Tour Code: AG-PCA-03

Price(US$/p.p):

Starting City: Beijing

Ending City: Shanghai
Duration:18 days  
Tour Catalog: Every day depature tour
Best Time to Go: Whole Year Around
Routes: Beijing / Xian/ Yichang/Yangze Cruise/Chongqing/Guilin/Yangshuo/Shanghai/Suzhou/Tongli/Shanghai

Highlights: Your got enough time of your vacation? You want to take great chance to see China as much as possible? 18 days Imperal Yangze China will be your great choice. A&G focus our product value on the “people’s culture”. We will bring our travelers to see more “real, local taste” things than just touristy sites. We surely believe the way to get into a totally different culture only can be ture by touching people’s life. Read our itineray, there are lots of surprises waiting for you!!!

Tour Itinerary

Day 01  Arrive Beijing, China 

City:  Beijing

Accommodations:

Meals: 

Welcome to China!  You fly across the International Date Line and arrive in Beijing in the late afternoon or evening. Our local guide will meet you at Beijing Airport, transfer you to your hotel and help you check in.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure. If you want to dine away from your hotel or explore the city by your own, you may come to our local expert to look for any suggestion you need.

Your tour guide will be sure to inform you regarding Day 2’s planned activities.

Day 02  City Tour: Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City/Summer Palace/Welcome Peking Duck Dinner

City: Beijing

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

At early morning, We begin our exploration at grand Tiananmen Square.

Tiananmen Square is your first main attraction on this, your first full day in Beijing. The square is the prime venue for both state-sponsored and unstaged events. It is vast – the largest such square in the world. Here you will see giant portrait of Chairman Mao hangs above the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Legendary landmarks, including the Great Hall of the People and the towering Monument to the People's Heroes, a 125-foot granite obelisk honoring those who died in the Communist Revolution and Mao's Memorial Hall where Mao is entombed in the Hall in a crystal sarcophagus, his body draped in the red flag of the People's Republic that he founded in 1949.

From Tian'an Men Square you'll proceed to Forbidden City.You'll have ample time to tour the 170-acre Forbidden City complex but still, you'll only be able to see a fraction of the site's nearly 9,000 rooms. The Forbidden City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - one of the many featured on A&G Travel China tours.

After pleasant morning tour, we will choose a local specialty food for you as lunch.

At afternoon we will visit Summer Palace, which is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Through the centuries, portions of the grounds and buildings were destroyed during warfare, then restored or redesigned. The Summer Palace of today is more or less the same as the palace rebuilt in 1903. The garden was turned into a park. Surrounded by lovely Kumming Lake and classic Chinese gardens, the palace halls and pavilions are filled with ornate furnishings and fine artwork.

A special evening is planned: a delicious Beijing Duck Dinner to welcome you to Join A&G China Travel Family!!

Day 03  Visit Jade factory/Explore Great Wall of China / Shaolin Kongfu School / Optional Beijing Opera tour with dinner

City: Beijing

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

Jade has been crafted by Chinese artisans for over 6,000 years. This morning, following breakfast at the hotel, you'll travel to the Largest Jade Carving Center in Asia where this beautiful stone is carved, polished - and available for purchase.

Your tour continues on to what many travelers think it’s the reason of travelling China: the Great Wall of China! Your memories of the wall will be even more unique because China A&G Travel, we favor the authentic part of Great Wall located. 

Following lunch near the Great Wall, you'll return to Beijing.

On the way back, we will be very honored to bring you to the one of the palace being covered by A&G Helping Hand Program—Beijing Shaolin Kongfu Schoole. If you always want to learn Chinese Martial Art, that would be your great learning chance. 

Today you also will have chance to take look "The Bird's Nest" – we will be driving through the officially the National Stadium, and other event venues for the Beijing Games.

Day 04  Optional Tour :Temple of Heaven/Explore Hutong Neighborhood/Home-Hosted Lunch/Overnight Train To Xi'an

City: Beijing to Xi'an

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

There is a optional tour on the morning -- Temple of Heaven - one of the most magnificent temples in all of China. Interestingly, not a single nail was used in the construction of this 125-foot-tall structure. Here, emperors came to pray to their ancestors for guidance and to the heavens for favorable weather and bountiful harvests. The temple park is busy with local retirees playing board games and playing traditional musical instruments; kids flying kites, adult exercisers performing Tai Chi and twirling flags. Join in if you'd like!

At noon we check out of our hotel, and then you'll get a glimpse of ordinary Chinese life on a tour of Beijing's hutong. These old residential neighborhoods consist of acres of low, flat-roofed buildings crisscrossed by narrow lanes. On a guided walking tour, we'll find everyday life proceeding unconcerned with the great events of nations. Children playing ... the sounds and smells of food being prepared ... merchants setting up shop-all will help you appreciate China's humanity, which is all too often overshadowed by the grandiose monuments that dominate the experiences of most tourists. Our tour also includes lunch in the home of a local Chinese family. There is no better way to experience Chinese hospitality and courtesy toward guests, ancient cornerstones of the culture.

