Real Taste of China

Itinerary

• Day 1: Beijing, Arrival

  Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China! Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you on a private transfer to your hotel. The rest of today is at your leisure to relax and recover from jet lag.

  • Beijing

• Day 2: Beijing, Forbidden City and Peking Roast Duck

  Today's Beijing sightseeing starts from the immense Tiananmen Square, the iconic political center of modern China. Nearby, you will enter the magnificent Forbidden City, which once served as the residence of 24 Chinese emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911). Led by your guide, admire the ancient palatial complex and learn about the lavish royal lifestyle.

  At lunchtime, prepare your stomach for traditional Beijing food. Zha Jiang Mian (literally "Fried Sauce Noodles") is a signature noodle dish not to be missed! This afternoon goes with a visit to the former imperial garden of Jingshan Park. Walk up to Wanchun Pavilion, and you will take in the grand scale and perfect layout of the Forbidden City.

  Top off the day with a classic roast duck dinner at a highly-rated restaurant. Watch the chef slice golden roast duck into thin pieces. Then, wrap a slice of duck with some julienned vegetables and savory sauce in a thin pancake. Take a bite and let the crispness of the skin, the tenderness of the meat, and the freshness of vegetable crash in your mouth and delight your taste bud.

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  • Beijing

• Day 3: Beijing, Great Wall Tour

  After breakfast, set out to visit the Temple of Heaven, an imperial sacrificial altar amidst expansive gardens. Here, admire the circular architectural splendor built completely created without a single nail and get involved in the locals' various morning activities like playing Tai Chi.

  Proceed with a 2-hour drive to the awe-inspiring Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Lunch will be served at a restaurant on the way, a chance to taste the local flavors of suburban Beijing. Once reaching there, you will take a cable car up to the well-kept wall, hike from one watchtower to another for superb views, and learn about its historical importance from your knowledgeable guide.

  This evening is yours to explore the capital city independently, sampling some exquisite cuisine or street snacks.

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  • Beijing

• Day 4: Beijing - Xi'an

  This morning, your guide will lead you on a foodie tour to try out some local favorite refreshments, like Mung Bean Soup with a unique taste, and explore Beijing's historic Hutongs for an immersive dose of old Beijing. After lunch, head for the airport and take a flight to Xi'an, once the imperial center of ancient China for over 1,000 years.

  Upon landing, meet your local guide for a private transfer to your accommodation. En route, your guide will give a brief introduction to the city and its distinctive food culture. For the rest of today, relax at your hotel or step out to see what this ancient city has to offer.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 5: Xi'an, Terracotta Army & Muslim Quarter

  Your Xi'an tour starts with the marvelous Terracotta Army, about an hour's drive outside the city. Roughly 8,000 life-size clay soldiers, chariots, and horses were individually sculpted over 2,000 years ago to guard Qin Shi Huang - China's first emperor - during his eternal rest. What a surprise to see each warrior in its unique facial features, hairstyle, clothing, and pose.

  This afternoon, you will find yourself back in the city center to explore the lively Muslim Quarter. Here, pay an insightful visit to the distinct Great Mosque with traditional Chinese and Islamic architectural styles before enjoying some leisure time to eat your way down the streets lined with restaurants and food stalls. Your guide can advise of the best spots to sample ethnically Muslim dishes and local Xi'an specialties.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 6: Xi'an - Chengdu

  Spend this morning visiting a local family to blend into the lifestyle typical of Xi'an. Chat with the host and partake in cooking homely dishes such as Chinese dumplings and hand-pulled noodles. If you like and time permits, follow your host to buy fresh meat and vegetables from a nearby market. After lunch, set off on a 4-hour high-speed train journey to Chengdu, recognized by UNESCO as the City of Gastronomy.

  On arrival, be collected by your new guide and taken to your hotel for the night.

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  • Chengdu

• Day 7: Chengdu, Giant Panda and Hotpot

  After breakfast, get ready to meet adorable giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. You will have ample opportunities to observe the animals eating, playing, and sleeping. Enjoy a Chengdu snack meal for lunch at a local restaurant.

  This afternoon, walk into the Wenshu Monastery, the largest and best-preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu, for a pleasant escape from the crowds. Then, blend into the local leisure life at the People's Park, playing mahjong, drinking tea, and exchanging juicy secrets.

  Wrap up the exciting day with an authentic Sichuan hotpot. Select your preferred ingredients, cook them in a communal pot and challenge your taste bud to enjoy the spicy flavor.

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  • Chengdu

• Day 8: Chengdu, Sichuan Cuisine Cooking

  Today, start off to visit the wholesale Spice Market selling abundant chillis, herbs, and spices like the tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorn. Following this, your guide will take you to the Sichuan Cuisine Museum for a hands-on culinary experience. Led by the professional chef, get to know various cooking tools and ingredients, taste authentic Sichuan snacks, and cook classic Sichuan dishes like Kung Pao Chicken. After cooking, feast on your creations for lunch and receive the "Rookie Master Chef" certificate signed by the chef.

  The rest of today is free to relax or explore further. You might like to stroll around Jinli Old Street for more Chengdu specialties, such as Wontons, spicy chicken on a stick, and Shangxin Liangfen (literally sad jelly noodles).

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  • Chengdu

• Day 9: Chengdu - Guangzhou

  Leave the spicy-scent Chengdu behind before flying to Guangzhou, renowned for its lightly-seasoned and delectable Cantonese Cuisine.

  After you touch down and meet your local guide, a private transfer will whisk you to your hotel of choice. Take the remainder of today to relax into its rhythms and get your first bite of local delicacies.

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  • Guangzhou

• Day 10: Guangzhou, Yum Cha in a Teahouse

  After breakfast, head out with your guide to visit the city's two essential sights, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Then, come to the highlight of today's tour, Yum Cha (literally drinking tea) at a local traditional teahouse. Just as Cantonese do, order a pot of your favorite Chinese tea together with several signature dim sum dishes such as shrimp dumplings, sweet cream bun, and turnip cake. As the tour concludes, wander through the narrow streets of the bustling Qingping Market to get a feel for old Guangzhou.

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  • Guangzhou

• Day 11: Guangzhou - Hong Kong, Michelin Street Food Hunting

  Spend this morning relaxing before you board the high-speed train to Hong Kong, a booming metropolitan mixing East and West, ancient and modern.

  Arriving at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station within one hour, you will be met and taken to your hotel for check-in and refresh. In the late afternoon, embark on the food-themed walking tour around Kowloon's lively neighborhood to search out some of the city's Michelin-recommended street food, like pudding, rice noodle rolls, and pastries.

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  • Hong Kong

• Day 12: Hong Kong, City Highlights

  Today, your guide will lead you to experience Hong Kong's unique blend of East and West, ancient and modern. Explore the floating community of Aberdeen (with a sampan ride), the Repulse Bay of Hong Kong Island, and the Stanley Market before taking a Peak Tram ride up to the famous Victoria Peak, the highest hill on Hong Kong Island. On the following 1.5-hour Peak Circle Walk, you will have the reward of spectacular views over the city.

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  • Hong Kong

• Day 13: Hong Kong, Leisure Day

  Enjoy a free day for your own discovery.

  You may like to take a taxi or the city metro to explore Kowloon Area with visits to Wong Tai Sin Temple, Lui Seng Chun, and Bird Garden, spicing up with an afternoon tea at a high-end western restaurant or local cafe.

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  • Hong Kong

• Day 14: Hong Kong, Departure

  Your food adventure comes to an end today. At the appointed time, you will be picked up from the hotel and taken to the airport for your flight back home. We are looking forward to seeing you back in China soon!

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