China Discovery to Natural Wonders
This route will make you go beyond the glowing lights and antique sites to admire China's stunning natural wonders during this 14-day discovery package. Enjoy the charm of nature, relax from your normal stress, and uncover the essence of China's culture.
Days
14
Price
from US$3,549 p/p
Best For
First-timers
Best Time
Apr.May.Sep.Oct.
Tour Highlights
Itinerary Details
The following sample itinerary is to help you tailor your own tour. Tell us what you would like to do. Our dedicated one-to-one expert is waiting to create a unique tour to suit your preferences.
You will be met by your local tour guide in the arrivals hall at Beijing Capital International Airport, then you will be escorted to your hotel in the downtown area, traveling in a comfortable vehicle. The rest of the day is free for you to relax. If you want to explore nearby, feel free to get some practical suggestions from your tour guide.
In the morning, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors of the past would go to pray for a better harvest. Nowadays, it's famous for its incredible architecture and is a gathering place for locals to indulge themselves in different kinds of folk entertainment, such as morning exercises, tai chi, and disco dancing. It's a good chance to mix with the locals.
After lunch, step into Tian'anmen Square. Within walking distance, you will reach the largest imperial palace in the world — the Forbidden City. Compared with other groups, your guide will lead you to less touristy halls and enrich your experience with interesting background stories.
If you're looking for an impressive landscape in relative isolation combined with some energetic exercise, the 1-day Great Wall hike from Jinshanling to Simatai West is definitely for you. This section of the Great Wall is wild, ruined, preserved, original, and half-restored with good photographic opportunities. It will take about 3 hours (5 kilometers) to hike along the wall.
Be sure to take your camera! Accompanied by your expert guide, you will enjoy the amazing environment of the Great Wall, admire spectacular views, and capture fantastic photographs. After the hike, head to a restaurant run by local farmers to feel revitalized with a flavorsome lunch.
Please Note
1. You should wear sports shoes or hiking boots and take a cap, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Travel light!
2. This is a private tour and no other tourists will join you so you will have a lot of flexibility and freedom. If you have any questions or want more time to take photos or rest, just feel free to let your tour guide know.
After a leisurely breakfast, you will stroll through the Summer Palace, a serene space where you can see the imperial garden and all its glory. Enjoy the natural beauty coupled with some great cultural relics and get away from the bustle of Beijing life. It is worth every step!
Enjoy lunch at a local popular restaurant, then travel to Xi'an by high-speed train (about 4 to 5 hours).
Freshen up in the morning and start your day at the site of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses — the burial place of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. You will also have the opportunity to visit a traditional cave dwelling nearby, a type of dwelling which disappeared elsewhere in the process of modernization. You can try to make your own clay warriors and take them away as souvenirs at no extra cost.
Enjoy an authentic lunch and witness the most undamaged ancient Chinese city wall in existence. Renting a bicycle on the wall is a good way to spend some free time.
Take an informative trip to Shaanxi History Museum, which has more than 370,000 cultural relics, and head to Big Wild Goose Pagoda followed by the Muslim Quarter. Time will steal away as you walk along the lively streets full of delicious local snacks.
After sightseeing, you will be escorted to the airport to catch a flight to Zhangjiajie (about 1½ hours). Upon arrival in Zhangjiajie, your local guide will greet and guide you to your hotel.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, as the most attractive part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, will amaze you with its timeless natural beauty. Your guide will take you to the best viewing points, recommend the best routes, and help you avoid the crowds.
Taking the cable car up Tianzi Mountain, you will be able to admire its fairy-tale landscape with minimum effort. Have a simple lunch on the mountain and then ride in the world's highest double-decker sightseeing elevator outdoors – Bailong Elevator – to reach Yuanjiajie. There, you will see the floating mountains of Avatar in reality.
Your soul will be captivated by the splendid landscape in front of you. You can have a panoramic view when you look around on the platform.
In the morning, tour Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and challenge yourself on the highest and longest glass bridge in the world. Standing on the bridge, the view of the bottom of the valley 400 meters below is clearly visible.
