17-day Tour: Charm of Chinese Classical Architecture

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive in Beijing and group meeting
1 stop
1
Beijing
Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing, capital of the most populous country on earth. With plenty of places that give an insight into the China's ancient history, as well as newer sights that showcase contemporary culture. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travelers. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We will collect/check your passport, insurance and next of kin information at the group meeting, please have these on hand. After the meeting maybe head out to explore the Beijing streets - with your hotel located centrally, a walk in any direction will unveil all sorts of wonderful surprises. Perhaps kick off your China adventure with a taste of an iconic dish - Peking duck.
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Beijing
1 stop
2
Mutianyu Great Wall
This morning you’ll take a private bus to visit Mutianyu Great Wall (around 2 hours) and spend some time exploring, taking photos and learning the history of this mighty site. An incredible piece of engineering, the wall stretches 6000 km west from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from nomadic northern tribes, and even though it failed in this purpose it's still one of the country's most remarkable achievements and an iconic destination. The walk is generally on the restored section of the wall, but this still means walking on steep, uneven terrain with multiple steps, so reasonable fitness and comfortable shoes are needed. The walk is approximately 5 kilometres and will take 2 to 3 hours depending on your level of fitness. You can choose how you access the wall, with options including cable car, chairlift or even toboggan to come down (at your own expense).
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Beijing to Xi’an
1 stop
3
Forbidden City-The Palace Museum
Today you’ll explore two of the most popular sights in Beijing on foot and using public transport. While this can be crowded, it's the best way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Make your way to the centre of the city – Tiananmen Square, the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Framed by the Gate of Heavenly Peace with its Mao portrait, Mao's Mausoleum, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and with elaborate flag raising and lowering ceremonies at dawn and dusk, it's a place of pilgrimage for the Chinese tourists who consider it the heart of their nation. From here you will enter the enormous Forbidden City. Built more than 500 years ago and off limits to commoners for almost all that time, the Forbidden City looks much like it always has. As you explore the great halls and courtyards you’ll be able appreciate the might and grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 4
Xi’an
1 stop
4
Xi'an City Wall (Chengqiang)
You will arrive at Xi’an train station around 9am, private transfer to hotel.Today join your leader on a short walking tour to uncover what was once the start of the ancient trading route of the Silk Road. The city has a wonderful Muslim Quarter, and you’ll wander the narrow streets past shops, lively markets, and groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in cafes. See the City Walls and Gates, the most complete in China, running over 13 kilometers (8 miles) around the city. Xi’an’s Silk Road history means it has an exciting mixture of cultures, exemplified by its food options, which range from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in Chinese restaurants. Maybe choose to visit the Bell and Drum Towers, the former built (according to legend) to restrain the dragons that were causing earthquakes, the latter is (unsurprisingly) full of drums, once used to mark time and warn in emergencies.
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 5
Xi'an
1 stop
5
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Today we will travel by privater transport (around 2 hours) to visit what is undoubtedly one of the man-made wonders of the world - the Terracotta Warriors. You’ll learn all about this incredible archaeological find, rediscovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well after being buried for 2000 years. These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots (originally all painted) were commissioned by the emperor Qin Shi Huangdi as part of his mausoleum after he ascended to the throne in 264 BC. Three main pits are open for you to view, where just under 2000 of the warriors - each individually sculpted from clay and with a different costume, height, and even facial expressions - stand in battle formation. The scale is incredibly impressive.
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 6
Xi’an to Chongqing
1 stop
6
Chongqing
In the morning, you will catch a high-speed train from Xi’an to Chongqing (approximately. 5 hours), gateway to the Yangzi River. Chongqing is the biggest city in China with a population of over 20 million in the city centre and suburbs that spraw along the river and up the steep hills behind it. Board your river boat, your home for the next few nights, and begin the cruise down one of the world’s greatest rivers. The gorges are spectacular and most travellers enjoy their time on the Yangzi boats. Cabins are twin-share with private bathroom facilities. 19：00-21：00 Board the cruise in Chongqing 21：00-21 : 30 Embarkation Safety briefing Approx. 21：30-21：30 Departure in Chongqing 21 : 30 Captain's Welcome Reception.
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Ghost City of Fengdu & Shibaozhai Bridge
1 stop
7
Continue your cruise along the Yangzi River. There is Tai Chi exercise in the morning. After breakfast, you can choose an Extra Optional tour to Fengdu Ghost City(it is not included,duration 8:00-10:30AM) or onboard activities. Fengdu is known as the "Ghost City," many historical sites are linked with the ghost culture, which attracts a large number of tourists. In this ancient town are 75 Buddhist and Taoist temples that were built during the Tang Dynasty and that house many demon and god statues. In Chinese legends, Fengdu is where the devil lives, and it is also a place for punishing the devil and awarding the good. In the afternoon, we will go shore excursion at 15:00PM. to Shibaozhai Pagoda(it is included), located in Zhong County at the south bank of the Yangtze River. It is a magnificent structure built against the side of a sheer rectangular cliff. Its architectural style and surroundings make it look like a heavenly building.
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 8
Sails through White Emperor City, Qutang Gorge, shore excursion to Shennong Stream
1 stop
8
Chongqing Qutang Gorge
Continue your cruise along the Yangzi River. The Yangzi has inspired numerous poets, writers and travellers over the centuries. You will travel along one of the most picturesque sections, through the renowned Three Gorges. The dramatic 'Sanxia', as they are known in Chinese, stretch for 200 kilometres and vary from 100 metres to 300 metres in width. In the morning (08:00-10:30), Optional Tour to White Emperor City or onboard activities. The White Emperor City lies in the eastern part of Fengjie. Fengjie is also known as Poem City, as many prestigious poets had been there and wrote many classic poems that reflect the beauty of this county on the Yangtze River. This mini city rests on top of Baidi Hill and is filled with scattered temples and gates.
