Tai ranks the first among the five famous mountains in China, including Mount Heng (in Hunan), Mount Hua (in Shaanxi), Mount Heng (in in Shanxi) and Mount Song (in Henan). It is revered as the father of the mountains. Cable car is available to save energy and time.

After the Mount Tai tour, you will be taken to Jinan. Start your Jinan journey from Daming Lake, formed after all springs converge. It attracts visitors from all over China with its cultural relics, natural views and ancient buildings.

With a history of 3,543 years, Baotu Spring Park is popular among the poets and prosers in the past. Pure in quality and mellow in taste, the water here is ideal for drinking and making tea.

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

Mount Tai

Although Mt. Qianfo is not of impressive height (only 280 meters) and there are no strange peaks and valleys, its convenient location and picturesque scenery, as well as the tranquil beauty of the ancient temple nestled in its embrace, attract thousands of tourists every year.

Pay a visit to Provincial Museum, which boasts about 210,000 specimens, making up one third of the province's total. Among them, ceramics, bronzeware, oracle bone inscriptions, clay seals, imperial seals, Han dynasty paintings, calligraphies and paintings, and precious books are featured.

End the day tour with the short visit to Furong Food Street, where you could find local snacks and souvenir shops.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Mt. Qianfo

After a good sleep, meet the guide at the hotel lobby and go to the airport. You will take the flight to Tongren. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a warm smile from the local guide and transfer to Mount Fangjing. It is not just a natural wonders, but also boasts many Buddhist temples and a holy site for Buddhism pilgrims.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Mount Fanjing Borui Resort Tongren, Tongren National Guesthouse

Mount Fangjing

After breakfast, go to the train station in Tongren and take the bullet train to Guiyang, a minority province. Instead of going to the hotel, you will do some sightseeing first. You will start from Qianling Park with temples, mountains, valleys, springs and monkeys in it, so it is a good base for teaching practice.

Jiaxiu Pavilion got its names since the builder believed that people in Guiyang are the finest and most talented under heaven. That is the internal meaning of Jiaxiu in Chinese.

Although small in size, the Qingyan Ancient Town has a well-planned architectural style, hundreds of sites of relics, and an influential local culture.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Kempinski Hotel Guiyang, Sofitel Guiyang Hunter, Hotel Novotel Guiyang Downtown

Jiaxiu Pavilion

Wake up naturally. Drive to Kaili after breakfast. There are more minority villages waiting for you to explore. Firstly, you will visit Matang Gejia Village, which is quiet and pleasant due to the lush tea tree and Masson pine. 

Kaili Ethnic Minorities Museum is the best place for a quick look at the customs of the minority people in Kaili. With more than 12,000 items in its collection, it has a detailed introduction to the human geography and ethnic customs of minority people in Qiandongnan.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Kaili Grand Metropark Hotel

Matang Gejia Village

Qingman Miao Village is built along the mountain with stilted wooden buildings, trapezoidal tile roof, interlaced double eaves. Villagers here are very 

Hospitable, who will greet your arrival with their traditional etiquette. You can get in after drinking the "bar door wine".

Get to the know the process of making paper in a traditional way and even try your hand at it when visiting Shiqiao Village.

There are several Miao Ethnic Group, like Short Skirt Miao, Long Skirt Miao, Silk Felting Miao and Hundred Bird Miao in Guizhou province. You will visit Jidao Village after lunch. Villagers will welcome you with the home-made wine and their wonderful performance.

Lusheng is a characteristic musical instrument of Miao, Yao, Dong and some other nationalities. Paika Miao Village is an important production base of it. Here you will watch a master making Lusheng, which requires the craftsmen to know some physics and mechanics.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Qingman Miao village with Welcome Ceremony, Shiqiao paper-making village, Jidao Long Skirt Miao Village with Welcome Ceremony, Paika Miao village with Lusheng Making Presentation

Hidden away in the forest, Basha Miao Village remains tranquil and primitive. Basha men are famous for their unique hairstyles, like the men in the Qing dynasty, wearing their long hair in braids.

Located in Liping County, Huanggang Dong Village boasts not only primitive beauty, but also the calm rural atmosphere, the best preserved lifestyle, customs, folk houses and festivals of the Dong people in Guizhou.

