China Speed Train Discovery Tour

Arrival in Beijing, you will be met at the airport or train station and transferred to hotel.

Private escorted tour to over 500-year-old Temple of Heaven. The Temple is basically a huge communication terminal which the Emperor used to communicate directly with Heaven, and it was included in the World Heritage List in 1998. Secondly, go to the Tiananmen Square, located at the heart of Beijing, is the world's largest city center square. Then enter the Forbidden City. It was nominated as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1987 and recognized as one of the most important five palaces in the world. At night, a delicious Peking duck dinner is prepared.

Visit the Summer Palace this morning. The Chinese call it Yihe Yuan, and the landscaped gardens, temples, and pavilions were designed to achieve harmony with nature. It was listed on the World Heritage List by the UNESCO in 1998. If weather permits, enjoy boating at Kunming Lake. Next, take private escorted tour to Mutianyu Great Wall by round-way cable car. Mutianyu, meaning ‘Admiring Fields Valley’, is the longest fully-restored Great Wall section open to tourists and about 2.5 hours’ drive from downtown Beijing. 

China's capital city Beijing is a city of contrasts which you can discover the magical cultural traditions at the hutong alleyways dating back to hundreds of years ago. Explore Hutong on foot or sitting on a vintage rickshaw, witnessing local life at traditional courtyard houses. Sample more about the culture by taking a lesson to learn Chinese calligraphy. If you’re traveling with kids, how about learning paper cutting or painting Peking Opera mask? After that, board your high speed train trip to Xian (around 5 hours). 

Visit the most famous Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, one of the top attractions in China. It is so significant because the hundreds of detailed life-size models represent the army that triumphed over all other Chinese armies and who were the decisive factor in forming a united China. Make yourself a mini terracotta warrior with clay at a local cave house, and bring it home. Later, walk at the old city quarters not only to appreciate its unique architecture, but also get close to local people’s life.

Get in China's longest and best preserved ancient city wall with the morning sunlight to view the past and amazing new development. You're suggested to ride a bike on the mighty wall. Then visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which has a brick frame built around a hollow interior, and its square base and shape reflect the building style of other pagodas from the era of Tang Dynasty. Inside the park there is Xian Musuem to be explored, a less-visited one with a large collection of 130 000 historic artifacts. Also enjoy a shadow puppet show, a fun and artistic folk drama of ancient China (transfer to Gao’s Court yard House to watch the show on every Tuesday and winter season).development.

Transfer to the train station and head for Chengdu (4 hours) – one of the most charming cultural centers in China and the celebrated hometown of giant panda. Have a leisure stroll of Jinli Old Street, lined with traditional wooden and brick dwellings. It is said it was one of the oldest commercial streets in Chengdu dating to the 2th-century. Visit the Wenshu Temple, a garden-designed ancient shrine, to see people praying, burning incense, etc. before experience Chengdu's unique tea culture at People's Park or Kuanzhai Alleyways.

One important purpose of touring Chengdu is to join the panda volunteer program – being a caring panda keeper and doing something meaningful for this cute creature. You’ll learn knowledge and history of giant panda, and work with the staff to take care of them, making food, feeding them, cleaning the house… After the hard-working day, you will be issued a certificate confirming your effort.

After breakfast, transfer to the railway station to take train to Guilin (6 hours). Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to Longji Rice Terraces. Check into your hotel, and catch the sunset, when the rice terraces, which extend from mountain top to feet, are enveloped a golden ray. Fall asleep with the calm serenity.

Hike amidst the endless rice terraces to Longji Ancient Zhuang Village. The villagers who have been living here for generations create the amazing scene of terraced fields. Get to know their life, foods, customs, culture and dwellings. Drive to the downtown of Guilin, and visit Reed Flute Cave on the halfway of a hill. Inside the cave, you’re supposed to be marveled by various shapes of stalactites and stalagmites. 

Set sail with a cruise ship on Li River, one of the most beautiful rivers on Earth, featuring ever-changing karst scenery. If you happen to have a Chinese 20-yuan note, figure out the sight Illustrated on the note. Disembark in Yangshuo, a paradise in South China. Explore Yangshuo countryside on two wheels (if you don't prefer the bike trip, your private vehicle is able available), to be embraced by intoxicating landscape: limestone peaks, farm lands, orchard, rivers… Visit a local family house if you wish. You’re encouraged to have a walk and drinks at the West Street at night. 

You've tried many Chinese dishes for the last days, and today, you'll learn to cook the dishes yourself. But first of all, your guide will lead you to the bustling local market, to see what is for sale, breakfast, seasonal vegetables, fruits, various meat, nuts, tofu… When the food materials are prepared, start cooking! Enjoy the gastronomy delights for lunch. Perhaps take a nap surrounded by the beautiful surroundings and take the bullet train to Guangzhou (2.5 hours). Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel.

Start the day at Yuexiu Park, favored by local Guangzhou people who do morning exercise. Then pay a visit to Chen Family Temple, the largest, best preserved and decorated ancient architecture in Guangdong province. Next, visit the Xiguan Old Houses to appreciate its special architecture values. Later, wander around Qingping Market. It has over 2000 stall along 1-km-long Qingping Road to get close to local people's life, where is a gazetted historical area that serves as a tranquil reminder of the colonial European period. Board the speed train to Hong Kong (1 hour).

Your first stop is Victoria Peak. It combine shopping, restaurants, and entertainment and features the oldest mode transport, the 112-year old Peak Tram and Hong Kong 's most unusual building and icon, the Peak Tower. Secondly, pay a visit to Aberdeen. It was formerly a fishing village. People can have a glimpse of boat-dwellers at Aberdeen Bay. Repulse Bay is the third spot, a relaxing sandy beach with a strong characteristic of local culture. The rest of day is for your own exploration.

Hong Kong a fascinating city that blends with traditional Chinese culture and that of the West. It is the most diverse and exciting destinations in the world.

Transfer to the airport and fly to your next destination. End of your 16 days China discovery tour by speed train.