14 Days Minority Experience to the Southwest

Day 1

Arrival Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, the capital city of China, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
Meals: No Meals
Accommodation: In Beijing

Beijing, China capital and one of the great travel destinations of the World, offers sights and cultural relics found no where else on Earth. The city has a character all its own; there are quadrangles, small alleys, tricycle, boiled mutton, roasted duck, arts and crafts, Peking Opera, The Great Wall, the 2008 Olympics venue and a vibrancy that is the distinctive flavor of Beijing.

Day 2

Beijing
Depart from your hotel in the morning to visit Tian'anmen Square, the World's largest urban square and the Forbidden City, the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Then visit the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. Peking Opera is available for your optional night entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

As the biggest city center square in the world, Tian'anmen Square covering 44 hectares in the heart of Beijing. It is the place where history-changing events and ceremonies occurred. A few steps away, come to visit the Forbidden City, which was the Imperial Palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and, it is one of the largest, and certainly the most completely restored, ancient architectural complex in the world. Walk in the footsteps of Emperors; come to the museum and see with your eyes, and feel with your hearts; you'll begin understand what life in this richest of feudal realms was like for the Imperial Rulers, their concubines and their slaves.

After enjoying a delicious lunch, continue on to the Temple of Heaven. Departing from the Imperial vermilion and gold hues of the Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven is decorated in blue, the color of the Heavens. The perfect harmony between the architectural environment and nature can be felt here; you might easily imagine the vivid spectacle of a great sacrifice to the Heavens for a good harvest. The magnificent Hall of Prayer of Good Harvest is one of the most important and impressive building in China.

In the evening, we offer you an opportunity to enjoy Peking Opera. Expert performers convey powerful emotions to the audience through song, dance, facial make-up, exquisite masks and costume, skilled use of body language and sympathetically integrated musical accompaniment.  

Day 3

Beijing
The star attraction of China is its Great Wall, a massive defensive structure built to keep intruders from entering the mainland. Today you will have the opportunity to traverse the ancient steps of Mutianyu Great Wall. Then drive back to the city for Summer Palace. If you desire, enjoy optional Peking Roasted Duck as your dinner..  
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, making it older than the Badaling section. It is connected with Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi and Jinshanling in the east. In 1569, the Mutianyu Great Wall was rebuilt, mainly with granite and is one of the best-preserved sections with the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall, being 7-8 meters high and 4-5 meters wide with 22 watchtowers on this 2,250-meter-long section. It served as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs.

Originally known as the "Garden of Clear Ripples", the Summer Palace is a magnificent imperial garden located 15 km north of Beijing City. This is the largest ancient preserved garden in China and a former summer retreat for Emperors and the chosen few! The site includes more than 100 ancient style pavilions, mansions, towers, halls, temples, bridges and an enormous clear water lake. What is most enjoyable about the Summer Palace, it is simply a gorgeous place to relax, escape the smoke and crowds of the city and spend an afternoon walking. It is said one could just as easily spend one week out here as one afternoon. Here is a rare chance in Beijing, to lose the crowds and 'clear away the cobwebs'.

For today optional dinner, how about taste the famous Peking Roasted Duck, as it is the best-known dish in Beijing. It is very tender and unforgettably delicious. You'll visit a local restaurant to enjoy a full meal and learn the proper way to experience Peking Roasted Duck. From the whole roasted duck to the soup of duck bones, you will enjoy a banquet made from every part of the duck. Moreover, the chef will demonstrate his skill of cutting the skin of the duck for your entertainment.
 

Day 4

Beijing    Guiyang
After half-day's Hutong Tour by rickshaw to visit the ancient lanes and alleyways of Beijing, and be transferred to the airport for a 1.5hours flying to Guiyang, then be transferred to the hotel to catch up on some rest for the expedition in Guizhou.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Guiyang

If exploring the Forbidden City has improved your understanding of the lifestyles of China's ancient Imperial Court, then this half-day Hutong Tour will give you an insight into the lives of ordinary Chinese people and reveal their social culture in today Beijing City. The narrow streets of old Beijing are known as Hutongs. You will take a rickshaw tour along the Hutongs and see the 100-year-old houses, courtyards and a vanishing way of life in today Beijing.

Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, is located at the east of the Yunnan- Guizhou Plateau in the southwest of China. The city features low latitude, high elevation and diversified landforms. In the subtropical zone, Guiyang enjoys a warm and moist climate, which endowed the city with abundant biological resources. 
 

Day 5

Guiyang    Kaili
After breakfast, you will take driving to Kaili and then visit Kaili Folk Museum and Matang Ge Village upon the arrival.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: In Kaili

Kaili is the capital city of Qiandongnan Autonomous Prefecture in Guizhou. It has a population of approximately 450,000, and the area is 1,306 square meter. It is home of Miao and Ge ethnic groups. As the home to minority groups, Kaili host more than 100 Miao festivals throughout the year. It is a popular destination for backpackers and others seeking to experience rural China.

Kaili Folk Museum has a collection of over ten thousand items of different ethnic groups in the area. It boasts an ideal place to view the ethnic culture at a glance.

Ge people in the Matang Ge Village are a rarely known group with a population of 10,000 or so. What make them unique are their unique costumes. The Ge girls' wearing which is similar in style and design to the clothes that the ancient Chinese generals once wore. The wax-dyed kerchief looks like a general's helmet; their outer coat looks like armor; the silverware on their body takes the form of a sword, knife and hammer.
 

Day 6

Kaili    Rongjiang
Depart from Kaili, you will be transferred to Rongjiang in the morning and visit Langde Miao Village and Chejiang Drum Tower on the way. Stay overnight at Rongjiang.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: In Rongjiang

Langde Miao Village is 30km away from Kaili City. It is featured by the long-shirt villagers and their house named Diao Jiao Lou. Supported by several wood pillars under the floor, this kind of house usually has two to four layers. The upper layer is for provision storage, middle people's living and the ground floor livestock. Seen from a long distance, the houses in the oily green trees are like the mirage.
 

Day 7

Rongjiang    Zhaoxing
Driving to Zhaoxing via Congjiang, you will have chance to visit Basha Miao Village on the way, and then, upon arrival, take a look around Zhaoxing Dong Village. Stay overnight at Zhaoxing.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: In Zhaoxing

Biasha Miso Village is 7km from Congjiang County, and the village here keeping the vast majority of Miao's original character. The custom of drinking a bowl of mandatory rice wine has been remained among Miao villages. One of the distinguishing features of Miao's culture is that they pass down their history by embroidery for there is no available written language. The Miao women, known for their fine embroidery skill, begin to make their own ceremonial clothing since they have fully learnt the art in early ages. Lusheng, a kind of Chinese wind instrument, is highly developed by Miao.

Zhaoxing is famous for its Dong Villages which is the largest in China. Each village here has at least one drum tower, a wooden structure built without nails and can erect as tall as 30 meters. As the focal point of the whole town, it is the place villagers holding the special events and ceremonies such as the wedding and public meeting. Dong people here has a long history started from 1160. Because there is no written language, the song becomes a very important part in their daily life.
 

Day 8

Zhaoxing    Sanjiang
Drive to Sanjiang Dong Autonomous after breakfast, you will then take a visit to Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge and Drum Tower in Sanjiang after arrival. Stay overnight at Sanjiang.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: In Sanjiang

As one of the five Dong minority autonomous counties in China, Sanjiang has the largest population of the Dong people. Therefore, Sanjiang boasts the Dong people's distinctive architecture –the Wind and Rain Bridge and the drum tower.

Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge also called Yongji or Panlong Bridge, was built in 1916. It is a wood-and-stone architecture, a complicated structure without any smallest error It is 76 meters long and 3.7 meters wide with 5 stone piers covered by wooden board. On the bridge, there is a long corridor as rain shelter with long benches on both sides. Passengers can take a rest and shelter from rain. On the five piers, there are five four-floor Dong styled tower-like double-eave pavilions, which are covered with cyan tiles and white eaves. The whole bridge is in the shape of crescent and likes a golden phoenix spreading its wings before flying. The pavilion in the middle is hexagon and has a pyramidal roof. The pavilions on the two ends are like magnificent palaces with pyramidal roofs with gourd-shaped top. The westernmost one has gable and hip roof. There are many Dong styled patterns on the corridors and eaves. Chengyang Bridge is not only full of Dong flavor in the shape, but also has superb craftsmanship in the structure. Meanwhile, it is beautiful and magnificent and demonstrates the high level of the Dongs' architectural design.

Each village in Sanjiang has at least one drum tower to summon people, and, when there's any emergency, like a fire or an attack, people would beat the drum as an alarm, and because of the design of the structure, the sound would be amplified and could be heard miles. Among approximately 160 drum towers in the region, the Mapang Drum Tower is the most famous and typical one. With the foundation of 169 square meters, the tower has nine upturned eaves, and each eave is carved with flowers, grass, fish, birds, and characters. Inside the tower, there are four indoor pillars made of fir that extend all the way to the top floor. Surrounding the four pillars are a group of twelve mid-sized pillars symbolizing prosperity for the village during a year. 
 

Day 9

Sanjiang    Longsheng
Continue your driving to Longsheng in the morning. On arrival, take a view for the famous Longji Rice Terrace and Ping'an Zhuang Village there. Stay overnight at Longji.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: In Longsheng

Longji Rice Terraces are reached from Guilin by mountain roads amid spectacular scenery. With a history of more than 700 years, the area is still being used for growing premium quality rice by Yao and Zhuang villagers. The rice terraces are built into the hillsides and look like great steps cut into the slopes as they wind around the mountainsides. This ingenious construction makes best use of the scarce arable land and water resources in the mountainous area.

The Rice Terraces are much prettier after the rain, as the morning fog is clearing or while rice is being harvested. If you like to paint or photograph dramatic, beautiful landscapes, this would be a superb destination in which to practice your art; or come here anyway just to look, gaze in awe, and take it all in; it is a Guilin must-see!

Ping'an is a Zhuang minority village high up in the mountains at Longji. The village is only accessible by foot, and from across the valley, the visitor has a first impression of entering another land as the buildings, clustered around the hillside, are all two story wooden structures resembling a European Alpine village. This is the traditional Zhuang style house and among them there are excellent guest houses that can cater to all your practical needs. Ping An is surrounded by beautiful terraced rice fields. From a distance, the terraces look like contour lines on a topographical map, texturing the ridges, mountainsides and valleys. It is a charming environment that will have the most demanding photographer constantly busy and wearing a slightly demented grin.
 

Day 10

Longsheng    Guilin
In the morning, take about 2.5hours driving to Guilin. Upon arrival, be transferred to the hotel to catch up some rest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Guilin

Guilin is world-famous for its serene landscape, Karst limestone formations, mist-covered hills and bamboo groves. It is home to more than ten ethnic groups, including Han, Zhuang, Miao, Yao, Hui and Dong. On the way from the airport to your hotel, you will see dozens of pretty hills everywhere in the city of Guilin. It is a city of hills and green trees and boasts one of the most photographed areas of China.
 

Day 11

Guilin      Yangshuo    Guilin
Depart from hotel in the morning, you will be transferred to the Pier for the Li River Cruise (about 4 hours and the lunch will be served on board). Savor the fairy-tale scenery when sail down the meandering river to Yangshuo. Be transferred back to Guilin in the late afternoon. Optional Banquet of Rice Noodle and Longji Minority Show are available tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Guilin

A double-decker river boat is waiting for you to have a Li River Cruise. The landscape from Guilin to Yangshuo is truly a masterpiece of nature. The crystal waters, straight-out-of-a-painting mountains, peaceful farm fields, hard-working-but- ever-smiling fishermen and wandering water buffaloes inspire poetic musings of Guilin charming life. Under the blue sky, your river boat transports you in an unending daydream. 

