13 Days China Tour Package with Yangtze River Cruise

Summary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing
Day 2 Beijing:Tian'an men Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Day 3 Beijing: Mutiantu Great Wall, Ming's Tomb, Bird's Nest, Water Cube
Day 4 Beijing--Xian by Bullet Train:Nanluoguxiang Hutong
Day 5 Xian:Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Walls, Muslim Quarter
Day 6 Xi'an--Guilin by Flight: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum, fly to Guilin
Day 7 Guilin: Li River Cruise to Yangshuo, West Street, Impression of Liusanjie Performance
Day 8  Guilin--Chongqi by Flight: Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, fly to Chongqing, board on Cruise Ship
Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise: Fengdu Ghost City, Shibaozhai
Day 10 Yangtze River Cruise: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Shennong Stream, Crew's Performance
Day 11 Yichang--Shanghai by Flight: Three Gorges Dam, fly to Shanghai
Day 12 Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Bazaar, Shanghai Musuem, Old French Concession, Shanghai Bund
Day 13 Shanghai Depature

Day 1

Welcome to China! Upon your arrival in Beijing, our local Beijing tour guide will pick you up at the exit of airport with a welocme sign "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel in Beijing downtown directly. Our tour guide will help you check-in. The rest of the day is free on your own to explore the city or stay in the hotel to recover the jetlag.

Day 2

In the morning, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby on time and your tour in Beijing start.

Firstly, you will pay a visit for Tian'an men Square. It is the largest city plaza in the world. Tian'an men Square is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters (about 109 acres), and able to accommodate 1000000 people at one time. Tian'an men Gate on the northern square was the site where the Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Tian'an men Square

After sightseeing, walk into the Tian'an men you will meet the one of the world’s 5 most important palaces – Forbidden City, The Forbidden City, also named the Palace Museum, shares the honor of being one of five world-famous palaces with the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in England, the White House in the U.S. and the Kremlin in Russia. The incomparable palace occupies an area of 720,000 square meters (177.9 acres) and has approximately 8,700 rooms. A high red wall with a total length of 3,400 meters (3,718 yards) encases the palace. 

Forbidden City

Enjoy your lunch at the local famous Peking Roast Duck restaurant, taste the most famous duck in Beijing and try some local cuisine in Beijing.Roast duck — or Peking Duck, as it's often known — has been served in Beijing for around 600 years, according to Liu. First served by palace chefs during the Ming dynasty, it has royal pedigree.

In the afternoon, drive about 6km to next imperial site - Temple of Heaven. The temple was constructed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and was enlarged during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is the grandest cult architecture complex in the world and a masterpiece of the Chinese people created in ancient times. It covers 2,700,000 square meters (667 acres). Emperors of the two dynasties used to worship the heaven and pray for rich harvests, as the feudal emperors thought they were the son of the heaven. 

Temple of Heaven

Next, you will visit Summer Palace. It first built in 1750, largely destroyed in the war of 1860 and restored on its original foundations in 1886 – is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value.

After dinner, drive you back to your hotel.

Day 3

After breakfast, our guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby. You will be transferred to Mutianyu Great Wall, it takes around 1 hour for one way.

There is an old saying "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you haven't seen China." Many of your friends who visited China before might have told you this. It is indeed an experience of life. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, Mutianyu section of Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. It's known for its beautiful surroundings - dense woods and rich pastures changing colors with the seasons of a year. 

Mutianyu Great Wall

Your lunch is arranged nearby the Great Wall at a local Chinese restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Ming's Tomb and Chang Tomb,lie in Changping County, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest from the urban area of Beijing. It is actually a tomb cluster of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), including thirteen emperor's mausoleums, seven tombs for concubines and one grave for eunuchs.  

Ming Tomb

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel. On the way to your hotel, you will have a chance to take some photos of Bird's Nest and Water Cube from outside.

