Top China Tours
5 Easy Booking Steps
Home >> China Tour >> China Discovery Tours
A perfect choice for those interested in Chinese architecture and custom. It not only takes you to explore the majestic imperial buildings, ancient military fortifications and Entombed Warriors, but affords the opportunity to really appreciate the smaller ancient towns and exquisite private villas and gardens. During the architectural exploration, you'll also learn much about the unique and interesting Chinese custom and culture.
Marvel at the gorgeous architectural compounds in China - Forbidden City, the Bund, Wang Family Compound, Lingering Garden, etc.
Explore the well-maintained old towns and their lifestyle - Pingyao Ancient City and Tongli Water Town.
Economic way of transfer, mostly by train; caring and experienced local guide & driver & cozy hotel.
Today's Activities | The guide will pick you up at Beijing Airport, and then transfer you to the downtown hotel. The rest of the day is flexible for your will, have a rest at the hotel or take a walk around the famous Wangfujing Pedestrian Street enjoying the tasty Beijing snack there. | ||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities | You’ll start your Beijing tour with Tian'anmen Square, the largest square in the world and all the lofty jade stone bridges, moats, monuments, ornamental columns, stone lions, etc. Later walk northward and you reach Forbidden City. The largest and best-preserved imperial palace in China vividly showcases a whole set of the royal life. You’ll be shown around several main halls like the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Have a good view of the emperor’s chair, sculpture of mythical beasts, eave decoration and the like, you can touch some daily routine of the ancient Chinese emperors, courtiers and princesses. Later you'll tour Summer Palace, the royal garden. You can keenly feel the imperial grandeur while touring the 728-meter-long painting-rich corridor, Foxiang Hall, etc. The trip includes an exciting cruise on the huge Kunming lake. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities |
After breakfast at hotel, you will have an excursion to the Badaling Great Wall. By roundtrip cable car you can feast on this vital section of the world famous China Great Wall. Badaling not only boasts a surprisingly long history of over 1400 year but sport a special structure of three watchtowers on end.
Afterwards, you will visit the most famous tomb of Ming Tombs - Changling. The tomb is inhumed with the 3rd emperor of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Zhu Di and his queen. Its tremendous scale and perfect degree of maintanence well fits the great achievement Emperor Zhu Di secured during his reign over China. On the way back to downtown Beijing, you will stop by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatics), to view the unique constructions and take some photos. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities | After breakfast you’ll head for Temple of Heaven where the Emperor of the Ming and Qing dynasties(1368-1911) would worship heaven and pray for good harvests around the kingdom. Here you would have an eye-opening understanding of Oriental architectural aesthetics and the deeply rooted awe of heaven in ancient Chinese, from the emperor to the masses. You may have chance to see the locals doing morning exercise, playing Tai-chi or sword in the big park. Later let’s leave the blocks of royal buildings for the populace culture that hide itself in the Hutong. Taking a rickshaw tour through these narrow alleyways, you’ll be impressed with the simple happy kids, the old enjoying their leisure time under the tree, exquisite old quadrangles, delicious sugared plums and all kinds of Beijing snacks at roadside peddlers. Plus, in a friendly family in the Hutong you’ll enjoy the most authentic Beijing cuisine with them. You may optionally experience how the delicious dumpling is made. After the lunch, you’ll move on to Beijing Railway Station and take the soft-sleeper train for Datong City. Upon your arrival, you’ll be picked up and transferred to the downtown hotel. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities | Datong was once the center of Buddhist culture and art in North China, leaving a myriad of Buddhist heritage for the visitors. You’ll explore two standout attractions today. The first stop is the over-1,500-year-old Hanging Temple that fast fastens itself to a near-vertical cliff, you may shiver with fear. Beneath the temple are a dozen of wooden pillars that appear to be supporting the temple from falling apart, actually you’ll soon discover that the safety of the temple has little to do with these pillars. It is said that the architects added the pillars to strengthen people’s confidence in walking through the temple. Enjoy visiting the temple and see how human intelligence can get! End the thrilling Hanging Temple tour and drive back to the downtown Datong to have your lunch. After that you’ll head for the World Heritage, Yungang Caves. The tremendous caves, one of the four Buddha caves in China, sports as many as 45 main caves and over 51,000 statues. Whatever size they come with, from the gigantic Buddha statues that front you at the cave entrance to the pocket statues inside, they are drop-dead gorgeous. Look what they’re doing- flying in mid air playing with Chinese lute, beating the drum, dancing to the rhyme of the royal band, etc. You may feel as if you were watching an amazing circular-screen movie that shows you both the Buddhist and worldly ways of life in China during 5th -6th Centuries. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities | After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll take the train to Pingyao from Datong. With railway station pick-up and hotel transfer, you’ll spend the rest of the day as you like. You can enjoy staying at the cozy featured hotel. The hotel doesn't come with a dull modern building look, which is quite commonly in starred hotels in big cities of China, rather, it takes on style of traditional folk residence during Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). You can feel the strong vintage touch at the hotel courtyard, corridors, windows, doors and room furnishment. When the night falls, strolling around Pingyao Ancient City is lots of fun. Look, almost all the shops are decorated in old fashion and everything that hits your eyes is of traditional Chinese touch - Red lanterns, red paper cuts, opera facial makeups, sidewalk restaurants sell traditional Pingyao diet and bars playing poetic Chinese ancient music. If you're lucky, you would watch a night watch stroll past you sounding night watches! |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities |
Today let's make an excursion at the outskirt of Pingyao. The first attraction is the 1,400-year-old
Shuanglin Temple, the treasure house of Oriental Painted Sculptures. Your eyes will be dazzled by the sea of colorful and expression-rich Buddha sculptures. Then you would head for Wang Family Compound. The residential complex whose owner is the wealthiest family locally, is honored as the Forbidden City in Shanxi Province or the folk Forbidden City. Keep your eyes sharp or you’ll soon get lost cause the enormous labyrinth world boasts 123 courtyards and an astonishing total of 1,118 rooms! Apart from the spectacular layout, you can further enjoy the sumptuous details of carving and embossing on the pillars, eaves, walls, windows and doors…Finishing the incredible architecture appreciation, you’ll be back to Pingyao Ancient City and have free-time activity. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities |
Today is all about Pingyao Ancient City, the whole set of which is ranked as World Heritage! Beginning with the most buoyant Mingqing Street, the old town has its vintage buildings parade past you. Though these houses appear more or less the same, they shadow their internal contents which are sharply different from each other. The Government Office of Pingyao (Xianya in Chinese) is totally feudal, there you can have a view of how the ancient county magistrate hears a civil case (Performed by costumed actors). However, when turning to the nearby Rishengchang Exchange Shop, the best-known capitalistic banking company that once dominated the banking industry of China for decades (1824-1914), you would fall lost before the sophisticated system of draft exchange. In keen contact with the exchange shop is the Ancient Security Guard Company (Biaoju in Chinese) that played as the property supercargo. Stepping into the deep courtyard of the Biaoju, you will find a complete series of cold weapons – spears, swords, sticks, hammers, bows and arrows. It was with these old-fashioned weapons and one-wheel escort vehicle that the tons of money and treasury of the exchange shop made it to the destination safely. At dusk, you’ll have a panoramic view of the time-honored ancient city on the lofty Ancient City Wall of Pingyao. Trust you to have lots of thoughts and sighs to let out. Having finished the impressive tour around Pingyao, you’ll move on to Pingyao Railway Station and take the soft-sleeper train for the most historic city Xi’an. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities |
The night train will reach Xi’an Railway Station around 7:00 A.M. Then you’ll be transferred to the hotel and spend the rest of the morning as you please. After lunch the exciting tour of Xi’an starts with a visit of Shaanxi History Museum. Every antique displayed there, ranging from the eroded bamboo stroll to the well-kept glaze ceramic (Tangsancai), is able to provide strong statement of the vibrant civilization of ancient China. The then capital city of Tang dynasty Xi’an was known for its generosity towards various religions. People with totally different beliefs lived happy together at that time. The next stop Great Mosque sports more than 1200 years' history as one of the four grand Islamic mosques in China. It will let you see how Muslim architecture and Chinese traditional buildings light up each other. As to the Muslim Quarter, it is a big stock of exotic souvenir markets and savory restaurants.. You may as well have a supper and some shopping around. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities |
No matter how many times you view the Terracotta Warriors via television or pictures, you would fail to describe the invincible vigor they give off when you’re finally face-to-face with them. You’ll have a feast on the gorgeous arrays of terracotta warriors at pit 1, 2 and 3 along with groups of ancient bronze chariot s and horses after watching a circular-screen movie. The eighth world’s wonder never lets you down! After having lunch at the restaurant within the scenic spot, you will be transferred to the Xi’an airport heading for Shanghai. After airport pick-up and hotel transfer, you’ll have the rest of the day as your free time. It’s quite regrettable to let go of the colorful Shanghai nightlife. You can optionally go enjoy Shanghai Acrobatic show. As one of the oldest performing arts in China, the acrobatics displayed on stage include a number of feats focusing on flexibility, strength, endurance and sheer will-power. Cheer up your bravos! Or you can simply visit Xintiandi Bar Street to feel the vibrant night color in Shanghai and romantic tone that prevails the whole street. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities | After breakfast you’ll launch the whole day tour from the old town to the brand-new area of Shanghai. You start with the over- 400-year-old Yuyuan Garden to appreciate the elegant pavilions, villa, lotus pond and bridges, especially the Mid-Lake Pavilion. Then move to the neighboring Yuyuan Market to explore how elaborate and cute the traditional Chinese handicrafts and art works are. at the 600-year-old City God Temple you’ll see scores of statues that represent this or that powerful Taoist immortal. Besides, you can have a taste of the delicious snacks at the famous snack square of the temple. Strolling along this 1,599-meter-long Nanjing Road is much like being immersed in seas of garment, shoes, jewelry, accessory, snack and souvenir. The pedestrian street leads you to The Bund. Here you can embrace the best cityscape, feast on the rich architectural fashions (Gothic, Baroque, Rome, Renaissance, Classic and Mixed Eastern and Western style, etc.) Finishing the historic part of Shanghai, you will steer to the new landmark Oriental Pearl Tower. On the ground floor, you’ll first visit Shanghai Municipal History Museum. The Museum shows you a vivid panorama of Shanghai’s development. The part of old Shanghai life during 1920s to 1940s is the most attractive. Then you’ll be elevated to the top of Oriental Pearl Tower. At the height of 468 m (1,535 feet) you’ll enjoy a bird's eye view of this vibrant city. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities | Today is all your free time. You can pay a visit to the aged lanes and explore the way the most ordinary locals spend their life, their houses and markets, etc. | ||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities | After breakfast, you’ll leave Shanghai for Suzhou by high-speed train. About 30 minutes later, you will set foot on the famous garden city. The splendid tissue of Suzhou cityscape like gardens, rivers, riverside residence and old city wall will be listed on today’s itinerary. You’ll first visit Lingering Garden, one of the four most famous classic gardens in China. The sophisticated layout of the garden will surely offer you scene of beauty and refreshment at every turn. The three rockeries at the rear part of the garden is worthwhile your special attention. 1.5 hours later, let’s leave Lingering Garden for another historical landmark in Suzhou, Panmen Gate. The grand gate is part of the ancient city wall (built in 514 B.C.)
Then let's turn to Suzhou Silk Factory to see how the silk is processed from silk worm to the final product, and the interesting silk history in China. After spending 1 hour in the factory, we’ll cruise along the Small Canal. The elements that make up a water town, like stone arch bridges, on-the-river markets, traditional yards shaded with willows are all presented. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities | The day is all about water town! Drive about 30 minutes from downtown Suzhou and you get the most famous over-1,000-year-old Tongli Water Town. You’ll be cruising along the waterway to see refined black-and-white blocks of folk houses, various looks of bridges and undisturbed local custom. Apart from the cruise, you also have free time to explore this old town. Recommended attractions are: Tuisi Garden, Three Bridges (Taiping, Jili, and Changqing Bridges), Chongben Hall, Jia yin Hall, Mingqing Street, Dingzi (T-shaped) River. At 5:30 P.M. let’s say goodbye to Tongli and drive back to downtown Suzhou. |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Today's Activities | After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll spend 1-2 hours as you like. you can optionally have a walk at Suzhou Flower and Bird Market if time admits. It’s fun immersing yourself in a world of bonsai and blossom while enjoying the sweet whisper of various birds and crickets. Later let’s end the full leisure tour and drive to the airport in Shanghai to depart China. Wish you a thoroughly fine journey! |
||||||||||||||||
Highlights |
|
Tour Package Includes: | |
Dining: 14 breakfasts and 11 lunches. | Admissions: Entrance fee to all scenic spots listed in itinerary |
Train, Flight Tickets: all listed in itineraries; | Hotels: accommodation in Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, Xi'an, Shanghai and Suzhou; |
Tour Guide: a local experienced English-speaking guide | Car Driver: an experienced licensed driver |
Vehicle: a private air-conditioned car, offering Round-trip transfers | Luggage Transfers: a hand for your heavy luggage; |
Insurance: Travel Agencies Liability Insurance; | Government taxes & Service charges |
Tour Package Excludes: | |
- Other optional attractions / tours / meals and international flights; | - Tips for tour guides and drivers. |
- Breakfasts are offered by hotels;
- Lunches are supplied according to different classes of tour;
- Dinners are for your own arrangement.
