Beijing-Xi'an-Guilin-Yangshuo-Shanghai-Hong Kong
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This comprehensive 13-day China Grand Tour offers an immersive journey through the Middle Kingdom's most iconic destinations, combining ancient imperial heritage, archaeological wonders, breathtaking natural landscapes, modern metropolitan marvels, and vibrant international culture. Begin in Beijing, staying at the centrally located Sunworld Hotel Wangfujing (8.5 rating) in the historic Dongcheng District.
Experience authentic Beijing through a unique cultural food tour, starting with traditional breakfast delicacies at Huguo Temple Snacks featuring nine varieties including pea cake, cream fried cake, tea soup, refined donkey rolling, soybean juice, Aiwowo, crispy rings, sugar ears, and almond tofu, plus street snacks like vegetable buns, tofu pudding, and egg-filled pancakes. Explore Tiananmen Square and the magnificent Forbidden City (closed Mondays), take a rickshaw tour through traditional hutongs, enjoy famous Quanjude Peking Duck lunch, and relax at a rooftop coffee bar.
Discover Beijing's imperial grandeur with visits to the Temple of Heaven where you'll join locals practicing Tai Chi, then venture to the spectacular Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China with cable car access for easier exploration. Experience the serene Summer Palace with its famous Long Corridor and Kunming Lake, climb the Fragrance Buddha Pavilion, and visit the Yonghe Lama Temple to learn about Tibetan Buddhism history and admire the Harmony Hall sculptures and murals.
Travel by high-speed train to Xi'an, staying at the Bell Tower Hotel (4-star) near the historic Drum Tower. Explore one of the world's greatest archaeological discoveries at the Terracotta Warriors Museum with electric cart and audio guide, then wander through the atmospheric Bell and Drum Tower Square, experience the vibrant Muslim Quarter's street food culture, and visit the beautiful Great Mosque showcasing Chinese Islamic architecture.
Continue to the Xi'an Museum and climb the ancient Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty Buddhist pagoda that housed precious scriptures brought from India. Fly to Guilin, staying at the Lijiang Waterfall Hotel (8.4 rating) near the iconic Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas in the city center.
Experience one of China's most scenic journeys with a Li River cruise from Bamboo River Pier to Yangshuo aboard a 4-star vessel, witnessing the famous karst limestone peaks reflected in the crystal-clear waters that have inspired Chinese painters for centuries. Stay overnight in charming Yangshuo at the Percent Hotel by Li River (10 rating) and explore the international West Street with its mix of traditional architecture and modern cafes.
Fly to cosmopolitan Shanghai, staying at the SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund (4.8 rating) in the historic Huangpu District near People's Square, Xintiandi, and Nanjing Road. Discover Shanghai's blend of tradition and modernity through visits to the classical Yu Garden with its exquisite landscaping, the bustling City God Temple, traditional longtang (lane house) neighborhoods, the iconic Bund waterfront with its colonial architecture, the famous Nanjing Road pedestrian street, the trendy Xintiandi entertainment district, and the impressive Shanghai Museum East Branch.
Conclude your mainland China journey with a flight to Hong Kong, staying at The Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers (7.6 rating) in the vibrant Tsim Sha Tsui district. Experience Hong Kong's unique East-meets-West culture through a classic city tour including the renovated Central Market, the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system in Mid-Levels, Victoria Peak with its spectacular harbor views accessed by the historic Peak Tram, and the nostalgic Star Ferry crossing Victoria Harbour, plus a Michelin-recommended restaurant dining experience.
Explore Hong Kong's spiritual side with a Lantau Island adventure featuring the magnificent Tian Tan Big Buddha - one of the largest seated bronze Buddha statues in the world, the serene Po Lin Monastery, the traditional stilt-house fishing village of Tai O (famous as a TVB filming location) with optional dolphin-watching boat trips, and external views of the engineering marvel Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, enjoying a traditional vegetarian lunch at the monastery.