Day 4

Today our guide will take you to do the Beijing hutongs--Nanluoguxiang area. Hutong is a window into Beijing folk life, Nanluoguxiang area is one of the best preserved historical areas in downtown Beijing, is famous for its hutong and siheyuan courtyards. Recently the popularity of Nanluoguxiang has increased noticeably with tourist numbers on the rise after 2008 Olympic Games. You will do a short walking along the authentic Beijing Hutong. will give you a deep impression of the local residents’ live. You will have lunch at local family, to taste the home cooking style.

Nanluoguxiang--Beijing Hutongs

Afterwards, drive you to Beijing train station for your bullet train to Xi'an, it takes around 5 hours for one way. Our local Xi'an tour guide will pick you up at the exit of Xi'an train station, you will find a welcome signage "China Private Tour" .

Our driver will take you to a local Chinese restaurant to taste authentic Xi'an dishes for dinner, afterwards, drive you to your hotel in Xi'an for check-in, the rest of the day is free for your to have rest.

Day 5

In the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at the pointed time. Today, you will visit the highlights of Xi'an city.

Firstly, drive you to Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, it known as "the eighth Wonders of the world", the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture which is listed as the most significant discovery of the 20th century. Up to now, there has discovered a total of 179 accompanying burial pits of different connotations and various shapes in Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum area. 

Terracotta Warriors

In the afternoon, drive you back to Xi'an downtown. You'll head for Xi'an Ancient City Wall, one of the UNESCO's World Heritage Site, Xi'an Ancient City Wall was built in the 14th century, under the regime of Emperor Zhuyuanzhang in Ming dynasty, had the function of protecting the cities or towns as military defense systems in ancient China. Xi'an Ancient City Wall is one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Chinese city walls.

Xi'an Ancient City Wall

Then walk around Muslim Quarter. The Muslim Quarter is the main gathering place of the local Muslim community and offers a great deal of exotic shops and savory restaurants. Xi'an is a city with a tolerant mind in religious culture and here you will find the harmonious getting-along of Buddhist culture and Muslim culture. Besides, you can taste various authentic local snacks here.

After finished day tour, you will enjoy Xi'an Dumpling Banquet for dinner, which is famous in Xi'an. Our guide will lead you to Shaanxi Grand Opera House and help you find your seat for the most famous Xi'an Dumpling Dinner within the Opera House. 

Dumpling Banquet

After dinner, you will enjoy the local colorful and splendid Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, which is a performance of music and dance that imitate the Tang Dynasty over one thousand-year ago. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, a wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance, is a must when you visit Xian. 

After the tour ends, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 6

Today you will continue your tour in Xi'an with Big Wild Goose Pagoda. 

Big Wild Goose Pagoda attracts numerous visitors for its fame in the Buddhist religion and its simple but appealing style of construction. It is rated as a National Key Cultural Relic Preserve. One of the pagoda's many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Next to Shaanxi History Museum. Shaanxi History Museum is the first modern national museum in Xi'an, is a comprehensive historical museum. From its first open day, various exhibitions have been displayed here. It depicts the rich culture of historical cultural relics and extensive profound civilization of Chinese Nation from multiple perspectives. Now Shaanxi History Musuem is regarded as 'the pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures', gives a miniature overview of the thousands of years of Chinese history and the splendid ancient cultures of olden times.

Shaanxi History Museum

Enjoy your lunch at a local Chinese resturant, where serves Xi'an local food. After lunch, transfer you to the airport and you fly to Guilin. Upon arrival, our local Guilin tour guide will wait for your at the exit of the airport holding a welcome signage "China Private Tour".

You will be taken to a local Chinese restaurant for dinner, after dinner, drive you to your hotel in Guilin downtown, our tour guide will help you check-in.

Day 7

In the morning, our guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel. Today, you will take a cruise along the Li River to enjoy the charming view and explore Yangshuo City.

Drive you to the Pier, where you will start the Guilin Li River cruise to Yangshuo. The boarding time is scheduled at 9:30am, and the whole journey takes about 4 hours. With our guide's company and interpretation, you could immerse yourself in the stunning karst landscape made up of rolling hills, verdant forests, odd caves and tranquil villages along the Li River. 

Li River

Enjoy your lunch on the boat.

