Itinerary

What makes this tour different?

• 100% individual tours: private guide speaking your language and car with chauffeur during the whole trip!
• We have selected 60 charming & luxury hotels amongst over 11000 hotels in China.
• A 24/7 hotline by ChinaVeo's western team based in China to offer you local assistance.
• International flights are included and negociated for you.
  
  

Day 1: Departure

Departure from Paris airport (please contact us if you wish to depart from another city to confirm availability and price).

Day 2: Beijing – The Hutong, the Temple of Heaven and Wangfujing Street

With a population of more than 10 million inhabitants, Beijing, " the capital of the North ", owns the richest dynastic heritage in the world and an incredible collection of art and historic objects.

• The Hutong, made of Siheyuans (enclosure of four houses around a square yard) the main constructions in the Hutong, slowly disappear in favor of high modern buildings.
• The temple of heaven is one of the most photographed building of the world because of its elegant beauty and its symmetry.
• Wangfujing street is the symbol of China's westernization. There, you will find shops, foreign bookshops, fast food and lots of tourists...

Traditional Chinese massage | Hotel : Lu Song Yuan*** , Beijing

Day 3: Beijing – Mutianyu Great Wall, the Ming Tombs, Factory of "cloisonnés" (enamel) and the Sacred Path

• Factory of "cloisonnés" (enamel). Beijing is the cradle of the art of cloisonné. The first ones appeared under the Yuan dynasty (1271 - 1368).
• Mutianyu Great Wall is located more than 70km north-east of Beijing. It has 15 two-storey fortresses and an alarm tower. The architectural design of this section comes from the northern Qi dynasty.
• The Ming Tombs host the tombs of thirteen of the sixteen emperors of the Ming dynasty. The first tomb was built in 1409 while the last one was built 200 years later, just after the beginning of the Qing dynasty.
• The sacred path can be reached through a marble portico of five marble arches of 14 meters high and 29 meters wide, and was built in 1540.

Roasted Duck Dinner | Lodging: Lu Song Yuan*** ( Sup.Charm ) , Beijing

Day 4: Beijing - Tian An Men Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace

• Tian An Men square is in the heart of Beijing, in front of the Forbidden city. The square is home to a blend of modern and ancient monuments
• The Forbidden city , is a real city within the city, and was seen as the center of the earth. This is why the place was also called the "Forbidden Purple City."
• The summer palace was built in 1750. It is a masterpiece in the art of Chinese gardens. It features the natural landscape of hills and open water with pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges of the Qing era.

Night in the train from Beijing to Xian (1st Class - Soft Sleeper)

Day 5: Xian - The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Calligraphy, the Medicine market and the Terracotta army

Xian. The region is inhabited for more than a million years. Imperial and royal dynasties used to be established there for several millennia. This was where China opened these gigantic roads to Rome and thus, opened China to unprecedented military, religious, philosophical, commercial, technical exchanges.

• The big wild goose pagoda is one of the oldest structure in China. It is located inside the Temple of benevolence (Da ci so), whose foundation dates back to the mid-seventh century.
• Calligraphy : find out with a Chinese professor the different styles of calligraphy techniques bases, and learn how to handle a brush and ink.
• The medicine market sells typical preparations based on salamanders, dried snakes, scorpions, mushrooms and so on.
• The terracotta army is regarded as the eight wonder of the world and consists of a group of terracotta imperial guards and their horses which are arranged in a battle formation.

Dumplings dinner & Tang Dynasty show | Hotel : Bell Tower **** , Xian

Day 6: Xian - Shaanxi History museum, the Steles' forest, Xian's ramparts, the great Mosque and discovery of tea

• The Shaanxi History museum is located in the southern suburb of Xian , the capital of Shaanxi and the ancient capital of China. The museum occupies an area of 65,000 sqm and counts 370,000 objects.
• The steles' forest keeps about 2300 steles, a collection of classic works and engravings which are the witnesses of the exchanges between China and foreign countries.
• Xian's ramparts date back from the Tang dynasty (618-907). Well-preserved, they are now surrounded by parks.
• The mosque and the Muslim district. Ten of the 55 communities that China counts are of Muslim faith. The mosque in Xian was founded under the Tang in 732, but the current oldest buildings date back to 1404.
• Tea plays a main part in Chinese culture. In a Tea House, you'll have a lesson on tea history and its virtues. Then, you'll take part in a tea ceremony and in a tasting.

