13-Day Epic China Tour: History, Nature, Modernity & Cultural Immersion

Arrival in Beijing Welcome to the magnificent city of Beijing! To make your arrival as smooth as possible, our dedicated private tour guide will greet you in the arrivals hall and escort you to your hotel via a private vehicle. We will also handle your luggage and assist with the hotel check-in process.

Lunch or dinner would be arranged according to the voucher Linkedtours gives you. Otherwise you can find some local restaurants nearby or have meals in the hotel.

Hotel options:

Novotel Beijing Peace (4-star)

Crowne Plaza Beijing (5-star)

Begin your day at the Temple of Heaven, an esteemed complex of religious structures that epitomizes the connection between Earth and Heaven. Here, you'll witness local residents engaging in their distinctive morning exercises. For lunch, enjoy a meal at a well-known local eatery, featuring authentic regional cuisine. Your guide will assist you in selecting dishes that suit your taste.

Stroll through Tian'anmen Square and delve into the enigmatic Forbidden City, the world's largest imperial palace. Venture off the beaten path within the Forbidden City to uncover fascinating tales of notable figures, stories often overlooked by conventional tour guides.

After breakfast, head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Discover the fascinating stories behind this world wonder as your guide leads you to the most recommended areas for a leisurely walk.

In the afternoon, travel to the Simatai section of the Great Wall. Spend your time exploring the picturesque Guibei Water Town, nestled at the foot of the Great Wall. You also have the option to unwind with a soak in a hot spring.

As evening falls, your guide will accompany you on a cable car ride up to the Simatai section to enjoy the breathtaking night views, a unique experience distinct from the daytime view. Simatai is the only section that is open and illuminated at night.

Tips to Tailor-Make Your Tour:
Are you looking for a more romantic experience? Visit between April and October to enjoy a delightful dinner at a special restaurant, where you can see the Simatai section of the Great Wall beautifully lit up along the mountain ridges at night.

Hotel options:

William Edgar Hotel

Beijing Water Town Hot Spring Resort

Explore the Summer Palace, a Qing Dynasty masterpiece featuring Kunming Lake, marble boats, and the Long Corridor's painted ceilings. Glide across the lake by dragon boat for a royal perspective. 

Lunch. Later, board a high-speed train to Xi'an (4.5-6 hours), passing rural landscapes and ancient villages. 

Hotel options: 

- Sofitel Legend People's Grand Palace Xi'an: A historic hotel housed in a restored 1950s landmark. 

- Hyatt Regency Xi'an: A contemporary stay near the ancient city walls.

Morning

Today, you will dedicate the bulk of your time to the exploration of the world wonder of the Terracotta Army, (also known as the Terracotta Warriors), which represents the subterranean military escort of Emperor Qin Shihuang (the first emperor to unify China). It is said that Emperor Qin intended to wield his authority beyond life with this army, which comprises different branches of the armed force, chariots, horses as well as their weapons, especially thousands of life-sized statues with diverse heights and facial characteristics. Up until now, there are four pits dug and most still buried in the pits. While admiring the Terracotta Army, you might also be curious about how ancient craftsmen created these figures. Getting out of the museum, you will have the opportunity to craft a clay warrior in person at a local artisan's workshop nestled within a cave dwelling.

Afternoon

After lunch we will proceed to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is closely associated with Buddhist relics. Constructed in the third year of Emperor Gaozong's Yonghui reign (652 A.D.), it was erected by Master Xuan Zang as a repository for the Buddhist scriptures and relics he had brought back from the West. It initially comprised five stories. During the early 8th century, under the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, an additional five stories were added to the pagoda. However, subsequent wars damaged the structure, reducing it to seven stories. At the top of the pagoda, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of Xi'an.

During your visit here, you can step into a local Hanfu experience center, where you can choose a suit of Hanfu you like and apply makeup that captures the characteristics of a particular dynasty. You can take photos during your subsequent travels today, when walking around the ancient capital in Hanfu seems to take you back to the Tang Dynasty, which can serve as a memorable keepsake.

Evening

Dressing in Hanfu, students will continue their journey to Datang Everbright City in the evening. Datang Everbright City is the only large pedestrian street in China that features a cluster of Tang-style buildings. Here, visitors can stroll among these architectural wonders and engage in various interactive experience activities, such as watching the astonishing light shows and palace dancing performances, and tasting authentic Chinese cuisine.

Morning

Today you will visit 600-year-old Xi'an Ancient City Wall, one of the largest well-preserved ancient military defensive systems in the world, and it can be traced to 1400 years ago actually. It was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty as a military defense system, utilizing the structures of the Tang Dynasty city wall as its foundation.This city's defensive complex, consists of drawbridge, ramparts, embrasure towers, the main tower, turrets, watchtowers, parapets, crenels and its adjacent forest belt, moat, ring roads. This complex system not only safeguards the city but also transforms into a vibrant urban park. From atop the wall, you can enjoy breathtaking views of both Xi'an's historic and modern districts. Cycling along the wall offers a truly unique and memorable experience.