Guilin Rice Noodle is the most popular snack in Guilin. If you want to know Guilin culture deeply, it is a recommended choice for you to taste the Banquet of Rice Noodle as your optional dinner. The thing that sets one dish apart from another is the soup, which is made of pork, steak, Lo Han Kuo, and other seasonings. Depending on different kinds of ingredients used in the soup, rice noodles can be divided into vegetable, three-fresh, original soup, spicy and sour, beef, and horse meat ones.

Tonight, after the dinner, how about choose the Longji Minority Show as your optional night show? Taking Longji Terraced Rice Paddies as the cultural background, this grand show of minority nationality songs and dances is made with all great efforts. Combined harmoniously with the minority folk lifestyle and customs from the Miao, Yao, Dong and Zhuang nationalities, the show will be all-side unfolded before your eyes.
 

Day 12

Guilin    Shanghai
Be transferred to the airport for the flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, be transferred tot he hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Shanghai

Shanghai is a city unlike any other in China. It is the bustling economic heartbeat of China that enjoys all of the comforts and amenities of a fully modern metropolis. Shanghai today looks to regain its former position at the turn of 20th of being one of the largest financial centers in the world behind New York and London. It is a city that seamlessly blends East and West.
 

Day 13

Shanghai
Depart from hotel in the morning, you will then have a whole-day trip of Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, the Old Street, Oriental TV Tower and the Bund, Shanghai famed waterfront promenade. Traditional Dim-sum Banquet and Acrobatics are available for your optional lunch and night entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Shanghai

Today you'll find a Buddhism shrine - Jade Buddha Temple, which is located in a crowd of Shanghai City. It was first built in 1882 in Jiangwan on the southern outskirts of Shanghai. In order to make it convenient for the adherents to visit, it was bodily moved to Shanghai City at the present sire in 1918. It is named for its two bejeweled white jade Buddha. It receives thousands of visitors and worshipers everyday while keeps its sanctity and charming. Carved from a whole piece of white jade, the sitting jade Buddha statue is translucent with a solemn expression, displaying the excellent skill and extraordinary art of Chinese people.

Yuyuan Garden has a lot of stories for it was severely damaged in the 19th century and was restored in 1961. This garden was first built in the 16th century by provincial governor, Pan Yunduan, in honor of his father who was the then government minister. It has many scenic courtyards decorated with baroque rockery, pools, and flora that are all connected by corridors and passageways. The delicate design and exquisite layout of the whole garden reveals a strong impression of 'garden in the garden, whole in the part.

Completed in 1995 to a highly innovative design, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower includes 15 spheres of different sizes at different levels creating an artistic conception of "large and small pearls dropping onto a jade plate" in ancient Chinese poem. It has become a symbol of excellence in architecture and is a favourite sight for tourists in Shanghai. Viewed from the Bund at night, the tower's three-dimensional lighting creates an enchanting, brilliantly coloured display. At 468 meters, it is the third tallest TV and radio tower in the World. Two of the six tower elevators can reach the highest sphere in 40 seconds; here the visitor will discover shops, a rotating restaurant and a sightseeing floor. The view of Shanghai from here is breath-taking. 

The Bund is the showcase with the old buildings of colonial-era leftover along Huangpu River. The renowned waterfront district is the city's most famous landmark. The word BUND is of Anglo-India origin meaning embankment on the waterfront. It is also the popular site to enjoy the night view of the city.

Shanghai offers colorful recreations with rich contents and creative form. Your night may be filled with an interactive old form of art known as the Acrobatics. Those professional performers have been trained of as early as age six or seven so that they can play so well and excellent. It definitely will be an unforgettable night in your memory.
 

Day 14

Departure Shanghai
The day is free for leisure activities until we board the home bound International flight.
Meals: Breakfast

Service Ends