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Why Travel with Discover Beijing Tours
Unique Experiences
Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.Well-Selected Local Guides
Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!Your Booking is Risk-Free
Cancel up to 24 hours before the travel date in advance for a full refund
21-Day Classic Chinese History and Natural Wonders Tour
Immerse yourself in the rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant culture of these iconic destinations. From the modern skyline of Shanghai to the ancient wonders of Xian and the stunning karst mountains of Guilin, this comprehensive journey offers an unparalleled experience. Discover the charm of Suzhou’s gardens, the mystical allure of Zhangjiajie’s Avatar Mountains, and the awe-inspiring beauty of Huangshan. Delve into China’s imperial past in Beijing and Datong.
The itinerary below is only one possibility. Tips to tailor-make your trip are offered as inspiration. Send us details of your preferences and our travel experts will customize this trip to suit your interests, tastes, and budget.
- Make sure everyone bring passport with
- Full names and passport numbers are required to book tickets for attractions.
Itinerary Quick Look
DAY 1 Shanghai | A Unique Fashion of East and West
Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Bowuguan)
Meet your tour guide in the lobby of your Shanghai hotel, hop on your private air-conditioned vehicle, embark upon your customized tour of the city’s sights. Discuss the historical highlights and attractions you wish to see with your knowledgeable guide who will help you plan an itinerary according to your interests. Then, set off and explore. Typically, you will start with the Shanghai Museum. The museum is divided into eleven galleries and three exhibition halls. With bronze ware, ceramics, and painting and calligraphy as its distinctive collections, the museum boasts 120,000 pieces of rare and precious cultural relics in 21 categories.
Jade Buddha Temple
Then, move on to Jade Buddha Temple. You will see the White Jade Buddhas which were brought here from Burma in the nineteenth century. Stroll around halls and courtyards in the temple with your tour guide, learn the history about the temple and buddhism in China, see how the locals come to worship and burn incense.
Yu Garden (Yuyuan)
Enjoy lunch in the local restaurant, then explore the Yuyuan Garden. Yuyuan Garden is the largest ancient gardens with Ming and Qing style architecture. Follow your tour guide to explore the garden, learn how to form a perfect garden. Then visit the Old City God Temple, where various of local snack shops and streets are scattered around.
The Bund
Continue to the Bund, where you will see amazing city skyline, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Tower and colonial buildings along the Huangpu River. Take a walk and stop for photos.
Former French Concession
Continue to explore the Former French Concession. Besides its historical and religious factors, Shanghai French Concession is also a fantastic place for spending leisure time. Follow your tour guide to wandering the narrow alleyways, dining and one of the million cafes or restaurants(at your own cost), or browsing through the endless art galleries and photographic studios.
Xintiandi
Finally, finish your tour in the lively nightlife district of Xintiandi. As a window to the past and the future, to China and the world, Shanghai Xintiandi’s Shikumen attraction was created by converting residential blocks into a multifunctional dining, retail and entertainment center flowing with restaurants, boutiques, cafes and bars of an international standard. Follow your tour guide and explore the area. If you have already visit some of those places above before, and want to do something different. Please feel free to discuss with your tour guide on where to go, you can choose these attractions or activities base on your interests: Shanghai Museum/ Pearl TV Tower/World financial center/Jinmao Tower After the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel in Shanghai.
DAY 2 Shanghai to Suzhou | Garden and Water Town
Meet your tour guide in the lobby of your Suzhou hotel. Then hop on your private vehicle and start your Suzhou adventure.
Your first stop is the UNESCO listed garden in Suzhou: Humble Administrator’s Garden, which is the largest and most prestigious garden in Suzhou. Admire magnificent halls, delicate pavilions, lush flowers, zigzagging bridges, bamboo groves and fragrant lotus ponds and listening to the stories and history from your local knowledgeable guide.
During the peak season, the Humble Administrator’s Garden will be very crowded, if you prefer lesser and more peaceful garden, you will visit the Lingering Garden instead.
Lingering Garden is one of nine “Classical Gardens of Suzhou” on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and praised as one of China’s four famous gardens. With a history of more than 400 years, the Lingering Garden has changed hands several times. Each owner did his best to perfect it.
Follow your guide to explore the beautiful gardens and immerse yourself in the ancient charm while listening the interesting commentary from your guide.
