Beijing. O/N Beijing

Beijing - At 9:00 am, the guide will meet the group in the hotel lobby in Beijing to begin a one-day tour of the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum - The first stop is the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum or Gu Gong in Chinese. Located in the heart of Beijing, it served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911). Construction began during Emperor Chengzu’s reign in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and took 14 years to complete. Ancient Chinese astronomers believed the Purple Star (Polaris) was at the center of heaven, where the Heavenly Emperor resided in the Purple Palace. Thus, the emperor’s earthly palace was called the Purple City, and entry was forbidden without the emperor’s permission, hence the name ‘The Purple Forbidden City’, commonly known as ‘The Forbidden City’.

Jingshan Park (Jingshan Gongyuan) - Next, visit Jingshan Park, a stunning royal landscape garden covering 57 acres (about 230,000 square meters). It is located on the central point of the city’s south-north axis, facing the Forbidden City’s north gate. Situated on Jingshan Hill, originally named Wansui Hill (Long Live Hill), Zhen Hill, or Meishan Hill (Coal Hill), the park’s mid-summit is the highest point in Beijing. From the peak, visitors can enjoy a full and clear view of the Forbidden City.

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - The tour continues to Tiananmen Square, a large plaza near Beijing’s center, named after the Tiananmen (meaning “Gate of Heavenly Peace”). It is located north of the city, separating it from the Forbidden City. The square holds great cultural significance as the site of several key events in Chinese history.

Temple of Heaven - After lunch, the group will visit the Temple of Heaven, a complex of Taoist buildings in southeastern urban Beijing, known as the Xuanwu District. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties visited the complex for annual ceremonies to pray for good harvests. Although considered a Taoist temple, the Chinese Heaven worship by the reigning monarch predates Taoism. The Temple of Heaven is a must-see attraction in Beijing!

Beijing. O/N Beijing

Beijing - In the morning, the tour guide will meet the group at the hotel lobby at 9:00 am and transfer to the Mutianyu Great Wall, a 90-minute drive, 80 km away.

Mutianyu Great Wall - Upon arrival at the scenic area’s parking lot, visitors will take an electric car to the entry and then a chairlift to the 14th watchtower. Enjoy a leisurely hike on the wall for about 2 hours, ending with a toboggan ride down. The Great Wall at Mutianyu, built and restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), is one of the most famous sections of the Wall. Mutianyu is renowned for standing apart from other Great Walls. Explore the ancient structure and learn the history and facts that make it so famous. The professional guide will answer any questions and share exclusive stories and facts about the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Ming Tombs (Ming Shishan Ling) - At 1:00 pm, enjoy lunch at a local countryside restaurant before heading to the Ming Tombs. Located in Changping County, about 50 kilometers northwest of Beijing’s urban area, the site is a tomb cluster of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), including 13 emperors’ mausoleums, seven tombs for concubines, and one grave for eunuchs. Situated at the foot of Mount Yan, the surrounding area is exceptionally beautiful.

Beijing - At the end of the day, the guide will escort the group back to the hotel in Beijing.

Beijing - Zhangjiajie by flight. O/N Zhangjiajie.

Beijing - The tour guide and driver will meet the group at the hotel in Beijing at 9:00 am and drive to the Beijing Lama Temple, an 18-minute drive, 6 km away.

Lama Temple (Yonghegong) - Discover the best of Beijing on this one-day private sightseeing tour. Start the day at the serene Lama Temple and learn about its fascinating history. The Yonghe Temple, also known as the Yonghe Lamasery or Lama Temple, is a temple and monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism located in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China. The temple’s architecture and artwork combine Han Chinese and Tibetan styles.

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - Afterwards, head to the expansive Summer Palace, covering an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three-quarters of which is water: Kunming Lake. This artificial lake was created by extending an existing body of water to imitate the West Lake in Hangzhou. Situated in the Haidian District northwest of Beijing, the Summer Palace is 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the downtown area. As the largest and most well-preserved royal park in China, it greatly influences Chinese horticulture and landscape with its famous natural views and cultural interests, earning it the title ‘The Museum of Royal Gardens’.

Back Lakes (Hou Hai) - Then, take a private car to the Houhai Lake area for a rickshaw hutong tour. A Hutong tour offers a chance to mingle with local residents and experience a unique travel experience in the intricate winding Hutongs. These maze-like, deep alleys remain as they were long ago, recording the city’s history. Many residents are still reluctant to leave their beloved Hutongs. Visitors can visit a local family’s house to experience authentic Beijing life and stop occasionally to take pictures.

Nanluoguxiang - Next, visit Nanluoguxiang. For those interested in shopping, Nanluoguxiang in the Gulou, or Drum and Bell Tower district, is a must-see hutong. It features several kilometers of shops, galleries, and cafés ranging from chic to kitschy. Visitors will find many cool T-shirts here (Plastered has a good line) featuring creative images of everything from Mao Zedong to garden gnomes.

