13 Days Budget China Tour with History, Architecture, Scenery and Yangtze River Cruise

Summary

Day 1 Beijing Arrival
Day 2 Beijing: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Day 3 Beijing: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs
Day 4 Beijing-Xian: Mutianyu Great Wall, Train to Xian
Day 5 Xian: Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xian Ancient City Wall
Day 6 Xian-Chongqing: Big Goose Pagoda,Muslim Quarter, Fly to Chongqing
Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise: Fengdu, Mingshan Hill, Shibaozhai
Day 8 Yangtze River Cruise: Daning River Small Gorges, Qutang & Wu Gorge, White Emperor City
Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise-Yichang-Zhangjiajie: Yangtze River Cruise to Yichang, Three Gorges Dam, Yichang to Zhangjiajie by train
Day 10 Zhangjiajie: Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area
Day 11 Zhangjiajie-Shanghai: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area, Fly to Shanghai
Day 12 Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Old French Concession, The Bund, Huangpu River Night Cruise
Day 13 Shanghai Departure

Day 1 Beijing Arrival

Upon your arrival in Beijing, our local Beijing tour guide will greet you at the exit of Beijing international airport, you will find a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and escorted you to your hotel directly, our guide will help you to check-in.

Day 2 Beijing

The first stop is Forbidden City, you will notice the dominant color in the Forbidden City is yellow, as yellow is the symbol of the royal family. Roofs are built with yellow glazed tiles; decorations in the palace are painted yellow; even the bricks on the ground are made yellow in special process. However, there is one exception. Wenyuange, the royal library, has a black roof. Because it was believed black represented water in the ancient China which could extinguish fire.

Then, you have the chance to visit the Temple of Heaven, you are recommended to visit the Three Echo Stones, which is outside of the gate of the Imperial Vault of Heaven. If you speak facing the Vault while standing on the first stone, you will hear one echo. Standing on the second and then the third stone, you will hear two and three echoes respectively. Another interesting and famous place for you to visit is called Echo Wall owning special feature. The wall encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven and its perimeter is 193 meters long. If you and your friend stand at the east and the west roots of the wall respectively and you whisper a word, then your friend will hear clearly what you say.

The last stop for today is Summer Palace. It first built in 1750, largely destroyed in the war of 1860 and restored on its original foundations in 1886 – is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value.

Day 3 Beijing

After breakfast, drive you to visit the Badaling Great Wall, Being the ancient military defence project, Great Wall is symbol and proud of China. Badaling Great Wall is the site of the most visited section of the Great Wall partly because it is close to Beijing city and connected with urban area by expressway. It's the first section of Great wall opened for tourists and shows the Great Wall as it would have looked originally, and it does not look too new.

After Great wall, there is a Great Wall Museum and Great Wall National Theater close to Badaling Great Wall. The theater offers you a chance to get a full view of the Great Wall of China.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Ming Tombs. It's one of the popular spots for tourists. Listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage, Ming Tombs provide people a kind of real experience. That tells why this place is a popular place for native Chinese, especially those who are attracted by its history.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 4 Beijing-Xian

After breakfast, you will head to visit the famous Great Wall of China, there are several sections in Beijing city. You will visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, which is the less crowded but with charming scenery. The Mutianyu Great Wall was originally constructed in the mid-6th century and was rebuilt in its current form during the Ming Dynasty in 1569. The Mutianyu section spans over a mile and contains a total of 23 watchtowers, making it one of the longest fully restored portions of the Wall.

Walking up to the Wall from the base will take around 40-60 minutes. Unless you are super energetic and have enough time to spend at the Wall, we suggest you take the cable car up to the Wall and save your time and energy for the Wall itself. (Optional)

After lunch, transfer to Beijing train station to take the train to Xian. It takes around 5 hours from Beijing to Xian. Once you arrive, our Xian local guide will meet you at the exit of the train station with a welcome sign "Xian Private Tour". You will be taken back to your hotel, stay overnight in Xian.

Day 5 Xian

Today, your adventure begins with the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum is known as “the eighth Wonders of the world”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture which is listed as the most significant discovery of the 20th century. Up to now, there has discovered a total of 179 accompanying burial pits of different connotations and various shapes in Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum area. The discovery of these pits has provided all important significance in the research of the burial system of the Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum, the characteristics structures and characteristics of the burial pits. However. What makes people feel amazing is that of all the burial pits, none has been found survived from being burnt down.

In the afternoon, visit the Ancient City Wall. As one of the UNESCO's world Heritage Site, Xi'an Ancient City Wall was built in the 14th century, under the regime of Emperor Zhuyuanzhang in Ming dynasty, had the function of protecting the cities or towns as military defense systems in ancient China. The Ancient City Wall is one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Chinese city walls, exhibits the "complete features of the rampart architecture of feudal society". 

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Xian.

Day 6 Xian-Chongqing

After breakfast, you will visit famous Big Goose Pagoda. It is one of the oldest structures in China. Originally Big Goose Pagoda consisted of a brick structure of five storeys and was about 60 meters high. First built in 589A.D. In the Sui Dynasty. Between AD 701 and AD 704 during the reign of the Empress Wu Zetian five more storeys were added to the pagoda making ten in all. Unfortunately it was damaged during World War II and reduced to seven storeys, which is as it remains today.

Then, head to the Muslim Quarter. The main street through the Muslim Quarter is all about the food -- food that is both exotic and different than the typical fare in China. The streets in the area are clean and colorful with the whole area being very inviting for people to just walk down "main street" to see. It is said there are over 300 Muslim local snacks on the streets in Xian Muslim Quarter that attract a consistent flow of visitors everyday coming here to savor or just have a glimpse. After the sightseeing, choose a restaurant for a simple lunch, or try the snack here.

