22 Days Follow the China Bank Note

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's 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 (40min), the World's largest urban square and then you will have chance to take a visit for the Great Hall of the People, which is the very place been printed on the back of 100 Yuan cash of the 5th set RMB. After that, continue your trip to Forbidden City (2hours), the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Enjoy a traditional Chinese lunch in a nearby restaurant, then you will continue your visit to After that, how about take a leisure stroll along the famous commercial street-Wangfujing. Peking Opera is available for your optional night entertainment. 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

Tips: As the Great Hall of the People is the place holding national conferences, thus during the conference period (to be requested), it may not open to tourists. You can then just take a outside view, or we will then offer alternative activities for your choice.

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.

Just a few steps to the west, come to visit The Great Hall of the People. Covers an area of 150,000 square meters, this solemn construction is larger than the Forbidden City. It is the important place where the Party, the state and the people's organizations held political activities. It consists of the Central Hall, Guest Hall, Banquet Hall and provincial halls.

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.

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
In the morning, take a driving for 75km to visit the Great Wall (Badaling Section) first, then Ming Tombs (Changling Tomb), the once lavish burial chambers of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Peking Roasted Duck is available for your optional dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing

Just 75km North-west of Beijing, along a smooth and comfortable highway is the Badaling Great Wall, which is one of the best-preserved and most accessible sections. The Great Wall is an internationally admired structure, symbolic of the cruelty of the ancient rulers, and the stoicism and determination of the Chinese people. The construction of the Great Wall began in the 5th century BC.

Then, you will have chance to visit the Ming Tombs which located in the northern suburbs of Beijing. Altogether there are thirteen tombs of Ming Dynasty Emperors from the period after the capital was moved from Nanjing to Beijing. You’ll visit the Changling Tomb, burial site of Emperor Yong Le, the biggest and first built at this historic site. The Lingsi Palace in Changling Tomb's second yard really deserves a visit. This is unique, a magnificent palace made of camphor wood. The ceiling is colorfully painted and supported by sixteen solid camphor posts. The floor is decorated with gold bricks. 

For today’s 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'll 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    Mt. Taishan
In the morning you will take a leisure visiting to the Temple of Heaven, which been listed into The World Heritage List in 1998. After lunch, you will be transferred to the railway station for your express train to Mt. Taishan, which been printed on the back of 5 Yuan cash of the 5th set RMB.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Mt. Taishan City

After enjoying a delicious lunch, continue on to the Temple of Heaven. This palace 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.
 

Day 5

Mt. Taishan    Jinan
Get up early, you will then be transferred to Mt. Taishan scenic area for your one day visiting there. Firstly, take a short drive to Tianwaicun area, you will then change the specified vehicle up to Zhongtianmen Gate, from where you can choose taking table car (15min) or even climbing yourselves (2.5hours) to the top of Mt. Taishan, which be considered as the ‘leader of Five Scared Mountains’, for a bird view from that height. In the later afternoon, get down the mountain, you will then take a short driving (1 hour) to Jinan, the "Spring City".
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: On the train

Mt. Taishan, with its solemn features and over 1532 meters (5,029 feet) height, be considered as the ‘leader of Five Scared Mountains’ since ancient time. And also, poets, literators and officials through the years, were writing to appreciate its beauty and spirit. In 1987, it was listed in the World Natural and Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO in 1987.

The name "Jinan" literally means "south of the Ji River" and refers to the old Ji River that had flowed to the north of the city until the middle of the 19th century, though it has disappeared in 1852 when the Yellow River changed its course northwards and took over its bed. The area of present-day Jinan has been inhabited for more than 4000 years. Jinan has its own cuisine, the Jinan style of the Lu cuisine, one the Eight Culinary Traditions of China. Known as the "City of Springs", Jinan is abundant in large number of natural artesian springs. The majority of the springs, many of which have been historically listed under the "72 Famous Springs", are concentrated in the downtown district and flow north to converge in Daming Lake. 
 

