Welcome your arrival anytime at the airport and transfer to hotel. Whenever you arrive today, our guide will welcome you outside the Arrival Hall of the Airport after you retrieve your luggage and clear Customs, and then transfer you to the hotel in downtown by a comfortable private car. After assisting you to check into the hotel, he or she will leave the rest of the day for you to recover from jet lag and long flight.

Visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City including Treasure Gallery; enjoy an a la carte welcome lunch with authentic Peking Duck; continue to visit Yonghe Temple and Temple of Heaven; and watch the classic Peking Opera in the evening. (B+L) ​ Today your best China tour officially kicks off! You will meet your group members in the hotel lobby at 08:30 and have a 30-minute pre-trip meeting. Your guide will make a self-introduction, welcome everyone, present a brief introduction to the trip and explain the guidelines that need to be followed during your tour. Then we will head to the first stop, Tiananmen Square, the biggest urban city square in the world. Many constructions of great historical importance have been built on and around it, and it is an important venue for most national ceremonies. From there you will stroll all the way to the Forbidden City, the office and home of emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 – 1911 AD). Here, we will take you for a 2 to 3 hours tour covering the most worthwhile sites. ★ We make each minute of your tour in Forbidden City count Our special ticket-booking service and a knowledgeable expert guide will save you a lot of time and energy, for you to visit as many as significant sites during these hours. With us, you also get to step into the Treasury Gallery, a site you may find missing in tours arranged by other agencies. Just as the name suggests, this is where you can find the most precious treasures left by ancient emperors or empresses, like the 1.29m tall Peal-Inlaid Gold Tower that was crafted with 85 kilo grams of gold and hundreds of pearls and gemstones. Your guide will also embellish your tour with some stories that happened here, like why the water from all those wells you see wasn’t used for drinking. Actually, it once were, but since maids and eunuchs were thrown into the wells due to court intrigue, the water became ominous and no one dared to drink ever after. It’s when they started to fetch drinking water from a nearby mountain more than 20 km away. At noon, an a la carte welcome lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at a superb local restaurant, where you can have a taste of authentic Chinese food and the world-renowned Peking Roast Duck. In the afternoon, visit the Yonghe Temple, a solemn imperial lamasery that has survived over 300 years intact and features a blend of Han, Mongolian, and Tibetan architecture. Then we will head to the Temple of Heaven, the majestic sacrificial building complex where Ming and Qing emperors worshipped the heaven in hope of good harvest. Today’s trip in Beijing will be perfected with a visit to a 30-year-old theater to appreciate Peking Opera, a world-famous drama form that symbolizes Chinese traditional culture. Whether you are a casual visitor, a Chinese culture lover, or an opera connoisseur new to this kind, you can always find something that grabs your attention from its storytelling, the music, the acrobatic actions, the costumes, or even the makeup. Your guide will explain the content of the repertoire in advance and there will be English subtitles before the auditorium, so it’s easy for you to understand them. With us, you also get to come earlier to watch expert performers wear heavy makeup and their attire, both of which are essential components that make Peking Opera a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage. Let’s call it a day now. We will take you back to hotel after the performance. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch

Visit Mutianyu Great Wall by round-way cable car; drive by Bird’s Nest; then take a rickshaw ride through Hutong alleys and visit a local family in a traditional courtyard house. (B) Today, the guide will accompany you to take the private car for about 1.5 hours to visit the astonishing Mutianyu Great Wall. No visitor can help feeling the excitement of witnessing the majesty and grandeur of the walls. As one of the most popular sections of the China Great Wall, Mutianyu, like a soaring dragon, stretches along the mountain ranges. You will be deeply impressed by the undulating walls, spectacular watchtowers, and splendid mountain scenery around. ★ What Makes Us Different To avoid over 600 mountain steps, we will include a round-way cable car ride for you at Mutianyu Great Wall. If you prefer more thrilling chairlift up and toboggan down, even on the spot, the guide will adjust it for you accordingly. You don't need to pay any more. Lunch is not included today, but our guide will offer suggestions on restaurants nearby. Return to the city in the afternoon. En route, we will drive by the Bird's Nest(National Stadium), the venue of the 2008 Olympic Games. You will see the full view of the huge 'nest' from a distance. Take this chance to add some memorable photos in your album. Then, proceed to Shichahai, an area preserving many ancient Hutongs and traditional folk yards - Siheyuan. A rickshaw ride lasting for around 40 minutes and a family visit will be arranged to make the trip more interesting. At the end of the day, we will transfer you back to the hotel. There is a famous bar street at Shichahai. If you prefer to stay longer there to explore local night life, just inform the guide and he or she will lead you there before saying goodbye. Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Visit Summer Palace; take a high speed train to Xi’an and transfer to hotel. (B) This morning, you will visit the Summer Palace , which is the largest and best preserved royal garden in the world. The whole garden mainly consists of the Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake, ingeniously linked by the Long Corridor, seven hundred twenty-eight meters (796.2 yards) in length and whose beams are decorated by exquisite paintings. ★ An Exciting High Speed Train Ride from Beijing to Xi’an Although coming to China for sightseeing, you may want to learn something else about this rapidly developing country and high speed train is one of the must-dos. The guide will escort you to the railway station and help you board a high speed train to Xi'an. It usually takes 5.5 hours, but we will try our best to reserve a seat on one of those with the shortest duration of about 4.5 hours. It runs fast at a speed up to 350km/h (217 mph), but unbelievably steady. On arriving, you will be picked up by the guide in Xi'an and transferred to the hotel. Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Visit Terracotta Army and the discoverer's home; try your hand to make a mini terracotta figure; explore Shaanxi History Museum; free night to have fun in Great Tang All Day Mall. (B) Your private Xi’an tour will start from the Eighth Wonder of the World, Terracotta Army Museum. You will not only be attracted by the life-sized warrior figures and horses, each of which has distinct facial expressions and positions, but also be astonished by various kinds of ancient weapons which reflect the highly advanced technology in weapon-making 2,200 years ago. Have lunch on your own today. Our guide will show you some restaurants around the site and assist you with the menu. ★ What Makes Us Different ► Walk into the Home of the Farmer Who Discovered the Terracotta Army After, visit the home of Mr. Yang Zhifa, the very man who discovered the Terracotta Army after being buried underground for over 2,200 years. At his home, you will learn more stories behind the meaningful discovery, see the hoe used to dig the clay warrior, the wooden cart to carry it, and the replica of the first discovered terracotta figure. You may also want to take a photo with him. ► Make a Mini Terracotta Figure and Take It Home Following, we will specially arrange for you an interesting handwork of a terracotta figure at a local workshop. You can either make a general, a soldier, or even the first emperor of China- Emperor Qin Shihuang following the artisan. The figure will be about 11 cm (4 in) tall and the clay you will use is dug out from 7-9 m (23-30 ft) underground, the same as that used to make Terracotta Army in ancient time. Next, return to downtown and visit Shaanxi History Museum, one of the largest and most significant museums in China housing many rare historical excavations. Today’s tour will end here and the guide will transfer you back to the hotel. Tonight if still energetic, you are advised to explore the Great Tang All Day Mall, a two-thousand-meter-long street for you to relive both the economic and cultural prosperity of Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). It is very close to your hotel. If needed, the guide will drop you off there directly. Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Visit City Wall and connect with local people at City Wall Park; visit Great Mosque and taste Xi’an snacks in Muslim Quarter; fly to Guilin and transfer to hotel. (B+L) After breakfast, we will set off to City Wall Park, where you could see many elders doing morning exercises and various recreational activities. You can join them to play Tai Chi, which helps edify your temperament as well as strengthen your body. Then go up to the well-preserved ancient City Wall. If you are able to ride a bicycle, we suggest you to rent one to cycle around on the wall, which will be a memorable and exciting experience. Next, the guide will lead you to visit the time-honored Great Mosque. Then have a stroll in the lively Muslim Quarter surrounding it. ★ Enjoy a Big Feast of Xi’an Snacks Xi’an snacks are famous all over China, and we will for sure include them in this private 