15 Days Scenic China with Rice Terraces Tour

Summary

Day 1 Arrive in Shanghai
Day 2 Shanghai: Shanghai Museum,Yuyuan Garden,Yuyuan Bazaar,The Bund,Nanjing Road Pedestrian street
Day 3 Shanghai--Huangshan by Bullet Train, Tunxi Ancient Street
Day 4 Huangshan: Hongcun Ancient Village, Mt. Huangshan
Day 5 Huangshan--Hangzhou by Bullet Train: Mt. Huangshan, take train to Hangzhou
Day 6 Hangzhou: West lake cruise, Fish Watching at Huagang Park, Lingyin Temple, Meijiawu Tea Plantation, Qinghefang Old Street
Day 7 Hangzhou--Guilin by Flight, Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill
Day 8 Guilin: Longji Rice Terrace, Minority Village
Day 9 Guilin--Yangshuo by Driving: Li River Cruise, Yangshuo, West Street, Impression of Liusanjie
Day 10 Yangshuo--Xi'an by Flight, Big Wild  Goose Pagoda, Xi'an Ancient City Wall
Day 11 Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors, Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter, Dumpling Banquet
Day 12 Xi'an-- Beijing by Bullet Train, Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area
Day 13 Beijing: Tian'an men Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Day 14 Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Bird's Nest & Water Cube
Day 15 Departure Beijing

Day 1

Welcome to Shanghai: the No.1 metropolis in China. Located in the Yangtze River Delta in East China, Shanghai sits on the south edge of the mouth of the Yangtze in the middle portion of the Chinese coast. As the economy center of China, Shanghai has witnessed dramatic changes of the country since reform and opening up in 1980s. It has been described as the "showpiece" of the booming economy of mainland China. Besides, Shanghai is also a popular tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks.

After arrived in Shanghai, you will be greeted by our tour guide with a welcome signage "China Private Tour" dispalyed and you will be escorted to your hotel directly. The rest of the day is free on your own to recover your jet lag.

Day 2

After breakfast, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and your tour start.

Your first destination is Shanghai Museum. Shanghai Musuem 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 to 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.

Laterm walk 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

After lunch, drive you to the Bund area. The Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai.When you come here, 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.

Shanghai Bund

Continue your tour to Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. As a century-old shopping street in Shanghai, Nanjing Road was a witness of the city's history. Over time, it has been restructured, undergoing significant changes. Big traditional stores no longer dominate the market since modern shopping malls, specialty stores, theaters, and international hotels have mushroomed on both sides of the street. For shopping convenience, its eastern end has an all-weather pedestrian arcade.

Shanghai Bund

After dinner, drive you back to your hotel.

Day 3

In the morning, our local Shanghai driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the train station for your bullet train to Huangshan, it takes around 4 hours. Upon on your arrival, our Huangshan local guide will pick you up at the exit of the train station with a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and you will start your tour directly.

Firstly, our tour guide will take you to a local Chinese restaurant that serves authentic Huangshan dishes.

After lunch, you will visit the Tunxi Ancient Street, which was built in Ming and Qing Dynasties. The colorful bazaars of local features are displayed in front of your eyes. You will find antique shops, medicine shops, tea houses, restaurants and galleries in the street.

Tunxi Ancient Street

After that, drive you to your hotel, our tour guide will help you check in.

Day 4

Today, you will visit Hongcun Ancient Village, which is best example of typical Anhui-style architecture. Hongcun is the China you think of when you think of ancient China. Many of the buildings in Hongcun can date back to the Song Dynasty and is regarded as the best example of typical Anhui-style architecture. Called “the ancient village in Chinese paintings”, Hongcun is so quiet, peaceful and beautiful which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, together with Xidi.

Hongcun Village

Lunch will be arranged at a good restaurant in Hongcun Village.

In the afternoon, continue your tour to Mt.Huangshan.

Along the uphill way, you will see the Beginning-to-Believe Peak,  The Lion Peak, Brush Pen Peak, A Monkey Gaping at the sea and other attractions, enjoy the fantastic sunset on Cloud Dispelling Pavilion. Upon reaching the top, you are greeted with a breathtaking view of Huangshan Mountain. This is when you truly discover why it is known as the "the loveliest mountain of China."

Huangshan

After sightseeing, drive you to your hotel, you will stay on the top of the mountain. If weather permit, you can enjoy the sunset.