Soar through the sky on the world's longest cable car to Tianmen Mountain, which boasts an extraordinary and unique geographic landform. Find the courage to brave the slithers of walkway that are around the mountain cliff and experience the striking view of the winding road called the "99 Bends".
Please note: Shoe covers for the glass bridge are standard in the scenic area so there's no need to buy any on your own.
You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred directly to Changsha Railway Station. Then, you will take a high-speed train to Guilin (about 3½ hours).
Located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China, Guilin is considered to be the pearl of China's thriving tourist industry on account of its natural beauty.
First, visit the landmark of Guilin's landscape — Elephant Trunk Hill. It is a rock arch that resembles an elephant drinking from a river.
Next, explore the most spectacular karst cave in Guilin, Reed Flute Cave, which houses a brilliant collection of stalactites and stalagmites. They are lit up by hundreds of colored lights and the limestone mounds are reflected in pools.
After lunch, don't miss the well-preserved Daxu Ancient Town, a great place to hunt for old coins, antique items, and local snacks. Enjoy a leisurely walk and be transported back in time as you see the local people and their homes, continuing with village life.
Do Guilin's premier tour program — cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo and admire the scenery that resembles an ink painting. The jaw-dropping views of the karst peaks include the notable scenery that appears on China's 20 RMB banknote. We will book a 4-star cruise (the highest level with better facilities and a buffet lunch including Chinese and Western choices) so that you can have a better experience than on a 3-star cruise (a basic level with simple facilities and a set Chinese lunch).
You will disembark in Yangshuo and check in to your hotel. Take a short break, explore the countryside, and throw yourself into the gentle embrace of the lovely verdant utopian scene. Choose your preferred way to enjoy the fun and beauty: biking, on a moped, or by private car.
Please note: Depending on the season and water level, this 83-kilometer cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo takes about 4 to 5 hours.
Enjoy a free morning to relax or select your favorite activities and create more experiences.
In the afternoon, we will arrange a private transfer (about 1 to 1½ hours) back to Guilin to catch your flight to Shanghai (about 2½ hours).
Discover Shanghai starting from the Bund, where foreigners first landed in Shanghai hundreds of years ago. During the In-Depth Bund Culture Discovery Tour, you will see features hidden in the architectural complex — each building tells a story of its golden age.
Then reach "the crown of beauty in Southeast China", Yu Garden, and the "little eastern gate" — Shanghai Old Street.
Sit down for a break and lunch. Be excited as you ascend to the highest observation deck, Shanghai Tower, to get a bird's-eye view of the whole city.
Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport and bid you a fond farewell.
Price Includes
Price from: $3,549 (Tour code: gh-cht-hn-01)
Trip Notes
Every element of the tour above can be tailored. Feel free to tell us your ideas and we will be happy to make adjustments for you.
1. Extend the Tour
- Guilin and Yangshuo: add 2-3 days — Li River cruise and idyllic countryside
- Suzhou and/or Hangzhou: add 1–4 days — water towns, gardens, the Grand Canal, and West Lake
- Zhangjiajie: add 2–3 days — The Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar; karst landscape
- More destinations: Huangshan, Yunnan and Tibet. Inform us of your interests and we will offer you some recommendations.
2. Accommodation
Various types of accommodation are available, including famous 5-star hotel chains, 4-star hotels in the best locations, good value 3-starhotels, or boutique hotels that reflect the style of the region.
Whatever your accommodation preferences are, our travel experts will seek out and find the perfect one for you.
3. Transportation
China is a huge country, so to make your travel experience more efficient, we usually arrange flights to connect your destinations.
China's high-speed rail network is a fast-paced way to travel. We recommend taking high-speed trains for journeys of less than 6 hours to interested customers — please tell us if you are one of them.
4. Meals
Lunches at popular local restaurants are included for you so you can taste authentic Chinese food. Your guide will assist you with ordering the dishes.
Vegetarian, halal, kosher, Indian, or gluten-free — all your dietary requirements can be taken care of by our experienced private guides. Let us know if you have any of these dietary requirements during your booking.
Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
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