14 Days Walking between Nature and Culture

Day 1

Arrival Shanghai 
Arrive in Shanghai, your gateway city of China tour, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for a good rest.
Meals: No meals
Accommodation: In Shanghai

Shanghai is a city unlike any other in China. It is the bustling economic heartbeat of China that enjoys all of the comforts and amenities of a fully modern metropolis. Shanghai today looks to regain its former position at the turn of 20th of being one of the largest financial centers in the world behind New York and London. It is a city that seamlessly blends East and West.

Day 2

Shanghai
A full day sightseeing starts with Jade Buddha Temple (1 hour) - famous for the seated Buddha, encrusted with jewels, which is said to weigh 1,000 kg. And then, go to Yuyuan Garden (1 hour) - a Chinese classic garden in city downtown. Then visit the nearby Chenghuangmiao (Old Street)(1 hour). After lunch time, you will have a tour of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower - the most charming landmark of Shanghai. And then, go for shopping in Nanjing Road (1 hours generally) - the earliest commercial street in Shanghai, and have a leisure walk along the Bund (30 min) - famous as a group of building known as "a Gallery of world architecture". After that, drive back to your hotel and free of the rest time.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Shanghai

Today you'll find a Buddhism shrine - Jade Buddha Temple, which is located in a crowd of Shanghai City. It was first built in 1882 in Jiangwan on the southern outskirts of Shanghai. In order to make it convenient for the adherents to visit, it was bodily moved to Shanghai City at the present sire in 1918. It is named for its two bejeweled white jade Buddha. It receives thousands of visitors and worshipers everyday while keeps its sanctity and charming. Carved from a whole piece of white jade, the sitting jade Buddha statue is translucent with a solemn expression, displaying the excellent skill and extraordinary art of Chinese people.

Yuyuan Garden is the only fully restored classical Chinese garden in Shanghai. It was inaugurated in the Ming dynasty and has a total area of 20,000 square meters. Although the Garden occupies less than five acres, demonstrates perfectly the sophisticated art of combining several different elements to create a world in miniature - ingeniously mingling pavilions and corridors, small hills and carefully selected and well-placed rocks, lotus ponds, bridges, winding paths, and trees and shrubs.

Completed in 1995 to a highly innovative design, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower includes 15 spheres of different sizes at different levels creating an artistic conception of "large and small pearls dropping onto a jade plate" in ancient Chinese poem.  It has become a symbol of excellence in architecture and is a favorite sight for tourists in Shanghai. Viewed from the Bund at night, the tower's three-dimensional lighting creates an enchanting, brilliantly colored display. At 468 meters, it is the third tallest TV and radio tower in the World. Two of the six tower elevators can reach the highest sphere in 40 seconds; here the visitor will discover shops, a rotating restaurant and a sightseeing floor. The view of Shanghai from here is breath-taking. 

Nanjing Road, 5.5 km in full length, enjoys the reputation as China No. 1 commercial center. It was the earliest commercial street in Shanghai since the city opened to the outside world. The street stretches across the central city of Shanghai and next to Huangpu River in the east, the cross point of Jing'an Temple and West Yan'an Road. The road is divided into east and west parts by Xizang Road.

The Bund is the showcase with the old buildings of colonial-era leftover along Huangpu River. The renowned waterfront district is the city's most famous landmark. The word BUND is of Anglo-India origin meaning embankment on the waterfront. It is also the popular site to enjoy the night view of the city.

Shanghai offers colorful recreations with rich contents and creative form. Your night may be filled with an interactive old form of art known as the Acrobatics. Those professional performers have been trained of as early as age six or seven so that they can play so well and excellent. It definitely will be an unforgettable night in your memory.
 

Day 3

Shanghai  Tongli  Suhou
In the morning, your guide will accompany with you to take 2.5 hours driving to Tongli - feature with traditional residences, gardens, houses and temples, built in the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. After lunch and leisure walking there for a moment, continue for a 1 hour driving to Suzhou, a Garden-like city in China.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Suzhou
 
Tongli in Jiangsu Province is one of the many ancient water towns in the south of the Yangtze River Delta, which are famous for their rivers, ancient bridges and house complexes. Tongli occupies an area of 51 square miles (133 square kilometers) with a population of 55,000. The city is separated by 15 rivers into seven islets, which are connected through 49 ancient bridges. Tongli, established in the Song Dynasty, has a history of over 1,000 years. It is very rich in cultural heritage. Traditional residences including gardens, houses and temples, built in the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, are the highlight of the city.

