Treasures of China

Nin Hao! Welcome to China! On arrival at Beijing airport, your private guide will welcome and escort you to check-in your hotel.Your guide will help you with luggage and hotel check-in,and ensure your arrival in Beijing is worry-free.

Today's tour starts at the Tiananmen Square, the largest public squares in the world and which is the entrance to the Forbidden City. Continually, go to the Forbidden City, the ancient royal palace served as the political center for more than 500 years. The expert guide will escort you and show you some interesting places you would never find by yourself before climbing the coal hill in the Jingshan Park behind it for wonderful panorama view of the Forbidden City.

After lunch at local restaurant, you will have a chance to take a local rickshaw ride through the ancient hutongs alleyways to look for the real culture of Beijing. You may see local artist painting operatic face or making dough figures in the alley. If lucky, you may also see locals play mahjong, a tranditional Chinese board game, in their local courtyard.

Your dinner will be served in a local Beijing roast duck restaurant. You will learn how to eat the famous Beijing roast duck in the correct way. You can also watch the chef's professional cutting skills of the thin crispy skin and firm meat, as the chef will slice the cooked golden duck by your table.

After breakfast, head to the Temple of Heaven. A 15th century architectural masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is most revered spiritual monuments of ancient China and once reserved for emperors to worship heaven and pray for good harvests. You can see locals greeting the sun with their daily Tai Chi and other morning exercises in the park. Take some photos or you can even join them!

Drive about 2 hours to the Mutianyu Sections of the Great Wall to witness one of the world's most spectacular sights. Afternoon will be the best time to avoid the crowds in Mutianyu. After lunch, you will take a cable car up to the wall and enjoy amazing views as it snakes across the hills and mountains.You can glide down the wall on a toboggan or see more of this section by cable car,if lucky, you may see the beautiful sunset along your way.

In the morning, visit the Summer Palace, built by Emperor Qianlong in Qing Dynasty as a gift to his mother in 18th century. Have a pleasant stroll through the tranquil long corridors to enjoy the full flavor of China.

In the afternoon, take a flight to Xi'an. Your guide and driver will greet you and escort you to the hotel. 

Today you will visit the magnificent Terracotta Warriors buried with the First Qin Emperor more than 2,000 years ago. The life-sized magnificent Terracotta Warriors are great man-made pieces of work. After the visit, you will have the opportunity to learn how to make the mini clay Terracotta Warriors(optional) with your own hands in a local artisan’s cave dwelling.

Continue your visit to tThe best-preserved Ancient City Wall. It has been guarding the old Xian for more than 600 years. Walking along the wall and you will enjoy the wonderful view of the city, or you can rent a bicycle to cycle around the all. 

At the end of today, take a chance to stroll around the Muslim Street, where all the shops and restaurants are operated by Muslims. This colorful street is packed with shops selling a large variety of interesting local delicacies, snacks and souvenirs.

Your city tour will begin with a visit to Shaanxi History Museum, one of the best museums in China. It houses more than 370,000 piece of items including pottery, paintings, murals, as well as gold, silver & bronze objects and it must not be missed. Then go to visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD. It is a traditional Chinese-style architecture combined with Buddhist historic statues, murals, and scriptures. It is the landmark of the ancient capital city. 

After lunch,take a domestic flight to Chengdu.

The highlight of the tour is to meet the symbols of China - lovely giant panda.You will arrive in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding this early morning, and this period is the most active time of the pandas in a day. Take a look at those adorable animals and see the their feeding. If you wish, you can also hold the pandas or take photos next to them (optional).

After say goodbye to those adorable pandas,you will head to Wenshu Temple,a fairly typical large Buddhist monastery which dates back to the Tang dynasty (618-907) and is named after a monk who lived there. It is the most important Zen temple of the area which possesses relics and attracts pilgrims. Afterwards you can stroll around the famous Jinli Old Street (550 meters long).The buildings along the street are all built in the Qing Dynasty style. You will find many bars, snack stores and souvenir shops. 

Fly to Kunming in the late afternoon.

Today you will visit the famous Stone Forest, an extremely rare geological phenomenon dating back to 270 million years ago.The Stone Forest is 80 hectares of karst limestone pillars in fantastic shapes that resemble a forest when viewed from a distance.It is also home to the Sani tribe, a diverse and scattered Yi minority group, renowned for their diligence,embroidery and dancing.

Take a 2 hours high-speed train to Dali this late afternoon.