Late this afternoon, we arrive at a local restaurant to rest and savor dinner before departing Beijing. After our meal, we transfer to the railroad station and board a train for Xian, on which we have booked sleeping accommodations train tickets for our travelling family members. So we will have a adventure train ride tour to let you experience the major way still for Chinese travel around china. And next day morning, we will be in Xi’an. 

Please note: When you pack today, pack a carry-on bag for our overnight train ride.  Your large luggage will be collected today in the morning and returned to you in the early afternoon tomorrow; it will not be accessible while you are riding the train to Xian.  Your carry-on for this one night should include sleepwear, toiletries, any medications you use, a bottle of water, and tissue paper.

Day 05 View City Wall/ Explore Wild Goose Pagoda /Muslim Food Street/Mongolia hot Pot Dinner

City: Xi'an

Accommodations:

Meals: B/D

After we back to hotel from the railway station, we will take the short break on the morning. Following lunch you'll visit Xian's City Wall, still intact along its entire 9-mile rectangle around its former imperial palace. Over a span of some 4,000 years Xian has been the capital to 11 dynasties. The Wild Goose Pagoda is famous buddist tample which perserved most cherished  buddist scriptures. It was bulid in 652 at Tang Dynasty (AD 618 – 907) represented a "Golden Age" of Chinese civilization.

This evening's Mongolia Hot Pot Dinner is a big test for you, you are going to cook your own evening meal

Following dinner you'll have time to explore Xian's Muslim Food Street Night Markets and take in the beautiful evening views of the city's palace wall. 

Day 06 Visit lacquer ware factory / herbal market/ Noodle-making Demonstration at local restaurant/View Terra Cotta Army/ Overnight home stay

City: Xi'an

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

This morning we pay a visit to a nearby lacquer ware factory to see the detail workmen job on those beautiful wooden furniture pieces. And we continue our exploration to see world will known Terracotta Warriors excavation site . Here, an entire subterranean Army stands ready to defend the tomb of China's first emperor – Qin Shi Huangdi. Discovered in 1974, the local farmers digged the well, they find the fragments for those terracotta warriors. After visit, we'll head to a local restaurant for a Chinese noodle-making demonstration

At afternoon, on the way back we will stop by an herbal market to learn the traditional Herb material.

We continue on to the Farmers' Painting Village, where villagers welcome us to the farming community of Hu Xian. Here, we'll meet a farmer who is also a painter, spending time with his family and enjoying a visit to his painting studio. Then we will visit the oldest part of the village, as a contrast to the newer part of the village we began the day in, and see how the countryside has changed over the years. Later, we'll visit a nearby market to pick out ingredients for this evening's meal. After our home-hosted dinner, we'll enjoy an overnight stay in a local family's home. Their houses tend to be small, but clean and tidy. This is a wonderful chance to learn what daily life in the China is really like, and to enjoy the company of your gracious hosts.

Day 07  Noon Flight from Xi’an to Yichang/Embark Yangtze Cruise Ship for Up stream

City:  Yangtze

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

Today is going to be a transfer day.

After the late breakfast, we will heading to the airport to take late morning flight to Yichang.

1 and half hour you will be in a small city named Yichang, the city is famouse for Yangtze River. 

Welcome Aboard! At late afternoon, you'll board your Yangtze River Cruise ship in Yichang for a quiet dockside overnight. Around Next day early morning Cruise Ship will start to sail heading to the largest power plane project -- Three Gorges Dam.   

Day 08  Yangtze River Cruise / Three Gorges Dam

City: Yangtze

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

After you docking in Sandouping, you'll debark your river cruise for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam. As the largest water project ever undertaken by man, the dam is certainly not without its controversies. When completed in 2009, fully 10% of China's current electricity needs will be provided by the dam, yet its construction will have displaced an estimated 1.5 million people. During breakfast, your cruise ship eases from its dock and departs on its downstream journey. During your cruise, English-speaking guides provide a running commentary on the sights along the way.

Around noon you will back to Cruise, continue to sail through the Ship Lock. Enjoy this amazing morning.

Day 09 Three Gorges / Daning River / Lesser Gorges

City: Yangtze

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

The Yangtze River and its tributaries carve through one of China's most mountainous regions. Included on your ride are the famous Three Gorges (Qutang, Wu and Xiling) with their spectacular scenery – long favored by Chinese landscape artists.

Today you will visit the Danning River. The banks of the river are lined with steep cliffs – and wild monkeys! It's here where the "Lesser Three Gorges" are located. Though the scale is "lesser," many visitors find these smaller gorges prettier, due in part to the clearer water. In the cliffs along portions of the river, holes mark where posts were driven into the stone to support wooden planks. These planks formed “roads" enabling small boats to be guided through the sometimes-treacherous gorges.

