13 Days from Li River to Yangtze River Tour

• Day1

  Beijing Arrival

  • No Meals
  • in Beijing
  Upon arrival, your guide will pick you up at Beijing airport and transfer you to your hotel.
  
• Day2

  Beijing: Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City and Hutongs

  • Breakfast, Lunch
  • in Beijing
  The day begins with a visit to Tiananmen Square. It is the largest square in the world and many important things in Chinese history started and ended here. It is surrounded by many monumental buildings and is worth seeing. Walking through the Tian’anmen Square, you will entre into Forbidden City, which is one of the largest and best-preserved imperial residences in the world, used by 24 emperors from 1368 to 1911.
  In the afternoon, you will take a tour of Hutongs by rickshaw and have a local family visit. Hutong is a maze of residences with a single floor of antique style and is rapidly disappearing in recent years.
  
• Day3

  Beijing: Temple of Heaven and Mutianyu Great Wall

  • Breakfast, Lunch
  • in Beijing
  Today you'll see Temple of Heaven at first. This is a huge religious complex and was used as a place where emperors prayed for the good harvest. Lunch in an elegant restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall, which is the largest defensive wall ever built. Then we will visit Mutianyu Great Wall (cable car of round trip is included), the less crowded section that is more popular for foreign travellers.
  
  
• Day4

  Beijing: Summer Palace and Yonghe Temple, Beijing to Xian by High-Speed Train

  • Breakfast, Lunch
  • in Xi'an
  In the last day in Beijing you will visit Summer Palace. This is another imperial family residential complex and is no less beautiful and no less important than the Forbidden City. Still, the architecture is very different and you can enjoy the visit. Afterwards, we will get into Yonghe Temple, the largest Buddhist temple of the Tibetan Lama in Beijing and the most recognized in China (outside Tibet).
  In the afternoon, transfer you to the railway station for the high-speed train to the city of Xian. Upon arrival in Xian, the local guide will pick you up and then transfer you to the hotel.
  
• Day5

  Xian: Terracotta Army, and Ancient City Wall

  • Breakfast, Lunch
  • in Xi'an
  Today's first destination is one of the world's most interesting archaeological sites, Terracotta Army. In 1974 about 7000 Terracotta Warriors and Horses were accidentally found in the vicinity of Xian, and it soon became one of China's best-known sights. All these terracotta figures are unique and no two are alike.
  After this you visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, on the grounds of the temple Daci’en. It was built in 652 A D. Xuan Zhuang, the famous master monk of the Tang Dynasty, translated Buddhist texts here that he had brought back from India.
  Finally we will walk along Ancient City Wall of Xian. This is the best preserved city defensive wall in China and was built in the 13th century with 13 kilometers long. There is an option to rent a bicycle or an electric car to see it.
  
• Day6

  Xian to Guilin by Flight, Elephant Trunk Hill and Reed Flute Cave

  • Breakfast, Lunch
  • in Guilin
  After breakfast you will fly to Guilin. Upon arrival in Guilin, you guide will lead you to visit Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin. Because it looks like a huge elephant drinking the sweet water with its trunk in the Lijiang River, it is named after the elephant trunk. It is the representative of Guilin's land-scape and the symbol of Guilin, and is formed by pure limestone deposited in the bottom of the sea 360 million years ago.
  One of the most famous caves in Guilin, the Reed Flute Cave is fantastic to appreciate limestone in a strange way under colored lights. its name is derived from the verdant reeds growing outside the cave, with which people make flutes.
  