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 9
Disembark at Yichang, shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Site
1 stop
9
Three Gorges Dam Project
After breakfast, we will disembark at Maoping pier of Yichang, then take a shore excursion to The Three Gorges Dam Site. The Three Gorges are, from upstream to downstream, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge, and make up the most beautiful section of the Yangtze River. The breathtaking scenery is praised as nature's art gallery and wonderland. Your Yangzi boat trip will end in the small city (by Chinese standards!) of Yichang, which offers a great chance to see typical Chinese life in the provinces. Here you’ll enjoy a tour of the incredible feat of engineering that is the Three Gorges Dam. The world’s largest hydroelectric project, the dam generates power and prevents the major flooding that had long threatened the people of the area (though the impact on displaced people and archaeological sites should not be ignored). From here you’ll take a private bus to the train station and board your overnight train to Shanghai (approximately 14 hours).
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 10
Shanghai
1 stop
10
Shanghai
Blending 21st-century architecture with old-world character, Shanghai pulses with the beat of contemporary China. Arrive and take the subway to your accommodation. Enjoy a full day of guided and unguided exploration, but don't worry if you can't see everything you want to –  you'll be back at the end of the trip. First up is a leader-led walking tour that will take you to historical Shanghai. Get a taste of the city during the roaring 1920s with a tour of the Bund, a strip of spectacular art deco-style buildings. Wander the narrow winding lanes (nongtangs) of Old Shanghai, where you can get a glimpse of local life. Explore the European-influenced French Concession, then pound the pavement along Luwan's Huaihai Road, a busy shopping street. The area's tree-lined avenues and their many Tudor mansions earned it the nickname 'Paris of the East'. When night falls, perhaps get a taste of Shanghai’s eclectic food scene.
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 11
Shanghai to Xitang
1 stop
11
Xitang Ancient Town
Join your leader today for a walking tour that'll take you back in time. At the Bund you can get a taste of 1920s Shanghai; its spectacular array of Art Deco buildings line what was once the most important financial street in Asia. Wander the narrow winding lanes (longtangs) of Old Shanghai, where you can get a real glimpse into the locals’ daily life. Explore the European-influenced French Concession and the tree-lined avenues and Tudor mansions of Luwan's Huaihai Road. In the afternoon, leave Shanghai in the rearview mirror and make the two-hour journey to Xitang, a nearby water town. Once a hub for 19th-century businessmen, Xitang turns on the charm in the evening when all the day trippers go home. Take a stroll along lantern-lit canals and ask your leader for advice on which hole-in-the-wall eatery to pick from, enjoying some classic Chinese cuisine while watching the lights reflected on the waters' surface.   
24 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 12
Xitang-Shanghai to Yangshuo
1 stop
12
Guilin
Rise and shine to explore the streets of Xitang. Wander across charming bridges and relax by the canals, sip steaming cups of tea, learn about local history at one of the many museums or simply get lost among the maze of peaceful cobblestone streets – a welcome break from the bustle of modern Shanghai. Return to Shanghai and board an overnight soft sleeper train bound for Guilin. The journey will take around 19 hours in total, though you'll hopefully be sleeping for most of it. Train travel in China may not be entirely luxurious but it's certainly one of the best ways to come face to face with the country and its people, as it's the main form of transport for locals. 
24 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 13
Yangshuo
1 stop
13
Yangshuo County
Disembark from the train and jump on a private bus from Guilin to Yangshuo. Soak up the charm of this town, popular with the Chinese and Western travellers alike, who come for the beautiful landscape and stay for the great cafes and bars. It's also one of the best places in the country to get a feel for local culture and traditions while having plenty of fun at the same time. The countryside around Yangshuo is immortalized in many traditional Chinese paintings – picture immense limestone karsts dotting the rural landscape, towering spectacularly over rice paddies and the meandering Li River. The scene is even celebrated on every 20 yuan note!
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 14
Yangshuo
1 stop
14
Li River
The dramatic countryside surrounding Yangshuo is best seen on an optional cruise down the Li River. Float past limestone monoliths, rice paddies, and water buffaloes drinking at the river's edge. For those feeling active, why not jump on a bike and explore the splendid green surrounds and nearby villages or perhaps participate in a peaceful Taichi session. Enjoy a guided walk through a local market before visiting a converted country house to learn to cook local specialties.
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 15
Continue to discover the beauty of Yangshuo
1 stop
15
Moon Hill
A great optional activity for the day what is Pick tea leaves, tea making, drink tea and listen to the rhyme leisurely at the Seven Fairies Peak tea plantation; Mountaineering Xianggong hill and viewing Li River meandering, enjoy sunlight & shadow、clouds sea、sunrise、the sunset、the rosy clouds; Discovery the mystery of the Ancient Stone Village. You are highly recommended.
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 16
Yangshuo to Hong Kong
1 stop
16
Victoria Peak (The Peak)
Leave Yangshuo and continue your journey to the final stop, Hong Kong. You'll be transferred to Guilin and then hop on the high-speed train (approximately three and half hours) to Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Railway Station, from there head to your centrally located hotel. Go on a walking tour with your leader, then maybe check out the Temple Street night market or the light show at Victoria Harbour. Take the chance to celebrate your final night with the group in this awesome city.
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 17
Hong Kong (Departure Day)
1 stop
17
Hong Kong
Your China tour comes to an end this morning. There are no activities on the final day and you are free to leave your accommodation at any time. Kindly Reminder: the check out time normally is 12:00. If you have booked an airport transfer through Truly China Travel, please confirm the pick up time with your tour leader in advance.
24 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

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