8-Day Essence of China Group Tour 2013

Destinations & activities: Airport - Hotel Transfer

Upon arrival in Beijing, your Beijing tour guide will escort you to hotel. The rest of the day is free on your own.

- Free time ideas: For your solo adventure, you can take a visit to the Ancient Observatory, just 2-stop away by Bus NO.29 from your hotel (Feitian Hotel Beijing). If you are traveling with kids, Beijing Amusement Park is a good choice (2 stops by Bus NO.829 )

* Note: Transfer, entrance fee and meals for your solo adventure will be on your own arrangement.

Destinations & activities: The Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heavene, Kungfu Show (at 7:30), Lizexiang Pearl Store

Meet up the rest of your group at hotel lobby before a visit to the largest public square that is the Tian'anmen Square. After that, we will enter the Forbidden City to reveal its historical charm. Have lunch in a Chinese restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese emperors used to worship God with their sacrifices. Afterwards, you will have a chance to learn how to spot a fake pearl necklace at a time-honored pearl store. Have dinner on your own. At night, you will attend at a Kungfu Show, get awed at the spectacle!

- Free time ideas: For dinner option, we would like to recommend Black Sesame Kitchen inside Heizhima Hutong near the Temple of Heaven, which is ranked NO.1 on TripAdvisor forums.

* Note: Transfer, entrance fee and meal are on your own arrangement for the solo adventure.

Destinations & activities: The Great Wall at Badaling Section, Sacred Way, Changling Mausoleum, Exterior Visit at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, Shahe Cloisonné Factory

Start your morning visiting the wonderful Great Wall at Badaling Section. Amoung all the sections of the wall, Badaling is the best restored one with stunning views. Later, visit the Sacred Way, lined up with stone-made animal statues including. Make a quick stop at a cloisonné factory. Visit Changling Mausoleum, the principal and best preserved mausoleum of thirteen mausoleums. It is for Em peror Yongle, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty and his empress. A simple but nice Chinese lunch will be waiting after your visit.

In the afternoon, you will take an exterior visit at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube of the National Olympic Stadiums. Afterwards, you will be off for your solo adventure.

Free Time Ideas: Near the National Olympic Stadiums, there is a multimedia digital show called Old Beijing Gets Moving for history buffs and folk art fans. The large scroll of 228 meters rolls out the past day of Beijing back to the 1930's.

Ranked NO.5 on TripAdvisor, Chaoyang Theatre Acrobatics Show nearby is also an option for the night, especially for young kids.

* Note: Transfer, entrance fee and meal are on your own arrangement for the solo adventure.

Destinations & activities: Summer Palace, Hutong Visit, Hotel - Airport Transfer

This is your last day in Beijing so you will first check out your hotel and then go to the Summer Palace. It was the summer retreat for imperial families. Nowadays it has become a retreat for modern people in the city. Have Chinese lunch before we delve into the maze-like Hutong, where you will visit a local family.

Afternoon, you will fly to Xi'an, where your Xi'an tour guide will escort and help you check in the hotel. Free time afterwards.

Destinations & activities: Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Fountain Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Great Mosque, Imperial Fine Arts Center, Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Show

Your first tour day in Xian and you will visit one the famous — Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Terracotta Warriors and Horses is regarded as one of the most spectacular cultural sites in China. It contains over 7,000 life-size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations.

After lunch, you will visit the Fountain Square, where you can get a full and nice view of the famous Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Stop by an interesting handicraft shop after a free walk on the fountain. Next stop is the Great Mosque, one of the largest Islamic mosques in China. Remarkable for the combination of Chinese architecture with Islamic practice, the courtyards align from east to west facing Mecca.

At night, we arrange a Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show for you. Hope you enjoy it! .

Destinations & activities: The Ancient City Wall, Shaanxi History Museum, Learn to make dumplings at Hantang Tianxia Dumpling Restaurant, Airport - Hotel Transfer

Want to witness the ancient capital waking up from dreams? The Ancient City Wall is an excellent idea! The remaining parts of the Ancient City Wall can date back to 14th century and gracefulness remains as yesterday. Next you will learn some history at Shaanxi History Museum before lunch.

Today's lunch at Hantang Tianxia Dumpling Restaurant is a fun lesson for your to learn to make dumplings.

In the afternoon, you will meet up your Shanghai tour guide upon arrival. Check in hotel and ask for some direction for your solo adventure.

Free time ideas: If you plan your solo adventure before sunset, a walk in the Old French Concession is recommended by many travelers. After the walk, you may want to try some Dim Sum at Din Tai Fung Restaurant near Xintiandi (Address: 123 Xing Ye Road, Shanghai).

* Note: Transfer, entrance fee and meal are on your own arrangement for your solo adventure.

Destinations & activities: Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Old Street, Nanjing Road, Jiangnan Silk Factory

Shanghai Museum is our first stop. This museum offers an informative visit with its ancient Chinese art display priceless Chinese bronzes, sculpture, paintings, ceramics, furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and crafts of China’s national minorities. Then will visit Yuyuan Garden, a classical private garden in the style of Southern China. It is located right in the hustle and bustle of the Temple of City God.

A smiple and nice Chinese lunch will be served. Later you will go to Shanghai Old Street where you can wander around one of the old quarters of Shanghai to see the well-preserved old residential houses and narrow lanes. Stop at Jiangnan  Silk Factory to learn how silk is made. Nanjing Road with shops ranging from street-style chic to high-end brands is our last stop for today.

Destinations & activities: Hotel - Airport Transfer

Good time flies fast. Today, you will go to the airport for departure flight. Please note: Hotel to airport transfer will be on your own arrangement. If you need the transfer service, the price is approximately 38 USD per person based on a group of 2-3 persons.