Actual China

Nimen Hao! Greetings from China. At 6 p.m. tonight, there will be a welcome meeting in Beijing to kick off your journey. Get to know Beijing on your own if you arrive early. You can see the Forbidden City or stroll around Silk Market to buy some gifts. Perhaps order your first Peking duck and go to an optional welcome meal after your meeting.

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall, is scheduled to be visited this morning at Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved and most accessible parts of the wall from Beijing. This is one to remember, so board a public bus and enjoy the scenery (I hope it’s a clear day!). The wall, which extends 6000 km westward from the mountain ridges north of Beijing, is a genuinely amazing feat of engineering. Despite its failure in its initial goal of defending Chinese dynasties from northern invaders, it remains unquestionably one of the nation’s most remarkable accomplishments.After all the ups and downs, you may take an exciting beanie ride to the Great Wall’s base, which is a unique way to rest your legs.

Explore Tiananmen Square in the morning, then follow your guide through the Hutong region, which is made up of zigzag pathways. Because these alleyways and courtyard homes constitute the foundation of both old and modern Beijing, they provide a window into local life, making this one of the city’s most noteworthy neighbourhoods. Enjoy your free afternoon to explore at your own speed; if you haven’t already, you might like to go to the Forbidden City. Maybe visit the Lama Temple, hang out in Temple of Heaven Park, or hop on a bike and ride around the hutongs. You will travel from Beijing to Xi’an tonight in an air-conditioned, six-berth train.

You will arrive in Xi’an this morning. Xi’an was China’s imperial centre for two millennia and is now a bustling, modern metropolis with many fascinating historical attractions. Take a walking tour with a guide through the Muslim Quarter, an area that is about 1300 years old and well-known for its cuisine! Your captain will purchase some food for you to try along the journey. Depending on the season, some regional specialities include lamb skewers, sticky rice cakes, and persimmon cake. Spend a free afternoon riding a bike to the summit of China’s only surviving historic city wall, the Xi’an City Wall.Your guide will take you to the bustling square around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda tonight. It’s a terrific site to meet locals and witness the 600-year-old temple illuminated by lights.

You will see the Terracotta Warriors, the most well-known landmark in Xi’an, this morning. Spend a few hours touring the intriguing site by using the metro and a public bus. Learn all about this amazing archaeological discovery, which was buried for thousands of years before being found in 1976 by farmers excavating a well. Several pits are currently open to the public. The Qin emperor commissioned these clay statues of warriors, horses, and chariots standing in battle position as part of his mausoleum.The remainder of your afternoon and evening are free. For supper, you might like to try some regional favourites like hand-pulled noodles, barbecued pork skewers, or pao mo, which is lamb soup into which flatbread is broken. Perhaps later, take your gang to karaoke and sing all night long.

This morning, take a high-speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu. Mahjong and tea are two of the most important aspects of life in Chengdu because of the laid-back atmosphere and the tendency of the people to place a higher emphasis on leisure than on work. With your leader, take a walking trip to Tianfu Square in the downtown area, where a massive statue of Chairman Mao is located. Proceed to the bustling People’s Park and enjoy a cup of tea while enjoying the additional services provided (such as massages and ear cleaning). Join a group dance or martial arts class to make the most of your stay and become fully immersed in the culture, or simply locate a table and practise your mahjong skills.

You will get the delightful chance to meet the cute pandas up close at the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu this morning. Discover the conservation efforts being undertaken to bring this extinct species back to life and observe them eating, playing, and sleeping (or just being adorable in their playgrounds). In the afternoon, spend some extra time relaxing by learning about pandas or exploring the trendy Kuanzhai Lane. Another option is to check Jinli Street for some hot Chengdu delicacies.

Enjoy a full day of travel on the bullet train this morning, as you head to Yangshuo. This city, which is encircled by limestone karsts, is very well-liked by both domestic and foreign tourists, which is good if you enjoy going to cafés and bars. It’s among the greatest locations in the nation for experiencing local customs and culture while having a great time. When you reach there, travel around the town with your guide before heading down to the Li River to gain a sense of a scene that has been captured in Chinese paintings.

On a cycling tour through Yangshuo’s scenic countryside, get on your bike and follow your guide. As you ride past little towns and karst hills that rise from rice terraces, you may observe the residents tending to the crops beside water buffalo. Every turn in the road leads to another picture-perfect location, and many tourists consider seeing this breathtaking area to be the highlight of their vacation (so don’t forget your camera for the next two days). Enjoy some home-cooked regional specialities, such as chicken and veggies, when you stop by a local family’s home for lunch. After that, ride to Moon Hill and trek a short distance to the well-known archway for sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

Yangshuo is free tonight and tomorrow. Consider taking a riverboat tour on the Li River and asking your guide where to get the best local cuisine.

Proceed to Hong Kong after departing Yangshuo. After being taken to Guilin, you will board the high-speed train. Your guide will take you on a walking tour tonight, where you will see the Victoria Harbour light show or the Temple Street night market. Enjoy the opportunity to spend your last night with the group in this amazing city and explore the nightlife; as usual, your leader will know where to go.

Your journey ends this morning since there are no more plans for it. Ask your booking agent whether you would like to stay longer in Hong Kong.