Day 6

Jinan    Xian
Today, before heading to Xian, you will have a short city tour in Jinan for its famous Baotu Spring Park, one of the most famous tourism sites there, and then the Daming Lake. In the afternoon, be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xian.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Xian

The Baotu Spring Park is the most famous springs in the City. Besides the Baotu Spring, the park contains several other springs that are listed among the "72 Famous Springs". "Baotu" means "jumping and leaping" in Chinese. The water in the spring pool can be seen foaming and gushing, just look like a pot of boiling water. The spring was visited by the Emperor Qian Long (A.D 1711-A.D 1799) of the Qing Dynasty who declared it "the first spring under the Heaven". A tablet with the Emperor's handwriting "Baotu Spring" has since been erected beside the spring pool.

Daming Lake, which literally translates as Lake of Great Light, is the largest lake in this city. Located to the north of the historical city center, the lake is fed by the artesian Karst springs of the area and hence retains a fairly constant water level through the entire year. The lake is mentioned in the ancient "Commentary on the Waterways Classic" by Northern Wei Dynasty writer and geographer Li Daoyuan.

Xian, steeped in history and still giving up secrets, is your gateway to ancient Chinese civilization. In its 3,100 recorded years of evolution, it has been home to 13 dynasties. Xian was also the end of civilization for those setting out on the famous Silk Road. Today’s Xian is a vibrant, modern city, but surrounded by history, even underfoot! So there can be no underground railways due to the obligation to preserve the wealth of ancient treasure still awaiting discovery.
 

Day 7

Xian
After breakfast, starting your full day trip with the visit to the Qin Terra-cotta Army, where you will find 6,000 terra-cotta soldiers standing in battle formation guard the tomb of the very first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Then continue your visit to Xian City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Today, you can choose to enjoy Tang Dynasty Show with dinner as an optional activity.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Xian
 
As an ancient capital city to 13 dynasties, Xian has a rich recorded history, frequently enhanced by the evidence of new discoveries, like the 1974 unearthing of the fabulous Qin Terracotta Army, the long forgotten army created to guard Emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb. In accordance with ancient beliefs, this grand project was mounted at enormous cost by the cruel and tyrannical Emperor, only to be attacked, plundered, burnt and buried after his funeral by the peasants who’d labored under the whip to build it.  Then, over two thousand years later, this “Eighth Wonder of the World” was rediscovered by farmers digging a well. The fine troops, horses and carriages in battle formation are a National ancient art treasure. Three excavation pits are now opened to the public and a fourth is nearing completion.  You can, like US President Clinton, now gaze in wonder upon this historic site, listed by UNESCO in 1987 as a world cultural heritage.

The Xian City Wall, which stretches round the old city, be considered as the landmark for years. Xian was always a walled city, and today’s wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.  The first city wall of Chang'an was begun in 194 BCE. The existing wall was started during the Ming Dynasty in 1370; it is massive, measuring 13.7 km in circumference, 12 m in height, and 15–18 m in thickness at the base. The South Gate and North Gate are the two main entrances to the inner city. The city itself is neatly arranged along the city wall.  This impressive structure is just a precursor to the remarkable discoveries awaiting visitors to Xian.    

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty and originally had five stories, although the structure was rebuilt in 704 during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian and its exterior brick facade renovated during the Ming Dynasty. One of the pagoda's many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and travelers Xuanzang. Now this well-preserved holy place for Buddhist has been the symbol of Xian.

Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner that was created for “emperors only” in ancient China. If you are insterested, you can choose it as an optional activity tonight. So you'll enjoy the sumptuous dinner while watching a fabulous dancing and singing performance of the Tang Dynasty. This is not only a performance of Chinese traditional dancing and singing, but a re-enactment of Chinese ancient ceremony and culture.
 

Day 8

Xian    Lhasa
Enjoy your own free time and get ready for your Lhasa tour. You will be then transferred to the airport to board a short flight to Lhasa, capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Lhasa is the capital of Tibet. Located at the foot of Mt. Gephel, Lhasa’s altitude is 3,490 m and the air contains only 68% of oxygen compared to sea level. Traditionally, Lhasa is the seat of the Dalai Lama, and the location of the Potala Palace and Norbulingka Palace. In Tibetan Buddhism the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is regarded as the holiest centre in Tibet.
 

