15-Day China Highlights Tours

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.

Visit the world-famous Terracotta Army, also known as the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

Get to a local warrior replica making center near the Army Museum before the visit to the actual Army Museum, make a miniature of the warriors by yourselves.

Drive back to the city and visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the Da Cien Temple. The pagoda is where the famous monk in the Tang Dynasty translated Buddhist scriptures when he came back from ancient India.

Enjoy a Tang-Dynasty-styled Dinner and Music Show in the evening. It is a cultural landmark offering a unique blend of dining and performance, featuring the renowned "Great Tang Empress" dance show.

The ancient city wall in Xi'an is one of the few fortresses in China. It is a unique experience to walk along the wall or ride a bicycle on it.

Then you would be taken to the airport or railway station and get to the next destination.

At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, observe playful cubs munching bamboo and climbing trees. Learn about conservation efforts to protect this endangered species. 

Feast on Sichuan hotpot at Haidilao, where numbing peppercorns and fiery broths ignite the senses. 

Explore Jinli Ancient Street, a Tang Dynasty-style lane lined with tea houses and artisan stalls. Cap the day with a Sichuan opera, featuring face-changing performers and fire-spitting acts. 

Discover the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a 2,200-year-old UNESCO site that tamed the Min River using bamboo baskets and stones. Walk across the Anlan Cable Bridge for engineering marvels. 

Hike Qingcheng Mountain, a Taoist sanctuary shrouded in misty forests. Visit the Tianshi Cave, birthplace of Taoism, and savor taoist vegetarian dishes at a hillside temple. 

Morning

On your last day in Chengdu, it is worth witnessing the wold's largest Buddha statue in Leshan. The sheer size of the Giant Buddha is astonishing; even there is enough space for someone to sit on its smallest toenail. In addition to climbing to get the panoramic view of the Leshan Giant Buddha, you can also go on a cruise to admire the inscription from a distance.

Afternoon

Take an afternoon flight after lunch, you will land in Guilin, where you will be warmly welcomed by your local guide and lead to your hotel for 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.