China Ancient Town Tour

Tour Features: This China Ancient Town Tour will present you with a panoramic view of the most authentic ancient Chinese architectures, ethnic cultures, and daily life in many of China's ancient towns. You can also add visits to Haungshan, Guilin, and more places around China to make this a customized tour.

Tour Code: CCT-CTT13

Destinations: Beijing, Pingyao, Taiyuan, Xian, Guiyang, Kaili, Zhenyuan, Fenghuang, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Hangzhou, Shanghai

Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing

Depart on your flight bound for Beijing, the capital of People's Republic of China. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel.

Day 2 Beijing

Warm-up biking tour to the magnificent Forbidden City, home to emperors for over 500-years, you will also get the chance to stroll through Tiananmen Square, which is the largest square in the world. In the afternoon, you will take the traditional rickshaw ride through the local Hutong neighborhood.

Day 3 Beijing

A full-day tour will take in the grandeur of the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Great Wall, built more than 2000 years ago to protect China from northern invaders. On the way back to Beijing stop and visit the sacred Ming Tombs, where 13 emperors of Ming Dynasty were buried. Tonight enjoy the fantastic Kung Fu Show.

Day 4 Beijing / Pingyao

In this morning, you will admire the beauty of Summer Palace,built as a royal garden for Qing Dynasty Emperors. Continue to visit the Temple of Heaven where the Chinese emperors prayed for good harvest in ancient days. Then you will be transferred to the railway station and board the overnight soft-sleeper train to Pingyao.

Day 5 Pingyao

Arriving in Pingyao this morning, after a short rest and breakfast in the hotel, you will start the exciting trip to this ancient town, which is still well preserved the same as when it was the county seat of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has been listed as one of the World Cultural Heritages sites by UNESCO. Pingyao is regarded as the birthplace of modern banking system of China and you will also see the remains of ancient stores, walls, family houses, etc.

Day 6 Pingyao / Taiyuan / Xian

In this morning, you will be transferred to the airport and fly to the ancient capital city of Xian via Taiyuan. Arrival and stroll on the 600-year-old City Wall. Xi'an City Wall is the best-preserved, oldest and largest ancient city defense system in China. It is also one of the most important landmarks of the Xi'an city. Check in your hotel in the evening.

Day 7 Xian

A full-day tour will take you to the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses which are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Then travel to the Agricultural Development Zone where you will visit the modern farming villages and experience the local farmers’ daily life. In the evening enjoy a dazzling Tang Dynasty Show and dinner.

Day 8 Xian / Guiyang

Today you will fly to Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province. Arrival and visit the Qingyan ancient town, which is completely built of stone. You will see the city walls built right on the cliffs with vast rocks, also visit the eight stone tablets that are considered the symbols of Qingyan Ancient Town. Check in your hotel tonight.

Day 9 Guiyang / Kaili

Visit the Tianlong ancient town in this morning, and then you will drive to Kaili. The ancient town of Tianlong Tunpu, in Guizhou's Pingba County, was once an important passage to Yunnan Province, occupying a strategic position. On the way to Kaili, you will visit the traditional paper-making process at Qingman and Shiqiao. Check in your hotel tonight.

Day 10 Kaili

Today you will take a full-day tour to the local market and the local minority museum, etc. Kaili city is the capital of Miao and Dong minority autonomous region and the central tourist city in west east part.

Day 11 Kaili / Zhenyuan

Travel to Zhenyuan in this morning and stop on your way to visit a local town where you can see the traditional silver-making process. Zhenyuan is known as the Oriental Venice for its unique waterways across the town, as well as the well preserved ancient house remains. You will stay overnight in the local hotel.

Day 12 Zhenyuan / Fenghuang

Drive to the ancient tow at Fenghuang today, also it is known as the most beautiful ancient town in China. The town is hemmed in by rolling mountains and watered by a smoothly flowing river, flagstone streets, rows of traditional wooden houses built on stilts, towers, bridges everywhere. Check in the local hotel tonight.

Day 13 Fenghuang

Full-day explore in this ancient water town including the visit to the remaining site of southern Great Wall and the ancient town at Yellow Stone Bridge.

Day 14 Fenghuang / Guiyang / Kunming

Today you will be transferred to the airport in Tongren and fly back to Guiyang, arrival and transit the flight to the City of Eternal Spring, Kunming for its invigorating climate. Arrival and transferred to your hotel. Today you will enjoy an interesting visit to the local biggest Bird & Flower market of the Old Kunming City.

Day 15 Kunming

Today, you travel to the incredible Stone Forest, 89 km from Kunming, known as The No. 1 Wonder under Heaven. On your way back, visit one of the Bai Minority Nationality villages, where you can appreciate the unique and authentic Chinese minority cultures.

Day 16 Kunming / Dali

Fly to Dali in this morning, arrival and walk through the old Bai town of Dali. Also, you will see how the Bai Minority people tie dying cloth with wax and continue to visit a beautiful Bai Minority Fishing Village with its traditional style courtyards at Xizhou Town. In the afternoon, you will cruise on the beautiful Erhai Lake by a small fishing boat that enables you to enjoy the overwhelming sceneries around the lake. Check in the hotel tonight.

Day 17 Dali / Lijiang

Today you travel by road to Lijiang and pass through many enchanting minority villages on the way. Arrival and check in the hotel. After dinner, you will take a pleasant walk around at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Naxi town Lijiang.

Day 18 Lijiang

This morning visit the Naxi Village, Baisha Murals depicting Tibetan, Naxi and Han legends, and the 600-years-old Ten Thousand-Blossom Camellia Tree at the Yufeng Lama Temple. In the evening, you will enjoy a unique Naxi Classical Musical Show.

Day 19 Lijiang / Shanghai

After a leisure morning, you will board the flight to Shanghai, the biggest city of China. Arrival and transferred to your hotel. The afternoon tour brings you to visit the world famous waterfront - The Bund. It was once part of the foreign concessions and out-of-bounds to locals.

Day 20 Shanghai

Today you will travel to the ancient town on water, Zhujiajiao. This ancient township was a commercial center during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) Dynasties. Markets could be found along the riverside thanks to its convenient water transportation. The township became one of the largest commercial centers on the lower reaches of the Yangtze during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) and that explains why there are so many buildings in the style of both eras. Then you will drive back to Shanghai and continue to explore the magnificent Nanjing Road for your free time shopping. After dinner, proceed for a city tour to Pudong New District - Shanghai's main financial district and enjoy a scenic night cruise on Huangpu River.

Day 21 Shanghai / Hangzhou

In the morning, you will drive to Hangzhou known to Chinese as the Pearl of China, on the way, you will stop at the famous Wuzhen Watertown, which is located in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province and has a history of more than 1,000 years. Arrival and check in the hotel.

Day 22 Hangzhou / Shanghai

Relax on a wonderful cruise of China's most famous Lake, West Lake, and then visit the Xia Harmonies Pagoda. Later in the afternoon, you will return Shanghai.

Day 23 Depart

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your homeward flight.