12-Day Tour: Essence of China
USD:$1999.0012-Day Tour: Essence of China
Beijing-Xi’an-Shanghai-Yangshuo-Hong Kong
This tour provides you with the best experience of China in 12 days. By crossing the country, you will visit the 4 most popular cities of China. Go from the power of the Great Wall to the bright lights of Shanghai, stand face-to-face with the Terracotta Warriors, go through the scenery of Yangshuo to the bustling modern metropolis of Hong Kong.Discover China’s natural and cultural highlights with the perfect combination of attractions.
- Overview
- Full Itinerary
- Important Info
- Trip Notes
Full Itinerary
Day 1 Beijing
Arrive at any time. Your guide will pick you up at the airport arrivals then take you to the hotel where you may opt to have a welcome dinner.
Day 2 Beijing (B)
Stand in the heart of Tiananmen Square to learn its significance. Then explore the Forbidden City and its corridors and buildings. In the afternoon visit the ancient imperial garden, Summer Palace.
Day 3 Beijing-Xi’an (B)
Set out early for the great wonder of the world, the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Visit Olympic Park before boarding an overnight train to Xi'an (Deluxe sleeper ticket, approximately 10 hours).
Day 4 Xi’an (D)
Visit the Big Goose Pagoda Temple, opt to climb the pagoda. Then visit the Shaanxi History Museum. Take an orientation walk of the bustling Bazaar, Muslim Quarter. Have a visit of a local resident's home, and learn how to make dumplings, afterwards have your self-made dumplings for dinner.
Day 5 Xi’an-Shanghai (B)
Visit the ancient City Wall of Xi'an, opt to ride a bike along the wall. Visit the Terracotta Army, regarded as the 8th Wonder of the World. Then board an overnight train to Shanghai (Deluxe sleeper ticket, approximately 15 hours).
Day 6 Shanghai
Arrive in Shanghai at noon. Have an orientation walk heading past the landmarks of Shanghai.
Day 7 Shanghai (B)
Visit Shanghai Museum, which is home to a world-class collection of ancient Chinese art. Then go to visit the Yuyuan Bazaar. At night, enjoy the best Chinese Acrobatic Show at Shanghai Circus World.
Day 8 Shanghai-Guilin-Yangshuo (B)
Take the flight to Guilin and transfer to a countryside town, Yangshuo. Have an orientation walk of Yangshuo in the evening.
Day 9 Yangshuo (B)
Take a cycle tour through the countryside, past the rice paddies, local farms, and water buffalo. Opt to have a local farmer's family meal for lunch.
Day 10 Yangshuo-Shenzhen-Hong Kong (B)
Free time in the morning, then go to Guilin by private vehicle to catch the bullet train to Shenzhen (approximately 3 hours). Arrive at Shenzhen, then cross the border into Hong Kong, and take the metro to the hotel.
Day 11 Hong Kong (B)
Go to Victoria Peak by tram enjoying the breathtaking view of the city. Have an orientation walk of Star Avenue, and enjoy the night view of Hong Kong. Opt to have a farewell dinner.
Day 12 Hong Kong (B)
Depart at any time. (A flight from Hong Kong to Beijing is not provided)
Inclusions
◆ Accommodation as per itinerary
◆ Transportation as per itinerary
◆ Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
◆ Breakfast
◆ Entrance fees
◆ Professional licensed guide
◆ Transport by private vehicle and public vehicle some times
Exclusions
◆ Food and drinks, unless specified
◆ Gratuities (recommended)
Additional info
◆ A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
◆ Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
◆ Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
◆Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
◆You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements prior to border crossing. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveler
Useful Information for Traveling in China
Payment
Best China Experience will provide you with quote calculated in Chinese currency-CNY, as well as the equivalent quote in USD based on the current exchange rate between them. (Please note our quote in USD may change slightly due to the fluctuation of the exchange rate, though CNY quote remains the same) After confirming your itinerary with us, you will be requested to pay a deposit to secure the booking and the balance should be paid upon your arrival or at the end of your tour.
Option1: Paypal (You can sign up for a Paypal account here: https://www.paypal.com)
Using Paypal is safe and easy! Just:
1: Sign up for a Paypal account
2: Link your Paypal account to your bank account, credit card, or debit card
3: Use Paypal to pay when you checkout
4: You’re done!
Our Paypal account is guzeyu88@163.com. We require 49 USD as a booking deposit for the confirmation of the tour. More deposit may happen if you need us to book hotels, airfare, train tickets, etc. for you.
Option 2: Cash or credit card (we have Pos Machine) After confirmation, you may also choose to pay us by cash or credit card when we meet up on the first day of your tour.
For any other suggestions or requirements on the terms of payment, please feel free to contact us. We are flexible because we hope to accommodate to your every convenience!
Tipping
It is customary to tip service providers in the travel industry in Asia, depending on the service. Tipping is expected — though not compulsory — and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Recommendations for tipping drivers (4 USD per person per day as a guideline) and local guides (8 USD per person per day as a guideline) would depend on the quality and length of the service.
Train conditions in China
A soft sleeper is recommended for overnight and long-distance travel. Each soft sleeper compartment is enclosed, and contains four bunks, two on each side. The bunks are wider and more comfortable than hard sleepers, with decent bedding. Soft sleeper compartments may vary between trains. You may have both over-head storage and under-bed storage, or just under-bed storage. For short distance train travel, G and D high-speed trains are recommended. G trains are the fastest trains in China, with a speed of 250 km/h to 400 km/h, and their prices are highest.
Currency Exchange
As currency exchange rates in China fluctuate, we suggest you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com. In 2015 the yuan (CNY or RMB) has been around 6.2 RMB to 1 USD (6.1–6.3 RMB to 1 USD), and the HKD (Hong Kong Dollar) has been more stable around 7.75 HKD to 1 USD (7.74–7.77 HKD to 1 USD). There are many ATMs that accept both Visa and Master Card, but these are limited to cities. We also recommend the use of cash and travelers checks in USD currency. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops, but they may charge a 2–4% transaction fee.
Food
Eating is an important part of your China experience. Generally breakfasts are included in the itinerary and offered by hotels. Best China Experience recommends local Chinese restaurants that are popular with local people for meals. You can order dishes with the help of your guide. Western food can be found in most large cities. If you are vegetarian or you are looking for specially-prepared food, please feel free to inform your travel advisor or your guide.
Vehicle
We use comfortable sedans or vans with air-conditioning. The comfort and safety of our customers is of the utmost importance, so we ensure that all of the vehicles that we use are well maintained and always very clean. Our drivers take pride in their vehicles.