Beijing Capital International Airport - After the tour, the group will be driven to Beijing Capital International Airport for a flight to Zhangjiajie (ZH1539 18:35–21:30). The flight takes around 3 hours.

Airport Road - Upon arrival in Zhangjiajie, the group will be picked up on time and transferred to the Zhangjiajie hotel (driver only, no guide).

Zhangjiajie. O/N Zhangjiajie.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - On this full-day tour, the guide will meet the group at 9:00 am in the hotel lobby in Zhangjiajie city center or Wulingyuan hotel. The tour includes visits to different mountain areas such as Tianzi Mountain, where the world’s longest cable car ride takes visitors to the mountain’s peak, and the unique platform-shaped Yuanjiajie Mountain.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is home to over 500 species of wildlife and vegetation, including rare monkeys, gingko trees, and thousands of colorful birds. The park’s most notable geographic features are its hundreds of towering sandstone pillars. Fans of Hollywood blockbusters will recognize the stunning landscape as the inspiration for Pandora’s scenery in James Cameron’s hit movie Avatar.

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area of Zhangjiajie - The Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area boasts natural beauty where mountains, valleys, forests, caves, lakes, and waterfalls exist in harmony. Over 560 attraction sites can be found here. The strangely-shaped peaks, absurd stones, hidden valleys, wonderful waters, and limestone caves form the ‘Five Wonders’ of Wulingyuan, which are truly worth seeing.

Covering an area of 690 square kilometers (266 square miles), Wulingyuan Scenic Area consists of four parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, and the newly added Yangjiajie Scenic Area.

Today’s tour will visit the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve area.

Tianzi Mountain - After purchasing the main park entrance tickets, visitors will take a shuttle bus (20 minutes drive) to the Tianzi Mountain cable station and walk up 200 steps to reach the station.

Tianzi Mountain Clouds - After a 20-minute cable car ride, visitors will reach the top of Tianzi Mountain and take another shuttle bus (5 minutes drive) to the Tianzi Mountain central area, which offers stunning views of peaks rising one after another. Known as ‘the Monarch of the Peak Forest’, the top of the mountain provides a full view of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Beautiful scenes of the mountain greet visitors in different seasons. There are four wonders: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine, and the Snow in winter.

BaiLong Elevator - After visiting Yuanjiajie (Avatar Mountain), the group will take a shuttle (15 minutes drive) to the Bailong Elevator. The Bailong Elevator is magnificent, with a total height of 335 meters (1,099 feet), of which the running height is 326 meters (1,069 feet). 154 meters (505 feet) of the total height is in the mountain wells, and the remaining 172 meters (564 feet) is composed of steel derrick and other components. The elevator includes three exposure sightseeing elevators running parallelly. Each elevator can carry 50 passengers at a speed of 3 m/s (accelerated to 5 m/s since 2013). If all three elevators run simultaneously, the one-way passenger capacity reaches 4,000 per hour.

Golden Whip Brook - The group will hike for about an hour along the Golden Whip Stream and then take a shuttle to exit the park and return to the hotel. Golden Whip Stream (Jinbian Stream) is famous for its pristine water, verdant mountains, steep cliffs, and serene valley. As a veritable “paradise” for plants, its pathways are adorned with an abundance of flowers, trees, and grasses. It is also a kingdom of animals. Golden Whip Stream is named after Golden Whip Crag, its landmark spot, and runs from Laomo Bay to Shui Rao Si Men (water-surrounded gates).

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge - After lunch, the group will transfer to the Glass Bridge. The local expert guide will lead an adventure trip in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, famous among explorers and nature lovers from home and abroad, featuring typical Zhangjiajie landforms, breathtaking cliffs, lush forests, ancient caves, colorful ponds, and a river running through the canyon. Walk on the world’s longest and highest Glass Bridge in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Hanging over a valley, the glass bridge provides a superb panorama of the entire grand canyon. Enjoy a scenic walk boasting waterfalls and wonderful views on each side. Standing on it feels like floating in the air.

Zhangjiajie - At the end of the day, the guide will escort the group to the hotel in Zhangjiajie or Wulingyuan.

Zhangjiajie - Fenghuang. O/N Fenghuang.

Zhangjiajie - At 9:00 am, the tour guide will meet the group in the hotel lobby and transfer to Zhangjiajie Tianmen Park.

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Spend 3-4 hours at Tianmen Mountain Park. Visitors can use the cable car or shuttle bus to go up the hill, depending on traffic. Tianmen Mountain, known as the ”New Legend Of Zhangjiajie“, is the highest spot (1,500 m) in Zhangjiajie, where visitors can walk on an exciting cliff-path and glass walkway and see the whole city and beautiful countryside from a bird’s-eye view. The landscape is different from, yet on par with, the ZJJ National Park. Both are world-class scenery, making it a must-visit highlight of the city. What is more unbelievable? This single mountain holds four World Guinness Records in its small body, and any of them will be overwhelmingly impressive to any type of human being. It is an amazing experience like no other.