Known as “No.1 Dong Village in Liping County", Zhaoxing Dong Village is not only the hometown of drum tower, but also the hometown of song and dance. There are Dong song and opera team in the village.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Indigo Lodge Zhaoxing, Yinji Zuimei Hotel

Huanggang Dong Village

About 30 minutes driving from Zhaoxing Dong village and built on a steep mountain slope, ancient wooden houses, traditional drum tower, theater stage, and gravel yard adjacent to the residential houses are the Dong culture heritage of Tang'an Dong Village.

You will be taken to the train station in Zhaoxing and take the bullet train to Guilin, a city famous for mountains and rivers.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Guilin Shangri La Hotel, Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel Guilin, Aroma Tea House

Tang'an Dong Village

In the morning, get a breathtaking view of Guilin city and the Li River by hiking up to the top of Folded Brocade Hill. Later you will explore the mysterious Reed Flute Cave with marvelous stalactite under colorful lightings. It will stimulate your imagination.

After lunch, drive about 40 minutes to an ancient fishing village, Daxu Ancient Town. Here you could still find the historical trace, like the ancient stone bridge, stone road and well-preserved architectures.

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

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Folded Brocade Hill

After breakfast, drive to the Terraced Rice Field and Ping'an Zhuang Village, about 2.5 hours. The best way to gain a better understanding of a place is talking with the locals. Walk in a local family and learn to make bamboo rice and oil tea with the help of the host. The sticky rice together with the bamboo fragrance will stimulate your taste bud and feast your stomach.

After the tour, drive to Guilin city area.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Bamboo Rice

Guilin features green mountains, beautiful rivers and unique caves, among which Li River is the most famous. A 4-hours cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo will make you leave your bad mood behind. It will impress you in different ways no matter sunny or rainy. After the cruise, you will visit the famous West Street, made up of food restaurants, bar, souvenir shops, snack booths, hotels and hostels. A painting lesson is also arranged for you here.

Meals: Breakfast, Buffet lunch on the boat

Optional evening activity: Impression Show of Sanjie Liu

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Li River cruise on big boat, West Street

Explore the countryside in your own way by riding a bike. The moo buffalo, ducks and the laughing kids will add some joy to your biking tour.

During the biking tour, you will visit Jiuxian, a village near the mountain and by the river. The well-preserved traditional dwellings and the stunning natural surroundings will be a delight for you.

Put a perfect ending to this day by taking the enjoyable and comfortable bamboo rafting in Yulong River.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Biking in Yangshuo Countryside, Jiuxian Village, Bamboo Rafting in Yulong River

I know you may hate to leave, but this is your last day in Yangshuo. The guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and escort you to the train station in Guilin by the private transfer. Check-in and pick-up will be taken good care of by our guides.

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Hotels: The Peninsula Hong Kong, Harbour Grand Kowloon, Metropark Hotel Kowloon

Hong Kong

Go atop to the Victoria Peak by peak tram to get a panorama of this metropolis. Next you will head to the famous fishing village of Aberdeen, where the British first entered Hong Kong. A sampan ride is arranged for you there.

Set your feet on the soft sand on Repulse Bay and feel the breeze. How cozy it is. If you are not interested in this, the local Stanley Market is a good substitute. It is a combination of sunny beaches, unique architectures, shopping and dining.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Repulse Bay

You will take the ferry to Macau after a relaxing free morning in Hong Kong.

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Hotels: Conrad Macao Cotai Central, Casa Real Hotel

Macau

After breakfast, head to one of the landmarks of Macau, St. Paul's Church. It is the witness of western civilization entering Chinese history. Continue your tour to Leal Senado Square, one of the four largest squares in Macau. The square is so named as since Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) it has been in front of the Leal Senado Building. Go up to Macau Tower, walking around the Observation Deck, you can have a panoramic view of the Pearl River Delta, Macau Peninsula and Taipa, Coloane islands. The A-Ma Temple is a destination offering silence and spectacular views. Get a better understanding of Macau’s history by visiting the Macau Museum.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Macau Tower

Your China ends today and you will go to the airport with the help of the guide and driver at the confirmed time. The guide will not weave the hands to you until you finish the check-in.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Macau