Beijing (4N) - Xi'an (2N) - Guilin (1N) - Yangshuo (2N) - Shanghai (3N) tour
This slightly longer tour features everything in Dragon Holiday's THE BEST OF CHINA tour plus a visit to ancient Guilin in the south of China. Here you board a boat for a five-hour cruise down the fabled Li River...cruising amid spectacular and dramatic karst limestone mountains that have inspired Chinese poets and painters since time immemorial En route - which includes lunch on board - you encounter rural villages, rice paddies, water buffalo and cormorant fishermen. Riding a bamboo raft on the Li River is a highlight...in fact, the whole destination is one of China's Top 5 tourist destinations. South Africans, particularly, adore the authentic rural China scenes. Ask for the detailed day-by-day itinerary of this very popular choice.
Minimum - 2 persons.
English-speaking guides and dedicated drivers included everywhere. Meet and Greet at all airports.
For the prices below, we have separated the Land arrangements and international airfare. However, please note that the Land arrangements do include all domestic flights within China.
Day (International Flights)
Johannesburg - Hong Kong / Dubai / Singapore / other stopover
Flight from to Johannesburg to Hong Kong / Dubai / Singapore / Other stopover.
Day 1
Stopover destination - Beijing
Flight from (Hong Kong / Dubai / Singapore / other stopover) to Beijing.
Your international flight price will include this sector as a through-fare.
The price of the land arrangements below includes everything starting here:
Upon arrival at the stunning new Beijing Capital International Airport (built specially for the 2008 Olympics) and after clearing customs, your professional local English speaking guide will meet you in the Arrival Hall. With your guide, enjoy the views of Beijing CBD & the SOHO Business Street on your way to the hotel. After checking-in and freshening up, your guide will take you for a stroll of the area around your hotel - the famous Wanfujing Street. Visit the Snack street off Wanfujing street where where you can sample local delicacies before returning to your hotel.
Day 2
Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch, Show)
After breakfast, enjoy a full day tour of Beijing visiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Drive along perhaps the most important street in Beijing - Chang an Avenue - and your guide will point out the National Grand Theatre and Ancient City Walls. After seeing how the nobility lived, partake of Jiaozi (steamed dumplings) for lunch in the company of a Chinese family. Later, enjoy a pedi-cab tour of the ancient courtyard houses called the Hutongs and the popular Houhai Lake Bar Street. After dinner, enjoy the exciting and dramatic Kung-fu show before returning to the hotel.
Day 3
Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch, special Dinner)
After breakfast at hotel, journey to the The Great Wall at Mutianyu. Stroll along this incredible wonder and enjoy the breathtaking view. After a late lunch at a good Chinese restaurant, return to Beijing to visit the tranquil Imperial gardens of the Summer Palace. In the evening, enjoy a delicious Peking Roasted Duck returning to your hotel.
Day 4
Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, visit the holiest temple in Beijing - Temple of Heaven and then the Lama Temple. After lunch at a good Chinese restaurant, drive through "Chinese Wall Street"- Beijing Bank Street to get to the famous Xiushui market where you will put your bargaining skills to work at the. In the evening, transfer back to your hotel.
Day 5
Beijing - Xi'an (Breakfast, special Dinner)
After breakfast, have some free time in the morning before saying goodbye to your Beijing guide as you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. Domestic Flight (included) from Beijing to the ancient city of Xi'an. Upon arrival, your local Xi'an guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit the Ancient City walls that surrounds this old city. If you are interested, you could even rent a bike on the wall and ride the entire wall in an hour and a half. visit the Big Goose Pagoda where you will be able to climb to the top of the pagoda for a bird's view of Xi'an. In the evening, enjoy a Dumpling banquet before returning to your hotel.
Day 6
Xi'an (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum; here, you will learn about China's history and have a better understanding before your visit to the warriors. After some Hand-pulled noodles for lunch, you will visit the thousands of life size Terracotta Warriors and Horses about an hour and a half from Xi'an. Your visit includes a Circlorama 360 film presentation of the history of the warriors..thus enhancing your visit. In the afternoon, you return to Xi'an to visit the Grand Mosque with Muslim Quarter. Stroll on Muslim street and see how Chinese Muslims live. Your guide will show you the famous local snacks available here. After an exciting day, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Optional extra - if you like extravagant costumes, elaborate staging and Chinese dances, ask your guide to take you to the Tang Dynasty dinner and show.