Hotel: Park Hotel****, Guilin

Day 7: Guilin / Yangshuo - Cruise on the Li River

• Cruise on the Li river. You will discover the extraordinary karstic reliefs by navigating in the middle of hills in sugar loaf, such as the peak of the jade Lotus.

Hôtel : Li River Hotel**** , Yangshuo

Day 8: Yanghsuo / Guilin / Kunming – The Elephant Trunk Hill, the Reed Flute Caves and Fubo Hill

• The reed flute caves is one of the most extraordinary underground site of Guilin. With its fantastic multicolored lights, stalactites and stalagmites, you will think about the Jules Verne's "Journey to the center of the Earth".
• The Fubo hill reaches 213 meters and is 62 meters over the water level. Like an iceberg, half of the hill is immersed in the river. A temple in remembrance of the General Fubo was built under the Tang dynasty ( 618-907 ).
• The elephant trunk hill (Xiangbishan) looks like an elephant who dives its trunk into the water to drink. You can admire the effect produced by the light in the water.

Hotel : Expo Garden****, Kunming

Day 9: Kunming – The Flowers and Birds Market, Yuantong Temple, the West Hill, Sanqing Temple and the Bamboos Temple

Discover Kunming, the "city of the eternal spring", also famous for both natural and touristic riches resources.

• The flowers and birds market occupies a set of alleys lined with plane trees and old wooden houses, and sells birds, fishes, antiques, jade, tobacco and plants.
• Yuantong temple . This sanctuary is one of oldest Buddhist temples of the city, and was built under the Tang in 618.
• The west hill. This natural reserve extends over more than 40 km, at 2,500 meters high. The hills look like a stretched out girl, the point of her hair soaking into the lake, that is why the other name of the site is " The Sleeping Beauty".
• Sanqing temple. It was a former residence of a prince of the Yuan dynasty which has been converted into a temple. It's a beautiful set of grottoes and sculptures dug in the cliff.
• The bamboos temple was built under the Tang dynasty. The temple has been enriched of 500 life-size arhats (Buddhist sculptures of humans and Buddhas) with very particular expressions.

Hotel : Expo Garden****, Kunming

Day 10: Kunming / Dali - The Shilin Stone Forest and the oldest Pharmacy of Kunming

• The Shilin stone forest. According to the legend, the Immortals cut a mountain into a labyrinth to offer a hiding place to the lovers. The karstic rocks, raise themselves towards the sky such as trees, hence the naming of "stone forest".
• The oldest pharmacy of Kunming is an ancient house with Chinese red wood walls, and it sell every sorts of spices and healing plants, while offering free consultations to the customers.

Night in the train from Kunming to Dali (1^st  Class – Soft Sleepers)

Day 11: Dali – The Chongsheng Three Pagodas

The city of Dali is at the crossroads of the Yunnan-Tibet and Yunnan-Burma roads. It is the administrative center of the autonomous department of Bai, on the banks of the lake Erhai.

• The Chongsheng three pagodas are the oldest Buddhist buildings of Dali. Among these three pagodas, the most important one, named Qianxun, dates back from the Tang dynasty.

