Ethnic Wonders

You will arrive in Beijing today. Our guide will welcome you outside Customs of the airport and then escort you to check in at the hotel in downtown Beijing. The rest of the day remains free for you. You can rest at the hotel or stroll around the hotel locality to familiarize yourself with the new city.

This morning, you will first visit the Tiananmen Square, the central square of the city. Today's highlight is the following Forbidden City which is located to the north end of the square. Accompanied by the tour guide, you will spend two to three hours exploring this world’s largest imperial palace complex.

To avoid the mass-produced food at the tourist eateries arranged by most agencies, we will serve you an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a very nice restaurant to taste authentic Chinese food.

In the afternoon, you will proceed to see a series of elegant altars and halls in the Temple of Heaven, where emperors offered sacrifices to Heaven in ancient times. Afterwards, you will be accompanied to enjoy the old Beijing culture and local customs by visiting narrow alleys, also called Hutongs. You will take a special rickshaw ride through various Hutongs and enjoy the prosperous street view with dazzling goods on sale. Through a visit to a local family, you will get a further understanding of old Beijing's characteristics.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

A private car will transfer you to the Mutianyu Great Wall in about 1.5 hours this morning. It is one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall. You will go up and down the wall by cable car, or if you are interested in taking a toboggan down, it can also be arranged. No time limits, just take your time to appreciate this amazing wonder.

Lunch is arranged on your own today. On the way driving back to the downtown area, you will have a photo stop at the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, both of which are permanent buildings of the 2008 Olympics. Then we will visit a well-known local market where you can either wander around or pick some souvenirs for your family or friends. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

The morning sightseeing tour will be at the Summer Palace, where you will appreciate the delicate Chinese royal garden architecture integrated perfectly with the natural landscape.

After enjoying the scenery in the Summer Palace, we will take you to the airport to catch a flight to Kunming. The local guide and driver in Kunming will meet you at the airport and drive you to check in at the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Your full day Kunming tour starts from the Yuantong Temple, which has a history of more than 1,200 years. Then, after one and a half hours' car ride, you will reach the noted Stone Forest in the southeast of the Kunming city. Here you can see a large number of various kinds of stones, some of which resemble vivid shapes like animals and plants in the wild. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer you to the train station to take a two-hour early morning high speed train to Dali. Upon your arrival, our Dali guide and driver will wait for you at the railway station and drive you to the hotel.

After that, you will start with a visit to the Dali Old Town. It is a typical old town of a Chinese ethnic group with traditional resident houses showing what a Bai People's village and town looked like in the old days. You will also see the old local ladies carrying their harvests to the market or selling vegetables at the road-side. Later, come to visit the famous Three Pagoda Temple. Facing the Erhai Lake and against the mountain, the temple with three lovely white pagodas, makes a fabulous background for a photo shoot. Then you will experience a ride in a horse-drawn carriage to tour around the Erhai Lake. The pristine Erhai Lake is a highland lake which resembles the human ear, and that's where its name comes from.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, our guide will escort you to the famous ancient town of Lijiang, which Naxi minority people have inhabited for generations. It takes about three hours of driving to your hotel in Lijiang. On the way, you will have chances to visit the Bai Traditional House in Xizhou, and Zhoucheng which is famous for the local hand-made tie dyeing.

Upon arrival, you will visit the Square Street of Lijiang Old Town. Along the Square Street, there is a Lion Hill, where you can have a panoramic view of the whole town. We believe the town has much more to grab your attention and take up your camera's memory space. In the Lijiang Old Town, walk is the only way to get around and the streets are almost entirely made of flagstones, so it is smart to wear comfortable shoes.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Your morning sightseeing tour mainly focuses on the Baisha Village in the countryside. On the way, you will enjoy the natural scenery and see the Jade Snow Mountain in the distance. A visit to a local Naxi family living in the Baisha Village will be a great chance to learn the aborigines' life and culture. Then you'll see the rare Baisha Murals in the village. The rest of the day is free for you to wander around the old town at leisure. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Today you will say goodbye to Lijiang and we will see you off to take a flight to Shanghai. Our Shanghai guide and driver will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. The remaining time of the day is free for you to explore this lively modern city.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

The morning visit covers the Shanghai Museum and the Yu Garden. As one of the best museums in China, the Shanghai Museum boasts numerous delicate exhibitions, such as ancient bronzes, pottery, Chinese calligraphy and paintings. Constructed in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the Yu Garden is regarded as a pearl among classical gardens in the southern China. Pavilions, halls, artificial hills, ponds, corridors, and statues are all part of elaborate arrangement.

An a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at a popular restaurant. Your guide will assist you to order dishes and make sure that you taste authentic Chinese food.

In the afternoon, you will explore the iconic Bund area, where you will also take a one-hour cruise tour on the Huangpu River. After that, we will take you to visit an old cultural street in Shanghai - Tianzifang.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Today your private guide and driver will see you off at the airport so that you can board your flight back home loaded with pleasant memories. If you prefer to experience the maglev train ride heading for the Shanghai Pudong Airport, it can also be arranged. Wish you a nice trip home!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast