11-day tour for first time to China

Arrive in Beijing

Upon arrival at the?Beijing Capital International Airport, Our guide will meet you at the arrival hall and then you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in. The balance of the day will be at?leisure.?

Imperial Architectures

For a new adventure, Tiananmen Square is the first destination.?While fixing your eyes on this huge?Tiananmen Square, symbol of historical changes in China, immerse in the Chinese patriotic atmosphere. Take a symbolic picture in the center of the square before walking along its underpass, which leads to the Forbidden City.?
Then, cross the Tiananmen Gate and begin the tour of?Forbidden City. Stroll between the walls steeped in history and this huge imperial palace touched by the footsteps of emperors from past Chinese dynasties. Pass the palace interiors and courtyards to see how historical treasures and mysteries are revealed. And then relax in the Palace Museum.?
After lunch, you will climb the small slope of the?Jingshan Park?to visit the Wanchun Pavilion. Here you can enjoy memorable views of the golden roofs of the Forbidden City, the National Grand Theatre and the central axis of the capital.
Then,?discover the?National Grand Theater, a world famous architectural work close to the Forbidden City. Unless there is any special event, this gigantic egg enthroned in the midst of artificial waters will open the doors of its theaters and its mysteries. This would be a worthy visit.
Time for an evening at the?Peking Opera, you will be fascinated by the legends of ancient China. After an early dinner, if you wish, enter backstage at the theater to see the actors apply their makeup and get ready for their performance. The acting, costumes and music are set with such finesse that you forget the English subtitles on both sides of the stage. You will be surprised by the staging and colors, and the music and acting skill are quite impressive.

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Great Wall Visit

Today, you?will explore one of the most important symbols of China: The?Mutianyu Great Wall. This wonderful site offers a stunning landscape of the surrounding nature. Having access to the ramparts by cable car, you may enjoy of exclusion from the rest of the world, as this area is a slightly less touristy section of the Great Wall. To return, you can choose to walk or go tobogganing or cable car.
After the Great Wall tour, stop at the?cloisonne factory?where this ancient art will be revealed. You will explore artisans welding on a piece of copper inlaid with colored enamels.
When you go back to the center in the afternoon, you will visit the architectural treasures of the largest imperial garden in China,?the Summer Palace. Built based on models of the most beautiful gardens of Suzhou and the shores of West Lake in Hangzhou, this huge garden is full of history. There is even a chance for a short cruise on the calm Kunming Lake.
Tonight, enjoy one of the most delicate Chinese cuisine dishes: the?Beijing Roast Duck. You will enjoy this ancient dish in one of the best restaurants in Beijing.

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In the morning, experience a tour back to a time of ancient worship by visiting the?Temple of Heaven. A shrine of Heaven and symbol of Beijing, the Temple is considered as important as the Forbidden City, or even more because the emperor is the son of Heaven. If there is not too crowded, a stroll through the extensive gardens and corridors of the park will immerse you in the lives of old Beijing.
Then, as you ride in a rickshaw in the Hutongs, prepare to immerse yourself in this unique atmosphere of old Beijing. the famous courtyard houses are available for visitors, as you experience being with working-class families when sharing a meal with a typical?Beijing Hutong?family, you will learn about the customs and traditional ways of life in these neighborhoods.?In the heart of Shichahai Hutong, you will stop in one of the best preserved royal mansions of Beijing. The?Prince Gong's Mansion?is unique heritage and traditional architecture, which make it an indispensable historical monument.
We will wrap up the Beijing tour by visiting the?Capital Museum. Within its five floors, this museum is modern but showing you the history of the capital of China.
After early dinner, we will be transferred to the train station for the overnight soft sleeper?train to Xian.

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Arrive in Xian

Today, go a few miles outside of city wall and discover one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas. As a symbol of Xian, you could admire the city and realize Xian at the seventh floor of the?Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Then, you will go to visit the?Stele Forest Museum?for its impressive collection of stele calligraphy. Wander amid these steles and tombstones and learn an explanation on the history inscribed on the stone from time to time in English. Get into the third room of the museum to realize the immensity of Xian.
After lunch, immerse yourself in the culture by visiting the?Great Mosque and Muslim Quarter. Open your senses in the Muslim Quarter of the city and discover spices and dishes typical of the Hui ethnic group. Arrive at the Great Mosque of Xian, one of the four largest ancient mosques of China. Gardens and buildings open to non-Muslims will give you an overview of the Sino-Arab cultural mix which can be seen in many places.
Tonight, enjoy the delicacy offered in a local restaurant, the?Dumpling Dinner?in Xian. Enjoy these dumplings with meat or vegetables stuffing. By the way, dumplings are the special dish for the Chinese New Year.

