7 Days Beijing – Guilin Classic Tour by Flight

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival (no meal )

   Upon your arrival at Beijing airport / train station, our local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to downtown hotel for checking-in. Free and easy on your arrangement for rest of the day.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing
   Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, South Luogu Lane, Houhai ( B, L)

   AM: At 08:00, our English speaking tour guide and driver will pick you up from the downtown hotel. You will start today’s tour with the largest city square in the world - Tian'anmen Square. The square has a very important role in China’s history and visiting it is a dream for many generations of Chinese people. So don’t be surprised when you see the square is teeming with Chinese people. You can just wander around the square and take in the rich history.

   Then you will follow your tour guide into the incredible Forbidden City, which was once the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with more than 70 big and small palaces and over 9,000 rooms. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. Walking into the grand and majestic complex, you will steep in China’s long history and marvel at this architectural masterpiece.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM: After lunch, move on to Summer Palace. With an area of 2.9 square kilometers, this palace was the best place where the emperors of the Qing Dynasty spent their summers. Here you will enjoy the amazing lake view, explore the exquisite long corridor, appreciate precious cultural relics, step on the elegant stone bridge, see high old trees, etc. You will love every minute here with so much to see. You also can take the option of boat ride to enjoy the stunning Kunming Lake ( optional).

   Afterwords, come to explore the time-honored South Luogu Lane( also called Nanluoguxiang). It is the only traditional residential area in China that has completely preserved the checkerboard-style layout of hutongs exclusively to the Yuan Dynasty. Walking around the alleys with your tour guide to feel the hidden culture and check out the bars, souvenir stores or cafes if you would like to.

   Houhai, known as Beijing’s bar street, is a large man-made lake which can date back to the Yuan Dynasty. Today your last scenic site will be here! In ancient times, the place was only for royal family. Now there are many bars, restaurants, cafes and shops along the lake. You can just walk around, do people watching, and try some snacks.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing
   Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall, Bird's Nest and Water Cube ( B,L )

   AM: Today, get up early in the morning, follow your guide to enjoy the nice morning time in Temple of Heaven and see how local people spend their morning time in the square. Temple of Heaven, famous for its meticulous layout, unique architecture and magnificent decoration, this grand complex was built for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to offer sacrifices to the heaven and pray for good harvests. It was listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1998. You will definitely marvel at the craftsmanship and learn more historical facts about ancient China.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Next, move on to today’s highlights - the famous world’s heritage Mutianyu Great Wall. It would be around 2 hours’ driving, you can take this chance to see the urban and suburban scenery of Chinese capital on the way. Mutianyu Great Wall is the most scenic part of Chinese Great Wall. It was built in the early Ming Dynasty at 1368 and stretches for 5400 meters. 90 percent of the Mutianyu is covered by vegetation. So in each season this part of the Great Wall will treat visitors with its unique scenery. If pure-hiking is too much for you, there are also options of cable car and toboggan to see the spectacular scenery from different angles ( optional).

   Finish the amazing hiking, you’ll end today’s tour with an exterior visit of the marvelous Bird's Nest and Water Cube which were built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Walking around the outside of the building to appreciate the unique design and take some pictures would be perfect.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing - Guilin Tour by Flight
   Beihai Park, Shichahai scenic Area, Siheyuan ( B,L)

   AM: Today’s first stop will be the charming Beihai Park, which is absolutely a nice place to relax and enjoy yourself! It is one of the oldest, most complete, most comprehensive and representative royal gardens in China. You will have lots of opportunities to take great photos of the lovely lake and historic buildings. There are also boats available if you like ( optional).

   Beijing Hutongs are full of history which attracts many worldwide tourists! Today your tour guide will take you to feel the charm of the hutongs in Shichahai scenic Area. Taking a rickshaw to ride along the ancient alleys, you will know more about the background information of the Hutongs, experience authentic old Beijing life, and witness the blending of tradition and modernity.

   Noon: Come to a local family who living in the Hutong and enjoy a homemade lunch with the friendly family. It will be a great chance for you to visit a real courtyard house - Siheyuan and and have a glimpse of the local people’s lifestyle.

   PM: Last, transfer to airport for afternoon flight to Guilin. Upon arrival, our Guilin local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to hotel for checking-in. Have a good rest for tomorrow!

   Accommodation: Hotel in Guilin

   

5. Day 5: Guilin - Longji - Guilin by Car
   Longji Terrance (B + L)

   AM: After breakfast, drive to the painting-like Longji Rice Terraces, which has thousands of years’ history. It is hard to believe that the minority people were able to bring the remote mountains under cultivation by the slash-and-burn method over 2,000 years ago. Now the rice terraces not only feed the local people but also provide the people around the world a retreat from everyday life.

   Arrive at Longji Terraces Scenic Area, you will enjoy the one-of-a-kind Long Hair Show performed by Yao Minority women in Huangluo village, which was awarded the “World’s Longest Hair Village” by Guinness World Records. Famous for their long and shiny hair, the women of Huangluo cut their hair only once in their lives upon turning 18. In addition to that, you can also have a glimpse of the Zhuang and Yao minority people’s lifestyle through this visit.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   After enjoying the spectacular rice terraces, the fragrant bamboo-tube-cooked rice will be waiting for you. The soaked rice is put inside a fresh bamboo tube, and the mouth of the tube is plugged with fresh leaves. The rice will be ready after cooking over a fire for about half an hour. When you cut open the bamboo tube by using a knife, the delicate fragrance will greet your nostrils.

   Finish the sightseeing, transfer back to your hotel.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Guilin

   

6. Day 6: Guilin - Yangshuo by Cruise
   Li River Cruise, Yangshuo West Street (B + L)

   AM: Today is the highlight of your Guilin tour as you will embark on a ship to cruise down the picturesque Li River!

   Taking the cruise on the Li River, you will admire the picturesque scenery of this land with a harmonious combination of the green hills, rivers, lakes and fields. But its beauty is not like a still painting, it’s alive when vivid – brisk bamboo rafts leaving wrinkles on the water and cormorants hovering under the working fishermen… Our guide will uncover the hidden history and culture behind the natural screen before you during your cruise. You will learn from the local expert about how the city formed and developed and how local people manage their life along the famous Li River.

   Friendly Tips: The Li River Cruise takes around 4 hours, and you will be staying on the boat to enjoy the scenery for most time, so 3-star boat as included would be  adequate according to most tourists’ experience. Besides, you are suggested to have a good breakfast at your hotel and take some snack as there will be only simple box lunch be provided on the boat.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After the 4 hours’ cruise, you will disembark at Yangshuo. Follow your guide to explore the famous Yangshuo West Street to admire the antique buildings and local crafts, hanging out in bars and coffee shops, and try some delicious local snacks.

   Last, transfer to Yangshuo local hotel for overnight.

   Optional night activity: If you are looking for a worth-to-visit activity tonight, the wonderful Impression Show of Liu Sanjie will be waiting for you! The stage is set on the Li River, most of 600 performers are fishermen from nearby villages. Through this amazing show, you will know the legendary Liu Sanjie and learn something about Zhuang people's culture.

   

7. Day 7: Guilin Departure
   Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill ( B + L )

   AM: After breakfast, take all your belongs and check out the hotel as you will be departing Guilin at end of the tour.

   Driving around 1.5 hours from Yangshuo to Guilin city, start your exploration with the amazing Reed Flute Cave. The cave got its name because there were reeds at its entrance and people can make flutes by using the reeds. Walking into the cave, you will be surrounded by all kinds of stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns, flowers, and curtains created by water erosion and carbonate deposition day after day and year after year.

   After that, move on to the Elephant Trunk Hill. The hill got its name from the shape of an elephant sipping water by the riverside. You will see a round opening between the elephant’s trunk and legs, and it has a beautiful name of Water Moon Cave. You can take beautiful pictures to record a pleasant time at this extraordinary place.

   Noon: Lunch in a local restaurant.

   PM: Last, say goodbye to Guilin and transfer you to Guilin airport train station for your departure. Your 7-day Beijing Guilin Classic Tour ends here.