Hotel: Jim's Tibetan Hotel***, Dali

Day 12: Dali – Erhai lake, the Stone village of Xizhou, the Zhoucheng village, the Three Teas Ceremony and Batik factory

• The Erhai lake is the 7th fresh water lake of China. Its name comes from its ear like shape.
• The stone village of Xizhou. Wander through its bustling market, where a crowd of colored Bai costumes gathers and discover the traditional houses with sculptured canopies gates.
• Zhoucheng village. With its beautiful traditional houses, this village is one of the most important among the Bai community. It is also famous for its blue tinted clothes.
• The three teas ceremony. Preparing and drinking tea is a real art which became popular under the Tang dynasty (618-907). It is always linked with meditation.
• Batik factory. The batik (Javanese term) is a dyeing technique, with a wax reserve allowing the obtaining of a pattern in negative.

Hotel: Jim's Tibetan Hotel***, Dali

Day 13: Dali / Lijiang - The Black Dragon Pond and the Dongba Institute

Lijiang is in the North of Dali and close to the Tibet, snuggled up in the heart of a magnificent valley. Lijiang constitutes a pleasant stopping place, a magnificent maze of paved alleys, old wooden buildings, canals and markets.

• The Black Dragon pond offers a splendid view of the Jade Dragon Mount which reflects in the pond. It's a beautiful Chinese garden where pagodas alternate with white marble bridges.
• The Dongba Institute is specialized in Naxi culture, which is a religious blend based on animism, Lamaism, Buddhism and Taoism.

Hotel: Zen Garden****, Lijiang

Day 14: Lijiang – The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visit of Baisha village, Yufeng Si lamasery

• The Jade Dragon Snow mountain looks like a dragon playing with the clouds. The mountain is recognized as a botanic paradise, a "kingdom of healing plants".
• The Baisha village was the historic capital of the Naxi kingdom and remains the best place to discover the Naxi culture.
• The Yufeng Si lamasery was built in 1756, around the 500 years-old 10,000 blossoms camellia tree. The lamasery is bound to the red-hats sect.

Hotel: Zen Garden****, Lijiang

Day 15: Lijiang / Zhongdian - The Tiger leaping Gorges

• The Tiger Leaping Gorges offer a splendid view of the swift turbulent stream of the Golden River. A place not to be missed !

Hotel : Gyalthang Dzong Hotel****, Zhongdian

Day 16: Zhongdian – The Dabao Si Temple, the Songzalin Temple, Bitahai lake and Shudu lake

Zhongdian is a foretaste of Tibet. It is the home of Kampas (traditionally bandits or Dalai-Lama's troops of elite ). The region is rich in medicinal herbs and the environment is typically Tibetan.

• The Dabao Si temple is situated at the bottom of a small valley. Two monks live permanently in this charming place perched on a small hill.
• The Songzalin temple is the heart of Sichuan and Yunnan yellow-hats sect. It hosts eight golden platted statues of Sakyamuni, sculptures, tankas and books.
• Bitahai lake. The lake is at 3,539 meters above sea level and extends on 160 hectares. A little island in the middle of the lake is home to numerous rare birds.
• Shudu lake. It is the biggest lake of the Diqing prefecture surrounded by a forest, where animals like bears, leopards, pheasants and stags live...

Hotel: Gyalthang Dzong Hotel**** (Boutique Hotel), Zhongdian

Day 17: Zhongdian / Shanghai - The Bund and Nanjing road

Shanghai is now the real capital of China. This megalopolis, once a small fishing village, has become the Chinese center of business and finance, while being one of the most active ports in China.

• The Bund is the most famous place of the city and extends over 1.6 kilometers along the Huangpu River. It was once known as the "Wall Street of Asia" and is lined with buildings in the style of the 1930's.
• Nanjing road is known as the fifth avenue of Shanghai. It offers a wide variety of shops, restaurants, gift shops and night clubs.

Acrobatic Show of Shanghai | Hotel : Old House Inn, **** ( Boutique Hotel) , Shanghai

Day 18: Shanghai – The Jade Temple, Yu Garden and the old town and the Museum of Art and History

• The Jade Buddha temple. Two of the most famous Buddhas are housed in this temple. One is in white jade, in a sitting position while the other is in green jade in a rare lying position.
• The new Museum of Art and History was founded in 1952. It is one of the biggest museums in China.
• The old town offers a local bazaar with traditional crafts; you may cross the pond to eat or to have a tea in the Hu Xing Ting tearoom.
• The Yu Garden 's name stands for pleasing and satisfying. It was built to provide tranquility and happiness to the parents of Pan Yunduan.

Hotel: Old House Inn**** (Boutique Hotel) , Shanghai

Day 19: Shanghai

Breakfast - Transfer to Shanghai International Airport

Day 20: Arrival in Paris

Arrival in Paris (please contact us if you wish to arrive in another city to confirm availability and price).

Unique Activities (Video)

Our China tour specialists have carefully selected unique activities (here under) which are all included in your tour. Each of these activities is proposed to you in a totally privatized way, far from the groups and the tourist attractions.

This selection was made in order to help you discover a more authentic China, to meet with its inhabitants and to discover its culture & history with the best quality/price ratio!

You may get a glance at those activities by watching the video screeners and photo galleries. We wish you to fully experience them in reality with ChinaVeo’s team!

Unique Activities included in your Mysterious China tour
		Mandarin lesson When you will arrive in China, you will have the opportunity to benefit from one hour Mandarin lesson. Thanks to this fun introduction, you will learn the basis to practice a bit of Chinese during your journey !
		Ride in the Maglev Take the Maglev, or magnetically levitating train, the fastest of the world ! With a speed of more than 400km per hour, you will reach the Shanghai airport in about 10 minutes ! A performance not to be missed !
		Drink at the Jin Mao On the top of the Jin Mao tower, in the highest bar of the world,enjoy a cocktail and a panoramic view on Shanghai ! A magic moment...
		Chinese night : hot-pot and karaoke Share a warming moment by tasting a chinese hot-pot. You will cook your meat and vegetables in a soup. After dinner, show your singing talent in a KTV where you will become a pop star for a night !
		Apéritif on Wangfujing street, Beijing
		While visiting the biggest food market of the city, you will have the opportunity to taste the local specialties, also new for westerns palates! From scorpios' skewers to chicken feet, you will be surprised by the varieties of dishes !
		Teppanyaki dinner The Teppanyaki is a Japanese barbecue with stir-fried meat and vegetables cooked and eaten off a large, table-top grill. This all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink is a unique and mouth-watering experience !
		Ride on the canals to the Summer Palace In the heart of Beijing, take a traditional small boat which will lead you to the Summer Palace. This is a romantic and original way to rediscover the capital of China !
		Visit of an old pharmacy In Beijing or Shanghai, you will have the opportunity to discover Chinese medicine and the different medicinal herbs. Visit an ancient pharmacy and be introduced to Chinese traditionnal medicine !
		Calligraphy in the gardens of the Big Wild Goose pagoda Be initiated into calligraphy in the gardens of the Big Wild Goose pagoda in Xian ! Brushes and ink will be at your disposal for your firsts steps into the traditional universe of chinese calligraphy.
		Tai Chi lesson In the early morning, Chinese like to practice Tai Chi, which helps to regulate the body's energy and brings well-being. You will be welcome to practice this ancient art with the locals, on the Charcoal hill in Beijing or in the Fuxing Park of Shanghai !
		Tea ceremony Tea plays a main part in Chinese people's life and its tasting require a unique ceremony. This it what you will discover during the visit of an authentic tea house where you will attend a tea ceremony and a tasting.
		Sled ride on the Great Wall Marvel at the Great Wall like you will never see it ! Climb with a chairlift and take a sled on the Mutianyu section of the wall. Be guided in an original visit of the Great Wall !
		Ride in rickshaw and lunch in the Hutong Traditionally, the Chinese also use the rickshaws to move around. An authentic way to discover the city ! In the Hutong, you will have lunch in a Chinese family which will welcome you to watch them cooking the meal you will share with them !

