23 days Best of China Tour
- Trip Highlights: If you want to catch the best of China in just one go, if you want to know China in depth with its culture and history, this tour is ideal for you. It will not just take you to see, but to experience, to embrace the best of the most remarkable cities, villages, mountains, and rivers of China. Relax at tea houses to enjoy the operas and folk music sung for hundreds of years, and meet local folks at old-fashioned Hutongs and ancient villages where traditions passed on generation by generation, this is what we mean the experience of real China.
- Tour Route: Beijing (China's Capital)
Xian (Home of the Terracotta Warriors)Guilin (Li River & Yangshuo)Kunming (Spring City)Lijiang (Preserved Ancient Town)Chengdu (Home of the Giant Panda)Yangtze Cruises (Majestic Landscapes)Shanghai (Cosmopolitan Metropolis)Suzhou (Classical Gardens)Shanghai (Cosmopolitan Metropolis)
- Tour Code: COT-B-023-A
- Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
- Starts/Ends: Beijing/Shanghai
- Trip Type: Culture and History Journey, Ethnic Culture and Folk Arts, Landscape and Nature, Top 10s
- Activity Level: Regular itinerary, Moderate walking, Easy hiking
- Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
- Special Experiences:
- Tour Hutong (courtyard dwellings) by rickshaw to experience the traditional lifestyle of Beijing folks
- Visit rice terrace fields to explore the unique agricultural lifestyle of the ethnic minorities living in China's remote mountain area
- To marvel at the ancient Naxi Music well-preserved for over 600 years
- Visit adorable Giant Pandas after appreciating Chuan Opera featured exotic heavy make-ups and heaps of actions and tricks
- Be amazed by the contrast of Shanghai's colonial past and flourishing economy today by taking a Huangpu River cruise
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Beijing
Transfer via: International Flight on your own arrangement
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel 
Upon your arrival at the Beijing airport, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and recover from jetlag.
Day 2 Beijing (B,L)
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel
Sites visited: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutongs
Unique Cultural Performance: Kungfu Show
On this day you will first visit Tiananmen Square followed by the magnificent Forbidden City. In the afternoon you will explore some of Beijing's Hutongs by rickshaw. In the evening you will enjoy a fabulous Kungfu show in the Red Theater.
The Tiananmen square, the symbol of China's capital, is well illuminated during night
Mouthwatering Peking Roast Duck for dinner after sightseeing is going to be a great experience
Day 3 Beijing (B,L,D)
Accommodations: Jianguo Garden Hotel
Sites visited: Sacred Road, Great Wall
Special Dinner: Peking Duck Dinner
You will visit to the magnificent Great Wall (Mutianyu section) and Sacred Road. In the evening you will be taken out for an incredible Peking Duck Banquet for dinner.
Day 4 Beijing / Xian (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Grand New World Hotel
Sites visited: Temple of Heaven
After breakfast, you will visit Beijing's spectacular Temple of Heaven and enjoy watching the locals doing their morning exercises before being escorted to the airport for your flight to your next destination-Xian. Upon arriving in Xian, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out to discover what this amazing city has to offer.
Day 5 Xian (B,L)
Accommodations: Grand New World Hotel
Sites visited: Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Walls
You will visit the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors in the morning. After lunch, you will visit the Ancient City Walls and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
The impressive Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652 and is the symbol of Xian.
The awesome Terracotta Warriors and Horses were made to guard the First Emperor's afterlife.
Day 6 Xian / Guilin (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Guilin Park Hotel
Sites visited: Great Mosque
After breakfast, you will tour The Great Mosque and visit the local Muslim community before being escorted to the airport for your flight to your next destination-Guilin. Upon your arrival in Guilin, the most scenic city in China, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out into this dynamic city for a little adventure on your own.
Day 7 Guilin / Longsheng / Guilin (B,L)
Accommodations: Guilin Park Hotel
Sites visited: Longji, Yao People, Zhuang People
Today's excursion will bring you to Longsheng Autonomous County. After your tour of this breathtaking area, you will be driven back to Guilin (2-hour drive).
