13-Day Jewels of China Tour

Destinations & activities: Airport - hotel transfer

Today you will arrive in Beijing Capital International Airport, where your Beijing tour guide will pick you up. You will learn something briefly about Beijing on the way to hotel for check-in.

Destinations & activities: The Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Treasure House, Hutong visit and a pearl store

Without a doubt, the Tian'anmen Square is the first gateway to approach to Beijingers' life. This morning, you can do some people-watching at the square before we get into the Forbidden City. The Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Mental Cultivation and Royal Garden will be included. Also, you can get a peek of the luxurious life of the royal court at the Treasure House.

Try some traditional Beijing noodle and visit a pearl store.

In the afternoon, a local family living inside a Hutong will be expecting your visit.

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Destinations & activities: The Great Wall at Mutianyu Section, Temple of Heaven and a cloisonné factory

Slightly farther than other sections of the Great Wall, Mutianyu Section is significantly less crowded. One can even see the desert of Mongolia in the distance during a clear day.

At noon, a farm-house-style restaurant prepares a good meal for you. Later, pay a brief visit at a cloisonné factory to see how the clay turns into a bowl.

Driving back downtown Beijing takes about 2 hours, relax en route. Later, visit the Temple of Heaven. Here, you will approach the beautiful Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests via the Danbi Bridge.

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Destinations & activities: Free time in Beijing, hotel - train station transfer

Beijing would be fun for your solo adventure. We have listed out things you might find interesting. Do remember, however, your Beijing tour guide will take you to the train station at the evening for the overnight train to Xi'an.

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Destinations & activities: Train station - hotel transfer, Shaanxi History Museum, dumpling class and Fountain Square

Upon your arrival in Xi'an, your Xi'an tour guide will escort you to hotel for check in. After some simple breakfast, you can refresh up and take a short break.

Here comes the first site of today: Shaanxi History Museum, where you will learn the profound history of Xi'an. Later, you will take a class to learn how to make dumplings. Have lunch after the class.

There is a square behind the famous Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Later today, you will take a free walk around, why not snap some great photos of the pagoda?

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Destinations & activities: Terracotta Army, an art center and hotel - train station transfer

One of the most remarkable features of the famous Terracotta Army is that, each of the over-7,000 soliders comes in different sizes and styles, including beards, hairstyles and facial expressions. It is like they are still guarding the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China. After a couple of hours at this incredible site, you will stop by an art center.

After lunch, you will be free off your solo adventure.

At the evening, your Xi'an tour guide will take you to the train station. An overnight train with comfortable sleeper seat will take you to Shanghai.

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Destinations & activities: Train station - hotel transfer, The Bund, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai History Museum, Former French Concession, Tianzifang and a silk store

Arrive in Shanghai in the morning, your Shanghai tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to hotel for check-in. You will have some simple breakfast.

Today's tour aims at getting to know Shanghai from its past and present. Firstly, you will walk along The Bund and take a ferry crossing the Huangpu River. Later, you will visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Shanghai History Museum. Have lunch in a traditional Shanghai restaurant.

The Former French Concession holds the memories of yesterdays and is meant to offer you serendipitous discoveries. Later, get to Tianzifang near the Former French Concession, a lovely enclave with artistic shops and boutiques. A silk store will be our last stop for today.

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Destinations & activities: Land transfer, Humble Administrator's Garden, rickshaw ride in Suzhou, Panmen Gate and an embroidery institute

This morning, your Shanghai tour guide will escort you all the way to Suzhou. The comfortable ride takes about 1 hour in no traffic jam. Check in upon arrival.

As we arrive in Suzhou, one of the most beautiful Suzhou-style gardens will open up to you: Humble Administrator's Garden. The old garden dates back to the 16th century and now holds flower and bonsai exhibitions occasionally. Have lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch, a rickshaw ride through the city would be quite relaxing. Later, get to the Panmen Gate, which is not literally a gate but more of a a small fortress that was used to seal off the canel to control the boats entering the city.

Back in Shanghai, you already knew how the silk is processed. Now at an embroidery institute in Suzhou, you can see artists hand-stitching beautiful art works.

Destinations & activities: Free day in Suzhou, train station - hotel transfer

Suzhou is also an amazing destination for free exploration. Here's what we suggest for your solo adventure before the train heading to Hangzhou.

The high speed train leaves for Hangzhou at 16:30, your Suzhou tour guide will take you to the train station. Enjoy the speed!

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Destinations & activities: West Lake, Fish-watching at Flower Harbor, Meijiawu Tea Plantation, Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak

Known as Heaven on Earth, Hangzhou has its reputation well-earned. Today you will take a boat trip in West Lake and visit the island. A stream flowsinto the West Lake at the foot of Huajia Mountain and flowers and leaves would fall into the water, thus the name Flower Harbor. Here you can watch countless carp swimming and fighting for food. Have lunch in a traditional Hangzhou restaurant.

Later, pay a visit to Meijiawu Tea Plantation and try some tea at the tea shop. Later, you will visit one of the most important Buddhist temples in China: Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak.

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Destinations & activities: Hotel - airport transfer, Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill and a gallery

Today you will fly to Guilin, another picturesque destination for this China tour. Check in upon arrival.

After a break, you will visit Guilin's highlights: Reed Flute Cave, countless stalactite spring up from the earth or drop down from the ceiling of the cave, offering a stunning view. Later, get to the icon of Guilin: Elephant Trunk Hill. Have lunch after a visit a gallery.

In the afternoon, you will have some free time in Guilin.

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Destinations & activities: Li River Cruise, cycling in the countryside

Waking up in the first sunlight, you will enjoy a breezy morning in Guilin.

Take a 4-hour cruise on the Li River, seeing how the landscape changes along the way. Have simple lunch on the cruise.

Get to Yangshuo in the afternoon. Check in hotel upon arrival. Your Guilin tour guide will lead your way around the amazing countryside by bike. As laid-back as the vilages are, a cycling trip through the rice peddies, narrow country roads and local markets.

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Destinations & activities: Hotel - airport transfer

Today is the last day of your China tour. Your Guilin tour guide will take you to the airport, commencing to Hong Kong.

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