Day 9

Lhasa
Taking a visit to Lhasa, a trip to Potala Palace is a must, which been printed on the back of 50 Yuan cash of the 5th set RMB. It’s the largest monastery of its type in the world and is the highest elevation palace of the world, which the altitude is up to 3700 meters. Then move to Jokang Monastery, where monks receive their official training and education. Near the Jokang Monastery is Barkhor Street. Walk along this street of eight corners which will afford us a window into Tibetan culture and an opportunity to buy colorful ethnic handicrafts rarely seen outside of Tibet.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Tips: When you enter into a temple or monastery in Tibet, please take off your hats at the entrance to show your respects and follow the clockwise direction for visiting. No smoking, do not touch the Buddha statues, turn the Buddhism scriptures or toll the bell.

The awe-inspiring Potala Palace, perched high above much of Lhasa, is the landmark of the city. The palace which consists of the Red Palace, the White Palace and some attached buildings was a complex of political and religious function. Now it is a huge treasure house for materials and articles of Tibetan history, religion, culture and arts.

The Red Palace contains various chapels and mausoleums for previous Dalai Lamas. The White Palace contains the living quarters of successive Dalai Lamas and their tutors. The offices of the old Tibetan government and their assembly halls are also located here. The Potala is full of elaborate artwork and frescos that tell many stories. They portray religious subjects as well as the customs and traditions of Tibet.

Located at the center of the old Lhasa, Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet. Built in 647 by Songtsen Gampo, it has a history of more than 1,300 years. The temple is the fine product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architecture techniques. Visitors will be treated to the sight of various exotic and sacred sculptures. Jokhang Temple also houses many invaluable cultural relics. Every year, the Great Prayer Festival is held here.

Then explore Barkhor Street. It is a famous commercial and commodity-distributing center in Lhasa, consisting of more than 120 handicrafts shops and more than 200 stalls. It is a good choice that should never be missed by tourists coming to Lhasa, for you can buy anything Tibet-related, from sacks of incense, chunks of yak butter to monk outfits. Barkhor is the road that pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple through centuries. When walking along Barkhor Street, you should move in the clockwise direction. 
 

Day 10

Lhasa
Today, you will have a full day wonderful with a visit to the Tibet Museum first. Then experience a Tibetan Family Visiting. After enjoy a traditional lunch with the family, you will continue your visit to Sera Monastery.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa
 
The Tibet Museum houses a rich collection of prehistoric cultural relics including Buddha statues in different postures, imperial jade seals, gold albums, gifts granted by emperors, colourful tangkas, and various printed Sanskrit and Tibetan scriptures. Visitors can also see variety of folk art such as unique Tibetan handicrafts, costumes, jewellery, and adornments made of gold, silver, and jade, as well as fine Chinese pottery.

In the afternoon, the Sera Monastery will be a good choice as well. It is the last of the three principal Yellow Sect monasteries built in Lhasa. The setting itself is very beautiful with cobbled alleyways, temples and colleges. The highlight of visiting Sera Monastery will be watching monks debating inside the shady courtyard behind the main temple. Every day, hundreds of red-robed monks assemble in small groups and practice their debating skills.

Tips:
During the family visiting, if you will take a seat, please cross your legs, do not stretch your legs forward and face your sole to others.
When you are offered a cup of wine by the host, please use your ring finger to dip a little of it. Then flick it in the air to express respects to the heaven, the earth and the ancestors before sipping the wine. The host will fill the cup, and you take a sip of the wine again. After the host fills your cup for the forth time, you have to bottom it up.
 

Day 11

Lhasa    Chongqing
Be transferred to the airport of Lhasa, you will then take a flight to Chongqing, the start point of the Yangtze River Cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: On Yangtze Cruise boat

Chongqing, the largest inland city of China, is a booming metropolis located in the southeast of the Sichuan Basin at the confluence of the Yangtze and the Jialing rivers. Surrounded by waters on three sides, and by the mountains on four sides, Chongqing is known as 'mountain city’, 'foggy city’ and ‘furnace city’.

Over 6,300 kilometers long, the Yangtze is the largest and longest river in China, surpassed only by the Nile of Africa and the Amazon of South America. Born of the melting snows and ice in the Tanggula Mountain chain in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the torrent flows from west to east through provinces of Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu and the city of Shanghai, finally emptying into the East China Sea.  Between the town of Fengjie (Sichuan Province) and Yichang (Hubei Province) are the magnificent Three Gorges.  
 