After disembarkation, we will drive you to see the picturesque countryside of Yangshuo. You will visit West Street, West Street is the oldest street in Yangshuo with a history of more than 1,400 years. Situated at the center of Yangshuo County, the street has become, since the 1980's, a window of eastern and western culture and the biggest 'foreign language center' in China.

Impression of Liusanjie

After dinner, you will enjoy a performance-"Impression of Liusanjie". It is an outdoor performance set in real mountains and rivers in Yangshuo County. The stage is a 2km (1.25 miles) stretch along Li River with 12 mountain peaks and the clear sky as the background. The theater therefore was named "Shanshui", meaning mountains and water in Chinese.

After the show, you will be taken back to your hotel in Guilin.

Day 8

In the morning, your adventure will start with Reed Flute Cave. It is a natural limestone cave in Guilin, Guangxi Province of China and has been one of the most interesting attractions for over 1200 years in Guilin. It is also known as "the Palace of Natural Arts".The place is called Reed Flute Cave because of the abundance of reed plants present outside the cave. The reeds are used by the locals to make flutes.

Reed Flute Cave

Next to Elephant Trunk Hill, which is the symbol of Guilin. The name was chosen because the hill looks like a giant elephant dipping its trunk into the river. The green water of Li River in front of it and the clear spring at the foot make Elephant Trunk Hill one of the most famous hills in Guilin City. The Elephant Hill has several features: - Water Moon Cave (Shuiyue dong), Elephant's Eye Stone, and Pagoda for Puxian and Yunfeng Temple.

Elephant Trunk Hill

After finished sightseeing, you will be transferred to Guilin Airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon on your arrival, our Chongqing local guide and driver will meet you at the exit of the airport with the welcome sign "China Priavte Tour".  Then transfer you to Chongqing Chaotianmen Port to board your cruise ship between 18:00-21:00 in the evening. Your once-in-a-lifetime Yangtze River cruise sails at 21:00! 

(Tips: (Please note: the boarding time and departure piers change based on the ship line, water level, season, weather, and other factors. Your travel consultants will ensure you have the actual departure time and boarding pier before your boarding.)

Day 9

Today, wake up leisurely and enjoy the gentle sunshine shining over the tranquil Yangtze River. Onboard you will enjoy different kinds of cultural activities and entertainment, like attending a Yangtze River History and Culture Lecture to know deeply about the third longest river in the world.

Yangtze River Cruise

The first shore excursion will be 'Ghost City' Fengdu (Optional).  This area is sacred to three different religions: Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Revered as a place where the dead transition into another realm, it is surprisingly not dark or cemetery like. Rather, Ghost City is vibrant and colorful, although the local names are a bit scary. Here you will find "Nothing to Be Done Bridge", "Ghost Torture Pass," and "River of Blood."

Shibaozhai

In the afternoon, visit Shibaozhai, literally means Stone Treasure Fortress, Located in Zhong County, it was first built in Qing Dynasty in 1750. Shibaozhai is one historic site that will look much different in 2009. The wooden architecture stands on the riverside. It is built by catch upon a rectangular rock with sheer cliffs with a height of 56 meters and 12 stories. And every floor of the wooden structure contains interesting artifacts. Each of the 12 floors of Shibaozhai is dedicated to a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period (220-265AD), a local scholar or a renowned Chinese poet. 

In the evening, join the Captain's Welcome Dinner Party to make new friends or having fun at the wonderful night shows with sign, dance and music.

Day 10

Today you will sail through the spectacular Three Gorges! Follow the guide's live interpretation and soak up the breathtaking gorge scenery passing by as you drift through Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge respectively.

Qutang Gorge

Firstly, the boat sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest and most dramatic one of the Three Gorges. Wu Gorge is famous for its quiet beauty. Disembark at Wushan where we board small riverboat for a leisurely ride through Shennong Stream, which offers clear running waters, picturesque rock formations, and even monkeys and goat along its banks.

Drifting along the Shennong Stream in sampan is the unique way experiencing the beauty of Shennong Stream, a sampan is about 40 foot long, 6 foot wide, usually steered by six boatmen. Shennong Stream is another tributary of the Yangtze River, and its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges. The stream races past large and small karst caves, flocks of swallows, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, three-colored springs, rapids, the ancient plank path, a suspended coffin in the cliff, groups of ancient tombs and marvelous karst formations.

