Charm of Chinese Classical Architecture

Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing, the capital of the most populous country on earth. With plenty of places offering insights into China's ancient history, as well as newer sights that showcase contemporary culture, Beijing is a wonderful destination. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6:00 pm where you will meet your tour leader and fellow travelers. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place.

We will collect/check your passport, insurance and next of kin information at the group meeting, please have these on hand. After the meeting is over, you might want to head out to explore Beijing's streets – with your hotel located centrally, a walk in any direction will unveil all sorts of wonderful surprises. Perhaps you might want to kick off your China adventure with a taste of an iconic dish – Peking duck.

If you wish to arrive in Beijing a few days prior to the trip start date, please let us know. We will be happy to book pre-tour accommodation for you at an additional cost (subject to availability).

This morning, you will take a private bus to visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall (around two hours' drive) and spend some time exploring, taking photos and learning more about the history of this mighty monument.

An incredible feat of engineering, the wall stretches 6,000 km west from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from nomadic northern tribes. Even though the wall failed in this regard, it is still one of the country's most remarkable achievements and an iconic destination.

The walk, approximately five kilometres long, takes you through a restored section of the wall. But this still means walking through steep, uneven terrain with staircases at places, so reasonable fitness and comfortable shoes are needed. It will take two to three hours depending on your level of fitness to cover the distance by foot.

You might also want to go for other options of exploring the wall, like cable car, chairlift or even toboggan (for descend only) at your own expense. Being perched on this incredible engineering feat and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience. We suggest that you carry a picnic lunch for today's trip.

Return to Beijing by a private bus and enjoy a free evening either relaxing in your hotel or exploring the city on your own.

Explore two of the most popular sights in Beijing on foot and by public transport. While the public transport system of the Chinese capital city can be crowded, it is also the best way to immerse yourself in local culture.

Make your way to Tiananmen Square, the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Flanked by the Gate of Heavenly Peace with its Mao portrait, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (Mao's mausoleum), the Great Hall of the People, National Museum, and with an elaborate flag raising and lowering ceremonies at dawn and dusk, this is a place of pilgrimage even for domestic tourists who consider this square to be the heart of their nation.

From here you will enter into the enormous Forbidden City. Built more than 500 years ago and off limits to commoners for most of its existence, the Forbidden City looks much like it always has. As you explore the great halls and courtyards, you will be able appreciate the might and grandeur of the imperial Chinese court during the height of its power when Ming and Qing dynasties reigned.

Additional information: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City are the number one attractions for domestic tourists and as such can get very crowded with tour groups.

This evening, catch an overnight train to Xi’an. You will spend the night in the train.

Your train will arrive at the train station in Xi’an at around 9:00 am. Meet our representative and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel.

Join your tour guide for a short walking tour to discover what was once the starting point of the ancient trading route known all over the world as the Silk Road. Wander down the narrow streets of the city's Muslim quarter, past shops, lively markets, and groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in cafes.

See the Xi'an City Wall, the most complete fortification in China, running over 13 kilometres around the city. This city's Silk Road history means that it has an exciting mixture of cultures, exemplified by its food options, which range from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in Chinese restaurants.

You might also want to visit the Bell and Drum Towers. According to legends, the former was built to restrain the dragons that were causing earthquakes, while the latter was, unsurprisingly, used to mark time and send warnings during emergencies.

Perhaps you might want to call it a day with a visit to the night market and try many of the tantalising local specialties such as pao mo (lamb broth that you break flat bread into), hand pulled noodles, hot pot and barbecue.

Yet another highlight of this trip awaits you today. Hop into your private transport and drive for two hours to behold what undoubtedly is one of the world's most famous man-made wonders, the Terracotta Warriors. Learn all about this incredible archaeological find, rediscovered in 1976 after being buried for 2,000 years by farmers digging a well.

These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots were commissioned by the emperor Qin Shi Huangdi as part of his mausoleum after he ascended to the throne in 264BC. Three main pits are open to travelers, where just under 2,000 warriors – each individually sculpted from clay and with a different costume, height, and even facial expressions – stand in battle formation. The scale of this monument is incredibly impressive.

Enjoy a free evening in Xi’an.

Catch a high-speed train from Xi’an to Chongqing in the morning. The journey lasts approximately five hours. With over 20 million people living in its city centre and suburbs that sprawl up steep hills, Chongqing is one of the biggest cities in China and a gateway to the Yangtze River.

Board your river boat, your home for the next few nights, and start cruising down one of the world’s greatest rivers. The gorges are spectacular and most travellers enjoy their time on Yangtze boats. But some words of warning are necessary. The Yangtze River region is one of the most industrialised and rapidly developing areas in China. You will travel in Chinese tourist boats rather than luxury tourist vessels. We like to call it a river trip rather than a traditional cruise.

Cabins in the boat are twin-share with private bathroom facilities. While all meals are included during your time on the boat, the buffet-style Chinese cuisine can be quite plain. However, you will get the chance to visit a supermarket in Chongqing before boarding in order to stock up on some favourite snacks, drinks and fruits for the journey. 

Continue your journey along the Yangtze. This river has inspired numerous poets, writers and travellers over centuries. The journey will take you to one of the most picturesque sections of the river, through the famous Three Gorges.

The dramatic 'sanxia', as they are known in Chinese, stretch for 200 kilometres and vary from 100 metres to 300 metres in width. As well as relaxing and taking in the sights (much has changed since the Three Gorges Dam was constructed), you may have opportunities to visit some riverside attractions and towns during optional group excursions, including leaving the river boat to take a side trip down a tributary of the Yangtze River.