After the tour, transfer to Xian airport to catch your flight to Chongqing. Once arrive, our guide will meet you at the exit of airport and tansfer to Chongqing Cruise Port to board your cruise.

Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise

As the largest water system in China, Yangtze River is historically, economically and culturally important to the country. It has numerous tributaries including Min River, Han River, Jialing River, Gan River, and Huangpu River.

You will have an excursion to Fengdu, visiting either the "Ghost City" known for its statues of ghosts and devils onMingshan Hill, or the new relocation village, built for families who have moved as a result of the Yantgze's rising waters brought by the Three Gorgres Dam.

Optional Excursion to Shibaozhai (river conditions permitting), visiting the impressive 12-story pagoda. Known as "The pearl of the Yangtze", it is one of the gems of Chinese architecture. The 18th Century red wooden temple is an architectural delight full of Legends and beautiful stories. Climbing on the top, you can have a panoramic view of the Yangtze River. Inside the pavilion, there are steles and inscriptions of past dynasties of each floor. Visitors can also admire the spectacular Yangtze River from the windows of each floor.

Day 8 Yangtze River Cruise

Continue your voyage on Yangtze River through hidden reefs and tumbling rapids. Take an excursion through the Daning River Small Gorges, which are narrower than the Three Gorges but also impressive. Enter Wu Gorge known for its forest-covered mountains and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices.Wu Gorge is famous for its zigzags, weird peaks, rising mists and beautiful sights.

Then sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and most dramatic gorge. The combination of narrow canyons among high mountains with several switchbacks in only 8 kilometres creates spectacular vistas, and the Qutang Gorge is often considered the most beautiful of all the Three Gorges. Although it is primarily famous for its scenery, the Three Gorges region is also a historically and culturally important location in China.

Optional excursion to White Emperor City (river conditions permitting), an ancient city overlooking the western end of Qutang Gorge. Many relics housed in the Baidi Temple such as ancient architectures, a stele forest, ancient suspended wooden coffins, painting and calligraphy works by celebrities of different dynasties.

Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise-Yichang-Zhangjiajie

After breakfast, you will disembark from the cruise boat at Maoping Pier in Yichang. Take a bus to visit the largest hydroelctric project around the world, the Three Gorges Dam where you’ll take a tour to learn how the dam was designed, built, and how it now serves the local people and region.

After the tour around 12:30pm, our guide will meet you at the Yichang Three Gorges Tourism Center and take you to Yichang train station to catch your train to Zhangjiajie. Once arrive in Zhangjiajie, our local guide and driver will pick you up from train station. Transfer to your hotel in Wulingyuan Area.

Day 10 Zhangjiajie

In the morning, our guide will meet you at you rhotel lobby. Today you will go for the Tianzi Mountain, and then discover the mass quartzes sandstone area in West-sea Stone Forest and the classical beauty of Yubi Peaks, which includes tens of well-arranged peaks rushing into the sky. 

After lunch, you will go to Yuanjiajie, a natural platform that faces giant rocks rising from deep valleys and surrounded by higher mountains. There is a mountain called Nantian Yizhu, also Avatar Mountain for the movie Avatar is shot here.

You will be taken back to your hotel after dinner.

Day 11 Zhangjiajie-Shanghai

In the morning, our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel lobby. They will take you to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area, about 30-minute drive.Inside Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area, you can not only appreciate the otherworldly landscape but also test how brave you are by walking across Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, the highest and longest glass bridge all over the world. After the thrilling glass bridge experience, our guide will take you to have lunch and rejuvenate yourself for exploring the Yellow Dragon Cave next. You have a chance to enjoy the distinctive karst landscape here.

After the tour, transfer to Zhangjiajie Airport to catch your flight to Shanghai. You will be picked up from airport once you arrive and transfer to your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 12 Shanghai

After breakfast, starts your Shanghai tour with Yuyuan Garden. it not only regarded as best private garden in Shanghai but also the best in southeast China.The garden enjoyed a history over 400 years since its first establishment by Pan Yunduan who had intended to bring happiness and pleasure to his parents and relatives. Then, walking to nearby to Yuyuan Bazaar, there are many small streets and lanes where vendors sell their products and food stuffs to the tourists and local people.It is an ideal place for you to find some specialists.

Then, head to the Jade Buddha Temple, it is an active buddhist temple in the city of Shanghai. The temple houses two jade Buddha statues – one, a 1.95 m tall, sitting Buddha and the other a smaller reclining Buddha depicting Buddha's death. If you interested in the architecture and the custom of temple, do not miss Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai.

Move on to visit the Old French Concession, a residential area of Shanghai once designated for the French, the French Concession is popular with tourists and expats, and appreciated for its cafes, tree-lined avenues, and tudor houses. If you want to get away from busy street in Shanghai, here is an ideal place to explore.

In the afternoon, drive you to The Bund area. The Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai.When you come here, you can embrace the best cityscape, feast on the rich architectural fashions and know why Shanghai is glorified as "Paris of the East". There are a number of attractions in the area, such as Shanghai World Financial Center, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Century Park, Century Boulevard, Jinmao Tower etc. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai.

After dinner, you will take the Night cruise along the Huangpu River. When traveling in Shanghai, you should not miss a cruise tour on the Huangpu River. It is the best way to admire Shanghai's classic skyline views of colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers along the river. choosen the best 

After the cruise, you will be taken back yo your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 13 Shanghai Departure

Free on your own until our driver transfer you to the airport and you fly back home. Your 13 Days Budget China Tour with Yangtze River Cruise come to the ends. Have a pleasant trip!

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.