Fenghuang County - After lunch, the guide will escort the group to Fenghuang, a 3-hour drive, 220 km away. The Fenghuang (Phoenix) Town, built in 1704, is recognized as a famous national cultural and historical city. The blue flagstone streets, stilted houses, and customs of the Miao nationality contribute to its unique charm. For the rest of the day, visitors can wander around the ancient town freely.

Fenghuang - Sanjiang Chengyang. O/N Chengyang village.

Phoenix Ancient Town - Today, enjoy a full exploration of Fenghuang Ancient Town. After breakfast, take a boat along the Tuojiang River, the town’s mother river. The clean river flows slowly along the city walls, and water plants sway in the gentle waves. Occasionally, mist rises from the quiet green water, creating a fairyland atmosphere. The tour will then guide visitors to Wanming Pagoda on the river’s north bank. The hexagonal pagoda, around 21 meters (69 feet) high, has seven layers. Copper wind bells hang at each corner of the eaves, and colored paintings and sculptures adorn the pagoda’s body.

After enjoying the elegant pagoda, cruise down to the Rainbow Bridge. From the second floor’s windows, enjoy views of green hills, blue water, city walls, red slates, and stilted houses. Additionally, several boats can be seen moving quietly through the river.

Chengyang Bridge Scenic Resort - After lunch, drive to Sanjiang Chengyang Dong village (4-hour drive, 315 km) and tour the village. In the village, see the landmark constructions of Dong village, the Wind and Rain Bridge, and the Drum Tower. Constructed with wood and bricks, the Wind and Rain Bridge blends the styles of bridge, corridor, and kiosk into a whole, reflecting the unique Dong style and the wisdom of the Dong people. The bridge was initially built to provide shelter for field workers but later became a dating place for young people and a famous attraction for visitors from home and abroad. The lofty pointed tower with upturned eaves indicates arrival at a Dong Village. The Drum Tower, always located in the village center, acts as the political and cultural center. When the village chief beats the drum on the top floor, villagers stop their work and gather around the Drum Tower.

Chengyang - Longji - Guilin. O/N Guilin.

Chengyang Bridge Scenic Resort - The guide will pick up the group at the hotel lobby around 8:30 am. The group will be escorted to the renowned Longji terraces, a 90-minute ride, 100 km away.

Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces - The Longji Rice Terraces stretch layer upon layer from the mountain base to its summit. From the 13th century during the Yuan Dynasty, the local Zhuang people began constructing and using the amazing terraces. Now, the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces cover an area of 66 square kilometers (about 16,308 acres) and span an altitude between 300 meters (about 984 feet) and 1,100 meters (about 3,608 feet). Standing on the mountain, visitors will be amazed by the patches of fields and curve lines around the mountains. The tour will then visit the Villages of Zhuang to experience the unique Chinese ethnic culture.

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) - Next, travel to Guilin and visit the Reed Flute Cave, which features a large number of stalactites and stalagmites, forming a luminous underground palace with colorful lights on the cave’s ceiling.

Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan) - Continue the Guilin tour to Elephant Trunk Hill, a landmark of Guilin. The hill resembles an elephant stretching its trunk into the water to drink, showcasing nature’s incredible creativity.

Guilin - At the end of the day, the guide will escort the group to the hotel, and the rest of the time is free for exploration.

Guilin - Yangshuo. The tour ends.

Guilin - In the morning, the guide and driver will pick up the group from the hotel around 7:45 am and escort them to the Zhujiang pier to start the Guilin Li River cruise to Yangshuo (4-star boat with buffet lunch).

Li River - Boarding is scheduled for 9:20 am, and the journey takes about 4 hours. With the guide’s company and interpretation, visitors can immerse themselves in the stunning karst landscape of rolling hills, verdant forests, odd caves, and tranquil villages along the Li River. A buffet Chinese lunch will be offered on board before reaching Yangshuo at 2:00 pm.

Xianggong Mountain - After disembarkation, drive to see the Yangshuo Xianggong Hill. Climb for 15 minutes along a moderately sloped staircase to reach the top of Xianggong Hill. Please inform the guide in advance if a walking stick is needed. Lying between the famous Yellow Cloth Shoal and the Mural Hill, Xianggong Hill is one of the greatest viewing platforms in Guilin to take in the glamour of the Li River. The supreme view of the meandering Li River making a 180-degree bend attracts countless visitors and photographers annually.

Guilin - At the end of the tour, the guide will escort the group to a hotel in Yangshuo or Guilin, or to the airport/train station. This marks the end of the 8-day tour services.

• Entrance ticket
• Economy class flight tickets (Beijing to Zhangjiajie)
• Lunch
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Private car and private guide

• The hotel and dinner

• Can add more days if you want

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.