12 Days Best China Gourmet Food Experience Tour

Summary

Day 1 Beijing Arrival
Day 2 Beijing: Tian'an men Square, Forbidden City, Peking Roast Duck Lunch, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Day 3 Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Imperial Court Dinner
Day 4 Beijing--Xi'an by Bullet Train: Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area, leave Xian by high-speed train
Day 5 Xian: Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Xian Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Dumpling Banquet, Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show
Day 6 Xian--Chengdu by Flight: Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, fly to Chengdu, Hot Pot 
Day 7 Chengdu: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Breeding, Wenshu Temple, Jinli Ancient Street
Day 8 Chengdu--Hangzhou by Flight: Sichuan Cuisine Museum, Kuanzhai Alley, fly to Hangzhou
Day 9 Hangzhou: Boat Ride on West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda, Guo's Villa, Chinse Hangzhou Cuisine Museum
Day 10 Hangzhou--Shanghai by Bullet Train: Lingyin Temple, Meijiawu Tea Culture Village, Cooking Class, Bamboo Path at Yunqi, Hefang Old Street
Day 11 Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Bazaar, Soup dumplings, Shanghai Musuem, Nanjing Road, The Bund,Huangpu River Night Cruise
Day 12 Shanghai Departure

Day 1 Beijing Arrival

Welcome to China! Upon on your arrival, our guide will pick you up at Beijing Airport with a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel in Beijing downtown direcly. The rest of the day is free on your own to explore the city or recover the jetlag.

Day 2 Beijing

In the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and take you to visit Tian'an men Square. You will walk around the square, it is the largest city square in the world. Covering 440,000 square meters, it has witnessed many important historic events taking place here. Tian'an men Gate on the northern square was the site where the Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Tian'an men Square

Next to the Forbidden City, also named the Palace Museum, it shares the honor of being one of five world-famous palaces with the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in England, the White House in the U.S. and the Kremlin in Russia. The Forbidden City occupies an area of 720,000 square meters (177.9 acres) and has approximately 8,700 rooms. A high red wall with a total length of 3,400 meters (3,718 yards) encases the palace. 

Forbidden City

Lunch is arranged at local Chinese restaurant.

In the afternoon, drive you to Temple of Heaven, it was constructed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and was enlarged during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is the grandest cult architecture complex in the world and a masterpiece of the Chinese people created in ancient times. It covers 2,700,000 square meters (667 acres). Emperors of the two dynasties used to worship the heaven and pray for rich harvests, as the feudal emperors thought they were the son of the heaven.

Temple of Heaven

Later, you will have leisure time in 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.

Summer Palace

Dinner will be arranged at Dadong Kaoya Restaurant to taste famous Peking Roast Duck. Roast duck — or Peking Duck, as it's often known — has been served in Beijing for around 600 years, according to Liu. First served by palace chefs during the Ming dynasty, it has royal pedigree. This restaurant was regarded as the best one for Peking Roast Duck in Beijing, founded in 1985, the restaurant was converted from the state-owned company and named after the founder Chef Dong Zhenxiang.

Peking Duck

After dinner,  you will be taken back to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 3 Beijing

Today you will start your tour to Mutianyu Great Wall(around 1 hour for one way). There is an old saying "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you haven't seen China". It is indeed an experience of life. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, Mutianyu section of Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. It's known for its beautiful surroundings - dense woods and rich pastures changing colors with the seasons of a year.

Mutianyua Great Wall

Lunch will be arranged at local Chinese restaurant nearby Great Wall.

In the afternoon, you will continue your tour to Ming Tomb. The Ming Tombs lie in Changping County, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest from the urban area of Beijing. It is actually a tomb cluster of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), including thirteen emperor's mausoleums, seven tombs for concubines and one grave for eunuchs.

Ming Tombs

After finished the visit of Ming Tombs, drive you back to Beijing downtown, you will have an Imperial Court Dinner at Li Family's Restaurant. Family Li had a legendary story with the Qing Dynasty and Empress Cixi. Mr. Li Zijia was the head of Imperial Household Department in Late Qing Dynasty who was highly trusted by Empress Cixi. He was in charge of the daily food and drinks of emperor and empress. In the latter years of his life, he sorted out a set of imperial cuisine and handed down by his family. The found of Family Li Restaurant, professor Li Shanling, established his won business in his free time after work in a courtyard in the Hutong of Back Sea.

Imperial Court Dinner

Drive you back to your hotel after dinner.

Day 4 Beijing-Xi'an by Bullet Train

Today you will visit Nanluoguxiang Hutong area, which is a window into Beijing folk life.

Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area is one of the best preserved historical areas in downtown Beijing, is famous for its hutong and siheyuan courtyards. Recently the popularity of Nanluoguxiang has increased noticeably with tourist numbers on the rise after 2008 Olympic Games. You will do a short walking along the authentic Beijing Hutong, our tour guide will give you a deep impression of the local residents’ live. 

Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area

Lunch will be arranged at local family to taste the home cooked style.

After lunch, drive you to Beijing train station for your bullet train to Xi'an. It takes around 5 hours for one way. Once arrived in Xi'an, you will be greeted by our guide at the exit of the train station with a welcome signage “China Private Tour" and escort to your hotel directly. After check in, you can have rest.

Day 5 Xi'an

In the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and drive you to the world famous Terracotta Warriors, it takes around 50 minutes for one way.

Being the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Terracotta Army is no doubt a must-see for every visitor to Xi'an. It had lain underground for more than 2000 years before farmers digging a well in 1974.  It is now a live museum, officially named Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, showing the life stories of the emperor and the once powerful Qin Empire (221 – 207BC) in those days of pomp and vigor.

Terracotta Warriors

Lunch will be arranged at a local Chinese restaurant nearby Terracotta Warriors.

Drive you back to the downtown Xian, and head to the Ancient City Wall. This wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Now it is 12 meters tall, 12-14 meters wide over14 kilometers in length with a deep moat surrounding it. You can walk, or even cycle on the wall. Its south gate is the largest with a suspension bridge. Most of the tourists choose the south gate for sightseeing. 

Xi'an Ancient City Wall

Later, drive you to Muslin Quarter where you can taste the local snacks and experience the bustling night life. Such as Liangpi, it is made from rice, this cold noodle dish is a summer favourite through Shaanxi province as well as other places around China. These rice noodles are covered with vinegar, chili, salt, garlic, bean sprouts and small lumps of tofu. Roujiamo,this is the Chinese hamburger. Basically it’s a small oven baked bread bun that is sliced open and filled with slowly braised shredded pork and small pieces of fat.

Muslim Quarter

Later, you will have a Xi'an Dumpling Banquet. Our guide will lead you to Shaanxi Grand Opera House and help you find your seat for the most famous Xi'an Dumpling Banquet within the Opera House. In Xian, a must for visitors to try is the delicious dumplings. While tasting those dumplings, customers will be astonished by the cooks' smart cooking methods include steaming, boiling, pan-frying, deep frying, and roasting. It seems that all of the indigenous meat and vegetables can be used for the dumplings' stuffing, such as pork, mutton, beef as well as celery, radish, cabbages, etc. Nowadays, by the cooks' continuously improving, the dumpling has been one of the local best foods to entertain visitors from home and abroad.

Xi'an Dumpling Banquet

After dinner, you will enjoy the local colorful and splendid Tang Dynasty Music & Dance Show, which is a performance of music and dance that imitate the Tang Dynasty over one thousand-year ago. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is a wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance, is a must when you visit Xian.

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

Day 6 Xi'an-Chengdu by Flight

In the morning, drive you to the Shaanxi History Museum. Shaanxi History Museum is located to the northwest of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, which is one of the four largest museum with modern facilities in China. Shaanxi History Museum, built in traditional Tang architectural style, houses over 370,000 cultural relics, including murals, paintings, pottery, coins, as well as bronze, gold, silver, seal and stone objects, all of which can be dated back to over 1 million years ago to the late Qing dynasty. 

Shaanxi MHistory Museum was regarded as “the pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures” where reflect over one thousand years of Chinese history, the splendid culture and people life in ancient times. The exhibition space is divided into an introductory hall, permanent exhibitions, special exhibitions, and temporary exhibitions, as well as one that has been named the National Painting Hall. It not only show the span of culture in ancient Shaanxi, but also show the highest level of cultural development of China's social economy.

Shaanxi History Museum

Next to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, also named Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. It is a Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xi'and became the symbol of the old-line Xi'an. It was built in 652 during the Tang dynasty and originally had five stories. The structure was rebuilt in 704 during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, and its exterior brick facade was renovated during the Ming dynasty. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda attracts numerous visitors for its fame in the Buddhist religion and its simple but appealing style of construction. It is rated as a National Key Cultural Relic Preserve. One of the pagoda's many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

After the tour, transfer you to Xian airport for your flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival in Chengdu, our local tour guide and driver will pick you up at the airport with a welcome sign "China Private Tour", our guide will take you to a local restaurant to try the Hot Pot, the most popular food in Chengdu.

Hot Pot is the most famous representative and favorite food in Chengdu. It is said that over 2,300 hotpot restaurants are opened in Chengdu. Undoubtedly, Chengdu is the Kingdom of hotpot. Laomaotou, found in 2001, is listed as the TOP 3 hotpot restaurants in Sichuan Province.

Hot Pot

After dinner, you will be taken to your hotel.

Day 7 Chengdu

Our guide pick you up from your hotel, take an early drive to see giant panda at Chengdu Panda Base (1.5 hours for one way). The lovely creature is usually more active in the morning. It is a huge institution replicates the natural habitat of the giant panda. Sightseeing shuttle bus is included. You will learn the habits and characteristics of Giant and baby pandas, observe them eating bamboos and playing around. 

Panda Base

Lunch will be arranged at local restaurant to try the authentic Sichuan Food.

In the afternoon, you will visit Renmin Park. It is the first public park in Chengdu. It's a beautiful city park, with artful landscaping, a bonsai garden, two tea houses, a section of kiddie amusement rides, a pond with row and motor boats that connects to winding streams filled with Koi. The park is filled with locals and it's a best place to experience the slow life of Chengdu by ordering a cup tea and you'll have a wonderful relaxing afternoon.

Renmin Park

Then, head to Jinli Old Street, regarded as "The First Street of Shu Kingdom", and it's a famous snack street in Chengdu. The ambiance was like stepping back into the past, well presented and historically brilliant. Evening stroll is extreme beautiful, and it’s picturesque with the lanterns lit out and the street performances are also wonderful. 

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 8 Chengdu-Hangzhou by Flight

Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby. Continue your gourmet food experience tour to Sichuan Cuisine Museum. It is the only living theme museum in the world, displaying Sichuan cuisine culture. You will have chance to visit the Perface Hall, Collection Exhibition Hall, Interactive Presentation Hall, Tea Lounge, Temple for God of the Kitchen, Raw Material Processiong Tools and Sichuan Food Raw Materials Display Area,ect. Sichuan food cooking lessons is arranged at the museum.

Kuanzhai Alley

Then, walk around Kuanzhai Alley. Kuanzhai Alley is a Qing styled street block in Chengdu city. Being one of must-visit places in this city of leisure.Taking a cozy stroll along the three paralleled alleys, you would admire the archaistic quadrangle dwellings with black tiles and bricks, which form a great atmophere to trace back to hundreds of years ago.

After lunch, you will be transferred to Chengdu airport for your flight to Hangzhou, it takes around 3 hours. Upon arrival in Hangzhou, our Hangzhou guide and driver will wait for you at the exit of airport with a welcome sign "China Private Tour". And drive you to your hotel, the rest of the day is free on your own.

Day 9 Hangzhou

In the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby. Drive you to visit West Lake. This elegant scenic spot has been bearing thousands of odes since the 9th century ever. West lake boasts various views in four seasons. In summer you can see the enormous area of lotus blossoms whereas in winter you’ll be addicted to the snowcapped bridges and pavilions. Taking a boat cruise on West Lake. Listen to the love story of the White Snake entrantress and the mortal Xu Xian (one of the four folk stories in China) while cruising past the iconic sunset-redden Leifeng Pagoda, under which the White Snake entrantress suffers confinement as the legend goes.

West Lake

Next, climb up to Leifeng Pagoda. It is one of landmark of west lake, stands on Leifeng Peak of Sunset Hill to the south of West Lake, echoing the Baochu Pagoda in the north. It is the oldest colorful bronze pagoda in China. Standing on the top of the pagoda, tourists can appreciate the nearby Jingci Temple, enjoy the landscapes of West Lake, and even see the city of Hangzhou from a distance.

