China Plateau and Beach Tour

Day 1 Beijing

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


Day 2 Beijing

Hop on the private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide and start to explore this cultural and political heart of China. The fist leg is Temple of Heaven which was an ancient emperor worshipping site and now is creatively used by the local morning exercisers as a playground to let off their energy via a variety of practicing programs like Taichi, color-silk dancing, rope-whipping, etc. Wander through the history-witness Tiananmen Square and walk in the footsteps of 24 emperors in imperial Forbidden City. Later at night, you decide your preferred way to light the night by whether to immerse in the sedate-style traditional art--Beijing Opera or more active version--Kungfu show.


Day 3 Beijing

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


Day 4 Beijing - Xi'an

Check out the ornate temples, pavilions, and winding corridors of the imperial garden--Summer Palace. Thread through the narrow Hutong lanes in the rickshaw ride and browse old stuff collections of a Hutong private museum to glimpse at the past, present and coming life of the Beijingers. Transfer to airport for Xi'an flight and farewell to your Beijing guide. On arrival in Xi'an, the guide greets and transfers you to hotel for a good rest.


Day 5 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 6 Xi'an

Guided cycle on the broad ancient City Wall at your pace. Visit the Great Mosque in the mixed style of Chinese and Islamic touch. Satisfy your food craving in a profusion of snacks in the Muslim Quarter. Visit the residence of an ancient officer--Gao's Courtyard that has recorded 400-year history.


Day 7 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 breath-taking altitude and ready for the next day's tour.


Day 8 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 9 Lhasa

Visit the yak-butter-smell-saturated Jokhang Monastery that often teems with devoted prayers spinning prayer wheel to deliver their will. A wide range of Tibetan-style crafts can be hunted and bargained in the Barkhor Street, namely the wheeling street that Tibetans clockwise (the direction to spin the prayer wheel) stroll to accumulate their merits and virtues. Tour the lush Norbulingka--the summer shelter of Dalai Lama to shut off the affairs and purify the mind. Have half day of browsing informative display items in the Tibet Museum.


Day 10 Lhasa - Chengdu

Today farewell Tibet and descend the high altitude in Chengdu after the flight. Seduce your taste buds with the fierily hot and delicious Sichuan dishes or savor light-taste cuisine alternatives if spicy foods are not your cup of tea (or exactly not your plate of dish). Stroll Chengdu largest and local-frequented Buddhism temple--Wenshu Temple. Mingle in the leisurely Chengdu people that play mah jong, tune the radio or exercise or relaxingly sip fresh tea in the outdoor teahouse of People's Park. If you are into Chinese art performance, Sichuan opera face changing is recommended to conclude intraday Chengdu trip.


Day 11 Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou

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


Day 12 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 is a worthy reward for your time.


Day 13 Jiuzhaigou - Chengdu - Lijiang

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


Day 14 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 common plant roots or leaves. Read the life stories of different religions in the Baisha mural paintings. Treat your ears with the Naxi Orchestra for Xuan Ke Taoist temple music, an old music performance displayed by a group of old musicians.


Day 15 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.


Day 16 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 get escorted to your Guilin hotel.


Day 17 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 18 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 19 Yangshuo - Sanya

Cycle with your guide around the Yangshuo countryside to see: farmhouses, the buffalo hard ploughing 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 villages, wavering bamboo bush, hills are well dotted along the rafting trip. Transfer to another relaxing destination--Sanya. Fly to Sanya and transfer to hotel.


Day 20 Sanya

No prearranged itinerary needs in this leisurely beach resort. The easily-accessible activities in the Sanya Bay, Dadonghai Bay and Yalong Bay like the skiing, snorkeling, diving and parasailing will give you many sparkling hints.


Day 21 Sanya - Hangzhou

Extend our leisurely days in Hangzhou after the flight transfer. Escort to Hangzhou hotel with our private guide and driver.


Day 22 Hangzhou - Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

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. Take coach bus to Huangshan and transfer to the hotel.


Day 23 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 24 Huangshan - Shanghai

Today you can still flexibly tour Huangshan in your own way. And a guided recommended tour 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. Fly back to Shanghai and transfer to hotel.


Day 25 Shanghai

Have an all-sweeping view on the dazzling 100th observant deck of Shanghai World Financial Center. Have a detailed study about Chinese history in its impressive collection of Shanghai Museum in People's Square. Visit the tranquil Jade Buddha Temple and try the vegetarian dishes where pure common veg ingredients are skillfully cooked to create the meat flavor. Exquisite Yuyuan Garden in the Old Town district and the bustling bazaar will contribute to your good browsing day. Add a touch of risky action to the intraday tour in the awe-inspiring performance of Shanghai Acrobatic Show.


Day 26 Shanghai

Experience original Shanghainese's lifestyle in a local family. The lane building residents and their daily activities can be observed and experienced in more details. The rest of the day is free for you to hunt for your interest stuffs: 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. 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 27 Depart Shanghai

Board the maglev train to head for your homebound flight at a lightening speed.


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