DAY 1

• BEIJING

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• The Adventure Begins
• To ensure a seamless experience, your guide will be waiting for you outside the secure customs area with a sign with your name on it. The guide will assist you in meeting up with your private driver and accompany you to your accommodation.
• Enjoy a private transfer between the airport and your hotel with an English-speaking guide.

DAY 2

• BEIJING

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• Cross an Item off the Bucket List
• The Great Wall is by far China’s most iconic architectural wonder, captivating the imagination of generations of travelers intrigued by this feat of engineering. With your private driver and English-speaking guide, head 80 miles northeast of Beijing to the Jinshanling Great Wall in Luanping County, an excellent area to hike along the ruggedness of the Wall. The drive takes approximately 2.5-3 hours. Construction began on this section during the Ming Dynasty in 1368, and is comprised of 67 watchtowers, 3 beacon towers and 5 passes. Jinshanling Great Wall was previously used as a complete defensive system that included barrier walls, battlement walls, watchtowers, gun emplacements, shooting holes, horse blocking walls, and branch cities. The hike along the wall takes the better part of the day, and it is an excellent opportunity for hiking aficionados to experience the scale and grandeur of the Great Wall. As this section is further from Beijing, it attracts fewer visitors and is an ideal spot to capture memorable photos of the countryside. A simple boxed picnic lunch will be provided today. After your hike, transfer back to your hotel.

• IMPORTANT: There are a fair number of steps and gradient changes along this hike. Jinshanling is recommended for guests who have hiked before and are in good physical health. This is a fairly challenging hike.

DAY 3

• BEIJING

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• A Healthy Dose of History
• Tai Chi is an iconic and quintessential Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. Experience the calming effects of this ancient practice under the guidance of a Tai Chi instructor leading you through a one-hour Tai Chi session. Partake in your lesson amidst the calming gardens in the park surrounding the Temple of Heaven, one of the city’s most popular public venues for the practice of this ancient arts. If you are not visiting the Temple of Heaven today, the Tai Chi instructor will join you in another tranquil park setting in Beijing.
• Spend the day exploring three of Beijing’s most photographed sites with your private guide and driver. Head to the center of the city and begin with a walk across the sprawling expanse of Tiananmen Square. Built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty and serving as the front door to the Forbidden City, the present square is one of the largest in the world, stretching a vast 44 square hectares. Here, walk past and featuring the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People’s Heroes, Great Hall of the People, and the Mao Zedong Memorial. Many historically important moments have unfolded in this public setting.
• From here, cross the street and enter through the towering gates of the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the largest number of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. The expansive palace complex is comprised of 9,999 buildings spread across 74 hectares and protected by a 19-foot deep moat and a 32-foot tall wall, divided into two parts. The Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation, while the Inner Court was where he lived with his royal family. Twenty-four emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties reigned over China from the Imperial Palace here until 1924. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant.
• Next, drive to the Temple of Heaven, a serene space set amidst expansive gardens, and a popular spot for locals and travelers alike. With your private guide and driver, head to this urban oasis UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally constructed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty to offer a sacrifice to Heaven in exchange for a bountiful harvest. The most magnificent buildings are The Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiutan), Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu), and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qiniandian), which are connected by a wide bridge called the Sacred Way. The park grounds surrounding the park are a popular local mingling spot, and it is quite common to see people practicing Tai Chi amidst the green space.
• Today’s tour involves a fair amount of walking at a leisurely pace. Comfortable walking shoes and adequate protection from the sun are highly recommended.

DAY 4

• BEIJING

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• Live Like a Local
• Tucked behind Beijing’s ever-growing landscape of skyscrapers, a network of traditional neighborhoods called “hutongs” offers a rare glimpse into Beijing’s working-class lives. Explore the maze-like network of narrow alleyways that make up this unique neighborhood with your private guide and experience the bustle of daily life from your vantage point on the back of a tricycle rickshaw. The hutongs are a tightly knit community of siheyuan, a compound of low-rise houses built around a central courtyard, connected by a series of narrow lanes and alleys best navigated by bicycle, rickshaw or on foot. The gray-tiled houses and identical crisscrossing alleys are ripe for exploring – tucked in the courtyards are local artisans, small businesses and even restaurants. Many of these neighborhoods were torn down during the 20^th century to make way for new roads and residential towers, and some of the remaining hutongs have protected designation from the Chinese government.
• Stop for lunch with a local family and watch them prepare Jaozi – the traditional dumplings of northern China. After a delicious lunch, drive to the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating to the 12^th century. The vast imperial encampment of temples, ornate pavilions, and halls are set in a park around Kunming Lake. Occupying an area of 294 hectares, three-quarters of which is water, the compound features a sprawling archetypal Chinese garden that is ranked amongst the most noted gardens in the world and a truly picturesque setting to explore. The Long Corridor is a must-see – this covered walkway is decorated with more than 14,000 lavish paintings. Sail around Kunming Lake on a shared boat trip before returning to your hotel.

DAY 5

• BEIJING TO XI'AN

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• En Route
• Enjoy a private transfer between the train station and your hotel with an English-speaking guide.
• Transfer from Beijing to Xi'an via the high-speed bullet train. The train ride is approximately 6 hours.
• Enjoy a private transfer between the train station and your hotel with an English-speaking guide.
• Enjoy your VIP seats at the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show with a private vehicle transfer. At each performance there are over 100 artists who entertain with a colorful spectacle of dance and music symbolizing the splendor of the Tang Dynasty, regarded as the most progressive and prosperous era of Imperial China.