If you prefer to stay on-board, you might want to take the opportunity to learn some Mandarin words and characters from your leader. How about playing mahjong or singing some Chinese songs? Regardless of how you choose to spend your hours, you will find enough time to catch up on your travel diary or just relax and chat with your group members and local travellers.

Your journey down the river will take you through breathtaking gorges, past steep precipices, hidden reefs, perilous cliff and tumbling rapids. Depending on the itinerary, you might also get the chance to cruise down either Shennong Stream or the Lesser Three Gorges.

Your Yangtze boat trip comes to an end in the small city (by Chinese standards) of Yichang, an excellent place to observe typical Chinese life in the provinces. See the incredible feat of engineering that is the Three Gorges Dam during a sightseeing tour.

The world’s largest hydroelectric project, the Three Gorges generates power and prevents major flooding that had long threatened the people of the area (although its impact on displaced people and archaeological sites should not be ignored).

Off from the boat and into a private bus. Drive to a train station and board your overnight train to Shanghai (approximately 14 hours). As Yichang is not a major railway hub, there is only one train heading south passing through this place. To make the long journey as comfortable as possible, you will travel by soft sleeper (four people per compartment with a lockable door) on this leg of the journey.

Try to get a good night's sleep as you will have to disembark the train very early tomorrow morning.

Blending 21st-century architecture with old-world character, Shanghai pulses with the beat of contemporary China. Take the subway to your accommodation on arrival, then you are off on a guided exploration.

First up is a guided walking tour that will take you to the historical section of Shanghai. Experience the city as it was during the roaring 1920s with a tour of the Bund, a strip of spectacular art deco-style buildings. Wander the narrow winding lanes (nongtangs) of Old Shanghai, where you can get a glimpse of local life.

Explore the European-influenced French Concession, then pound the pavement along Luwan's Huaihai Road, a busy shopping street. The area's tree-lined avenues and their many Tudor mansions earned it the nickname 'Paris of the East'. When night falls, you might want to check out Shanghai’s eclectic food scene.

Join your team leader today for a walking tour that will take you back to the 1920s. The Bund has a spectacular array of Art Deco buildings along what was once the most important financial street in Asia.

Wander the narrow winding lanes (longtangs) of Old Shanghai, where you can get glimpses of the local life. Explore the French Concession and the tree-lined avenues and Tudor mansions of Luwan's Huaihai Road.

In the afternoon, leave Shanghai in the rearview mirror and make the two-hour journey to Xitang, a nearby water town. Once a hub of 19th-century businessmen, Xitang turns on the charm in the evening when all the day trippers go home. Take a stroll along lantern-lit canals and ask your leader for advice on which hole-in-the-wall eatery to pick from. Enjoy some classic Chinese cuisine while watching the lights reflected on the waters' surface.   

Rise and shine to explore the streets of Xitang. Wander across charming bridges and relax by the canals. Learn more about local history at one of the many museums or simply get lost in the maze of peaceful cobblestone streets – a welcome break from the bustle of modern Shanghai.

Return to Shanghai and board an overnight soft sleeper train bound for Guilin. The journey will take around 19 hours in total, though you will hopefully be sleeping for the most of it. Train travel in China may not be entirely luxurious but it is certainly one of the best ways to come face to face with the country and its people, as it is the main form of transport here. 

Disembark the train and jump on a private bus to Yangshuo. Soak up the charm of this town, popular among Chinese and Western travellers alike, who come for the beautiful landscape and stay for the great cafes and bars.

Yangshuo is also one of the best places in the country to get a feel for local culture and tradition while having plenty of fun at the same time. The countryside around Yangshuo has been immortalised in many traditional Chinese paintings. Picture immense limestone karsts dotting a rural landscape, towering spectacularly over paddy fields and the meandering Li River: The scene is even celebrated on the 20 yuan note!

The dramatic countryside surrounding Yangshuo is best seen during an optional cruise down the Li River. Float past limestone monoliths and see water buffaloes nonchalantly drinking at the river's edge as the cruise boat sails.

For those feeling active, why not jump on a bike and explore the nearby villages? Perhaps you might want to participate in a peaceful tai chi session. Enjoy a guided walk through a local market before visiting a converted country house to try your hands at cooking local specialties.

A great way to spend a day in Yangshuo is to visit the nearby tea plantation (optional). Picking tea leaves, brewing them and enjoying the concoction is quite an experience. You can do this all at Seven Fairies Peak tea plantation if you want to.

The other option is to hike up Xianggong Hill for some stunning views. The Li River meanders below, while lights and shadows play out amid karst formations jutting into the sky. You might also want to visit the ancient Stone Village which was once a garrison town.

Time to leave Yangshuo and continue your journey to the final stop of this trip, Hong Kong. Transfer to Guilin from where a high-speed train will take you to the megapolis defined by its towering buildings in approximately three and a half hours.

The train terminates at the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Railway Station. Head for your centrally located hotel in the city and check in on arrival. Perhaps you might want to go out on a walking tour, check out the night market on Temple Street or the light show at Victoria Harbour. However you choose to spend the day, do not miss out on the chance to celebrate your final night with your group in this awesome city.

Your trip comes to an end this morning. There are no activities today.

Kind reminder: The check-out time normally is 12:00 noon. If you have booked the optional airport departure transfer with Truly China Travel, please confirm the pickup time with your tour leader in advance.