Start in: Beijing
End in: Shanghai
Special Experience: Hutong tour by rickshaw, Shaolin Kongfu, Giant Pandas, Tibet adventure, Yangtze River cruise, Ethnic Yunnan, Guilin cycling, Suzhou Gardens, Mt. Huangshan,etc.
Super-long China Tour - COT Special Offer
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival/Beijing
Accommodations: Beijing Peixin hotel 
Transfer via: International flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival at Beijing airport, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
Accommodations: Beijing Peixin hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Tiananmen Square,Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven
Today you will first visit the historic Tiananmen Square, and then the magnificent Forbidden City. In the afternoon, you will marvel at Beijing's splendid Temple of Heaven.
- 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.
- 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.
Accommodations: Beijing Peixin hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Sacred Road,Ding Tomb,Great Wall
Today you will vist the majestic Great Wall(Badaling section), the Ding Tomb of Ming Tombs and Sacred road.
- 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.
Accommodations: Beijing Peixin hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Hutongs,Summer Palace
After breakfast you will visit Hutongs by rickshaw. Lunch will be served in the home of a local family and you will learn how to make dumplings. After lunch, you will visit the Summer Palace.
- Hutongs: the old narrow paths with lots of courtyard homes where common people are living. They are like villages within a megalopolis. Through the hutongs' teeming maze of alleyways, you will see the old houses and learn about the daily life of ordinary Beijing citizens.
- 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.
Shijia Hutong, Beijing
Accommodations: Shanzhuang Resort
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Imperial Summer Villa
Transfer via: enjoy the soft sleeper compartment (the best on the train) on our arrangement
In the morning, our local guide will help you transfer to the railway station for your train to Chengde. Upon arrival at Chengde, you will be met and escorted to the hotel. The tour this afternoon will bring you to the Imperial Summer Villa.
- Imperial Summer Villa: started to be built in 1703 and finished in about 90 years, it is now the biggest Imperial Garden in China covering 590 hectares. The area, encircled by a splendid 10km wall, was where the emperors and dignitaries in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD)retreated from the summer heat, and where they would also handle political affairs and meet envoys during their stay, so the Villa actually served as the second political center of the Qing government. Set in a mountain valley, with its own lakes, pine forests, hunting ground and pavilions, now it is a great place to wander around.
Accommodations: Beijing Peixin hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Puning Temple,Putuozongcheng Temple
Transfer via: enjoy the soft sleeper compartment (the best on the train) on our arrangement
Enjoy a tour to Puning Temple and Putuozongcheng Temple before your train back to Beijing. Our local guide in Beijing will meet you at the railway station and escort you to the hotel.
- Puning Temple: puning means "universal tranquility", mixing Chinese and Tibetan styles, it was built by Emperor Qianlong in 1755 AD to commemorate his victory over Mongolian tribes. The huge Mahayana Hall of the temple houses an enchanting golden statue of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Mercy , which is made from five different types of wood (pine, cypress, elm, fir and basswood) and is the highest of its kind in the world at 22 meters (about 67 feet). The statue has 42 arms with an eye carved into the palm of each hand.
- Putuozongcheng Temple: built in 1767 for visiting minority group leaders from all over China to celebrate Emperor Qianlong's 60th birthday, it is a replica of Lhasa's Potala Palace and the largest of the eight remaining outer temples in Chengde with an area of 220,000 square meters. The temple is set against a backdrop of piney hills offering a stunning view from the top.
Accommodations: Taihechun Hotel
Meals: B
Transfer via: enjoy the soft sleeper compartment (the best on the train) on our arrangement (6.5 hours)
After breakfast, our local guide will escort you to the station for your onward train to Datong. Upon your arrival at Datong, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
Accommodations: Taihechun Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Nine Dragon Screen,Huayan Temple,Yungang Grottoes
The excursion today will bring you to Nine Dragon Screen, Huayan Temple and the Yungang Grottoes.
- Nine Dragon Screen: built in 1392, supposed to have offered protection to the mansion of the 13th son of the first Ming emperor. This screen is said to be the largest one of its type in China and is 45.5 meters long, 8 meters high and 2 meters thick. It contains 426 pieces of glazed tiles. In ancient times, the screen served as a barrier by keeping passers-by from peeping into the house. It was also used for visitors to tidy themselves before meeting their hosts.
- Huayan Temple: named after the Huayan sect of Buddhism, built in the 11th century, it is one of the biggest temples in China. The temple is divided into two parts, the upper part with various halls, and the lower part which is smaller than the upper one but more interesting with 29 coloured clay figures made during the Liao Dynasty (907-1125AD) in its Bojiajiaocang Hall.
- Yungang Grottoes: a treasure-house of rare and splendid Chinese sculptures and that of ancient Buddhist art, located about 16 kilometers west of Datong. Built in compliance with the lie of the mountains, more than 1500 years ago during the Northern Wei Dynasty, it is one kilometer from east to west and the largest of its kind in China. The Grottoes consist of a series of 53 caves and over 51, 000 stone sculptures classified into three major categories. The stone carvings of the Grottoes, compactly structured, exhibit superb workmanship and a rich variety of themes.
A house-shaped shrine, Yungang Grottoes, Datong
Accommodations: Huahui Resort
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Hanging Temple,Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County,Wutai Mountain
In the morning, you will be driven to Hunyuan county to visit the most spectacular Hanging Temple. Then you will be taken to Yingxian county to see the Wooden Pagoda before continuing your bus journey for two hours to Wutai Mountain where you will stay overnight in Wutai county.
- Hanging Temple: 75km away from Datong, built about 1500 years ago at the foot of Mt. Hengshan, the temple is a structure that clings precariously to the side of the Mt. Hengshan range. Caves carved into the cliffs or along natural contours make up the rooms and walkways, and bridges connect the different halls. It is an immortal masterpiece of ancient architecture and a piece of crystallization of workmanship and resourcefulness.
- Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County: Standing 67.31 meters high, it is the only large wooden pagoda remaining in China and it is also one of the tallest of the ancient wooden buildings in the world.
- Wutai Mountain: located in Wutai County, the Wutai Mountain is one of the country's four well-known Buddhist shrines; it is the only Chinese mountain mentioned in Buddhist scriptures, and the only mountain where both Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Lamaism are practiced. For hundreds of years, Wutai Mountain has been China's most sacred Buddhist ground, mainly because it was here that the highly revered Wenshu Pusa (Manjusri), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Virtue, once lived and taught Buddhism. Wutai mountain is actually a cluster of five terrace-like peaks, hence the name Wutai (Five Terraces). It is cool and pleasant in summer, so the mountain is given another name: Qingliang (Cool and Pleasant) Mountain and it has been regarded as an ideal place for escaping summer heat since ancient times. In the quiet valleys between the peaks lay a few ancient temples, twisting trails and awe-inspiring views. Construction of the temples began in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) and lasted 1900 years. 76 temples remain in this area making it the largest collection of temples in China.
Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County, Datong
Accommodations: Jiaotong Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Xiantong Temple,Pusading (Bodhisattva Summit) Temple,Big White Pagoda,Wanfu Temple (Wuye Temple)
Today's excursion around Wutai Mountain will include Xiantong Temple, Pusading (Bodhisattva Summit) Temple, the Big White Pagoda in Tayuan Temple and Wanfu Temple (Wuye Temple). Enjoy a Buddhist Vegetarian lunch. After the tour, will be driven about 4 hours to Taiyuan, where you will stay overnight.
- Xiantong Temple: with 400 halls, originally built in the year 68AD during the Eastern Han Dynasty is the largest and oldest temple on the mountain. It houses the amazing Beamless Pavilion, which contains no beams and is supported through a complex set of interlocking pins, and the impressive Bronze Pavilion is made from 50,000kg of bronze with a huge 5000kg bronze bell cast in 1620 in the Ming Dynasty inside.
- Pusading (Bodhisattva Summit) Temple: is the largest Lama temple on the mountain. Climbing 108 stone steps (the same number of beads as on a Buddhist rosary) leads to a Qing-dynasty memorial archway supported by four pillars. This leads to the temple on Lingjiu Peak behind the Xiantong Temple. You will see four characters reading "Lingfeng Holy Ground", in the hand-writing of Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722), on the tablet at the top of the archway. It is said that once you have walked up the stone steps and entered the Lingfeng Holy Ground, all your worries will disappear. Tibetan and Mongolian Lamas stayed here during the Ming and Qing dynasties, believing that Wenshu Pusa once lived in the same place.
- Big White Pagoda: situated in Tayuan Temple, designed by a Nepali in 1301, this 56-meter high Tibetan styled White Pagoda has become a symbol of the Wutai Mountain. Inside the pagoda, there is a small India-made iron stupa, in which some remains of Skt Sakyamuni are kept.
- Wanfu Temple (Wuye Temple) : due to the local people's belief that the Dragon King was powerful, the temple was founded in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty for him in violation of the convention that the Dragon King did not live in the Buddhist Temple. People, nowadays, still have this belief, so this temple has more and more worshippers.
Amituofo,Buddhist Vegetarian
Accommodations: Pingyao Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Jinci Temple,Twin Pagoda Temple,Qiao Family's Compound
Tour Jinci Temple and Twin Pagoda Temple before the drive to Pingyao (2-hour drive), and pay a visit to Qiao Family's Compound en route. Stay overnight at Pingyao.
- Jinci Temple: located 25km southwest of the city proper at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain, the temple was first built in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD) to commemorate Shu Yu, the founder of the Jin state. With lots of halls, terraces, pavilions, corridors and bridges inside the temple, especially with the streams running through the complex, the temple feels a little like the charming gardens of Suzhou.
- Twin Pagoda Temple: is the symbol of Taiyuan City and is also called Yongzuo Temple. It was originally constructed in 1608 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). The temple is home to two octagonal pagodas, on the top of which you can get great views of the city.
- Qiao Family's Compound: is located 20 kilometers north of Pingyao, built in 1756 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). This well-preserved and exquisite structure used to be the residence of a powerful trading family with significant commercial influence even beyond Shanxi Province. The Qiao family' influence on trade ended in the l940's. It was this mansion that was used as the setting for the famous film 'Raise the Red Lantern' directed by Zhang Yimou.
Accommodations: Tingri Mt Ever Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Wang Family's Compound,Shuanglin Temple,Pingyao Ancient City Wall,Rishengchang Exchange Shop,Ming and Qing Street
Transfer via: Soft sleeper overnight train on our arrnangement K237/K240 (21:01-8:43) 12 hours
Today, you will enjoy a city tour in this old area including Wang Family's Compound, Shuanglin Temple, the Ancient City Wall, Rishengchang Exchange Shop, Ming and Qing Street, before your transfer to the railway station for your overnight train to Luoyang.
- Wang Family's Compound: located on a hilly area, it was the Wang clan's private residence with 54 courtyards and 1,052 rooms.The compound existed for 600 years until the family's declining. The Compound is claimed as the "No. 1 civil residence in China" due to its great importance, its functions, its elegant carvings and decorations and also its rich historic connotation.
- Shuanglin Temple: having a history of more than 1500 years, the temple is famous for its 2,502 exquisitely painted clay figurines and statues of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and is famed as a "treasure-house of color sculpture arts".
- Pingyao Ancient City Wall: first erected in the Zhou dynasty (827-728 BC) and last rebuilt in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD), it is one of the best-preserved ancient city walls in China. With 12 meters high and 5 meters thick, a total length of 6.4 kilometers long, with 3,000 crenels and 72 watchtowers on the wall surrounded by moats, this stoic city wall played an important role in protecting Pingyao from invasions from the 14th to the 19th century which allowed the city to prosper.
