| 15 Days Classic China Tour w/ Hakka Houses (Tour code: CH1502) | |
| Themes:History, culture, nature, minorities | |
| Destinations: Beijing - Henan Luoyang - Shaanxi Xi'an - Guangxi Guilin - Yangshuo - Fujian Yunshuiyao - Shanghai | |
| please contact us for group price |  |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | We arrive in Beijing and after having gone through customs we begin our tour of the capital at the Bird’s Nest Stadium, which was the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We see the stadium from the outside, and then we continue to the Summer Palace, formerly the summer residence of the court, to enjoy the beautiful grounds, before we drive to our hotel to check-in and rest. |
| Attractions | Bird's Nest Stadium, Summer Palace |
| Meals | Lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | In the morning we visit the Temple of Heaven, the symbol of Beijing and a lively place in the morning when thousands of people come here to excercise. Later we visit a silk shop, before we walk across the central Tian’anmen Square and continue to the Forbidden City, the home of the emperors for almost 600 years. In the afternoon we go on a Hutong rickshaw tour to see Beijing's famous alleyways. |
| Attractions | Temple of Heaven, Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutong Rickshaw Tour |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | After breakfast we drive north to the Changling Ming Tomb where Emperor Yongle is buried, and near here we also visit the Sprit Way with its many stone statues guarding the tomb area. After lunch we scale the mighty Great Wall of China at Mutianyu by cable car and enjoy the views of this enormous structure. On the way back to Beijing we visit a jade shop, and in the evening we enjoy the famous Peking Duck. |
| Attractions | Changling Ming Tombs, Spirit Way, Great Wall of China at Mutianyu |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing - Luoyang |
| Activities | After breakfast we go to the train station to take a high speed train to Luoyang, once an important stop on the Silk Road. We arrive in Luoyang and go straight to the incredible Longmen Buddhist Grottoes, where more than 50.000 Buddhist images were carved out of the rock surface centuries ago. Later we visit Luoyang's Old City, before we check-in at our hotel. |
| Attractions | Longmen Buddhist Grottoes, Luoyang Old City |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Luoyang - Xi'an |
| Activities | Today we once again travel by high speed train. Our destination is the historic city of Xi’an, where we visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in its tranquil surroundings, and then the Forest of Steeles Museum to learn about Chinese calligraphy, before we then check-in at our hotel and finish the day off with a delicious hot pot dinner. |
| Attractions | Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Forest of Steeles |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Xi'an |
| Activities | Today we visit the jaw-dropping Terracotta Army, a collection of more than 7000 lifesized clay figures built 2200 years ago by Emperor Qin who united China. We also visit a factory producing replicas of the army figures before we go back to the city centre and take a stroll in the Muslim Quarter to visit the Great Mosque. In the evening we enjoy a delicious dumpling banquet dinner. |
| Attractions | Terracotta Army, Muslim Quarter, Great Mosque |
| Meals | Berakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Xi'an - Guilin |
| Activities | It is time to fly to southern China, but before we leave the north we visit the grand City Wall, and later the Han Yangling Terracotta Army, a smaller army where it is possible to get very close to the figures and view them up close through the glass floor. In the afternoon we transfer to the airport to fly to Guilin. After arrival we check in at our hotel. |
| Attractions | City Wall, Han Yangling Terracotta Army |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Guilin - Yangshuo |
| Activities | In the morning we embark on a magical cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. The cruise takes around four hours and lunch is served on the ship. From the deck we can enjoy the increcible landscape of limestone hills, rivers and small villages. In Yangshuo we take an electric car from the pier to the hotel to check-in. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Yangshuo on your own. |
| Attractions | Li River Cruise |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Yangshuo |
| Activities | After breakfast we go on a leisurely bike ride in the stunningly beautiful countryside outside Yangshuo. We ride at a relaxed pace and make plenty of photo stops. After lunch at a farmer's house in the countryside we return to Yangshuo, and the rest of the day is free to relax, shop or just hang out by the river. In the evening we enjoy yet another meal of local delicacies, this one including snake! |
| Attractions | Yangshuo's famous limestone hill scenery |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Yangshuo - Yunshuiyao |
| Activities | Today we travel to Fujian Province and the Hakka Earthhouses. We drive to the airport to fly to Xiamen, from where we drive to the tiny village of Yunshuiyao, a tranquil and very charming place far away from normal tourist routes. On the way we visit our first Hakka house, the Hegui House, and then check-in at our nice hotel in the village. |
| Attractions | Hegui House, Yunshuiyao Village |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 3* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Yunshuiyao |