Founded in 514 BC, Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in the Yangtze Basin. And Suzhou remains one of the most beautiful cities in China with its blue web of interlocking canals and classical gardens that inspired the Chinese to name it "paradise on earth” and Marco Polo to call the city the “Venice of the East” during his visit. 

Day 4

Suzhou
Your sightseeing tour of ancient Suzhou starts with the visit to Humble Administrator Garden (1.5 - 2 hours) - which is a representative of Suzhou Classical Chinese Garden. After lunch, visit New Suzhou Museum (1 hour) - designed by I.M. Pei with not only collections value but also architectural value. Then continue to Silk Factory (1 hour) to find out how silk is being made. After the tour, drive back to your hotel and have a rest of this day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Suzhou

The Humble Administrator Garden was first built in the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty in 1509. It covers an area of 52,000 square meters. Humble Administrator Garden (Zhuozheng yuan) is the best representation of Chinese classical gardens of the Ming Dynasty. Its design is duplicated in many gardens throughout China, and there is even a replica in the New York Metropolitan Museum.

Founded in 1960 and originally located in the national historic landmark, Zhong Wang Fu palace complex, Suzhou Museum has been a highly-regarded regional museum with a number of significant Chinese cultural relics. A new museum designed by world famous architect I.M.Pei was completed in October 2006, covering over 10,700 square meter and located at the cross of Dongbei Street and Qimen Road.

Silk has a history of some 4,500 years in China, so they have become adept at producing many different types of silk, as well as dyeing it and weaving different patterns into the fabric. Suzhou is famous for its silk production. In the Suzhou Silk Factory you can see a display of the life-cycle of the silk worm and demonstrations of how the silk is harvested from the cocoons and eventually woven into fabric.
 

Day 5

Suzhou   Hangzhou
In the morning after breakfast, have a leisure walk on the Pingjiang Ancient Street (30min) - an ancient cultural road which has been preserved for more than 800 years. After lunch in Suzhou, transfer to the train station for your G/D train riding to Hangzhou - to explore the beauty there. Your Hangzhou travel guide will wait for you at the train station and help you to check your hotel in Hangzhou. And then, you can have a short stroll along the  Hefang Ancient Street (1 hour) - a cobble street lined with traditional shops selling herbal medicines, handicrafts and silk products. Finally, drive back to your hotel and have a rest of this day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Hangzhou

Pingjiang Road is a historical street that located in the northeastern Suzhou ancient city. The length of this road is 1,606 meters which has been recorded since the Song Dynasty. On the map of Suzhou ancient city in Song Dynasty, the Pingjiang Road was regarded as the main route. After 800 years, Pingjiang Road is still well-preserved.

Hangzhou is one of China's big tourist attractions. It has many historical relics and scenic spots, including West Lake, and the scenic area near the Fuchun River and the Xinan River. The special local-made products are silk, Xihu silk umbrellas, color-glazed porcelain, Longjing tea, and white chrysanthemum.

The history of Qinghefang Street can be dated back to Southern Song Dynasty, and it became prosperity since Qing Dynasty. This street can be taken as one of the oldest streets in Hangzhou. The well-preserved ancient architectures only can be found in this commercial street. 

 

Day 6

Hangzhou
Enjoy your full day relaxing tour that covers the visit to West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Six Harmonies Pagoda and Hu Qingyu's Traditional Pharmacy. Tonight, if you are interested, you can taste the Huaiyang Cuisine as your optional dinner (at your own expense).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hangzhou

"Rippling waters shimmering on a sunny day,
Misty mountains shrouded by the rain;
Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi;
West Lake is always alluring.”
 
These sentiments by the famous poet Su Dongpo, comparing West Lake with Xizi, the most renowned beauty of the Song Dynasty, leave one in no doubt of the splendor of the scenery that inspired them. Enclosed by the hills on three sides, the West Lake mirrors the surrounding landscape to form a panorama of great beauty. The lake was originally part of the Qitang River until its outlet became silted up. It is now 15km in circumference with an average depth of 1.8 meters.

