30 Days Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Lhasa, Shangri-La, Lijiang, Dali, Kunming, Yangtze, Shanghai, Huangshan, Guilin and Hong Kong tour

Welcome to China! Arrive in Beijing at any time, and your private guide will meet you outside the customs of airport. Transfer to your luxurious hotel with a private vehicle. Relax at hotel or explore China’s capital city on your own.

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

Great Wall

The over 3000-year-old Beijing was the capital of imperial China since the 13th Century and is still home to a wealth of magnificent imperial constructions that reminds people of its glorious history. Visit Temple of Heaven, a finest Ming architecture complex is where the ancient emperors used to fete the gods of heaven and earth.

Then come to the heart of Beijing. Cross Tiananmen Square, world’s largest city square, and enter Forbidden City.

Exploring Forbidden City (the Palace Museum in Beijing), you will witness the grandness and unique beauty of ancient Chinese imperial palace, see many valuable cultural relics, and learn from your knowledgeable tour guide about the turbulent stories of 24 emperors. Get to the top of Jinghan Hill that offers a superb full view of Forbidden City.

Enjoy a night show of Shaolin Kungfu or Peking Opera (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Great Wall

To understand China’s history, the Great Wall is a must-visit sight, which is one of the world’s rarely-seen ancient wonders and really an enormous defense military project. Take cable car up and down to see the Great Wall embraced by spectacular mountain scenery, and get to know why and how it was built.

For in the know people, hutong tour on rickshaw is one of the top things to do in Beijing, as you will not only see traditional hutong dwellings, but also you can glimpse local people’s life and discover old Chinese handicrafts still inherited by local artists.

Taste famous historical Beijing food – Peking duck (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Hutong rickshaw

Have an in-depth visit of Summer Palace - the best traditional garden in China, incorporating Wanshou Hill and Kunming Lake. Enjoy a short boat cruise on the lake for relaxation and appreciate its beautiful architectures: a dozen ancient bridges, hillside towers, riverside pavilions…

Ride a bullet train, an outstanding achievement of New China, to get to Xian.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Wyndham Grand Xian South

Summer Palace with Dragon Boat Cruise

Discover one of the world’s top ten ancient tombs - the massive excavation pits of Terra-cotta Army dating to over 2200 years ago. Have a wonderful encounter with thousands of life-sized Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, and witness a list of cold weapons.

Then get in the 14-km-long and 12-m-high City Wall of Ancient Xian, which protected China’s another capital for hundreds of years and saw Xian’s far-reaching influence on Silk Road.

Afterwards, delight in the leisure ambience of Muslim Quarter, where the various kinds of street foods is about to make your mouth water.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

City Wall of Ancient Xi'an

Big Wild Goose Pagoda is also known as the Da Cien Temple Pagoda, built in 652 to hold valuable Buddhist classics brought back from ancient India. A 64.5-m-tall brick pagoda, it is a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture of Tang dynasty.

Visit a local family, where you will learn to make jiaozi (dumpling) - the most popular traditional Chinese food. It’s an enjoyable time - feast on the handmade jiaozi and chat with the friendly host.

Continue the tour and move to Chengdu.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Buddha Zen Hotel Chengdu, Fairmont Chengdu, Grand Hyatt Chengdu

Big Goose Pagoda

Enjoy a full day with giant pandas, one of the most adorable creatures on earth. Participating in the panda volunteer program allows you to work with the scientists and experts to learn the knowledge of pandas. Meanwhile, you need to help clean pandas’ house, prepare the food, and of course observe pandas closely, when they are having food, sleeping or some naughty ones are playing on the grass or in a tree.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Panda volunteer program

The culturally rich Chengdu is famous as being the land of ease.

Join the locals to experience a casual and comfortable life in Chengdu People’s Park, where you can see people playing mahjong, dancing, drinking tea, having their hair cut at the extremely simple barbershop (with only one chair and some hair cutting knives)…

Then visit Jinli Old Street, lined with vintage west Sichuan architecture, and Wide and Narrow Alley, the Chengdu style hutongs dating to 18th Century, with traditional courtyards of black tiles and grey brick walls.

Afterwards, visit Wenshu Monastery, Chengdu’s best-preserved temple, initially built in the 7th Century. It is a treasure house of Buddhist relics, and also a graceful garden.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Jinli Old Street

Fly to Lhasa. Spend the remainder of the day to adapt yourself to the high altitude circumstances. Enjoy the sublime scenery of the highest lands on earth and experience a cloistered life far away from the world.

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Hotels: Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa, The St. Regis Lhasa Resort, Intercontinental Lhasa Paradise

Sumtsaling Monastery

You will be escorted to visit Norbulingka, the summer palace for Dalai Lama. It is a beautiful Tibetan garden with hundreds of rooms, halls and chambers, elaborately-designed artificial landscapes, and various exotic flowers and plants.

Then come to the Sera Monastery, one of the three great monasteries in Tibet, housing tens of thousands of Buddha statues. There is chance to see Tibetan Buddhist debate in Sera Monastery.

