Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai
Arrive at Shanghai International Airport and take the magnetic train to the hotel. Night in Shanghai.
Day 2: Shanghai
Visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Visit Yuyuan Garden and the lively Bazaar, typical place for buying all kinds of things. Walk to People’s Square and continue shopping on Nanjing Street. Walk to the Bund and eat dinner in this area. Night in Shanghai.
Day 3: Hangzhou
Take the train to the city of Hangzhou. Visit the Temple of Inspired Seclusion (Ling Yin) and caves sculpted into the rock. Walk along the lake. Return in train to Shanghai. Stroll through and have dinner in the French Concession. Night in Shanghai.
Day 4: Beijing
Flight to Beijing. Walk through the centre of Beijing, stopping in Tiananmen Square and the large commercial street Wangfujing Dajie (Golden Street). Night in Beijing.
Day 5: Beijing
Visit the Forbidden City. Visit Beighai Park and go up to the White Pagoda. Stroll down one of Beijing’s Hutongs: Yandai Xiejie. Walk along and have dinner at Lake Quian Hai. Night in Beijing (we recommend renting a bicycle while in Beijing).
Day 6: The Great Wall
Day trip to the Great Wall (better in taxi or minibus than normal bus). Better to visit the Mutianyu section, as it caters less to tourists than Badalin. You’ll enjoy the visit much more (Simatai is the best section but it is closed for renovation). Night in Beijing.
Day 7: Beijing
Visit the majestic Summer Palace. Visit the Olympic Park, where you’ll find the different buildings that housed the 2008 Olympics. Night in Beijing.
Day 8: Beijing
Visit Tiananmen Square. Enter the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Parliament. Visit the Temple of Confucius and Lama Temple. Visit the Temple of Heaven. Dinner on lively Sanlitum Street. Night in Beijing.
Day 9: Datong-Yungang
Flight to Datong. Take a taxi to the Buddhist Caves at Yungang, the so-called Chinese Petra. Visit the Datong Hanging Monastery. Return to Datong. Night in Datong.
Day 10: Datong
Visit the centre of Datong on foot and its main points of interest: Shanhuan Temple, Huayan Monastery, Nine Dragon Wall and the city’s amusement park. Overnight train to Pingyao.
Day 11: Pingyao
Visit the walled city of Pingyao, founded in the 14th century and which preserves much of the original architecture dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Night in Pingyao.
Day 12: Pingyao
Visit the house of the Wang family on the outskirts of Pingyao, regarded as China’s civilian Forbidden City. Visit Shuanglin Temple. Night train to Xi’an.
Day 13: Xi’an
Visit the hangar containing the Terracotta Warriors. Stroll through Xi’an’s Muslim district (the Great Mosque and street market). Visit Big Goose Pagoda and the audiovisual show in the square with the dancing fountain. Night in Xi’an.
Day 14: Chengdu
Fly to Chengdu, the city of the panda bears. Visit Wuhou Memorial Temple. Stroll down Jinli Ancient Street. Visit Whenshu Monastery. Night in Chengdu.
Day 15: Chengdu-Panda bears
Visit Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre and see pandas in captivity. Stroll along on Chunxi Road, the so-called Champs Elysees of Chengdu. Visit the Taoist temple of Qingyang. Night in Chengdu.
Day 16: Lijiang
Flight to Lijiang. Go for a walk and do some shopping in Lijiang, the so-called Chinese Venice and one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Night in Lijiang.
Day 17: Lijiang-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Visit the glacier on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Go for a bike ride in Glacier Park. Visit the city. Night in Lijiang.
Day 18: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge
Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest canyons in the world and through which flow the waters of the Jingsha River, forming 189 fearsome rapids. Night in Lijiang.
Day 19: Guilin-Yangshuo
Fly to Guilin and then bus or minivan to Yangshuo. Stroll through the city. Night in Yangshuo.
Day 20: Yangshuo-Yulong River
Bike trip along the Yulong River and return by boat on the same river. Go up to Moon Hill for the spectacular views of the area. Return to Yangshuo. See the musical performed nightly on the river. Night in Yangshuo.
Day 21: Yangshuo-Li River and subterranean caves
Boat trip on the Li River on the section that joins Yangdi with Xingping, the most spectacular stretch and the one with the best views. Walk through Xingping and visit the market. Return to Yangshuo. Trip to Real Water Cave where in addition to grottoes and stalagmites, you’ll find clay pools and fresh water currents. Night in Yulong.
Day 22: Yangshuo-Lon rice paddies
Visit the rice paddies of Mount Longji (Dragon Backed Mountain) in the municipality of Longhshen. Visit Yao village, home to a Chinese ethnic minority whose women are famous for having the longest hair in the world. Fly to Shanghai. Night in Shanghai.
Day 23: Back home
Take the magnetic train to the airport and the flight back home.