Day 7
Xi'an - Guilin (Breakfast, Dinner)
After breakfast, hop over to Shu Yuan Men for some unique shopping experience. It is time to say goodbye to your Xian guide as you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guilin. Domestic Flight (included) from Xi'an to Guilin. Domestic Flight (included) from Xi'an to Guilin. Upon arrival, your local Guilin guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit Elephant Trunk Hill - an endearing symbol of Guilin - and the Reed Flute Caves. In the evening, enjoy a stroll at the "Two Rivers Four Lakes" scenic area and have dinner before transferring you to your hotel.
Day 8
Guilin - Yangshuo (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast at hotel, enjoy a scenic Li River cruise to the legendary Yangshuo. On the cruise, you will see magnificent scenery of spectacular limestone reflected in the shimmering waters, passing picturesque fishing villages and simple rural life along the riverbank. Lunch will be served on board, Your cruise will take you through some of Guilin's best scenery. Disembark at Yangshuo, visit the lovely small town, and enjoy a stroll through the tiny, pedestrian street (West Street) of Yangshuo and enjoy the atmosphere of this rural town in China. If you have the energy, you can choose to do a short bike ride in the country side. You will overnight in this small town - Yangshuo
Note: As large luggages are not permitted on the 5 hour ferry from Guilin to Yangshuo, your driver will transfer your large luggage to your hotel in Yangshuo.
Day 9
Yangshuo (Breakfast, special Lunch)
After breakfast at hotel, cycle in rural Chinacycle in rural China on a country road to the middle reaches of Yulong River, take a bamboo raft to go down along the river, cycle to see the Moon Hill. After rafting, then go for lunch in a farmer's house. Ride back to Yangshuo and enjoy breathtaking scenery and a taste of life far removed from the concrete metropolis along another small way. If you don't like riding, your guide will take you for a drive in the countryside.
Day 10
Yangzhuo - Guilin - Shanghai (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to your Guilin guide as you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Domestic Flight (included) from Guilin to the modern city of Shanghai. Upon arrival, your local Shanghai guide will meet you at the airport and take you to visit the Oriental Pearl TV tower, for a bird's-eye view of this modern city. Then on to Shanghai's landmark - the historic Bund. Later time for shopping in famous Nanjing Road. After dinner, have a cruise on the Huangpu River for the night view of Shanghai before transferring to your hotel.
Day 11
Shanghai (Breakfast, special Lunch, Show)
After breakfast, spend precious time in the classic Yuyuan Gardens. On to the bustling Yu Bazaar nearby, where you can pick up some souvenirs. Lunch is at a Mongolian Barbecue, which is as much a show as it is an exotic eating experience. Later, enjoy a walk along the adjoining Shanghai Old Street, with its endless streams of pedestrians, traditional shops, tea houses and theatres. Later to the incredible Urban Planning Museum on the People's Square. This evening enjoy the feel of old Shanghai at Xintandi, where a plethora of restaurants will attract you for drinks and dinner. Later, be amazed by the sensational performance of the famous Acrobatic Show before returning to your hotel.
Day 12
Shanghai (Breakfast)
After breakfast, you will have a full day at leisure for independent sightseeing or shopping.
Day 13
Shanghai - Stopover destination - Johannesburg (Breakfast)
After breakfast, you will have a free day until your evening transfer to the station for the ride of your life. The Maglev bullet train will take you 431km/hr to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong / Dubai / Singapore / Stopover destination.
The inclusion in the land arrangements below includes ends here.
Flight from Shanghai to (Hong Kong / Dubai / Singapore / other stopover).
Your international flight price will include this sector as a through-fare.
Day (International Flights)
Johannesburg
Arrival O R Tambo International Airport.
Home sweet home with unforgetable memories of your wonderful trip to China.