After breakfast, we will begin today's historical trip with visits to the Tiananmen Square and the adjacent Forbidden City. Once residence of Ming and Qing (1368 - 1911) Chinese emperors, the City has resplendent architecture to marvel at and imperial life to peep into. It has survived six centuries intact and this mystery will unveil itself as you listen to your guide telling the top-notch engineering ideas behind everywhere within your sight. Look at the red supporting columns of each structure. They were of course not made of concrete, which was invented not until modern era, but with a log wrapped with layers of breathable jute ropes and a hybrid of adhesive pig blood, flour, brick ashes and other things, which somehow made them able to stand for so long. The red paint was ingeniously mixed as well, using the red mineral pigment cinnabar to achieve a bright visual effect and tung oil as the preservative.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Yonghe Temple. And then go ahead to the Temple of Heaven, a large park with a complex of ancient religious buildings. It was here that emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the Gods of Heaven. In the park, you can also see many local seniors dancing, singing, playing cards or taking exercise. It is interesting to watch the local people enjoying their spare time.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 3 Beijing

Start your morning with an excursion to Mutianyu, a popular section of China Great Wall. A round-trip cable car is arranged to take you up onto the Great Wall, where you will have quite enough time to walk on it and enjoy the majestic views. Today's lunch is on your own. Fast food can be purchased at the site and your guide will be pleased to offer advice about what is available.

Before returning to the hotel in the afternoon, we will drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium) so that you can take photos. Then we will take you to explore the Hutong area, a beautiful and original neighborhood of the old city, where you can feel the atmosphere of old Beijing. You will also take a rickshaw to travel through the Hutong alleys.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

 

Day 4 Beijing to Xi'an by High Speed Train

Day 5 Xi'an

You may read about the warriors and see the pictures before you come to the Terracotta Army Museum, but you will still be astonished by its dramatic scale when you see the vast array of soldiers made more than 2,200 years ago. Your tour guide will tell you more stories about this amazing wonder. Try your hand to make a mini terracotta figure, which will add fun to your travel experience. Drive back to downtown, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an Museum.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 6 Xi’an to Chengdu by High Speed Train

In the morning, we will visit the City Wall Park. And then continue to the City Wall. With a history of more than 600 years, this City Wall is remarkably well preserved and accessible. It is worth renting a bicycle and riding on top of the broad ancient wall. Both bike rental and electric car service are available and can be paid on the spot. Then, you will be guided to explore its nearby Muslim Bazaar. Your guide will see you off at the railway station and take a high speed train to Chengdu. Upon arrival, your guide will greet you and escort you to the hotel for check in.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 7 Chengdu

The main aim for most travelers coming to Chengdu is to see the pandas, as Chengdu is the hometown of giant pandas. There are only around 1500 pandas in the world while most of them live in Chengdu. Today, you will visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. We will make an early start as pandas are more active in the morning during their feeding time. You will see them eating, playing and climbing trees. If you are lucky, you may watch the cute baby pandas.

Then you will visit the Jinli Street. The Jinli Street is a popular food street in Chengdu. It is worth to explore freely to taste local snacks with fine taste. You can take a visit and have your own lunch there. In the afternoon, the trip continues to the Xiaojiahe Community to have some down-to-earth experiences.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 8 Chengdu to Lhasa by Flight

Day 9 Lhasa

Lhasa is the holy land of Tibetan Buddhism. There are numerous historical relics and Buddhist monasteries. Today you will visit the Drepung Monastery, the Sera Monastery and the Norbulingka Park, all of which play an important position in the local culture. We are sure you will be intrigued by the lamas' intense debates of the Buddhist scriptures in the courtyard of the Sera Monastery in the afternoon, even if you cannot understand what is being discussed.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 10 Lhasa

This morning, let’s head to the biggest highlight of your Lhasa tour, the Potala Palace. Aged over 1,300 years, this palace will present you many mysteries to solve, like how it was constructed with stone and mud bricks, in an era when buildings in China were all built with wood; and how the number of the rooms still remains untold - even the monks housed here couldn’t tell - for the intricate structures-in-structures system. But your knowledgeable guide is sure to provide some insights. As the palace is 13 storeys high and magnificently built on a mountain slope with gleaming white walls, you will spot it from afar as we approach. Have an appreciation of the grand façade, pass by monks and visitors, and reach the top to find prayer wheels piously spun.

After that, you will also visit the Tibet Museum, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street and a Nunnery. Your guide will accompany you all the way and show you a great deal about the Tibetan culture. The Barkhor Street is a thousand-year-old street that reflects the folk customs of Tibet. With its long cultural and historical traditions, the street integrates the sales of Tibetan local products, tourism, representative folk customs and ancient buildings of Tibetan characteristics. Thus, it is a must-visit place in Lhasa.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 11 Lhasa to Lijiang by Flight

Day 12 Lijiang

In order to know more about this exotic land inhabited by ethnic minorities, you will be accompanied by the guide to visit the Baisha Village, a local Naxi family and Baisha Mural. The gorgeous Baisha Murals are housed in a temple complex. The murals depict the inclusivity of China's religions as they have features of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. In the afternoon, continue the visit to the Black Dragon Pool and the Mu Fu Mansion to further discover the beauty and the culture of this city.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 13 Lijiang to Dali by Private Car

Day 14 Dali to Chongqing by Flight

Day 15 Yangtze River Cruise

The three days Yangtze River cruise is a relaxing journey as part of your one month China itinerary. You can appreciate the spectacular scenery of the gorges, take memorable photos, and enjoy sunshine on the deck at your leisure. The cruise company will arrange some onshore excursions daily. This morning, you are scheduled to have a shore excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City (Luxury Series Cruise) or Fengdu ShuangGui Mountain (Standard Series Cruise). The Captain's Welcome Party to which all the guests are invited to participate, provided by Standard Series Cruise.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16 Yangtze River Cruise

Day 17 Yichang to Hangzhou by High Speed Train

Day 18 Hangzhou to Huangshan by High Speed Train

In the morning, visit the West Lake by boat. You will enjoy the splendid natural scenery as well as the numerous historical sites here. Then after a few minutes' walk, you will come to the Red Carp Pond which is one of the most beautiful sites around the West Lake and where you could enjoy the elegant scenery of lakes, meadows, willows and red carps. Then visit the Lingyin Temple (Temple of Soul's Retreat), one of the ten most renowned Buddhist temples in China. The beautiful landscape and the vivid Buddhist carvings on the Feilai Peak will surely leave you a deep impression. Continue our visit to the Meijiawu Tea Village to enjoy the tea plantation.

In the late afternoon, transfer you to the railway station to take a 3-hour high speed train to Huangshan. Upon your arrival at Huangshan railway station, your local guide will pick you up and take you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 19 Huangshan

Today, we will transfer you to the foot of the Huangshan Mountain. Take Yungu cable car from northern part of Yungu scenic area to reach Beihai scenic area. During the transferring, you will find yourself floating in the wonderful elf land. You may admire the beauty of this mountain from different directions and points. The main spots you will visit today are the Beginning-to-Believe Peak, the Peach Blossom Valley, the Lion Peak, the Flying-over Rock and the Bright Summit. The Beginning-to-Believe Peak looks small and exquisite. There are many rare and precious pines and also numerous grotesque stones here for visitors to view. The Peach Blossom Valley has advantage of fertile soil with flourishing vegetation. Each year from March to April, the peach blossom blooming layer upon layer almost reaches the summit, gorgeously just like brocade. The Lion Peak is the best point to enjoy the sea of clouds and sunrise. It gets the name as the shape of the peak looks just like a prone lions. The Bright Summit is one of three main peaks in Huangshan. Due to the flat terrain, it is also one of the best points to see the sunrise. Tonight you will stay at the Xihai Hotel, which has one hour walking distance to the summit.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 20 Huangshan to Suzhou by High Speed Train

Day 21 Suzhou to Tongli, High Speed Train to Shanghai

Visit the famous classical Chinese garden - the Humble Administrator's Garden and its adjoining Suzhou Museum. Then, drive out of the city for one hour to the ancient Tongli Water Town, where you will see a great many of stone bridges, old residential houses with narrow alleyways and enjoy a boat ride to travel through the canal. The quietness of the town, its unsophisticated people, their traditional life and customs will definitely impress you. After the full day tour, we will drive you to Suzhou Railway Station to take a high speed train to Shanghai. After arrival, your local guide will greet you at the railway station and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. 

➤ Dinner Suggestion:
This evening, stroll into a tiny lane at Middle Fuxing Road to find Yongxing Restaurant for home-cooked Shanghainese cuisine. 35 years old, compact and cozy, the eatery is recommended by Michelin Guide and said to be the most affordable (50 yuan/per person) among all the one-star-rated. The location, the façade, the only seven or eight tables inside, everything is in a low-key style, except that the name board is conspicuous with the English name under Chinese. In it, the overall deep-red décor would remind you of a bygone era, and with it you will feel like walking into a local house. It has welcomed many Chinese stars, expats, gourmet tourists and locals, and will be happy to welcome you. The restaurant is just 20 minutes’ drive away from your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 22 Shanghai to Zhangjiajie by Flight

After breakfast, your China itinerary 1 month in Shanghai will begin with visits to the Shanghai Museum, and then Yu Garden, a traditional Chinese garden, constructed in the 16th century. It is so beautiful with magnificent rocks, pavilions, ponds, bridges, trees and residence that you will feel it a true respite in such a busy city. In the afternoon, our schedule includes the Bund, Huangpu River cruise for one hour.