- Rishengchang Exchange Shop: Rishengchang means "sunrise prosperity," this shop is China¡¯s first bank and was originally established in 1823. Now converted into a museum, there are 21 buildings surrounding three courtyards. On either side of the front yard are the counters, main banking activities were carried out in the middle courtyard house, which functioned as an exchange center.
- Ming and Qing Street: also called Nanda Jie is the main downtown thoroughfare and is well preserved in Ming and Qing style. This is one of the best places to explore ancient Chinese culture. You can see hotels offering traditional brick-oven beds and restaurants serving Pingyao's famous beef and shops selling a dazzling array of art wares. This bustling bazaar was the commercial centre during the dynastic periods with over 700 stores and shops. Most of these time-honored stores continue to thrive to today.
Accommodations: New friendship Hotel
Meals: L
Sightseeing: Longmen Grottoes,White Horse Temple
Upon your arrival at Luoyang, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The tour in the afternoon will bring you to Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple.
- Longmen Grottoes: 12km from the city, the grottoes are located on both banks of the Yi River and this site is one of the three Buddhist grotto treasure houses in China. The grottoes got the name Longmen, which means "Dragon Gate", because the two mountains on the banks of the Yi River appear as a gate. The carving work at Longmen began around AD 493 when Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei Dynasty moved his capital to Luoyang. The construction on the caves continued for over 400 years. Now, there remain 2,345 caves and niches, over 2,840 inscribed tablets and more than 100,000 stone statues, which reflect vividly the development of Chinese Buddhism between the 5th and the 10th centuries and represent the high point of Chinese stone carving.
- White Horse Temple: China's first Buddhist Temple built in AD 68 in the Eastern Han Dynasty is named after the two white horses that carried the Buddhist scriptures back from old India. The temple was used to house the scriptures.
Malla, Fengxian Temple ( Tang Dynasty ). Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang
Accommodations: Red Coral Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Shaolin Temple,Forest of Dagobas
Gala Event: Shaolin Kung Fu Performance
In the morning, we will head for Dengfeng city (70km away and about 1-hour drive) to visit the Shaolin Temple, and then enjoy its Forest of Dagobas and the stunning Shaolin Kungfu Performance. After the tour, we will head for Zhengzhou (75km and about 1-hour drive), check in the hotel and the rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
- Shaolin Temple: one of China's oldest Buddhist temples built in 495 AD on the Shaoshi Peak, from which it took its name. The temple was also the birthplace of one of the world's most famous martial arts movements. Among so many cultural relics inside the temple, the Forest of Pagodas dating back as far as the Tang Dynasty is a must-see.
- Forest of Dagobas: a cemetery of 246 dagobas for noted monks dating from AD 791 to 1995, with different Buddhist patterns and inscriptions carved to depict briefly the life of the monks for whom the dagobas were built. The dagobas vary greatly in size, height, age and in their cross section to show the hierarchical ranking of their respective occupants.
- Shaolin Kung Fu Performance: With people's growing interest in Shaolin Kung Fu, there have been more and more visitors to Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province, which is known as the birthplace of kung fu. Through the authentic Kung Fu performance, you will know more about Chinese martial arts and the spirit of this traditional art.
Shaolin Temple
Accommodations: Red Coral Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Yellow River Scenic Area,Henan Provincial Museum
The tour today will bring you to the Yellow River Scenic Area and Henan Provincial Museum.
- Yellow River Scenic Area: the Yellow River is often regarded by the Chinese as the origin of China's civilization. Located 25km north of Zhengzhou, this part of Yellow River is backed by a beautiful mound called the Yue Hill and dotted with Chinese pavilions, which is the best place to view this significant and beautiful river.
- Henan Provincial Museum: one of the largest museums in China with over 130,000 cultural objects, where you can grasp the basic understanding of China's brilliant 8000 years' civilization.
Accommodations: Hotel Royal Garden
Meals: B
Transfer via: Soft-seat train on our arrangement
Free during the day until our local guide escorts you to the railway station for your train to Xian. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel.
Accommodations: Hotel Royal Garden
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Terracotta Warriors and Horses,Ancient City Walls ,Bell Tower
Today, you will enjoy a full-day excursion to the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors and Horses, after lunch, the Ancient City Walls and then the Bell Tower.
- 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.
- Bell Tower: standing in the center of the city and built in 1582, the Bell Tower is a three-story wooden structure with traditional Chinese architectural features. It is so called because an iron bell is hung in the tower to give the correct time.
Accommodations: Quanxing Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Shaanxi Provincial Museum,Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Special Dinner: Chuan Food
Transfer via: China domestic flight arranged by us at COT
After breakfast, you will have a city tour to the Shaanxi Provincial Museum and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda before your onward flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival at Chengdu, you will be met and transferred to the hotel for a rest before a delicious dinner of Sichuan food at a local restaurant.
- Shaanxi Provincial Museum: opened in 1991, the largest comprehensive museum in the province. The museum exhibits over 3,000 historical relics which is just a fraction of their collection. Most of the exhibited items are rare treasures, showing you the splendid Chinese culture.
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: regarded by many as a symbol of the city Xian, the pagoda was built in 652 A.D. in the Tang Dynasty to house the sutras brought back from India by the famous monk Xuan-zang.
- Chuan Food: Sichuan Cuisine, known more commonly in the West as Szechuan Cuisine, is one of the most famous Chinese cuisines in the world. Prepared with a wide variety of ingredients and characterized by its spicy and pungent flavors, Sichuan cuisine emphasizes the use of chili and peppercorn. It can be said that one who doesn't experience Sichuan food has never reached China. Savor the flavor of Sichuan, and it is becoming hotter and hotter!
Accommodations: Quanxing Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Giant Panda Breeding Research Base,Du Fu's Thatched Roof Cottage,Wenshu Temple,Tea houses
Today's full-day tour will take you to Giant Panda Breeding Research Base first, then to Du Fu's Thatched Roof Cottage and 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.
- 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.
- Wenshu Temple: Chengdu's oldest and largest Buddhist temple was originally built in the Tang Dynasty. However, it is now a Qing Dynasty construction with exquisite relief carvings decorating many of the buildings. You can absorb the very atmosphere of Chengdu here: the temple is full of local worshippers burning incense on certain days; the tea house at the back of the complex is a great place to relax yourself and do some people watching, while the streets outside are filled with blind fortune-tellers, hawkers selling joss sticks, paper money and statues, and so on.
- 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.
Accommodations: Shangbala Hotel
Meals: B
Sightseeing: Lhasa
Transfer via: a domestic flight will be arranged to take you from Chengdu to Lhasa.
In Chengdu, you will be free for the day until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your onward flight to Lhasa. Upon your arrival at Gonggar airport, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to the hotel in Lhasa city (2-hour drive), and you will view the Stone Giant Buddha engraved in the mountain face en route. After checking into the hotel, you will have time to rest in the afternoon
- Lhasa: the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region with an elevation of 3650 meters (12,000 feet) above the sea level, is nicknamed Sunlight City. It is the highest city in the world. This ancient sprawling city, settled 1,300 years ago, is the region's political, economic and cultural center as well as a sacred place of Tibetan Buddhism.
Accommodations: Shangbala Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple,Barkhor Street
Your sightseeing today will include Lhasa's cardinal landmark --the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and flourishing Barkhor Street.
- Potala Palace: the symbol of Lhasa, perched upon Marpo Ri Hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa Valley, it is the greatest monumental structure in Tibet and one of the most famous architectural works of the world. The construction was started in 641 AD and it was rebuilt by the Fifth Dalai Lama in three years, while the Thirteenth Dalai Lama extended and repaired it into what it is now. As the religious and political centre of old Tibet and the winter residence of Dalai Lamas, the palace witnessed the life of the Dalai Lamas and the important political and religious activities in the past centuries. The Potala Palace also houses great amounts of rare cultural relics including the gold hand-written Buddhist scriptures, valuable gifts from the Chinese emperors and a lot of priceless antiques.
- Jokhang Temple: located in the center of the old section of Lhasa, built in 647 AD by Songtsen Gampo and his two foreign wives, and later extended by successive rulers. It has now become a gigantic architectural complex and it is the spiritual center of Tibet.
- Barkhor Street: a circular street around the Jokhang Temple in the center of the old section of Lhasa, it is the oldest street in a very traditional style in Tibet, where you can enjoy bargaining with the local Tibetan vendors for the handicrafts which are rarely seen elsewhere in the world. Barkhor Street is one of the most important religious paths along which pilgrims walk around Jokhang Temple while turning prayer wheels in their hands. They have been doing this for countless centuries. Buddhist pilgrims walk or progress by body-lengths in a clockwise direction. This walk can continue all day and well into the night.
Barkhor Street
Accommodations: Shangbala Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Norbulingka Park,Drepung Monastery,Sera Monastery
The whole day tour will bring you to the Norbulingka Park, the Drepung Monastery and the Sera Monastery.
- Norbulingka Park: Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden", built in 1751 AD as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama where they handled political affairs and practiced religious activities. It is now a large-scale palace complex and garden in Tibetan style covering an area of 40 hectares. The whole complex 370 rooms of different sizes and lawns shaded by green trees and enclosed by various flowers. Before 1959, commoners had no access to this park. Nowadays, on festivals and holidays, the local people in their colorful costumes come here with food and tents to sing and dance overnight.
- Drepung Monastery: the largest monastery of the Gelug Sect in Tibet, standing on the slope of the majestic Mount Gambo Utse; it was built in 1416 AD and is the place where each reincarnation of the Dalai Lama received his training. In its heyday, it had more than 10,000 monks. Now it is home to about 700 monks.
- Sera Monastery: Sera means "Wild Rose Garden" in Tibetan because lush wild rose woods once grew around it. The monastery is one of the three largest monasteries in Tibet. Located at the northern outskirts of Lhasa, it was built in 1419 AD by Jamchen Choje (or Sakyayeshe), one of the eight disciples of Tsong Khapa who was the founder of the Gelugpa Sect. The Sera Monastery houses three colleges built in the 15th and 16th centuries, and it is famous for the "Buddhism Scriptures Debating".
Accommodations: Gyantse Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Yamdrok Lake,Tibetan Family,Gyantse,Palcho Monastery
Today's drive from Lhasa to Gyantse is about 256 km which is about a 5 1/2 hour drive. Along the way you will visit Yamdrok Lake and a Tibetan family. After arrival in Gyantse, you will tour the Palcho Monastery.
- Yamdrok Lake: one of the three largest lakes of Tibet and one of the three holy lakes. It covers an area of 638 square kilometers with a coastline of 250 kilometers. The deepest point is 60 meters. The coast of the lake is an ideal pasture where you can enjoy the intoxicating, picturesque, and natural scenery.
- Tibetan Family: where you will be greeted and warmly welcomed by common Tibetan people in their traditional way and entertained with their typical food.
- Gyantse: an important wool trading post between Tibet and India in medieval times.
- Palcho Monastery: built in 1414 AD, it is unique because three Sects of Buddhism-Sakya, Gedan and Gelug are living harmoniously under one roof. The Palcho Pagoda beside the Monastery has 9 stories, 108 doors and 77 rooms housing some 100,000 statues of Buddha, so it is famed as the "100,000-Buddha Pagoda." The frescoes, statues and sculptures in the monastery are exquisite, succinct and life-like.
