11 Days Soul of China Tour

Arrive in the China's capital - Beijing. You will be picked up and sent to the hotel. The rest of the day is for your own arrangement, whether to get ride of tiredness from the flight/train, or to get some impression of the city by strolling among the streets nearby.

Next morning starting with one of Beijing's must-sees - Tiananmen Square, symbol of the nation, which is the world's largest city square. Then you will immerse into the history in the imperial palace - Forbidden City, the best-preserved collection of imperial architecture in China. The massive scale, majestic design and numerous historical antiques will surely win your "wow". Another famous imperial complex is the Summer Palace, once serving as the summer getaway for the royal family. You can let yourself free in this splendid classical garden.

Take a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a complex of Taoism where annual Heaven worship for good harvest was presented during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Explore the cosmic harmonies carried by the complex. 

Of course you will not miss the Great Wall during your Beijing tour. Badaling Great Wall, the most popular section, snakes 3,741m (12,273ft) in length with an average height of 7.8m (25.6ft). Don't forget to wear a pair of good shoes for the walking.

At the heart and soul of Beijing, there is also a populace culture - Hutong Culture. Hop on a rickshaw through the narrow alleyways and deep courtyards is without doubt a wonderful way to explore the genuine local life. You can even take a visit to the family at the Hutong to have a closer touch with the locals, and make dumplings by yourself.

Enjoy your dumpling lunch and in the afternoon fly to Xi'an. The local tour guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel for checking in.

Meet with the legendary ancient arm force Terrcotta Warriors (including the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor). This UNESCO World Cultural Heritage has a history of over 2,200 years, and is reputed as the eighth wonder of the ancient world.

Muslim culture is another highlight of Xi'an City. The Great Mosque, one of the largest and best preserved early mosques in China, shows you a special blend of Chinese elements and mosque architectural style. The neighboring Muslim Quarter is the main gathering place of the local Muslim community, where various exotic shops and savory restaurants stand in lines for your visit.

For an extensive view of China's over 5,000-year history, you should not miss the Shaanxi History Museum. The museum houses over 370,000 items including murals, paintings, pottery, coins and objects made of bronze, gold and silver.

The Bell Tower of Xi'an, a symbol of the city and one of the grandest of its kind in China, is also worth visiting. Then take a walk on the 600-year-old Ancient City Wall, another emblem of this ancient capital city. It's one of the largest well-preserved ancient military defensive systems in the world.

After the visit, you will be transferred to the airport heading for Guilin. The Guilin tour guide will pick you up and send you to the hotel for rest.

Reed Flute Cave, a marvelous vision in Guilin that the great Nature creates, is a fascinating gallery of limestone cave formations. Elephant Trunk Hill, shaped like a huge elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River to quench its thirst, is a classic of Karst landscape and reputed as the symbol of Guilin.

Apart from the beautiful Karst landscape, you will also set on a journey to explore Guilin as a city with a time-honored history. The Ancient South Gate is a remnant of the old walled city of Guilin, with a history of over 1,300 years' history. The nearby Banyan Lake and Fir Lake are also on your visit-list.

Take a boat tour on the picturesque Li River today. Cruising down the river, you will encounter breathtaking views of fantastic peaks of all shapes and sizes, bamboo groves, and feel the breeze blowing past you and the cool water running through your fingers. It's more like a traditional Chinese painting.

The cruise will take you along a 54km stretch of the river from Zhujiang Dock to Yangshuo which is a mecca for backpackers and more like a vacation town with an exotic blend of Eastern and Western cultures. The best place to experience this special city is the West Street, an ancient street with a history of over 1,400 years. It welcomes countless guests from all over the world, thus winning a nickname as "Foreigners' Street".

Take a bicycle ride around the idyllic Yangshuo, passing the local villages, along the bamboo-lined rivers and paddy fields. It's really an ideal way to get closer to the local people and their daily life while enjoy the pastoral landscapes.

In the afternoon, you will be sent to the Guilin Airport and fly to Shanghai.

You will first visit the "Architectural Miracle in the South Region of Yangtze River" - Yuyuan Garden, and its neighboring bazaar - Yuyuan Market. Nanjing Road is a famous commercial street where various all-in-one shopping malls and savory restaurants line up on both sides, just like waiting for your inspection. 

At the top of the world-renowned Oriental Pearl Tower, you can enjoy a bird's eye view of this vibrant city, whether in daytime or at night. It's also where the Shanghai Municipal History Museum lies. Opposite the Oriental Pearl Tower is another landmark of Shanghai - The Bund, where you can take in the view of the most flourishing area of the city.