Day 12

Yangtze River Cruise
Enjoy your Yangtze cruise!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: On Yangtze cruise boat

Today you will stop for a visit to Fengdu - the Ghost City, is located on the northern bank of the Yangtze 176km downstream from Chongqing. Fengdu received its reputation in the Eastern Han Dynasty. A plethora of demon-decorated temples, buildings and statues in this river town earned it the moniker “Ghost City”-the carved facades are truly fascinating. The temples built on Mt. Mishan display punishing instruments and wild demon images, which vividly depict the Chinese people’s imagination of Hell. Another classic site – Shibaozhai may for your optional visiting.
 

Day 13

Yangtze River Cruise
Today pass Three Gorges that namely Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, during which take an excursion through Daning River Lesser Three Gorges. Actually, today you will have chance to see a famous spot - Kuimen Gate, which is the western entry of Qutang Gorge, and is been printed on the back of 10 Yuan of the 5th set RMB.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: On Yangtze cruise boat

This morning, rise early to see the dawn light the Yangtze River before the boat enters the first gorge- Qutang Gorge, the shortest (8 km), narrowest and the most dramatic one of the three gorges. Two mountains, Chijia (Red Passage) and Baiyan (White Salt), guard the entrance to this gorge like giant castle doors.

After the first gorge you will meet Mt.Wushan, near the mountain, are the Lesser Three Gorges (Xiao San Xia), referring to the three separate valleys of the Daning River; they are respectively, Dragon-Gate Gorge, Misty Gorge and Emerald Gorge. You can change to a smaller boat to enjoy these marvelous spectacles of nature. You may well find this spot more impressive than the Yangtze Three Gorges themselves, as the Daning River’s waters are pristine, compared to the muddy Yangtze and the river is narrower and the cliffs embracing it are even steeper and higher than those along the major Three Gorges. As the boat passes minority villages, you will be charmed by the spellbinding voices of the women singing traditional folk songs, and the haunting tones of the men's Flute music.

A few hours later you see the second gorge -Wu Gorge, the middle gorge which is best known for its quiet beauty, sheer cliffs and twelve unique peaks. Often veiled in swirls of mist, six line the north side of the river and six staggered peaks stand to the south. The most famous, Goddess Peak, resembles a kneeling maiden.

The longest of the three, Xiling Gorge (66 kilometers), is also the deepest, with sheer cliffs rising 4000 feet. It is actually comprised of seven smaller gorges, whose varied names are all based upon ancient legends, like Military Books and Precious Sword. Xiling Gorge had a reputation for being an unpleasant section where dangerous reefs and shoals lurked, and ships and boats frequently overturned in this area; however, as the level of the river rises behind the wall of the Three Gorges Dam, this wild part of the river is tamed.
 

Day 14

Disembark, Yichang     Shanghai
Then it is time to pass through the locks of Three Gorge Dam. You could really feel the might of the dam. After the visiting, disembark at Yichang and be transferred to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Arrive in Shanghai and be transferred to the hotel to catch up on some rest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Shanghai

Today you will take a visit to the great Three Gorges Dam. It is 2,335-meter long, 185-meter high, 18-meter wide on the top and 130-meter wide at the bottom. The dam will raise the river to a level of 175 meters above sea level, creating a 600km long reservoir with storage capacity of 39.9 billion cubic meters extending from the dam site all the way to Chongqing. It is the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken. 

Then, return to your boat and have a nice lunch, it is really the time for you to say goodbye to the crews. You will take a flight from Yichang airport to Shanghai. For Shanghai, you have a lot to expect.

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 15

Shanghai
A full day sightseeing starts with Jade Buddha Temple and Yuyuan Garden, which is a Chinese classic garden in city downtown. Then visit the nearby old street. Continue the trip to the new landmark-World Finance Center. After that, it will be a good idea that take a walk along the Bund. 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.

Shanghai World Finance Center is a super tall skyscraper in Pudong New Area. It is a mixed use skyscraper which consists of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on the ground floors. On 14 September 2007 the skyscraper was topped out at 492.0 meters (1,614.2 feet) and became the second tallest building in the world; as well as the tallest structure on mainland China, including Hong Kong. It is currently the world's tallest completed building by roof. On 28 August 2008, the SWFC officially opened for business.

