Start in: Hongkong
End in: Hongkong
Special Experience: Star Ferry across the Victoria Harbour, Guilin Li River cruise, Yangtze River cuise, Xian dumpling feast, Peking Opera in Beijng, and see Giant Panda up close in Chengdu
Top Tour of China Cultural and Natural Discovery
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Hong Kong
Accommodations: Metropark Kowloon 
Sightseeing: Victoria Peak,Aberdeen,Repulse Bay,Stanley Market
Transfer via: International Flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival at Hong Kong, a vibrant metropolis, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Lunch is on your own. You will explore Hong Kong's unique blend of Chinese heritage and colonial influences. Your tour will include Victoria Peak, the floating community of Aberdeen, Repulse Bay and Stanley Market of Hong Kong Island.
- Victoria Peak: the island's highest point with 552 meters high, which has spectacular views of city's famous skyline, Victoria Harbour and the romantic South China Sea on a clear day.
- Aberdeen: a harbor area crowded with junks and sampans, where 6,000 people live and work on junks.
- Repulse Bay: one of the most famous beaches in Hong Kong where you can enjoy a more relaxed holiday atmosphere.
- Stanley Market: great for bargain-hunting, this market specializes in factory outlet clothes.
Repulse Bay Beach is located on a beautiful bay with a long line of coast and smooth sand.
West Street is greatly admired by foreigners for its simple style and courtyard-like setting.
Accommodations: Metropark Kowloon
Meals: B
Transfer to pier for Star Ferry to Kowloon side. Walk along promenade back to hotel. Afternoon free to explore Hong Kong.
Accommodations: Guilin Park Hotel
Be free until our guide meets and helps you transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin. Upon your arrival, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel.
Accommodations: Guilin Park Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Li River Cruise,West Street(Yangshuo)
After breakfast, drive to Zhujiang Pier (about 40-minute drive) to start the boat cruise along the tranquil Li River which is the highlight in Guilin until you get to Yangshuo County. Short bicycle trip to visit local villages afterwards. Transfer back to Guilin late.
- Li River Cruise: Along the river, you will be inspired by the breathtaking views of peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and reflections in the water together with the serene pastoral views of rice paddies and water buffaloes.You will certainly feel like you are walking into a traditional Chinese painting by cruising on this wonderful river.
- West Street(Yangshuo): a busy and exotic slate street in Yangshuo County, about 2km long crammed with shops, pubs, cafes and hotels, where you can relax yourself and do some souvenir shopping.
Fishermen gliding on the Li River on narrow bamboo rafts
Accommodations: Yinhe Dynasty Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Elephant Trunk Hill ,Seven Star Park,Reed Flute Cave
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
Visit the Reed Flute Cave, the Seven Star Park and Elephant Trunk Hill. Fly to Chengdu and transfer to the hotel.
- Elephant Trunk Hill : the symbol of Guilin, which resembles a giant elephant drinking water from the Li River.
- Seven Star Park: with 100 hectares, it is the biggest comprehensive park in Guilin with many attractive trails that wind around seven peaks in the shape of the Big Dipper, where pavilions, platforms all through the park, and you can see a Giant Panda in the zoo inside the park.
- Reed Flute Cave: 5 kilometers away from the city center, famed as "A Natural Palace of Art", in which you can see lots of stalactites & stalagmites illuminated by the lights of different colors. You will also learn how they were formed.
Camel Hill, looking like a life-like squat camel, lies in Seven Star Park.
Accommodations: Yinhe Dynasty Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Giant Panda Breeding Research Base,Du Fu's Thatched Roof Cottage,Marquis Wu Shrine,Tea houses
Today's full-day tour will bring you to Giant Panda Breeding Research Base first, and then Du Fu's Thatched Roof Cottage and Marquis Wu Shrine. After the sightseeing, enjoy a cup of tea at one of the local tea houses.
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base: 18km from the city center, housing 12 pandas in natural environments: it is the best place to see Chengdu's most famous residents and you can get to know more about this precious species in the museum there.
