8 Days Xi’an, Zhangjiajie and Guilin Tour

Thanks for choosing our 8 days Xi’an, Zhangjiajie and Guilin tour! As soon as you walk out of the exit of Xi’an’s airport or railway station, you will see our guide eagerly looking for you with a sign bearing your name. After a cordial greeting, the guide will escort you to the handpicked downtown hotel for check-in. You can enjoy the remainder of the day as you like.

As a world-famous cultural city with a thick history, Xi’an will intoxicate you in all aspects. If you arrive early, take a stroll around the neighborhood and witness how ancient charm and modern vibrancy collide in this land.

► Dinner Suggestion:
When in Xi’an, how can you miss a bowl of sour and spicy Shaanxi Cold Skin Noodles (Liang Pi)? Perhaps walk about 10 minutes from the hotel to Shiyulin Cold Noodle (Xiaozhai East Road branch), one of the well-known snack chains in the area, to stimulate your taste nerves. This brand has a history of nearly 40 years, and its Cold Noodles making technique has been passed down for 3 generations. Legend has it that during the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC), Shaanxi was once starved of rice due to a severe drought, and to pay tribute to the court on time, some villagers ground and steamed some old rice into Liang Pi and presented to Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor in China’s history, who was so satisfied after tasting that he ordered it to be eaten as a daily food, thus forming this traditional delicacy. In addition to Cold Noodles, another major specialty, Chinese Hamburger (Rou Jia Mo), can also be tasted here. The average cost is around CNY 15 / USD 2 per person.

Meet your guide at the hotel lobby at your pre-arranged time, and then enjoy a private 1-hour drive to the Terracotta Army Museum, the Eighth Wonder of the World. In 246 BC, Emperor Qin Shi Huang expected to still have a strong army to guard himself after his death, so he ordered the creation of a larger number of terracotta warriors, which took 39 years. Then in 1974, when some villagers here accidentally found many broken pottery figures while digging wells, these cultural treasures, which had been silent for more than 2,000 years, were officially excavated and exhibited to the world. Our visit begins at Pit No.1, the largest of its kind, where you will be shocked by some 6,000 life-sized clay figures. Later, Pit No.2 on the north side will show you the coordinated combat mode of the Qin Army through four formations composed of chariots, cavalry and crossbow soldiers. In Pit No.3, horses and infantry formations are lined up in front and behind the commander’s chariot, which is so spectacular that you might feel as if you were in an ancient battlefield filled with smoke. Finally, follow our guide to a recently launched exhibition. Here, prepare to be dazzled by 230 representative relics from the archaeological excavations of the past 50 years, such as lifelike warriors with green faces or red lips, bronze waterfowls, and gold and silver camels.

★ Special DIY Experience with Us: Make a Mini Warrior
To satisfy your curiosity about how the terracotta warriors were made, we will take you to a local workshop to get a hands-on experience. Under the guidance of a professional craftsman, pinch the head, torso, arms and legs with clay step by step, and then use tools to carve details such as hair and armor. After drying, a mini millennium legend has been created by your own hands and you can take it home. While having fun, you also contribute to the sustainability of this traditional art and the local community.

After that, let’s drive back to downtown Xi’an and continue our visit to the UNESCO-listed Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the most typical cultural landmarks of Xi’an. To worship the Buddha figures, Sanskrit scriptures and relics brought back from ancient India, Xuanzang, an eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), personally supervised the construction of this pagoda. There is an interesting legend behind the name: during Xuanzang’s pilgrimage journey to the west, once when he was on the verge of death, a flock of wild geese led him to a source of water so that he could survive. Today, when you face this 7-story square brick pagoda, you might notice that it leans to the west. Confused? With our guide, you will find out this is owing to the surrounding land subsidence caused by the overexploitation of the groundwater, and its own structure and several earthquakes.

A few steps to the south of the Pagoda, we will come to the Great Tang All Day Mall. Strolling down the long pedestrian street here is like stepping back in time to the glorious period of the Tang Dynasty. On both sides are majestic archaistic buildings, and in the middle are various handicrafts or specialty snacks stalls, which is just like a bustling ancient market. From time to time, you may also encounter some cultural performances like ornate court dances. What’s more, you will find that a lot of passers-by wearing historical costumes, and if you are interested, you can rent one from a store on the street at your own expense. Take some photos of your outfit and upload them to your social media, and you'll be sure to make others envious. Finally, our guide will take you back to the hotel. If you want to stay here a little longer, you can also take a cab back by yourself when you are done.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Start today with a leisurely walk in City Wall Park. With a wide moat and lush forest surrounding the City Wall, the park is one of the important places for locals to relax, exercise and entertain themselves. Along your way, you will see some people sitting in the shade and chatting, some people singing Shaanxi Opera to traditional erhu, some dancing to the dynamic music while some wearing special costumes doing tai chi, which vividly reflects the slow-paced life in Xi’an. Then our guide will lead you up the City Wall. As the oldest, largest and best preserved ancient city wall in China, it is not only a fortification, but also a symbol of history and culture. The existing part is a remnant of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), when a hermit advised Zhu Yuanzhang, the dynasty’s first emperor, to “build high walls, store abundant grain and delay claiming kingship”. Zhu followed the advice and expanded the wall originally built in the old Tang Dynasty to today’s scale - about 14 kilometers (8 miles) long with gates and turrets on four sides. On the Wall, there are several viewing platforms, which allow you to overlook the whole city. The modern high-rise buildings in the distance form a sharp contrast with the antique structures near, as if telling you the blend and change of the ancient and modern. Also, the road on top of the wall is wide enough for four cars to drive side by side, so bike riding is also available, and if you are interested, our guide will be glad to help you rent one at your own expense.