Day 10    Fengdu

City: Yangtze

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

From Chongqing to Yichang, the Yangtze River penetrates some 400 miles of rugged terrain providing a vital link between the inland provinces and those along the coast.

The original Fengdu is slowly vanishing as waters from the downriver Three Gorges Dam continue to rise. But a new Fengdu continues to rise across the river as over 750,000 residents are relocated to higher ground.

A&G china Travel will grant you a opportunity to have talk with a family which've been relocated for Three Gorges Dam Project. We understand there is always misunderstanding between China and Western World, we want our passenger have chance listen to the real story by themself.

Day 11  Unboard the Cruise from Chongqing/Guilin

City: Guilin  

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

Day 12  Dragon's Backbone Terraces / Ping An/ Optional tour: Boat tour at the night

City: Guilin 

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L

Today you'll venture northwest to the hills of Longji Titian ("Dragon's Backbone Terraces"), populated by the Zhuang community. The climate here is perfect for rice-growing; the terrain isn't. So, for lack of choice, over a period of 700 years they constructed rice paddies – thousands of them – on terraced hillsides.

Ping An is an ethnic Zhuang village where residents are skilled at weaving, dyeing and intricate embroidery. Traditional homes and buildings – many of which, like the rice paddies, are terraced – can be visited and walking trails afford excellent views of the nearby rice terraces.

You'll return to Guilin with plenty of time to rest up. The evening offers the option of "Guilin by Night" - an evening boat tour of the city's scenic rivers, lakes and skyline - all beautifully flood-lit.

Day 13  Li-river cruise tour from Guilin to Yangshuo

City: Guilin/Yangshuo 

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

Following breakfast, you'll board a tour boat for a leisurely, 3-hour Li River Cruise.

Mist-shrouded bamboo forests cling to the cavernous, weathered limestone cliffs and pinnacles ("karsts") along the picturesque Li River. You'll lunch aboard the vessel as you take in the incredible scenery that slips by on route to Yangshuo.

The remainder of the day is enjoyed at Yangshuo, where there's plenty of free time for biking, hiking, or more river cruising.

Optional bamboo raft tours allow you to watch as local fisherman "fish" using trained cormorants (large, fish-eating birds).

Dinner tonight, if you wish, features "beer fish" (fish – maybe caught by a cormorant! – marinated in beer and vegetables) – a Yangshuo favorite.

Following dinner, enjoy an overnight at the ultra-comfortable Yangshuo Paradeso Hotel.

The evening offers the option of attending the "Impression on Sanjie Liu" - an outdoor theater that uses the region's lakes, streams and mountains as the 'stage' - and a cast of over 600 local performers. 

Day 14  Bus ride back to Guilin / fly to Shanghai and continue to Suzhou 

City: Suzhou 

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

If your previous day’s biking or rafting proved more challenging than you suspected, no problem – you can sleep in this morning.

Later in the morning you'll return once again to Guilin. Time permitting, you may do some shopping in town before your afternoon transfer to the airport and flight to Shanghai.

Upon arrival in Shanghai you'll enjoy a delicious dinner before continuing on to Suzhou.

Your hotel in Suzhou is a serene, garden hotel located just steps away from scenic canals, and bustling shops and restaurants. 

Day 15  New Suzhou Museum / Tongli / Silk Museum /  

City: Suzhou 

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

Now a city of almost 6 million inhabitants, Suzhou, the "Venice of the East" is known for its canals and classical Chinese gardens. The completion of the Grand Canal sped trade throughout the region and enriched local silk merchants. The merchants built magnificent private gardens such as the Humble Administrator's Garden (included in your tour), now open to the public.

Your tour includes admission to the New Suzhou Museum, designed by the world-famous architect, Ieaoh Ming Pei (I.M. Pei). The three-level structure houses Suzhou art treasures dating back over the centuries yet the building's design blends ancient Suzhou design elements with 21st century engineering and themes.

Next, you'll travel to nearby Tongli, the "town that Suzhou used to look like." Far smaller and more quaint than Suzhou, Tongli's homes and gardens open onto meandering canals lined with shops and restaurants. Weather permitting, your afternoon includes lunch at a canal-side restaurant.

On your return to Suzhou you'll stop in at the Suzhou Silk Museum which chronicles 6,000 years of silk manufacture and includes actual mulberry-munching silkworms spinning cocoons - as well as an array of silk products for purchase.

The evening is yours! Our "Your Choice" option allows you to explore Suzhou on your own - an easy adventure given your hotel's perfect location next to restaurants, shops and picturesque canals. If you're looking for a Western-style "fast food fix," this is the place! TexMex, hamburgers, fried chicken, pizza – as well as Chinese, Thai, Japanese and other cuisine options are within steps of your hotel's front door.

