China Natural Beauty Essence

Day 1 Beijing

Our private English-speaking guide and experienced driver will pick you up at the Beijing airport upon your arrival. Transfer to your hotel to shake off jet lag and get ready for next day tour.


Day 2 Beijing

Hop on the private 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 experience the lush wild Mutianyu Wall section by slow cable car (round-trip) to up the wall or exciting toboggan down the curvy path. Stop by a small rural village for an unrestored winding wild wall view at a distance. View the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games inheritance--Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Train your chopstick skills on the evening banquet--crisp Quanjude Peking Duck.


Day 4 Beijing - Xi'an

Today make our way in the former emperor garden--Summer Palace where is scattered with ornate temples, exquisite pavilions, and winding corridors. Contrast with the poetic expanses of imperial life, we will have close contact with the original common Beijingers' life in the Hutong rickshaw ride and Hutong private museum fulfilled with series of old stuff collections. Transfer to airport for Xi'an flight and farewell to your Beijing guide. On arrival in Xi'an, the guide will greet and transfer you to hotel for a good rest.


Day 5 Xi'an

Visit the motionless ranks of Terracotta Warriors that rested the guiding mission hope of its builder--ancient Qingshi emperor in his afterlife. Visit the Xi'an great landmark--Great Goose Pagoda and gain more insights into China ancient history in Shaanxi History Museum. Top off today's itinerary with the ancient Tang Dynasty imperial 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 - 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 8 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 9 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 10 Chengdu - Lijiang

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 Lijiang and transfer to hotel.


Day 11 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--doc 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 performance, an old music performance displayed by a group of old musicians.


Day 12 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 13 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 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 - Shanghai

Make 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 switch to immerse in the hustle and bustle ambience in Shanghai metropolis. Fly to Shangahai and transfer to hotel. Head to Shanghai metropolis to experience China vital energy.


Day 17 Shanghai - Hangzhou - Shanghai

Transfer to leisurely destination--Hangzhou by fast train. 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. Train back to Shanghai.


Day 18 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 19 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 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 20 Depart Shanghai

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


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