12-Day Wonderful China Tour

- Get around your hotel: Your hotel has an ideal location for a free exploration: the Forbidden City, Wangfujing Street and Beihai Park. There are some interesting Hutongs around the Wusi Street, welcoming your visit. Transfer and meals are on your own arrangement.

- The Forbidden City: The Forbidden City, also known as Palace Museum or Imperial Palace, was home to 24 emperors between 1368 and 1911.This "city within a city" is a World Heritage Site, and is the largest and the best preserved ancient imperial architecture complex in the world.Lots of tour groups start the visit from the South Gate and to the North Gate, but we will visit in the opposite direction to avoid the crowds.
- Mutianyu Cable Car(One way): This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a about 2.5 hours' drive from downtown Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- How to spend the night?: How to spend one night in Beijing? That's not a question. Chaoyang Theatre Acrobatics Show is popular especially for families with kids while the Golden Mask Dynasty Show wins a lot of bravos, which are available at good price if you ask your guide to book. For a mature hang out, Sanlitun, Houhai and Nanluoguxiang offer some options. In summer, we can book you a cool-off in the water park in the Water Cube.
- The Mutianyu Great Wall : This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is about 1.5-2 hours' drive from Beijing city center. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and in summer prepare sun protection.

- Free time in Beijing: You will have some free time before 10am (the time our tour starts). By local transfer on your own arrangement, you can visit the Tian'anmen Square (your guide will tell you the exact time if you are interested in an early morning flag raising ceremony), Temple of Earth (aka Ditan or Ditan Park), Temple of Heaven (aka Tiantan or Tiantan Park), Drum & Bell Towers and Hutong area around your hotel. Remember to be back on time before our tour.
- How to spend the night? : How to spend one night in Xi'an? Tang Dynasty Music & Dance Show, ranked #2 on TripAdvisor is worth checking out. A stroll or cycling at sunset on the Ancient City Wall will be nice, too. Let your guide know what he/she can do for you.

- The Terracotta Warriors and Horses: Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. Photos (no flash) are allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Shaanxi History Museum: The history of Shaanxi is said to be the history of China, and this museum is quite simply one of the nation's best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. Most of the item labels are in English, although some other information on the exhibitions is not, but your guide can help here. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- How to spend the night? : How to spend one night in Xi'an? Tang Dynasty Music & Dance Show, ranked #2 on TripAdvisor is worth checking out. A stroll or cycling at sunset on the Ancient City Wall will be nice, too. Let your guide know what he/she can do for you.

- Free morning in Xi'an: Your coach will drop you off at the Muslim Quarter. Have your own exploration in the Muslim Quarter, Great Mosque, Drum & Bell Towers, Stele Forest Museum and the area around. (Gather at the drop-off spot ahead of time if there's a flight in the afternoon) Transfer and lunch are on your own arrangement.
- Free night in Chengdu: Chengdu's night is never boring! What we recommend is a cup of tea in a traditional teahouse, or a face-changing show of a Sichuan Opera (Shu Feng Ya Yun Sichuan Opera wins No.6 attraction in TripAdvisor forums). Our guide can help you book the show. All the cost (entrance fee, transfer and meal) are on your own.

- Leshan Giant Buddha: The Great Buddha in Leshan is located to the east of Leshan City, Sichuan Province and on the Lingyun Mountain where Min River, Qingyi River and Dadu River meet. It has been the largest stone carved sitting Buddhist statue in the world so far.
- Cruise to have a overlook at Leshan Giant Buddha: The Great Buddha in Leshan is located to the east of Leshan City, Sichuan Province and on the Lingyun Mountain where Min River, Qingyi River and Dadu River meet. It has been the largest stone carved sitting Buddhist statue in the world so far.You can sit on board to have an overlook at Leshan Giant Buddha.
- Free time in Chengdu: For your free time in Chengdu, the Panda Center, Teddy Bear Museum (a new favorite for families with kids) or Kuan-zhai Lane(where tea time is a choice) would make a wonderful day out. Ask your guide about the direction and cost. Entrance fee, transfer and meal are on your own arrangement.

- Free time in Chongqing: For your free time in Chongqing, we suggest a visit to Ciqikou Old Town. Transfer and meal are on your own.

--Shibaozhai, literally means Stone Treasure Fortress, Located in Zhong County, it was first built in Qing Dynasty in 1750. Shibaozhai is one historic site that will look much different in 2009. The wooden architecture stands on the riverside. It is built by catch upon a rectangular rock with sheer cliffs with a height of 56 meters and 12 stories. And every floor of the wooden structure contains interesting artifacts. Each of the 12 floors of Shibaozhai is dedicated to a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period (220-265AD), a local scholar or a renowned Chinese poet.

--Taichi exercise.

Passes through the 1st gorge--Qutang Gorge.

Passes through the 2cd gorge---Wu Gorge.

Shore excursion to Shennong Stream(1:30pm-5:30pm). You have the option of visiting White Emperor City(RMB260 per person).

Crew's Performance.

Sails through the 5-steps Ship locks.

Shennong Stream is another tributary of the Yangtze River, and its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges. The stream races past large and small karst caves, flocks of swallows, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, three-colored springs, rapids, the ancient plank path, a suspended coffin in the cliff, groups of ancient tombs and marvelous karst formations

- Free time around the Bund: We recommend you talk a leisure stroll along the pavement of the Bund. In the setting of graceful European-style buildings, you can visit the Peace Hotel, view the Oriental Pearl TV Tower from a distance, take a boat trip to the other side of the Huangpu River.
--Shore excursion to The Three Gorges Dam Site. Arrive in Yichang at 1:00pm.

Three Gorges Dam, the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by man and it has been a dream for several generations of Chinese people. The construction of the dam formally began in 1994. The body of the dam was completed in 2003, and the whole construction has been completed in 2009. It will be 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, 18 meters wide on the top and 130 meters wide at the bottom.The tourists can get access to the top of the dam and enjoy different kinds of photo opportunities.

- Oriental Pearl TV Tower: One of the tallest TV towers in the world, known for its distinctive spheres, or "pearls", it stands across the river from the Bund, among the exciting architecture of the east bank. The Shanghai History Museum is Located on the first floor of the Oriental TV Tower. There you can see the four major exhibition units reflecting Shanghai's history, modern and recent revolutionary history respectively.
- Get around the former French Concession: You will get off at Xintiandi, a start of the famous Former French Concession. Covering a vast region from the Huaihan Zhong Road to Xizang Road, a walk in the Former French Concession opens up your insight of Shanghai’s unique standing in the world history. According to about.com, Xintiandi is definitely a place to check out as a part of the concession. Tianzifang, another pleasant location to trace the trendy style of Shanghai.Transfer and meals are on your own arrangement.
- Side-car experience in Shanghai: A side-car drive is ranked highly with a full score of 5/5 on TripAdvisor, awesome experience comes with a drive in the vintage side-car, care to go crazy? Request one with your travel advisor for a better rate! (Please make sure you book at least one day in advance.)