- Du Fu's Thatched Roof Cottage: located on the side of the Flower Washing Brook in the western suburbs of Chengdu. It is the former residence of the celebrated Tang dynasty poet, Du Fu (712-770AD) who was born in Henan province. At the age of 20 he left his home to travel within China. He used to be an official for 10 years in Chang'an (present Xian), the capital of the Tang dynasty, and was captured by rebels after an uprising. He then fled to Chengdu where he built this humble cottage and stayed for about four years.
- Marquis Wu Shrine: built by Li Xiong in the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316AD) in memory of Zhuge Liang, prime minister of Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280AD). Zhuge Liang (181-234AD) was not only a great statesman and military strategist but also the hero of the novel Sanguo Yanyi (the Romance of the Three Kingdoms).
- Tea houses: Chengdu is one of the few remaining cities in China with a really authentic tea house (Chadian) culture. Thousands of teahouses dotted about Chengdu are hugely popular with locals, especially the elderly. Teahouses throughout the city are still important locations for social gatherings. Its distinct and unique atmosphere will let you get a good feel for Chengdu.
In the Marquis Wu Shrine, there are 47 historic figures.
The thatched roof cottage was mentioned in one of Du Fu's most popular poems.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
Be free until our guide meets and helps you transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Fly to Chongqing to board your ship.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B,D
Sightseeing: Fengdu Ghost City
Departs Chongqing at 08:00AM. Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City.
- Fengdu Ghost City: constructed on the Mingshan Hill by the river bank, it is so called because of the legend which goes that about 1,700 years ago, two officials, Yin and Wang (the combination of their surnames means "Ghost King ") became Taoists here and eventually Immortals. Now with fantastic temples of underworld demons and gods, it shows the Chinese ghost culture and is a place for punishing the devil and awarding the good.
The ghost face is one of specialties folk culture activities,Fengdu Ghost City.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B,L,D
Sightseeing: Shennong Stream
Shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges by smaller vessels this morning.
- Shennong Stream: a small tributary of the Yangtze River is 60 kilometers long and is famous for its picturesque scenery. Shennong Stream is beautiful and ancient. When you take a sampan drifting along it, which is not without risk yet exhilarating and a challenge to battle with the nature. You will be attracted and surprised by its crystal clear steam flowing swiftly from north to south through deep gorges, steep ridges and peaks, thick vegetation and wild flowers, flying birds and a plank road built along a cliff and ancient hanging coffins. Sweet love songs will be presented to you by the local ethnic people.
Ancient City Wall is considered a landmark dividing the ancient city Xian into the inner part and the outer part.
Accommodations: Hotel Royal Garden
Meals: B,L,D
Sightseeing: Three Gorges
Special Dinner: Dumpling Dinner
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam site(08:00-10:30). Disembark the ship in Yichang at 11:30AM. Fly to Xi'an. Be met and transferred to the hotel. Welcome you with a savory dumpling dinner.
- Three Gorges: spanning the Yangtze at Sandouping, Yichang, Hubei province, China. Construction began in 1994, and the 'Three Gorges Dam' is now the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. The Dam will be 2,335 meters long, 18 meters wide, and its bottom will be 130 meters wide after completion in 2009. When completed, the water level will rise to 135 meters above sea level. The reservoir began filling on June 1, 2003, and it will occupy the present position of the scenic Three Gorges area, between the cities of Yichang, Hubei, and Fuling, Chongqing Municipality.
- Dumpling Dinner: Dumpling or Jiaozi in Chinese is a traditional and popular food in China, especially in the north. At the dinner, nearly 20 varieties of dumplings that are steamed and stuffed with different delicious fillings such as vegetables, meats and seafood are served. These dumplings are not only tasty, but also characteristic with their colors and fragrance, style and culture meanings. All these make the dinner so unique that you should not miss it when traveling in Xi'an.
Chinese dumpling has a long history and is an essential part of celebratory meals such as those prepared for the Chinese lunar Spring Festival.
Accommodations: Hotel Royal Garden
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Terracotta Warriors and Horses,Ancient City Walls
Today, you will first visit the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors and Horses, and then the Ancient City Walls.
- Terracotta Warriors and Horses: discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, this is one of the most significant archeological finds of the 20th century. These 6,000 life-size painted Terracotta Warriors and Horses --individually sculpted from real-life models and arranged in battle formation have been protecting the mausoleum of the first emperor in Chinese history--Emperor QinShihuang for 2,200 years ago.