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Today, get away downtown Xian to visit the eighth wonder of the world, the?Terracotta Army. From the passage of the door, prepare to marvel at the craziest project by the first emperor of China. Although the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi is never ever open, a few rooms containing objects have been observed as having accompanied the deceased. In an annex building, know more about the story of the emperor and the construction of this magnificent tomb. The real size of the Terracotta Warriors will definitely surprise you and make you Xian tour unforgettable.
After lunch, we will go back to learn more about the history of the province of Shaanxi. The huge?Shaanxi History Museum?is a treasure of China that leaves you speechless. From prehistory to the discovery of the Terracotta Army, you will figure out the constant changes that the people of the ancient capital Chang'an had made.
Then, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Guilin. Upon arrival, the Guilin local guide will meet you at the arrival hall and then you will be driven to the hotel for check-in.

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Stunning Natural Scenery

In the early morning, you'll be driven?to the pier to experience the?Li River Cruise?where lunch will be served. Over the 4-hour drive, drive of an enchanting world made up of karst peaks in the form of Sugar Loaves. It's ?just like Chinese painting paraded before you. The landscape of the Shanshui (rivers and mountains) is extraordinary. You may be lucky to admire buffalo while you're peacefully grazing the water.
Upon arrival at Yangshuo, enjoy yourself while wandering in the?West Street. This street, also called Foreigner's Street attracts visitors for its traditional Chinese architectural style and western shops that offer a European break in the remote the Chinese countryside. Stop along the way to discover the art of traditional painting and learn more about these aesthetic principles and finesse.
At evening, discover the legend "Fairy Singer" during the show,?Impression Liu Sanjie. Songs, dances, costumes and local music represent the history of this young rural girl around Yangshuo, all with the scenery of a natural background.

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The countryside and rice terraces

To begin a new adventure, going?cycling in the countryside of Yangshuo would be the first funny activities. Pedal amid the surrounding rice fields, you would be fascinated by the the Chinese countryside. This breath of fresh air will refresh your mind after the visit of Chinese cities.
After then, we will be driven to Longsheng Scenic Area. Upon arrival, visit a traditional village of the Zhuang minority, the?Ping'an village and Longji Ping'an rice terraces in the district of Longji. After a brisk half-hour walk in the hills, you arrive at Ping'an village. If you wish, you can ask the carrier to take you up to the hill on their palanquin. Stroll through the beautiful Longji rice terraces along the hillside. If possible, you'll even have the opportunity to visit a rural elementary school with children from all local minorities. To acquire a better understanding of the Zhuang minority culture, spend the night in the village inn, where the rice terraces views are stunning.

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Modern Shanghai

In the morning, we will be drive to the airport in Guilin for the flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you at the arrival hall and then will be driven to the downtown to first explore the Shanghai Museum to discover one of the most important collections of Chinese art in the world. From room to room, let yourself be amazed within the history of this country's millennial culture. Get there by first crossing the People's Square and its Park.
Then, visit the most prosperous Shanghai?Nanjing Road. Enter the crowds of shopaholics strolling around the long pedestrian street of several kilometers. As you do your shopping on the Nanjing Road, enjoy and admire some of the historic buildings in their various styles.
This evening, go for Huangpu River Cruise. Discover the city as the aliens did before 1949. The cruise is indeed along the Bund and its Gothic, Baroque and romantic frontages. On the other side, admire the modern Pudong New Area and its huge skyscrapers. The cruise will makes a U-turn near the Yangpu Bridge and you are provided then the most beautiful view on this cable-stayed bridge which is one of the longest in the world.
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Today, we first stroll in the?Old French Concession?of Shanghai and discover some of the most beautiful villas of the pre-war in this area. Pass Huaihai Street and the hotel Jinjiang, which represents the heart of this old French Concession.
Then, take a nice walk along the Huangpu River on?the Bund. Historic buildings in this street combine he styles of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque to the New York of the 1930s and the Sino-Western. As a symbol of Shanghai since the 1920s, the Bund is considered “Chic Avenue of China”. With modern skyscrapers on the other side of the river, the Bund mixes old and renewal in a sumptuous setting.
After lunch, visit?a breathtaking, beautiful garden of Shanghai,?the?Yuyuan Garden. As one might notice while strolling through the shops and restaurants, this area has been restored in a very typical style of ancient China. Cross the bridge with nine turnings and finally go to the Yuyuan garden, a haven of peace in the economic capital-Shanghai.
Then, we wrap the day with a visit to?the?Pudong New Area. On the Eastern Bank of the Huangpu River, stroll at the foot of the monumental buildings of the futuristic part of Shanghai and admire the frontages of Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque of the Bund across the river.

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End of the trip

Free until be transferred to the??Pudong International Airport?for the flight home.