China

Go to Shanghai airport on your own, then fly to Beijing.

After your arrival in Beijing, you will be greeted by your guide, who will then take you to your hotel. Your local guide will suggest a restaurant option and shopping destination for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the Mutianyu Great Wall (about 2 hours), the section of the Great Wall that was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty. In ancient times, it was used as a strategic point of defence against marauding northern tribes. Cable car fee is not included.

In route you will stop at the Jade Store (about 45 minutes) to learn about this precious stone, and have the opportunity to buy some souvenirs.

After a Chinese lunch at a local restaurant, the group will proceed to the Ming Tombs (about 1 hour), where you can tour the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). Next, the group will move on to a more modern landmark: the ‘Birdnest’ Olympic Stadium, and the neighbouring ‘Watercube’.

At the end of a fun-packed day, the group will head on to enjoy a Beijing Roast Duck Dinner, considered to be one of the most iconic dishes in the world. A trip to Beijing would not be complete without trying it!

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the Forbidden City (about 2 hours), the architectural wonder and world-famous attraction that lies in the center of Beijing, north of Tian’anmen Square. It was home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Next, the group will proceed to Tian’anmen Square (about 50 minutes), which is the heart of modern China, the symbol of the People’s Republic, and the center of Beijing’s landmarks. The flagstones of Tian’anmen cover a staggering 440,000 square meters, enough space for a gathering of a million people.

In route you will stop at the Pearl Store (about 45 minute) to enjoy the distinctive Chinese pearl products and have some free shopping time.

After a Chinese lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to the Temple of Heaven (about 1 hour), built between 1409 and 1420. The Temple of Heaven is one of Beijing’s most impressive parks in terms of architecture and significance. The temple was supposed to be the place where ruling emperors could communicate directly with heaven.

Your guide will suggest a restaurant option and shopping destination for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you on the Beijing Hutong Tour (about 50 minutes), a “must-see” attraction if you want to really get a feel for the rich history and culture of the city.

After a Chinese lunch at the local restaurant, proceed to the famous Wangfujing Street (about 1 hour), where you will have free time to shop until your CST local guide takes you to Beijing Airport for your departure flight to Xi’an.

After arrival in Xi’an, you will be greeted by your local guide who will then accompany you to your hotel. Your guide will suggest a restaurant and shopping destination for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses (about 2 hours), located in Jiangzhai Xichang Village, around one mile from Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum. Here you will view the famous terracotta warriors, which were buried here for centuries until being uncovered by a local farmer.

En route, you will stop at the Pottery Factory (about 45 minutes), to learn about this ancient Chinese art form, and have an opportunity to purchase some souvenirs.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the group will proceed to the Huaqing Hot Spring (about 70 minutes), situated 30 kilometers east of Xi’an at the foot of the Lishan Hills. Theses Springs were a popular retreat with Emperors more than 2,500 years ago, many of whom enjoyed bathing in the perfectly clear mineral water.

Next, visit the Banpo Museum (about 45 minutes), located on the north side of Banpo village on a site that dates to the Neolithic period, over 6,000 years ago. This site was just recently discovered.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the Forest of Steles (about 1.5 hours) –an art museum that collects, studies and displays various steles and stone sculptures. If you are interested in Chinese art and calligraphy, this is a must-see.

Next, your group will proceed to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta,about 1 hour), a famous Buddhist pagoda situated inside Da Ci’en Temple, four kilometers south of Xi’an. Tang Emperor Gaozong commissioned the building of this temple in the year 652 during the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda’s square structure is simple but very sturdy and regarded as a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture.

After a Chinese lunch at a local restaurant, you will proceed to the Xi’an City Wall (about 1 hour), which is considered the most complete ancient city wall in China. The city wall is designed in an ancient Tang Dynasty style architecture and is 13.7 kilometers in length.

Your guide will take you to Xi’an airport for your departure flight to Guilin.

After your arrival in Guilin, you will be greeted by your guide, who will then take you to your hotel. Your guide will suggest a restaurant option and shopping destination for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the Lijiang River(about 3.5 hours), where you will take a cruise along the stretch of the river that runs between Guilin and Yangshuo. The Lijiang River landscape has been compared to the hair of a beautiful woman, and was described by the famous Chinese poet Hanyu as “a blue silk ribbon; the mountains resemble emerald hairpins”.

Lunch is eaten aboard the boat during the cruise. After returning to shore, you will take a stroll on the famous Yangshuo West Street.(about 30 minutes)

En route, you will stop at Liuli Factory (about 45 minutes) to enjoy the traditional Chinese Liuli art works and take some time to shop for souvenirs.

Return to Guilin. Your guide will suggest a restaurant option and shopping destination for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to Reed Flute Cave (about 50 minutes), located in a hidden spot on Guangmin Hill, about 3.2 miles northwest of Guilin. It is Guilin’s largest and most impressive cave.

After lunch at a local restaurant, your guide will accompany you to Elephant Trunk Hill (about 40 minutes), situated on the western bank of the Lijiang River in south Guilin. It is shaped like an elephant that is dipping its trunk in the river. Your group will then proceed to Bravo Hill (Fubo Hill, about 30 minutes).

Your guide will take you to Guilin airport for your departure flight to Shanghai.