Mount Tai in Shandong Province China

Tour Code: CCT17
Destinations: Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Yangshuo, Jinan, Taishan, Beijing
Departure: Daily
Duration:  14 days
Language: English
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Details (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

Day 02 Arrive Beijing
Upon arrival you are met and privately transferred to your hotel for check-in and overnight.
Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China, is a unique reflection of the many changing facets of contemporary Chinese culture, where ancient cultural sites such as the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven vie for space alongside high-rise buildings, modern shopping malls, and an intricate freeway system. A thriving commercial capital, continually developing, Beijing’s 200-year-old cultural heritage is still very much in evidence, with a vast array of stunning attractions throughout the city.

Day 02 Beijing B.L
Today you have a full-day city tour of Beijing by private vehicle with an English-speaking guide.

Start your tour with a visit to Tiananmen Square, a site of historic significance for the advent of communism in China.  Known as “six-four” or “June 4th,” the movement has become an albatross about the Chinese government’s neck in regards to human rights and freedom of speech, a point of contention in Sino-American relations.  See the changing of the guards.  Aside from the grand and tragic events here over the last 50 years, Tiananmen is truly a people’s square, alive with local kite fliers and wide-eyed tourists from out of town.  Then visit the impressive Forbidden City within the Imperial Palace.  Also known as the Imperial Palace Museum or Gugong, the Forbidden City was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties carried out their administration and lived.  Now it is open to the public as a palace museum where people can see the great traditional palace architecture, enjoy the treasures kept in the palace and learn of the legends and anecdotes about the imperial family and the court.

This afternoon, enjoy a stroll through the lush gardens of the Summer Palace.  Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called “Yiheyuan” (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese.  It is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China.

Day 03 Beijing B.L
Enjoy a morning visit the Temple of Heaven, set in a 670-acre park.  Here is Qinian Dian (Hall of Prayer for the Good Harvests), constructed without a single nail and one of the finest examples of Chinese architecture. . Also, enjoy a rickshaw tour of the hutongs, the “Old City” neighborhoods of narrow alleyways and courtyard gardens hidden behind Beijing’s modern facade. Late morning, enjoy tea with a local family.

Day 04 Beijing – Xian B.L
Your morning is at leisure until you are transferred to visit. The Great Wall of China (Juyong Pass), which snakes over the green hill countryside outside of Beijing.

UNESCO enlisted the Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, in the World Heritage in 1987.  Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus stretching approximately 6,700 kilometers (4,163 miles) from east to west of China.  With a history of more than 2,000 years, some of the section of the great wall are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared.  However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world, owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

In the afternoon, you transfer to the airport for your flight to Xi’an. Upon arrival in Xi’an, you are met and transferred to the hotel.

Day 05 Xian B.L
Strategically set on the Silk Road trade route that once linked central Asia to Europe, Xi’an was the largest city in the world during the Tang dynasty (618-907).  Although the city is quite modernized, Xi’an has retained many of the historical remnants of its past glory.

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing.  Visit, the Terracotta Warriors Museum, a terracotta army guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, which lures travelers from all over the world.  In a quest for immortality and eternal power, China’s first emperor chose to have himself buried with some 8,000 life-size, intricately carved soldiers, horses, and chariots.  Discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974, the terracotta army then wore painted uniforms, but exposure to the air and sun has turned them black.

This afternoon, visit the nearby Banpo Neolithic Village, which offers 1,000-year-old artifacts, and the Hot Springs of Huaqing, baths that have been in use for 3,000 years.

Day 06 Xian – Guilin B.L
Enjoy a full day city tour of Xi’an by private vehicle.  Visit the Shaanxi Lishi Bowuguan (History Museum) with its displays of terracotta soldiers and horses, as well as tools and pottery from the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages.  Also tour Xian’s City Wall.  Built in the Tang Dynasty when the city was the capital, this is now the only complete city wall existing in China.  Visit one of the gates and take a stroll on the wall.  Then visit the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, built in the beginning of the Tang dynasty as a memorial to Crown Prince Lhi Zhi’s mother.

This afternoon, transfer by private vehicle to the Xi’an airport for flight your flight to Guilin.  Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel with the balance of the day at your leisure. Guilin is considered to be the pearl of China’s thriving tourist industry on account of the natural beauty and historic treasures.

Day 07 Guilin – Yangshuo B.L
Enjoy Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. Visit the West Street (Xi Jie) Market in Yangshuo.

Yangshuo, a small county with its breath-taking beauty and over 1,400 years of history blessed. Streets in Yangshuo are well kept in the original style, presenting the simple and primitive atmosphere of the ancient town. West Street is the most exciting one that locals call the ‘Global Village’. There are not only many foreign tourists, but also quite a number of foreign residents managing cafés and restaurants. The exotic flavor, combined with the traditional culture, make the West Street world famous.

Li River is by far the main reason to visit Guilin. Double-decker and triple-decker river boats which weigh anchor from a pier at Zhujiang, about 40 minutes from Guilin by bus, and meander through the sleepy countryside are relaxing way to enjoy the superlative river scenery and life along its banks. In contrast to the burgeoning cities of the north, it is quiet here; the rural scenery is magnificent. You will enjoy the picturesque mountains, peaceful green fields, farms and villages with water buffalos, cows wondering around on both sides of the river bank.

West Street (Xi Jie) is the oldest street in Yangshuo with a history of more than 1,400 years. Situated at the center of Yangshuo County, West Street has become, since the 1980’s, a window of eastern and western culture and the biggest ‘foreign language center’ in China. West Street is the most prosperous district in Yangshuo, Each year, approximately 100,000 foreigners come here on their travels or to attend advanced studies. Visitors are attracted to West Street by its unique mix of cultures. West Street does not only satisfy you visually.

Day 08 Yangshuo B.L
This Morning you will take a bicycle tour to Yulong River and have a 40 minutes’ rafting on the river. Then continue your tour to Moon Hill by bike and hiking on the hill. Late afternoon return to Yangshuo by bike. Evening enjoy the light show-Impression Liusanjie

Yulong River, also called Little Li River, rises in Lingui County inYangshuo. The part of the river that stretches from Yulong Bridge in Baisha Town, to Gongnong Bridge near Big Banyan, is known as the Yulong River Scenic Area, and includes some spectacular scenic views along each river bank. The Chinese word ‘Yulong’ refers to ‘meeting a dragon’. Local legend has it that a dragon from the East Sea strolled across the Yulong River and, being deeply impressed by the attractive landscape, decided to stay there forever. The villagers living on the river bank saw the dragon several times, and hence named it the Yulong River.

Moon Hill Named for the crescent shaped cave running through the moon, Moon Hill is one of the highlights in Yangshuo. The journey up to the summit is an arduous one which covers 800 steep steps. The scenery overlooking the countryside through the half moon, however, is well worth the trek, which is probably the best you will get in the area.

Impression Liu San jie It is a grand musical show directed by Zhang Yimong, the famous director in China, on the largest natural theatre in the world consisting of area of 2 km long Li Jiang River and 12 peaks as stage setting. The story is about a lady called Liusanjie, she left her home town and came to Yangshuo on a bamboo raft and settled here. Under the Big Banyan Tree, Liusanjie tossed her love ball to her loved one, which he accepted and they lived happily ever after.

Day 09 Yangshuo B.L
This Morning you will visit the local villages nearby include a local school. Afternoon free at leisure. Owen English College is one of the best language school in Yangshuo where ‘foreigners” gathered and known as China’s largest “Yang Renjie”

Day 10 Yangshuo – Guilin B.L
Today you drive to visit Longsheng Terraces with local minorities show, then return to Guilin. In the evening watch the fisherman do the cormorant fishing. Overnight in Guilin.

The Longsheng Terraces are located about 2 hours from Guilin. The rice terraces are built into the hillsides. The terraces look like great chains or ribbons as they wind from the foot to the top of the hill. This ingenious construction makes best use of the scarce arable land and water resources in the mountainous area. There are about 66 square kilometers terraced fields in southeast Longsheng.

Cormorant Fishing is a traditional river fishing method in Guilin area. The trained cormorants are used to catch fresh water fishes. With the mellifluous note of ancient zither, amid the floating sparkling fishing lights, the fisherman with his coir raincoat and bamboo hat on, is on a bamboo raft on the lake, the vigorous cormorants and shuttling forth and back—–the picturesque scenery   would evoke the homesickness of the people away from their hometown. The fishing show represents Guilin’s the other respect, it will absolutely give you a deep impression of the city, the people and their life styles.

Day 11 Guilin – Jinan B.L
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Jinan.Upon arrival you will be met and transfer to your hotel.

Jinan, capital of Shandong Province on China’s east coast, is the province’s political, economic and cultural center. Thanks to its long history, Jinan has been designated by the State Council as a famous historical and cultural city. As Jinan boasts a number of natural springs amid picturesque scenery, it is known as the “City of Springs.” The city tree of Jinan is the willow, and the city flower is the lotus.

Day 12 Jinan – Taishan B.L
This morning drive to Taishan to hike TaiShan.  It is eastern China’s most sacred mountain located on the outskirts of Shandong’s Jinan.  Once reserved for empirical sacrifices to Heaven, the only sacrifice you have to make is the energy to make the climb.  Though only 5,000 feet high, the ascent is steep and taxing, with 6,293 steps on the path up the mountain.  Many take a minibus to the halfway point, but you’ll want to walk the whole way.  The climb to the summit leads past Taoist shrines, stone steles, waterfalls, and a summit temple, which looms high above a pine forest.

Spend the night at the small guesthouse next to the summit temple and rise early for China’s best sunrise, when the sun rises like a flaming red ball through a sea of clouds.

Day 13 Taishan – Jinan – Beijing B.L
Today you will be driven back to Jinan for flight to Beijing.Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the hotel with the balance of your day at leisure.

Day 14 Depart Beijing
This afternoon you will be privately transferred to the Beijing International airport for your homeward bound flight.

Service included
A. Hotels (twin share basis) with breakfast
B. Domestic flights or trains as listed in the itinerary.
C. Private car or van with driver
D. English speaking tour guide
E. Entrance fees
F. Meals as listed in the itinerary.

Service excluded
A. International airfare or train tickets.
B. Tips to guides and drivers.

Reservation
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