13 days Essence of China tour from Beijing to Hong Kong

Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be warmly greeted and assisted to your hotel by a local Beijing guide and driver. Take a break for the rest of the day or explore this ancient city on your own. Your local guide will be glad to provide recommendations on where to go or what to do on your first night in Beijing.

Begin your first day in Beijing by heading to Tiananmen Square in the morning. As you make your way there, start learning about the history and culture of China from your guide. Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, sits at the heart of Beijing. It serves as a venue for important national celebrations and events for the Chinese people.

Afterwards, proceed to the north end of the square to enter directly into the Forbidden City. This vast palace complex was the imperial residence and administrative center for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, the Forbidden City is celebrated as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. Next, visit Jingshan Park, which was a part of the Forbidden City until the early 1900s. At that time, walls were demolished, and a road was constructed through it, resulting in the destruction of several gates and buildings between the park and the rear entrance of the palace. From the top of Jingshan Park, you will have a panoramic view of the Forbidden City.

After lunch, visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Summer Palace, an exquisite royal garden renowned for its breathtaking scenery, including the man-made Kunming Lake, best viewed from Longevity Hill (Wanshou Shan). This site, once exclusively for the imperial court, boasts ancient palaces, temples, and gardens dating back to the Qing dynasty, making it one of the four classic gardens in China.

In the evening, you have the option to enjoy a performance of a Chinese Kung Fu Show (additional fee is required), an immersive experience that showcases traditional Chinese martial arts.

After breakfast, drive to visit the Temple of Heaven, a holy imperial temple where emperors went to worship to the God of Heaven and pray for a good harvest. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qinian Dian) is the main building at the Temple of Heaven, and it's well known for its unique and magnificent triple-gabled circular appearance.

In the afternoon, you can choose to visit one of the below sections of Great Wall:

After about 2.5 hours’ drive in the morning, you will arrive at Mutianyu Great Wall located about 80 km. (50 mi.) north of Beijing city. It is one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall which used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and Chinese imperial tombs. Then enjoy a 2 to 3 hours walk along the wall and having a glimpse of the majestic scene of the wall winding its way across the mountains. The cable car is also available for those who require assistance in reaching the summit of the wall or just do not feel like walking up.

Drive about 2.5 hours to Huanghuacheng Great Wall. Less touristy than other parts of the Great Wall close to Beijing, Huanghuacheng is an extremely rewarding, and impossibly steep, section of the Wall. Undulating across the hillsides east and west of a small reservoir and offering spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, it has undergone only partial restoration and is refreshingly free of the hawkers who can make visits to other sections a trying experience.

On the way back to the downtown, stop to overlook Olympic Green. (Optional: If you are interested in the local life, we can also drop you off at the Wangfujing market or Sanlitun Bar Street, where you can get closer to local Beijing).

In the morning, drive to visit the Lama Temple, which also known as the Yonghegong Temple. It is a temple and monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. It contains the largest wooden Buddha in the world. (Optional: You can visit Beihai Park instead of you are more interested in the local people’s life).

After lunch, head to Sichahai Area and explore Nanluoguoxiang, an active community of Beijing's disappearing hutongs. During your visit, the local guide will tell you the history of traditional hutong cultures of old Beijing. After, you will have some time to explore Beijing on your own. 

In the afternoon, take the high-speed train to Xi'an (about 5 hours). Upon arrival in Xi'an, to be picked up and transferred to hotel.

Today you will visit  the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses, which is also called the eighth wonder of world. After breakfast, take an half an hour's drive to the northeast countryside of Xi'an. See the three huge pits with more than 10,000 life size clay warriors, which was built to protect Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor in China in his afterlife.

In the afternoon, drive back to Xi'an and continue visiting Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is the landmark of Xi'an. Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the place to preserve the sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought from India by the famous monk Xuanzang. Atop of the building you will have a bird's eye view of Xi'an city.

Afterwards, head to the the Xi'an Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque to feel the unique ethnic culture of Hui in Xi'an. Great Mosque is the oldest and one of the most renowned mosques in China. 

In the evening, you can choose tp enjoy the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show filled with a dumpling banquet (Optional).

After breakfast, the first spot you will visit is Shaanxi History Museum, which is regarded as the best and largest state museum in China. Once getting there, you will first be attracted by its magnificent appearance, which recalls the architectural style of Tang Dynasty. There are more than 300,000 exhibitions on display in this museum, which remains an outstanding collection viewed by countless people each year.

Next up for today is the Xi'an City Wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in China. Followed by a visit Shuyuan Men, an ancient street that recalls the local life in the Tang Dynasty. You can taste the local snacks and buy some souvenirs for your friends on the street.

In the late afternoon, drive to the train station for the bullet train to Chengdu (about 4 hours drive). Upon arrival at Chengdu, to be picked up and transferred to hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be met at your hotel lobby and transferred to Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center (also called Panda Base), it takes about half an hour. You will catch pandas' feeding time, they are at their most active. Walk through the forested landscape, watch as giant pandas play, nap, and munch bamboo; visit the panda nursery, subadult enclosure, and adult compound; and watch informational videos on panda behavior and the challenges of working with and breeding captive pandas. The whole tour in the Panda Base will take about 2-3 hours, afterwards return to Chengdu downtown to have lunch at one local restaurant.

In the afternoon visit the Wenshu Monastery. It is the largest and best-preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu which was built in the Tang Dynasty.

Then follow with the visit to People's Park and Jinli Street. People's Park is a great place to get insight the daily life of locals who come here relax, exercise, play games like Mah-jongg and chess, sing and dance, or find love matches for their loved ones. You will be arranged to have a cup of tea like locals in the open air Heming Tea House, a great place to slow down and rest your legs. Jinli Streetis an ancient street in Chengdu where you can taste Sichuan local spicy snacks and buy some souvenirs for your family members and friends.

In the evening, you can choose to enjoy Sichuan Opera Cultural Show (Optional).

After breakfast, head to Leshan, on the way enjoy the beautiful countryside landscape of western Chengdu plains during about two hours' driving on the expressway. In Leshan visit the biggest sitting Buddha sculpture in the Lingyun Temple. The grand Buddha was completed in 803 of Tang Dynasty after 90 years' construction and enjoys the fame of the biggest sitting stone sculpture in the world with a 71-meter height. Carved on the cliff face, the sculpture is well designed with perfect balance and effective water drainage system. You can also choose to have a boat tour to see Leshan Grand Buddha (Optioanl).

Afternoon drive back to Chengdu airport for the flight to Guilin, Guilin airport pick up and transfer to hotel. 

In the morning, drive to Zhujiang pier and board a cruise along Li River to see the unique and breathtaking scenery with beautiful water and majestic mountains. The cruise to Yangshuo will take 3 to 4 hours, you will enjoy lunch on board the ship.

Upon arrival in Yangshuo, enjoy a 2 to 3 hours to ride a bicycle into the countryside of Yangshuo. Walking or riding on a motorcycle is also an option if you do not like riding bicycle. During your visit, head to a local farmer's house to feel the real local life of Chinese peasants.

In the late afternoon, drive back to Guilin for overnight.

Morning hotel pick up and drive about 40 minutes to visit Xianggong hill(Husband Mountain), it takes about 15 minutes walk up to the top of the hill where you will be amazed by the breathtaking view of Li River and the surrounded Karst mountain peaks. Afterwards head to Longji Rice Terraces for the splendid rice terraces and local ethnic minority villages, the drive takes roughly 3 hours. In the afternoon hike around at the Ping’an village to enjoy the rice terraces views and visit local minority villages. There are several hiking trails that you can choose depending on your physical condition.  Overnight at Ping’an village.

Enjoy the morning view of Longji Rice terraces, then head to Guilin train station for the high speed train to Hongkong (about 3.5 hours train ride). Upon arrival, Hongkong train station pick up and drive to hotel for rest. 

After breakfast, your will have a half day priate or group tour to visit Hong Kong Island. First head to the Victoria Peak located in the western half of Hong Kong island. This place is the highest mountain on the island proper. With a height of 552 m. (1,811 ft.), it offers spectacular views of the city and its harbors. Then continue to Repulse Bay located in the south of Hong Kong island to look across this busy water way at Kowloon Island and more.

Afterwards, you will go to Stanley Market, a traditional old open-air market in Hong Kong, jammed with many souvenir shops. Then drive across to Deep Water Bay to visit the Aberdeen Area. This place is famous to tourists for its fish village, which is located within the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelters. We can help find a perfect restaurant to enjoy a fresh catch of the delicious local seafood here.

The afternoon is open and flexible for you to explore Hong Kong on your own. As a shopping Mecca where you can find just about anything your heart desires, so go shopping if you dare, or wander along the narrow neon lit streets in Central all within Hong Kong island.

Hong Kong airport is a key hub for international flights and a great place to depart for your home country. As your Hong Kong guide says farewell you will be driven to the airport for your departure.