- Ancient City Walls : built during the 14th century on Tang dynasty foundations and they date from the Ming dynasty. The walls are the largest and best-preserved ancient fortress in the world. There is a gate in each of the four sides, and the gate towers built over each gate look lofty and magnificent and form a tight defence engineering system.
Autumn in Forbidden City is clear and clean.
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel
Meals: B
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
Be free until our guide meets and helps you transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing. Upon your arrive at Beijing, our local guide and driver will meet you at the train station and transfer you to the hotel.
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel
Meals: B
Sightseeing: Tiananmen Square,Forbidden City,Summer Palace
Gala Event: Peking Opera Show
Today you will first visit the historic Tiananmen Square, and then the magnificent Forbidden City. In the afternoon, you will marvel at the exquisite Summer Palace. Enjoy the Peking Opera Show at Liyuan Theatre in the evening.
- Tiananmen Square: the largest city square in the world and the spiritual heart of China, where the national flag is raised exactly at sunrise everyday.
- Forbidden City: located in the center of Beijing, used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years, it is the grandest integral palace complex still remaining in China.
- Summer Palace : Located on the northwestern outskirts of the city, it was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. With its perfect layout, magnificent buildings and enchanting landscape, it is the most splendid classical garden in China.
- Peking Opera Show: a kind of singing drama which is an ingenious and colorful combination of elements from many sources: traditional music, poetry, singing, recitation, dancing, acrobatics, and martial arts.
One of the stone statues on the Sacred Road
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel
Meals: B,D
Sightseeing: Sacred Road,Ding Tomb,Great Wall
Special Dinner: Peking Duck Dinner
Today you will have a vist to the majestic Great Wall (Badaling section), the Ding Tomb of Ming Tombs and Sacred road. Enjoy a famous Peking Duck Banquet for dinner.
- Sacred Road: the path lined with stone statues of animals, mystical beasts and officials who are supposed to serve the emperor in his afterlife, through which the sitting emperors would go to perform memorial rituals for the ancestors once a year.
- Ding Tomb: the burial site of the emperor Wanli, the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty who ruled for 48 years until his death in 1620, it is the only underground tomb of the thirteen Imperial Ming tombs ever excavated.
- Great Wall: the most famous symbol of China and one of the world's most remarkable architectural wonders, it was built over 2,000 years ago and stretches about 6,700km.
- Peking Duck Dinner: Peking Roast Duck is regarded as one of the most delicious dishes throughout the world. A Peking Duck Dinner is usually a fixed item on any Beijing tour itinerary. At time-honored restaurants such as Quan Ju De, you can savor the mouth-watering traditional Beijing specialty, and at the same time the chefs will show you how they cuts the meat into exactly 108 slices from one duck, each having a piece of skin.
Sunset at the Great Wall in Beijing
Meals: B
Sightseeing: Temple of Heaven
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
After breakfast,you will visit Beijing's splendid Temple of Heaven. And then take the afternoon flight to Hong Kong.
- Temple of Heaven: the place which was visited yearly by the emperors who performed intricate rituals to insure a good harvest for the whole nation at ancient times.
China domestic flights as specified in the itinerary 
Accommodations for 14 nights, including
9 nights at four star or higher hotels, 2 nights at three star hotels, 3 nights at five star yangtze cruise ship
23 meals, including 13 full breakfasts, 6 lunches and 4 dinners
(including Dumpling Dinner, Peking Duck Dinner)
1 gala evening events--Peking Opera Show in Beijing 
Round-trip transfers---between airports, hotels and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned motor coaches with experienced drivers
A local English-speaking guide in each city
Entrance fees to scenic spots listed in the itinerary
Luggage transfers between airports and hotels
China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty insurance
Government taxes and service charges except tips for tour guides and drivers
Victoria Peak provides magnificent harbor and city views.
We both found the Reed Flute Cave stunningly fascinating, made even so more so by the fact that we were along as the last ones to go through. We were very glad we went with the Longsheng rice paddies option even though it was the wrong time of the year. It was still beautiful with the Dragon's Backbone clearly visible-it was one of our favorite places. The Li River boat cruise was very enjoyable too.
- Adele and Giles Harding,South Africa
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