Thangka Paintings, made in Gyantse
Accommodations: Shigatse Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Tashilumpo Monastery
After breakfast, you will be driven from Gyantse to Shigatse (about 90km, 1.5-hour drive). In Shigatse, you will visit the Tashilumpo Monastery and free market.
- Tashilumpo Monastery: built in 1447, it is the oldest and largest Gelugpa monastery in Tibet and is the seat of Banchen Lama. It is painted in red and white and the buildings in the monastery stand closely together in terraced rows. This presents a grand and majestic view. The most amazing image in this monastery is the giant statue of Maitreya (Future Buddha). It is the largest such statue in the world and was erected by the 9th Panchen Lama in 1914. It stands 26 meters in height and is 275 kg in weight. It is covered in solid gold and inlaid with a number of precious jewels such as pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers. The image of the Buddha is kind, generous and vivid.
Accommodations: Shangbala Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Yaluzangbu River
Gala Event: Tibetan Dinner Show
Today, drive back to Lhasa (280km, about 6 hours driving) along the Yaluzangbu River and enjoy the beautiful view of the valley en route. After a rest in Lhasa, the farewell dinner will be arranged at the Typical Tibetan restaurant for you to enjoy the local food with Tibetan dances and songs.
- Yaluzangbu River: At 2,051 km in length, the Yaluzangbu River turns and twists like a silver dragon from the west to the east into the valleys of South Tibet. It runs through Muotuo County. After a 90-degree turn, the river runs from Tibet into India and empties into the Indian Ocean.
- Tibetan Dinner Show: While savouring typical Tibetan food you will enjoy traditional Tibetan costumes as well as singing and dancing performances. These performances are meant to praise the beautiful scenery and brilliant culture of Tibet and to show the bravery and enthusiasm of the Tibetan people. They demonstrate the Tibetan love of life and pursuit of happiness. You will possibly see a traditional horse-racing festival on the grassland of the plateau.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
Free during the day until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your onward flight to Chengdu where you will transfer to a flight to Chongqing. Upon your arrival at Chongqing, our local guide will meet you and escort you to the dock for preboarding your ship.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B,L,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.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B,L,D
Sightseeing: Shennong Stream
Shore excursion to Shennong Stream by smaller vessels.
- 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.
Accommodations: On the Cruise
Meals: B,L,D
Sightseeing: Three Gorges
Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam site.
- 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.
Accommodations: Camellia Hotel
Meals: B
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
Disembark the ship in Wuhan at 11:30AM. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to the airport for your flight to Kunming. Upon your arrival, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
Shadow Play Gorge, Yangtze Ribver Cruises
Accommodations: Camellia Hotel
Meals: B
Sightseeing: Stone Forest
Today, you will enjoy a full day trip to the Stone Forest which is about 90km to the south of Kunming.
- Stone Forest: a 270-million-year-old limestone karst formation of tightly bundled gray rocky outcrops, a natural wonder acknowledged as "World Karst Landscape Museum", the Stone Forest shows a variety of unique shapes, such as sword, mushrooms, tower, pillar and castle, representing the greatest miracle that nature can present to human beings.
Accommodations: Landscape Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Erhai Lake,Xizhou Bai Minority Village,Three Pagodas,Dali Ancient Town
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
After breakfast, you will take the morning flight to Dali. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to the city by our local guide. Today we will visit the Xizhou village which is the home of the Bai people. Then we will travel to the Three Pagodas and the ancient town of Dali. We will also enjoy a memorable cruise on Lake Erhai.
- Erhai Lake: shaped like a human ear this lake covers over 250 square kilometers. With its vast pool of water shining under the sun like a sheet of vivid green and the snow mantles of the Cang Mountain reflecting quiveringly in it, it is known poetically as "Silver Cang Mountain and Jade-like Erhai".
- Xizhou Bai Minority Village: a photogenic village 20km north of Dali, where Bai minority people are living and where you will can get some ideas of the Bais' flair for architecture and elegant living.
- Three Pagodas: at the foot of the Zhonghe Peak of the Cang Mountain, part of Chongshen Monastery, they are an emblem of the city's venerated history. The tallest of the trio, which is 69.13 metres tall, was built in 836 AD, while two smaller ones were built during a later period. No visit to Dali is complete without a call at these three pagodas.
- Dali Ancient Town: first established in 1382 AD, with a moat surrounding it. This old town has a typical layout like a chessboard, old-timey roofed buildings with dark blue tiles and the white and gray tall walls.
Accommodations: Sanhe Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Heqing Village & Xinhua Village,Lijiang Ancient Town
In the morning you will be driven to Lijiang (3-hour drive). Along the way, you will stop at Heqing County and pay a visit to Heqing Villages.
- Heqing Village & Xinhua Village: long history of handicraft craftsmanship, you will be visiting gold-making, silver-making, etc., workshops and you will have time to do some shopping if you wish.
- Lijiang Ancient Town: also called Dayan Town, built in the late Song dynasty and the early Yuan dynasty with a history of more than 800 years. This ancient town consists of clean streams flowing freely through the road network, the colorful cobbled streets, age-old swaying willow trees, age-old buildings and stone bridges. There are over 22 different ethnic minorities making Lijiang their home. Now and then you may see local folks in their own tradtional dress. Strolling around this charming ancient town, you will be attracted by the unique atmosphere and surprised by its ancient yet simple sense of "Harmony of Heaven and Man."
Accommodations: Sanhe Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain,Baisha Mural Paintings,Black Dragon Pool Park
Today, you will enjoy a full day trip to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Baisha Mural Paintings, the Black Dragon Pool Park and Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture inside the park.
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: it is so called because it looks like a flying jade dragon from afar. The mountain consists of 13 peaks and sprawls 35 km from north to south. Its glacier is the closest to the equator in the Northern Hemisphere. By taking the cable car up to a certain height, you can enjoy the expansive mountains views and snowy scenery.