Delve deeper into Tibetan Buddhist art and culture in Drepung Monastery – the biggest temple in Tibet. The Dalai Lama II to V used to live here and left many cultural relics.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Norbulingka

Go on a pilgrimage to Potala Palace, the signature highlight of a Tibet tour. It is the largest ancient castle complex in Tibet that incorporates palaces and temples, and has the highest elevation (at 3700m). Walk between its red and white places to appreciate its art and culture valuables.

Then visit Jokhang Temple. Built 1300 years ago during the Tubo Period, it is the extant earliest civil structure construction, and also blends the architecture style of ancient China, Nepal and India. It is because of Jokhang Temple that Lhasa is honored as the holy city.

Afterwards, roam around the Barkhor Street, known as the “sacred way” among Tibetans, where the traditional dwellings are well kept and the peaceful traditional lifestyle can be experienced.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Potala Palace

Fly to Shangri-La, another Tibetan Buddhist sanctuary in China and depicted in the novel Lost Horizon as a fictional, mystical, heavenly world at the foot of Himalayas. Relax at your luxurious hotel with spa or massage. Alternatively, go explore the Ancient Town of Shangri-La, named Dukezong, which was an important trading post on Tea-horse Road connecting Yunnan and Tibet.

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

Ancient Town of Shangri-La

Visiting the 17th-century Ganden Sumtsaling Monastery makes you feel you are amid an ancient Tibetan castle with golden-topped buildings, artistic decorated chambers and many cultural relics and works of Buddhist art.

Experience the extreme serenity and take in sights at Potatso National Park, boasting a perfect eco-system of virgin forests, alpine meadows and rivers. You may encounter small cute wild animals like squirrels in the middle of the road.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Great Wall

Drive to Lijiang from Shangri-La. En route, visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, ranking as one of the most majestic gorges on Earth and one of ten best hikes in the world. See the onrushing Jinsha River on the bottom and two huge snow mountains in the distance. Later marvel at the First Bend of Yangtze River.

Arrive the Old Town of Lijiang dating to the 13th Century – the kingdom of ethnic Naxi people. It was carefully designed, built along the streams and including the palace of ancient Naxi kings. Watch the sunset and get a panorama of Lijiang Ancient Town at the Wangu Pavilion on Lion Hill.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Grand Hyatt Lijiang, Banyan Tree Lijiang, Ivy Garden Resort Hotel (Lijiang Dayange)

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Visit the amazingly beautiful Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a holy mountain for local Naxi people. Ride a cable car to see the mountaintop prairie, valley, river, forests and glaciers. If you prefer, enjoy the show of Impression Lijiang staged in Ganhaizi Scenic Area of the snow mountain.

Then head for Baisha Ancient Town, more authentic and less-crowded than Lijiang Old Town. Therefore you can experience a more traditional way of living of Naxi people. Admire the Lijiang Dongba culture relics – the Baisha Mural.

Visit Black Dragon Pool and see beautiful ancient pavilions and bridges, as well as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected on the pool, creating Lijiang’s iconic image.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Baisha Ancient Town

Drive to Dali, inhabited by ethnic Bai people.

Take a boat to cruise Erhai Lake, enjoy the peaceful and gorgeous scenery, overlook Cangshan Mountain and see quaint fishing villages on the shores. Then visit the mighty Chongsheng Temple and Three Pagodas. This 9th-Century Buddhist heritage site is the iconic landmark of Dali and a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture.

Later, experience profound Bai culture in Xizhou Ancient Town, where the traditional Bai dwelling houses are perfectly kept.

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

Erhai Lake

Relax in Dali Old Town, one of the best-preserved ancient towns in China, with laid-back atmosphere and slow-paced lifestyle to experience.

Enjoy an air journey to Chongqing. Pick up and transfer to Chonqing Chaotianmen Wharf. Embark on a luxurious cruise for the most dramatic landscapes along the Yangtze.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Xizhou Ancient Town

Wake up with fresh clean air and find yourself embraced by intoxicating scenery. Enjoy the early morning tea or coffee, or participate in a refreshing Tai Chi class taught by a master on board before a hearty buffet breakfast.

Then join the shore excursion to the over 2000-year-old Fengdu Ghost City (optional), where you will see a variety of underworld architectures and statues of ghosts as well.

Relax on the deck or participate in various interesting onboard activities, then join another shore excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda - US Discovery Channel classified it as one of the Seven Wonders of China and one of the eight bizarre buildings in the world.

Attend the Captain’s Welcome Party.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,

Shibaozhai Pagoda

Keep practicing Tai Chi in the morning and feel at ease with comfortable environment.

Join the shore excursion to the White Emperor City (optional), to visit Ming and Qing temples and architectures, and see lots of poetry inscriptions dating to Sui and Tang Dynasty.

Enjoy the beautiful Three Gorge sceneries all along. The ship gradually sails through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, and you can see high mountains and steep precipices along the banks. Then get out of your ship and take a small boat to float through pristine Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream).

