11 Days China Family Tour: Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Shanghai

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Welcome to the capital city of China - Beijing - for your 11 days family tour! Upon your arrival, a  local driver will welcome you at the exit and then transfer you comfortably in a private car to your well-selected hotel.

   After check-in, you and your family can take some time to recover from your trip and also explore the nearby area at your own. You are recommended to visit the China Science and Technology Museum, very suitable for families with children. The "Children's Science Park" is an immersive science enlightenment park and all facilities here meet the one-meter-high children's perspective, making it safe and fun. Different exhibition areas allow your kid(s) to experience being a traffic police officer, simulating spaceship docking, and interacting with active and chirping dinosaurs...

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
2. Day 2: Beijing City Exploration
   Visit the Royal Palace and Experience Hutong Culture

   Your Beijing family tour begins at Tiananmen Square which serves as your first destination after you finish breakfast. The square measures 440000 square meters and is the largest public square in the world while it functions as Beijing's most recognizable landmark.

   From here, you proceed to the stunning Forbidden City which the world knows as the Palace Museum. The imperial palaces and halls and courtyards you will discover now served as the private spaces of Chinese emperors. Your guide will lead you to some significant architectural structures among approximately 9000 rooms during the 3-hour tour including the Meridian Gate, Shenwu Gate and the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

   

   After lunch, your family will be taken to experience the charm of Beijing's traditional streets - Hutong. The traditional rickshaw guides you through the narrow alleys which show the authentic local lifestyle. Visit a Siheyuan and observe the locals customary practices and see their everyday routines.

   Optional: If you want your children to learn Chinese calligraphy, you can request this ancient art. The expert in Hutong will teach you essential techniques and brushwork skills.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
3. Day 3: Beijing Great Wall Tour
   Take a Morning Tai Chi Class and Hike on the Great Wall at Mutianyu

   Early in the morning, start your day with an energetic Tai Chi class led by a professional master. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art and wellness practice characterized by slow, flowing movements and emphasis on deep breathing. It aims to balance both the internal and external aspects of one's well-being. The skilled Tai Chi master will guide you through the art's principles and movements which will help you develop balance and flexibility and inner peace.

   

   Temple of Heave is an architectural masterpiece from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) which UNESCO designates as a World Heritage Site. The guide will take you to visit its beautiful temple complex which includes the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar where emperors conducted their significant rituals.

   You will move to the Mutianyu Great Wall after your lunch which represents one of the most intact sections of the Great Wall. You and your kids can use the cable car to reach the wall where you will have sufficient time to walk along the historic defense structure and experience stunning scenic beauty. To create excitement for your children, take an optional exciting toboggan ride down the Great Wall which will provide you with both fun and thrilling entertainment to end your Great Wall experience. Sure, you can also have a return trip through the cable car if that is your preferred method of travel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
4. Day 4: Beijing to Xi'an by High-speed Train
   Spend a Leisure Time in the Imperial Summer Palace

   The Summer Palace - a Chinese landscape design masterpiece and a UNESCO World Heritage site - will be explored during the morning hours before you leave for Xi'an. Follow your guide to discover beautiful gardens, pavilions and temples while listening to a detailed explanation. Your guide will present the historical background of this imperial retreat which served as a royal residence for emperors who wanted to escape the palace's active life. If interested, you can have fun with a boat ride on the Kunming Lake (pay on site by yourself).

   

   In the afternoon, your family will be escorted to take a bullet train to Xi'an. In about 5.5 hours, the local driver will transfer you to the city center hotel.

   In the evening, you can go to Great Tang All Day Mall for sightseeing on your own. This is the only pedestrian street in China with the backdrop of the prosperous Tang culture, lined with large Tang style buildings. You will encounter many beautiful ladies wearing Tang Dynasty costumes, as if traveling back to that prosperous era.

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
5. Day 5: Xi'an Historical Site
   Make a Mini Terracotta Warrior on Your Own

   Your first family activity in Xian starts after breakfast when you walk on the Ancient City Wall which represents one of the most complete city walls that exist in China. You have the option to walk or bike ride (optional, favored by the majority of tourists) through this majestic military structure which provides overall city views.

   Next, drive about 1 hour to a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It is one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. Enter this large museum and observe the life-sized clay warriors who were buried with China's first emperor. Your guide will provide your family with the historical background and excavation work of this amazing location.

   Your kids can experience something different when they create terracotta warriors with guidance from a skilled craftsman. Create a miniature version to bring home as a custom keepsake.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
6. Day 6: Xi'an to Guilin by Flight
   Explore the Culture through Witnessing Pagoda and Museum

   Your children will participate in a cultural tour to expand their understanding of world cultures during this morning's activities. First, be guided to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a famous Buddhist site from the Tang Dynasty. Also as the landmark of Xi’an city, the pagoda stands at a height of 64.5 meters with 7 stories, preserving a lot of Buddha statues and murals inside. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda allow you to enjoy a peaceful environment, and at the same time a wonderful opportunity to experience ancient Chinese history.

   Next, explore the Xi'an Museum, which houses a vast collection of artifacts and relics spanning thousands of years of Chinese history including ancient pottery items, bronze artifacts, sculptures and beautiful artwork which show the area's rich cultural history. In the afternoon, take a flight from Xi'an to Guilin.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Guilin
7. Day 7: Guilin Family Tour
   Immerse in Chinese Landscape Painting with Pebbles

   The hotel breakfast ends with your Guilin guide picking you up to visit Reed Flute Cave which features a karst cave system known as "Palace of Nature and Art". You can see beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and rock formations that shine with various colored lights. The site includes "stone waterfall" and "primitive forest" and "Crystal Palace" and other natural features.

   Then, your children will create their Chinese landscape artwork through pebble painting using Li River stones. A professional artist will teach the techniques to create original artwork through this nontraditional artistic method. Learn about the techniques and symbolism behind traditional Chinese painting while creating a unique artwork to take home.

   

   Your China family tour proceeds to Daxu Ancient Town which preserves its riverside heritage through more than 1,000 years of historical existence. Explore its narrow streets which display traditional architectural designs while experiencing the area's delightful ambiance.

   China Xian Tour can organize a private lesson for you and your kids to study Chinese whenever you want to learn basic language skills for your daily life. (pay an extra)

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   4-Star Hotel in Guilin
8. Day 8: Guilin to Yangshuo by Cruise
   Embark on a 4-hour Li River Cruise

   In the morning, your family will be escorted to embark on a cruise ship along the Li River. The Li River is famous as one of the most beautiful rivers in China. During the 4 hours journey, appreciate the stunning karst mountain scenery, lush greenery and picturesque lovely villages along the banks where you may see buffaloes working in the rice fields. Capture some breathtaking family photos against the backdrop of this natural wonder, especially in the Yellow Cloth Reflection, the background of the 20-yuan RMB note.

   

   The local family in Gaotian Village will show you authentic Chinese rural life after the cruise ends. See how the local people perform their agricultural tasks while you observe their typical daily activities. You and your children can participate in their work by working together with them to cultivate or gather their crops. The other options you can select from include Chinese cooking classes and rock climbing and painting. After that, drive to your hotel in Yangshuo and relax by the swimming pool.

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   4-Star Hotel in Yangshuo
9. Day 9: Yangshuo to Guilin, Guilin to Shanghai
   Enjoy a Relaxing Countryside Cycling in Yangshuo

   The morning after breakfast leads your family to a countryside ride through Yangshuo which offers a peaceful experience. The distance is 10 to 15 kilometers, featuring the scenic rural scenery of rice paddies and working locals & buffaloes along the beautiful Yulong River. Moon Hill is a symbol in Yangshuo, and on its top is a large natural stone arch resembling a moon hanging in the sky when looked from a distance. In the afternoon, you will be transferred back to Guilin and take a flight to Shanghai, the most bustling metropolis.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
10. Day 10: Shanghai Day Sightseeing
    Capture the Modern Skyline across the Huangpu River

    After breakfast, the start of your Shanghai tour begins at Yu Garden which is a traditional Chinese garden that was established during the Ming Dynasty. The garden provides you with a path to explore its beautiful pavilions and scenic pathways and peaceful water features. Be sure to observe the complex garden design because it creates a peaceful connection between the built environment and the natural landscape.

    The Bund serves as a historic waterfront promenade which displays different architectural styles through its architectural design. The view from your location offers two experiences, as you will witness the majestic colonial buildings and the complete Huangpu River modern skyline.

    

    Then, you will see the stunning panoramas which Shanghai Tower - it stands as one of the highest buildings worldwide - 632 meters. The observation deck provides an opportunity to view all of Shanghai while experiencing the remarkable city development of Shanghai.

    Enjoy a half-day custom experience in the afternoon. Your tour guide will organize activities according to your preferences whether you want to visit the local market or shop at fashionable stores or experience the artistic atmosphere of Tianzifang which represents Shanghai's energetic art culture.

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    4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
11. Day 11: Departure from Shanghai

    After breakfast, your private driver will escort your family to Shanghai airport. Your unforgettable 11-day China family tour comes to an end. Hope your family had a great time with us!

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