Today you will visit the famous Cang Shan Mountain and the beautiful Erhai Lake which are two classic must-see tourist attractions in Dali.During your ride, you may see the famous Three Pagodas in a distant but the most beautiful view. Your first stop will be Cang Shan Mountain, which is famous for its colorful azalea flowers, it rises over the city of Dali and the shores of Lake Erhai beyond. You can take a cable car up and down the mountain,or your can also hike in the mountain, where a paved road leads down past various points of interest. 

After Lunch, enjoy a short cruise around serene Erhai Lake then continue to stroll around Dali Ancient Town.This ancient town has a history of 1,300 years old and is home to Bai minority. The format of Dali Ancient Town is like a chess board with four gates guarding the north, south, east and west, stands between Cangsham mountains and Erhai lake.This entirely natural structure seems specially designed, highlighting the town's unparalleled beauty.

After check out from hotel, you will take your private car head to Lijiang. During the transfer,you will have a chance to visit Xizhou Bai Minority's Village.This village is a great place to observe the typical Bai Minority folk culture and architecture.You will visit the houses of local residents which are characterized by a traditional Chinese rectangular courtyard,consists of rooms on three sides and a decorative screen wall on the south direction. These residence generally has a splendid green, gold, blue and white paint. You can also have a walk in the Xizhou Market,this bustling area show you all kinds of product from groceries and daily commodities to handicrafts etc.Yet, the most attracted point should be the experience of the traditional dressing of Bai minority women. 

Continue to Zhoucheng Village,where the Bai minority people live.You will find their traditional tie-dyeing cloth with Wax (a technology of printing flower patterns on cloth).Green mountains, winding creeks and fertile land make for a lyrical and carefree life here.

Upon arrival at Lijiang, check in to hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Today you will visit Locke's former residence.Joseph Locke (1884-1962), an Austrian American explorer, writer and photographer of National Geographic, has been living at the foot of Jade Dragon Mountain for 27 years. Former residence of Joseph Locke is a courtyard containing three rooms. In the living room of Locke, his relics including bed, table, chair, fire pan, bookshelf and alarm clock, etc. are displayed.

Continue your visit to Baisha Village,protected as "the world culture heritage site",where you can see the amazing Baisha Mural. It is art heritage of minority ethnic groups living in Northwest Yunnan. It shows Chinese religionary topics.With earliest record which can be traced back to Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Baisha Murals were painted by painters of Han,Zang,and Naxi minority ethnic groups by using their own painting styles to show strong comparison of each murals in lines, color and overall impression.

Before transfer back to your hotel, you will pay a visit to Suhe Old Town,another "world culture heritage site". Shuhe is one of the first settlements of Naxi ancestors, and it is a very important town in the Tea-horse Road that leads to Tibet.

Today you will visit Lijiang Ancient Town(UNESCO),a peaceful old town embraced by trees and mountains, and which was constructed in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties. On your way to your next stop,you will pass through the Square Street.If lucky, you may find Naxi people's group dance on the Square Street.

You second stop is The Lion Hill Park.As an integral part of Lijiang ancient town and the major nation-level scenic spot,this park is located in the centre of Lijiang city. The hill massif is like a lion, thus getting the name Lion Hill. With ancient buildings lying around at the foot of Lion Hill, it is the best place for you to enjoy the panoramic view of the Lijiang Ancient Town.

The landmark building of Lijiang ancient town--the Wangu building,which is located on the top of Lion Hill. This is the best pure wood building in the world, which is 33 meters high. Standing on the building, from where you can see the miraculous and beautiful Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang ancient town with rivers flowing.

Before you take a domestic flight to Shanghai,you will visit the Black Dragon Pond with the Dongba Culture Museum,the best known and most frequently visited park in Lijiang.

Your Shanghai city tour include a visit to the ritzy French Concession enclave, a former French colonial settlement. It returned to China in 1946. Despite redevelopment over recent decades, the area has retained its distinct character as a premier residential and retail district in Shanghai. You will also visit the traditional ancient oriental garden – Yuyuan Garden, a classical landscape garden and explore the Chenghuangmiao (Old City God Temple) next to the Yuyuan Garden.

If you want to discover the vanishing life of Shanghai, pay a visit to Shanghai old street and Nongtang is a must. Nongtang constitutes the most important architectural feature of contemporary Shanghai. It forms the most common living space for ordinary Shanghainese and an important part of local culture. It can be said that if there were no Nongtang, there would be no Shanghai and no Shanghai people.

End of the day,you can visit Nanjing Road and busy Bund. You will pass through back to the golden age in 1920s. Enter some old buildings to have find the luxury of the past. 

Free at leisure, until your guide meet with you and escort you to the airport for your flight home.