Amazing China Sightseeing Tour: 11 Days Beijing Xian Huangshan Shanghai Sightseeing Tour

Summary

Day 1 Beijing Arrival
Day 2 Beijing: Tian'an men Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Day 3 Beijing: Mutianyua Great Wall, Ming Tombs
Day 4 Beijing--Xi'an by Bullet Train
Day 5 Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter, Dumpling Banquet, Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show
Day 6 Xi'an--Shanghai by Flight: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an Ancient City Wall, Fly to Shanghai
Day 7 Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Bazaar, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road, The Bund
Day 8 Shanghai--Huangshan by Bulelt Train, Tunxi Ancient Street
Day 9 Huangshan: Yellow Mountain Scenic Area
Day 10 Huangshan--Shanghai by Bullet Train: Yellow Mountain Scenic Area
Day 11 Shanghai Departure

DAY 1 Arrive in Beijing

Welcome to Beijing! Beijing, formerly romanized as Peking, is the capital of the China, the world's third most pipulous city proper, and most populous capital city. Combining both modern and traditional architecture, Beijing is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a rich history dating back three millennia. As the last of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, Beijing is renowned for its opulent palacces, temple, parks, gardens, tombs, great walls and gates. It has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Frobidden City, Temple of Heaven, Great Walls and the Grand Canal, etc. Inaddition, Beijing Hutong areas and the narrow alleys between Siheyuans are major attractions and are common in urban Beijing.

Upon your arrival in Beijing, our Beijing local tour guide will pick you up at the exit of the airport, you will find a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and escorted you to your hotel directly. The rest of the day is free on your own to recover your jetlag.

DAY 2 Beijing

Firstly, you'll visit Tian'an men Square to see the historical face of Beijing. Tian'an men Square is now the largest city plaza in the world, is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters (about 109 acres), and able to accommodate 1,000,000 people at one time. Tiananmen Gate on the northern square was the site where the Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China. The square is a conglomeration of splendid and beautiful flowers and the red national flag which flutters in the wind. The raising of the national flag is something which should not be missed by visitors to Tian'an men Square.

Tian'an men Square

Next, you will meet the one of the world's 5 most important palaces – Forbidden City, The Forbidden City, also named the Palace Museum, 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 incomparable palace 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. The palace of Forbidden City, the most magnificent and splendid palace complex in China, was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Building in 1987. It was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the construction of this group of buildings took fourteen years from 1406 to 1420. 

Forbidden City

In the afternoon, drive about 6km to next imperial site - Temple of Heaven. The temple 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. It is also one of the most brilliant ancient architectural masterpieces in China. Today, it is a pleasant place for leisure stay of walking or sightseeing, also for exploration of local culture. 

Temple of Heaven

After dinner, drive you to your hotel.

DAY 3 Beijing

In the morning, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Mutianyu Great Wall, it takes around 1.5 hours for one way.

Mutianyu Great Wall: "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you haven't seen China." Many of your friends who visited China before might have told you this. 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. Good sightseeing with nature, take photos from different places and angles so you’ll have plenty of memories you can share with your friends when going back home.

Mutianyu Great Wall

In the afternoon, the Sacred Way, affiliated with the Ming Tombs, is a main attractions arranged for you. 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. It was listed in the World Heritage List in 2003. Each emperor's tomb was constructed at the foot of a separate small hill, but they all share a main road called the Sacred Way.

Ming Tombs

After that, drive you back to Beijing downtown, on the way back to your hotel, you'll have chance to see the Bird's Next & Water Cube from outside. 

DAY 4 Beijing-Xian by Bullet Train

Free on your own until our driver drive you to Beijing train station, you will take bullet train from Beijing to Xi'an, it takes around 5 and a half hour for one way, you can enjoy the view one the way or have a rest.

Once arrived, our Xi'an tour guide will pick you up at the exit of Xi'an train station, you will find a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel directly. Our tour guide will help you check-in. 

DAY 5 Xian

In the morning, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel and you will be transferred to Terracotta Warriors (around 40 minutes).

Terracotta Warriors: 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. 

Terracotta Warriors

Drive you back to Xi'an downtown, continue your tour to Muslim Quarter. It is the largest of the old city's neighborhoods. It's a confusing array of narrow alleys that are wonderful to wander in, get lost, and stumble upon surprising discoveries. Muslim Quarter houses a large number of important Christian institutions. The Muslim quarter begins at the northern city wall, goes south to the northern and western walls of the Temple Mount, to Hashalshelet Street, where the Jewish Quarter begins. To the West, it runs to Beit Chabad Street, which runs between it and the Christian Quarter.

After the day tour, get the Shaanxi Grand Opera House around 6:00PM and our tour guide will help you find your seat for the Dumpling dinner in the Opera House. Dumpling, or Jiaozi in Chinese, is one of the most representative Chinese food. Nearly 20 varieties are made and inside the dumplings are stuffed with delicious vegetables, meats and seafood. Dumplings' legend offers an original approach to Chinese food, merging the familiar comfort food of London's Chinatown with the culinary heritage of regional oriental cuisine. 

Muslim Quarter

After dinner, enjoy the local colorful and splendid Tang Dynasty 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 must when you visit Xian. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is an outstanding exponent of this ancient stable and prosperous society, keeping alive its splendid culture and providing an insight into the peaceful life style of the period. It seems as if you have lived in the palace of Tang Dynasty. 

Drive you back to your hotel.