| Activities | Today we visit some of the finest examples of Hakka Earthhouses, including the Yanxiang House, Huanji House and the 'Great Wall of Earthhouses' viewpoint, and finally the Hekeng Houses Cluster. The earthhouses were built by the Hakka people, said to have moved here from North China. When arriving in Fujian the Hakka could not afford to build homes of wood and bricks, and instead began to construct the amazing earthhouses that the Hakka are so famous for now. |
| Attractions | Yanxiang House, Huanji House, the 'Great Wall of Earthhouses', Hekeng Cluster |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 3* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Yunshuiyao - Shanghai |
| Activities | Before we travel to the megacity of Shanghai we visit a few more great examples of Hakka building style, including the 'Four Dishes, One Soup'-cluster of houses, Changyu House, and tranquil Taxia Village. In the afternoon we drive back to Xiamen Airport to fly to Shanghai. After arrival we transfer to our hotel for check-in and rest. |
| Attractions | 'Four Dishes, One Soup'-cluster, Changyu House, Taxia Village |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai |
| Activities | Today we experience Shanghai by foot. From our very central hotel we walk to The Bund, formerly the harbour of Shanghai and now the place to see both old Shanghai and the impressive Pudong skyline. From here we continue to Yuyuan Garden to learn about Chinese garden art, passing through Chinatown on the way. In Chinatown we also visit the City God Temple and hear about Chinese belief systems, before we walk back to the hotel. |
| Attractions | The Bund, Chinatown, City God Temple, Yuyuan Garden |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai |
| Activities | After breakfast we drive to the newly renovated neighbourhood of Xintiandi, home of both Shanghai's characteristic Shikumen-style houses and the 1st Congress of the CPC, where the party was established in 1921. Later we also ride one of the world's fastest elevators to reach the Jinmao Tower's 88th floor to see the incredible views of Shanghai. After lunch we return to the hotel to pack and rest, before we meet up again for our farewell dinner and then the amazing Shanghai Acrobat Show. |
| Attractions | Xintiandi, 1st Congress of the CPC, Jinmao Tower, Shanghai Acrobat Show |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Shanghai - home |
| Activities | Today is free until it is time to check out and go to the airport for our return flight home. |
| Attractions | None |
| Meals | Breakfast |
| Accommodation | Not incl. |
| Price information | |
Please contact us for group price.
Luxury upgrade: partially available
Luxury Upgrade Policy: A luxury upgrade option is available with many of our tours. In accordance with our quality benchmark, upgrade options are divided into four categories: 1. Available - upgrade possible at all destinations in tour itinerary. 2. Partially available - upgrade not possible at one or more destnations in tour itinerary. 3. Not recommended - available or partially available, but not recommended (see Hotel Policy). 4. Not available - luxury upgrades are not possible on many of our trademark specialty tours to remote or developing regions. These tours are deeply genuine and authentic.
Keeping our guests' comfort in mind, we prefer to stay in a 2* or 3* hotel in or close to the attraction, rather than a 4* or 5* hotel much further away. Genuine China Tours' all-encompassing hotel policy is that we will never pick a hotel only because of its price. All our partner hotels must live up to a strict quality test that includes: 1. Geographical location - the location of our chosen hotel is of great importantce, both in large cities, where traffic congestion can play a vital role in the handling of the tour, and also on tours to remote villages, where the right choice of village or hotel can mean a world of difference to the tour. 2. Quality of hotel - including room size and cleanliness, quality of breakfast, ease of getting in/out and more. 3. Local environment - local environment should include local sights (when possible), be in the vicinity of local markets/night markets (if any) and have access to shops and convenience stores (if any). 4. Design and layout of hotel - we prefer hotels with history and atmosphere, especially if these have relevance with the sight(s) at the destination. 5. Value for money - any hotel must pass requirements 1-3 and 5. If a hotel passes all five requirements it becomes a Priority Hotel. |
|
| Price including |
International tour leader for duration of the tour Local English-speaking guides at all destinations Domestic flights as in itinerary Train travel as in itinerary All ground transportation in bus All entrances, cruises and shows as listed in itinerary Tips for guides and drivers Travel agency responsibility insurance All government taxes |
| Price not including |
Flights to/from China Personal expenses Anything not listed in itinerary |
| Important tour information |
Detailed tour information will be sent upon request. Please note that the more information you can give us about the group(s) you plan, the more accurate can we make the quotation and detailed tour information. We offer a wide range of services at all prices, but all of them bear our quality touch. Please get in touch with one of our expert tour designers with any questions you have - We know. We've been. |
| Genuine China Tours is an officially registered travel agency operating under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. Guests are required to follow rules and regulations set forth by existing laws of the country, including behavior respectful of local customs and manners. Tour designs and quotations may not be used in connection with other travel agencies. Genuine China Tours cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience caused by weather, traffic, government policies or other situations outside GCTs control. |