• Day7

  Guilin: Li River Cruise to Yangshuo, Yangshuo Countryside Tour

  • Breakfast, Lunch
  Today we will cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo along the Li River. While you are immersed in the breathtaking scenery there is something interesting to see at almost every bend in the river. Among spectacular limestone peaks you will see elegant bamboo groves, farmers who opupand the rice fields and clumsy water buffaloes who pull carts or cool down in the river. Lunch on the cruise.
  After arriving in Yangshuo you will have a trip through the Yangshuo countryside in the afternoon by car or bicycle to appreciate the poetic natural landscape. On the way, you can make a family visit and learn more about local life by talking with farmers.
• Day8

  Guilin to Chongqing by Flight, Chongqing: Chongqing Zoo, Ancient Ciqikou Village

  • Breakfast
  • in Cruise
  Today you will fly to Chongqing from Guilin in the morning
  In Chongqing before embarking on Yangtze cruise we will see Giant Panda at Chongqing Zoo and visit Ciqikou Old Town. The cut Giant Pandas and their offspring will be a highlight of this trip. The Ciqikou Old Town is located closer to the river, and there are plenty of souvenir shops. You could try some local food and snacks if you are interested.
  You WILL embark on the boat from 18:00 to 20:00 and the cruise leaves Chongqing at 21:00. Spend the night on board.
  
• Day9

  Yangtze Cruise: Fengdu (Optional), Shibaozhai

  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • in Cruise
  In the morning, you wake up relaxedly and enjoy the soft sun that shines over the calm and beautiful Yangtze River. It will be colorful and interesting when you decide to stay on board or participate in shore excursions.
  On board you can have different types of activities, such as practicing Tai Chi on the terrace of the boat, having a relaxing morning coffee, attending a conference on the history and culture of the Yangtze River etc.
  You will then follow with a local guide and make a shore excursion to Shibaozhai. This spectacular monastery, on an island, is located at the foot of Lanruo Dian (Orchid Palace), built against' the cliff. The most impressive feature of the Precious Stone fortress is the beautiful Lanruo Dian, a 12-height palace whose curly ailerons compare to an orchid. (Note: comfortable shoes are highly recommended as there will be plenty of stairs to climb.)
  There is a wonderful performance of Chinese folk music and dance by the cruise ship staff at the captain's welcome banquet at night.
  Optional Excursion-Fengdu: With a history of over 2,000 years, Fengdu earned the nickname "Ghost City" for temples, buildings and statues. The carved facades are truly fascinating. Mt. Ming, a mountain devoted to hell and its king, Tianzi, is dotted with temples, shrines and wax sculptures representing the most rugged aspects of hell.
  Note: On Victoria cruise you will have shore excursion to the Scenic Zone of the Jade Emperor in Fengdu instead of Shibaozhai.
  
  
• Day10

  Yangtze Cruise: White Emperor City (Optional), Shennv Stream

  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • in Cruise
  Today you will be sailing through the spectacular Three Gorges - Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge respectively, which offers enchanting views.
  With cliffs on two banks form the magnificent scene of "the gate Kui is the greatest in the world", there are numerous historic sites and attractions in the Qutang Gorge; the Wu Gorge is known for its beauty and tranquillity, cliffs and twelve peaks; the Xiling Gorge is the longest of the three gorges and is located within the Hubei Province.
  During Wu Gorge you will have a pleasant adventure to the primitive Shennv Stream(Goddess Stream). You will switch to a smaller boat sailing down the beautiful stream in a narrow gorge and get close views of high mountain peaks and hanging coffins on steep cliffs. You will be able to entertain yourself with the local music and dance offered by the Ethnic Minority Tujia.
  Tonight there is a farewell banquet of captain.
  Optional Excursion – Baidi (City of White Emperor): This tour offers the best place to observe and appreciate the magnificent gate of Kuimen. Baidi (City of White Emperor) is not a royal city, but a small town was the birthplace of the ancient State of Bashu over 2,000 years ago, located at the entrance to Qutang Gorge on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in the east part of Fengjie County.
  
  
• Day11

  Three Gorges Dam, Yichang to Shanghai by High Speed Train

  • Breakfast
  • in Shanghai
  It is the last day of the cruise and you visit the famous Three Gorges Dam, which is the largest hydraulic project in the world and was built from 1994 to 2009. You will marvel at this gigantic dam from different angles, learn more about the background history of the Three Gorges Dam project, and learn more about the history of the Three Gorges Dam project. After the shuttle bus will transfer you to the passenger centre of Yichang. Your local guide will wait for you there and take you to the train station for the high-speed train to Shanghai.
• Day12

