Classic China

When you arrive at the Beijing airport, our local guide and driver will greet you at the arrival hall and later escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to recover from jet lag.

At the beginning of the 15 days China tour, we will take a leisurely walk around the world’s largest city square - Tiananmen Square, and then proceed to visit the Forbidden City. The palaces, rich in exquisite ornaments, still look majestic and sublime after almost 600 years. Following the paths trodden by past imperial families, you can learn its history and culture in an interesting way.

After lunch, we will visit the Temple of Heaven, where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1912) used to conduct the traditional ceremony of worshiping heaven every year.

Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch

Today we are going to visit Mutianyu Great Wall! Most parts of the wall were built on the edges of cliffs and perfectly embody the splendor of this ancient masterpiece. Also, it has breathtaking scenery that no other sections of Great Wall can match. We will take a round-trip cable car and save more energy to appreciate the quintessence of the wall.

The quality of most nearby restaurants cannot be guaranteed, so we do not offer lunch today. It is suggested you bring some food for lunch in advance or find a suitable fast food restaurant with the help of our guide.

In the afternoon, we will drive back to the city and stop at the Bird’s Nest for a while. You can have a look at it from the outside and take a few nice photos at this well-known landmark, then spend some time strolling around a traditional market.

Friendly Tips: The fees for round-way cable car at Mutianyu Great Wall are included. However, if you are more interested in taking the chairlift up and luge sliding down, we can also arrange that for you.

Meals: American breakfast

In the morning, we will appreciate the classical landscape of ancient imperial gardens at the Summer Palace. It is now the largest and most complete royal garden in China. Then we will explore the culture and history of Beijing Hutongs while observing local people’s life there by rickshaw.

Later we will go to 789 Art Zone, appreciating amazing artwork and taking some wonderful pictures there. After that, our guide will send you to the airport to take the flight to Xi’an. Our Xi’an guide will wait for you at the airport and accompany you to the hotel.

Meals: American breakfast

The first destination in Xi’an will be the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors. Over 8,000 sculptures of ancient warriors, war horses and chariots together create a powerful underground army which has “protected” the mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang for over 2,200 years. The terracotta warriors are all life-sized and each of them looks different in countenance and manner.

Then we will go to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the earliest and largest brick tower built in pavilion style from the Tang dynasty (618 - 907). It is a sterling outcome of ancient Indian Buddhism coming to China and blending into Chinese culture. Then we explore the long and luminous history of Chinese civilization at the Shaanxi History Museum.

Meals: American breakfast

After breakfast, we will go to the Xi’an City Wall. It is now the largest and most complete ancient city wall existing in China. You can rent a bike and circle around the wall while sightseeing.

At noon, we will pay a visit to a local family and enjoy a tasty lunch cooked by them. You may also learn to cook a few dishes from the hosts.

Then we will spend some time visiting the Great Mosque, a typical temple that combines the architectural traditions of Muslim and ancient China. Then you will have some free time to hang out at the prosperous Muslim Bazaar.

Meals: American breakfast, Home-cooked a la carte lunch

In the morning, we will go to the Xi’an Museum and visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. After that, our Xi’an guide and driver will send you to the airport before you fly to Guilin. Our local guide in Guilin will pick you up at the airport and then transfer you to the hotel. Take a good rest before continuing our 15 days China tour package.

Meals: American breakfast

After breakfast, our guide will accompany you to take the Li River cruise. As the ship cruises down the river to Yangshuo County, you could see beautiful Karst peaks, clear green water with a brilliant reflection and peaceful country life on both banks.

When arriving at Yangshuo, have a short rest at the hotel and then follow the guide to the surrounding countryside. The natural scenery there is extremely beautiful. Besides, we will go to the house of a local farmer and experience their daily life there.

Meals: American breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you are free to carry on the exploration of Yanghsuo. Take a turn down West Street, the oldest and most prosperous street in Yangshuo.

In the afternoon, we will drive back to Guilin to visit Reed Flute Cave, an amazing Karst cave filled with so many gorgeous stalactites, and then go to Seven Stars Park. It is the largest comprehensive park in Guilin where you can see beautiful mountains, caves, rivers, elegant ancient architecture and historical relics. Afterwards, we will see Elephant Trunk Hill, an interesting elephant-like mountain sitting aside the Li River.

Meals: American breakfast

Today our Guilin guide will send you to the 5-hour bullet train to Chongqing. Our Chongqing guide will meet you at the railway station and lead you to Jiefangbei CBD, a popular spot with a Monument to the People’s Liberation and a busy pedestrian area. Then take some snacks at Ciqikou Old Town. At the end of today’s sightseeing, our guide will help you check in to your Yangtze River Cruise ship, which will set sail at around 21:30.

Meals: American breakfast

Today there will be an onshore excursion to the Ghost City of Fengdu, over 2,000 years old, which is famous for classical buildings based on the netherworld in Chinese folk tales. For tourists who board the President Cruises, your onshore excursion will lead you to Shibaozhai, an ancient village with a 12-storey tower magically built along a steep mountain located alongside the Yangtze River. Then get back to the ship and prepare for the welcome party held by the captain this evening.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will view Qutang Gorge which is steep and narrow, then winding and pretty Wu Gorge. During this time, we will have a boat excursion to the deep of Three Little Gorges or Shennong Stream. After that, you will return to the ship and continue the journey to Xiling Gorge.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, pack up your belongings and check out of the ship. Then get off the ship to visit the Three Gorges Dam. We will take a bus to the viewing platform where you can overlook the largest water-control electric power generation project in the world and splendid scenery around it. Later, the ship company will escort you to the Three Gorges Tourist Center in Yichang city. Our local guide will wait for you there and transfer you to the railway station before you board the 7.5-hour bullet train to Shanghai. The Shanghai guide will see you at the railway station and then send you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In the morning, we will appreciate the fine ancient artwork such as china wares, bronze wares, paintings and calligraphy at the Shanghai Museum. Then take a leisurely walk around the Yu Garden while enjoying its simple and elegant garden landscape. We will also have a stroll in the nearby Yuyuan Bazaar.

After lunch, we will cruise along Huangpu River for about an hour. We will also have some time in the Bund to see its classical and exotic building clusters. Then visit an antique street before going back to the hotel.

Meals: American breakfast, A la carte lunch

At the end of our China itinerary 15 days, the local guide will accompany you to the airport and see you off there before you take the flight back home. Bon voyage!

Meals: American breakfast