8 Days Classic Beijing-Xian-Guilin Join-in Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival (No Meal)

   Upon your arrival in Beijing, the local driver will wait for you by holding a board with your name at the arrival hall. The pick-up location can also be Beijing Train Station or Beijing Railway Station. After getting on the private & comfortable car, you will be transferred to your Beijing downtown hotel to check in. The rest day is free for you.

   Accommodation: Comfortable 3* hotel booked by us.

2. Day 2: Beijing
   Badaling Great Wall, Changling (B + L)

   AM: Picked up by our English-speaking guide and skillful driver from hotel lobby around 7am, and then drive to Badaling Great Wall, the most famous and the best-preserved section of Chinese Ming Dynasty Great Wall. The mountain slope is very steep and the roads are tortuous. If you want to reach the highest point, cable car is a good choice (optional); shuttle bus is also optional for you to save energy and time.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Next, head to Ming Tomb, the underground palace of Changling. Changling is the tomb of the 2nd Emperor of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di. It is regarded as the grandest one among the 13 Ming Tombs in Beijing. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 6:00 pm.

   Accommodation:Comfortable 3* hotel booked by us

   

3. Day 3: Beijing
   Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace (B + L)

   AM: Today’s trip starts from Tiananmen Square, the heart and symbol of Beijing and the largest city square in the world. The spacious square has been used for many public celebrations, ceremonies, and demonstrations for over a hundred years.

   Walking through the square, you will come to Forbidden City, one of the largest and most completely preserved palace complex built of wood. It functioned as the imperial palace in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912). There were 24 emperors of the two dynasties once lived here.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After lunch, we will go to Temple of Heaven. Located at southern part of Beijing, it serviced as a complex of sacrificial building where emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest. Today’s last scenic site will be Summer Palace. It is located at the west skirt of Beijing and covers an area of 290 hectares. In the Qing Dynasty during the Qianlong Era, the Summer Palace was built by imitating the layout of the West Lake in Hangzhou. Now it is the largest and most completely preserved imperial garden in China.

   After the tour, you will be escorted back to hotel at about 5:00 pm.

   Accommodation: Comfortable 3* hotel booked by us

   

4. Day 4: Beijing-Xian by Overnight Train
   Hutong, Jingshan Park, Yonghe Palace, Panda House in Beijing Zoo (B + L)

   AM: After hotel pickup, you will be transferred together with the guide to visit traditional Hutong, where you will try to take Rick Shaw. Next go to Jingshan Park, opposite a street from the Forbidden City. In ancient time, Jingshan Park and its ancillary buildings not only served as a royal garden for visitors, but also had multiple functions such as learning shooting, offering sacrifices to ancestors, official learning, opera and regional activities, ect.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After a Chinese style lunch, we drive to Yonghe Palace (also called Lama Temple), the birthplace of the Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty. In the middle and late period of Qing dynasty, it was transformed into a Buddhist temple with the highest level throughout the country. When finishing visit here, we take you to Panda House in Beijing Zoo to see lovely Chinese treasures. Last, we will drive to and make a stop at Bird’s Nest and Water Cube to pay an outer visit and take some pictures. Visitors can stay around 50 minutes to enjoy the outer look of the buildings in which the 2008 Olympics was held. Today we will also pay a visit to Silk Market to learn about Chinese silk culture and meet some nice silk products.

   After the whole day tour, your will be transferred to the train station for the overnight train to Xian (suggested: Z19/20:40-08:31 or train with similar schedule).

   Hotel: Overnight Train (A cabin shared with four berths)

   

5. Day 5: Xian
   Terracotta Warriors, City Wall ( L )

   AM: In the morning, you will be picked up by our guide and driver from Xian train station and then go to visit the famous Terracotta Warriors. Known as “the eighth Wonder of the world”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture, which is the most significant discovery in the 20th century. Before visiting the museum, stop at a Terracotta Figurine Factory to specialize in the reproduction of the clay warriors, and watch the artisans craft the miniature statues.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After a Chinese style lunch, come to ancient City Wall that functioned as military defense in ancient time. It’s the best preserved city wall in China. Finally, we send you back to hotel.

   Accommodation: Comfortable 3* hotel booked by us

   

6. Day 6: Xian - Guilin by Flight
   Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian Museum, Bell and Drum Tower Square, Muslim Quarter ( B + L )

   AM: Our driver will pick you up from hotel to start today’s tour. The first site is Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It was built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang. Next is Small Wild Goose Pagoda. It is also a landmark of Xian, built in Tang Dynasty to store Buddhist sculptures brought by Xuanzang, together with Big Wild Goose Pagoda. You will also pay a visit to Xian Museum where you can appreciate some priceless exhibition to learn history and culture of ancient Xian and even China.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Continue to explore the graceful Bell and Drum Tower Square & Muslim Quarter to find authentic local snacks and handmade crafts. Finally, you will be transferred to airport for your departure flight to Guilin.

   Upon your arrival to Guilin airport, the local driver will wait for you at the arrival hall by holding a sign with your name and transfer you to your hotel to check in.

   Accommodation: Comfortable 4* hotel booked by us

   

7. Day 7: Guilin
   Li River Cruise, 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 back to your hotel in Guilin.

   Accommodation: Comfortable 4* hotel booked by us

   

8. Day 8: Guilin Departure
   Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, Seven Star Park, Reed Flute Cave (B + L)

   AM:  In the morning, our local guide & driver will pick you up from hotel lobby and then start today’s adventure. You will visit the famous 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 the pleasant time at this extraordinary place.Then have a glimpse of Fubo Hill which towers in the river. Climbing up to the hill top where you will be drowned in the picturesque view of Guilin.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: And then Seven Star Park, the best park in Guilin City where you will appreciate great works including hills, rivers, courtyards, architecture, and cultural relics. You will also visit the famous Reed Flute Cave, one of the top famous Karst Caves in China. It’s reputed as “the palace of art made by nature”.

   Finally, you will be dropped off at airport or train station for your departure.

   Special note: please arrange your departure flight or train after 8pm to confirm enough time for travel on this day.