10 days China tour package. The Muslium Quarter, gathering all noted local snacks, is the best choice. Today’s lunch will be served at a highly rated restaurant there. You can have a taste of hot oil noodles, Xi’an Sandwich (Rou Jia Mo), fried dumplings, crumbled flatbread in mutton stew (Yangrou Paomo), glutinous rice with jujube (Zeng Gao) and more. In the afternoon, visit Han Yang Ling Museum on the way to the airport, which was built to protect the Mausoleum of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). In the underground museum, the relics and ruins remain in their original location without any moves. You can see the ancient Chinese burial customs very closely. After, send you onto the flight to Guilin. On arrival, our guide based there will transfer you to the hotel, also by a private air-conditioned car. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Featured Xi'an snacks for lunch

Enjoy a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo; cycle leisurely in Yangshuo countryside; drive back to Guilin. (B+L) Enduring memories will be created today as you cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. The 83 km (52 mi) river course to Yangshuo is like a green ribbon flanked by numerous verdant hills. The odd peaks standing along the river course reflect on the crystal-clear water, creating a splendid landscape painting. ★ Leisurely Cycling in Yangshuo Countryside Upon your arrival, we will arrange for you a cycling tour in the countryside to enjoy the pastoral scenery of Yangshuo. It will be a lot of fun to cycle in the picturesque surroundings. Our guide, quite familiar with the roads and scenery, will lead you to cycle along the most scenic route and the wonderland-like Yulong River will never be missed. It will last for about 1.5 to 2 hours. If you are not capable of riding a bicycle, we will arrange this countryside tour by car. You will also visit a local family during the countryside trip. Finally, we will transfer you back to Guilin. Travel Tip: The Li River cruise will last for around 4 hours, reaching Yangshuo at about 14:00. The lunch served on the cruise today is a simple Chinese box lunch. It is below the serving standard of TravelChinaGuide, so we kindly suggest you have a hearty breakfast at the hotel this morning. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Appreciate nature’s work at Reed Flute Cave; fly to Shanghai; have a stroll in the Bund and enjoy a night cruise on Huangpu River. (B) The first sightseeing stop today will be the Reed Flute Cave. This cave contains a large number of exquisite stalactites, stalagmites, columns and lime-flowers, which were carved by nature about 700,000 years, making it a magnificent underground palace and earning it a nickname - Palace of Natural Arts. After, fly to Shanghai. Our local guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to visit the Bund, a waterfront to the west of the Huangpu River where many European style buildings stand. Standing on it and looking across the river, you will marvel at the city's modernity through the skyscrapers rising up to the sky. ★ Night Cruise on Huangpu River to Take in Modern Skyline of Shanghai If do some homework before coming to China, you will know that Huangpu River and the Bund are the most beautiful at night and the best way to appreciate them is by cruise. Tonight, we will considerately arrange a Huangpu River cruise for you. As the ship sails forward, you will feel like a colorful scroll painting about a modern metropolis unveiling in front of you. After, transfer you to the hotel, where you will stay for two nights. Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Visit Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden and adjacent Yuyuan Bazaar; enjoy a la carte farewell lunch; explore Zhujiajiao Water Town. (B+L) In the morning, you will visit Shanghai Museum at first. It is one of the four largest museums in China, famous for its vast storage of 120,000 art relics, especially for the bronze wares, porcelain wares, calligraphy works, and paintings. Then, move on to explore Yu Garden, the best-preserved classic garden in Shanghai. Delicate pavilions, unique rocks, shimmering ponds, various patterns on the walls and windows make the garden an eastern fairyland. After, take a short stroll in Yuyuan Bazaar outside the Garden. At noon, we will serve you an a la carte farewell lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a fancy and famous local restaurant, which offers tasty Shanghai and Cantonese cuisines. After enjoying the terrific lunch, the guide will accompany you to visit Zhujiajiao Water Town in the west suburb of Shanghai. If Shanghai is modern and stylish, Zhujiajiao is antique and gentle. Here, people build their houses by water courses, hence reputed as “Venice of Shanghai”. Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch

We will see you off at the airport today. Wish you a pleasant journey home loaded with pleasant memories in China.