Then it comes to the Bund, 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 16

Shanghai    Hangzhou
Enjoy your own exploration in this city, then you will be transferred to the railway station for your express train to Hangzhou. Arrive in Hangzhou. Be met at the airport & transferred to your hotel. If you are interested, you can then take a leisure stroll along the Qinghefang Street, which is a building complex modeled Qing Dynasty style.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hangzhou

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, is located by the Qiantang River at the Southern end of the Grand Canal.  As one of the most renowned and prosperous cities of China for much of the last 1,000 years, Hangzhou is also well-known for its beautiful natural scenery, with the West Lake as the most well-known location. The Venetian Marco Polo supposedly visited Hangzhou in the late 13th century. His book refers to the city as "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world."

Qinghefang Street is a well-designed old pedestrian street, which is the epitome of old Hangzhou. The original street has been ruined and it recently takes on a completely new look after lager-scale of restoration. Shops selling art crafts, souvenirs, silk, teahouses, and restaurants line on both sides of the street. Many famous century-old shops can be found along the street, such as Hu Qing Yu Pharmacy and Wang Xing Ji Fans. Hefang Street is otherwise known as the Snack Street for the diverse food it serves. The street clearly concentrates food from all around the country, while at some time highlighting the local flavors.
 

Day 17

Hangzhou
After breakfast, you just start your city tour with a visit to West Lake, the most famous site in Hangzhou. Cruising on the lake, you will find an island locates on the center of it, where you can appreciate the “Three pools mirroring the moon” view, the very site that showed on the back of 1 Yuan. Then continue your visit to Lingyin Temple, Pagoda of Six Harmonies and Tea Museum. Huaiyang Cuisine is available for your optional dinner (at your own expense).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hangzhou

"Rippling waters shimmering on a sunny day,
Misty mountains shrouded by the rain;
Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi;
West Lake is always alluring.”
 
These sentiments by the famous poet Su Dongpo, comparing West Lake with Xizi, the most renowned beauty of the Song Dynasty, leave one in no doubt of the splendor of the scenery that inspired them. Enclosed by the hills on three sides, the West Lake mirrors the surrounding landscape to form a panorama of great beauty. The lake was originally part of the Qitang River until its outlet became silted up. It is now 15km in circumference with an average depth of 1.8 meters.

The Lingyin Temple is regarded as one of the four temples by the side of the West Lake.  The main hall, 33.6 meters high, is one of China's tallest single-story buildings, further distinguished by double eaves. Within, a statue of Sakyamuni, carved out of 24 pieces of camphor wood and gilded with 104 ounces of gold, stands an impressive 19.6 meters high.

Standing by the Qiantang River in Hangzhou, the Pagoda of Six Harmonies (Liuhe Tower) has for hundreds of years been praised by poets and men of letters. The pagoda was constructed first in 970 during the Northern Song Dynasty to suppress the tidewaters. It is nearly 60 meters tall with 13 stories outside and seven inside. From here you can have a good view of the Qiantang River meandering far into the distance.

While you are enjoying the beautiful sightseeing of Hangzhou, you can also try the well-known Huaiyang Cuisine which is the style prevailing in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Suzhou. The basin of the lower reaches of the Yangtze and the coast are blessed with the products of rivers, lakes and the sea; everything for seekers of fine food. Huaiyang dishes are characterized by the addition of a relatively high proportion of soy sauce.
 

Day 18

Hangzhou    Guilin
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guilin. On arrival, your local guide will meet you at the airport. Before you heading to the hotel for check-in, you can take a short stop at brilliant Reed Flute Cave for a visit.
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.

Reed Flute Cave is named for the special reeds, used for making flute instruments that grow near the cave entrance. The caves are a feast for the eyes. The natural beauty of a profusion of stalactites and stalagmites, stele, stone pillars, stone curtains and stone flowers creating an infinite variety of extraordinary scenes, creatively illuminated, is bound to evoke gasps of admiration. It is fitting then, that Reed Flute Cave is commonly praised as Nature’s Grand Art Palace.
 

Day 19

Guilin    Yangshuo
The highlight of today's sightseeing is a leisurely cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. Meandering through valleys, bamboo groves and mysterious Karst rock formations, the cruise will affords you a glimpse of a life far removed from the concrete jungle. Stay overnight in Yangshuo. In the evening, if you are interested, you can enjoy the night show called Impression of Liu San Jie as an optional activity.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Yangshuo

In the morning, be driven to Pier for your Li River Cruise. A double-decker river boat is waiting for you. 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’s charming life. Under the blue sky, your river boat transports you in an unending daydream.

After cruising for about four and a half hours, the one-thousand-year-old Yangshuo Town comes into sight. Yangshuo is a small oriental but Western-influenced town with a history of 1000 years. The West Street in the town earns its name since almost every one in West Street can speak fluent English and every restaurant or bar offers menus in several languages. You’ll feel no borders or distance here and will soon fall under the spell of this charismatic, welcoming small-town atmosphere. Moreover, West Street is flanked by fascinating little shops and vendor stands selling a broad variety of superior quality souvenirs, perfect gifts for friends and relatives.

Some guests may also hear about the night show- Impressions of Liu Sanjie performance. The site is only one mile from West Street in the world’s largest natural theatre which utilizes the waters of the Li River as its stage, flanked by twelve mist shrouded hills and the heavens as its backdrop. Mist, rain, moonlight, the hills and their inverted reflections in the river all become the ever-changing natural background, so you will enjoy a unique experience each time you attend.
 

Day 20

Yangshuo    Guilin    Guangzhou
In the morning, you can take a cycling or take bus driving around to enjoy the countryside view including the Moon Hill and the Big Banyan Tree. Be transferred back to Guilin airport after lunch then board your short flight to Guangzhou.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Hong Kong

From Yangshuo, take a short, pleasant drive to the Moon Hill, a great limestone peak with a naturally created moon-shaped cavern passing through just below its summit. If you are interested, you can make a steep climb to the upper section of Moon Hill. The landscape is stunning viewed from Moon Hill; the skyline is lined with peaks of almost equal height – resembling a jumble of giant rock traffic-cones pointing skywards.

The Big Banyan Tree is located on the west bank of Jinbao River approximately 7.5km south of Yangshuo. It is said to have a history of nearly 1,400 years and has survived centuries of wind and rain. The Big Banyan Tree is now 17 meters high, 7.1 meters around the main trunk, and spans an area of 1000 square meters. As a major tourist attraction, the enormous Banyan is famous for its age and towering beauty. It is also noted because the Chinese film ‘The legend of Liu Sanjie’ was partly shot here. The beautiful love story adds to the magic of this centuries-old tree.

Guangzhou is a civilized ancient city with a history of more than 2200 years, the same age as the ancient city of Rome in Italy. It was also the earliest trade port in China that opened to the world and was the starting port of the “silk road” on the sea since the Han and Tang Dynasties. The city is now the capital of Guangdong province, you can see there ultra-modern hotels and office blocks rub shoulders with traditional temples, wet markets and historic buildings.
 

Day 21

Guangzhou
Today, you will take a city tour of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall, Temple of Chen Family, Temple of the Six Banyan Trees and Shamian Island.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Guangzhou

Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Memorial Hall is one of the most important historic buildings in Canton. It is built to honor Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great architect of Chinese revolution. The hall was constructed between 1929 and 1931, on the site of the former Presidential Palace.

Temple of Chen Family is one of the most culturally unique complexes in Southern China. Built in the 1890s, the complex is comprised of 19 buildings which are known for great decorations, woodcarvings, and iron castings and so on.

With the famous Thousand-Buddha Pagoda standing in the temple, the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees (Liurong si) enshrines three Buddhist statuses in its Grand Hall, which were cast in the Qing Dynasty in 1663. In the Sixth Ancestor Hall, visitors can find a copper statue of Huineng, the sixth founder of a sect of Buddhism.

Shamian Island is a sandbank island in the Liwan District of Guangzhou city. The territory was divided into two concessions given to France and the United Kingdom by the Qing Dynasty government in the 19th century. The island is a historical area that serves as a tranquil reminder of the colonial European period, with quiet pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and lined by historical buildings in various states of upkeep. The island now is the location of several hotels, a youth hostel, restaurants and tourist shops selling curios and souvenirs.
 

Day 22

Guangzhou    Hong Kong, Departure
Enjoy your own exploration then be transferred to the train station for your express train to Hong Kong (2 hours). Enjoy your own exploration then.
Meals: Breakfast

Service Ends