Classic China with Guizhou Minority

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Hong Kong

  Once the only gateway to the West and mainland China, Hong Kong is now still attracting countless visitors to discover its world-class cuisine and multiple cultures. When you arrive at Hong Kong International Airport, your personal guide will greet you and escort you to your hotel.

  • Hong Kong

• Day 2: Hong Kong

  Free day on your own without a guide.

  Due to the well-developed public transportation and the wide use of English, you can explore this city on your own leisurely without any problem. Following suggestions are for your reference: you can start the day by taking a Star Ferry (over a century's history) around the harbor. After that, board on the historic peak tram and reach Victoria Peak for overlooking a panoramic view of Hong Kong. There are many restaurants available on the peak if you want to stop for lunch. In the afternoon, do a spot of shopping: from top end luxury shops on Hong Kong Island, to lively Chinese markets on the Kowloon side, to antiques on the Hollywood Road, you can find almost anything you want. At 8:00 pm, the city will put on a light show, 'A Symphony of Lights'. You can enjoy it either from the cross-harbor ferry or from one of the many bars or restaurants with fine views on the Kowloon side.

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  • Hong Kong

• Day 3: Hong Kong - Guilin

  Continue the city exploration on your own and then be transferred to the railway station for the high-speed train (3.5 hours) to Guilin. On arrival, a local tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel.

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  • Guilin

• Day 4: Guilin - Yangshuo

  Guilin is well-known to the world for its natural picturesque landscape and the Li River cruise is no doubt the essence of your Guilin trip. Today, you will experience it. Depart from the hotel at around 8:00 am and drive 50 minutes to the dock to get on board. Along the river, you will immerse into the breathtaking pastoral views of verdant hills and green waters. The cruise usually takes around 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on the water condition.

  Disembark the cruise at around 2:00 pm, walk through the bustling West Street and then get to the hotel in Yangshuo.

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  • Yangshuo

• Day 5: Yangshuo

  Free day for you to relax in the idyllic countryside. You may like to take a leisurely bamboo rafting, a slight countryside cycling or try your hand at Chinese cooking. All of these can be arranged by your hotel directly or with the help of your guide.

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  • Yangshuo

• Day 6: Yangshuo - Guilin - Congjiang - Zhaoxing

  In the morning, your Guilin guide will accompany you to take a high-speed train to Congjiang and escort you throughout your stay in Zhaoxing. Arrive in Congjiang one hour later and then move to Zhaoxing by our private van.

  In the afternoon, you will visit Zhaoxing Dong Village, the largest Dong Village which is famed as "the village of drum towers".

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  • Zhaoxing

• Day 7: Zhaoxing

  Full day to explore the minority villages, including: Basha Miao Village - the last gunman tribe in China, Zhanli Dong Village - a mysterious village possessing an ancient prescription to balance the genders of the population, Xiaohuang Dong Village - the hometown of Dong Ethnic Dage (a kind of polyphonic folk song which was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO), and Huanggang Dong Village - a less known village retaining its authentic appearance until today.

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  • Zhaoxing

• Day 8: Zhaoxing - Congjiang - Guiyang

  Visit Tang'an Village, hike from there for around 2 to 3 hours to enjoy the terraced fields scenery, and then get to Congjiang railway station for the high-speed train to Guiyang, the capital city of Guizhou Province. Upon arrival, a local tour guide will welcome and send you to your hotel.

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  • Guiyang

• Day 9: Guiyang - Anshun - Guiyang

  Tianlong Tunbao in Anshun is an ancient town built in the Ming Dynasty. For more than 600 years, people here have maintained traditional dress and customs. As a branch of the Han nationality, they are completely different from other Han people or the ethnic minorities in Guizhou.

  Today, you will drive forward northwest about 1.5 hours to visit this special town, and you may happen to get a chance to watch a local opera performance in the town. Later on, another 1.5 hours' driving to the east will take you to Qingyan Old Town, another historical town with lots of relics of Ming and Qing Styles.

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  • Guiyang

• Day 10: Guiyang - Xi'an

  Take flight departing from Guiyang in the morning. Arrive in Xi'an 2 hours later, be met by local tour guide and accompanied to visit Hanyang Tomb nearby the airport, which will show you the court life of royal family and production scene of ordinary people in Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago. Later, drive about one hour to your hotel in downtown.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 11: Xi'an

  Today's highlight is the legendary Terracotta Warriors. Different from the Hanyang Tomb you see yesterday, the Terracotta Warriors will demonstrate you the great military power of the Qin Dynasty which was just before the Han Dynasty. You can spend around 2.5 hours there and then drive back to the city for about one hour.

  In the afternoon, visit the tranquil Small Wild Goose Pagoda and take a Chinese calligraphy class there. Continue a relaxing stroll through Muslim Street and have a glimpse of Chinese Muslims' real life.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 12: Xi'an - Pingyao

  Visit a local family in the morning. In there, you can make dumplings, stretch noodles, cook homely dishes and enjoy a family meal with the family members. If time permits, you will have an opportunity to go to market with the host.

  In the afternoon, take a high-speed train to Pingyao. Arrived after 3 hours, be met and escorted to your hotel.

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  • Pingyao

• Day 13: Pingyao

  Follow your tour guide to explore the well-preserved walled city - Pingyao Ancient Town, visit the oldest bank in China - Rishengchang Exchange Shop, Ming-Qing Street and other small sites hidden in the town.

  Late in the day, get out of the old town to visit Shuanglin Temple and Family Wang's Compound which is regarded as the typical representative of Chinese dwelling in the north.

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  • Pingyao

• Day 14: Pingyao - Beijing

  Have some free time before being escorted to the railway station for the 5 hours' train to Beijing. After arrival, be transferred to the hotel and enjoy some free time on your own.

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  • Beijing

• Day 15: Beijing

  As the political centre of today and old times, the Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City should be always on your visit list of Beijing. Your exploration of the capital city is started with them. After spending around 40 minutes on the square, you will then proceed to the Forbidden City to see the place the royal families lived and listen to the stories of them.

  Next stop is the Jingshan Park where you can climb up the Coal Hill to get a fabulous panoramic view of the surrounding. Finally, end today's tour at the Temple of Heaven, a divine place the feudal emperors visited yearly to pray for good harvest.

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  • Beijing

• Day 16: Beijing

  It is a great way to end your China tour with a memorable tour to the Great Wall. After breakfast, you will drive about 2.5 hours to the Jinshanling Great Wall, which is about 130 km from the city. Compared to other popular sections like Badaling, it will treat you will a more peaceful and exclusive experience. You could do moderate hiking on the wall for around 3 to 4 hours depending on interests. Finish the tour in the late afternoon and then return to the city.

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  • Beijing

• Day 17: Beijing, Departure

  Time to say goodbye. When you are ready, the guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby and send you to the airport for your flight back home.

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