- Baisha Mural Paintings: located in Baisha Township, 8km north of Lijiang, there are altogether 53 groups of mural paintings in different temples with fine and smooth lines, bright colors,vivid patterns and harmonious composition. Painted from the early days of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911),these mural paintings are an artistic representation of the different religious cultures such as Buddhism, Lamaism, Daoism and the Naxi Dongba religion.
- Black Dragon Pool Park: where you can see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from afar and the reflection of the mountain in the pool in a clear day. This park is the source of the water system of the Old Lijiang Town as the clean spring from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain gathers here.
Naxi People, Lijiang County
Accommodations: Sanhe Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: First Bend of the Yangtze River,Tiger Leaping Gorge
After breakfast, you will first visit the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Iron Chain Bridge in the Shigu (Stone Drum) Town, and then Tiger Leaping Gorge. We will then return to Lijiang County.
- First Bend of the Yangtze River: formed by the Yangtze River rushing down from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with a sharp turn of 45 degrees at Shigu (Stone Drum) Town before the river continues running on to northeast.
- Tiger Leaping Gorge: This gorge is located 92 km north of Lijiang County, between peaks of over 3,000 meters above the Jinsha River (upper course of Yangtze River). The legend goes that tigers often leap to the other side of the river by a huge rock lying in the middle of the river at the entrance of the Gorge, hence the name. This 17-kilometer-long Gorge is honored as the deepest and one of the most marvelous gorges on the earth.
Accommodations: Camellia Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: West Hill and Dragon Gate,The bird and flower market
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport and take the morning flight back to Kunming. Upon your arrival, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The tour in the afternoon will take you to the West Hill and Dragon Gate, and the bird and flower market.
- West Hill and Dragon Gate: located by the Dian Lake, known as "Sleeping Beauty," it is a natural forest park in Kunming with a series of winding steps, tunnels, and statue-filled grottoes leading to the top. After taking the cable car up to the Cablecar Station, you can walk along the path in the mountain, and stop now and then to enjoy the beauty of the scenery: blue skies, green water with slow sailing fishing boats and so on.
- The bird and flower market: located in the old section of the city, it is a bustling market not just selling birds, flowers, but also jade, so-called "antiques", handicrafts and so on together with lots of food stands for local specialities.
Accommodations: Guilin Osmanthus Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Fubo Hill,Reed Flute Cave
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
Free during the day until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Guilin. Upon your arrival at Guilin, the most scenic city in China, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. After rest for a little while and lunch, you will have a city tour to the Fubo Hill and the Reed Flute Cave.
- Fubo Hill: where you can see lots of Buddha statues left about 1000 years ago in the Returned Pearl Cave and have a birds' eye view of the whole city after climbing up to the very top.
- 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.
Accommodations: Guilin Osmanthus Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Longji,Zhuang People,Yao People
Today, you will enjoy a full-day tour to Longsheng Autonomous County and drive back to Guilin after the tour (about 2-hour drive). Longsheng county is 90 kms northwest of Guilin and many different ethnic groups live there such as the Zhuang, Yao, Miao and Dong people. In recent years, this county has gradually become a popular destination for photography enthusiasts and people who are interested in minority culture. On this tour you will not only enjoy the wonderful view of terraced rice paddies--the most famous section is called "Longji", lush bamboo groves and small villages on the hillside along the way, but also be amazed by the rich culture of the Zhuang and Yao people.
- Longji: means "Dragon's Backbone". When climbing to the top of it and looking down on the nearby terraced rice fields, you will have the feeling that you are standing on the dragon's back as the terraced rice paddies look like the shining scales of the dragon.
- Zhuang People: with over 17 million people, Zhuang is the largest ethnic minority group in China.
- Yao People: Yao is another major ethnic group living in the Guilin area that has a population over 2 million all over China. Yao women are believed to have the longest hair in the world.
Accommodations: New Century 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, the highlight of your sightseeing tour in Guilin, until you get to Yangshuo County. Free time in the afternoon after checking into the hotel in Yangshuo.
- 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.
Gaotian part of Li River. Guilin
Accommodations: New Century Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Yangshuo County
After breakfast, you will experience an interesting and enjoyable cycling tour along a country road in Yangshuo county. We will pay a visit to a local farmer's home en route.
- Yangshuo County: founded in 590 AD, Yangshuo County has been booming because of tourism. With so many beautifully shaped mountains surrounding this county, it is described as "the world of green lotus and jade bamboo shoots".
Accommodations: Lily Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Seven Star Park
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
Today, we will drive back to Guilin (1.5-hour drive) and pay a visit to the 'Seven Star Park' before your transfer to the airport for your flight to Hangzhou. Upon your arrival at Hangzhou, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
- 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.
Accommodations: Lily Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: West Lake,Lingyin Temple,Feilai Peak (Peak Flying From Afar),Dragon Well Tea Plantation,Six Harmonies Pagoda
The tour today in this beautiful city includes: West Lake by boat, Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak, Dragon Well Tea Plantation and Six Harmonies Pagoda.
- West Lake: There are 36 West Lakes throughout China, but the one in Hangzhou is the inspiration for them all. The name of the West Lake originated during the Tang Dynasty from its lying to the west of Qiantang County. Another saying is that the lake is also named after Xi Shi, a famous ancient beauty, because of the apt comparison made between the two by the famed poet Su Dongpo (1037-1101AD). Originally a lagoon, the lake was dredged in the 8th century and later diked. The entire lake is ringed on three sides by mountains and one side by the city proper. With the green hills, willow trees, elegant bridges and clean spring water around, the view of the West Lake is simply enchanting.
- Lingyin Temple: a celebrated Chan (Zen) Buddhist temple founded in 326AD, despite being destroyed and rebuilt 16 times, it remains one of Hangzhou's main attractions. The current structure dates from the late Qing dynasty. Its highlights are the Great Hall with its 65 foot camphor-wood statue of the Buddha and the FeilaiPeak opposite the temple.
