16-Day Private China Essence Tour with Yangtze River Cruise

At last, you will see the Temple of Heaven, with its unique architecture, where the emperors worshipped the heavens in hopes of good harvests.

Afterwards, you will take a rickshaw tour to explore the original Hutong alleys and have a chance to visit a local family.

Your guide and driver will escort you to Beijing West Railway Station to take a high speed train to Xian. You will meet our Xian guide when you get out of the train station and then be transferred to the hotel.

Then transfer you back to downtown and you will come to the Shaanxi Province Museum. The outlook of it imitates the building structure of the Tang Dynasty. There are lots of relics and artifacts have been collected. They will show you the development of ancient China in different eras.

Then, you will be transferred to the airport for an onward flight to Guilin. Your local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel.

Upon arrival in Yangshuo, a short trip to the countryside by bicycle or car will then be arranged. Today you will spend one night in Yangshuo.

Arriving in Guilin, visit its natural landmark, Elephant Trunk Hill, named so because it just looks like an elephant drinking water with his truck from the river.

Experience Slow-paced Life of Chengdu People at Xiaojiahe Community. At first, try some delicious Chengdu dishes at Yongle Restaurant at your own expense. After, go to a local vegetable market. Following, the guide will lead you to Xiaojiahe river bank after walking for about 15 minutes. There, you will see locals playing mahjong or cards, enjoying tea, or chatting with each other. We will serve you a cup of coffee, specially in a traditional tea bowl with a cover. After that, transfer you back to your hotel.

This day will draw to an end with a visit to the Marriage Market in People’s Park. Here, the background information of the singles and their expectations for the other half are listed on papers and displayed. Read some “posters” with the help of the guide, to learn this unique and interesting way of matchmaking.

In the morning, your guide will transfer you to the railway station to catch a 2-hour bullet train to Chongqing. Upon arrival, your local guide will pick you up at the railway station and and take you to visit Ci Qi Kou Village, where you can try some local food as lunch on your own expense. And then your guide will transfer you to board Yangtze River cruise ship. When the ship departs from Chongqing, your relaxing Yangtze River cruise tour begins.

Today you will disembark and visit the Shuangguishan National Forest Park instead, which is a great place to enjoy a leisurely walk and melt into nature. In addition to the scheduled onshore excursions, you are free to enjoy yourself on the cruise ship, relax completely on the sundeck or join various cultural programs onboard. This evening, the Captain's Welcome Party will be held, and it will be a great fun for guests to join in.

As the ship sails through Wu Gorge, you will change to a sampan to take a side trip along Shennong Stream for 3 to 4 hours. Shennong Stream features picturesque natural beauty, distinctive Tujia flavor, boat tracking culture and valued historical relics.

After around 7.5 hours train ride, you will meet your Shanghai guide at the train station and be transferred to the hotel.

Then you will head for a cultural block in Shanghai to get relaxed before going back to the hotel.

Your guide and driver will come and get you at the appointed time, and then transfer you to the airport. Bon voyage!