Once in a Lifetime China

Main magnetic sites in China are at once combined in this 15 day journey. The incredible Great Wall, imperial Forbidden City, fast-disappearing Hutongs, great Terracotta Warriors, the Victoria Yangtze River Cruise and the picture-perfect scenery along the Li River cruise and the famous Bund will show you a signature China.

  • Exercise in China as the Chinese Exercise. In the Temple of Heaven, find out what kind of different exercises that the locals do to keep healthy and join in them
  • Have a private mask drawing lesson and try your hand at drawing the Beijing Opera mask with an experienced master
  • Make a private drive to the Great Wall at Mutianyu--the less-commercial section and enjoy an overlooking view of this winding man-made structure on the cable car (Round trip)
  • Get lost in fast-disappearing Hutongs by rickshaw and have a close contact and a dumpling making with a courtyard family
  • Take in stunning Karst landscapes in Yangshuo and picture-perfect scene along the Li River
  • Visit a primary school en route to see the limit education condition in the countryside of China. We may have the chance stop for an English/Chinese language exchange with the students
  • Taste a spicy Chongqing hotpot and a Face Changing performance
  • Board the Victoria series for a three-day river cruise on the mighty Yangtze River. Visit remote riverside villages and the Three Gorges Dam Project
  • Savor a tempting vegetarian meal in the Longhua Temple
  • Stop at Shanghainese home nestled at a alley, explore an ingredient bazaar and cook lunch with them to soak in the commoner's lifestyle

Short Itinerary

Day 1: Beijing
Airport to hotel transfer

Day 2: Beijing
Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Beijing Opera mask painting, Beijing Opera

Day 3: Beijing
Great Wall at Mutianyu, Mutianyu Cable Car, A visit to nearby rural village, Bird's Nest, Water Cube, Peking Duck

Day 4: Beijing - Xi'an
Guanyuan Market (or Panjiayuan Market at weekend), Hutong Tour by Rickshaw, Private Museum of the Old Beijingners' Stuffs, Fly to Xi'an

Day 5: Xi'an
Banpo Museum, Terracotta Warriors, Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Dumpling Banquet

Day 6: Xi'an - Guilin
City Wall, Great Mosque, Gao's Courtyard (Shadow puppet play included), Fly to Guilin

Day 7: Guilin - Yangshuo
Li River cruise

Day 8: Guilin
Bike ride around Yangshuo countryside, A primary school visit

Day 9: Yangshuo - Guilin - Chongqing
Fly to Chongqing, Check in Victoria cruise ship, Three Gorges Museum, Light Rail, Hotpot

Day 10: Yangzte River Cruise
The fantastic view along the Yangtze, Fengdu Town, Shibaozhai or Wanxian

Day 11: Yangzte River Cruise
Qutang Gorge / Daning River or Shennong Stream, the Lesser Three Gorges, Wu Gorge

Day 12: Yichang - Shanghai
Three Gorges Dam, Fly to Shanghai, the Bund

Day 13: Shanghai
Shanghai Museum, World Financial Center, A vegetarian lunch in Longhua Temple, A bazaar and the Temple of the Town Gods, Yuyuan Garden, Acrobatic show

Day 14: Shanghai
A Shanghai family visit

Day 15: Depart