Grand China Tour

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Detailed Itinerary: You'll be met on arrival in Beijing. On the way to your Hotel, your guide will explain tomorrow's arrangements. Spend the rest of the day exploring the nearby streets, or resting and catching up on your jetlag. Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites, and a bustling modern metropolis. Moreover, Beijing has successfully hosted the 2008 Olympics.

Day 2

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Tian'anmen Square, Hall of Clocks and Watches, The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: This exciting day starts by visiting Tian'an men Square, the biggest square in the world that lies in the center of the city. It's the symbol of Beijing and ranked No. 1 in the 16 new scenic highlights of Beijing. If you like, we can stop and let you have a walk on the square. Then you will have the privilege to experience ancient emperor's daily life. We will visit the Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. It is the essence and a must for sightseeing in Beijing, the magnificent and solemn palaces arouse your imagination of the life of Chinese emperors. Hall of Clocks and Watches set in the Forbidden City; we will drop on it to learn the clock history of the past 200 years. In the afternoon, we arrange a visit to the Temple of Heaven. Built in 1420A.D, it is the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would offer sacrifice to heaven and pray for good harvests. You may see some interesting activities in the surrounding gardens, particularly weekend mornings.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Great Wall at Mutianyu, Mutianyu Cable Car(round trip)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner at Roasted Duck at Fangzhuang
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, our guide will accompany you to visit the Great Wall -Mutianyu Section which owns some unique characteristics among all the sections. Wonderful surrounded landscape, rarely seen structure formed by three connected watch towers, all these make it outstanding from the others. Hiking by yourself or taking the comfortable and safe round trip cable car is up to you. Dinner is at Quanjude, where serves the world known Beijing roasted duck.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Summer Palace, Beijing Olympic Green
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Today we will first visit the Summer Palace, which is equally famous as the Forbidden City. It is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. You may regret it if you come to Beijing without visiting this grand imperial garden. Then we step onto Beijing Olympic Green. It is a newborn green park with a massive 1,135 hectares along the historic north-south central axis of Beijing, including the stunning Olympic Stadium and National Swim Center. It also includes the 680 hectares of park, and will be integrated into Beijing residents’ daily life and tourists post-games. It is a new urban district and a multi-function complex deducing the balance of East with West, the ancient with the contemporary, development with nature, which highly expresses the logos of “technology, green, humanity”. Later you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an, one of the most ancient cities in China, which was the national capital for over 1,000 years, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Despite a lot of modern development Xi'an remains a charming city. You’ll have the evening to yourself.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Muslim Quarters of Xi'an, Terracotta Warriors, Great Mosque, City Wall
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off for one of today's highlights - the incredible 2000 year-old Terra cotta warriors. Each one is part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures were drawn up in full battle array in several large pits. Later, you will like a half-hour's cycling along the Ancient City Wall. It is a major landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest city defense systems in China. If you like, you can make an option to experience a City Wall biking, but the extra fee is needed. Afterwards we will visit the Great Mosque. It is one of the largest Islamic mosques in China. The pavilions, halls and gateways are wonderfully decorated, and this is an active place of worship for the Hui descendants of Silk Road traders and travelers. The last stop we arrange today is the Muslim Quarters of Xi’an. The Muslim quarters lies 100 meters west of the Bell tower in downtown Xi’an. The 500 meters long avenue paved by bluestones are dotted with many unique stall, souvenir shop, café and bars which are mostly run by Muslim people. Tourists, especially from overseas come and shop here.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Shaanxi Historical Museum, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Gao's Courtyard(includes Shadow Play)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Spend the morning at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many of the Dynasties, including some magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before. In the afternoon, we step onto the Xi'an Stele Forest Museum which has 900 years of history, holding a large collection of the earliest stone steles of different periods, from the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. This evening we go to the Gao's Courtyard, a famous house which has won the Prize of Cultural Heritage Protection in Asian-pacific Area of UNESCO in 2002. The courtyard owner Gao Yuesong was a high ranking official in Ming Dynasty 300 years ago. His building is nice with interlinked courtyards and Xi'an typical architectures. A shadow play performed by folk artists awaits you at the end of the day.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Xian to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Farewell to the ancient city, you will be transferred to the airport in time. On arrival in Shanghai, we will drive you to the hotel, and the rest of time is your own time. Shanghai is the largest economic and trade center, a comprehensive industrial base and the leading port in China. Its phenomenal mixture of space-age buildings, gorgeous shops, and the remnants of the old Concession areas allures many tourists from home and abroad.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Yuyuan Market, Yuyuan Garden, The Bund, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: We start the day by visiting the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the most famous garden in Shanghai, which is decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. It is also a shopper's paradise for there are many small shops carrying everything from furniture to porcelain. Then we step onto Yu Market, which is a busy market today, specializing in traditional arts and crafts. Outside, however, it still looks like a temple. We will stop here for a while to give you time to browse the stalls. After that, you will pay a visit to Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. This is a fascinating insight into Shanghai’s future. The 2nd floor has a giant walk around model of the city, and other floors have great displays, interactive exhibitions and walkthroughs of aspects such as the ports, greening, leisure etc. The last stop is the Bund. It was once the home of the foreign traders and major banks, with futuristic old European-style buildings, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do – and by night it's magic!

