7 Days Classic Beijing – Guilin Tour by Flight

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Hello! Welcome to the Beijing and Guilin tour! Upon your arrival at Beijing Airport or train station, a local skillful driver will pick you up from the exit gate and send you to your downtown hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: Hotel in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing City Exploration
   Walk Tian'anmen's History, Palace Splendor, Then Lakeside Hutongs

   In the morning, your English-speaking guide will meet you at your hotel and your visit will begin at the Tian'anmen Square, the biggest city square in the world, with an area of 215,730 m2 or 53.31 acres. This square holds great importance in Chinese history. Feel free to walk around and enjoy the historical atmosphere.

   Next, you will be taken to the amazing Forbidden City. This was the royal home during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with more than 70 palaces and over 9,000 rooms. It is one of the world’s largest and best-preserved wooden buildings from ancient times. As you walk through this grand place, you’ll admire the impressive architecture and experience China’s rich history.

   

   After lunch, head to the Summer Palace. This was where the emperors of the Qing Dynasty stayed during the summer. You’ll enjoy beautiful views of the lake, walk through the finely decorated long corridor, see valuable cultural items, cross graceful stone bridges, and admire tall, old trees. There’s so much to see, you’ll enjoy every moment. You can also choose to take a boat ride on the Kunming Lake (this is optional).

   Later, visit Nanluoguxiang, a historic neighborhood. It’s the only old area in China that still keeps the original grid layout of hutongs from the Yuan Dynasty. Walk through the small alleys with your guide to experience the local culture. Then Houhai, also called Beijing’s bar street, is a big man-made lake that dates back to the Yuan Dynasty. In the past, only the royal family could come here. Now, the area is full of bars, restaurants, cafes, and shops along the lake.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Hotel in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing Great Wall Hiking
   Hike/Cable-car through Great Wall's Lush, Ever-changing Beauty

   This morning, at the Temple of Heaven, you’ll get to see how local people spend their morning in the open square, doing things like exercise or dancing. The Temple of Heaven is well-known for its careful design, special buildings, and beautiful decorations. Built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was where emperors pray for good harvests and offer sacrifices to heaven.

   

   Next, head to the highlight of the day – the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. The drive takes about 2 hours. Mutianyu, as the most beautiful part of the Great Wall, was first built in 1368 during the early Ming Dynasty and stretches for 5,400 meters. About 90% of the area is covered with trees and plants, so in each season tourists can see different and beautiful views. If hiking the whole way is too tiring, you can choose to take a cable car or ride a toboggan for a fun experience (optional).

   On the way back to the downtown area, have the outside visit of the famous Bird's Nest and Water Cube, built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Walk around these modern buildings and enjoy their creative designs.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Hotel in Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing to Guilin by Flight
   Savor Imperial Gardens, Old Beijing's Living History

   Today’s first stop will be the charming Beihai Park, which is a nice place to relax and enjoy yourself! It is one of the oldest, most complete, most comprehensive, and representative royal gardens in China. There are also boats available if you like (optional, at your own expense).

   Beijing's hutongs are rich in history and attract visitors from all over the world. Today, your guide will take you to explore the charm of these old alleys in the Shichahai Scenic Area. You’ll ride in a rickshaw through the narrow lanes, learn about the history of the hutongs, see how people lived in old Beijing, and notice how the traditional way of life mixes with modern touches.

   

   At the noon, you will be guided to a local family who lives 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.

   It's time to say goodbye to Beijing. Then, transfer you to the airport for an afternoon flight to Guilin. Upon arrival, a Guilin local driver will pick you up and send you to a hotel in the downtown area.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Hotel in Guilin

5. Day 5: Guilin to Longji Rice Terraces
   Climb Longji's Sky-high Terraces, Painted by Seasons

   After breakfast, your guide will meet you and take you on a relaxed trip to see the breathtaking Longji Rice Terraces. The terraces rise layer by layer, looking like a giant staircase reaching up to the sky. Walk along stone paths through the terraces to enjoy the best views. Be sure to hike up to popular viewpoints like "Seven Stars with Moon" for amazing sights of the fields and nearby villages.

   Each season offers a different look. From mid-April to mid-June, the fields are filled with water, and the sunlight reflects on the surface. Between mid-June and mid-September, the terraces turn bright green. From late September to early October, the rice turns golden as it ripens, and you’ll see farmers harvesting the crops.

   

   In Huangluo Village here, you will watch a special Long Hair Show performed by Yao women, who are proud of their shiny, long hair. After that, get to sample Bamboo-Tube-Cooked rice. The rice is soaked, placed inside fresh bamboo, sealed with leaves. After a 30-minute cook over fire, the sweet smell of the rice fills the air when the bamboo is cut open.

   At all activities, drive back to your hotel in downtown Guilin.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Hotel in Guilin

6. Day 6: Guilin to Yangshuo by Cruise
   Enjoy a Relaxing Cruise on the Beautiful Li River

   Today you can experience the most essence of Guilin. After breakfast, the tour guide will take you to the dock to board a three-star cruise ship, which departs around 9:30. The Li River cruise is an immersive journey that will take you into a pastoral world composed of limestone peaks, peaceful rice paddies, and quaint fishing villages. The famous attractions along the way are Nine Horse Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal.

   

   Enjoy lunch on the ship while admiring the scenery. We will arrive in Yangshuo Town in about 4 hours. The driver picks you up at the dock and take you to West Street. With a history of 1400 years, this street combines ancient Chinese cultural heritage with Western tourism charm. Whether you're looking for local cuisine, vibrant nightlife, or experiencing ancient history, Yangshuo West Street can meet your expectations!

   Last, transfer you to Yangshuo local hotel for an overnight stay.

   Optional evening activity: If you’re interested in doing something special tonight, don’t miss the amazing Impression Show of Liu Sanjie! The show takes place on the Li River, with the water as its stage. It tells the story of Liu Sanjie and gives you a chance to learn more about the culture of the Zhuang people.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Hotel in Yangshuo

7. Day 7: Guilin Departure
   Tick off the City’s Landmarks from Hill to Cave

   After breakfast, drive around 1.5 hours from Yangshuo to Guilin city.

   Tick off the city’s landmark - Elephant Trunk Hill, where the Li and Taohua Rivers meet. The natural rock formation just resembles a giant elephant drinking from the river. After that, drive for 20 minutes to the Reed Flute Cave. 240 meters deep and 500 meters long, the cave features its illuminated stalagmites, stalactites, stone pillars, and stone curtains. So it is also known as "the Palace of Natural Art".

   

   After the tour, your driver will escort you to the Guilin airport or train station for your departure. Hope you had a good time with us on the 7-day Beijing Guilin tour!

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: N/A