Attend the Captain’s Farewell Party.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,

Shennv Stream

Disembark on Yichang Maoping Wharf and transfer to visit Three Gorge Dam, so far the biggest and most cost-effective water conservancy in the world and creating a striking vista. Yangtze cruise ends.

Pick up and transfer to visit Yichang Binjiang (Riverside) Park alongside the Yangtze, with green vegetation and many vintage structures.

Then fly to Shanghai to continue your China vacation.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Four Seasons Hotel Pudong Shanghai, Grand Hyatt Shanghai, Grand Central Hotel Shanghai

Yangtze River Cruise

Appreciate the masterpieces of ancient Chinese art at Shanghai Museum, which incorporates bronze gallery, ceramic gallery, Chinese seals gallery, traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting gallery…

Witness the superb artificial landscape of Yu Garden, the best-preserved classical garden in Shanghai. Later see elegant traditional Chinese-style architecture in Yuyuan Market – also known as Shanghai’s food paradise.

Then your guide will lead you to the Bund alongside Huangpu River, an iconic symbol of Shanghai, lined with dozens of striking colonial buildings. Later stand on the observation deck of Shanghai World Financial Center to witness the ultra-modern China.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Yu Garden

Escape the congestion of Shanghai to enjoy relaxing hours in Tongli Ancient Town built in Middle Ages and experience China’s water town culture.

The 15 streams divide Tongli into seven islands, while 49 ancient arch bridges link the islands together. A boat trip will take you to sail through the bridges and discover the beautiful gardens, temples, former residences of celebrities in history.

Marvel at Shanghai’s best acrobatic show in the evening (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Tongli Water Town by Boat

Take high speed train to Huangshan City. Transfer to visit the 11th-century Xidi Village. With more than 200 ancient residential houses, ancestral halls and memorial archways, Xidi is praised as the museum of ancient Chinese dwelling and has been inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage.

Stay overnight at a quaint local style hotel with cultural authenticity and inspiring design.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Banyan Tree Huangshan, Pig's Heaven Inn Bishan, Huangshan International Hotel

Xidi Village

Your longing to experience the authentic country life will be answered in Nanping Village, where, with beautiful natural settings and an array of old houses, you will join the locals to pick the vegetables, cook a meal at home and chat with them about Huizhou folklores.

Take Yungu cableway up Yellow Mountain, which is known as the most beautiful mountain in China. Enjoy the stunning sunset view of Yellow Mountain with seas of clouds if weather permits.

Stay overnight on Yellow Mountain.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Huangshan Beihai Hotel, Xihai Hotel

Sunset over Yellow Mountain

Get up early if you would like to watch the sun rise of Yellow Mountain. Enjoy a walk along West Sea Grand Canyon, the highlight of Yellow Mountain, with steep mountain paths, wondrous pines and fantastic rock peaks.

Then ride cable car down Yellow Mountain and transfer to visit Tunxi Old Street, the cultural center of Huangshan City consisting of 3 main streets, 18 alleyways and 300 or so Huizhou style architectures dating to different historical periods. Idle about to glimpse traditional Huizhou culture of tea, calligraphy, inkstick, medicine…

Fly to Guilin, and enjoy the airport transfer service to your hotel.

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

Yellow Mountain

There are no planed sightseeing trips or activities today, so that you can have a relaxing free day. One of the most popular destinations in China, Guilin is world-famous for karst scenery and a casual way of life. If you would like explore Guilin yourself, you may enjoy a brisk stroll around the central lakes and pedestrian streets.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Damian Mountain on Li RIver

Board a luxurious ship down Li River to Yangshuo. You’ll cruise the most beautiful section of Li River, pass by rows of limestone peaks, lovely islands, vast farmlands, pristine villages and have the chance to see cormorant fishing.

Disembark, walk through the West Street of a relaxed, bustling atmosphere. Then spend a half day to explore the idyllic countryside of Yangshuo. You are encouraged to ride a bike along the rivers, farms of crops and primitive villages, and luxuriate in the beauty of nature.

Enjoy Impression Liu Sanjie night show, performed in the outdoor with real landscape as the backdrop (optional).

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

West Street

Drive to visit Reed Flute Cave to witness the incredibly weird-shaped stalactites and stalagmites, stone waterfalls, striking stone mansions, lifelike stone animals… which are illuminated by dramatic colored lights.

Afterwards, ride a bullet train from Guilin to Hong Kong

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

Reed Flute Cave

Enjoy half day Hong Kong essence tour with private guide. Take one-way Peak Tram to ascend Victoria Peak, the highest peak in Hong Kong with incredible panoramic view of Victoria Harbor and the city skyline. Then enjoy a sampan ride across Aberdeen, previously a small fishing village, followed with visit to Repulse Bay, known as “the oriental Hawaii” or Stanley Market with various kinds of souvenirs and specialty crafts for sale.

Free time in the afternoon, you may go shopping and taste an array of foods and snacks.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Victoria Harbor

Here comes to the end of the 30 days China tour itinerary. Enjoy a private transfer service to the airport and board your departure international flight back to sweet home.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Victoria Harbor