Great Wall, Dynasties, & Rivers

Arrive at Beijing's airport and meet your guide. Drive approximately an hour to check in and rest. Head out to Tian'anmen Square, home to the Tian'anmen Tower, National Museum of China, Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and the Monument to the People's Hero. Walk around the square and view the monuments before settling into your hotel located in central Beijing.

Start the morning with an hour Tai Chi lesson in the hotel courtyard.  After breakfast, head out to the magnificent Forbidden City. The Forbidden City bears the legacy of housing the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, starting in 1420.  After exploring this unique site, drive to the Hutong area to find a hidden Yunnan Restaurant near the Bell Tower.

In the afternoon, take a walk to the Hutong area. You may start the walking from the Houhai area, then walk east to Nan Luoguxiang, and end up in the Lama temple area.

Enjoy dinner this evening at Dadong Roasted Duck restaurant for the chance to try the renowned culinary delight, Peking duck.

Early this morning, drive 2 hours to the Jinshanling Great Wall to start the hike towards the Simatai section. Jinshanling is one of the more remote and best-preserved original portions of the Great Wall and still retains many original features. This remote and relatively isolated section of the Great Wall has not been repaired since 1570, and is a great place to explore the wall on foot. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the 4-hour hike, taking in the views and admiring the impressive accomplishment.

End the hike at Dongkou (or Wuyanlou Tower), where you hike back to the road and meet your vehicle to drive back to Beijing. Enjoy your free time to explore around Beijing and have your own dinner.

Hiking Length: ​ 4-5 hours
Hiking: 4-6 miles / 8-10 kilometers 
Level: Moderate to difficult, with some steep up/down stairs on the wall

Early this morning, head to the Beijing Western Railway station and board the bullet train to Xi'an in a first-class seat. Meet your Xi'an guide at the train station and head out to explore this historic city.

Xian was the capital of China for 13 dynasties in ancient times, like Western Zhou (11th century to 771 BC) and Tang (618-907). This afternoon, take a short part of walk on the 8.5 miles along the Xi'an ancient city wall, stopping for views to either side, one that boasts impressive views of the old city contained within its walls, and to the other side of the modern city that lies without it.

Xi'an is known for its dumplings. Tonight you'll enjoy a Dumpling Dinner at one of Xi'an's most famous restaurants.

After breakfast this morning, drive 1.5 hours to the Terracotta Warriors, which are arguably the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century. First discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well, the discovery eventually attracted archaeologists which led to the largest pottery figurine found in China's history. Drive back to the city for an introduction to the Tang Dynasty, or the 'golden era' of China. Visit the Tang Dynasty Art Museum where you receive a brief introductory lesson in calligraphy. Try your hand at this visual art as you practice writing Chinese characters with a brush and ink. Next, explore Giant Wild Goose Pagoda this afternoon. Built during the Tang Dynasty, the Buddhist pagoda is about 1,300 years old and offers an amazing view of Xi'an. Arrange lunch and dinner on your own today.

Transfer to the Xi'an Train Station and board the First Class bullet train to Chengdu. Upon arrival in the capital of Sichuan province, check in to your hotel and head to the Broad and Narrow Alleys to find lunch with your guide's recommendation. Visit Renmin Park to observe local life, drink tea, or learn to play Mahjong. Spend the evening at your hotel in Chengdu, which is situated near an old street filled with small restaurants and stores.

This morning, drive to Dujiangyan city to visit the UNESCO-listed Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a feat of engineering still in use today. Follow this with a hike up Qingcheng Mountain, a sacred site for Taoism. Return to the city in the late afternoon to watch a Sichuan Local Opera or face-changing show. Eat a hot pot dinner and conclude the night at your hotel in Chengdu, located near an old street lined with small restaurants and shops.

Leave early this morning to visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Center, located 10km from downtown. Explore the imitation natural habitats, including the nursery for baby pandas, the garden for cubs, and the open areas for adults. Look for newly born pandas with pink bodies. Drive two hours to Leshan to view the Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO site sitting at the confluence of the Min, Qingyi, and Dadu rivers. View the 71-meter statue, the largest carved stone Buddha in the world, before driving back to Chengdu to relax at your hotel near the old street.

Fly to Guilin in the morning. Meet your guide upon arrival and drive 1.5-2 hours to the Longsheng scenic area. Store your larger luggage and switch to the Ping'an shuttle for a 40-minute ride to Ping'an Village. Hike 30 minutes uphill to your lodge. Explore the village, traditionally inhabited by the Zhuang ethnic group, and view the massive rice terraces that were built over 650 years ago and span altitudes between 984 and 3,608 feet. Observe the local way of life, including the Yao people with their characteristic long hair and heavy earrings, before settling into your lodge located in the Longsheng rice terraces.

After breakfast, head out for a one-day hike from Ping’an village to Zhuang village and Yao village. Yao is another major ethnic group in China known for preserving their rich traditional culture.

Afterwards, take a light lunch at a local home or local restaurant.

Visit the village of Tiandouzhai and Dazhai, which have a large area of rice terraces. In farming season, you may see how they plough their fields or plant rice shoots in the terraces.

Then, from Dazhai, you drive back to Ping’an village.

This morning, drive to Yangdi Village to start a gentle hike through the countryside. Follow a more isolated stretch of the picturesque Li River. Take bamboo rafts or local ferries a few times to cross the river, and cross through local villages along the way.  After about 4-5 hours of easy hiking, arrive at the trail's end in Xingping, an old town with a history of over 800 years. From here, drive an hour to your hotel in Yangshuo.

Hiking length: 4-6 hours
Hiking Distance: 7-9 miles / 12-15 kilometers
Terrain: Flat hiking, with an easy bamboo rafting ride.

Bike for 2 to 3 hours along paved paths through the Yangshuo countryside. The route runs alongside the river and passes through local villages. In the afternoon, take a bamboo raft ride down the Yulong River for about 1 to 1.5 hours to enjoy the scenery.

After an early dinner, attend the Impression Sanjie Liu laser show. Directed by Zhang Yimou, this night performance overlooks the water and remains a visitor favorite.

Optional Activity: If you prefer not to raft, drive to Silver Cave, one of the largest caves in China. Walk through the interior to admire various large stalactite and stalagmite formations.

Biking Length: 2-3 hours

Enjoy some final time in Yangshuo before transferring back to Guilin to fly home.