DAY 6 Xian-Shanghai by Flight

After breakfast, you will start your tour to Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda, or Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, is a Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China 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. 

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Next to 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. The museum, built in traditional Tang architectural style, houses over 370,000 cultural relics, all of which can be dated back to over 1 million years ago to the late Qing dynasty. Shaanxi History 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, andtemporary 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

Your final stop is Xi'an 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". 

Xi'an Ancient City Wall

After finished Xi'an Ancient City Wall, you will be transffered to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. 

Upon arrival, our Shanghai local tour guide will pick you up at the exit of the airport with a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel directly, then you can have a rest.

DAY 7 Shanghai

In the morning, our Shanghai local guide will meet you at your hotel lobby.

The first stop for today is Shanghai Museum, it is a museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on the People's Square in Shanghai. Shanghai Museum was founded in 1952 and was first open to the public in the former Shanghai Racecourse club house, now at 325 West Nanjing Road,rebuilt at its current location in 1996, it is considered one of China's first world-class modern museums. The museum has a collection of over 120,000 pieces, including bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jades, ancient coins, paintings, seals, sculptures, minority art and foreign art.

Shanghai Museum 

Then proceed to visit the "Pedestrians only" Nanjing Road, a walking bustling street that is always packed with people waching other people. When people mention Shanghai's Nanjing Road, they're probably talking about East Nanjing Road, a pedestrian shopping street running for blocks between the northeast corner of People's Square and the Bund. Nanjing Road, 5.5 km in full length, enjoys the reputation as China No. 1 commercial center. It was the earliest commercial street in Shanghai since the city opened to the outside world.

Next to Yuyuan Garden. It is largest ancient garden with Ming and Qing architectural styles decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rockeries. The garden was finished in 1577 by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan. Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age.  Later walk to Shanghai Bazaar. Shanghai bazaar is teemed with a great number of small streets and lanes where vendors sell their products and food stuffs to the tourists and local people.

Yuyuan Garden

Move on to The Bund, which is a waterfront area in central Shanghai. The area is in the eastern part of Huangpu District centers on a section of Zhongshan Road, which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River, facing the high, modern skyscrapers of Pudong,Traditionally, the Bund begins at Yan'an Road in the south and ends at Waibaidu Bridge in the north, The Shanghai Bund on which you can embrace the best cityscape, feast on the rich architectural fashions ( Gothic, Baroque, Rome, Renaissance, Classic and Mixed Eastern and Western style, etc.) 

Shanghai Bund

Drive you back to your hotel.

DAY 8 Shanghai-Huangshan by Bullet Train

In the early morning, our Shanghai driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to Shanghai train station for your bullet train to Huangshan city (around 4 hours). Once you arrived, our local Huangshan tour guide will pick you up at the exit of train station with a welcome signage "China Private Tour". And your tour start directly.

Firstly, our tour guide will take you to a local Chinese restaurant that serve authentic dishes.

In the afternoon, drive you to Tunxi Ancient Street. You will have a relaxing stroll on the 900-year-old Tunxi Ancient Street to appreciate authentic old Huizhou-style architectures. Next comes an interesting visit to Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory to find out how ancient Chinese people produce ink sticks (major item used to write and paint in ancient time).

Tunxi Ancient Street

After dinner, drive you back to your hotel.

DAY 9 Huangshan

In the morning, our tour guide will meet your at your hotel lobby and head to Yellow Mountain Scenic Area, about 1.5 hours by drivin. You will take a cableway to upper beautiful sightseeing area of Huangshan Mountain – North Sea Scenic Area which is famous for marvelous precipitous peaks, beautiful giant pine trees and far-reaching vision.

Yellow Moutain

You will have lunch in Yellow Mountain Scenic Area to taste local cuisine. 

After lunch, walk to lofty Begin-to-Believe Peak (1668m) to stretch your eyesight over cloud seas to far distance, and then hike about 40 minutes to Dispelling Cloud Pavilion to look down the Dreamland - West Sea Grand Canyon. Walk down along the stone steps to the bottom of the canyon while enjoying the Avatar-like rising rock peaks, unfathomable cliffs, bizarre stones and tenacious pine trees. For the nature lovers, who wants to hiking, it takes about 3 hours for energetic hiker to hike from the Dispelling Cloud Pavilion

Yellow Mountain

Stay overnight at the top of mountain, you have a chance to enjoy sunset if weather permits.

DAY 10 Huangshan-Shanghai by Bullet Train

If weather permits, get up early to enjoy the magnificent sunrise view. The best place for watching sunrise is from Refreshing Terrance, it is also closest spot from your hotel. In good-weather days, you can see clearly the golden light of the sun piercing the mists, and rocky peaks rising above the frothy, ever-changing sea of white clouds. After the sunrise, get back to your hotel for breakfast.

Yellow Mountain

After breakfast, continue on your wonderful sightseeing on the Yellow Mountain to see the famous Dawn Pavilion, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea on the Lion Peak (1690m). Then walk along the wood path to the cable station to take a cable car to exit the mountain. Your driver is ready at the mountain foot to transfer you back to Huangshan City for lunch.

Yellow Mountain

After lunch, you will be taken to Huangshan train station and take train back to Shanghai. Upon arrival, our Shanghai local driver will take you back to your hotel in Shanghai.

DAY 11 Shanghai Departure

Today is free on your own until our driver transfer you to the airport and you fly back home. And your 11 Days China Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai & Huangshan Tour come to the ends. Hope you 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.