  Shanghai: Shanghai Museum, Yu Yuan, Yuyuan Bazaar, El Bund, Nanjing Road

  • Breakfast, Lunch
  • in Shanghai
  After breakfast visit Shanghai Museum. The articles kept in the Museum amount to 106, 000 pieces. Three particular exhibition rooms are now established, namely of the Bronze Wares of China, Ceramics of China and Ancient Paintings of China.
  Yu Yuan is one of the famous ancient gardens south of the lower reaches of the Changyang (Yangtze) River. Yu Garden was formerly a private garden owned by Pan Yunduan more than 400 years ago in the Ming Dynasty. The Yuyuan Bazaar adjacent to the garden is originated 140 years before the Tong Zhi Period, bringing together temples, gardens, shops, and restaurants, showing the evolution of the city over several centuries to the present day.
  El Bund was reputed as "Eastern Wall Street" because of the numerous Chinese and foreign banks there in the early 1900s. Its building complex extends 1,500m in length, from the el Bund ferry bridge at Suzhou estuary in the north to Jinling Road (East) in the south. Nanjing Road starts at the Bund in the east and ends at the Jing'an Temple in the west, and Middle Tibet Road separates it into the east and west sections. Once the busiest commercial street in Shanghai, it concentrates a number of time-honored brands.
• Day13

  Shanghai Departure

  • Breakfast
  Our guide will transfer you to the airport according to your flight schedule. Your trip to China ends here.
  

Recommended Accommodation for Your Trip to China

•     Meals
In your itinerary, it normally offers two meals each day: breakfast and lunch. You will have the freedom to choose your own dinner. If you have certain food allergies or special requirements such as vegetarian food, please let us know in advance. We will try our best to satisfy your special needs.
Breakfast
Normally served at the hotel where you stay. Depending on the hotel, breakfast is Western style, Chinese style or a combination.
Lunch - A la Carte 
In order to have our customers to taste authentic Chinese food and avoid tourist menus, we take food quality, dining environment and travel convenience into consideration when planning your lunch. Therefore , we will arrange a la carte lunch at a local restaurant whenever possible. Lunch a la carte is varied with different recommended restaurants and different cities. You could order the dishes according to your taste under the instructions of your guide. However, in some remote regions where it is difficult to find a non-tourist restaurant, you could have lunch at a local tourist restaurant or in a local family.
Your Own Dinner Option
Dinner is not included in our China travel package, unless you have this requirement. Looking for food by yourself could also be one of your best experiences in China. Therefore we offer you this flexibility of food choice. You can ask for your private guide to gain good suggestions.

•   Private Guide & Transfer
You will have a private guide, private driver and an air-conditioned vehicle to accompany you at each destination of your trip, which will provide you with maximum personal care, security and flexibility.
All our guides are qualified and responsible professionals. All our vehicles are clean and in excellent condition, crewed with licensed drivers.
Private Tour Guide
In each city, we have a professional local guide. Our guide picks you up punctually at your arrival from the airport/railway station/spring of each destination. On your way out of that city, your guide will stay by your side until you have checked in and passed through security. All our travel guides in each destination are local and responsible, who know this area well. They accompany you visiting this city during 8 working hours of each day and they will tell background stories of the tourist places, and show you the secret places to take your best pictures.
When it is necessary to change your itinerary for unexpected reasons, your private travel guide will suggest alternatives to ensure that you still have an excellent experience.

Private Transfer
With our comfortable and safe private transfer, your trip will be more relaxing and less tiring, keeping you in the best spirits to make the most of your experience in China. In all destinations visited, your vehicle is air-conditioned, clean and expertly maintained. Your private driver is licensed, insured and experienced.
Normally we will arrange vehicles with more space for you and your luggages. Depending on the number of passengers, we generally use sedans or minivans (7 seats) for 4 people or less, large vans or small buses (12-22 seats) for 5 to 12 people, medium cars (33-37 seats) for 13 - 25 people and large buses (more than 45 seats) for more than 25 people.

•     Remarks 
We reserve the right to modify the price due to exchange rate fluctuation
If you have special requirements, please tell us in advance.
We reserve the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.