Zhengzhou-Beijing: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square-Forbidden City, Hutong (L)

Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport - Your driver will hold a sign with your name in the lobby of your Zhengzhou hotel and transfer you to the airport for a 2-hour flight to Beijing.

Your Beijing tour guide will meet you at the exit of the arrival hall with a sign bearing your name. You’ll then board your private air-conditioned vehicle and head into the city. During the drive, your guide will share interesting facts and history about Beijing. Feel free to ask any questions.

Temple of Heaven - Head straight to the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors worshipped the God of Heaven. Follow your guide through the park, where you can see local retirees engaging in various exercises. You are welcome to join them if you wish.

Inside the Temple of Heaven, you’ll visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Hall of Imperial Zenith.

Echo Wall - Walk across the Danbi Bridge to the Echo Wall and Circular Mount Altar.

Yuanqiutan - Continue to Yuanqiutan. Learn about ancient rituals of communicating with heaven and how emperors worshipped the God of Heaven. Your guide will share related histories and stories.

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - Next, head to Tiananmen Square, home to the Great Hall of the People, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall, and the Front Gate. Stroll around the square and learn about the buildings’ histories and stories.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum - Enter the magnificent Forbidden City through the South Gate-Meridian Gate. This 250-acre (101-ha) complex of courtyards, palaces, pavilions, and gardens served as the imperial palace for over 500 years.

Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian) - Explore the courtyards and halls of the Forbidden City with your guide, learning about its history and stories. Visit the Hall of Great Harmony, where the emperor handled state affairs, as well as the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Complete Harmony.

Palace of Heavenly Purity - Continue to the living quarters: the Hall of Union, the Hall of Heavenly Purity, and the Hall of Earthly Tranquillity.

The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum - Your tour of the Forbidden City ends at the Imperial Garden. Exit through the North Gate.

Shichahai Scenic Resort - Head to the Shichahai area for lunch at a local restaurant, then enjoy a leisurely walk around Yandai Xie Street, Gulou East Street, and Nanluoguxiang Alley.

Nanluoguxiang - Stroll through the shops and hutongs around Nanluoguxiang Alley. After the tour, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing.

Beijing: Great Wall of China-Olympic Park-Summer Palace (B,L)

Mutianyu Great Wall - Meet your guide in your Beijing hotel lobby and board your private air-conditioned vehicle for a trip to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Your guide will share related histories and stories along the way. Feel free to ask questions.

Upon arrival, take the cable car or ski lift up to the Great Wall. Marvel at the surrounding area and hike up and down different towers. You can decide how long to stay at the Great Wall.

Niaochao National Stadium - Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local village restaurant, dining with village residents and savoring cuisine from Northeast China.

On the way back to the city, drive past the Olympic Park to glimpse the modern stadiums built for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - Continue to the Summer Palace, a well-preserved royal garden known for its beautiful landscape and spectacular architecture. It is considered one of the most classical gardens in the world.

Hall of Benevolence and Longevity - Learn about Empress Cixi with your guide and visit her living quarters.

Long Corridor at the Summer Palace - Walk along the world’s longest corridor, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Qingyan Stone Boat - Visit the Marble Boat, a foreign-style superstructure symbolizing the stability of the Qing Dynasty.

After the tour, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing.

Beijing - Xi’an: Big Goose Pagoda-City Wall-Muslim Quarter (B,L)

Capital Airport Residential District - Your driver will pick you up from your Beijing hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport for a 2-hour flight to Xi’an.

Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the exit of the arrival hall with a sign bearing your name. Head directly to Xi’an city.

Xi’an City Wall (Chengqiang) - Upon arrival in the city, visit the Xi’an City Wall. Climb to the top of the centuries-old wall and admire views of the city below. You can also ride a bike around the wall if you wish.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) - Continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built to hold sutras and Buddha figurines brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Monk Xuanzang. Explore the area with your guide and learn about its history.

Muslim Quarter - Head to the Muslim Quarter, the hub of Xi’an’s Muslim community. Stroll around the food and souvenir market with your guide. Try delicious local snacks at your own cost.

After the tour, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Xi’an.

Xi’an: Terracotta Warriors Museum- Guilin (B,L)

The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses - Your guide will pick you up from your Xi’an hotel lobby and take you directly to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Your guide will share related histories and stories along the way. Feel free to ask questions.

Start with a visit to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors Museum, known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” The museum is divided into three sections: No.1 Pit, No.2 Pit, and No.3 Pit. The original site was discovered by four local farmers while drilling a well in 1974 and has since become Xi’an’s most important attraction. Stroll around the museum and gain rich information from your guide.

Guilin - After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll be transferred to the airport for a 2-hour flight to Guilin.

Your driver in Guilin will meet you at the exit of the arrival hall with a sign bearing your name. You’ll be transferred to your hotel in Guilin.

Guilin: Cruise to Yangshuo (B, L)

Li River - Your private English-speaking guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby at 8:00 am and transfer you to Zhujiang Pier to start your boat cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo County. The Li River Cruise is considered the highlight of any visit to Guilin.

Gui Lin Zhujiang Pier - Enjoy breathtaking views of peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water, and picturesque pastoral countryside scenery along the river. The river has three sections, with various attractions like peaks and villages that have interesting descriptive names. Listening to your guide’s legendary stories about the attractions is a delightful experience as you appreciate the landscapes. Most stories are mystical fairy tales and love stories. The cruise usually takes around 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on water conditions.

Xingping Fishing Village - The Li River takes a big turn at Xingping, offering beautiful and poetic scenery. It has been reproduced in many Chinese landscape paintings. Even the newly-issued 20 RMB note features this scenery. A photographer once said, “Shots from any perspective of this place turn out to be impressive and stunning.”