DAY 6

• XI'AN

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• It’s All Ancient History
• The first stop of this private guided bicycle tour is the Terracotta Army. Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses, and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210 BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. The tour continues on to the imposing ancient city wall. The walls, ramparts, gates, and watchtowers from one of the oldest and most complete city defenses still around. They were built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city center. The last leg of the tour is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is a major Buddhist site. The simple, elegant brick pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals.

DAY 7

• XI'AN TO GUILIN TO LONGSHENG

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• The Journey Continues…
• Meet your driver for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and English speaking guide.
• Board a flight with direct service from Xi'an to Guilin. Approximate flight time is 1.5 hours.
• Transfer from Guilin Airport to Ping'an Village, home of the Longji Rice Terraces, with a private vehicle and driver. Along the way you will pass local farmers and villages of rural China, before entering Longsheng and the Longji Rice Terrace area. From here you will drive into the mountains towards Ping'an village, steadily climbing while passing by local minority villages, flowing rivers, and spectacular rice fields. Upon arrival in Ping'an, you will have a 20-30 minute walk through the village to the hotel. Porters will be available to carry your bags for a small fee, but it's also advisable to pack a small overnight bag to reduce the necessity of hiring a porter.
• Please note: the walk to the village is uphill via steps and inclined pathways. A reasonable level of fitness and mobility is required for this excursion. Please speak with your sales consultant if you have any questions or concerns.

DAY 8

• LONGSHENG TO YANGSHUO

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• A Change of Scenery
• Transfer from Longsheng to Yangshuo with a private vehicle, driver, and English speaking guide. On the way, you can spend some time exploring the rice terraces, vistas, and rural lifestyles of Longsheng before continuing on to Yangshuo. A deluxe lunch will be provided at a local restaurant en-route.
• Enjoy a deluxe local dinner followed by the Sister Liu Show. This spectacle was created by the Oscar winning Zhang Yimou and presents the local culture through a cavalcade of lights and cast of 500 using a private bay as the theatre and local mountains as the backdrop. This is sure to be one of the most memorable activities of your trip.

DAY 9

• YANGSHUO

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• Lace Up for Some Fresh Air
• Experience the local karst scenery at your own pace while exploring the villages and rice farms of the Dragon River area by bike. Stop en-route to enjoy lunch next to one of the cliffs in this world-famous rock climbing destination. Get your adrenaline flowing and experience a different view of these unique rock formations under the expert supervision and instruction of internationally trained rock climbing guides. Finish the day with a visit to a local market followed by a lesson at a cooking school on Yangshuo's West Street. Enjoy the fruits of your labor as you indulge on the delicious dishes prepared alongside your Chef. Snacks, fruit and bottle water are provided on this tour.

DAY 10

• YANGSHUO TO GUILIN TO SHANGHAI

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• Onward and Upward
• Transfer from Yangshuo to the Guilin airport with a private vehicle, driver, and English speaking guide. The transfer is approximately 1.5 hours.
• Board a flight with direct service from Guilin to Shanghai. Approximate flight time is 2.5 hours.
• Meet your driver for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and English speaking guide.
• The Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe has garnered international fame, with dazzling displays that seem to defy the laws of gravity. This evening, your private guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel for your dinner reservation at Ye Shanghai before the show. Housed in a renovated Shikumen style house, the restaurant embraces the cuisine of neighboring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. From here, drive to the theater and settle into your seats with the help of your guide. The multimillion-dollar performance is a testament to traditional Chinese acrobatic arts, featuring stunning costumes, modern technology, and original live music during the show. The acrobats undergo years of rigorous training, starting as young as six or seven. Many performers boast 20 years of experience. After the memorable performance, transfer back to your hotel by private vehicle.

DAY 11

• SHANGHAI

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• Secrets of the City
• Despite Shanghai’s impressive size and modern cosmopolitan identity, there are pockets of traditional Chinese gardens and culture hidden throughout the city and its outskirts. Start the day by heading into the Yangtze River Delta near Shanghai to Zhujiajiao with your English-speaking guide and private driver. The delta area gave rise a collection of historical water towns that crisscross the countryside and have given the region the nickname of the “Venice of the East” due to the prevalence of canals. While modern architecture and infrastructure have all but made these canals obsolete, these villages have thriving centers that haven’t changed for hundreds of years. Zhujiajiao is a scenic water town easily accessible from Shanghai. Drive an hour from central Shanghai, and explore the 1700-year-old picturesque town. Its beauty lies in its lovely streams, which reflect the traditional houses built on their banks. Large and small gondola-like boats in typical Chinese style ply the waters all around the city. Marvel at the architecture during a boat ride through the canals before driving back to Shanghai for lunch.
• Dine at NanXiang restaurant and sample NanXiang Xiao Long Bao, a traditional style of Shanghai bun. In the afternoon, visit the Yu Gardens, the largest of Shanghai’s ancient gardens, dating to the mid-16^th century. The expansive grounds feature the architectural styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with six pavilions each with their own unique design, laid out in the Suzhou style. The Grand Rockery in the center of the garden is a popular photo stop, with replica peaks, cliffs, and caves. The Yu Gardens are a year-round delightful retreat from Shanghai’s frenetic pace, as the changing seasons offer a different experience and a moment of quiet contemplation. Adjacent to the gardens is the City God Temple, surrounded by a network of local snack vendors and souvenir shops that make for a colorful walk into the Yu Garden. At the end of the day, transfer back to your hotel by private vehicle.

DAY 12

• SHANGHAI
• Until Next Time…
• Meet your driver for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and English speaking guide.

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Fairmont Beijing

Hyatt Regency Xi`an (4.5*)

Li An Lodge

Amari Yangshuo

Fairmont Peace Hotel