Day 16  The Bund / Acrobatic Show 

City: Shanghai

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D 

This morning, after breakfast, you'll travel to a bustling, authentic local Market where fresh produce, noodles, fish, poultry and meat are sold, as well as curios and souvenirs.

In the late morning you'll travel eastward by motorcoach to Shanghai, mainland China's most vibrant, cosmopolitan city. Shanghai was a minor county seat until the British arrived in the mid-19th century, lured by the potential wealth of untapped trade markets. Your tour includes a visit to the Bund, a gem of Art Deco buildings dating from this colonial period. Across the river soars Pudong, Shanghai's skyscraper skyline of postcard fame.

This evening, before dinner, you'll be treated to a brilliant performance of the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe! 

Day 17  Cheng Huang Temple / Free Afternoon

City: Shanghai

Accommodations:

Meals: B/L/D

Your morning travels includes the picturesque Cheng Huang Temple - actually a busy shopping area known for its bargains. "Silk" (or rayon)? "Jade" (or plastic)? You be the judge!

After lunch, you're on your own. It's a Your Choice" afternoon and your Tour Guide will provide details of the available options as well as supply you with necessary maps or travel aids. If you'd like, you're free to tour on your own, maybe take in a river cruise or stroll along the Bund - or just relax at your hotel. Options include:

Suggested Shopping: It's Shanghai, after all, and this being your last full day in China, why not head for the shops? Nanjing Road is famous for its chic boutiques but Xintiandi, in the old French Concession, is a strong competitor.

Suggested Museums: The Shanghai Museum ranks among China's finest. The galleries of Chinese ancient bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, coins and furniture are exquisite.

A special evening is planned for tonight: a delicious Farewell Dinner. 

Day 18  Departure Day

City: Shanghai 

Accommodations:

Meals: B

Depending on your flight plans, you may have time for some last-minute shopping in nearby shops and markets. Your Tour Manager can offer money-saving suggestions.

After breakfast this morning, you’ll be assisted to the airport for your flight home

Also, subject to your return flight schedule, you can "fly" to Shanghai's international airport aboard the world's fastest commercial train: the Shanghai Maglev! Speeding at up to 430 kph (almost 270 mph) it'll make easy work of your airport transfer! 

We wish you have pleasant journey home. Thank you for chooseing A&G China Travel for your China vacation. 

Featured Hotel

Tour Rate

* Price are in US dollars, for per person.

* Better discount are valible when travel in low season or perfer to combine with other travelers who choose same program on the same departure day. 

* Children age 3-11 will enjoy discount and infants aged 1 year and under are free of charge, providing they sit with an accompanying adult .  

Price Inclusions:

 •  Entrance Fees:

  To scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.

 •  Meals:

All meals as specified in the itinerary.

If the restaurant indicated is not available on the day, your guide will arrange another restaurant from our list of approved restaurants. Breakfast is usually a western style buffet. We endeavor to ensure that a choice of western and Chinese breakfasts is supplied, however there may be occasions when only a Chinese breakfast is available in some remote locations. B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / D: Dinner

 •    Private Transfers:

Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in Beijing, Xian, Guilin, and other citysby private air conditioned vehicle with a driver and English-speaking guide (as listed above).

Your comfort is our priority! Click here to get a description of the vehicles that we use for our tours.

 •    Guide:

As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available.

 •   Hotels:

Hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with twin beds.

All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.

 •     Transportation:

Beijing To Xian Transfer via: Flight, TBA (Our arrangements)

Xian To Yichang Transfer via: Flight, TBA (Our arrangements)

Chongqing To Guilin Transfer via: Flight, TBA (Our arrangements)

Guilin To Shanghai Transfer via: Flight, TBA (Our arrangements)

 •    Airport Tax and Fuel Fee

 •    Service Charge & Government Taxes:

 •    Insurance

The insurance is China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance.

Click here to learn more about the insurance coverage and the sum insured.

•    Luggage Transfers:

Between airports and hotels.

•    Arrangements:

The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

Price Exclusions:

•    International Airfare or Train Tickets to enter or leave China.

USA-CHINA/CHINA-USA: A&G China  has negotiated special discount fares (restrictions apply) for selected flights operated by Air China from major US and China gateways. We are able to offer these special deals to earlier tour confirmed customers. Discount US to China Flights

•    China Entry Visa Fees.

•    Excess Baggage Charges.

Passengers holding an adult fare or half fare ticket are entitled to a free baggage allowance of 20kg, for economy class. Total weight of carryon baggage for each passenger may not exceed 5kg. The size may not exceed 20x40x 55cm.

•    Personal Expenses:

Expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary.

•    Meals:

Any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary.

•   Single Room Supplement.