The Lingyin Temple is regarded as one of the four temples by the side of the West Lake.  The main hall, 33.6 meters high, is one of China's tallest single-story buildings, further distinguished by double eaves. Within, a statue of Sakyamuni, carved out of 24 pieces of camphor wood and gilded with 104 ounces of gold, stands an impressive 19.6 meters high.

Standing by the Qiantang River in Hangzhou, the Pagoda of Six Harmonies (Liuhe Tower) has for hundreds of years been praised by poets and men of letters. The pagoda was constructed first in 970 during the Northern Song Dynasty to suppress the tidewaters. It is nearly 60 meters tall with 13 stories outside and seven inside. From here you can have a good view of the Qiantang River meandering far into the distance.

Built in 1874 by Hu Xueyan, a "red-top official merchant", the Huqingyu's Traditional Pharmacy is worth mentioning that Huqingyu Drugstore fully carried out the medicine-making techniques and industry standards stated in the Prescriptions of the Bureau of Taiping People's Welfare Pharmacy drafted by the authorities of the Southern Song Dynasty. It is also fair to say that Hangzhou is the origin of "ancient Chinese pharmacopoeia" and Hu Qingyu Drugstore is an inheritor of the great tradition.

While you are enjoying the beautiful sightseeing of Hangzhou, you can also try the well-known Huaiyang Cuisine which is the style prevailing in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Suzhou. The basin of the lower reaches of the Yangtze and the coast are blessed with the products of rivers, lakes and the sea; everything for seekers of fine food. Huaiyang dishes are characterized by the addition of a relatively high proportion of soy sauce.
 
 

Day 7

Hangzhou    Guilin
Enjoy your own free time for the rest of the day, then you will be transferred to the airport for a noon flight to Guilin. On arrival, your local guide will meet you at Guilin airport, and then on the way to your hotel, you will have a stopover and visit the marvelous Reed Flute Cave and the city symbol Elephant Trunk Hill
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Guilin

Guilin is world-famous for its serene landscape, Karst limestone formations, mist-covered hills and bamboo groves. It is home to more than ten ethnic groups, including Han, Zhuang, Miao, Yao, Hui and Dong. On the way from the airport to your hotel, you will see dozens of pretty hills everywhere in the city of Guilin. It is a city of hills and green trees and boasts one of the most photographed areas of China.

 is named for the special reeds, used for making flute instruments, that grow near the cave entrance. The caves are a feast for the eyes. The natural beauty of a profusion of stalactites and stalagmites, stele, stone pillars, stone curtains and stone flowers creating an infinite variety of extraordinary scenes, creatively illuminated, is bound to evoke gasps of admiration. It is fitting then, that Reed Flute Cave is commonly praised as Nature’s Grand Art Palace.

The Elephant Trunk, or the Elephant Trunk Hill, is located on the conjunction of the Peach Blossom River and the Li River. It is a famous spot as well as the badge of Guilin City.The name of the hill derives from the shape of the hill which looks like an elephant drinking water with its long trunk. The hill is a masterpiece of karst landscape in Guilin. It is a pure limestone which lay on seabed 360,000,000 years ago.

 

Day 8

Guilin    Yangshuo
The highlight of today's sightseeing is a leisurely cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. Meandering through valleys, bamboo groves and mysterious Karst rock formations, the cruise will affords you a glimpse of a life far removed from the concrete jungle. Stay overnight in Yangshuo. In the evening, if you are interested, you can enjoy the night show called Impression of Liu San Jie as an optional activity.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Yangshuo

In the morning, be driven to Pier for your Li River Cruise. A double-decker river boat is waiting for you. The landscape from Guilin to Yangshuo is truly a masterpiece of nature. The crystal waters, straight-out-of-a-painting mountains, peaceful farm fields, hard-working-but- ever-smiling fishermen and wandering water buffaloes inspire poetic musings of Guilin’s charming life. Under the blue sky, your river boat transports you in an unending daydream.

After cruising for about four and a half hours, the one-thousand-year-old Yangshuo Town comes into sight. Yangshuo is a small oriental but Western-influenced town with a history of 1000 years. The West Street in the town earns its name since almost every one in West Street can speak fluent English and every restaurant or bar offers menus in several languages. You’ll feel no borders or distance here and will soon fall under the spell of this charismatic, welcoming small-town atmosphere. Moreover, West Street is flanked by fascinating little shops and vendor stands selling a broad variety of superior quality souvenirs, perfect gifts for friends and relatives.