Day 8 Guilin / Yangshuo (B,L)
Accommodations: New Century Hotel
Sites visited: Li River Cruise, West Street(Yangshuo), Yangshuo County
After breakfast, you will be driven to Zhujiang Pier (40-minute drive) to start your boat cruise down the picturesque Li River, which is the highlight of any visit to Guilin, until you get to Yangshuo County. Along the river, you will be inspired by breathtaking views of peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and picturesque pastoral views of rice paddies and water buffaloes. Visitors feel they have stepped into a traditional Chinese painting. After checking into your hotel, you will be free to explore Yangshuo and its famous West Street.
The vivid Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of Guilin
The magically illuminated Reed Flute Cave in Guilin
Day 9 Yangshuo / Guilin / Kunming (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Kunming Hotel
Sites visited: Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, Reed Flute Cave
Today, you will be driven back to Guilin (1.5-hour drive), where you will tour Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill and Reed Flute Cave before your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination-Kunming. Upon arriving in Kunming, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out onto the city for a little adventure of your own.
Day 10 Kunming (B,L)
Accommodations: Kunming Hotel
Sites visited: Stone Forest, Sani ethnic minority village
On this day you will be driven to the amazing Stone Forest. It is said that a visit to Kunming is incomplete without stopping at the Stone Forest. On the way you will stop at the Sani ethnic minority village to see how this unique minority group has been living for centuries.
Kunming has inumerable majestic and charming stone forests.
The enchanting panorama view of Lijiang Ancient Town.
Day 11 Kunming / Lijiang (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel
Sites visited: Lijiang Ancient Town, Lion Hill
You will be escorted to the Kunming airport for your flight to Lijiang. Upon arriving in Lijiang, you will be met by your local guide who will escort you to your hotel. You will then the Lijiang Ancient Town and the beautiful Lion Hill located inside the Ancient Town.
Day 12 Lijiang (B,L)
Transfer via: Private car on our arrangement
Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel
Sites visited: Baisha Mural Paintings, Black Dragon Pool Park, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture
This day will be a full one. You will visit the picturesque snow capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, followed by a trip to the ancient Baisha Mural Paintings. In the afternoon you will visit the Black Dragon Pool Park and Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture located inside the park.
Day 13 Lijiang (B,L)
Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel
Sites visited: First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu (Stone Drum) Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge
In the morning you will be driven to the town of Shigu (Stone Drum) to view the stunning First Bend of the Yangtze River and Iron Chain Bridge. After, you will visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. In the late afternoon, you will be driven back to Lijiang (2 to 3 hours drive).
The amazing Shigu Town just like a piece of wonderful landscape painting.
The extraordinary Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest canyon of the world.
Day 14 Lijiang / Chengdu (B,L,D)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Tianfu Sunshine hotel
Sites visited: Chengdu
Special Dinner: Chuan Food
On this day you will be free until your tour guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination-Chengdu. Upon arriving in Chengdu, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel for a rest before you are taken out for a delicious dinner of Sichuan cuisine at a local restaurant.
Day 15 Chengdu / Leshan / Emei (B,L)
Accommodations: Jin Ding Hotel
Sites visited: Leshan Giant Buddha, Mt. Emei
On this day you will be driven about 2 hours to Leshan and visit the Giant Buddha carved out of the cliffs at the confluence of the Dadu, Minjiang and Qingyi Rivers. Continue driving to Mt. Emei afterwards and take the touring bus to Leidongping first, where you need to walk to Jieyin Palace to take the cable car up to appreciate the natural scenery around Golden Summit, visit Huazang Temple on the top. Stay overnight on the top of Mt. Emei.
Day 16 Mt. Emei / Chengdu (B,L)
Accommodations: Wanghu Hotel
Sites visited: Baoguo Temple
Try to get up early in the morning to catch the sunrise on Mt. Emei. After breakfast, descend by the cable car and take the bus to Wannian Temple parking lot, where you will take the cable car up to visit the Wannian (Myriad Years) Temple which is the field for Samantabhadra, walk through Qingyin (Pure Note) Pavilion-the biggest natural ecology reserve area for monkeys, till you get to Wuxiangang parking lot to take the touring bus down to the foot of the mountain. Pay a visit to Baoguo Temple before returning to Chengdu.
The unbelievable Leshan giant Buddha has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
See the adorable pandas in the Panda Breeding Center.
Day 17 Chengdu / Chongqing (B,L)
Transfer via: Express train arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Ship of Yangtze Cruise
Sites visited: Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Tea houses, Wenshu Temple
The tour on this day will bring you to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base first, followed by a trip to the Wenshu Temple where you can spend some time sitting in its tea house to enjoy a cup of tea and absorb the special atmosphere of Chengdu. Afterwards, you will be escorted to the railway station for your forward train to Chongqing. Upon your arrival at Chongqing, the largest city in Southwest China, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your ship.The ship departs Chongqing at 21:00.
Day 18 Yangtze River Cruise (B,L,D)
Accommodations: Ship of Yangtze Cruise
Sites visited: Fengdu Ghost City
Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City.
Day 19 Yangtze River Cruise (B,L,D)
Accommodations: Ship of Yangtze Cruise
Sites visited: Lesser Three Gorges
Shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges by smaller vessels.
Go up to the deck for the awesomest spectacle of the Yangtze River when passing the Three Gorges
Ship passing through the Three Gorges where sheer cliffs climb half mile high above the Yangtze River
Day 20 Yichang / Shanghai (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
Sites visited: The Three Gorge Dam
Unique Cultural Performance: Acrobatic Show
Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam site this morning(08:00-10:00). After lunch, you will disembark the ship in Yichang at 13:30. Then you will be escorted to the airport for your forward flight to Shanghai. Upon your arrival at Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out into this amazing city for an adventure on your own.
Day 21 Shanghai (B,L)
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
Sites visited: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market, Jade Buddha Temple
Unique Cultural Performance: Acrobatic Show
On this day you will visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, which chronicles Shanghai's past, present and future, then take a stroll through the Yu Garden. After, you can observe local people's life at the Yuyuan Market and immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere of the Jade Buddha Temple. In the evening you enjoy a wonderful Acrobatic Show.
Acrobatic Show is a kind of ancient performing arts of China.
Lingering Garden - China's renowned classical garden
Day 22 Shanghai / Suzhou / Shanghai (B,L)
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
Sites visited: Grand Canal, Lingering Garden, Pan Gate, The No.1 Silk Factory
On this morning you will be driven to Suzhou (about 1.5 hours drive). You will arrive in Suzhou in the late morning with your local Shanghai guide and personal driver. Your tour in Suzhou includes: the quiet Lingering Garden and the Pan Gate. Enjoy the gentle breeze while cruise on the Grand Canal. Later visit the No.1 Silk Factory to learn how the pure silk products are made from a small cocoon. You will be driven back to Shanghai after your tour of Suzhou.
Day 23 Shanghai / Final departure (B)
Transfer via: International flight on your own arrangement
Sites visited: Nanjing Road, The Bund, Jinmao Tower
After breakfast, you will walk down the Bund along the Huangpu River and visit Nanjing Road, and then get a bird's eye view of Shanghai from the Jinmao Tower. After, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to your next destination.
Price & Included Features
- China domestic flights as specified in the itinerary
- Accommodations: for 2 nights at three star hotels, 17 nights at four star hotels and 2 nights at four star,1 nights at five star cruise in comfortable twin-bedded rooms with a private bath, air-conditioning, television, telephone and minibar.
- 47 meals: 22 full breakfasts, 21 lunches and 4 dinners(included )
- 3 unique cultural performance-- Kungfu Show, Acrobatic Show, Acrobatic Show
- Round-trip transfers between airports, hotels, and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced licensed drivers
- A local English-speaking guide in each city
- Entrance fees to all 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
Accommodation
Beijing - Jianguo Garden Hotel
A Four-Star International Hotel, Jianguo Garden Hotel is located in the heart of Beijing. It is located on bustling Chang'an Street, located near the well-known Shopping street of Wangfujing and just a few minute's drive to historical Tourist attractions such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Detail
The Grand New World Hotel in Xian is rated as one of the outstanding 4 Star Hotels in Xian in China. The hotel offers a host of amenities and facilities. It stands out among the other 4 star hotels due to its superior deliverance in customer satisfaction. Detail
Guilin Park Hotel is a four-star international hotel. Conveniently situated between Lake Guihu and Mount Laoren in the city center. The hotel commands some of the most picturesque views in Guilin and contrasts finely with the famous Duxiu peak, Diecai Hill and Fubo Hill. Lying on the slight mountain slope, surrounded by green trees and fresh flowers, the building combines modern arts with a rich national flavour. Detail
Hotel in Yangshuo just nearby the west street. You could walk to the west street in 10 minutes and wander along the east-western style street. For entertainment, there is a bar, coffee shop, gymnasium, beauty salon and so on. Detail
Founded in May 1956, Kunming Hotel started business in October 1958. The European style architecture of the Hotel looked so serene that it was a very eye-catching building in Kunming in the mid-twentieth century.In 1982, the main building was constructed. The futuristic design of the towering building is still attractive. It was redecorated in 1992. With its well-appointed equipment and first-rate service, Kunming Hotel became the first four-star hotel in Yunnan. Detail
Lijiang Wangfu Hotel is a charming and unique four star hotel in Lijiang.The hotel has 2 floors and 92 guest rooms. Complete with small courtyards, gates, and waterside pavilions, the peaceful surroundings resemble a traditional Chinese landscape painting.
