Real China Highlights

Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing, the capital of the most populous country on earth. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6:00 pm when you will meet your tour leader and fellow travelers. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the reception for more information.

Please have your passport, travel insurance details and next-of-kin information at hand as we will go through these documents at the group meeting. Why not head out and explore Beijing's streets after the meeting is over? 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 local dish – Peking duck.

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

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’ll be able appreciate the might and grandeur of the imperial Chinese court during the height of its power when Ming and Qing dynasties reigned.

You have the evening for yourself.

Additional information: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City are the number one attractions for domestic tourists and as such can be crowded.

This morning, you will take a private bus to visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall (around two hours' journey) 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 on 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.

You can also choose 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.

Return to Beijing by private bus. This evening, you will catch an overnight train to Xi’an.

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

Join your group leader 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 on your private transport and drive for two hours to behold what undoubtedly is one of the world's leading 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 for you to see, 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 is incredibly impressive.

Enjoy a free evening in Xi’an.

Catch a high-speed rail from Xi’an to Chengdu in the morning. The journey by train takes approximately three hours. Check into your hotel on arrival and then head out to discover Chengdu.

This city has a very casual vibe. Here is where locals value life more than work (that is how it should be, right?), so mahjong and tea are two of the most crucial elements of life here. Go on a walking tour with your tour leader to downtown Tianfu Square where a giant statue of Chairman Mao overlooks his people.

Continue to the lively People's Park and sit down in a tea house for a sip of tea if you want to. You might also want to take advantage of other optional services on offer like ear cleaning and massages. Chengdu was listed in 2010 as a gourmet capital by Unesco, so why not give the local delicacies a go?

Prepare for the fuzzies this morning as you get up close with adorable pandas at the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu. Learn more about the conservation efforts being made to protect these animals. Of course you will see them being fed, playing, sleeping or just being plain cute in their playgrounds.

Enjoy some more downtime in the afternoon. You might want to check out the hip Kuanzhai Lane or search for some spicy Chengdu snacks on Jinli Street.

Catch a high-speed rail from Chengdu to Yangshuo, and after arrival at the Yangshuo station, transfer to your hotel. Surrounded by limestone karsts, Yangshuo is super popular with both international and domestic tourists, which is not a bad thing if you are into cafes and bars.

This is one of the best places in the country to get a feel of local culture while having plenty of fun at the same time. Take a walk through the town with your team leader on arrival and head down to the Li River to soak up the beautiful landscape immortalised in numerous of Chinese paintings.

The dramatic countryside surrounding Yangshuo is best seen on a bike, today you’ll jump on a bike and explore the splendid green landscape surrounds and nearby villages, bamboo rafting on the Yulong River enjoy the idyllic scenery on both sides of the river, which is pleasing to the eye. Stop for lunch at the house of our local farmer friends for a tasty meal made from locally grown produce.

This evening is free time for you, there is a spectacular outdoor cultural show staged by Zhang Yimou, director of the Beijing Olympic's opening ceremony, is a definite highlight and highly recommended (optional).

A great optional activity for you to head out, what is one of the largest tea plantations in Yangshuo, in the plantation you’ll try on a Chinese reed hat to feel the atmosphere of a tea plantation, pick your own tea leaves and wander through the rows of tea and return to the lodge to experience the traditional tea service and learn the customs, climb up to the Xianggong hill to experience the spectacular panorama over the Li River Valley, from here you’ll see sunlight & shadow, clouds sea & the rosy clouds, If you're lucky, you can also see a beautiful rainbow.

It’s the last night in Yangshuo, enjoy an optional final dinner to sample some of the best Yangshuo dishes, and wander up the busy West shopping street, then enjoy some time to browse the stores or relax in a cafe.

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 China tour comes to an end this morning, and there are no activities on the final day and you are free to leave your accommodation at any time before 12:00 noon.

Kindly Reminder: If you have booked departure transfer through Truly China Travel, please confirm the pick up time with your tour leader in advance.

If you wish to leave a few days later in Yangshuo, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).