Day 9

Place & Transport: Shanghai to Guilin, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Guilin), Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: On arrival in Guilin, you will visit two of the best attractions in this gentle city - Elephant Trunk Hill, which is a national 4A scenery spot. The stone droped into the water like an elephant drinking the water of the Li River. And Reed Flute Cave, It is a vast and impressive cave system. Make sure you have plenty of small change with you at the caves - the children there sell flutes for about 1 yuan, and if you only have an American dollar, you're likely to end up with a whole basketful of flutes!

Day 10

Place & Transport: Guilin
Today's Activities: Zhuang and Yao Ethnic Tribes Longsheng Terraced Field in Longji area
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Driving west for about two hours through Guilin country side over pretty rivers and mountains, we will arrive on the Dragon's Back. The area named for the soaring jagged mountains is home to the Zhuang and Yao Ethnic Tribes who created the famous Rice Terraces that scale the Dragon's Back. You will have the opportunity to see how these people live, see their unique dress and hear about their customs that have developed over hundreds of year. Their villages which perch high on the mountain side are constructed without the use of nails. Return to Guilin in the late afternoon.
Notes: The day require quite a lot walking
Recommendation for evening optional activities: Foot massage

Day 11

Place & Transport: Guilin to Yangshuo
Today's Activities: Li River Cruise, 2-hour Taiji Learning
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Guilin is famous for its stunning scenery, and the best way to see it is from the deck of a Li River Cruise boat. The boats leave from various wharves, according to river height at different times of the year, and you'll be transferred to the appropriate pier for an unforgettable trip downriver to the lovely old town of Yangshuo. You will be arranged to attend a 2-hour Taiji Learning. Taiji Quan is an internal martial art system which places emphasis on the development and control of Chi (Consciousness) energy within the body. Following our professional trainer, you will acquaint with the soul of Taiji. The afternoon will give you time to explore the area which is famous for its shopping.

Day 12

Place & Transport: Guilin to Hong Kong, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Guilin), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Hong Kong), Two Rivers and Four Lakes(walking around (Rong lake and Sha lake), Fubo(Whirlpool) Hill
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: On arrival in Guilin, we will first arrange you a visit to Fubo (Whirlpool) Hill. It is located in the city proper. Fubo Hill is a 4A scenic spot of national grade. It is cliffy, propping up from the ground, famous for the Pearl-Returning Cave (nearly 350 steps to enjoy the view).After lunch, you can take a walk around Rong lake and Sha lake, Relax around this spectacular rives system，your stress of a whole day travel will be somewhat relieved. Then, you will be transferred to airport for the flight to Hong Kong.

Day 13

Place & Transport: Hong Kong
Today's Activities: Group tour:Hong Kong Island Orientation Tour
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: You will be picked up from your hotel by your guide who will accompany you on your whole tour. Firstly we will reach the famous Victoria Peak, overlook the scenic beaches of Repulse Bay and Stanley Market for bargains. And then the tour continues to Aberdeen village and HK's largest jewelry factory where artists are at work to create some of the best prize winning using semi precious stones. Your guide and driver will choose the best route for the tour that day based on your hotel's location and the day's traffic conditions. (Meals are not included)

Day 14

Place & Transport: Depart Hong Kong, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Hong Kong)
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.