Take an evening flight to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 23 Zhangjiajie

After breakfast, you will be taken to check out one of the treasures of the World Natural Heritage, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The natural scenery here is amazing by karst peaks, quiet by valleys, and beautiful by primitive forests, enjoying the laudatory name of “Three thousand Peaks, Eight Hundred Ethereal Waters”. Follow the guide to take the sightseeing bus of the park to the lower station of Bailong Elevator, where you will be transported to the mountaintop in 88 seconds. This cliffside elevator, which went into service in 2002, is reputed to be the world’s tallest and fastest lift with the largest passenger capacity as it can carry around 6,000 people per hour to the 335-meter-high (1099-feet-high) summit.

Getting off the lift, take your time to explore the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, whose origin is quite legendary. It is said that “Yuan” is derived from the Chinese pronunciation of “ape”. In the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), after the failed uprising here of the Tujia King, Xiang Da Kun, his family members were executed with the exception of an infant. This orphan later was raised by apes and claimed his surname as “Yuan”, which hence gave the area the name Yuanjiajie. Now, the main reason most visitors come here is to witness Hallelujah Mountain, the floating mountain on which the Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster ‘Avatar’ was based. Of course, you can also appreciate the No.1 Bridge under Heaven and get stunning panoramic views by standing on the Enchanting Platform.

Enjoy an included simple lunch of local dishes at a restaurant in Yuanjiajie, and then head to to Yangjiajie Scenic Area, the park’s last-developed natural paradise. With its sky-high peaks and crystal clear waters, Xiangzhi Stream creates a beauty that is far away from the hustle and bustle world. Qingfeng Gorge boasts rows of peak walls, making you feel like you are in a majestic ancient city. As for Hundred Monkey Valley, it is the happy Eden of macaques and egrets, giving you the feeling of ecological harmony. Follow your guide to marvel at the world’s out-of-print Natural Great Wall, which took 380 million years to form and is still in its juvenile stage. Then continue the sightseeing to Tianzi Mountain. Standing on one of the best viewing platforms in Helong Park, get a glimpse of the Imperial Brush Peak hidden in the sea of sunset clouds. Finally, take the cable car down the mountain and be transferred back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 24 Zhangjiajie

This morning, meet your guide at the hotel lobby and then go to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, another pearl left by nature in Zhangjiajie, to savor the wonderful combination of technology and scenery. As the “Natural Museum of Zhangjiajie Landform”, this place offers you landscapes of bottomless canyons, rolling mountains, emerald lakes and mysterious caves at the same time. The world-famous Yuntiandu Glass Bridge we are about to embark on is right one of the best spots to see the panorama. Both in length and height, the bridge ranks first in the world. Dare to challenge yourself by walking on this transparent walkway? Don't have any worries, its design concept and construction technique are out of the world’s leading level, and several tanks can be safely driven on it simultaneously. If you are too afraid of heights, try the opaque areas on the sides.

After lunch, let’s have a hike along Golden Whip Stream. It is 7.2 kilometers (4.5 miles) long, winding through one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. While leisurely walking here, you will find the air is so fresh that you can’t help but take a deep breath. Along the way, get ready to be fascinated by the Zicao Pool with swimming giant salamanders and light purple cobblestones in. Continue to move forward, what will appear in front of you is Lovers Peak, which is just like a long reunion of a couple who snuggle together and whisper their missing to each other. At last, you will be escorted to downtown Zhangjiajie and check in at the hotel we have carefully selected for you.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 25 Zhangjiajie to Guilin by High Speed Train

Day 26 Guilin to Yangshuo by Li River Cruise

Today your guide will accompany you to take the Li River cruise down to Yangshuo. The 50 miles Li River is surrounded with beautiful karst mountains. On the way, you will find wonderful scenes on every bend and it is a great backdrop for photos. After the 4-hour cruise, you will have a countryside trip in Yangshuo. We also arrange a local family home visit for you. Most people find it interesting to see a local farmer's house and their life. After the whole day tour, you will get to the hotel in Yangshuo.

Tips: The lunch served on the cruise today is a simple Chinese box lunch. It fails to meet the serving standards of TravelChinaGuide and may not be to your taste, so we kindly suggest you have a hearty breakfast at the hotel this morning.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Day 27 Yangshuo

Day 28 Yangshuo back to Guilin, High Speed Train to Hong Kong

In the morning, your guide will pick you up at the appointed time and transfer you to Guilin. On the way, visit the Xianggong Mountain to have a panoramic view of the Li River.

As the guide transfers you to the railway station for the high speed train to Hong Kong, your private guided tour is completed. In Hong Kong, we will leave all the activities to your own devising apart from your hotel accommodation with breakfasts, as the private guided tour in Hong Kong is quite expensive.

Hong Kong is pretty easy for self-motivated explorers. English is widely spoken and the transportation system is also very convenient. Upon your arrival at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, please take the MTR West Rail Line to the Regal Kowloon Hotel or free shuttle bus to InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong by yourself.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 29 Hong Kong

Day 30 Departure from Hong Kong