Highland and Natural Beauties & Hong Kong

Day 1 Beijing

On arrival, you are greeted in the airport and escorted to the hotel by your private English-speaking guide and experienced driver 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 an excursion outside the city to marvel at the ancient rampart wonder--Mutianyu Great Wall section (round-trip cable cars). Make a visit to a nearby rural village for an unrestored winding wild wall view. View the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games inheritance--Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Get another mandatory China experience in the crisp Quanjuede Peking Duck banquet.

Day 4 Beijing - Hangzhou

Tour the Summer Palace, a former imperial retreat garden decorated with vast lakes, ornate temples, pavilions, and winding corridors. Contrast with the noble life splurge, we in detail focus on old Beijingers' life through the Hutong rickshaw ride and old stuff collections of a Hutong private museum. Fly to Hangzhou and get transferred to hotel by your Hangzhou guide and driver.

Day 5 Hangzhou - Shanghai

Enjoy the breeze and sunshine kisses when sliding by the nearby green mountains, pavilions and towers on your West Lake boat. Skirting the flanks of the Feilai Peak leads to the worshipper-flocked Lingyin Temple. Deep breathe and fulfill your lung with the fresh air 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 many 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. Sightsee the Bund to trace old and new Shanghai in the lightened-up architectures along Huangpu River. Satisfy your shopping desire in the nearby East Nanjing Road.

Day 6 Shanghai

Visit Shanghai Museum of People's Square that features impressive art collections. Embrace the whole city on the dazzling 100th observant deck of Shanghai World Financial Center. Visit the elegantly-structured Jade Buddha Temple and expand your taste in the meat-flavor vegetarian dishes. Proceed to the Old Town District to absorb the old splendor in the private Yuyuan Garden and the bustling bazaar. Add a touch of risky action to the intraday tour in the awe-inspiring performance of Shanghai Acrobatic Show.

Day 7 Shanghai - Xi'an

Detailedly experience Shanghainese's life in a half-day local family visit. Shopping in the local grocery market, cooking Shanghai dishes and partaking in the residents' entertainment activities can be tasted in this visit. The balance of the day is left for you to follow your interest: 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 8 Xi'an

Fly to Xi'an and transfer to hotel. Set off to cycle on the Ming Dynasty 14th-century City Wall with the guide's company. Stroll the Great Mosque, a major spot for religious activities of Xi'an Moslems. If you want some exotic refreshment, the profusion of snacks in the Muslim Quarter deserves a try. Get a glance of the ancient officer's lifestyle in the former officer residence--Gao's Courtyard.

Day 9 Xi'an

Visit the motionless ranks of Terracotta Warriors that rested the guiding mission hope of its builder--ancient Qingshi emperor in his afterlife. Climb up the Xi'an great landmark--Great Goose Pagoda and gain more insights into China ancient history in Shaanxi History Museum. Immerse in the Tang Dynasty Show to glimpse at the ancient Tang Dynasty imperial entertainment.

Day 10 Xi'an - Lhasa

Different from military-focus Terracotta Warrior, a quantity of pottery figurines exhibited inTomb of Emperor Liu Qi revolves more about the ancient daily life. Fly to Lhasa and transfer to hotel. The remaining day is at leisure so you can better acclimatize the breathtaking altitude and get ready for the next day's tour.

Day 11 Lhasa

Mingle in the devoted pilgrims in the iconic landmark of Lhasa--Potala Palace. View thousands of copper statues housed in the Sera Monastery and if time suits, the debating activity issued by Tibetan monks to sharpen their knowledge and mind can be seen. Have an up-close encounter with the original Tibetan's custom over butter tea and authentic Tibetan snacks in the Tibetan's family visit.

Day 12 Lhasa

Heavy yak butter smell and devoted prayers spinning prayer wheel can be expected in Jokhang Monastery. Boundless kinds of Tibetan crafts are hawked every centimeter of the Barkhor Street. Please follow the local custom to clockwise (the direction to spin the prayer wheel) tour this local street, a good way believed to accumulate a person's merits and virtues. Tour the lush scenery of Norbulingka--the summer palace for the Dalai Lama to take the affairs off the chest and purify the mind. Discover rich facets of Tibetan history in the informative displays in the Tibet Museum.

Day 13 Lhasa - Chengdu

Today bid farewell to Tibet and fly to Chengdu. Try the crazily hot Sichuan dishes that locals swear by or sample light-taste cuisine alternatives if you can't stand the volcanic heat. Visit Tang dynasty Buddhism temple--Wenshu Temple. Take a lazy afternoon in People's park where the local playing mah jong, tuning the radio or squinting at the papers with glasses, etc. can be expected apart from the park scene. Or you can just drive away the afternoon tiredness with sips of fresh tea in the park's teahouse. In the evening, Sichuan opera face changing is recommended to marvel at masks-swapping skills of the performer.

Day 14 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 15 Guilin

Solitary Beauty Peak, a tranquil oasis nestling at city center, has changed from a former Ming dynasty mansion to home to Guangxi Normal University. Tour the emblem of Guilin city--Elephant Trunk Hill and impressive grotto--Reed Flute Cave.

Day 16 Guilin - Yangshuo

Hop aboard the Li River Cruise and get your camera ready to capture the breathtaking views like towering limestone pinnacles and misty waters between Xingping and Yangdi, the illuminating cruise scene section. After disembarking in Yangshuo, you can freely explore the picture-perfect surrounding. West Street lined with the cafes, bars, souvenir shops give you many options during night hangout.

Day 17 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 fly to Hong Kong and transfer to Hong Kong hotel.

Day 18 Hong Kong

Tour the Victoria Harbor on Star Ferry, the commuting way that locals have for over 100 years. Ascend the Victoria Peak by the old and yet safe tram to have an all-embracing view of Hong Kong: the harbor, islands, and sky-touching skyscrapers afar. Hop on the Sampan to deeper experience Aberdeen, a fishing village busy with many different fishing boats and old sailing-boats that thousands of people are living on. Abundant fresh caughts here are worthy of a try. Splash clear seawater and barefoot feel soft sand on the Repulse Bay. Explore good bargains in the Stanley Market--a large traditional open-air market selling an array of cheap clothing.

Day 19 Hong Kong

You have the full day at leisure to deeper explore this energetic city.

Day 20 Depart Hong Kong

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