Land & Water Adventure | 13 Days 12 Nights Group Tour of Beijing + Xi'an + Guilin + Yangtze River Cruise + Shanghai

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China. Our driver will greet you at the exit of the airport/train station and take you to your hotel in downtown Beijing to check in and rest. After that, you are free to arrange your time as you wish—you can rest at the hotel to ease the effects of jet lag, or take a stroll around the neighborhood. Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: Beijing has two airports, namely Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport. Both airports have numerous international and domestic routes. You can fly to Beijing from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Cambodia, as well as from most cities in China, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, and Wuhan. 2. By train: Beijing's rail network is extremely well developed. You can take a high-speed train to Beijing from cities such as Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and Harbin.

After breakfast, you will visit the world-renowned Tiananmen Square. [Tiananmen Square] is located on Beijing's central axis and is the largest city center square in the world. It holds an important place in Chinese history and has witnessed countless major historical events. Here you can see the majestic and solemn Tiananmen Gate Tower and also learn about China's long history and culture. Afterwards, cross the square and visit the Beijing Palace Museum. [The Forbidden City], also known as the Purple Forbidden City, is located at the center of Beijing's central axis. It was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and is also the world's largest and best-preserved wooden palace complex of the Forbidden City. Here you can visit the important palaces in sequence along the central axis, admiring the splendid and exquisite ancient palace architecture while following the guide's explanations to further understand the historical stories of the Forbidden City. After the visit, you can also go to the nearby [Jingshan Park] (about a 15-minute walk) to overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City and the magnificent scenery of Beijing. In the afternoon, you will take a car to visit the famous royal garden - the Summer Palace. [The Summer Palace] is the largest and best-preserved existing imperial garden in China, and one of China's four great famous gardens. It is known as the Royal Garden Museum, with beautiful scenery in the garden, and its pavilions, towers, lakes, bridges, and other scenery are breathtaking. Tip: The Beijing Palace Museum is closed on Mondays, and the visiting order will be adjusted according to the actual situation.

After breakfast, you will drive 73 kilometers (about 1.5–2 hours) to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. [Mutianyu Great Wall] is the longest and best-restored section of the Great Wall in China, and has the reputation of being "the most outstanding section of the Great Wall." You can first take the cable car to Watchtower No. 14, then hike westward, enjoying the magnificent mountain scenery and the winding, majestic views of the Great Wall along the way, before reaching the highest point at Watchtower No. 20 to complete your Great Wall journey. After visiting the Great Wall, return to downtown Beijing and, along the way, view the exterior of the [Bird's Nest] (Beijing National Stadium) and the [Water Cube] (Beijing National Aquatics Center), and take photos with them. Then return to the hotel and have a good rest.

Today our driver will take you to Beijing Railway Station to take a high-speed train to Xi'an. The journey takes about 4.5 to 5.5 hours, and along the way you can take in panoramic views of Chinese towns and the mountain and forest scenery. Upon arriving at Xi'an Railway Station, our driver will greet you at the exit and take you on the rest of your itinerary. First, you will visit Xi'an's famous cultural landmark—the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Located within Daci'en Temple, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is the earliest and largest existing square pavilion-style brick pagoda of the Tang Dynasty. It has seven stories and stands about 64 meters tall. Here you can admire the ancient architectural style, view the Buddhist scriptures and statues that Master Xuanzang brought back from Tianzhu, and climb this thousand-year-old pagoda to look out over the cityscape of Xi'an. Afterwards, you will visit Xi'an's famous food and culture street—Muslim Quarter—where you can experience the local atmosphere while savoring local specialty snacks such as roujiamo and Biangbiang noodles.

After breakfast, you will take a car for about 40 kilometers (1 hour) to visit one of the "Eighth Wonders of the World", the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang. [Museum of the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang] is a site museum built on the original site of the Terracotta Army pits and is also China's largest ancient military museum. With the vivid explanations of a professional guide, you will visit Pits No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 in sequence, learn about the historical background and production techniques of the Terracotta Army, and hear little-known stories behind these thousand-year-old pottery figures buried in the long river of history. In the afternoon, visit the ancient Xi'an City Wall, which has a long history. [Xi'an City Wall] was first built in the Ming Dynasty, also known as the Xi'an Ming City Wall. It is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. You can climb onto the city wall, walk on the historical blue bricks, and feel the charm of the ancient city wall, or ride a bicycle to enjoy the excellent scenery formed by the ancient city wall and the modern cityscape. In addition, near the Xi'an City Wall, you can also visit the amazing Bell Tower and Drum Tower. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower were first built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, about 600 years ago. The two buildings echo each other from afar and are magnificent. When night falls, the lights of the Bell Tower and Drum Tower light up together, creating a spectacular scene.