- Feilai Peak (Peak Flying From Afar): opposite the Lingyin Temple, 209 meters (about 700 feet) high,it is a hill covered with inscriptions and reliefs carved into the rock dating from the 10th to 14th centuries.
- Dragon Well Tea Plantation: Dragon Well Green Tea is one of the most famous brands in China. In this Tea Plantation you can pick the tea leaves, taste a nice cup of tea and learn the history and processing procedure of tea.
- Six Harmonies Pagoda: first built in 970 AD in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) to calm down the tide of the Qiantang River, it is a pavilion-style tower made of brick and wood with a height of 59.89 meters. The name "six harmonies" comes from the six Buddhist ordinances, meaning "harmonies of the heaven, earth, east, west, south and north".
Dragon Well Tea Plantation
Accommodations: Yuanwailou hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Hanshan Temple,Humble Administrator's Garden
Transfer via: Soft-seat(First class) train on our arrangement
Take the train to Suzhou and our local guide will escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day you will have a visit to Hanshan Temple and the Humble Administrator's Garden.
- Hanshan Temple: It used to be one of ten most famous temples in China where ther are a lot of cultural relics.
- Humble Administrator's Garden: covers 10 acres and is the largest garden in Suzhou. It was built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty and is divided into the eastern, middle and western parts. All of this centers upon the broad expanse of a lake to form the poetic and picturesque garden landscapes and waterscapes with exquisite buildings and luxuriant vegetation.
Accommodations: Yuanwailou hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Grand Canal,Pan Gate,Lingering Garden,The No.1 Silk Factory,Tiger Hill Park
Gala Event: Garden Show
We will take a cruise on the Grand Canal and then visit the Pan Gate, Lingering Garden, the No. 1 silk factory and Tiger Hill. We will then enjoy the Garden Show in the evening.
- Grand Canal: commenced in the Sui Dynasty (605-616 AD), 1794 kilometers long from Beijing to Hangzhou, the Grand Canal has created a bountiful agricultural region and served as a major transportation artery between north and south.
- Pan Gate: the only remaining city gate dating from the 12th century. It is built over Suzhou's former moat.
- Lingering Garden: is one of the four most famous gardens in China and was constructed in 1593 during the Ming Dynasty. It is famous for its artistic way of dealing with the spaces between various kinds of architectural forms and garden courts.
- The No.1 Silk Factory: Suzhou is famous for its silk production. In the factory you can learn more about silk production and detailed steps of the silk making process, and you will have an opportunity to purchase some of the incredibly delicate works as well.
- Tiger Hill Park: a symbol of the city, with a history of over 2,500 years, the Tiger Hill has had the reputation of being the No.1 sight of Suzhou, with a Song-dynasty leaning pagoda on top which was built in brick to imitate wood architecture.
- Garden Show: Quite different from that in broad daylight, the classical Chinese garden setting in Suzhou creates an atmosphere of peace and calm in the evening. It is relaxing and enhancing to tour an elegant garden at night with the Chinese melodious music. The garden show, a show of local opera, folk song, dancing and traditional instruments, is a special and harmonious combination of classical Chinese garden and music.
Accommodations: Huaxi Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Zhouzhuang
Transfer via: Train and Internal flight on our arrangement
Half day tour to Zhouzhuang by car with your personal driver and then you will be driven to the Shanghai.Then you will be flown to Huangshan. Upon your arrival at Huangshan city (Tunxi), our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel.
- Zhouzhuang: meaning Zhou's village was named after Zhou Digong in the Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD) who donated more than 13-hectare of his land as the field for the Quanfu Temple. Famed as No.1 water village in China with a 900 year history, Zhouzhuang is an ancient town featuring great cultural traditions and unique architecture surrounded by water with many tributaries. You will visit stone bridges and old residences left from Ming and Qing Dynasties, where you can have a glimpse of particular charisma of Jiangnan(meaning south of Yangtze River).
"the Journey to the West". Stilt-walking Perfomers in Zhouzhuang.
Accommodations: Paiyunlou Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Yixian County,Hongcun,Xidi
After breakfast you will be driven to Yixian County, 54km away from the city of Huangshan (about 1-hour drive), where you are going to visit two ancient villages--Hongcun and Xidi. You will then be driven back to the city of Huangshan after the visit. after the visit. In the afternoon you will be driven 80 kilometers (1.5 hour-drive) to Huangshan Scenic Area and take the cable car at Yungu Station to the top of the mountain. After check-in and lunch, you will view Brush Pen Peak, tour Begin-to-Believe Peak to see the grotesque pinetrees, Lion Peak, Xihai Grand Canyon, and enjoy the sunset glow at the Cloud Dispelling Pavilion, etc. Stay overnight at the summit.
- Yixian County: located to the southwest of Mt.Huangshan, with over 2000 years of history and as many as 3,594 well preserved old dwellings left from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. These dwellings are highly praised as "Treasure of Chinese Old Dwellings Architecture".
- Hongcun: a model of the ancient villages in China with the features of beautiful lake, first class old dwellings, peaceful streets and lanes, and the perfect natural background, where the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was partly shot. Hongcun was first built during the Southern Song Dynasty, about 900 years ago, by the Wang Clan. The layout of the village resembles the outline of an ox, hence it is popularly called as "Ox-shapedVillage". The early ox-shaped village came into being in the Ming Dynasty when Wang Siqi, their 76th generation ancestor, hired a famous fengshui expert He Keda as their advisor. His advice resulted in the construction of ponds and water channels flowing through nearly every household within the village so as to keep the "internal Yang (masculine) water" and assure for "eternal prosperity extending to all later generations". Due to the scientific construction, the buildings in the Hongcun are in great harmony with nature, showing the traditional Chinese philosophy that Nature and Man are one.
