| 15 Days China's Highlights No Shopping Tour (Tour code: PT1519) | |
| Themes:History, culture, nature | |
| Destinations: Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Shanghai - Suzhou | |
| From: $2350 |  |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | Your private English-speaking guide and driver wait for you when you arrive at Beijing Intl. Airport, and straight after arrival you begin your adventure in China taking a hutong rickshaw tour. The hutongs are Beijings famous old alleyways and a great start to a tour of China. Later your guide brings you to your hotel for check in and rest. |
| Attractions | Hutong Rickshaw Tour |
| Meals | Lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | The very impressive Forbidden City awaits today. The former home of the emperors and a marvel of classic Ming Dynasty architecture lies just north of the large Tian'anmen Square in the heart of the city. Today you will visit both, but the day begins at the Temple of Heaven, a beautiful building dating from 1420 with an enormous park surrounding it where people come in the morning to practice tai chi and do many other outdoor activities. In the afternoon, after having seen the view of the Forbidden City from Coal Hill, you return to your hotel. |
| Attractions | Temple of Heaven, Tianan'en Square, Forbidden City, Coal Hill |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | The Great Wall of China is a must-see on a tour to Beijing. After breakfast you drive north into the mountains to reach the Mutianyu Section of the wall, a section that is less visited than most other parts. You have the whole day to visit this incredible man-made behemoth, before your guide and car takes you back to your hotel in late afternoon. |
| Attractions | Great Wall of China at Mutianyu |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing - night train |
| Activities | This morning you begin by checking out. Tonight you are going on a night train to Xi'an, but before leaving Beijing there are still some sights to visit. The Lama Temple has been an active temple since the late 17th century and home to one of the largest indoor Buddha statues in the world. You will also visit the nearby Confucian Temple, before driving to Bird's Nest Stadium to see the venue of the 2008 Beijing Olympics from the outside. Next is the Summer Palace, before you will be taken to the train station and prepare to leave Beijing. |
| Attractions | Lama Temple, Confucian Temple, Bird's Nest Stadium (from outside), Summer Palace |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | Night train, soft sleeper berths |
| Destination | Xi'an |
| Activities | You arrive in Xi'an in the morning. Xi'an is one of the most historic cities in China, which you will see as your tour today takes you first to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and very good history museum, before you return to the heart of the city to see the central square and the exciting Muslim Quarter. |
| Attractions | Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum, Central Square, Muslim Quarter |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Xi'an |
| Activities | The Terracotta Army, finished in 221 B.C., holding more than 7000 lifesized clay soldier figures and by many considered one of the most important archeological discoveries of the 20th century, is high on the list of must-sees in China. You will have plenty of time to see all three pits in detail before going back to the city center to scale the grand City Wall of Xi'an. Running around the entire center of the city this is one of the best preserved city walls in China. Later you return to your hotel to rest. |
| Attractions | Terracotta Army, City Wall |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Xi'an - Ping'an |
| Activities | Yet another fantastic sight is waiting for you in the south of China. You fly to Guilin in Guangxi Province and from here drive up into the mountains to reach Ping'an. Your transportation can not drive all the way up, though, so you will need to walk for about 30 minutes to reach the village in the middle of the absolutely stunning Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces - thousands of rice terraces spanning the entire hillside. Once arrived you check in and can then follow your guide to a nearby viewing point or just relax in one of the coffee houses in the village. |
| Attractions | Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | Non-graded Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Ping'an - Xinping |
| Activities | After breakfast it is time to walk down the mountain. Below you driver is waiting to take you to Xinping near Yangshuo south of Guilin, a charming little village on the Li River, and have some time to explore Xingping's Ancient Street, then continue to Egendi Village in Xingping Town, and check in at our modest but nice countryside inn, free time to explore the beautiful countryside surroundings before dinner. |
| Attractions | Guangxi Province's scenery, Xingping Old Street |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | Non-graded Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Xinping |
| Activities | In the morning your guide takes you on a bamboo raft ride on the Li River to see the majestic limestone formations that have made this area so famous. You will stop in the even smaller village of Yucun on the way to have a look around.After return to Xingping Pier, we have a short stop at the viewing platform to see the location of the famous 20 RMB bill's back image, after lunch the rest of the day is free to explore on your own. |
| Attractions | Li River, bamboo mini-cruise, Yucun Village |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | Non-graded Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Xinping - Yangshuo - Shanghai |
| Activities | After breakfast it is time to say farewell to lovely Xinping. Your transportation brings you to nearby Yangshuo, once a quiet fishing village but now a very touristy place. However Yangshuo's West Street is a must for visitors to this region. You will have some time here to visit West Street before your guide and driver takes you to Guilin Airport for your return flight to Shanghai. where your new local guide will help you to your hotel for check in and rest. |
| Attractions | Yangshuo's West Street |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai |
| Activities | After breakfast you drive to the History Museum and the City Planning Museum, both located right in the middle of Shanghai. After having visited these two museums you continue to Xintiandi where you will see both the classic Shikumen architecture of Shanghai and also visit the 1st Congress of the CPC. Sometime in the afternoon you are back at your hotel, and the rest of the day is free. |
| Attractions | Shanghai History Museum, City Planning Museum, Xintiandi, 1st Congress of the CPC |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai |
| Activities | Today your guide takes you on a walking tour of Shanghai. Your hotel is close to the famous waterfront, The Bund, which is the first stop today. From here it is a short walk to Chinatown, the part of Shanghai that kept its Chinese heritage during the years of foreign control. In here you will also visit the City God Temple and Yuyuan Garden, before heading back to your hotel. |
| Attractions | The Bund, Chinatown, City God Temple, Yuyuan Garden |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai |
| Activities | Today you have al day free to explore on your own. Shanghai has a lot to offer to make sure to ask your guide for recommendations. |
| Attractions | None |
| Meals | Breakfast |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai |
| Activities | Chinese gardens are famous for their beauty and intricate attention to detail. Today you take a high-speed train to Suzhou, only 45 minutes away, to visit one of the best gardens here, the Humble Administrator's Garden. Small lakes, streams, beautifully decorated walkways and much more awaits you in here. In the afternoon you return to Shanghai by train. |
| Attractions | Humble Administrator's Garden |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai - home |
| Activities | Your China trip is coming to an end. Free time until it is time to go to the airport and begin your journey home. |
| Attractions | None |
| Meals | Breakfast |
| Accommodation | Not incl. |
| Price information | |
| 2-3 person group: $3210/person
4-6 person group: $2550/person 7-9 person group: $2350/person Luxury upgrade: partially available |
|
| Price including |
| Domestic flights as in itinerary
Train travel as in itinerary Private English-speaking guide Private ground transportation as per itinerary Accommodation as listed Entrances as listed Meals as listed Chinese travel accident insurance Guaranteed no shopping stops |
| Price not including |
Flights to/from China Personal expenses Tips for guides and drivers Anything not listed in itinerary |
| Important tour information |
Luxury Upgrade Policy: A luxury upgrade option is available with many of our tours. In accordance with our quality benchmark, upgrade options are divided into four categories: 1. Available - upgrade possible at all destinations in tour itinerary. 2. Partially available - upgrade not possible at one or more destnations in tour itinerary. 3. Not recommended - available or partially available, but not recommended (see Hotel Policy). 4. Not available - luxury upgrades are not possible on many of our trademark specialty tours to remote or developing regions. These tours are deeply genuine and authentic.
Keeping our guests' comfort in mind, we prefer to stay in a 2* or 3* hotel in or close to the attraction, rather than a 4* or 5* hotel much further away. Genuine China Tours' all-encompassing hotel policy is that we will never pick a hotel only because of its price. All our partner hotels must live up to a strict quality test that includes: 1. Geographical location - the location of our chosen hotel is of great importantce, both in large cities, where traffic congestion can play a vital role in the handling of the tour, and also on tours to remote villages, where the right choice of village or hotel can mean a world of difference to the tour. 2. Quality of hotel - including room size and cleanliness, quality of breakfast, ease of getting in/out and more. 3. Local environment - local environment should include local sights (when possible), be in the vicinity of local markets/night markets (if any) and have access to shops and convenience stores (if any). 4. Design and layout of hotel - we prefer hotels with history and atmosphere, especially if these have relevance with the sight(s) at the destination. 5. Value for money - any hotel must pass requirements 1-3 and 5. If a hotel passes all five requirements it becomes a Priority Hotel.
Also important: 1. Please perform a thorough health check before traveling. If your health is not good enough please refrain from traveling. Most major tourist destinations in China have good health care services, but on tours to remote or high altitude destinations you should make sure your health allows you to travel to these destinations. Genuine China Tours will bear no responsibility in case of any accident, relapse or discomfort. 2. Disabled persons should be accompanied by by their own aid instruments or an accompanying person. Genuine China Tours can not provide aid instruments. 3. While traveling please adhere to instructions from your guide and stay clear of any dangers and/or annoyances. 4. Genuine China Tours reserves the right to refuse participation on a tour if the traveler is deemed unfit to participate or will be a nuisance to other travelers. 5. On tours to remote areas or high altitude areas accommodation and restaurants may not be up to standart. You should be prepared for this if choosing a tour to these areas. 6. Please make sure to bring items that may be necessary, like windproof jacket, umbrella, sun screen (sun lotion), health related articles, items of personal nature etc. 7. On speciality tours to remote regions, Tibetan areas and mountainous regions Genuine China Tours will bear no responsibility if tour itinerary is changed due to government policies, weather or any other influencing factors outside GCTs control. |
| Genuine China Tours is an officially registered travel agency operating under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. Guests are required to follow rules and regulations set forth by existing laws of the country, including behavior respectful of local customs and manners. Tour designs and quotations may not be used in connection with other travel agencies. Genuine China Tours cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience caused by weather, traffic, government policies or other situations outside GCTs control. |