Highland, Ethnic, Nature Beauties & Hong Kong

Day 1 Beijing

Upon your arrival at the Beijing airport, you are welcomed by your private English-speaking guide and skilled driver and transferred to the hotel to shake off jet lag.

Day 2 Beijing

Start our day with a morning guided tour to Temple of Heaven, a previous ancient sacrifice emperor site and now the exercise playground for armies of local early birds. Threading through the public Tiananmen Square that is surrounded by many evolutionary monuments and museums, you then arrive at the off-limited-for-500-years imperial Forbidden City that boasts of the well-preserved cluster of ancient Chinese architectures. As for the night itinerary, it is up to you whether to enjoy the sedate-style traditional art--Beijing opera or more active version--Kungfu show, etc.

Day 3 Beijing

Today make our way to the wisdom-and-labor-based Mutianyu Wall section by round-trip cable car. Stop by a small rural village nearby to view the unrestored winding wall. Tour the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games inheritance--Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Then try the Beijing culinary highlight--Quanjude Peking Duck in the evening banquet.

Day 4 Beijing - Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Take our time in the royal garden--Summer Palace decorated with vast lakes, ornate temples, pavilions, and winding corridors. Observe old Beijingers' life in the courtyard dwelling via the Hutong rickshaw ride and Hutong private museum with interesting old stuff collections. Transfer to airport for Huangshan flight and farewell to your Beijing guide. On arrival in Huangshan, the guide will meet and transfer you to hotel for a good rest.

Day 5 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Make a morning transfer to Huangshan scenic area. You can design your own way to tour Huangshan via either cable car or hiking. And a recommended route with the guide is to get up the summit by the labor-saving Yungu cable car. Then have a great view of Huangshan peculiar rock formations in Cloud Dispelling Pavilion and access the enticing West Sea Canyon.

Day 6 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) - Hangzhou

Today you can still flexibly tour Huangshan in your own way. And a guided recommended tour on fairy day goes like this: Enjoy the otherworldly sunrise scene on the Refreshing Terrace. In this glowing sunrise picture, the peak clusters are shrouded by the spreading veil of sea of clouds. Beginning to Believe Peak and Flower Blooming on a Brush Tip worth a pause to catch jaw-dropping views and snap beautiful photos. Descend Huangshan via the Yungu cable car and head to picturesque Hongcun and Xidi to taste the traditional detail-filled architectures in these two villages. If time permitting, wander around Tunxi Old Street and browse antique wooden souvenirs shops in the street. Take coach bus to Hangzhou and transfer to the hotel to have a good rest.

Day 7 Hangzhou - Shanghai

Feel the breeze kiss and view the sliding-by West Lake sights on the boat. Surrounding green mountains, pavilions and towers in touches of gold and azure contribute to a boat ride in a painting. Skirting the flanks of the Feilai Peak leads to the incense-permeated Lingyin Temple which has assembled devoted worshippers round the year to pray for changing-luck-for-the-better wishes. Take a deep breath in the vast tea plantation of Dragon Well Tea Village. If you are a tea fancier, you can also choose to spend more time here to savor the authentic Longjing green tea. Qing Dynasty Hefang Street, a fun pedestrian street with variety snack stalls, teahouses and Chinese traditional medicine stores, etc can be a nice tour option. One outstanding medicine shop of Hefang Street is Huqing Yutang Chinese Medicine Museum for its impressive collections of quality medicine materials and traditional wares heavy with medical culture. Head to the Shanghai metropolis by fast train. Soak up the sea of lights in the Bund, feast on the riverside night views and satisfy your shopping desire in the nearby East Nanjing Road.

Day 8 Shanghai

Get top on the dazzling 100th observant deck of Shanghai World Financial Center to form a complete picture of this soaring dynamic city. Browse Chinese history in the impressive collection in Shanghai Museum of People's Square. Visit the active Jade Buddha Temple and try the creative meat-flavor vegetarian dishes. Yuyuan Garden with its exquisite detailed characters and the bustling bazaar in the Old Town district give you a good browsing day. Before calling it a night, let's watch a jaw-dropping performance, namely the famous Shanghai Acrobatic Show.

Day 9 Shanghai - Xi'an

Be a guest in a local family to observe original details of Shanghainese's life. Visiting the local grocery market, cooking Shanghai dishes and partaking in the residents' entertainment activities can be tasted in this visit. The rest of the day is your own free exploring time: you can randomly explore the historic and trendy mixed French Concession on bike or on foot or just idle away the afternoon in the business, entertainment and cultural complex area--Xintiandi. Board the maglev train to head for Xi'an flight at a lightening speed.

Day 10 Xi'an

Cycle on the broad ancient City Wall at your pace with the guide's company. Stroll the Great Mosque--a quiet oasis to shut off the outside market bustle. Indulge in the profusion of snacks in the Muslim Quarter. Pay a visit to the tastefully-resorted residence of an ancient officer--Gao's Courtyard with over 400-year history.

Day 11 Xi'an

Gain more insight into the China ancient history via the awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors that was built by the ancient Qingshi emperor to resume his reign in his afterlife. Ascend the Xi'an great landmark--Great Goose Pagoda and leaf through China ancient history in Shaanxi History Museum. Pamper your eyes and ears in the previous imperial entertainment--Tang Dynasty Show.

Day 12 Xi'an - Lhasa

Different from military-focus Terracotta Warrior, Tomb of Emperor Liu Qi we visit today showcases more about the ancient daily life through its impressive exhibit of the figurines. Fly to Lhasa and transfer to hotel. The rest day is free time so you can better acclimatize the breathtaking altitude and ready for the next day's tour.

Day 13 Lhasa

Appreciate the Tibetan-style Potala Palace--a 13-storey architecture wonder made from wood and stone. Try to count thousands of copper statues that housed in the Sera Monastery and if time suits, we can also see the debating activity that Tibetan monks issue to sharpen their knowledge and mind. Get close contact with the original Tibetan's custom over butter tea and authentic Tibetan snacks in the Tibetan's family visit.

Day 14 Lhasa

Heavy yak butter smell and devoted prayers spinning prayer wheel can be expected in Jokhang Monastery. A wide range of Tibetan crafts are available in the Barkhor Street and time to run your bargain engine. Just remember to clockwise (the direction to spin the prayer wheel) stroll this local prayer wheeling street, which the local believe it is a good way to accumulate their merits and virtues. Tour the heavily-planted Norbulingka--the summer palace for the Dalai Lama to shut off the affairs and purify the mind. Dig the Tibetan history in the informative display items in the Tibet Museum.

Day 15 Lhasa - Chengdu

Today farewell Tibet and descend the high altitude in Chengdu after the flight. "Numb"; your taste buds in the fierily hot Sichuan dishes or dig in light-taste cuisine alternatives if spicy foods are not your cup of tea (or exactly not your plate of dish). Visit Chengdu largest and local-frequented Buddhism temple--Wenshu Temple. Idle away the rest afternoon in the People's Park. In the park's Heming Teahouse and with a cup of tea in hand, you can observe the local's leisurely life--playing mah jong, tuning the radio or squinting at the papers with glasses, etc. If you are into Chinese art performance, Sichuan opera face changing is recommended to marvel at how many different masks the performer can change in the twinkling of an eye.

Day 16 Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou

Enjoy an early morning visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see the adorable giant pandas doing their favorite things: feeding and napping. Fly to Jiuzhaigou and transfer for the hotel for a good rest.

Day 17 Jiuzhaigou

Have a whole day in the natural gem reserve park with your guide. A wide range of highlights in the Jiuzhaigou park like Sparkle Lake, Shuzheng waterfall, Mirror Lake, Long Lake, Five-colored Pool, etc are a worthy reward for your time.

Day 18 Jiuzhaigou - Chengdu - Lijiang

Fly to Chengdu. Fly to Lijiang and transfer to hotel.

Day 19 Lijiang

Get your camera ready for the view-filled Black Dragon Pool Park. You can visit the Dongba Research Institute to learn about the Naxi civilization--the living pictograph script in the wealthy collection of cultural relics. Take the cable car up the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for the breathtaking glacier view. Search the Naxi root in the rural Baisha village. Visit the most-admired man in the Baisha--Dr. Ho in his herb medicine clinic and know more about the magic medical use of pure plant roots or leaves. Read the life stories of different religions in the Baisha mural paintings. Give your ears a great treat in the Naxi Orchestra for Xuan Ke Taoist temple music, an old music performance displayed by a group of old musicians.

Day 20 Lijiang - Kunming

Marvel at the First Bend of Yangtze River and awestruck Tiger Leaping Gorge following the ancient Stone Drum Village. Fly to the Spring City Kunming after the flight transfer. Have a good rest in the hotel in the rest of the day.

Day 21 Kunming - Guilin

Visit Stone Forest to see how the rainwater and wind could amazingly shape such a stunning karst rock cluster. Fly to dream destination Guilin and transfer to hotel.

Day 22 Guilin

Solitary Beauty Peak nestles in tranquil Wangcheng, a former Ming dynasty mansion and now is home to Guangxi Normal University. The mansion was even older than Forbidden City and dubbed as 'Little Forbidden City'. Tour the emblem of Guilin--Elephant Trunk Hill and impressive grotto--Reed Flute Cave.

Day 23 Guilin -Yangshuo

Hop aboard the Li River Cruise and get your camera ready in the illuminating cruise scene section between Xingping and Yangdi. After disembarking in Yangshuo, you can freely explore the surrounding. West Street lined with the cafes, bars, souvenir shops can be a nice spot for the night hangout.

Day 24 Yangshuo - Hong Kong

Guided biking around the Yangshuo countryside to see: farmhouses, the buffalo ploughing hard at its master's signal, the active pupils in the primary school, Moon Hill, Banyan Tree, etc. Want some cool breeze? Then the Yulong River raft is recommended. Old Yulong Bridge, nestled Baisha village, wavering bamboo bush, hills are well dotted the rafting trip. Then fly to the shopping paradise--Hong Kong to release your shopping will. Have a private accompanied drive to Hong Kong hotel.

Day 25 Hong Kong

Tour the Victoria Harbor in a local commuting way—take the old reputed Star Ferry. Ascend the Peak by the old and yet safe tram to have an all-embracing view of Hong Kong: Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbor, Kowloon and hills afar. Hop on the Sampan to deeper experience Aberdeen, a fishing village busy with many different fishing boats and old sailing-boats. The fishing boats have long served as the locals' fishing tool as well as their living places. If you are a seafood fan, this sea-product-endowed place would be your paradise. Go to Repulse Bay, one of the Hong Kong featured beaches with clear water and soft sand. Explore good bargains in the Stanley Market--a large traditional open-air market selling an array of cheap clothing.

Day 26 Hong Kong

A whole free day for you to deeper explore this energetic city.

Day 27 Depart Hong Kong

Pack up your luggage and heavy traveling memory to head for your homebound flight.