Explore oases of greenery and architectural beauty located in chaotic Shanghai during this seven-hour, guided tour. Your tour guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel according to the starting time and drive you to Yu Garden, an enchanting sight that date back to the Ming dynasty.
Yu Garden, also known as Yuyuan Garden, is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape gardening and includes halls, springs and other buildings dating back to the Ming dynasty. If time allows, we will visit an antiques market after that.
Next, attend a traditional Chinese tea ceremony which includes tasting three different kinds of tea and then make your way to Shanghai French Concession, an area characterized by beautiful, tree-lined streets and weathered European architecture. Pass by the legendary mobster Big Eared Du’s house as well as Sun Yat-sen’s residence among other landmarks.
Dine in a famous restaurant and taste the best Beijing duck in the town before heading back to your accommodation.
Get ready to see the fabled Terracotta Warriors and know the history behind them in this private layover day tour.
Our local tour guide along with an experienced driver will pick you up from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport based on the flight details you have provided. Upon arrival at the customs exit, you will see the guide holding a sign with your name on it.
Enjoy a comfortable, 1-hour drive from the airport to the world famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. The museum was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world heritage sites. The tour guide will accompany you to all the three pits in the museum, which have been numbered 1, 2 and 3 according to the dates of their discovery, and give you a detailed explanation of this historical site.
After lunch, proceed to visit the ancient City Wall of Xian. The wall is not just the most complete, surviving city wall in the country, but is also considered to be one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.
In case you are interested, we can arrange for you to go cycling on the wall. Walk your way down the lively, bustling Muslim Street, where you can taste some of the most delicious Xian food and snacks while experiencing the local culture. Also, you can take a leisurely stroll around the Bell & Drum Tower Square.
Afterwards, we will arrange for your transfer back to Xi’an airport to catch your departure flight, concluding the Essential Xian Layover Private Day Tour.
Have a layover in Guangzhou? Why not use the time to explore the vibrant city of Guangzhou?
This half-day guided tour helps you make full use of your time as you visit the highlights in the city. On the tour, admire the traditional architecture of the Chen Clan Academy and explore Haixinsha Island as well as the Canton Tower and the Canton Opera House.
This half-day layover tour starts from the meeting point (China Southern Airlines Accommodation Counter, close to Gate No. 50 of Arrival Hall on Ground Level, Terminal 2, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport) at 8:30 am. An English-speaking tour guide will pick you up and escort you to the city highlights of Guangzhou.
First, head to the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family, famed for its exquisite craftsmanship in wood, stone, and brick carving and metalwork. The special historical, artistic and scientific aspects of the temple have made it an important site in Guangzhou. Your guide with provide with the necessary context to help you understand the Guangdong architecture and its profound history.
Continue to Haixinsha Island, bordered by Zhujiang New Town on the north and the Pearl River on the south. You might recognize the location as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Asian Games. There you will see the Canton Tower and the Canton Opera House and will have enough time to take amazing photos of Guangzhou's iconic architectural landmark.
End the tour with a taste of Canton. Enjoy a delicious, bit-sized Cantonese style dim sum lunch at a local restaurant before leaving for the airport. You'll be transferred to airport, but please make sure you have enough time to catch the departure flight. Generally, the departure time should be later than 4:30 pm.
Guangzhou is a modern metropolitan thriving around an ancient city. On this four-hour guided tour, explore the cultural relics of the city on the banks of the Pearl River. Admire the city's landmarks such as the Five-Ram sculpture and Zhenhai Tower in Yuexiu Park. Visit the 1,500-years-old Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, all the while taking in the fascinating vistas and discovering the history of Guangzhou.
You will be picked up by your guide from your downtown hotel at around 1:30 pm. Enjoy a comfortable transfer around Guangzhou in an air-conditioned vehicle.
First, head to Guangzhou’s largest park, Yuexiu Park. The park is surrounded by beautiful hills and water bodies and houses numerous historical relics, which you can explore at your own ease. The highlights of the afternoon are the Five-Ram Sculpture, carved from 130 pieces of granite, and a visit to the Zhenhai Tower, also named the Five-Storied Pagoda.
Then proceed to the 1,500-years-old Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Flower Pagoda, the main structure of the temple, was built in 1097 and was named for its colorful exterior. Learn about the site's history and its religious significance in the region.
Afterwards, return to your hotel before 5:30 pm to conclude the half-day trip.
8:30: Pick-up
At the appointed time, meet your guide at the hotel lobby, who will get you on a luxury car to meet your fellow travelers and to our first destination.
Stop 1: Stele Forest 1.5h
Here, appreciate nationally-treasured ancient stone slabs carved with Chinese calligraphy and philosophies and listen to the story behind every stele. Your guide will also illustrate to you the architectural aesthetics, as the museum is housed in a carefully-designed temple that once worshiped Confucius.
Stop 2: Banpo Museum 2h
Then, let’s go far, far back to prehistoric China at Banpo Museum, which is based on the site of a typical matrilineal clan village from the Neolithic era of 6,000 years ago. There are also many potteries with the same motifs and with your guide’s explanation, you will see into the aesthetic taste and wild imagination of the Chinese ancestors.
Stop 3: Yongxingfang Food Street for Lunch Break 1.5h
At noon, we will take you to the Yongxingfang Food Street, literally “the lane of eternal prosperity”, and leave you a lunch break at your own expense.
Stop 4: Great Mosque 1.5h
We will then take a dip in the Muslim Bazaar and then escape the secular hustle and bustle to the Great Mosque. The mosque is not of the typical Islamic style you normally expect; instead, you will see a beautiful architectural complex reminiscent of classical traditional gardens with ornate carvings.
Last Stop: Bell Tower 1.5h
Go on to admire the Bell Tower that sits at the heart of Xian. As the Ming-era (1368 - 1644) heritage and the most magnificent of its kind in China, it radiates a pride among the modern landscape that beckons you to capture. We will also visit the interior and climb the tower to discover Chinese aesthetics through architectural details.
After the visit, you can either choose to be escorted back to your hotel or ask for insider advice from your guide on evening activities. Maybe linger awhile to see the Bell Tower lit all over in the evening. Take care!
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers