20 Days Cultural Exploration Trip

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20

Trek

DAYS
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Holiday Overview

Highlights

  • Forbidden City and Great Wall hiking
  • Pingyao: China's first banks were set up in the early 18th century
  • Leisure time in Chengdu
  • The green mountains and clear waters of Guilin are the finest under heaven, capable of cleansing both body and soul
  • The Bund: Shanghai's city landmarks

Brief Itinerary

  • DAY 01 ARRIVAL BEIJING
  • DAY 02 BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS
  • DAY 03 TEMPLE OF HEAVEN - MUTIANYU GREAT WALL
  • DAY 04 DATONG: YUNGANG GROTTOES / HANGING TEMPLE
  • DAY 05 QIAO FAMILY COMPOUND / STAY IN PINGYAO OLD TOWN
  • DAY 06 PINGYAO OLD TOWN / XI'AN
  • DAY 07 XI'AN CITY TOUR
  • DAY 08 XI'AN - LUOYANG
  • DAY 09 LUOYANG - DENGFENG - LUOYANG
  • DAY 10 LUOYANG - CHEGNDU
  • DAY 11 CHENGDU
  • DAY 12 LESHAN - CHENGDU
  • DAY 13 CHENGDU - GUILIN
  • DAY 14 GUILIN - ZHAOXING
  • DAY 15 ZHAOXING - LONGSHENG
  • DAY 16 LONGSHENG - YANGSHUO
  • DAY 17 YANGSHUO - GUILIN - SHANGHAI
  • DAY 18 SHANGHAI CITY TOUR
  • DAY 19 SHANGHAI CITY TOUR
  • DAY 20 SHANGHAI - HOME
 

Map & Itinerary

Embark on an epic journey through the heart of Chinese civilization, spanning the imperial grandeur of the North to the terraced landscapes and vibrant metropolises of the South.

Your adventure begins in Beijing, where you will explore the Forbidden City and Summer Palace before hiking the Mutianyu Great Wall. You will then travel to Datong to witness the ancient Buddhist art of the Yungang Grottoes and the gravity-defying Hanging Temple. A visit to the ancient walled city of Pingyao offers a glimpse into China's commercial past.

In Xi'an, you will marvel at the Terracotta Warriors, before continuing to Luoyang to see the Longmen Grottos and the Shaolin Temple at Dengfeng. In Chengdu, the adorable Giant Pandas await, followed by a visit to the colossal Leshan Giant Buddha.

The journey takes a scenic turn in Guilin, where you will explore the karst countryside, visit the Dong minority villages, and hike the stunning Longji Rice Terraces. The trip concludes in Shanghai, offering a perfect blend of historical gems like the Yu Garden and the futuristic skyline of the Bund.

Holiday Itinerary

  • ARRIVAL BEIJING

    Arrival Beijing airport, you will be met at Beijing International Airport by our guide and transferred to a hotel in central Beijing. Today, you will have an opportunity to rest and recover from the long flight.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Beijing

  • BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS

    This morning, we will first go to visitSummer Palace. Summer Palace located in a northwestern suburb of Beijing; it is an immense park containing some Chinese traditional architecture and arts. It was built and served as a royal garden during the Qing Dynasty. It exhibits the quintessence of the Chinese classical landscape gardening. The halls, the pavilions, the corridors, the pagodas, the bridges and the water were elaborately arranged. The long Corridor is one of the most exquisite structures in the garden. It is over 700 meters long and decorated with thousands of Chinese traditional paintings.

    In the afternoon, we will continue to visitTian’anmen Square,the largest public square in the world, then follow in the footsteps of emperors, court ministers and eunuchs and head south to the magnificent and colorfulForbidden City. Forbidden City Beijing, also called Imperial Palace Museum, is located in the very heart ofBeijing. It remained the residence of the emperors for nearly five hundred years, from the 15th century to the early 20th century, and was the actual and symbolic seat of imperial power. Popularly known as the Forbidden City, it was built in the Ming Dynasty between the 4th and the 18th years of the Yongle period (1406 - 1420 AD). Many of the buildings of the Palace have been repaired and rebuilt, but their basic form and layout remain in their original state. Welcome Peking Duck dinner will be followed by that - the capital's most famous dish. Once imperial cuisine, now the legendary duck dish is served at restaurants around the world. Hike toJingshan Park, where gives a nice panoramic view of the Forbidden City at the top of Coal Hill.

    In the late afternoon, enjoy aHutong rickshaw tour. As the Forbidden City is the symbol of China's royal family, the Hutongs in Beijing show the real life of the common people. When you visit Hutong by rickshaw, you could really taste the life of common people in Beijing. Lotus Market, located in Houhai area, famous for old hutong and modern bars. Free in the evening.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Beijing

    • Meals B

  • TEMPLE OF HEAVEN - MUTIANYU GREAT WALL

    After breakfast, we will go to see the local people doing their morning exercises in theTemple of Heaven. Then we will visit the Temple of Heaven. Temple of Heaven was the venue for the Ming and Qing emperors to offer sacrifices to the Heaven and pray for harvest. This temple was built in the 18th year during the reign of the Ming Emperor Yongle in 1420.

    Then we will drive to the Great Wall atMutianyu- the most beautiful section of the walls in Beijing. After lunch, Hike on the wall. travel back to the city to visit the Olympic Village: Bird Nest & Water Cube (outside of it) in the afternoon.

    Mutianyu Great Wall is one of the famous sections of China Great Wall. It was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, making it older than the Badaling section. In 1569, the Mutianyu Great Wall was rebuilt and till today most parts of it are well preserved. The Mutianyu Great Wall has the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall.Then back to Beijing downtown.

    After visit, directly transfer to Beijing railway station, take an overnight train to Datong.

    • Accommodation on the Train

    • Meals BD

  • DATONG: YUNGANG GROTTOES / HANGING TEMPLE

    Arrive in Datong in the morning, after Breakfast, visit to Yungang Grottoes. The Yungang Grottoes, with their 252 caves and 51,000 statues, represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries. Then visitthe Hanging Templewhich is near Datong city. If time is available we will also visit the old quarter of the town on your own forthe Nine-Dragon Walland some old streets before dinner.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Datong

    • Meals B

  • QIAO FAMILY COMPOUND / STAY IN PINGYAO OLD TOWN

    Drive from Datong towards Pingyao. On the way, we will visit thethe Qiao's Famaily Compound (Qiao Jia Da Yuan), situated in the central part of Qiaojiapu Village, Qi County. The family built the complex like a castle for safety considerations, as well as to create tranquil surroundings in which to relax, away from the furious competition of the business world. Then transfer to Pingyao Old Town. Spend the remainder time on your own.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Pingyao

    • Meals B

  • PINGYAO OLD TOWN / XI'AN

    The highlight of today's tour will be wandering around the old town of Pingyao, which was built according to the traditional Han Chinese town planning and architectural style. Four main streets, eight narrower ones and 72 small lanes formed a neat grid. The town's dwellings were built either in the style of courtyard houses or man-made cave-houses. Old temples and shops are still scattered all over the town which bring back memories of its flourishing past. In the afternoon, take a bullet train to Xi’an, upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and have a rest.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Xi’an

    • Meals B

  • XI'AN CITY TOUR

    After breakfast, we will drive to visit the magnificentQin Terra-cotta Armywith an extension to Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang,one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world: a life-size clay soldier poised for battle. Qin's tomb was built in about 2500 years ago and was filled with more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots and 520 horses as well as models of palaces, pavilions, fine vessels, precious stones and rarities. UNESCO listed it in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages. In the afternoon, drive back to Xian city.

    Continue to visit the Great Mosque, and Muslim Quarter.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Xi’an

    • Meals B

  • XI'AN - LUOYANG

    Breakfast served at hotel. In the morning, visit theAncient City Wall,which represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. Bicycle or sightseeing car will be arranged on the wall to go around. After that visit theBig Wild Goose Pagoda, and you will have chance to watch the North plaza fountain show.

    After lunch, visitShanxi History Museum.The Shanxi History Museum's permanent exhibition primarily displays Shaanxi's ancient history. Representative pieces from all periods have been selected to show the development of civilization in this region.

    In the afternoon, transfer to Xi’an North railway station, take a high-speed train to Luoyang. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel in Luoyang, check in and have a rest.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Luoyang

    • Meals B

  • LUOYANG - DENGFENG - LUOYANG

    This morning, take 1 hour drive to visit the famous Shaolin Temple and Pagoda Forest,we will watch a spicy show of Shaolin Kungfu during the visit.Shaolin Temple, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China, located near the base of Mount Songshan and has been included into the UNESCO World Heritage List. Shaolon Kung Fu is well known at home and abroad for its Zen culture and wonderful performance.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Luoyang

    • Meals B

  • LUOYANG - CHEGNDU

    After breakfast, check out the hotel, take a 2hrs drive to Luoyang, visitingLongmen Grottoes. The Longmen Grottoes are some of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art. Housing tens of thousands of statues of Buddha and his disciples in Hénán province, China. There are as many as 100,000 statues within the 2,345 caves. Starting with the Northern Wei Dynasty in 493 AD. In 2000 the site was inscribed upon the UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity,” for its perfection of an art form, and for its encapsulation of the cultural sophistication of Tang China.

    After a late lunch, transfer to Luoyang railway station, take a high-speed train to Chengdu. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel in Chengdu, check in and have a rest.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Chengdu

    • Meals B

  • CHENGDU

    In the morning, we will go to theChengdu Research center of Panda Breedingto have a real chance to get intimate interaction with lovely panda, Today, we will have local Hot Pot for lunch, and visitWenshu Templein the afternoon, where you can spend some time sitting in its tea house to enjoy a cup of tea and absorb the special atmosphere of Chengdu.

    In the late afternoon, wandering around thelocal market and bar street Jinli, take local delicacies yourselves and enjoy the leisure life with local people.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Chengdu

    • Meals B

  • LESHAN - CHENGDU

    Take a short drive to visit theLeshan Giant Buddha, the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world, carved into the side of Mount Lingyun.

    After lunch, take a 1.5hrs drive toHuanglongxiwhichis an ancient town with a history of more than 1,700 years. Situated in Shuangliu County, 30 kilometers southeast from Chengdu, it is greatly admired by visitors for its beautiful natural scenery and ancient Chinese culture.

    At the end of visit, drive to Chengdu Shuangliu airport, take flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and have a rest.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Chengdu

    • Meals B

  • CHENGDU - GUILIN

    After breakfast, drive to the airport to catch a flight to Guilin. Arrive in Guilin, a small city with great natural beauty of south China.

    Your guide in Guilin will meet you at the exit of the airport, then drive to a 3/4 star hotel in center Guilin. This afternoon, enjoy your relaxing city tour covering theReed Flute Cave, the most famous limestone cave in this area and good example of the Karst Formation with distinctly-colored stalactites.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Guilin

    • Meals B

  • GUILIN - ZHAOXING

    After breakfast,directly transfer to Guilin Bei Railway Station. Take a bullet train to Zhaoxing Dong village (56mins ride). Surrounded by the high mountains, Zhaoxing is one of the largest Dong villages in the region, with more than 700 households and a population of 4000. The Dong can be recognized by their turbans (for men), and pleated skirts (for women). They are also best-known for their architecture, particularly their drum towers, and wind and rain bridges (Feng Yuqiao), which are pavilions for sheltering people during bad weather.

    Walk around Zhaoxing Dong Village and have a family visit in a local house. Then learn a traditional folk handicraft -Tie-dyewith local people.

    After a late lunch, do a 3hrs hike to one of the small villages nearby for their special celebration activities if there are.

    Evening: Enjoy the famous “ Grand Song” performance of Dong

    • Accommodation guesthouse in Zhaoxing

    • Meals B

    • Time 56mins riding; 3hrs hiking

  • ZHAOXING - LONGSHENG

    Morning:After breakfast, transfer to Congjiang railway station, and take abullet trainback to Guilin(08:48am-10:04am). Upon arrival, take1.5~2hrs drive to witness one of the most beautiful terraces in China, Longji Terraces and have an excursion there for ethnic minority culture.

    As soon as you get to the entrance of Longji, change the local shuttle bus for another 30 minutes uphill to Longji Ancient Zhuang Village, then start your hiking to Pingan Zhuang Village where your hotel is located. This hike route is quite non-touristy, during which you will enjoy the picturesque and peaceful rural life, and view the rice terraces from different angles and take a look at how farmers do their farm work. The hiking distance is around 4 kilometers with some small ups and downs, the ascent is about 60 meters, and you may need one hour to cover it. It would be a warm-up for the next 3-day hiking tour. After check in the hotel in Pingan Village, if time permits, we can hike on the cobbled paths built among terraces to catch the best landscape.

    • Accommodation guesthouse in Longsheng

    • Meals B

    • Time 1h hiking

  • LONGSHENG - YANGSHUO

    Have a big breakfast for today and be prepared for the 5-hour hiking along Li River. Leave the stunning rice terraces behind and start to walk 30 minutes down to the parking lot, while mist shrouds the mountain making it a scene of wonderland. The driver will transfer you to the foot of Mount Hebao, and start your walking along the beautiful Li River to Xingping. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the Li River section from Yangdi to Xingping is the best. On both sides there are farmlands, orchards and trees, water buffalos patrolling the fields, further away gorgeous Karst peaks of all shapes which will give you surprises at each bend of the limpid river under the blue sky. You will take a ferry to get to Xingping Town, a well-preserved fishing village. From there you will meet the vehicle and transfer to your hotel in Yangshuo.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Yangshuo

    • Distance 12km

    • Meals B

    • Time 4-5hrs hiking

  • YANGSHUO - GUILIN - SHANGHAI

    Morning:Try to get up early and relax yourself on the narrowBamboo Raftsbathing in the sun. The 1.5 hours’ rafting on Yulong River will give a fascinating insight into life in rural China. After that,bike onto the country roadsthrough the paddy field and orchards surrounded by mountains, enjoy the breathtaking views including the delicateMoon Hilland you may stop to take pictures on the way. Your countryside trip ends up with an interesting traditional lunch.