- Xidi: with a history of over 1000 years, Xidi is 700 meters from east to west, 300 meters south to north, 300 old dwellings in the village left from Ming and Qing Dynasties form the shape of a boat. Embraced in the mountains, abundant in resources and autarkic inhabitants who are accustomed to a life of leisure, all these make Xidi famed as "the reclusive utopian land".
Accommodations: Paiyunlou Hotel
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Mt. Huangshan
Try to get up early in the morning to catch the magical sunrise. After breakfast you will descend, first by foot down the western side of the mountain. Along the way you will see Flying Rock, climb over the Brightness Apex--the second highest peak on Huangshan and Turtle Peak.You will then pass Lotus Peak(climb it only when you feel energetic and strong enough)--Huangshan's highest peak, on the top of which offers panoramic views of Huangshan. Stay overnight at the summit.
- Mt. Huangshan: located in the southern Anhui Province, extending about 40km from north to south and 30km from east to west, the Huangshan Scenic Area is comprised of numerous peaks of various heights and grotesque rocks of different formation, and is well known for its extraordinary aesthetic mountainous features. Here we can find all of the beauties of nature, with its charm lying especially in its oddly-shaped pines, fantastic rocks, sea of clouds and hot springs--the four supreme sights on the mountain. The picturesque Mt.Huangshan has been a famed destination for scholars, poets and the occasional hermits in Chinese history, and has long been effusively described as "awesome," "a wonderland" and "Heaven on Earth."
Accommodations: Paiyunlou Hotel
Meals: B
This is a free day for you to enjoy and explore the mountain.
Accommodations: Jiulong Hotel Shanghai
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Tunxi Ancient Street,Ink Stone Factory
Transfer via: China domestic flight on our arrangement
After breakfast you will take the cable car at Yuping Station down to the foot of Mt. Huangshan and then visit the Nine Dragon waterfall (if there is enough water). The tour today will first bring you to Shexian County, 27km away from the city of Huangshan, where you will visit Tangyue Memorial Archways in Tangyue Village. After the tour you will be driven back to the city of Huangshan to visit Tunxi Ancient Street and Ink Stone Factory before your transfer to the airport for your flight to the next destination-Shanghai. Upon your arrival at Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
- Tunxi Ancient Street: a well preserved bustling center of trade since the Southern Song Dynasty. It is paved with slabs of stone and is one mile long with old shops lining both sides of the street. These old shops are in perfect order and an unmistakable Huizhou architectural style.
- Ink Stone Factory: ink stone is the important part of "Four Treasures of the Study" in China. Because of its solid texture, the ink stone can be handed down from one generation to another. The Ink Stone Factory in Huangshan is one of the most famous ink stone factories in China, where you can see the whole working process.
Accommodations: Jiulong Hotel Shanghai
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: Shanghai Museum,Yu Garden,Yuyuan Market,Jade Buddha Temple
Gala Event: Acrobatic Show
Today, your full-day excursion of incredible Shanghai will include: Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Market and the Jade Buddha Temple. Enjoy a wonderful Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Centre Theatre tonight.
- Shanghai Museum: often ranked as China's best museum, it is the biggest museum in China with a fine collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese artifacts.
- Yu Garden: located in the Old Town of Shanghai and laid out in 1559 AD by a powerful Ming official, Yu Garden recreates a beautiful landscape of pagodas, pavilions, rockeries, fountains, ancient trees and precious flowers.
- Yuyuan Market: outside the Yu Garden, a bustling market with different snacks and trinkets.
- Jade Buddha Temple: named after its exquisite milk-white jade Buddha brought from Burma in the 19th century by a Chinese monk, it is a spiritual oasis in the midst of a modern metropolis.
- Acrobatic Show: Chinese Acrobatics is one of the oldest performing arts with its history tracing back to Neolithic times, during its development in the history, it has been absorbing plentiful merits from the opera, dance and Chinese Kungfu, and formed its own artistic features. In Portman Acrobatic Show, in a very typical Shanghainese setting and atmosphere, you will enjoy many breathtaking and stunning programs such as Calvaria Skills, Silk Suspending, Hoop Diving and so on performed by very skillful performers, you will truly have an unforgettable experience of your life.
nonglijiuyueshiwu
Accommodations: Jiulong Hotel Shanghai
Meals: B,L
Sightseeing: The Bund ,Nanjing Road,Oriental Pearl TV Tower
After breakfast, you will tour the Bund and the Nanjing Road, and then visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
- The Bund : where the great trading houses and banks had their headquarters in the 1920s and the 1930s. The Bund is about about a mile long, it is the city's fulcrum.
- Nanjing Road: known as "China's No.1 Shopping Street" with a huge selection of merchandise on sale.
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower: It stands opposite to the Bund in the Pudong area of Shanghai. Located on the bank of the Huangpu River, it is 468 meters high which makes it the highest TV tower in Asia and the third highest tower in the world. From the sightseeing floor, you can get a bird's eye view of the exciting city of Shanghai.
Meals: B
Transfer via: International flight on your own arrangement
Free in the day until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your sweet home.
China domestic flights as specified in the itinerary 
Accommodations for 51 nights, including
4 nights at four star or higher hotels, 42 nights at three star hotels, 1 night nights at two star hotels, 4 nights at five star yangtze cruise ship
96 meals, including 50 full breakfasts, 43 lunches and 3 dinners
(including Chuan Food)
4 gala evening events--Shaolin Kung Fu Performance in Henan,Tibetan Dinner Show in Tibet,Garden Show in Suzhou,Acrobatic Show in Shanghai 
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
In ancient Poems, the Juyong Pass was described as the most precipitous one that even birds could not fly across.
We would like to let you know that we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Guilin. Libby was fantastic and we really enjoyed spending time with her. Her English was excellent and she was able to find out the answers to some of our strangest questions! The driver was also great-much safer than the other tours we took in Beijing and Chengdu.
- Karen and Michael,Canada
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