Afternoon

It is a lovely way to spend afternoon in the Muslim Quarter, which offers an insightful exploration of the local Muslim community. Xi'an, serving as the origin of the famous Silk Road, has been drawing traders from the West since the 1st century BC. The ancestors of these Muslims lived harmoniously with the Han people in Xian. As night descends, the Muslim Quarter becomes one of the busiest places in Xi'an. Here, you'll find an array of exotic shops and flavorful restaurants lined up, taste the local cuisine and explore traditional markets, immersing yourself in the area's distinctive cultural fusion. 

Additionally, the Great Mosque is another unmissable attraction, which is one of the largest and best preserved early mosques in China. By the 8th century AD, Xi'an has become the world's largest city, with a population exceeding one million, one-third of which were foreigners. They lived with Han people, learn local laws and customs, at the same time preach Islam to the locals. So they concurrently constructed the Great Mosque for their religious practices. Following reconstructions and expansions during subsequent dynasties, the Great Mosque transformed into an architectural complex featuring large-scale pavilions, towers, arches, and palaces. Its unique fusion of Chinese architectural features with mosque design is certainly worth seeing.

Morning

Hanyang Mausoleum (also called Hanyangling Museum) is a tomb from Western Han Dynasty and it is the most intact royal mausoleum. It serves as the joint tomb of Emperor Jing and his queen from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD) in ancient China. The reign of Emperor Jing, along with his father Emperor Wen, is collectively known as the Rule of Wen and Jing (180 BC-141 BC), which is regarded as one of the golden ages in Chinese history. His reign fostered economic and cultural development, earning him a reputation as a capable emperor. The mausoleum encompasses the emperor's tomb, the empress's tomb, southern and northern burial pits, a ceremonial area, a graveyard for human sacrifices, and a cemetery for criminals. The tomb of Emperor Jing resembles a pyramid without a top, standing prominently in the center, surrounded by numerous satellite tombs scattered in various directions, serving as its protective guardians. In Hanyangling Museum, there is underground exhibition hall for tourist to visit. In the area, tens of thousands of artifacts have been unearthed, including terra-cotta nude figurines and a diverse array of animal sculptures, with vivid expression on their face.

Afternoon

After lunch, you will continue your journey to Chongqing by air. On arrival, you will be picked up by your personal guide and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a good night's rest.

Morning: Elephant Trunk Hill

• Visit Guilin's symbol, Elephant Trunk Hill, a natural limestone formation resembling an elephant drinking from the Li River. Explore the park's caves, pagodas, and riverside paths while learning about its legends. Don't miss the Water Moon Cave, where the moon appears to float on water at night.

Afternoon: Reed Flute Cave

• Discover the surreal underground world of Reed Flute Cave, adorned with millennia-old stalactites, stalagmites, and colorful LED-lit formations. Highlights include the Crystal Palace and vibrant rock formations named after myths, creating an otherworldly experience.

Evening: Transfer to Yangshuo

• Check into a Yangshuo hotel and stroll through West Street, a lively hub of cafes, souvenir shops, and street performances blending Chinese and Western cultures.

Morning: Yulong River Bamboo Rafting

• Glide down the Yulong River on a traditional bamboo raft, surrounded by karst peaks and rice paddies. This peaceful, lesser-crowded alternative to the Li River offers intimate views of rural landscapes and water buffalo grazing along the banks.

Afternoon: Countryside Cycling

• Cycle through Yangshuo's idyllic countryside, passing villages like Chaoyang and Jiuxian. Stop at a local farm for a hands-on cooking class to learn Guilin rice noodles or beer fish, immersing in authentic rural life and flavors.

Evening: Impression Liu Sanjie Show

• Watch this spectacular open-air performance directed by Zhang Yimou, set against the Li River's natural backdrop. Over 600 actors use lights, music, and ethnic traditions to retell the folk tale of Liu Sanjie, the “Song Fairy” of the Zhuang people.

Morning: Li River Cruise (Yangshuo to Xingping)

• Take a short cruise to Xingping, famed for its stunning scenery depicted on the 20 RMB note. Capture photos of iconic peaks like Nine Horses Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal before returning to Guilin.

  
  

Afternoon: Departure

• Transfer to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport or train station for your onward journey.

Morning: 

Visit the Shanghai Museum. The Shanghai Museum is a large-scale museum of ancient Chinese art and is one of the first batch of national first-class museums.

Afternoon: 

Visit Yu Garden and the surrounding markets. Yu Garden is not only a historical and cultural landmark of the city of Shanghai but also a treasure of traditional Chinese culture.

Morning:

• Departure from Shanghai:

• Visit the Humble Administrator's Garden: Start your tour with one of the most famous classical gardens in Suzhou. This garden, built in 1522 during the Ming Dynasty, is known for its beautiful water features, rockeries, and pavilions. It is a great example of the harmonious blend of nature and architecture in traditional Chinese gardens.

  
  

Midday:

• Lunch: Enjoy a meal at a local restaurant in Suzhou. 

• Pingjiang Road: After lunch, stroll along Pingjiang Road, a historic street that showcases the traditional architecture and culture of Suzhou. The street is lined with canals, bridges, and shops, offering a glimpse into the city's past.

  
  

Afternoon:

• Visit the Lingering Garden: Explore this compact and delicate garden, which is another of Suzhou's classic gardens. It features a series of interconnected halls, pavilions, and gardens, each with its own unique charm.

  
  

Evening:

• Return to Shanghai: Take the high-speed train back to Shanghai, concluding your day trip.

Transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport for your onward journey.