Some guests may also hear about the night show- Impressions of Liu Sanjie performance. The site is only one mile from West Street in the world’s largest natural theatre which utilizes the waters of the Li River as its stage, flanked by twelve mist shrouded hills and the heavens as its backdrop. Mist, rain, moonlight, the hills and their inverted reflections in the river all become the ever-changing natural background, so you will enjoy a unique experience each time you attend.
 

Day 9

Yangshuo    Guilin Xian
Free at leisure in the morning. You could choose to have a countryside view at your optional tour(your own expense), then back to the downtown of Guilin.  Finish lunch and say good bye to Guilin and have a 2 hours flight to Xian.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Xian

Xian, steeped in history and still giving up secrets, is your gateway to ancient Chinese civilization. In its 3,100 recorded years of evolution, it has been home to 13 dynasties.  Xian was also the end of civilization for those setting out on the famous Silk Road. Today’s Xian is a vibrant, modern city, but surrounded by history, even underfoot! So there can be no underground railways due to the obligation to preserve the wealth of ancient treasure still awaiting discovery.

 

Day 9

Guilin    Xian
Get up early in the morning, you will then be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xian, one of the six ancient capitals of China, where you will appreciate another kind of beauty. On arrival, you can take a visit to the solemn Xian City Wall, with over 600 years history.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Xian

Day 10

Xian
Today, begin your one day tour with a visit to the grand Qin Terra-cotta Army of 6,000 terra-cotta soldiers standing in battle formation guard the tomb of the very first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Then continue your visiting to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. And then, a visit to the solemn Xian City Wall, with over 600 years history. Today, you can choose to enjoy Tang Dynasty Show with dinner as an optional activity.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Xian
 
As an ancient capital city to 13 dynasties, Xi’an has a rich recorded history, frequently enhanced by the evidence of new discoveries, like the 1974 unearthing of the fabulous Qin Terracotta Army, the long forgotten army created to guard Emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb. In accordance with ancient beliefs, this grand project was mounted at enormous cost by the cruel and tyrannical Emperor, only to be attacked, plundered, burnt and buried after his funeral by the peasants who’d labored under the whip to build it.  Then, over two thousand years later, this “Eighth Wonder of the World” was rediscovered by farmers digging a well. The fine troops, horses and carriages in battle formation are a National ancient art treasure. Three excavation pits are now opened to the public and a fourth is nearing completion.  You can, like US President Clinton, now gaze in wonder upon this historic site, listed by UNESCO in 1987 as a world cultural heritage.

Small Wild Goose Pagoda, or Little Wild Goose Pagoda, is located inside the Jianfu Temple in southern Xi’an city. Together with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, these two sites are the important landmarks which have been kept from the ancient Chang’an period.

The first landmark visitors will encounter in Xian is the ancient Xian City Wall, which stretches round the old city. Xian was always a walled city, and today’s wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.  The first city wall of Chang'an was begun in 194 BCE.  The existing wall was started during the Ming Dynasty in 1370; it is massive, measuring 13.7 km in circumference, 12 m in height, and 15–18 m in thickness at the base. The South Gate and North Gate are the two main entrances to the inner city. The city itself is neatly arranged along the city wall. This impressive structure is just a precursor to the remarkable discoveries awaiting visitors to Xian.

Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner that was created for “emperors only” in ancient China. If you are insterested, you can choose it as an optional activity tonight. So you'll enjoy the sumptuous dinner while watching a fabulous dancing and singing performance of the Tang Dynasty. This is not only a performance of Chinese traditional dancing and singing, but a re-enactment of Chinese ancient ceremony and culture.
 

Day 11

Xian    Beijing
After breakfast in hotel, be transferred to the airport for a 2 hours flight to Beijing, the capital of China. Your Beijing tour guide will wait for you at the airport and help you to check in the hotel. After lunch, your Beijing tour will begin with a visit to the Summer Palace (about 1.5 hour ) - the existing largest, best-preserved imperial garden in China. And then, go to the Hutong area to enjoy a Hutong Tour by rickshaw (Short route, 40 min) - the way to know the Beijing local lifestyle. After that, drive back to your hotel and have rest of this day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

Beijing, China's capital and one of the great travel destinations of the World, offers sights and cultural relics found no where else on Earth. The city has a character all its own; there are quadrangles, small alleys, tricycle, boiled mutton, roasted duck, arts and crafts, Peking Opera, The Great Wall, the 2008 Olympics venue and a vibrancy that is the distinctive flavor of Beijing. 

