Splendid and Beautiful China Tour

Day 1 ARRIVE IN BEIJING

Upon arrival in Beijing; our tour guide will meet you at the customs exit of Beijing airport holding a welcome sign board with your name on it. The guide will assist your transfer to the hotel and help you check in. The rest of the day is on your own and can be used for relaxing or exploring the city.

Day 2 BEIJING (AB, L, SD)

After breakfast at the hotel, your adventure begins in Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing and the largest public space in the world. Step back in time as you pass through the Gate of Heavenly Peace and enter the Forbidden City, home to the Imperial Courts of the Ming and Qing Dynasty for more than 500 years. The Forbidden City is an enormous complex of perfectly preserved palaces, temples, magnificent squares and formal gardens. You’ll stroll along cobblestone paths once known only to the Emperor’s most intimate advisors, visit the private apartments of Imperial concubines and see stunning collections of priceless art, furnishings, and jewelry. You will then go to the Temple of Heaven, the place where the Emperors worshipped the Heaven for good harvests. Tonight's special dinner will be Beijing Duck, served at an original century-old restaurant.
Optional program: A lively Peking Opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre.

	Yangtze River Cruise

Day 3 BEIJING (AB, L, SD)

This morning you will leave the bustle and traffic of Beijing behind and journey through the countryside to see the Great Wall in Mutianyu where you will experience at first hand one of the Wonders of the World (a cable car ride is included). There will be plenty of time to walk along a portion of this 3700-mile long marvel or to simply sit and contemplate the wonders of China’s past.
Compared with the other normal tours having lunch at the shopping site restaurant, we specially arrange your lunch to be served at a local popular Sichuan food restaurant. Later the journey will take you to the Ming Tomb in the peaceful shadow of Longevity Mountain,where you’ll walk along the “Sacred Way” passing between pairs of huge stone sculptures. We arrange a special a la carte dinner at a famous restaurant in the Wangfujing area, so bring you a good appetite.

Day 4 BEIJING (AB, L, -)

Today you’ll visit the Summer Palace, a fairyland of pagodas, pavilions and stone bridges on the outskirts of the city. After lunch you’ll forget about the skyscrapers and construction cranes of modern Beijing as you venture into Hutong, where the atmosphere of Old Peking lives on. You’ll bicycle or ride rickshaws down narrow lanes and alleyways, past vegetable markets, traditional medicine shops and wooden teahouses.

Day 5 BEIJING / XI’AN (AB, L,SD)

This morning take a flight to Xi'an, the ancient capital city for 11 dynasties in Chinese history. Upon arrival in Xi'an airport, you will be met and transported to hotel. You’ll begin the visit with a tour of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD to house Buddhist scriptures from India. You’ll stroll through Xi'an’s bustling markets and visit the Provincial Museum of History where you’ll see artifacts from the Paleolithic period, priceless Tang Dynasty bronzes and treasures from the Silk Road caravans.  Tonight you will be served a delicious dumpling dinner banquet.
Optional program: Enjoy the on-stage performance of Tang Dynasty dance and music in the evening.

Day 6 XI’AN (AB, L, -)

Today you’ll visit the excavation site of the Terra-Cotta Warriors, which many people consider the high point of their trip to China. More than 6000 soldiers, ministers and horses, each individually sculpted from a real life model, stand guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s still unopened tomb. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the site, get a good look at the warriors from various vantage points and visit the excellent museum. You will then take a tour of the well-preserved ancient City Wall and the Bell Tower, the emblem of Xi'an City. The remainder of the day will be left free for your leisure.

Day 7  XI’AN / CHONGQING (AB, L, SD)

This morning you will visit the Hanyang Tomb before taking a flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival in Chongqing, you will be met and taken to your hotel. Enjoy the special hot pot food for dinner, before a night tour of the city of Chongqing.  

Day 8 CHONGQING / DAZU / CHONGQING (AB, L, -)

After breakfast, you will take a one-and-half hour car ride to Dazu Grottoes, where more than 100 cliff carvings containing 60,000 sculptures have been found. Dazu Grottoes has been designated by the United Nations as the World Natural and Cultural Heritage. Take a car ride back to Chongqing in the afternoon and visit the Stilwell Museum before being transported to the pier to embark on a Cruise ship. Spend the night on the cruise ship.

	The Yellow Mountain Sunrise

Day 9 YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE  (AB, L, D)

You’ll take a short break from the fabulous natural scenery to visit the most spectacular manmade site along the river, Shibaozhai, the Stone Treasure Fortress. You’ll disembark to explore this 12-story red, wooden pagoda that stands against a sheer rock wall over some 400 years ago. 
**Depending on local river conditions, alternate shore excursion to Wanxian or Ghost City of Fengdu may occur.

Day 10 YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE  (AB, L, D)

This morning you will cruise through the first two of the famous Three Gorges. Qutang Gorge, the shortest but the most dramatic gorge and Wu Gorge, known for its sheer cliffs and twelve peaks. Your excursion will include boarding a smaller vessel up the Daning River to view the sceneries of the Small Gorges. If weather permits, a sampan ride will take you into the tranquil tributary. Subject to river condition, alternate excursion to Shennong Stream may occur, also with its spectacular views of the Small Gorges.  Your cruise continues and passes through the last and longest gorge, Xiling Gorge. Then sail through the double-lane five stages of the Three Gorges ship locks.

