Classic China Tour

16 Day Tour Itinerary

Tour Code: Essential Tour-Classic-04

• Day 1-3 in Shanghai
• Day 1

  On your arrival at Shanghai Pudong Airport, your tour guide will greet you and guide you to take a ride in the world’s fastest train Maglev Train. Running 430 km per hour, it takes only 8 minutes to transfer you to Longyang Road Station in the downtown where your driver is ready to pick you up and escort you to your hotel.

  Day 2

  Today you will visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center to probe into the future of this metropolis. Then take a relaxing stroll in the beautiful Yu Garden, a masterpiece of traditional Chinese gardens, and get a taste of Shanghai’s local life in the bustling Yuyuan Market, followed by a drop by a Silk Workshop. In the evening, you will enjoy the reputable Acrobatic Show.

  Day 3

  In the morning, you’ll walk down the famous Bund along Huangpu River, the best place to see old colonial buildings & Shanghai’s amazing skyline, visit the flourishing Nanjing Road, and then get a fantastic bird’s eye view from Jinmao Tower.

  After the tour, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Guilin, a picturesque city renowned for its karst landscape. Arrive in Guilin and rest in your hotel.

• Day 4-6 in Guilin
• Day 4

  On this day you will take an excursion to visit the beautiful Longji Rice Terraces. Originated in Yuan Dynasty, these terraces have been well and kept for 700 years just as they were first cultivated. Their owners are ethnic tribes, Miao and Yao people.

  You will walk along the quiet countryside paths, visit a minority village, try their primitive farming lifestyle, and climb up the Longji mound to enjoy the charming landscape. Be transferred back to Guilin after the tour.

  Day 5

  Li River Cruise, the highlight of any Guilin tour, is your first stop today. Starting at Zhujiang Pier, you will cruise down along the enchanting Li River and disembark at Yangshuo. En route, you will be inspired by breathtaking views of towering limestone peak of various shapes, limpid waters, thriving groves, rice paddies and locals working in fields.

  After reaching Yangshuo and check-in, you will take a bike tour to explore the real rural life in China.

  Day 6

  You will be driven back to Guilin in the morning to tour the city’s must-sees. First head to Elephant Trunk Hill to discover how the hill resemble a huge elephant drinking at Li River, stop by a Pearl Museum and then visit the fabulous Reed Flute Cave which is known as "A Natural Palace of Art".

  Later be transferred to the airport for a flight to Chengdu, home to the cute giant pandas. Upon arriving in Chengdu, your guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel.

• Day 7-8 in Chengdu
• Day 7

  Today you will go to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base to enjoy an close-up encounter with pandas and learn more about this endangered spice via a documentary film and exhibition. A panda-hug is available but requires an extra cost.

  Then visit Chengdu's largest temple Wenshu Temple and taste fragrant Chinese tea in its tiny teahouse as locals usually do. After, ramble about at the Jinli Old Street to see how local people enjoy their entertainment here.

  Day 8

  You will be free to pursue your personal activities until your local guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Lhasa, the capital of the mysterious Tibet.

  Upon your arrival at Gonggar airport, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel in Lhasa city (2-hour drive). After checking into your hotel, you are adviesed to relax at your hotel to adjust to the high altitude.

• Day 9-10 in Lhasa
• Day 9

  The overwhelming Potala Palace is your first stop. As the symbol of Tibet, the Palace was built in 641 AD and was a winter palace of Dalai Lama who is Tibet’s pope. Impressive Tibetan architectures, huge golden Buddha statues, red-robed lamas and devoted pilgrims all make it a must-visit.

  Later, you will visit the age-old Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet, and walk the special circular pilgrimage route as local followers always do at the Barkhor Street.

  Day 10

  After breakfast, you will tour the charming Norbulingka Park, which is known as "the Summer Palace of Tibet", and then come to Drepung Monastery, an ancient temple once housed 10,000 monks in its heyday.

  You tour ends at Sera Monastery. Built in 1419, the monastery is one of the three largest monasteries in Tibet and is famous for its traditoinal Buddhism scriptures debates.

• Day 11-13 in Xian
• Day 11

  Free in the day until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Xian.

  Upon arriving in Xian, your local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda before taking you to your hotel.

  Day 12

  Today’s tour begins with Terracotta Warriors. You will inspect the incredible 6,000 life-size terra soldiers & horses and listen to the legends of their master, Emperor Qin Shihuang, who united China for the first time. Then visit Art Ceramics Factory to view how these amazing statues were created 2,200 years ago.

  In the afternoon, you will tour the Ancient City Walls, the world’s largest city walls, the historic Bell Tower and appreciate Chinese stele calligraphy at Forest of Stone Steles Museum.

  Day 13

  The morning sightseeing will take you to the Great Mosque, one of China’s largest mosques, and the Muslim Community to admire the exotic religious architectures and Muslim culture. Then visit Hanyang Tombs to appreciate the valuable cultural relics and unearthing items.

  After the tour, be escorted to the airport for the flight to Beijing, the capital of China.

• Day 14-16 in Beijing
• Day 14

  On this day you will first visit Tiananmen Square, the largest palaze on earth. Passing through the iconic Tiananmen Gate, then you will enter the splendid Forbidden City, China’s No.1 palace complex famous for its grand royal buildings, exquisite ornaments and priceless treasures.

  In the afternoon, you will take a pedicab to explore Hutongs, the disappearing ancient alleys of Old Beijing, and then ramble about along the Houhai Bar Street. Evening, enjoy the marvelous Kungfu Show.

  Day 15

  No Beijing tour is complete without a visit to the Great Wall. Today you will tour the magnificent Great Wall, the 8th Wonder of the World. Walking on the venerable ramparts, you will be amazed at the unbelivable defensive constructions and appalling landscape that surrounds the Wall.

  Descending the Great Wall, you will stop by a Jade Gallery and then take a leisurely stroll along the Sacred Road, a royal path noted for vivid stone statues and afterlife stories.

  Day 16

  After breakfast, you will visit Beijing’s spectacular Temple of Heaven where emperors in ancient times worshiped  Heaven for a national good harvest. Here you will also enjoy watching locals doing their special morning exercises.

  Then you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to your next destination.