SMALL-GROUP TOUR: GREAT SITES OF CLASSICAL CHINA
16 days | Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, Xi’an, Guilin, Longji, Yangshuo, Shanghai, and Suzhou
Tour Highlights:
- An itinerary for an affordable budget
- Beijing with the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and the Forbidden City
- Datong and its formidable Yungang Caves
- Pingyao, the best-preserved old town in the country
- Xi’an and the famous Terracotta Army of the First Emperor of China
- The world-famous landscapes and Karst hills of Guilin
- Shanghai the ultra-dynamic economic center of China
- Suzhou, the capital of silk and the Venice of the East due to its many canals
Special offer for a purchase combining route & international flights
Online Chinese visa fees and procedures are offered for a minimum of 2 travelers registering at the same time. For people traveling alone, a reduction of $ 119.
- Take a flight to Beijing.
- Arrive in Beijing, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the hotel.
- Stroll in Beihai Park, which is one of the best-preserved imperial gardens in China as well as one of the oldest and largest.
- Walk to Shichahai Lake, where Hutong neighborhoods are located. The hutong preserves the charm and originality of ancient Beijing.
- Stroll on Tian’anmen Square.
- Discover the Forbidden City.
- Visit the Jingshan Mountain. It is very pleasant to climb it to enjoy an extraordinary view of the Forbidden City and the whole of the capital.
- Explore the majestic Temple of Heaven, which is an important place of worship for emperors.
- Drive to Mutianyu (2hrs/2h30), visit Mutianyu Great Wall.
- Optional tour: you can go up by cable car and go down by slide.
- Discover the Summer Palace.
- Transfer to Beijing train station and take the high-speed train to Datong (3hrs).
- Arrive in Datong, you will be met by your new English-speaking guide.
- Visit the Yungang Grottoes, which is a classical masterpiece of Buddhist rock art in China.
- Visit the Hanging Temple which has a history of 1500 years, the construction clings to the side of the mountain of Hengshan Range.
- Transfer to Pingyao (4hrs).
- On the road, discover the Jinci Temple. It was built over 1,000 BC near Taiyuan. It’s built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founder of Jin State and his mother.
- Discover the Shuanglin Temple, which represents a “treasure of painted sculptures in the East”.
- Visit the Wang Family Residence to explore the treasure of ancient Chinese residences.
- Explore the old town of Pingyao. Pingyao was China’s most developed financial center, and many wealthy merchants had gathered there.
- After breakfast, transfer to Pingyao station and take the high-speed train to Xi’an.
- Arrive in Xi’an, you will be met by your new guide.
- Visit the Terracotta Army Museum of the First Qin Emperor.
- Walk on the imposing city wall which is the best preserved in China.
- Visit the Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque, the hub of the Muslim community in Xi’an City.
- Transfer to the airport and take a flight to Guilin (about 2h15)
- Arrive in Guilin and you will be met by your new driver.
- Drive to Longji (2hrs), which means “Dragon spine” in Chinese. The Longji area consists of Zhuang and Yao Villages and magnificent landscapes of rice terraces.
- Stroll in the rice fields and visit the Yao and Zhuang Villages around Ping’an.
- Return to Guilin.
- Transfer to Mopanshan Wharf (30 minutes), boarding at 9:30.
- Cruise on the Li River through small fishing villages, rice fields, and bamboo groves.
- Arrive in Yangshuo, walk on the West Street of Yangshuo.
- Optional tour: In the evening, watch the musical night show “Impression Sanjie Liu” on the Li River, which is directed by Zhang Yi Mou. (PS: check the weather in advance).
- Mountain biking along the Yulong River and admire beautiful countryside landscapes (2-3hrs, you can rent bikes at your hotel).
- Discover the Jiuxian Village, where there are still many traditional houses.
- Drive to Guilin (1h30). On the way, visit Xianggong Mountain. Visitors can climb to the top of the mountain to overlook the Lijiang River.
- Take a flight to Shanghai (2h15).
- Arrive in Shanghai, and you will be met by your new guide, transferred to the hotel.
- Visit Shanghai Museum, which is one of the top 3 museums in China.
- Walk on Nanjing Pedestrian Street, the lively shopping district.
- You will visit the Yuyuan Garden. It is considered one of the most lavish and premium Chinese gardens in China.
- Walk in the Bund Quarter. Stretching over a mile along the Huang Pu River, this area was once known as Asia’s “Wall Street” and China’s most famous street.
- Drive to Tongli (1hr).
- Visit Tongli Town, which is famous for its canals, bridges, and alleys.
- After a small boat trip on the Tongli canals, you will be transferred to Suzhou (40 minutes).
- Visit Master of Nets Garden, which is one of the smallest gardens in Suzhou.
- Stroll in the Shantang Street of Suzhou.
- Return to Shanghai in the late afternoon.
- Walk in the Fuxing Park.
- Discover the Temple of the Jade Buddha. It was founded in 1882 to house two precious jade Buddha statues imported from Burma.
- Stroll through the Former French Concession.
- Drive to Shanghai airport for the return flight.
- Arrive home with good memories in mind.
Source:https://www.cielyunnan.com/circuits-en-petit-groupe-au-yunnan/pekin-xian-guilin-et-shanghai-grands-sites-de-la-chine-classique/
| Guaranteed departures from 6 people | With driver + An English-speaking guide |
|---|---|
| English-speaking guides throughout the tour (two people share a room) | 2 040 $/Person |
| The supplement for the single room | 540 $ |
Price includes
- The hotels are mentioned (or similar) in the itinerary with breakfast.
- Accommodation and meals for your guides and drivers.
- All meals (Each one glass of drink: water, beer, tea).
- A private vehicle using in the itinerary.
- Quality English-speaking guides at every stage throughout the tour.
- High-speed train tickets: Beijing/Datong, Pingyao/Xi’an (second class).
- Entrance tickets for the visits are mentioned in the program.
- 24/7 support from the agency.
- Free credit card payment or bank transfer, bank charges will be borne by our company. This allows you to avoid bank transfer fees to China. Payment by credit card is free and at no extra cost, so you don’t have to add additional travel insurance.
The price does not include
- International and domestic flights.
- Tips for guides and drivers.
- Accident, repatriation, and health insurance.
- The visa fees.
Warm Tips:
- You can also check out our organized small group tours here
- To facilitate your stay, we suggest that you change your quotes on arrival and departure at the current exchange rate. The formalities to be completed in Chinese banks are particularly tedious.
Hotels offered
For each city, we have recommended two or three hotels for you to choose from below. The first hotel listed has been pre-selected by Ciel Yunnan.
| GREAT SITES OF CLASSIC CHINA | HOTELS |
|---|---|
| Pekin | Beijing Shichahai Shadow Art Performance (charm hotel)/Novotel Peace Hotel (4*) |
| Datong | Datong Hotel (4*) |
| Pingyao | Pingyao Dejuyuan Guesthouse (charm hotel) |
| Xi’an | Manxin Hotel Belle Tower (3*) |
| Guilin | Zizhou Panorama Resort |
| Yangshuo/Jiuxian | Jiuxian Dream Guesthouse |
| Shanghai | Shanghai Home Inn Plus |
| 2021 departure dates | |
| Wednesday 10/03/21 to Thursday 25/03/21 | Registration open |
| Thursday 08/04/21 to Friday 23/04/21 | Registration open |
| Wednesday 05/05/21 to Thursday 20/05/21 | Registration open |
When to go?
The best times to do this tour are between March and June and between September and early November when temperatures are mild.
Beijing
September and October are the best months to travel to Beijing. The temperatures are mild and the days very sunny. The landscapes are beautiful with the maple leaves changing color. It is best to wear long sleeves and bring warmer clothes for the evening as temperatures tend to drop quite quickly.
Spring from April to May is also a good season to visit Beijing. It is a little hot and dry but the temperatures vary enormously between day and night. Pay attention to the wind which sometimes blows very strongly and causes some sandstorms.
The summer between June and September is long in Beijing. Temperatures regularly reach 40 ° C. It is therefore advisable to dress lightly but also to bring an umbrella because the showers sometimes fall suddenly.
Beijing has a cold, dry winter between December and February. It is sometimes sunny, but temperatures often drop below 0 ° C. It will be necessary to bring warm clothes. But the city of Beijing is atypical in winter with its lakes covered with ice which gives it a very special atmosphere.
Xi’an
The best time to visit Xi’an is between March and May. In March, temperatures range between 8 ° C and 14 ° C, while in April and May, they rise to 20 ° C. Sweaters and coats are a must at the start of the season, but long sleeves and small jackets will suffice as the days go on.
Another good time to visit Xi’an is during the months of September and October. The weather is rainy in autumn, and the sky is always cloudy. The temperatures can be a bit cool depending on the day. Bring half-season clothes and a small waterproof jacket so you don’t have any unpleasant surprises.
Summer is hot and humid at the same time. Xi’an is one of the cities in the country that suffers the most from the heat. Considering the inconveniences associated with this climate, it will be better to plan more indoor activities when traveling during this period.
Winter lasts from November to February. It can snow every now and then and temperatures are generally low. The coldest month of the year is January when the thermometer reads on average 0 ° C. So, you need to dress accordingly.
Guilin
Summer temperatures are between 23 and 29 degrees, while in winter it is between 6 and 16 degrees on average. Almost all of the rain falls between April and September.
April, May, and June are the rainiest months of the year in Guilin and Yangshuo. If you visit Guangxi Province in the spring, you can be sure to have at least one downpour per day. So don’t forget to pack your suitcases accordingly. The advantage of this climate not conducive to tourism is that hotels charge lower rates than the rest of the year, especially in Yangshuo, the new tourist capital of Guangxi.
The summer temperatures are quite high with sometimes peaks of heat above 30 ° C. The hottest and humid months are July and August although the evenings are a little cooler. However, the weather is often rainy during this period as the monsoon is still in full swing. The climate is still very pleasant. Note that in Yangshuo, due to the rains, the Liu San Jie show is sometimes canceled, as are cruises on the Li River, which is then raw. Your guide will then suggest a replacement program.
From September, the showers begin to be rarer but the temperatures tend to drop too, especially in Guilin and Yangshuo. The weather remains good enough to fully enjoy the magnificent landscapes of the karst peaks of the Yangshuo region or the rice terraces of Ping’an and Longji, as well as in Chengyang.
Winter is relatively mild throughout the Guilin and Yangshuo regions. Temperatures are between 6 and 16 ° C. Usually January is the coldest month of the year. After nightfall, temperatures may drop below zero and it can also snow in the mountains of North Guangxi, but this is still exceptional.
Shanghai and Suzhou
The ideal time to visit Shanghai and Suzhou is between the months of April to June and then between September and November. The weather is mild and pleasant without the drawbacks of the hot summer months or the cold and wet winter.
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