Travel through the centuries as you journey through China. View life as it once was as you explore the Forbidden City and the old alleys of Beijing. Understand life today in the city and countryside by interacting with local people during your trip. Marvel at the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Warriors in Xian before heading to Chengdu to see playful pandas. Capture stunning vistas in picturesque Guilin and Yangshou. Meander the West Lake of Hangzhou, paradise of China. End your journey in powerfully dynamic, cosmopolitan Shanghai.

Suggested itinerary

Day 1. Beijing 

• Arrive at Beijing and be transferred to Hotel.
  

Day 2 Beijing/Great Wall Mutianyu & Ming Tombs

• Visit the over 500 year’s imperial Ming Tombs sites in the suburb of Beijing in the morning
• Then head to Mutianyu Section of Great Wall. Before our ascent, we will stop for lunch at a Chinese restaurant near the base of Mutianyu.
• Then, it takes a 40-minute hike along the Wall’s steps or a 5-minute cable car ride from the foot of the mountain to the top. However, be aware that the Wall itself also requires hiking up and down from one section to another if you wish to see several watchtowers and viewpoints.
  (B,L)

Day 3. Beijing /Pedicab Hutong Family Visit + National Museum + Forbidden City

• In the morning, we drive to the Hutong, area to have a glimpse at life in a local hutong (a network of narrow streets and alleyways that make up a preserved neighborhood of old Beijing), a chat with a resident of a traditional courtyard house, a walk through Tiananmen Square.
• Visit the National Museum, lunch at a Chinese restaurant, and a guided trek through the Forbidden City.
  (B,L)

Day 4. Beijing/Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace + Olympic Venues– Xi'an (overnight soft-sleeper train)

• Learn the history and the architectural symbols of the Temple of Heaven and learn to practice Taichi in the park. 
• Walk around the Olympic Venues (Bird Nest & Water Cube) for pictures, then head to the Summer Palace, the imperial garden & palace which is mainly dominated by the Lake & Longevity Hill. 
• Take the overnight soft sleeper train to Xi’an.
  (B,L)

Day 5. Xi’an

• We start the day with a leisurely stroll along Xi'an's glorious Ming-era city walls.
• Visit the world famous excavation site - the Terracotta Warriors, thousands of life-sized soldiers, officers, horses and wagons, form a component of the underground army buried to protect the first emperor of China during his afterlife - he is also builder of the Great Wall.
  (B,L,D)

Day 6. Xi'an City / Guilin

• This day we make for an early start to the Small Goose Pagoda - one of China's most famous pagodas.
• Visit the Shaanxi History Museum, meandering through its halls of ancient treasures that trace back more than 1,000 years of Chinese history, and evidence the important role Xi'an played as a center of development for Buddhism.
• After lunch, we explore the winding alleys of the Muslim Quarter with its unique Great Mosque. You will also have time for shopping in the bazaar.
• Head to the lesser known Terracotta Army of Hanyangling, or nicknamed “nude figures of warriors.” 
  It is the Mausoleum of the Western Han Emperor Liu Qi and his wife, the Empress Wangi, and is located in the village of Zhanjianan on the Loess Plateau 20 km North of Xianyang City and some 22 kilometers from both Xianyang airport and Xian. The 81 pits contained terracotta goods for the afterlife including thousands of animals, dogs, sheep, goats and pigs all formally laid out ready for slaughter. There were stoves, grain jars, wine vessels, horses and chariots all intended for the Emperor's use in the next life. What amazed historians even more was the discovery of thousands of nude and semi-nude, armless figures of warriors one third life-size.
• This later afternoon we fly to Guilin.
  (B,L)

Day 7. Guilin / Longsheng (Dragon backbone Rice Terrace)

• Have breakfast in the hotel and then check out.
• Head to Longsheng, and climb up the Longji (Dragon Backbone) Rice Terrace.
• Check in the hotel on the summit of the Rice Terrace Hill.
• Walk to some view spots of this famous Dragon Backbone (Longji) Rice Terrace and explore some Zhuang ethnic minority villages.
• Stay overnight in Longsheng.
  (3-star hotel, traditional ambiance).
  (B,L,D)

Day 8. Longsheng / Yangshuo(bamboo rafting; hike along the river & cookery class from market to table)

• Wake up early and go for a walk if you want to see sunrise over the glittering rice terrace. 
• Depart this stunning landscape for Yangshuo (about 2 hours' drive).
• Take leisurely walk for around 2-3 hours, along the highlight section of the Li River in Yangshuo, where the most magnificent landscape is located. You will walk through some villages and meet locals.
  Note: The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is too long; some part of the cruise has dull scenery.
• Float down the stream of one section of Li River in Yangshuo on bamboo raft for around 40 minutes.
• The outdoor Night show: 
  "Impression Sister Liusanjie" is a magnificent outdoor night show (choreographed and directed by famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou and performed by hundreds of local villagers) will be shown on the Li River every night with the backdrop of the mountains. It is optional but recommended.
• Stay overnight in Yangshuo. 
  (4-star boutique hotel at the riverside )
  (B,L)

Day 9. Yangshuo/Guilin/Hangzhou

• Cycle the fascinating Yangshuo Township, plantings fields, market and explore the beautiful villages, till we get to the foot of the Moon Hill.
• Have lunch outside by the Moon Hill.
• Transfer to the airport in the afternoon and fly to Hangzhou.
• Stay overnight in Hangzhou.
  (B,L)

Day 10. Hangzhou

• Take some walk along the central park of the city to learn various trees and flowering plants, ride boat on the famous West Lake, and then stroll around the banks of the West Lake.
• After tasting delicious Hangzhou food at lunch, drive to Longjing Tea Plantation where famous "Dragon Well"(longjing) tea are planted and produced.
• We will visit the historical Lingyin Temple to appreciate the astounding sculptures of its Buddhist monks.
  (B,L,D)

Day 11.  Wuzhen / Suzhou

• This morning we will drive to Wuzhen, and stroll in the little ancient water town Wuzhen. 
• Take some nice photos of the old houses lined up two sides of the river; visit various workshops of wines, batik, embroidery, etc.
• In the later afternoon, drive from Wuzhen to Suzhou, and check in the hotel and take a walk in the Master-of-Nets Garden and enjoy soothing musical performance in the garden. 
  (B, L,D)

Day 12. Suzhou/Shanghai

• You will take wooden canopy boat ride along the canal of the ancient Suzhou town and walk into the neighborhood lanes with old Suzhou houses.
• Then we will start the tour with famous Suzhou Classic gardens of ”The Humble Administrator' s Garden", Rock Garden and then after lunch the Lion Grove Garden. 
• Drive to Shanghai and Stay overnight.
  (B, L)

Day 13. Shanghai

• Our day begins at the Bund and the center of Pudong.
• Walk through the colonial architecture in Shanghai, viewing some of the most important buildings along the Bund and French Concession.
• Night cruise on the Huangpu River and stay another night in Shanghai.
  (B, L)

Day 14 Shanghai

• This morning we visit the Shanghai Museum, one of the most modern in China. This afternoon we take you to visit the Yu Gardens, one of the best examples of traditional Chinese garden design in the country.
• Afterwards, you will have some time to stroll through Shanghai's Old Quarter
• Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
  (B)