Leifeng Pagoda

Today, the lunch is arranged at a local time-honored restaurant to try the authentic local cuisine. It emphasize fresh, sweet flavors and makes good use of freshwater fish. 

After lunch, you will pay a visit to Guo's Villa, a classic garden in Hangzhou, a beautiful classic garden was built in the 1851 by a rich merchant nearby the lake which provides a better understanding about the local people's life in this garden.

The last stop for today is Chinese Hangzhou Cuisine Museum. It is probably the most interesting and participatory food museum in China. Covering 12,470 square meters, Chinese Hangzhou Cuisine Museum is composed of four regions including exhibition area, Qiantang kitchen, Hangzhou taste and Dongpo pavilion, from which you can learn about the development and inheritance of Hangzhou Cuisine. Besides, you will find a motley variety of cooking techniques, which are characterized by elaborate preparation and techniques of cooking, such as sautéing, stewing, stir frying and deep frying.

Chinese Hangzhou Cuisine Museum

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 10 Hangzhou-Shanghai by Bullet Train

Pick up from your hotel and drive you to visit Lingyin Temple, one of the top ten most famous ancient Buddhist monasteries in China, and contains numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes. It is really a tourist attraction that can offer you appealing places of historic interest, cultural relics as well as agreeable natural scenery with woods, flowers, springs, etc.

Lingyin Temple

Next, you will have a chance to enjoy the beautiful view of Green Tea Plantation at Meijiawu Tea Culture Village, which is the origin place for the most famous green tea - Longjing in china with beautiful natural scenery (There are many tea houses in the village, and you will have a chance to taste/try the local tea.

Lunch is arranged at a Local Tea Farmer's Tea House to try the home cooked dishes. We can organize tea farmers teach you how to prepare and cook local delicacies if you are interested in it. If you don’t want to cook, just enjoy the local delicacies. 

Continue your tour to Bamboo Path at Yunqi, it is an ideal quiet place to get away from the crowds to enjoy a nice gentle stroll and seeing through the bamboo forest. It is well known for its quietness and coolness. The famous stone paved footpath leading into the Yunqi valley is lined with hundreds of thousands of bamboo. Walking along the path, soon you will meet a pond called Mind Purifying Pond which means "a pure mind". The water is cool and clear, the hills are quite and beautiful.

Bamboo Lined Path at Yunqi

Finally, drive back to Hangzhou city for a short-walk along the Hefang Old Street, is a good place to experience the life of Old Hangzhou, because it is the epitome of historic Hangzhou. A great place for shopping, eating, and sightseeing. You can see the well-preserved old buildings, explore the interesting boutique stores, and choose your favourite souvenirs.

After the tour ends, drive you to Hangzhou train station for your bullet train to Shanghai. Upon arrival, our Shanghai guide will meet you at the exit of train station with a welocme sign "China Priavte Tour", our guide will take you to have dinner at local restaurant with authentic Shanghai food. After dinner, drive you to your hotel, our tour guide wil help you check in.

Day 11 Shanghai

Pick you up from your hotel at pointed time, the first stop for today is Shanghai Museum. It houses a comprehensive collection that perfectly showcases the Middle Kingdom's millennia old history. Spread over five floors, covers most of the major categories of Chinese art with a collection of 12, 300 pieces in 21 categories of valuable cultural relics.

Shanghai Museum

Next you will visit 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.

And 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.

Your lunch is arranged at a local Chinese restaurant to try the most famous Shanghai Xiaolongbao(soup dumpling). A favorite of dim sum eaters around the globe, are considered to be a Shanghai specialty, rumored to have originated here in the 19th century. Legend has it that this world-renowned snack started out as an experiment by a cake shop owner in Nanxiang who decided to try out a riff on his popular steamed bread. 

Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings)

After lunch, 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.

Head for Nanjing Road, another popular landmark of Shanghai. It is a shopping paradise as well as a ideal place tootake a wonderful walk to explore the modern atmosphere of the city.

Bund

You will have a dinner before cruise, the last thing for today is 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.

After finished the cruise, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 12 Shanghai Departure

Free on your own until our driver pick you up from your hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport. And you fly back home. Your 12 Days China Gourment Food Experience Tour comes to end. 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.