11 Days China Essence Tour

Day 01 Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. You are greeted by your guide at the airport outside the luggage claim area with your name displayed and then transferred to the hotel for rest.

Day 02 Beijing (B)

Get up early today and meet our guide at your hotel lobby. Your first visit is the Temple of Heaven Park, where you can see many local Chinese people doing morning exercises, such as Tai-Chi (a traditional Chinese martial art), Peking opera singing and folk dancing. 

Next you will walk through the Temple of Heaven, which is the largest ancient imperial worship architecture group in the world where most Emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest. 

After touring the Temple of Heaven, you will take a private transfer to the National Museum of China, which is the flagship of its kind in China and dedicated to its collections, exhibitions, research, archeology, public education and cultural communication.

Have a quick lunch (your own cost) at a local restaurant suggested by your local guide, then stroll the Tian’anmen Square, the largest public square in the world, and then enter the Forbidden City, which is the residence of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years.

Going from south to north through the Forbidden City, you will pass the Jingshan Park. If time permits, you can also go into the park and climb up the hill to have a birdview of the royal palace.  (Entrance fee not included). Then take private transfer back to your hotel.

Day 03 Beijing (B)

Meet your guide at your hotel and then take private tour to Badaling Section of the Great Wall. Upon arriving at the Badaling Great Wall, you can either take cable car (optional cost) uphill or hike along the stairs on the wall.  You may spend 2-3 hours on the symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization and then get back to your hotel.

Day 04 Beijing / Xian by overnight soft sleeper train (B)

Enjoy a free day to explore Beijing city on your own. In the evening, pickup by your local guide and take private transfer to railway station and board the soft-sleeper train to Xian.

Day 05 Xian (B)

Arrive in Xian in the morning, meet your guide at the railway station and transfer back to hotel for rest. After refresh, you will take a walking tour to explore the city. Take private transfer to Xiamaling Street, where the Tomb of Dongzhongshu is located. Then you will go west and pass the Wolong Temple, a famous Buddhism temple built in Han Dynasty, which have a history around 1,800 years.

Walk along the City Wall and stop at the Forest Stone Tablet Museum. Continue walk westward and cross Sanxue Street, you will arrive at the Shuyuanmen Culture Street, where lots of shops sell calligraphy, paints and local souvenirs. Cross the underpass and have lunch. Then you will visit the South Gate of the ancient City Wall. You can either walk on top of the wall or rent a bike and ride along the wall. After that, walk by the Xiangzimiao Street and turn right to Zhubashi Street. This street is famous for its wood & bamboo workshops in past times.

Cross the street and walk to the Drum Tower Square. Go west and you will pass the Xian City God Temple. Then turn right and walk in the Muslim quarter. You will visit the mosque at Daxuexixiang. After that, enjoy your shopping time at the Muslim street which is lined with shops selling souvenirs and local snacks. 

Day 06 Xian (B)

You will take a express bus to Lintong, the place where The Terracotta Army and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor was discovered.

The Terracotta Warriors are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. There are more than 8,000 life-size Terra-cotta soldiers and horses excavated from this area which all displayed in the practical battle formation in 3 pits respectively.

In the late afternoon, take express bus back to the railway station and private transfer back to your hotel.

Day 07 Xian / Guilin / Yangshuo (B)

Take private transfer to airport and fly to Guilin, With its thousands of limestone outcroppings, Guilin has inspired generations of silk scroll painters. Meet your guide at airport and directly drive to Yangshuo and check in your hotel.  Then you will first take a Li River Cruise at Xingping Town and see the most beautiful part of the Li River. Return to Yangshuo and enjoy a leisure time in West Street.

Day 08 Yangshuo (B)

Enjoy free day in Yangshuo (biking / hiking / boating / or countryside explorations).

Day 09 Yangshuo / Guilin / Shanghai (B)

Drive to Guilin airport in the morning and fly to Shanghai. Meet your guide at the airport and take private transfer to your hotel. Then start your city tour from Pudong district. Arrive at Lujiazui Financial Zone, the most glamorous place in Shanghai where there are the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the International Conference Center, Jinmao Tower, World Financial Center and other skyscrapers are all shooting up around. If you are interested in taking a bird's view on the top of any of the buildings, you can buy your own ticket on site.

Walk along the Pudong Riverside Promenade, you can see many historic buildings on the Bund at the other side of the Huangpu River.  Then take private transfer from Pudong to Puxi. Stop at Nanjing Road Shopping Street and enjoy your leisure time there. After the shopping time in Nanjing Road, you will walk to the People’s Square. Continue to walk at the Bund area which is a famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai.

After lunch, take private transfer to the Shanghai Confucius Temple. It is also the biggest second-hand book market in Shanghai. The next destination is Tianzifang. Take private transfer to Taikang Road 210, you will find the special street run into your eyes. Tianzifang has a strong atmosphere of local resident's life.

In the late afternoon, take private transfer back to your hotel.

Day 10 Shanghai (B)

Free day in Shanghai to explore the city on your own.

Day 11 Shanghai (B)

Transfer to the airport and board on your departure flight. Service ends.