    Afternoon:After lunch, transfer to the airport, take a flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel in center Shanghai, check in and have a rest.

    Free in the evening.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Shanghai

    • Meals B

  • SHANGHAI CITY TOUR

    After breakfast, drive to visit Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Nanjing Road, the Bund.

    Yu Gardenis one of the most famous gardens in China and is national heritage listed. It was built in 1559 and extended in 1577. Each section of the garden is separated by curved white walls crowned with the head and body of a dragon on them. It's named after the original owner.

    Jade Buddha Temple,which is famous for the seated Buddha, encrusted with jewels, which is said to weigh 1,000 kg

    The Bund:Also called the Zhongshan Road, is a Famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It was the centre of Shanghai’s politics, economy and culture hundreds of years ago, consulates of most countries and many banks, businesses and newspaper offices were settled there.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Shanghai

    • Meals B

  • SHANGHAI CITY TOUR

    Today we will first go to visitShanghai Museum, it used to be near the Bund. It is now situated in People's Square and its new buildings were built in 1996, designed by a Shanghai architect named Xing Tonghe. The new design symbolizes China's ancient understanding of the world: round sky and square earth. The museum has a circular roof and rectangular base. It stores 120,000 precious artifacts, which narrate a story of China's 5,000-year civilization.

    The Oriental Pearl TV Toweris unquestionably an icon of Pudong’s renaissance. Looming through the mist, like a reproduction of a classical Chinese ink painting of landscape, stands Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Its soaring height of 468 meters boldly characterizes the Lujiazui cityscape.

    • Accommodation economy hotel in Shanghai

    • Meals B

  • SHANGHAI - HOME

    After breakfast, transfer to the airport and take the flight back home.

    • Meals B

 

Additional details

1. Before you pay deposit to book the tour, we haven’t made any reservation yet. The train, flight tickets and the hotel may different from the itinerary listed.

2. The visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary may change according to the traffic condition and other unforeseen things.

3. Tourist insurance is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.


The price includes

1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary

2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary: Hutong rickshaw in Beijing; Sichuan Opera show in Chengdu;

3. Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.

4. Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), include Peking duck dinner in Beijing; Hot pot dinner in Chengdu.

5. Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available

6. Hotel: hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with king-size bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast

7. Internal flights
** Day 11/   Flight from Yichang to Shanghai (based on economy class);
8. Trains
** Day 04/   High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an (based on 2nd class);
** Day 06/   High speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu (based on 2nd class)
** Day 06/   High speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (based on 2nd class)

9. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges

10. Travel Agency Liability insurance


The price does not include

1. International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China

2. China entry visa fees

3. Excess baggage charges

4. The medicine for the sickness or accident while on the way

5. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary

6. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary

7. Single room supplement

8. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival

9. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day).

10. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.


Payment conditions

To confirm your reservation, you must pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount due via the payment link that your local agent will share. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. The quoted exchange rate is valid for the next 7 days – if the deposit is not paid within this time, the quote will be re-calculated.


Terms and conditions for cancelation

i. Cancellation of the Tour by CAT (local agent):

CAT reserve the right to cancel the postpone tour at any time up to the date final payment is due under the following condition: in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. And in this case, all money paid by the participants will be refunded. If the tour is postponed, CAT will offer all those who have signed up the opportunity to have the same tour for a later time, but the price may be changed according to the season. We will notify you of any change, and give you a reasonable period

of time to make your decision. Consumers may, but are under no obligation to, take the tour under these new terms. After final payment has been made, we may cancel the tour only if, in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. Since cancellation in this case involves factors which may arise suddenly and are entirely outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest and epidemic disease, we cannot guarantee a full refund in this case. This is because payment will already have been made to finalize the arrangements and reservation.

ii. Cancellation of the Tour by Consumer:

Any cancellation must be made by sending an email to the local agent. The cancellation fee varies according to how many days prior to departure the cancellation is made:

   ·  More than 30 days prior to departure: 5% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Between 30 and 22 days prior to departure : 25% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Between 21 and 8 days prior to departure : 50% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Between 7 and 3 days prior to departure : 75% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Less than 3 days prior to departure and after the departure date: 100% of the total holiday cost

All cancellations must be in writing and will be effective upon receipt by CAT. No refund will be made to those participants who break the journey regardless of the portions of the package unused. If, owing to serious illness or injury, the participant withdraws from the tour, a refund will be subject to the consent of the local travel agent.

No refund will be made to those participants who have failed to secure valid travel documents such as passport or visas.

 

Holiday Information

 

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