The Summer Palace is China existing largest and best preserved imperial garden, also is one of the four famous gardens in China (the other three are Chengde Mountain Resort, Suzhou Humble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou Lingering Garden). It is a large natural landscape garden which used Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as based address, modeled on the Hangzhou West Lake scenery, drew some design techniques and the mood of the gardens on the yangtze delta. It is also the best preserved royal palace, known as the Royal Garden Museum.

If you miss this hutong tour you may miss the essence of Beijing. It is fair to say that Hutong is a window to old Beijing and the residents of hutongs can be remarkable history teachers.
 

Day 12

Beijing
Depart from your hotel, you will enjoy your today’s visit covering Tian'anmen Square, the World's largest urban square and the Forbidden City, the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Then visit the Temple of Heaven in the after. In the evening, how about enjoy the breathtaking Kungfu Show as your optional activity?
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

As the biggest city center square in the world, Tiananmen Square covering 44 hectares in the heart of Beijing. It is the place where history-changing events and ceremonies occurred. A few steps away, come to visit the Forbidden City, which was the Imperial Palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and, it is one of the largest, and certainly the most completely restored, ancient architectural complex in the world. Walk in the footsteps of Emperors; come to the museum and see with your eyes, and feel with your hearts; you’ll begin understand what life in this richest of feudal realms was like for the Imperial Rulers, their concubines and their slaves.

After enjoying a delicious lunch, continue on to the Temple of Heaven. Departing from the Imperial vermilion and gold hues of the Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven is decorated in blue, the color of the Heavens. The perfect harmony between the architectural environment and nature can be felt here; you might easily imagine the vivid spectacle of a great sacrifice to the Heavens for a good harvest. The magnificent Hall of Prayer of Good Harvest is one of the most important and impressive building in China.

Day 13

Beijing
After breakfast, start to drive to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall (2 hours) - the most beautiful section of the Great Wall of China. Have the lunch near the Mutianyu Great Wall, and then drive back to the downtown and have a short visit to see the exterior Bird Nest and Water Cube (about 1 hour) - the amazing architectures that built for Beijing Olympic Games. After that, drive back to your hotel and free of the rest time. After that, drive back to your hotel and free of the rest time. Peking Roasted Duck is available for your optional dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, making it older than the Badaling section.  It is connected with Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi and Jinshanling in the east. In 1569, the Mutianyu Great Wall was rebuilt, mainly with granite and is one of the best-preserved sections with the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall, being 7-8 meters high and 4-5 meters wide with 22 watchtowers on this 2,250-meter-long section. It served as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs.

Beijing National Stadium or Bird Nest hosted the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies, athletic events, and football final of the 2008 Summer Olympics, from 8 August to 24 August 2008. The stadium also hosted the Opening and Closing ceremonies and athletic events of the 2008 Summer Paralympics from 6 September to 17 September 2008. Though designed for track & field events of the Olympics, the stadium will continue to host sporting events, such as football, afterwards. A shopping mall and a hotel, with rooms overlooking the field, are planned to help increase use after the Olympics. It will become the most important public space in Beijing."

The National Aquatics Centre, also known as 'The Water Cube', is one of the most dramatic and exciting venues to host sporting events for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The external appearance was inspired by the natural formation of soap bubbles! It utilized state-of-the-art technology and materials to achieve the visually exciting structure, but it's more than just a pretty place.

For today optional dinner, how about taste the famous Peking Roasted Duck, as it is the best-known dish in Beijing. It is very tender and unforgettably delicious. You’ll visit a local restaurant to enjoy a full meal and learn the proper way to experience Peking Roasted Duck. From the whole roasted duck to the soup of duck bones, you'll enjoy a banquet made from every part of the duck. Moreover, the chef will demonstrate his skill of cutting the skin of the duck for your entertainment. 


 

Day 14

Departure Beijing
Be transferred to the airport for the flight to your next stop.
Meals: Breakfast

Service Ends