21Days Amazing China

Beijing – Xian – Guilin – Yangshuo - Chengdu - Lijiang - Yangtze Cruise – Shanghai
Beijing – Xian – Guilin – Yangshuo - Chengdu - Lijiang - Yangtze Cruise – Shanghai

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Beijing (D)

Arrival at Beijing Airport and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon you will have time to relax or take a walk in the surrounding area. Your guide will be pleased to advise on what you can do at your leisure. In the early evening your guide will escort you for dinner where you will meet your fellow group members. Check in to hotel

Day 2

Beijing (B/L/D)

This morning you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Ming and Qing emperors worshipped and prayed for good harvest for the year. Here, you can observe the tradition of practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard. This will be followed by a stroll through Tiananmen Square, and a visit to the Forbidden City, a grand imperial palace for centuries.

Day 3

Beijing (B/L/D)

Starting off with a visit to the Great wall at Mutianyu, a post along the wall which offers all round stunning views. Built mid-6th century and its rich history can be observed in its unique construction. In the evening there will be a sumptuous Peking Duck Dinner, a traditional delicacy in Beijing.

Day 4

Beijing - Xi'an (B/L/D)

Today visit the Summer Palace, full of lakes, gardens and palaces with lovely views and walks. Afterwards, you will enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the beautiful Kunming Lake. Followed by a stop at the Birds Nest Stadium and Water Cube. The final stop of the day will be at the Hutongs, before finally, catching a flight to Xian. Check into hotel

Day 5

Xi'an (B/L/D)

Today your guide will take you to visit the Terracotta Warriors, a stunning collection of ten thousand life size statues of the Chinese army made over two thousand years ago, yet preserved almost perfectly. This will be followed by a visit to the ancient city wall in Xian in the afternoon, which can be enjoyed through a peaceful stroll or a bike ride. This evening you will try a dumpling dinner while enjoying the Tang Dynasty Show, a colourful performance of traditional music and dance.

Day 6

Xian – Guilin (B/L/D)

Today, you will visit to the Shaanxi museum which houses over a quarter of a million artefacts on display, including treasures from many periods of China’s history. The next stop, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, will explore China’s unique architecture style. Visit the Muslim Quarter to see local life in the community.  Finally, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guilin. Check into hotel

Day 7

Guilin (B/L/D)

This morning transferr to Zhujiang quay for a four hour boat cruise on the breathtaking Li River towards Yangshuo. On the Li River, there are opportunities to enjoy the tranquil rural scenes of buffalo farming, the rice terraces and the towering karst mountain peaks. In the evening, you will see the fascinating cormorant fishing show.

Day 8

Guilin (B/D)

This morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, our guide will take you for a pleasant walk along the Yulong River to visit the local families in the countryside. In the evening there is the spectacular ‘Impressions of Liu Sanjie’ show actually staged in the Li River itself!

Day 9

Guilin - Chengdu (B/L/D)

This morning, you’ll visit the Reed Flute Caves, a remarkable collection of colourfully illuminated stalactites and stalagmites. Afterwards you will visit Fubo Hill and Elephant Trunk Hill, with panoramic countryside views. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Chengdu. Check into hotel

Day 10

Chengdu (B/L/D)

A full day excursion to the magnificent Leshan Buddha at 233-ft tall. Built during the Tang Dynasty, the Buddha is carved out of a cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers. You will also visit the ancient town of Huanglongxi.

Day 11

Chengdu - Lijiang (B/L/D)

Today visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre, here naturalistic habitats have been created for the best possible environments for rearing and breeding pandas. Afterwards transfer to the airport for a flight to Lijiang. Stay for three nights in Hotel Manxin.

Day 12

Lijiang (B/L/D)

Visit picturesque Black Dragon Pool, a short walk from the Old Town of Lijiang. Drive to the dramatic scenery of the Tiger Leaping Gorge – one of the deepest gorges in the world.

Day 13

Lijiang (B/L/D)

Today you will visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain taking a cable car half way up. Afterwards visit Baisha Naxi minority village to learn about its ancient wall paintings. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore Lijiang Old Town.

Day 14

Lijiang - Dali (B/L)

Depart Lijiang and drive to another ancient town, Dali. On the way, stop at the ancient town Xizhou for a great opportunity to see village life at its best, as well as meeting locals.

Day 15

Dali (B/L/D)

This morning visit Erhai Lake to enjoy its crystal clear waters and the spectacular Cangshan Mountains in the background. Afterwards, enjoy a folk dance performance by the ethnic Bai and tea ceremony. Lastly, there will be a visit to Dali’s most iconic destination - The Three Pagodas.

Day 16

Dali - Kunming (B/D)

This morning is free for you to explore the old town of Dali. Later we transfer you to the airport for a flight to Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province.

Day 17

Kunming - Shanghai (B/L/D)

The first attraction in Kunming is the ancient and beautiful Stone Forest. In the afternoon, you will board a flight to the bustling metropolis of Shanghai.

Day 18

Suzhou (B/L/D)

Enjoy a city tour of Suzhou, known as the ‘Venice of the East’. After, enjoy a cruise on the striking Grand Canal and a chance to visit the Panmen Gate.

Day 19

Shanghai (B/L/D)

Visit the Yu Yuan Gardens followed by the Jade Buddha Temple. The centuries old Yu Yuan Gardens is home to beautiful pavilions, corridors, streams, courtyards and flowers, perfect for the horticulturist. At the Jade Buddha Temple, one can expect impressive temples, both historical and modern, sporting large, intricate sculptures of Buddha. After viewing the Shanghai museum, there will be an opportunity to visit the waterfront attraction of the Bund to admire Shanghai as a modern metropolis. Later, on top of the Shanghai world financial centre, you can enjoy a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the whole city.

 

Day 20

Shanghai (B/L)

Morning visit to Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town with a history of over 1,700 years known as the Pearl Stream. After, visit the Ming and Qing Dynasty bridges, two ancient and historic buildings, and the Ma Family Garden before heading back to Shanghai for an afternoon at leisure.

 

Day 21

Depart (B)

You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

 

** This is a Small Group Tour where you may have guests from other English speaking countries joining the same program. All transfer, sightseeing, guide services etc. will be provided to you on non-exclusive basis. Guaranteed departure with minimum 2 persons**

 

Included: Accommodation in 4* Hotels, meals as shown above, entrance fees at monuments, current taxes, 24-hours local contact number for emergencies.

 

Note: Please contact us if you require more information on different Hotel categories.

Prices quoted are valid from 01 March - 30 September 2022. Cost above is indicative, based on Low Season in NZ Dollars and subject to change due to fluctuation in exchange rates. Please read T&C before booking. Call 09 410 5060 or 0508 EXOTIC (0508 396 842) or email info@exoticholidays.co.nz for more information.