The Forbidden City and the Imperial Palace, Beijing

Day 1: The Forbidden City and the Imperial Palace, Beijing

Morning: Pick up at your hotel located in the downtown Beijing (between 8:30am to 9:00am)

Visit the Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest public square. Explore the sites around the square with opportunities to take some amazing pictures.

Next, the magnificent Forbidden City, the largest Imperial Palace in the world. You’ll spend a couple of hours wandering around this amazing example of Imperial architecture and learning about the history of the palace.

Then you will visit Jingshan Park. You will climb to the top pavilion to get a fabulous panoramic view of city Beijing.

Suggested accommodation area: Beijing city center (hotel booking by yourself)

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Day 2: The Great Wall of China

Morning pick up at your hotel (between 8:30am to 9:00am)

Then going to Mutianyu Great Wall. It's the best section of the great wall in China. (1.5 to 2 hours drive).

This is a one of the most famous and ideal sections of the Great Wall. You will have your choice of taking the cable car or chair lift up the breathtaking wall and spend a leisurely 1 to 2 hours hiking up and down the various sections exploring the Watch Towers and marveling at the construction and beauty of the renown and legendary Wall. You then have the option of an exhilarating toboggan ride back down or simply return the way you came.

After you finished Mutianyu, you will visit 798 Art Zone.

Accommodation area: Beijing city center (hotel booking by yourself)

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Day 3: The Summer Palace -- Lama Temple

Morning you will go to visit Summer Palace, a summer resort for Imperial Family Members~considered the best preserved Imperial Park.

Summer Palace has been listed in the World Heritage Sites, originally named Qingyi Yuan or the Garden of Clear Ripples, was the first constructed in 1750. It was razed to the group by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860. The Government of Qing Dynasty rebuilt it in 1886 with funds that it had misappropriated from the Imperial Navy and other sources then 2 years later, renamed as Yihe Yuan or the Garden of Health and Harmony, it was ravaged by the Allied Forces of the Eight Powers that invaded China in 1900.

You can visit the court area, lake area, long corridor etc.

In the afternoon you will visit Lama Temple, also known as Yonghe Temple, Harmony and Peace Palace Lamasery, Yonghe Lamasery is located at the northeast corner of Beijing City, considered as the largest and most perfectly preserved lamasery in present day China.

Accommodation area: Beijing city center (hotel booking by yourself)

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Day 4: Temple of Heaven and High-speed Train to Xi'an

Drive to Temple of Heaven. It's the largest Imperial place of worship from ancient times. This special place becomes a park where the local community utilizes this beautiful and enormous space for social activities such as singing, dancing, and Taiji practice.

Then visit Back Lakes and take a high-speed train for Xi'an.

Accommodation area: Xi'an city center (hotel booking by yourself)

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Day 5: The Terracotta Army -- Xi'an City Wall

It was while digging wells on the outskirts of Xi'an in the 1970s that farmers stumbled across what was to be China's most important archeological find: the Terracotta Army. Distributed over three large underground pits and built to guard the First Emperor's tomb were more than 8,000 life-size warriors, some 520 horses, and more than 100 chariots, along with numerous other non-military characters dating from around 280 BC.

Afternoon return to the city center and visit the Xi'an City Wall, which has been guarding the inner city for 600 years.

Accommodation area: Xi'an city center

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Day 6: Shaanxi History Museum -- Muslim Quarter

Today you will visit Shaanxi History Museum, Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hangyangling) and the food street of Muslim Quarter, the Chinese hamburger is a must-eat food.

Accommodation area: Xi'an city center

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Day 7: Xi'an City Highlights and High-speed Train to Chengdu

Today you will visit the other highlight attractions of Xi'an. Including Tang Bo Art Museum, Dayan Pagoda Northern Square.

In the afternoon take a flight to Shanghai and transfer to your hotel.

Accommodation area: Chengdu city center (hotel booking by yourself)

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Day 8: Mount Qingcheng

Mount Qingcheng is one of the most famous Taoist mountains in China. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well.

Accommodation area: Chengdu city center

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Day 9: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding -- High-speed Train to Guilin

The best place to see Padas in a close approximation to their natural habitat is at the excellent Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu. Here, you'll have the chance to watch as many as 80 pandas go about their daily routines, from foraging to playing in the facility's large park-like setting.

Accommodation area: Guilin city center (hotel booking by yourself)

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Day 10: Longji Rice Terraces

The terraces are beautiful when the sun reflects on the water of the paddy fields, and the fields glow when the paddy is ripe. From a distance, during the growing season, these winding terraces appear as if they were green woven cables laid out over the hillsides, starting at the riverbank and ending near the mountaintop. Visitors can meander through the paddies and villages, greeting and being greeted by horses, chickens, ducks, pigs and hard working locals. 

Accommodation area: Guilin city center

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Day 11: Cruising the Li River -- Yulong River

The town of Guilin boasts some of China's most beautiful countryside and is famous for the Li River, which meander through the town and surrounding karst mountains. The best way to enjoy the area is to take a cruise along the Li River. The most popular stretch is from Guilin to Yangshuo, where the river meanders peacefully through some 80 kilometers of remarkable rock formations and caves. You also could do the bamboo rafting at Yulong River as well.

Accommodation area: Guilin city center

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Day 12: Guilin City Highlights and High-speed Train to Hong Kong