This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, our driver will take you to the airport in advance according to your flight time to catch your flight to Guilin (about 2.5 hours). Welcome to Guilin. Our driver will meet you at the airport exit and take you to begin the rest of your itinerary. First, you will visit Guilin's iconic attraction, Elephant Trunk Hill. [Elephant Trunk Hill] is located at the confluence of the Li River and the Peach Blossom River, and is named for its shape, which resembles a giant elephant drinking water in the river. Afterward, visit Reed Flute Cave, known as the "Palace of Natural Art." [Reed Flute Cave] is one of the most famous tourist caves in China. Inside the karst cave, large numbers of stalagmites, stalactites, stone pillars, stone curtains, and stone flowers are brilliantly colorful and dreamlike under colorful lighting. You can follow your guide's explanations to learn about the formation process of stalactites and old stories.

After breakfast, depart from the hotel and drive to the pier (about 1 hour), then take a Li River cruise to enjoy the most beautiful section of the Li River: the Guilin to Yangshuo stretch, about 84 kilometers in total, taking about 4 hours. People often say, "Guilin's scenery is the best under heaven, and Yangshuo's scenery is the best in Guilin." On this cruise you can personally experience Guilin's picturesque, fairyland-like landscape, learn the legendary stories behind sights such as Waiting-for-Husband Rock and Crown Cave, and enjoy the wonderful experience of traveling through a painting. (Lunch upgrade: we have specially prepared a customized Western lunch for you, and the guide will bring the freshly cooked meal to you on board in the early morning for you to enjoy.) After arriving in Yangshuo, the driver will pick you up from the pier and take you to the hotel to rest for a while. Then you can head out to explore Yangshuo and admire Guilin's most outstanding pastoral landscape. You can choose from the following ways to explore: (1) driving plus walking; (2) cycling; (3) riding a motorcycle (an extra fee may apply). Whichever way you choose, you can travel along country roads and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, including karst mountains, rice paddies, villages, and rivers. You may also see scenes of daily life such as people working in the fields, children playing by the river, and cattle grazing in the fields. In the evening, head out to explore Yangshuo's busiest district—West Street. This is a street that perfectly blends Eastern and Western elements and is also the best place to experience Yangshuo's nightlife. Whether you want to taste some local food or find a small shop, order a drink, relax, and enjoy some rare leisure time, this place can meet your needs.

This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, our driver will, according to your ticket time, take you to the railway station in advance to take the high-speed train to Chongqing. Welcome to Chongqing! Our driver will meet you at the railway station exit and take you to Chaotianmen Pier to board the Yangtze River cruise ship and complete the boarding procedures. Today's Yangtze River cruise journey will officially begin at 21:00 in the evening. Tip: During the summer from March to September, if the water level is too high or too low, there may be a situation where you are transferred by vehicle from Chongqing to Fengdu to board the ship, about a 2.5-hour drive, especially with higher frequency in March-April and July-August.

Today the cruise will sail peacefully along the Yangtze River. After getting up in the morning, you can first go to the restaurant to enjoy the buffet breakfast. After that, you can enjoy the charming river views along the Yangtze River, or choose to enjoy the rich entertainment facilities and activities on the cruise. In the afternoon, you will go ashore with your guide to visit Fengdu Ghost City. [Fengdu Ghost City], also known as "Youdu," is famous for many buildings and sculptures representing the Chinese underworld, such as the Hengha Shrine, Tianzi Hall, Naihe Bridge, Yellow Springs Road, Wangxiang Terrace, and Yaowang Hall, and is renowned at home and abroad for its mysterious ghost culture. You can follow your guide's explanations to learn many legends about ghosts and gods in the Chinese underworld or traditional Chinese myths. If interested, you can also visit the Shibao Pagoda at your own expense. [Shibao Pagoda] is the tallest existing folk wooden structure with the most floors in China, and is called one of the "Eight Strange Buildings of the World." Climbing the 12-story redwood pagoda offers a panoramic view of the Yangtze River. Tip: The above itinerary is for reference only. The attractions visited may vary depending on different cruise companies. We will choose the most suitable cruise for you according to your preferences.

Today you will continue cruising the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River, following the guide's commentary to learn about the scenery and legends of the gorges. First, you will sail through Qutang Gorge, which combines majesty, wonder, steepness, and grandeur, and see Kuimen, known as the gateway to China's mountains and rivers and featured on the back of the 10-yuan banknote. Qutang Gorge is the shortest, narrowest, and most perilous of the Three Gorges, with a total length of 8 kilometers. The cliffs on both banks look as if they were sliced by knives and axes. The mountains are high and the gorge is narrow; looking up at the blue sky, the clouds and sky form a single line. The water in the gorge is deep and the current swift, and at the narrowest point the river surface is less than fifty meters wide. The surging waves are breathtaking. Afterwards, you will pass through Wu Gorge, known for its depth and beauty. On both banks of Wu Gorge, green mountains stretch on without end and peaks stand like screens. As the boat moves through the gorge, sometimes a great mountain looms ahead and the rocks seem to block the way; then suddenly the peaks turn and the path opens again, revealing another world beyond the clouds, like a winding gallery full of poetic charm. Finally, you will pass through Xiling Gorge. Xiling Gorge is the longer of the Three Gorges, with beautiful and magnificent scenery inside. On both banks, peaks and ridges rise high, cliffs stand sheer along the river, steep ridges and precipices hang in the air, fantastic rocks are jagged, flying springs cascade like silk, and ancient vines and trees shut out the sky. In the afternoon, follow the guide ashore to visit Shennü Stream. Shennü Stream, also known as "Beauty Stream," is 15 kilometers long. Within the stream, the mountains are high and the valleys deep, the scenery is gorgeous, and the stream water is deep and dark green, like an ink-wash painting. You will transfer to a local boat and head downstream along the stream to admire up close the beautiful peaks and gorges and the mysterious hanging coffins on the cliffs. If you are interested, you can also join a local Tujia song and dance performance, which is very lively and joyful. Afterwards, return to the cruise ship, attend the captain's dinner in the evening, enjoy a delicious meal together, and stay overnight on the cruise. Tip: The above itinerary is for reference only. The attractions visited may vary depending on the cruise company. We will choose the most suitable cruise for you according to your preferences.

After breakfast, check out, disembark at Maoping Port, and visit the world's largest water conservancy project - the Three Gorges Dam. [The Three Gorges Dam] has a total length of 2,309 meters, with the entire line poured to the designed elevation of 185 meters, and the maximum impounded water level can reach 175 meters. It is the world's largest concrete gravity dam. After visiting the Three Gorges Dam, you will take a tour bus arranged by the cruise company at around 12:30-13:30 to the Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Pier. In the afternoon, we will take you to the railway station to take the high-speed train to Shanghai. After arriving in Shanghai, our driver will meet you at the railway station exit and take you to the Xi'an city center hotel to complete the check-in procedures.

After breakfast, you will head to the Lujiazui business district in Pudong, Shanghai, to visit the tallest building in Shanghai and even in China—[Shanghai Tower]. Here, you will take the world's fastest sightseeing elevator (73.8 km/h) directly to the "Top of Shanghai Observatory" on the 118th floor, 546 meters above the ground, and enjoy a 360° unobstructed view of Shanghai's magnificent skyline and panoramic city views, overlooking famous surrounding buildings. If interested, you can also send a special blessing from above the clouds to family and friends at the Top of Shanghai Air Post Office, currently the highest post office in the world. Afterward, visit the [Shanghai Museum East]. Admire various exquisite precious cultural relics and gain a deeper understanding of China's long and profound history and culture. The Shanghai Museum East has many cultural relics on display, and especially worth seeing are its famous treasures: • Da Ke Ding: This bronze vessel from about 3,000 years ago is majestic and solemn in appearance and is an outstanding representative of China's Western Zhou bronze culture. • Shang Yang Fang Sheng: As a relic of Shang Yang's reforms, it was not only a physical standard for weights and measures in the Qin Dynasty, but also carried the ultimate code of the rise of Great Qin's economy. • Zi Zhong Jiang Pan: On this bronze water basin vessel from the Spring and Autumn period are carved more than 30 lifelike aquatic animals. When clear water flows into the basin, these animals all rotate 360°, offering endless fun and showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of the ancients. After that, head to [Yu Garden], known as the "Crown of Famous Gardens in the Southeast," to enjoy the scenery of classical Jiangnan gardens in China. Yu Garden was first built in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1559 AD), more than 460 years ago. It was originally a private garden built by Pan Yunduan, the Ming Dynasty provincial administration commissioner of Sichuan, for his father to enjoy his later years. Strolling along the winding paths of Yu Garden, you can admire China's ingenious garden layout, exquisite classical architecture, and superb brick carvings, stone carvings, clay sculptures, and wood carvings. The Yuyuan Bazaar near Yu Garden is a very lively district where you can taste the most authentic Shanghai cuisine or browse various traditional Chinese handicraft shops. Afterward, you can walk along [Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street], known as "China's No. 1 Commercial Street," to the Bund, about 2 kilometers in total. Along the way, you can appreciate Shanghai's architectural style from the 1930s and 1940s and browse various century-old brand stores. [The Bund] is located on the west bank of the Huangpu River and is one of Shanghai's iconic attractions, known as the "Exhibition of World Architecture." It brings together 52 foreign-style buildings of different styles, such as the Shanghai Club, Peace Hotel, and HSBC Building. Stepping into it feels like entering the golden age of the former Oriental Wall Street. Standing by the river, you can also look out at landmark buildings such as Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center. Tips: 1) Yu Garden is closed on Mondays, so it will be replaced by a visit to Shanghai City God Temple; 2) Shanghai Museum East is closed on Tuesdays, so we will first try to arrange the People's Square branch. If the People's Square branch cannot be booked, we will coordinate an alternative downtown attraction.

After breakfast, we will conclude this wonderful journey. Our driver will take you to the airport or train station for your next destination. If you would like to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan, Zhangjiajie, or Harbin, you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you. We look forward to welcoming you again one day in the future.