Fabulous Landscapes & Hong Kong

Day 1 Beijing

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

Day 2 Beijing

With the guide's escort, you can make a morning stroll in Temple of Heaven, a former ancient emperor worshipping site and the present playground for local exercisers doing Taichi, color-silk dancing, rope-whipping, etc. Through the history-hidden Tiananmen Square, we arrive at imperial Forbidden City which has serves as the power and life center of about 24 emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasty. The dark approach is also the time to start a colorful night by your preferred sedate-style traditional art--Beijing opera or more active version--Kungfu show.

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 - Hangzhou

Take our time in the Summer Palace--a former imperial garden dotted with ornate temples, pavilions, and winding corridors. Contrast with the poetic expanses of noble life, we will have an intimacy with old Beijingers' life in the Hutong rickshaw ride and Hutong private museum with interesting old stuff collections. Transfer to airport for Hangzhou flight and farewell to your Beijing guide. On arrival in Hangzhou, the guide meets and transfers you to hotel for a good rest.

Day 5 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 will contribute to a boat riding 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 6 Shanghai

Have a heart-pounding bird's eye view on the dazzling observant deck of Shanghai World Financial Center. Chinese history can be paged through in the impressive collection in Shanghai Museum of People's Square. Visit the tranquil Jade Buddha Temple and try the vegetarian dishes where pure common veg ingredients are specially cooked to create the meat flavor. Have some old touch in the Old Town district whose highlights--Yuyuan Garden with its exquisite characters and the bustling bazaar will give you a good browsing day. Add a touch of risky action to the intraday tour in the awe-inspiring performance of Shanghai Acrobatic Show.

Day 7 Shanghai

Take your time in experiencing the real life details of the Shanghai locals in a local family. Shopping in the local grocery market, cooking Shanghai dishes and partaking in the residents' entertainment activities can be tasted in this visit. The remaining day is your free exploring time: amble around the historic and trendy mixed French Concession or just idle away the day in old and new Shanghai blending area--Xintiandi.

Day 8 Shanghai - Xi'an

Board the maglev train to head for Xi'an flight at a lightening speed. Cycle on the broad ancient City Wall at your pace with the guide's company. Stroll the Great Mosque, a nice blending building of Chinese and Islamic touch. Pamper your taste buds with various exotic snacks in the Muslim Quarter. Visit the residence of an ancient officer--Gao's Courtyard that has survived 400-year changes.

Day 9 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 10 Xi'an - Jiuzhaigou

The last stop in Xi'an is Emperor Liu Qi Tomb where houses an impressive exhibit of the figurines quietly narrating the ancient daily life. Fly to Jiuzhaigou and transfer to hotel.

Day 11 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 will be a worthy reward for your time.

Day 12 Jiuzhaigou - Chengdu

Fly to Chengdu. "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. "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). 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 13 Chengdu - Guilin

Make an early morning visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see the cute giant pandas doing their favorite things: feeding and napping. Fly to picturesque Guilin and transfer to hotel.

Day 14 Guilin

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

Day 15 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 16 Yangshuo - Hong Kong

Take an accompanied bike ride around the Yangshuo countryside to see: farmhouses, the buffalo ploughing hard at its master's order, Moon Hill, Banyan Tree, etc. Yulong River raft is recommended to get some cool touch. Old Yulong Bridge, Baisha village, wavering bamboo bush, cormorants perching on rafts are well dotted along the rafting trip. Then it is time to excite your shopping desire in Hong Kong after a short flight transfer. Have an accompanied drive to Hong Kong hotel.

Day 17 Hong Kong

Tour the Victoria Harbor in a local commuting way---the old reputed Star Ferry. Ascend the Peak by the old and yet safe tram to have an all-embracing view of Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Island, the 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 18 Hong Kong

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

Day 19 Depart Hong Kong

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