You will enjoy a simple lunch on the boat.

West Street - Arrive in Yangshuo at 1:30 pm and stroll around West Street with your guide. Explore various shops, craft shops, painting and calligraphy stores, backpack shops, and cafes. Your guide will help you negotiate prices if you wish to purchase any souvenirs.

Shili Hualang - In the afternoon, explore the Ten-Mile Gallery in Yangshuo.

Walking down a country road feels like traveling in a painting. This is true of the Ten-Mile Gallery in Yangshuo County, a fairyland on earth. As the name implies, Ten-Mile Gallery is a picturesque road stretching from the Yangshuo town area to Moon Hill, featuring rolling hills, endless fields, idyllic villages, and clear rivers on both sides.

Butterfly Spring Park - Along Ten-Mile Gallery, don’t miss Butterfly Spring Park. The park features peculiar peaks, grotesque rocks, magnificent waterfalls, and bubbling springs. A winding path leads to a sightseeing terrace where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of Ten-Mile Gallery.

Big Banyan Tree - As you continue along Ten-Mile Gallery, you’ll encounter a Big Banyan Tree over 1,400 years old. Follow your guide to learn about the love story of Liusanjie and see how new lovers come here to make wishes for their future.

Moon Hill - Your last stop is Moon Hill. Let your guide know if you want to stop for photos.

After the tour, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Guilin.

Guilin City Highlights-Shanghai (B, L)

Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan) - Meet your guide in your hotel lobby and discuss the highlights and attractions you wish to see in Guilin City. Your knowledgeable guide will help you plan an itinerary based on your interests. Then, set off and explore.

Typically, you’ll start at Elephant Trunk Hill, the landmark of Guilin. It has been a famous tourist destination since the Tang Dynasty (618–907). The hill resembles a giant elephant drinking water from the river.

Enjoy a vigorous walk to the top and visit the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) Puxian Tower, built to worship Samantabhadra. Learn its history from your guide and enjoy panoramic views of the city, Li River, and surrounding scenery.

Yunfeng Temple - Continue to Yunfeng Temple, one of Guilin’s famous ancient temples. It was the dwelling place of Monk Jianzhen, an eminent monk of the Tang Dynasty who traveled to Japan six times to spread Buddhist doctrines and help regularize monks’ behavior. Stroll around the temple and the exhibition gallery on the second floor.

Fubo Hill - Continue to Fubo Hill, which stands next to the Li River and rises abruptly from the surrounding landscape. It is famous for both natural beauty and historic art.

Explore etchings of Buddha dating back to the Song and Tang Dynasties (618–1279) at Thousand-Buddha Cave and Pearl-Returning Cave. Admire the Sword-Testing Rock and learn the legendary stories behind it.

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) - Head to Reed Flute Cave, where millions of years of dripping water have created a special world of various stalactites, stone pillars, and rock formations. Explore important spots such as Tower-shaped Pine and Crystal Palace. Despite the fantastic natural scenery inside Reed Flute Cave, there are many writings on the wall, including 77 travelogues and poems from the Tang Dynasty (618–907).

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Shanghai - You’ll be transferred to the airport for a 2-hour flight to Shanghai.

Your driver in Shanghai will meet you at the exit of the arrival hall with a sign bearing your name. You’ll be transferred to your hotel in Shanghai.

Shanghai City Highlights (B, L)

Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Bowuguan) - Meet your guide in your Shanghai hotel lobby and board your private air-conditioned vehicle for a customized tour of the city’s sights. Discuss the historical highlights and attractions you wish to see with your knowledgeable guide, who will help you plan an itinerary based on your interests. Then, set off and explore.

Typically, you’ll start with the Shanghai Museum, which is divided into eleven galleries and three exhibition halls. The museum boasts 120,000 pieces of rare and precious cultural relics in 21 categories, with bronze ware, ceramics, and painting and calligraphy as its distinctive collections.

Jade Buddha Temple - Next, visit the Jade Buddha Temple to see the White Jade Buddhas brought from Burma in the nineteenth century. Stroll around the temple’s halls and courtyards with your guide, learning about the temple’s history and Buddhism in China. See how locals come to worship and burn incense.

Yu Garden (Yuyuan) - Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then explore Yuyuan Garden, the largest ancient garden with Ming and Qing style architecture. Follow your guide to learn how to create a perfect garden. Visit the Old City God Temple, where various local snack shops and streets are scattered around.

The Bund - Continue to the Bund to see the amazing city skyline, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower, and colonial buildings along the Huangpu River. Take a walk and stop for photos.

Former French Concession - Explore the Former French Concession, a fantastic place for leisure time. Wander the narrow alleyways, dine in one of the many cafes or restaurants (at your own cost), or browse through art galleries and photographic studios.

Xintiandi - Finish your tour in the lively nightlife district of Xintiandi. This area features Shikumen architecture and has been converted into a multifunctional dining, retail, and entertainment center with international-standard restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and bars. Explore the area with your guide.

If you’ve already visited some of these places and want to do something different, discuss with your guide where to go. You can choose attractions or activities based on your interests, such as the Shanghai Museum, Pearl TV Tower, World Financial Center, or Jinmao Tower.

After the tour, you can choose to end your tour in Shanghai or return to Zhengzhou.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Plane Tickets (economy class)
• Cable car round trip or ski lift and toboggan at Great Wall
• Lunch
• 4 Star Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
• Overnight twin room accommodation (if selected)
• English-speaking guide
• Breakfast
• Private air-conditioned transport
• Entrance fees included

• Gratuities to tour guide and driver(recommended)
• Accommodation if you choose to have the tour only