Day 5

If weather permits, get up early (around 5am- 6am) to enjoy the magnificent sunrise view. The best place for watching sunrise is from Refreshing Terrance, it is also closest spot from your hotel. In good-weather days, you can see clearly the golden light of the sun piercing the mists, and rocky peaks rising above the frothy, ever-changing sea of white clouds. After the sunrise, get back to your hotel for breakfast.

Mt. Huangshan

After breakfast, continue on your wonderful sightseeing on the Yellow Mountain to see the famous Dawn Pavilion, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea on the Lion Peak (1690m). Then walk along the wood path to the cable station to take a cable car to exit the mountain. Your driver is ready at the mountain foot to transfer you back to Huangshan City for lunch.

Huangshan

After lunch, you will be transferred to Huangshan train station for your bullet train to Hangzhou. Upon your arrival in Hangzhou, our guide will pick you up at the exit of train station with a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel, our tour guide will help you check in.

Day 6

After breakfast, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby. 

Firstly, taking a boat sailing on the picturesque West Lake. This is an enjoyable and relaxing way to appreciate the beautiful scenery with its islands, causeways, temples, pagodas and ornamental planting.It is not surprised that you’ll become a part of this traditional Chinese painting.It is the symbol of Hangzhou which lies on its banks and is a place of tranquility.

West Lake

Next, walk around Fish Watching at the Flower Pond, which is one of top ten views. This area now has been made into a 22 hectare (54 acre) park with many varieties of trees and flowers, featuring a peony garden which blooms in April and a goldfish pond which is the famous site for fish watching.

Afterwards, you will pay a visit for the biggest and oldest Buddhist Temple in Southern Part of China-Lingyin Temple. Lingyin temple & Fei Lai feng, one of the top ten most famous ancient Buddhist monasteries in China, and contains numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes. It is really a tourist attraction that can offer you appealing places of historic interest, cultural relics as well as agreeable natural scenery with woods, flowers, springs, etc.

Lingyin Temple

Your lunch is arranged at a Local Tea Farmer's Tea House. We can organize tea farmers teach you how to prepare and cook local delicacies if you are interested in it. You can learn how to cook Beger's Chicken, Westlake carp fish in vinegar source (Do not be scared, no bones!!! Aha), Lotus root, bamboo shoot...and many other tasty vegetables. If you don't want to cook, just enjoy the local delicacies.

In the afternoon, drive you to enjoy the view of Tea Plantation and learn the local Tea Culture. Longjing Green Tea plantation & village (Meijiawu), which is the origin place for the most famous green tea - Longjing in china with beautiful natural scenery. (There are many tea houses in the village, and you will have a chance to taste/try the local tea)

Tea Village

The last place for is Qinghefang Old Street. It is a good place to experience the life of Old Hangzhou, because it is the epitome of historic Hangzhou. A great place for shopping, eating, and sightseeing. You can see the well-preserved old buildings, explore the interesting boutique stores, and choose your favourite souvenirs

Qinghefang Street

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel in Hangzhou.

Day 7

In the early morning, our driver will pick you up at your hotel lobby and transfer you to Hangzhou International Airport for your flight to Guilin. It takes aroud 2.5 hours for one way. Upon on your arrival, our Guilin local guide will pick you up at the exit of airport with welcome sign "China Private Tour". And you will start your tour directly.

Firstly, our tour guide will take you to a local Chinese restaurant that serves authentic Guilin food.

After lunch, you will visit Reed Flute Cave. Reed Flute Cave 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

Then, drive you to Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan), it is regarded as 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 dinner, drive you to your hotel in Guilin, our tour guide will help you check in.

Day 8

After breakfast, our tour guide will transfer you to Longsheng. It takes around 2 hours from Guilin downtown. 

After arrived, you'll visit Longji Rice Terrace. With trekking for a while, we could see the stunning Longji Terraces. More than 700 years, the brave and smart local residents developed and built the paddies into hillsides surrounding their villages. With such a long history, the area is still being used for growing premium quality rice by Yao and Zhuang villagers. The rice terraces are built into the hillsides and look like great steps cut into the slopes as they wind around the mountainsides, which becomes a great natural view for tourists from all over the world.

Longji Rice Terrace

Today, you will have an authentic lunch in the minority village to try some local food and know the dinning culture of minority enthnic group.

After lunch, free on your own to explore the minority villages and also walk into the rice terraces to take some good pictures. You will have chance to see locals working in the fields, children playing in the village as well as women in national costume weaving or doing needle works under the roof, ect.

Later, transfer you back to Guilin, after dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 9

In the morning, our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and you will be taken to the Pier, where you will start the 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 Cruise

You will have a buffet lunch on board.

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.

West Street

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.

Impression of Liusanjie

After finished the show, drive you to your hotel in Yangshuo, our tour guide will help you check in.

Day 10

In the morning, our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Yangshuo and transfer you to Guilin airport. You'll fly to Xi'an. Upon on your arrival, our local Xi'an tour guide will pick you up at the exit of the airport with a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and your tour start directly.

First, drive you to a local Chinese restaurant, you will try the authentic Xi'an food that recommended by our tour guide.

After lunch, you will pay a visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The 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

Continue your tour to Xi'an Ancient Wall, as 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

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel in Xi'an. 

Day 11

Today, you will be transferred to Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum.

iKnown as "the eighth Wonders of the world", Terracotta Warriors 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. The discovery of these pits has provided all important significance in the research of the burial system of the Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum, the characteristics structures and characteristics of the burial pits. However, what makes people feel amazing is that of all the burial pits, none has been found survived from being burnt down. 

Terracotta Warriors

Your lunch will be arranged at a local  Chinese restaurant nearby Terracotta Warriors.

After lunch, transfer you back to Xi'an downtown. You'll head to Bell Tower, which is the largest bell tower in structure and shape and the best-preserved one in China. The Bell tower is located in the center of the ancient city of Xian, are two of its most famous symbols.

Bell Tower

Continue your tour to Muslim Quarter. It is a fascinating area where you can find exotic food, interesting people (some of the residents are still look like their Arabian cousins) and great souvenir stalls. You can taste many authentic Islamic snacks, like beef or mutton Rou Jia Mo (Chinese Hamburger), northwestern style noodles, Yangrou Paomo and many other attractive snacks that will not make you disappointed. The restaurants and eateries here are serving their food in budget prices. 

Muslim Quarter

After the day exploration, you will join in Xi'an Dumpling Banquet for dinner, which is a must for visitors who visit 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 in the Opera House. While tasting those dumplings, customers will be astonished by the cooks' smart cooking methods include steaming, boiling, pan-frying, deep frying, and roasting. It seems that all of the indigenous meat and vegetables can be used for the dumplings' stuffing, such as pork, mutton, beef as well as celery, radish, cabbages, etc. Nowadays, by the cooks' continuously improving, the dumpling has been one of the local best foods to entertain visitors from home and abroad..

Dumpling Banquet

At last, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 12

In the morning, our driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer to Xi'an train station for your bullet train to Xi'an. Once you arrived in Beijing, our local Beijing tour guide will pick you up at the exit of the train station with a welcome signage "China Private Tour".

You will start your tour direcly. drive you to Beijing Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area. Recently the popularity of Nanluoguxiang hutong area has increased noticeably with tourist numbers on the rise following the complete refurbishment of the district in time for the 2008 Olympic Games. Many tourists enjoy taking ride through this 800-year-old hutong that was once home to celebrities, officials, artists and well-off families. There are well over 20 restaurants and 40 shops scattered along Nanluoguxiang.

Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 13

In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel lobby.

Firstly, you will pay a visit for Tian'an men Square, is the largest city plaza in the world. Tiananmen 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. Tiananmen 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

Later, take you to visit 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 a local Chinese restaurant that serve authentic Beijing cuisine. 

In the afternoon, you'll visit 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

At last, 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.

Summer Palace

After the tour ends, drive you back to your hotel.

Day 14

Today you'll start your tour with Mutianyu Great Wall, it about 70KM far way from Beijing downtown. 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

In the afternoon, continue your tour to Ming Tombs, which lies 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 Tombs

One the way back to your htoel, you'll visit Bird's Nest & Water Cube (from outside), which are constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Visit the National Stadium ( bird's nest). Its located at the Olympic Green, the stadium cost US$428 million. The design was awarded to a submission from the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron in April 2003 after a bidding process that included 13 final submissions. 

"Water Cube" ( National Aquatics Center),  is one of the best venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, built with donations from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan compatriot and overseas Chinese. It was chosen through public appraisals as one of “China ten big new architecture views” by The U.S. magazine "Business Weekly". 

Water Cube

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 15

Today is free on your own until our driver pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport and you fly back home. And your 15 Days Scenic China Tour with Rice Terrace come to the ends. Hope you have a pleasant 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.