Chengdu - Tianfu Sunshine hotel
Chengdu's Tianfu Sunshine Hotel is a four-star hotel, located in the city center, only 20 minutes by car from the airport.The interior of the hotel, designed by internationally renowned design firm Hirsch, provides an aesthetic appeal of the highest order. Detail
It is a standard 3 star hotel at the summit of Mt. Emei.
The Wanghu Hotel is a four-star commercial hotel conveniently located just a few steps away from beautiful West Lake. In the downtown area and with the good view of the West Lake, the hotel is only 10 minutes' drive to the railway station and 30 minutes' drive to the airport.
Yangtze Cruises - Ship of Yangtze Cruise
All the 4-star cruise liners are designed and decorated according to the Four-star standard, with good reception ability, large construction scale, complete service facilities, and quality service. They provide both standard rooms and luxury suites with private washroom and satellite TV. During the cruise, you can enjoy the spectacular mountainous landscape of the Yangtze River and the cruises will make stops in ancient and fascinating towns, a precious opportunity to see the primitive folk traditions of the long-time riverside residents. There also many traditions on board such as teaching of calligraphy and martial arts or "Tai Chi" exercise, which enable you to get a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and life.
Yangtze Cruises - Ship of Yangtze Cruise
All the 5-star luxury liners, considered to be truly excellent, are equipped to a very high standard. With various cuisine, English-speaking service and luxurious decor among the finest, they pride themselves on providing the highest quality service especially for overseas guests. Besides standard rooms, deluxe suites are also available, with modern facilities to satisfy your need. During the Yangtze River cruise, you can not only appreciate the impressive landscape, but participate in the various interesting activities, such as the captain's welcome & farewell receptions and dinner, morning Tai Chi exercise, fun and informative Chinese tea tasting, practicing and learning Chinese calligraphy and painting. Moreover, the cruises will make stops in ancient and fascinating riverside towns. It is more than just a cruise tour. It is an experience of nature and culture on an amazing land.
Shanghai - Holiday Inn Shanghai -Downtown
The Four-star Holiday Inn Shanghai is strategically located with easy accessibility to shopping and tourist attractions. Combining a central location with excellent service and facilities, the Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai is an ideal choice for visitors to Shanghai. Detail
Meals
Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Meal codes are: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.
Breakfast - Each breakfast will be served in your hotel. Breakfast selections include both Chinese and Western dishes to meet every diner's taste.
Lunch - Lunches are normally arranged at the Chinese restaurants near the scenic spots. Your tour guides will order food according to your appetite. Most are Chinese dishes, and some are modified to fit westerners' tastes. A complimentary glass of beer or soft drink is served with lunch.
Dinner - Same as lunch. If you prefer to not eat Chinese food, China Odyssey Tours suggests you have dinner on your own. Your local tour guide can recommend some good western restaurants in the area.
Transfer and Transport Service
China Odyssey Tours has received wide recognition for its transfer service. With our on-time service, you will never feel alone while traveling through China. We work hard to live up to the slogan's promise "You are not alone in China".
With our private small group tours, you can feel safe in the knowledge that you will enjoy flexible tour arrangements and you will have your own tour guide, car and driver in each destination, exclusive to your own group of friends or family.
