China Spiritual and Minority Tour

Day 1 Beijing

Upon your arrival, our private English-speaking guide and experienced driver pick you up at the Beijing airport and transfer to your hotel to shake off jet lag and get ready for next day tour.

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 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 Peking Duck banquet.

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 can have close contact with the original common Beijingers' life during 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 local 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

Have a guided cycle ride 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

The last stop in Xi'an is Emperor Liu Qi Tomb which houses an impressive exhibit of the figurines quietly narrating the ancient daily life. Fly to Lhasa and transfer to hotel. Less strenuous activity is advised in intraday itinerary to better acclimatize the breathtaking altitude.

Day 8 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 9 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 to mount their merits and virtues. Tour the Norbulingka--the heavily-planted summer palace for the Dalai Lama to isolate the worry and clear the mind. Dig the Tibetan history in the informative display items in the Tibet Museum.

Day 10 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 11 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 12 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 show, an old music performance displayed by a group of old musicians.

Day 13 Lijiang - Kunming

Marvel at the First Bend of Yangtze River and awestruck Tiger Leaping Gorge following the ancient Stone Drum Village. Fly to Kunming and transfer to hotel.

Day 14 Kunming - Guilin

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

Day 15 Guilin

Solitary Beauty Peak nestles in tranquil Wangcheng, a former Ming dynasty mansion and now 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 16 Guilin - Yangshuo

Hop on 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 17 Yangshuo - Shanghai

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 villages, wavering bamboo bush, hills 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 Shanghai and transfer to Shanghai hotel.

Day 18 Shanghai - Hangzhou - Shanghai

Make a day drip to 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. Transfer back to Shanghai.

Day 19 Shanghai

Have a detailed study about Chinese history in its impressive collection of Shanghai Museum in People's Square. Have an all-sweeping view on the dazzling 100th observant deck of Shanghai World Financial Center. 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 can 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 20 Shanghai

Taste 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.

Day 21 Depart Shanghai

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