Day 11 YICHANG / SHANGHAI (AB, L, -)

This morning, your cruise arrives Yang Jia Wang where you will enjoy a shore excursion at the Three Gorges Dam site, the largest hydroelectric project in the world. Continue onto Yichang where you disembark. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. This evening experience Shanghai’s world-famous nightclubs on your own, walk along Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s fabulous shopping street, or simply enjoy the hotel’s amenities and rest up for tomorrow’s adventures.
**If direct flight is not available, transfer by motorcoach to Wuhan for flight to Shanghai

Day 12  SHANGHAI (AB, L, -)

Shanghai is the largest city and a principal port on a deep estuary of the Yangtze River, often regarded as the "Paris of the East." On today's excursion you will visit the Oriental Pear TV Tower,the highest TV Tower in Asiaenjoy a bird's eye view of the exciting city of Shanghai. Then we will visit Old Street to feel the atmosphere of old Shanghai. After that you will visit Shanghai Museum, known as the Museum of Ancient Chinese Art, where you will find more than 120,000 precious and rare works of art. Proceed to visit Nanjing Road and the Bund,famous waterfront with art-like buildings in China, the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. Enjoy Acrobatic Show in the evening.

Day 13   SHANGHAI / SUZHOU  (AB, L, -)

Today morning you will take an express train to Suzhou. In Suzhou you will be met and transferred to hotel. Then you will visit the Lingering Garden, one of the four most famous gardens in China famous for its artistic way of dealing with the spaces between various kinds of architectural forms and garden courts. After that you will visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, the best representative of Chinese classical gardens.

Day 14  SUZHOU / HUANGSHAN (AB, L,D)  

Today you cruise on the world famous ancient Grand Canal, with more than 2400 years history, to experience the unique cultures and glimpse at the daily life of the local residents. You will also visit the silk spinning factory, where you will watch a fashion show and shop for silk products. You will visit the ancient Panmen Gate, the only existing water and land gate. Tonight after dinner, you will tour the Master of Fishing Nets Garden, the most elegantly designed garden while enjoying the singing and dancing performances in the garden. In the later evening, you will take a night train to Huangshan. Overnight on train.  

Day 15  YELLOW MOUNTAIN (AB, L, -)

Arrive in the morning in Huangshan, you will be met and take a car ride to the foothill of Mt. Huangshan, one of the mountainous scenes listed among China's ten most famous scenic spots. You will ascend the mountain by cable car and then hike and view Begin-to-Believe Peak, Peach Blossom Valley, Lion peak and the West-sea Canyon, the Flying-over Rock and the Bright Summit in the Mountain Peak area. Stay at the hotel in Peak area.

Day 16  YELLOW MOUNTAIN / HONGCUN / HANGZHOU (AB, L, -)

After breakfast, take the cable car down the mountain. Take the car ride again to Hongcun Village, about 65 km away from Mt.Huangshan boats a history as long as 800 years. Hongcun Village featues its interesting layout - a water buffalo shape. Hongcun Village has always enjoyed the name "a village in the Chinese painting".
After that you will head for Hangzhou, in Hangzhou you will be met and transferred to hotel.

	A bamboo raft on the Li River

Day 17  HANGZHOU / GUILIN (AB, L, -)

After breakfast, you will cruise the scenic West Lake, enjoy the fascinating sceneries and view goldfish at Flower Harbor at the West Lake, which is considered one of the top ten scenic attractions of the West Lake. Then you will tour the Pagoda of Six Harmonies. After that you will visit a tea orchard and learn the Chinese tea culture. In late afternoon, take a late flight to Guilin, famous for its picturesque limestone peaks and rivers.

Day 18 GUILIN  (AB, L, SD)

Today you will take a relaxing cruise on the Li River to Yangshuo. Depart from your hotel in the morning. Be transferred to the Zhujiang Pier for a 4 hours wonderful cruise. Enjoy the picturesque mountains, peaceful green fields ,farms and villages with water buffalos, cows wondering around on both sides of the river bank. Disembark at the one-thousand-year-old town Yangshuo in the afternoon and explore the local market lined with stalls and souvenir shops selling traditional ornaments and paintings of landscapes. The street is also featured with various bars and cafes which attract tourists from every corner of the world. Transfer back to Guilin City.
Optional program: countryside tour by Sightseeing Electric Car. You will visit plantings fileds, market and the beautiful villages and a local villager's home to experience the farmer's lifestyle.

Day 19 GUILIN / HONG KONG (AB, L, -) 

Today you will take a tour of Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of the city, and the Reed Flute Cave, a fairy land of limestone known as the “Art Gallery of Nature”. In the afternoon you will take a stroll in seven star park, the biggest park in Guilin, where you can see giant pandas, the Camel Hill, Bonsai Garden and more sites if you are energetic enough to climb some hills. In the later afternoon you will be transferred to airport and take flight to Hong Kong, the "Pearl of the Orient." You will be met and transferred to your hotel upon arrival in Hong Kong.

Day 20 HONGKONG (AB)

Today's excursion takes you to the Stanley Market, the Aberdeen Fishing Village, and Victoria Peak for a breathtaking view of the city and its harbor. There is nothing scheduled for the rest of the day, have fun!

Day 21 DEPART FROM HONGKONG (AB)

You will be free on this day until the time for your personal guide to escort you to the airport for your flight home.

Itinerary: AB: American Breakfast   L: Lunch   D: Dinner   SD: Special Dinner