 

Traditional Activities included in your tour
		Traditional Chinese Massage Get relaxed thanks to the benefits of a true Chinese Massage ! Dragonfly massages are performed by hand according to ancient Oriental traditions, by well trained massage therapists. Discover the Chinese Massage with a soft Eastern touch to ease migraine, headaches, chronic neck and back pain, stress and tension related problems.
		Opera Show in Beijing Beijing Opera is a form of singing drama and an ingenious and colorful combination of elements from many sources: traditional music, poetry, singing, recitation, dancing, acrobatics, and martial arts.
		Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Center Theater Chinese Acrobatics is one of the oldest performing arts in China and absorbs elements from the opera, dance and Chinese Kung fu. You will enjoy many breathtaking and stunning programs such as hoop diving and suspending from silk, performed by very skillful artists.
		Traditional Beijing Roast Duck banquet According to a Chinese saying, no visit to Beijing is complete if you miss seeing the Great Wall or dining on roast duck. A well-known and delicious food with very long history, Beijing Roast Duck is an excellent choice if you want to know more about Chinese cuisine, culture and customs.
		Cormorant Fishing The fisherman makes the cormorants dive below the surface for the fish. When they catch a fish, they return to the boat, and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the bird from eating the fish.

(Please note that this tour includes many more activities and visits which are listed within the “Itinerary” tab).

 

* price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking

Hotels (Video)

Hotels of Mysterious China

ChinaVeo presents a unique selection of luxury and character hotels destined for travelers who are looking for distinct and original hotels.

Hotels
		Lu Song Yuan - Beijing *** With a central location, in a traditional street, this lovely hotel preserves the traditional architecture and a quiet and artistic atmosphere. The Lu Song Yuan Hotel offers 52 guestrooms featuring contemporary and elegant decoration designed to comfort guests in harmony with the local culture.
		Bell Tower - Xian **** The Bell Tower hotel in Xian is a 4* hotel located in Xian's city center. The hotel has all the facilities and amenities that one would expect from a hotel of this standard. You can find many historical sites within walking distance from the hotel, such as the Bell & Drum Square, the City Wall or the Great Mosque.
		Park Hotel - Guilin **** Discover a nice hotel located in a pleasant area, offering fantastic surroundings and a quite environment. Lying on the slight mountain slope, surrounded by green trees and fresh flowers, the building combines modern arts with a rich national flavour.
		Li River Hotel - Yangshuo **** The hotel is located in the center of the beautiful and picturesque town of Yangshuo. The romantic style will make your stay at the Li River Hotel an experience of coziness! The Hotel sets among the wonderful mountains of Yangshuo, which will bring you peace and serenity
		Expo Garden - Kunming **** The Yunnan Expo Garden Hotel is a four star hotel in Kunming, which is built according to international standards..
		Jim's Tibetan - Dali **** The Jim’s Tibetan Hotel is highly recommended by travelers notably for its beautiful building in the colorful Tibetan and Bai Styles. Enjoy this relaxing place, the garden and the rooftop terrace with a magnificent view over the Erhai lake and the mountains. You’ll appreciate the warm atmosphere of this lovely hotel!
		Zen Garden - Lijiang **** Discover this charming hotel with style, located in a very peaceful area. The house and the courtyard are built in traditional Naxi style, decorated with Ming and Qing dynasties antiques. From the terrace you can enjoy a very nice view of the old city.
		Gyalthang Dzong - Zhongdian **** In a picturesque landscape, this boutique hotel offers very comfortable rooms and suites decorated in an ethnic and elegant style. Also equipped with different restaurants and a spa, Gyalthang Dzong is known to be the most luxurious hotel close to town. Discover a remote paradise on earth where harmony reigns, where the gods walk among the people, and where man and nature embrace!
		Old House Inn - Shanghai **** Discover a charming little heaven within the French Concession in Shanghai. The Old House Inn Hotel is located in a narrow lane that will remind you of Paris. It is a beautifully restored small hotel that is inviting, relaxing and full of charm and character. Each room is styled differently and affords a good level of comfort.

Beyond a question of mere style, our aim is to combine luxury and comfort with architecture and ambience.
A perfect match of lifestyle and travel.