Shennong Stream

Later, the ship sails through Xiling Gorge, the longest one of the Three Gorges. We will pass through the ship-lock of the new three gorges dam. The most interesting part is that you will sit on the local special pea boat, and listen to the primitive and beautiful singings of the trackers while enjoy the enchanting scenery along the stream. 

Time of Entertainments

1). Taichi exercise
Passes through the 1st gorge--Qutang Gorge.
Passes through the 2nd gorge---Wu Gorge.
Shore excursion to Shennong Stream(1:30pm-5:30pm). You have the option of visiting White Emperor City(RMB290 per person).

2). Crew's Performance.
Sails through the 5-steps Ship locks.

Day 11

Disembark at Maoping Cruise Terminal this morning, check out and take your luggage, you'll a coach to visit the Three Gorges Dam. It is planned to be by far the largest hydroelectric project in the world. The Project calls for the construction of a concrete dam, a hydroelectric power plant and a series of locks just below the scenic Three Gorges region. You will learn about the dam and the Three Gorges Water Project, and enjoy the beautiful scenery around.  

Three Gorges Dam

As One of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the world, the Three Gorges Project will forever change the face of the Yangtze River as we know it today. Possessing comprehensive utilization benefits mainly for flood control, power generation and navigation improvement. It will be a vital important and backbone project in harnessing and developing of the Yangtze River. Measures have been taken to preserve and move the historical and cultural relics found along its banks; however many scenic spots will be adversely affected.

After finished the excursion, you will be transferred to Yichang city, enjoy your lunch at a local Chinese restaurant that serves authentic Yichang dishes. Later, transfer you to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, it takes around 1.5 hours for one way.

Three Gorge Dam

Upon on your arrival, our local Shanghai tour guide will wait for you at the exit of airport with a welcome sign "China Priavte Tour", drive you to your hotel in Shanghai directly. The rest day is free on your own to explore the city  or have rest in your hotel.

Day 12

You will be picked up from your hotel in Shanghai. Drive you to visit Shanghai Museum. It houses a comprehensive collection that perfectly showcases the Middle Kingdom’s millennia old history. Spread over five floors, covers most of the major categories of Chinese art with a collection of 12, 300 pieces in 21 categories of valuable cultural relics.

Shanghai Museum

Next you will visit Yuyuan Garden, it not only regarded as best private garden in Shanghai but also the best in southeast China.The garden enjoyed a history over 400 years since its first establishment by Pan Yunduan who had intended to bring happiness and pleasure to his parents and relatives.

And then walking to nearby to Yuyuan Bazaar, there are many small streets and lanes where vendors sell their products and food stuffs to the tourists and local people.It is an ideal place for you to find some specialists.

Yuyuan Garden

Later, stroll along Old French Concenssion in Xuhui District. If you want to see the city's best profile, the Frech Concenssion is Shanghai sunny side up, at its coolest, hippest and most elegant.cross Huangpu River and visit famous Bund area, which is teemed with the futuristic, avant-garde buildings - Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Building, Bank of China Tower. Completed in 1995 to a highly innovative design, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower has become a symbol of excellence in architecture and is a favourite sight for tourists in Shanghai. At 468 meters, it is the third tallest TV and radio tower in the World. On the TV Tower, to have a bird's eye view of Shanghai City.

Shanghai Bund

Your last stop for today is Shanghai Bund. Shanghai Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai, you can embrace the best cityscape, feast on the rich architectural fashions and know why Shanghai is glorified as "Paris of the East". There are a number of attractions in the area, such as Shanghai World Financial Center, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Century Park, Century Boulevard, Jinmao Tower etc. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai.

After the tour ends, you will be taken back yo your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 13

Today is free on your own until our driver transfer you to the airport and you fly back home. And your 13 Days Classic China Tour with Yangtze River Cruise come to the ends. Enjoy your trip!

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All  transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharing one standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels, Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered 6. Admission Fee: All first admission/entrance fee     s in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.