Next, let’s make our way to Muslim Quarter, a paradise for foodies. Flanked by ancient buildings for catering or handicrafts, this bluestone-paved and tree-lined street is a must-visit for every visitor to Xi’an. Here, the aroma of authentic local food like Crumbled Flatbread in Mutton Stew, Biang Biang Noodles and Glutinous Rice with Jujube will make you mouthwatering. There are also some intangible cultural heritages such as sugar-figure blowing or paper cutting that can be admired. Accompanied by hawkers’ cries, immerse yourself in this rich Islamic atmosphere. The Great Mosque here is also worth your visit. It is one of the oldest Islamic mosques in China, with an overall rectangular layout of exquisitely carved pavilions, halls, and wing rooms. Walking through it is more like being in a garden than a traditional mosque.

After the visit, our guide will take you to the airport for a flight to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, the guide there will transfer you to the hotel near the core scenic area. Have a good rest for tomorrow’s sightseeing.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In the company of our guide, spend a whole day exploring the core area of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

★ Our Privileges: Fast Entry & All-inclusive Tickets
We have considerately booked the combo tickets for you in advance, covering the entry fee, shuttle bus and cable car fares inside the whole scenic area. In addition, we also generously offer you a ticket to take the Bailong Elevator up the mountain, which can save your time and energy and give you an exceptional angle to overlook the karst peaks.

At the main entrance, we will first take a shuttle bus for about 20 minutes to the lower station of the Bailong Elevator. Attached to a vertical cliff more than 300 meters (984 feet) high, this world’s highest sightseeing elevator can take you to experience the excitement of soaring through the clouds for 88 seconds. It is said that in order to minimize the damage to the local ecological environment, the engineers at that time gave up the convenient but violent method of blasting the mountain, and instead used a purely manual and mechanical way to dig a shaft from the mountaintop to the bottom, which took three years to finish. What a difficult project it is! Take it to the summit, and we will be welcomed by Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. Here, what stands before you will be thousands of karst peaks in various shapes, including the surreal Hallelujah Mountain, also known as Qiankun Pillar. Especially since the release of the movie Avatar, it has quickly become a global sensation, with countless travelers flocking here to see its real look.

Afterwards, ride on an eco-car of the scenic area to Yangjiajie Scenic Area, which is mainly composed of Xiangzhi Stream, Longquan Gorge and Hundred Monkey Valley. Here, you may behold hordes of monkeys climbing or leaping in the gullies, egrets perching on the green leaves of the gray branches, and the bizarre flowers that can change five colors a day blossoming on a hillside. Of course, we won’t let you miss the most amazing Natural Great Wall, formed by dozens of stone peaks undulating through the green trees. Then follow our guide to Tianzi Mountain. As the “Peak Forest Kingdom”, this place will let you marvel at the uncanny workmanship of nature. Stand on an observation deck in the Helong Park and take a look at the well-known Imperial Brush Peak, one of the highly favored scenic spots for photographers and painters, which has been featured in more than 30 pictorials and newspapers from home and abroad. Three upside-down brush-like peaks are said to have been created by Xiang Da Kun, a local Tujia leader, who once dropped his brushes here while reviewing official letters. And the cylindrical peak in front of them is right his imperial desk. At the end of the tour, take the cable car down the mountain and head back to the hotel. Lie down early to work off your fatigue.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

This morning, set out to explore another hidden gem in this city, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. As early as in ancient times, it was a home of dinosaurs, leaving behind many of their fossils. Later, it became a monastic destination, where lots of Taoist monks practiced and built several temples. And now, the scenic spot attracts tourists with its unspoiled natural beauty. Clear streams wind through the valley bottom and waterfalls cascade down from the height, which not only add a lot of life to the area, but also provide excellent photo opportunities for you. In addition to enjoying stunning scenery, you can also experience the world’s highest and longest span on Yuntiandu Glass Bridge. Strolling through it may not be as scary as imagined, because there are opaque steel beams between the giant pieces of glass and on both sides of the bridge. Just devote yourself to enjoying the panoramic view of the canyon it offers.

In the afternoon, leave for a hike along the picturesque Golden Whip Stream in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Meandering through a verdant vegetation-covered valley with the twittering of birds and the fragrance of flowers, this place has been hailed as one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. Although the 7.5-kilometer-long (4.6-mile-long) path is relatively flat, it may still be physically difficult for the vast majority of people to complete the whole journey. With this in mind, our guide will take you from the Shuirao Simen on a tour that covers most of the highlights and then retrace the way we came. En route, your eyes may be caught by two peaks that are jointed at the bottom and jagged at the top. The higher one bows slightly and the lower one raises her head, like a picture of a long-separated couple hugging tightly and looking at each other lovingly. That is one of the famous iconic spots here, Lovers Peak. Finally, you will be escorted to the hotel for rest.

► Dinner Suggestion:
Looking forward to filling your stomach with authentic Hunan dishes? Try the Qindama Restaurant (Nanzhuangping branch), which is about a 10-minute drive from your hotel. Driven by the developed local tourism resources, this time-honored brand is widely welcomed by countless domestic and foreign diners with its quality dishes, affordable prices, attentive service and quaint environment, especially the branch you will patronize is the most crowded because of its excellent location near Zhangjiajie’s core scenic area. The menu here is based on Tujia home-cooked dishes, offering a variety of options. And all the ingredients used are locally grown or free-range. Among them, mother fried meat, which has been rated as one of Zhangjiajie’s top ten famous dishes, should be your must-order. A meal costs about CNY 70 / USD 10 per person.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Rise early today for breakfast, and then hop in our private vehicle to the railway station, where you will take a 7-hour high speed train ride to Guilin, boasting gentler and lower karst hills compared with the sharp and steep peaks in Zhangjiajie. Once you get there, another local guide will pick you up immediately and transfer you to the downtown hotel. After assisting you check in, the guide will leave you alone and how to spend the remainder of the day is totally up to you. If you want to get a taste of the city from its food culture, our guide will also be willing to recommend some nearby top-rated local eateries.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Guilin’s scenery is peerless in the world, and Li River is its essence, especially the 80-odd kilometers between Guilin and Yangshuo. Today, let’s embark on a Li River cruise to Yangshuo. As the ship starts slowly, the calm and broad river like a silk brocade unfolds in front of us. Nestling in the embrace of thousands of hills this is the clearest river through the city on our planet, with only three ten thousandths of the sand content of China’s Yellow River. Precisely because it is extreme clarity, it is easy to be mirrored green by plants-covered hills. And Green, just is the dominant tone of the breathtaking landscapes here. Also be mesmerized by ten miles of green screen formed by bamboo trees on the bank, which is waving in front of several farmhouses with curling smoke. There are also many sand and stone shoals, the most fascinating of which is the Yellow Cloth Shoal, so named for its appearance. Intriguingly, the overall sight here is honorably printed on the back of the RMB 20 note. The cruise ship offers a simple boxed lunch on board, while eating in such an environment can definitely add glamour to your journey.

After arriving in Yangshuo, enjoy a relaxing cycle tour in the countryside. Cycling on the well-paved country road, the breeze with the fragrance of soil and grass will caress your face. The rolling hills in the distance and the blue sky scattered with a few clouds set off each other, forming a bright watercolor painting for you to admire. Take your time, stop at any time when you want to record nice views or get tired. If you are not interested in bike riding, we can also provide you with a car tour. Afterwards, we will drive you back to the hotel in Guilin. On the way, stop to visit the Xianggong Hill, atop which you can overlook the panorama of the Li River in the setting sun. Under the commentary of our guide, you will discover why it is so named and some myths about it.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, let’s pay a visit to Reed Flute Cave, an underground “Palace of Natural Arts” famous for its unique stalactite landscapes complemented by colorful lighting effects. At the mouth of the cave, there used to be abundant reeds, which could be made into flutes to play a pleasant tune, so the name is given. Entering the cave, the animal-like, plant-like and building-like natural formations shining in the soft colored lights, making people dazzled. Expect to be awestruck by the wonder, Lion Rock and Sunrise. A group of stone lions with vivid textures held their heads high to face the “first morning rays” hanging down from the cave roof. Flower and Fruit Mountain, the home of Monkey King featured in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, is also a sight not to be missed. Some of the monkey children raise hands to support their foreheads and look into the distance, as if they are guarding this magical land.

Subsequently, move to Elephant Trunk Hill, named for its resemblance to an elephant drinking from the Li River, which was made Guilin’s emblem in 1995. At the bottom of the mountain, between the “trunk” and the “leg” is the Water Moon Cave, in which you can enjoy the remaining cliff carvings as many as 64 pieces, and the earliest can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960 - 1127). Halfway up the hill, there is a north-south rock passage, whose two mouths are like a pair of eyes, so it is called Elephant Eye Cave. It is a great place to enjoy cool and overlook the river view. Further up, on the hilltop is the Puxian Pagoda, a double-store pagoda built in the Ming Dynasty and shaped like a bottle. And in many legends of Asian countries, an elephant carrying a treasure bottle symbolizes peace and happiness.

Our tour comes to an end now, and our guide will see you off at Guilin’s airport or railway station. Wish you a pleasant voyage, and see you next time! If you have other travel plans, text or call us at any time.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast