12 Days Distinctive China Tour

Today you will take the flight to Beijing. When arrival, our driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer to the hotel check in. The rest of the day you can have a rest at the hotel or enjoy your leisure time in Beijing on your own.

(Notes: Yuexian Food is located at 31 Cuihua Hutong, Dongcheng District, next to Yuebin Restaurant, which is actually a branch of Yuebin Restaurant. This is the first private restaurant in China after the reform and opening up. It focuses on home-cooked food, which is delicious and cheap. And it has a good reputation among local people and is worth a visit. Family Li Restaurant is a private palace style restaurant located in Beijing Houhai Yangfang Hutong, the house number is “Yangfang 11”, which originated in the Qing Dynasty, is characterized by a natural method of seasoning and only dinner is prepared every day. There are many celebrities have patronized. While one thing is that the menu can be a little pricey. If you’re more interested in the culture deposits and reputation of the restaurant than the taste, maybe you can have a try.)

Meal: No

Altitude: 54m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Beijing 

Today after in the morning, we will drive to visit Ming Tombs, which is also known as the “13 Tombs”, this is a collection of mausoleums of the 13 out of 17 of the Ming Dynasty emperors. The tomb that can be visited is that of Emperor Wanli, who reigned from 1537 to 1620, and his two empresses. Unearthed in 1956, this is literally an underground palace located 27m below ground surface. 
There is an old saying: ‘Who has never been to the Great Wall is not a hero’. The Great Wall is too awesome to miss when you travel in China. It will take about 1 hour from Ming Tombs to the Mutianyu Great Wall, which is comparatively fewer crowds. Here is quite steep, so a round-way cable car is included for you to go up and down easily and safely. On the wall, you can do moderate hiking further up to enjoy the spectacular landscape. Afterwards, we will drive back to Beijing downtown. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 54m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Beijing

After breakfast, head to Beihai Park, located in the central area of Beijing, adjacent to Jingshan Mountain in the east, Zhongnanhai in the south and Shichahai in the north, belongs to the ancient Chinese royal garden, mainly composed of Qionghua Island, east coast and north coast scenic spot. Then we will start our Hutong tour with the tea or Fermented Soya-bean Milk, fried dough cake (You Bing) or steamed buns (baozi) for breakfast at a local market. Onward, you will take public transportation to a less travelled hutong area, where you will do feel like a native by walking through the lanes. After visiting, we will drive to the Temple of Heaven and spend 1-2hrs walking through there, which is the vast beautiful park to enjoy the impressive architecture and interesting story of the Chinese Emperors prayed for good harvest.

Meal: B

Altitude: 54m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Beijing

We will meet you at your located hotel lobby, and the tour begin with walking around the Tian’anmen Square, it has great cultural significance as it has been the site of several important events in Chinese history. Continue to the Forbidden City, walk on the steps of the most magnificent and splendid palace complex in China. Feel the enchant atmosphere or to foresee the Emperors were ruling this great county. The Hollywood Movie “The Last Emperor” highly recommended before your visiting. Today’s tour will end up with wandering in the Summer Palace, you can walk over to the temple on the hill. The climb up the stairs might be bit tired but so worth to enjoy incredible view from the top.

Meal: B

Altitude: 54m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Beijing

Driver will pick you up at the hotel, and then take a morning train from Beijing to our next stop Huangshan. Upon arrival, the local driver will meet you at the train staiton and transfer you to the hotel in Tunxi, which is the downtown of Huangshan city. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this town, you can enjoy a walking tour at the Tunxi Old Street on your own. Tunxi Old Street: a strip of traditional Huizhou-style shops and residences. This street dates back to the Song Dynasty. Along the way you’ll be able to learn more about the city.

Meal: B

Altitude: 166m

Traffic: Car, Train

Hotel: In Tunxi

After breakfast, drive to the World Cultural and Natural Heritages Site- Mt. Huangshan ( 50 mins) . Arrvie in the Tangkou transfer center and take the shuttle bus (20 mins) to the Yungu Cable Way Station. Take Yungu Cable Car up the mountain( 10mins ). From here you will embark on a memorable trip to the peak of this magnificent mountain.

The craggy rock faces, hanging mists and clustered pines of Huangshan create a lovely and distinctly Chinese landscape, one instantly recognizable from countless images on silk, paper and porcelain. The mountain range, consisting of some 70 peaks over 1,000 m (3,300 ft), spills across the southern province of Anhui in an exquisite jumble of scenic highlights — twisted lone pines clinging to stony spires, seas of clouds filling rugged valleys, and crystalline mountain spring-fed pools.

Then you’ll visit the West Sea Grand Canyon using thenew Xihai Cable Car. This is a relatively new scenic area opened in 2000 that has been dubbed “Heaven on Earth” and “A Fantasy World” for its unique and beautiful scenery. Some argue that West Sea Grand Canyon is the most impressive section of Huangshan, fully embodying the mysterious and intriguing aesthetic that has made the area such a famous destination.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1865m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Huangshan

Meet with your guide in the early hours to enjoy a breath-taking sunrise over Huangshan (Cooling Terrace).You will visit Lion Peak, Stone Monkey Gazing at the Sea of Cloud, Flying dragon pine,Dawn Pavilion,etc. After breakfast, you will continue to visit Beginning to Believe Peak、Crouching Dragon Pine, Exploring Sea of Clouds Pine, Lianli Pine, etc. Then you’ll descend the mountain via the Yungu Cable Car ( 10 mins) and the Shuttle bus ( 20 mins).

Meal: B

Altitude: 1865m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Huangshan

After breakfast, drive to visit the No.1 Chinese Fengshui Village- Chengkan. Chengkan is the only and best-preserved ancient village of the Ming Dynasty in the country. It has completely preserved ancient architectural groups of the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties with high historical research value. The ancient buildings here are a collection of pavilions, terraces, buildings, pavilions, bridges, wells, temples, shrines, and folk houses of different styles in Huizhou. The architectural art of Huizhou is vividly reflected, and it is the most ancient emblem. Then pay a visit to Hongcun Village, the charming traditional Huizhou village, and best known as the film sites of the Oscar-winning film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. Coming here, you’ll have the chance to gain a better understanding of the life and traditions of the local people living around Mount Huangshan. Thereafter, you will be transferred to the train station and catch an afternoon train to Hangzhou. The driver will wait for you at the station and transfer to hotel check in.

Meal: B

Altitude: 16m

Traffic: Car, Plane

Hotel: In Hangzhou

The journey today will begin from the West Lake, a fabulous place for photography because of its natural beauty. Suggest you rent a bicycle or take a boat to enjoy the beautiful views of lake and surrounding mountains. Then go to view fish at flower pond, hang out for 30 minutes or 1 hour to see the sight of brightly colorful fish swimming around and listen the brisk melody of chirpy birdsong. Then pay a visit to the Leifeng Pagoda, which is one of the Ten Views of the West Lake, and become famous because of “White Snake” legend. Then, we transfer to Wuzhen Dongzha, one of the most well-preserved ancient towns in China, located in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province. It features traditional Chinese architectural styles such as Ming and Qing Dynasties’ buildings, stone bridges, winding canals, and narrow alleyways. Visitors can explore the various attractions that reflect local customs, culture, and history, enjoy picturesque views, and experience a unique atmosphere of ancient China. We will drive to Suzhou in the late afternoon.

Meal: B

Altitude: 4m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Suzhou

In the morning, we first head up to Lingering Garden, which was built in the year of 1593 Ming Dynasty , the garden was selected to be one of the first batch of places enjoying the status of the key cultural and historical relic site under state-level protection. It has been known as one of the “Four Famous Classic Gardens”, and was included in UNESCO’s the World Cultural Heritage List in 1997. The year 2010 witnessed the garden added to the list of national 5A-level scenic areas. Then, move to Pan Gate Ancient City Wall, one of the eight gates of the capital of Wu Kingdom. As a landmark of the ancient city of Suzhou, Pan Gate is the only existing ancient parallel city gate for both land and water in China. The final stop is Tiger Hill. According to the Historical Records, the King of Wu Helu was buried on the hill, called then “the Hill Emerging from the Sea”. The legend goes that three days after his burial a white tiger appeared squatting on the hill.The Yunyan Temple Pagoda and the Sword Pool are well-known features of the hill. After the tour in Suzhou, we will transfer to Shanghai and stay overnight there.

Meal: B

Altitude: 5m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Shanghai

Enjoy your buffet breakfast at the hotel, tour begins from visiting a traditional Chinese Garden- Yu Garden eatablished in the period of Ming Dynasty(1368-1644). Though in a small size, it covers all the elements pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and corridors that a garden boast. Walk through the garden and enjoy a tranquil time by yourself. Then head to Shanghai Xintiandi, an international shopping and entertainment district. Roaming here, you will amazed by the China’s rapid development. Next is Shanghai’s Old Town, home to historic buildings. Long histories and unique customs can be found in there. It reflects the way of life and cultural traditions of the past and present Shanghai people. Then proceeed the tour to Jade Buddha Temple, a beautiful Buddhist temple constructed in 1882 housing two spectacular, imported, jade, Burmese Buddhas.

 Afterwards, you will visit one of the symbol of Shanghai- the Bund. Lying along the side of Huangpujiang River with various architectural styles, the Bund is recognized as “the museum of buildings”. Stroll along the buildings, appreciate the beautiful scenery as well as feeling the charm of this century-long historical architectural ensembles, and visit the top commercial district in Shanghai –  Nanjing Road.

Meal: B

Altitude: 5m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Shanghai

Today you will say farewell to Shanghai, and then driver will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back to your sweet home. It has been a great holiday and we look forward to seeing you another China trip.

Meal: B

Altitude: 5m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: No