Nowadays, finding a tour in China with classic hotels, is within everyone's reach, but unlike the rest ChinaVeo offers unique and memorable hotels:  a traditional Courtyard in Beijing (offered by Mao to his third concubine), a boutique hotel designed by Philippe Stark in Shanghai, a Modern Art Hotel in Guilin …

 

* price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking

Tour sum up

Tour sum up

• Day 1: Departure from Paris (or other city, please contact us)
• Day 2: Beijing – The Hutong, the Temple of Heaven and Wangfujing Street
• Day 3 : Beijing – Mutianyu Great Wall, the Ming Tombs, Factory of "cloisonnés" (enamel) and the Sacred Path
• Day 4: Beijing - Tian An Men Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace
• Day 5: Xian - The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Calligraphy, the Medecine market and the Terracotta army
• Day 6 : Xian - Shaanxi History museum, the Steles' forest, Xian's ramparts, the great Mosque and discovery of tea
• Day 7: Guilin / Yangshuo - Cruise on the Li River
• Day 8: Yanghsuo / Guilin / Kunming – The Elephant Trunk Hill, the Reed Flute Caves and Fubo Hill
• Day 9: Kunming – The Flowers and Birds Market, Yuantong Temple, the West Hill, Sanqing Temple and the Bamboos Temple
• Day 10: Kunming / Dali - The Shilin Stone Forest and the oldest Pharmacy of Kunming
• Day 11: Dali – The Chongsheng Three Pagodas
• Day 12: Dali – Erhai lake, the Stone village of Xizhou, the Zhoucheng village, the Three Teas Ceremony and Batik factory
• Day 13: Dali / Lijiang - The Black Dragon Pond and the Dongba Institute
• Day 14: Lijiang – The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visit of Baisha village, Yufeng Si lamasery
• Day 15: Lijiang / Zhongdian - The Tiger leaping Gorge
• Day 16: Zhongdian – The Dabao Si Temple, the Songzalin Temple, Bitahai lake and Shudu lake
• Day 17: Zhongdian / Shanghai - The Bund and Nanjing road
• Day 18: Shanghai – The Jade Temple, Yu Garden and the old town and the Museum of Art and History
• Day 19: Shanghai
• Day 20: Arrival in Paris (or other city, please contact us)

Unique Activities included in this tour:

• Traditional Chinese massage
• Opera Show at the Liyuan Theater in Beijing
• Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Center Theater
• Traditional Beijing Roast Duck Banquet
• Songs and Dances about the civilization under the Tang Dynasty
• Cormorant Fishing
• Mandarin lesson
• Visit of an old pharmacy
• Tea ceremony
• Calligraphy in the gardens of the Big Wild Goose pagoda
• Tai Chi lesson
• Ride in rickshaw and lunch in the Hutong
• Sled ride on the Great Wall
• Teppanyaki dinner
• Ride on the canals to the Summer Palace
• Apéritif on Wangfujing street, Beijing
• Drink at the Jin Mao
• Chinese night : hot-pot and karaoke
• Ride in the Maglev

(A full description and illustration of these activities can be found by clicking on the « Unique Activities (Video) » tab).

Included Features:

• A private guide speaking your language (English, French, German or Spanish) accompanying you daily
• A private car with chauffeur at your disposal every day
• Accommodations in charming 3 and 4 stars hotels with private bathroom, air-conditioning, television and telephone
• The International flight*
• Domestic flights as listed in the itinerary: Train  : Beijing / Xian   –   Flights: Xian / Guilin – Guilin /Shanghai - Shanghai / Hong Kong
• Sightseeing tours as listed in the itinerary
• The breakfasts
• Meals which are listed in the itinerary (those not listed are not included)
• Tourist accident / Casualty insurance
• Service charges and government taxes

Not Included Features

• The visa expenses are not included in the price. However, according to your city of departure, we can take care of the formalities for you.
• Personal Expenses & Tips

 

* price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking

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* price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking