Highland and Ethnic Beauties & 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

Hop on the private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide to start your China tour in Temple of Heaven which was an ancient emperor worshipping site and now is the playground for a forest of the local citizens to build a healthy body via a variety of practicing programs like Taichi, color-silk dancing, rope-whipping, etc. Strolling across the Tiananmen Square that is heavy with history, you then enter the imperial Forbidden City which has carried the rich history of about 24 emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasty. When the night falls, you can just choose to call it a night via soaking up the sedate-style traditional art--Beijing Opera or more active alternative--Kungfu show.


Day 3 Beijing

Today make our way to the less-crowded and yet thicker-planted wild Mutianyu Wall section by cable car (round trips). Stop by a small rural village for an unrestored winding wild wall view. View the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games inheritance--Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Then twiddle your chopsticks on the crisp Quanjude Peking Duck in the evening banquet.


Day 4 Beijing - Shanghai

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 can have an intimacy with old Beijingers' life in the Hutong rickshaw ride and interesting old stuff collections of a Hutong private museum. Transfer to airport for Shanghai flight and farewell to your Beijing guide. On arrival in Shanghai, the local guide meets and transfers you to hotel for a good rest.


Day 5 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 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 6 Shanghai - Xi'an

Taste Shanghainese's lifestyle in a local family visit. The lane building residents and their daily activities can be observed and experienced in more details. 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 7 Xi'an

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. Treat yourself to the swide variety snacks in the Muslim Quarter. Visit the residence of an ancient officer--Gao's Courtyard that has survived 400-year changes.


Day 8 Xi'an

Gaze at the awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors that the ancient Qingshi emperor built to resume his reign in his afterlife. Visit 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 that was part of the Tang Dynasty imperial entertainment.


Day 9 Xi'an - Lhasa

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 Lhasa and transfer to hotel and less strenuous activity is advised to better acclimatize the breathtaking altitude.


Day 10 Lhasa

Embark on your spiritual tour in the cardinal landmark of Lhasa--Potala Palace. Visit the large intact monastery--Sera Monastery and see the monks' debating activity if time suits. Get intimate with the original Tibetan's custom over butter tea and authentic Tibetan snacks in the Tibetan's family visit.


Day 11 Lhasa

Heavy yak butter smell and murmuring pilgrims spinning prayer wheel can be expected in Jokhang Monastery. Plenty of Tibetan crafts are hawked in the bustling Barkhor Street and time to run your bargain engine. Just remember to follow the local prayer custom to clockwise (the direction to spin the prayer wheel) stroll this street, which the local believe it is mounting their merits and virtues. Tour the Norbulingka--the heavily-planted summer palace for the Dalai Lama to isolate the affairs and clear the mind. Dig the Tibetan history in the informative display items in the Tibet Museum.


Day 12 Lhasa - Chengdu

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


Day 13 Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou

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 Jiuzhaigou and transfer to hotel.


Day 14 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 15 Jiuzhaigou - Chengdu - Lijiang

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


Day 16 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 17 Lijiang - Kunming

Marvel at the First Bend of Yangtze River and awestruck Tiger Leaping Gorge following the ancient Stone Drum Village. Bye bye to Lijiang and fly to Kunming. Transfer to your Kunming hotel.


Day 18 Kunming - Guilin

Visit Stone Forest to see how the rainwater and wind could amazingly shape such a stunning karst rock cluster. Meet your Guilin guide in the airport and escort to your Guilin hotel.


Day 19 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 20 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 21 Yangshuo - Hong Kong

Cycle with your guide around the Yangshuo countryside to see: farmhouses, the buffalo ploughing hard at its master's cry, the thirsty-for-knowledge pupils in the primary school, Moon Hill, Banyan Tree, etc. Yulong River raft is nice choice to get some cool touch. Old Yulong Bridge, nestled Baisha village, wavering bamboo bush, hills 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 22 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: 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 23 Hong Kong

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


Day 24 Depart Hong Kong

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


  • B: Breakfast
  • L: Lunch
  • D: Dinner