We promises no worries about the dining quality, plus flexible choices that you can have depending on your preference. If having any special requestment, just tell our trip advisor directly. In all, we aim to satisfy your tongue and stomach with our recommendation as follows:
As the capital of China, Beijing boasts many good restaurants with featured cuisines. Our package takes you to have A La Carte dinner at Great Northeast Restaurant, Gold Palace Restaurant and Tang Yuan Restaurant, leading you to grasp the essence of Chinese classic cuisines.
Dining Hall of Great Northeast Restaurant | Main Hall of Tang Yuan Restaurant |
China serves the best flour food in the world; and it is said that Shanxi ranks first in China in preparing flour food." Shanxi Province boasts nearly 1,000 kinds of flour food, made of a wide variety of materials. Shanxi flour food may serve as staple food, snacks or art works. Besides, you could taste other famous dishes and snacks in Datong and Pingyao as you prefer.
Classical Meal in Shanxi | You can taste many delicious food in Mingqing Street. |
Xi'an features distinctive cuisines of China Northwest, such as various-shapes chinese dumplings and other wheaten food. At Muslim Quarter, where gathers lots of delicious local food, like Rou Jia Mo and shish kebabs, etc.
(1) Here we highly recommend Chinese Dumpling Dinner, which also named Jiaozi, typically consist of a ground meat and/or vegetable filling wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together or by crimping. As a must-try for visitors, it serves with Tang dynasty show. And it belongs to an [add on] item in the tour.
(2) Rou Jia Mo, also called Chinese Hamburger, is very similar to the Western hamburger essentially, but with different cooking method.
Chinese Dumpling Dinner | Local Cuisine at Friendship Restaurant |
We say little about the dining in Shanghai, since Shanghai is regarded as a delicious kingdom, where you can taste everything almost. Here we strongly suggest you take M on The Bund into consideration.
M on the Bund Shanghai
-- Dedicated to creating a dining experience as exciting, as sophisticated, as delectable as Shanghai itself
-- “One of the top 20 restaurants in Asia” (Miele Guide, 2009-2010)
-- “Best Global Cuisine” (City Weekend Readers’ Choice Awards, 2010)
-- “M on the Bund: Most Popular Restaurant in Shanghai” (Zaqat Survey Shanghai, 2008)
Shanghai M on The Bund Restaurant | Brandboard of M on the Bund |
Suzhou cuisine is renowned for its unique sweet flavor, color and aroma, and it's always beautifully presented. Some of the best local dishes are songshu Guiyu (Stewed and Fried Mandarin Fish), Xiangyou Shanhu (Stewed Shredded Eel), Xigua Ji (Chicken Steamed in Watermelon Rind), etc.
Songshu Guiyu (Stewed and Fried Mandarin Fish) | Xiangyou Shanhu (Stewed Shredded Eel) |
Customer: Ms. Alhach
Destinations: Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai - Hong Kong
Related Tour: 12 Days China Discovery; 9 Days Essential China Tour
Customer: Ms. Danan
Destinations: Beijing - Xi'an – Guilin - Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai
Related Tour: 12 Days China Signature Tour; 9 Days Essential China Tour
China Tours | China Tour | China Attractions | Yangtze Cruise | China Tour Agency | China Travel | Huangshan Tour | Beijing Tours | Shanghai Tours | Guilin Tours | Suzhou Tours | Hangzhou Tours | Tibet Tours | Yunnan Tour | Hongkong Tour | Xian Tours | Canton Fair | Canton Fair 2024 | Hotel Guangzhou | Guizhou Tours | Hong Kong Hotels
香港酒店 | 广州酒店 | 广州会议酒店 | Indochina Tour Guide for China tours, offers most value & amazing experience. Chinatourguide.com. Your reliable China tour agency.