Move on to the Pingjiang road which can dating back to Song Dynasty (960-1279). Extending for almost 2 kilometers through the heart of Suzhou’s Old Town, this narrow flagstone street and the lanes extending from it are lined with well-preserved traditional architecture, shops, teahouses, guesthouses, and local homes that lend the street an authentic, ancient atmosphere.
After lunch in the local restaurant, continue your afternoon visit to one of two best well-known ancient water town Tongli or Zhouzhuang.
Tongli: Reputed as the “Oriental Venice”, Tongli has more than 1000 years of history. It is made up of seven islands, 12 canals or rivers, and 49 bridges to connect the town. Here you can see beautiful examples of traditional architecture, bridges, homes, gardens and canals.
Here you can take a sculling boat (at your own cost) to feel the excitement of watching the ancient buildings and people passing by
Zhouzhuang: The most popular, developed, and commercialized water town in China, The town is built amid canals, ponds, and lakes. What makes it special are the old buildings and bridges, boat rides, crafts, and the quaint water town scenery. The canals that crisscross Zhouzhuang have many stone bridges, about fourteen of these were built in the imperial era about 150 years ago or more.
No mater which water town you will visit, you will be amazed by its fantastic ancient town scenery and learn its amazing culture from your guide.
Tour end with your suzhou hotel drop off.
DAY 3 Suzhou to Hangzhou | The West Lake
Meet your tour guide in the lobby of your Hangzhou hotel. Then hop on your private vehicle and start your Hangzhou adventure.
You can follow our sample itinerary, feel free to tell your guide if you want to make any changes during the tour.
Your first stop is West Lake. West Lake is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an iconic, symbolic sight in Hangzhou which is regarded as one of the most beautiful sights in China. Its beauty is the subject of many poems and paintings. Enjoy a 30 minute boat ride on tranquil West Lake, relax amid enchanting scenery as your pass by historic pagodas, Chinese-style arched bridges and more. Fully appreciate the amazing natural beauty of the whole area.
Continue your tour to Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak. Immerse yourself in Lingyin Temple which is the biggest and oldest temple of China. It is considered a leading centre for research relative to Chinese Buddhist culture. Explore the palaces, pavilions and halls together with your tour guide and gain deep insight into the history behind.
Follow your tour guide to walk along a cobblestone pathway leading to Amanfayun Village where you can feel the tranquil atmosphere of the hamlet dotted with traditional dwellings and surrounded by tea fields.
After lunch in the local restaurant, your tour guide will design the activities in the afternoon based on your interest. Or follow our itinerary.
Stroll around the Hefang Street, the street’s origins can be traced back to the illustrious Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), a time when Hangzhou flourished as the country’s capital and a vibrant hub of commerce and intellectual pursuits. Enjoy fun explore include the street food , arts, handicrafts, trinkets, and souvenir shopping with the assistance from you guide.
Or visit the Meijiawu Tea Village which is situated in the rural foothills of the West Lake district. Here you can learn about the production of Xihu Longjing tea, and sip the fragrant green tea as you relax in this scenic setting.
Tour end with your Hangzhou hotel drop off.
DAY 4 Hangzhou to Guilin | Dragon Well Tea Culture
Longji Rice Terrace Scenic Spot
Meet your tour guide in the lobby of your Guilin hotel, hop on your private air-conditioned vehicle, heading directly to Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces which takes about 2 hours, sit back and enjoy the sceneries along the way.
Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces
The construction of incredible Longji Rice Terraces started in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and lasted till the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is reputed as one of the most beautiful rice terraces in the world. Among them, two main and representative viewing areas are the Ping’an Zhuang Village Terraced Fields and the Jinkeng Terraced Fields where Zhuang and Yao Minority people have been living respectively for hundreds of years.
Huangluo
Your first stop is Huangluo Long Hair Village, and enjoy an amazing long hair show. Huangluo village in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is home to descendants of the Yao ethnicity. The women here are characterized by their red embroidered dress and their long hair, which is long enough to have their home recognized as the “world’s longest hair village” by Guinness World Records. The long hair that women of the Yao ethnic group have kept for generations is a symbol of auspiciousness. You will have lunch in the local village.
Dazhai
During lunch, discuss with your tour guide about the routine interests you most, then set off and explore. Typically you will start with the Jinkeng/Dazhai Rice Terrace. There are three popular viewpoints at Dazhai: Music from Paradise, Thousand Layers to the Heavens, and Golden Buddha Peak. You will drive 40 minutes to Dazhai(Hongyao Jinkeng)Rice Terrace. Take the convenient cable car about 20 minutes directly to Golden Buddha Peak.During the cable car ride, you will enjoy amazing view of No 3 sightseeing zone. Upon arrival, follow your tour guide and take an easy walk around to snap photos from different location which will give you an unexpected shot. You will take your time when visit the locations where you may explore and create fantastic photographs. After the tour, you will descend by cable car. After the tour, you can choose to end your tour in Longsheng or return Guilin.
Ping’an Village
Second option for this tour is to visit Ping’an Rice Terrace after lunch. You will drive 30 minutes to Ping’an village. Follow your tour guide to hike and explore. Compared with Dazhai Rice Terrace, Ping’an village are smaller in scale, they are still considered very beautiful and offer the undulating and intricate scenery that lives up to the name of “dragon’s spine.” You will explore two famous scenic spots – West Hill Music or No.1 viewing platform, and Large-scale Thousand-Layer Terraces or No.2 viewing platform. After the tour finished, you will be transferred to your hotel in Guilin.
DAY 5 Guilin to Yangshuo | Li River Cruise
Li River
Your private English-speaking guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel’s lobby at 8:00am and you will be transferred to Zhujiang Pier, where you will embark and start the boat cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo County. The Li River Cruise is considered as the highlight of any visit to Guilin.
Gui Lin Zhujiang pier
Along the river, enjoy breathtaking views of peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and picturesque pastoral countryside scenery. The river generally has three sections. Various attractions like peaks and villages along the river have interesting descriptive names, which calls for much of your imagination to see what it is like. Listening to tour guide’s legendary stories about the attractions is a delightful experience when you are appreciating the landscapes. Most are mystical fairy and love stories. The cruise usually takes around 3.5 to 4 hours, depends on water condition.
Xingping Fishing Village
Li River takes a big turn at Xingping and endowed with beautiful and poetic scenery. It has been reproduced in many Chinese landscape paintings. Even the newly-issued 20 RMB note has the scenery on its back. A photographer once said: ‘Shots from any perspective for this place turn to be impressive and stunning’. You will enjoy a simple lunch on the boat.
West Street
Arrive Yangshuo at 1:30 pm, stroll around West Street with your tour guide, explore various shops, craft-works shops, painting and calligraphy stores, backpack shops, cafes, your tour guide will help you to negotiate price if you want to purchase any souvenir.
Shili hualang
In the afternoon, you will explore the Ten-Mile Gallery in Yangshuo. Sauntering down a country road makes you feel like you are travelling in a painting. This is true of the Ten-Mile Gallery in Yangshuo County, a fairyland on earth. As the name implies, Ten-Mile Gallery is a picturesque road stretching from the Yangshuo town area to Moon Hill, endowed with rolling hills, endless fields, idyllic villages and clear rivers on both sides.
Butterfly Spring Park
Along Ten-Mile Gallery, there are few famous sites you should no miss, such as Butterfly Spring Park. In the park, peculiar peaks, grotesque rocks, magnificent waterfalls, and bubbling springs can be found everywhere. A winding path meanders to the sightseeing terrace where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of Ten-Mile Gallery
Moon Hill
Your last stop is Moon Hill, let your tour guide know if you want to stop to take photos. After the tour, you can choose to end your tour in Yangshuo or return Guilin.
DAY 6 Yangshuo to Guilin to Xi’an | The Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Your tour guide will pick you up from your Xi’an hotel’s lobby or Xi’an railway station or airport by hooding your name sign. After meet, discuss with your professional local guide to customize your own sightseeing itinerary. The customized 2 days tour offer you 6-8 hours each day to discover the highlights of the city, you can decide the pace of your day and how much you’d like to fit in with your informative and friendly tour guide. For 2 days, you can choose 4-6 attractions to visit in Xi’an. Visit your choice of historic, cultural and culinary attractions in the vibrant city and after tour days tour, you can decide to finish your tour in Xi’an city hotel or railway station or airport. Typically, you will start with a visit to the world-famous Terracotta warriors museum which known as “the Eighth Wonders of the World”. The museum divided into three sections: No.1 Pit, No.2 Pit, and No. 3 Pit. The original site was found by four local farmers while drilling a well in 1974 and now it has turned into the most important attraction in Xi’an. Stroll around the museum and get rich information from your tour guide.
Xi’an City Wall (Chengqiang)
After lunch, perhaps head to the 600 years old Xi’an City Wall. It is about 14 kilometers long and regarded as the best preserved and longest City Wall in China. Reach the top of the centuries-old city wall, admire views of the city below.
Muslim Quarter
Afterwards, heading to Muslim Quarter. It is the hub of the Muslim community in Xi’an City. Follow your tour guide to stroll around the Muslim food and souvenir market. After the tour finished, you will be transferred to your hotel in Xi’an
DAY 7 Xi’an | Xi’an City Highlights
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)
Meet your tour guide in the lobby of your hotel, follow your prearranged itinerary to discover the Xi’an city highlights. Top popular attractions in Xi’an you may interested, you may choose 2-3 attractions to visit depending on your flight schedule. Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and travelers Monk Xuanzang.
Xi’an Mosque
Xi’an Great Mosque is the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China.
Small Goose Pagoda
Small Wild Goose Pagoda: Follow your tour guide to visit the pagoda and the Xi’an Museum in the temple. Get to know how Buddhism was introduced to China and integrated with the culture of Han nationality.
Shaanxi History Museum
Shaanxi History Museum: The museum boasts 370,000 pieces relics range from prehistory when human just use simple stone tools to all kinds of exquisite wares in the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).
Huaqing Palace
Huaqing Hot Spring: An imperial residence that contains royal hot spring and entertaining garden of Xuanzong Emperor and his beloved concubine Yang Yuhuan in the Tang Dynasty(618-907).
Xi’an Bell Tower
Stroll around the area with your tour guide
Drum Tower (Gulou)
Stroll around the area with your tour guide
Drum Tower Square
Stroll around the area with your tour guide
Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling)
You also can choose to visit the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi. It is a joint mausoleum of Liu Qi (188 -141 BC), the fourth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty, and his wife Empress Wang. The Mausoleum of Emperor Jingdi was excavated in 1972, stroll around the museum with your tour guide, to see the tomb section where 5000 figures were discovered and the museum section where has been modernized with heated glass wall and tunnel. After your tour finished, you will be transferred to your hotel in Xi’an or railway station or airport.
DAY 8 Xi’an to Beijing| The Forbidden City
Begin your adventure with a pickup up from your Beijing Downtown hotel’s lobby, you will begin exploring at the Tian’anmen Square. Use the convenient fast track entry, stroll through the massive square with your tour guide. You will see these buildings in and around the square: Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, the Monument of the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of The People, the National Museum, the Front Gates, the Old Beijing Railway Station and more while learning about the history of these buildings from your guide.
On the way to the Forbidden City, you will pass by the Gate of Heavenly Peace and Duanmen Gate. Then enter the Forbidden City from the Massive Meridian Gate. The Forbidden City was the political and ritual center of China for over 500 years. After its completion in 1420, the Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors, their families and servants during the Ming and the Qing dynasties.Spend 1.5 hours to explore the halls, courtyards and gardens. Your guide has an extensive knowledge of Chinese history, culture and architecture. They will share their knowledge with you in an informative, personable, and enjoyable manner. Feel free to ask questions if you have.
After exiting the Forbidden City, take a break for a delicious Peking duck lunch at a local restaurant
Move on to explore the Temple of Heaven, stroll through impressive temples and learn how the emperors in Ming and Qing Dynasties worship the God of Heaven and pray for the Good Harvests.
Your next stop is the Beijing Drum and Bell Towers, get to know the history about the area, then enjoy a relax walk along the old city and Hutong Allays.
Afterwards, discover different shops along Nanluoguxiang Allay, your tour will end with the hotel drop off.
DAY 9 Beijing | The Great Wall
The next morning you will be picked up at your Beijing downtown hotel lobby, start your adventure Mutianyu Great Wall is less crowed compared with other sections. Upon arrival, follow your tour guide to take the cable car or ski lift up to the Great Wall, listen to the history and related stories about the Great Wall, afterward, get some free time to explore some of the watch and beacon towers at your own pace. You can choose to take the fun toboggan or ski lift/ cable car back to the ground.
After lunch, your cultural and historical experience will be enriched by admiring the Summer Palace which considered as one of the most beautiful garden in China. When enjoying the beautiful gardens and courtyards, your tour guide will explain the detailed history background about the palace.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in downtown.
DAY 10 Beijing Departure
Transfer directly to the Airport for your departure flight. Your guide will accompany you till the point of security check and wave goodbye.
Discount available at low season, please send inquiries!
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