Depart San Francisco (SFO Airport) at 2:50pm or New York (JFK Airport) at 4:30pm on Air China's Boeing 747 wide-body aircraft and fly (12 hours from SFO or 13½ hours from JFK) non-stop to Beijing. Cross the International Dateline.
Day 2 - Beijing (IM)
Day 2 - Beijing
Meals: In-Flight(IM)
Arrive into Beijing in the evening. You will be met and transferred to Jiangxi Grand Hotel (4 stars).
Day 3 - Beijing (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Beijing
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, tour Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest and most famous square. Then visit the Forbidden City, where exquisite architecture and a vast glimpse of the staggeringly opulent lifestyles of the Chinese emperors and their concubines. Followed by a tour of the picturesque Summer Palace on Kunming Lake.
Day 4 - Beijing (B, L, SD)
Day 4 - Beijing
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Special Dinner(SD)
After breakfast, depart Beijing by deluxe motor coach to explore the Great Wall, one of the seven world wonders. After lunch, take a tour to the Historic Hutong (narrow alleyways), which is protected by the Beijing Cultural Relics Protection Association. This will give you a chance to experience what China was like before high-rises and shopping malls took over a city. Enjoy a special Peking Duck Dinner.
Day 5 - Beijing-Xi'an (B, IM, D)
Day 5 - Beijing-Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast(B), In-Flight(IM), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, visit the Temple of Heaven, where dynastic Chinese rulers historically worshipped the Emperor of Heaven. Fly (1 ½ hours) to Xi'an. Lodging at Wan Nian Grand Hotel (4 stars) or similar.
Day 6 - Xi'an (B, L, SD)
Day 6 - Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Special Dinner(SD)
After breakfast, the day is primarily devoted to leisurely view the world famous Army of Terracotta Warriors, horses, and chariots buried with the first Chinese Emperor, Qin Shihuang. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. After a Dumpling Dinner, enjoy a traditional Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.
Day 7 - Xian-Chengdu (B, IM, D)
Day 7 - Xian-Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast(B), In-Flight(IM), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, take a city tour and then fly to Chengdu, an ancient city of China's richest agricultural province, Sichuan. Visit the Panda Research Institute. Lodging at Tibet Hotel (5 stars).
Day 8 - Chengdu-Leshan-Lijiang (B, L, D)
Day 8 - Chengdu-Leshan-Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, take a day excursion to see the Giant Buddha in Leshan, which is the world's largest and measuring about 210 feet high. After dinner, fly to Lijiang, which is listed as 1 of 29 world heritage sites in China, but what's the most attractive about this city is that it's living and breathing rather than an exhibition site. Lodging at Hexi Hotel (4 stars).
Day 9 - Lijiang (B, L, D)
Day 9 - Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, explore the ancient city, visit Baisha Fresco, where murals over 600 years old are located. Then visit the Black Dragon Pool, Shuhe Village plus Jade Lake Village. After dinner, enjoy a Naxi Classical Music Concert.
Day 10 - Lijiang-Dali (B, L, D)
Day 10 - Lijiang-Dali
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, travel by motor coach (3 hours) to Dali, which is populated with over 20 minority groups, but mainly the Bai Nationality. Visit Xizhou Village, which will bring their life style and culture live to you. Lodging at Asia Star Hotel (4 stars).
Day 11 - Dali (B, L)
Day 11 - Dali
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L)
After breakfast, visit the Three Pagodas followed by a walking tour of the Old Town. After lunch, enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.
Day 12 - Dali-Kunming (B, L, D)
Day 12 - Dali-Kunming
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, fly to Kunming, the capital of Yunan Province, also know as "City of Eternal Spring." Take a day excursion by motor coach to the Stone Forest (Shilin), which was once a shallow sea over 270 million years ago. Due to geological movement over the years, it is now 96,000 acres of uniquely shaped limestone landscape. Lodging at Kunming Golden Dragon Hotel (4 stars).
Day 13 - Kunming-Guilin (B, L, IM)
Day 13 - Kunming-Guilin
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), In-Flight(IM)
After breakfast, visit the Bamboo Temple, which is famous for its 500 monks made of clay. After lunch, take a City Tour. Fly to Guilin and check into Guilin Plaza Hotel (4 stars).
Day 14 - Guilin (B, SL, D)
Day 14 - Guilin
Meals: Breakfast(B), Special Lunch(SL), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, visit Reed Flute Cave. After lunch, visit Solitary Beauty Peak, which offers a panoramic view of the city. A special Tea Banquet will be arranged for lunch.
Day 15 - Guilin-Yangshuo (B, L, D)
Day 15 - Guilin-Yangshuo
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, travel by deluxe motor coach through lush countryside surrounding Guilin, where you will see bamboo, water chestnut, sugar cane, and rice fields. Arrive at a local village and embark on a memorable 3-hour Li River Cruise passing through scenic Yangshuo. Lunch will be served onboard. Disembark cruise ship and check into New West Street Hotel (4 stars). The rest of the day is at your leisure. Either rent a bicycle or a tuk-tuk to go to the countryside of Yangshuo to experience the real life of Chinese Farmers.
Day 16 - Yangshuo-Guilin-Shanghai (B, IM, SD)
Day 16 - Yangshuo-Guilin-Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast(B), In-Flight(IM), Special Dinner(SD)
After breakfast, travel by motor coach to Guilin, followed by a flight (2 hours) to Shanghai. Upon arrival, check into Central View Suites Hotel (4 stars) or similar. Afternoon sightseeing introduces you to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Shanghai Municipal History (Wax) Museum. Enjoy an amazing Shanghai Acrobatic Show in the evening before a special Farewell Dinner.
Day 17 - Shanghai (B)
Day 17 - Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast(B)
After breakfast, enjoy the rest of the day to explore the city on your own.
Day 18 - Shanghai-Beijing-SFO/JFK (B, IM)
Day 18 - Shanghai-Beijing-SFO/JFK
Meals: Breakfast(B), In-Flight(IM)
After breakfast, depart Shanghai at 8:10am (if out of SHA Airport) or 11:35am (if out of PVG Airport) on Air China and fly (16 hours) to San Francisco (SFOAirport) with a same day arrival at 12:40pm. (Flight time includes a stopover in Beijing. Your luggage will be transferred automatically to SFO). *Some tours will have the opportunity to travel by Maglev Train to the airport, please click on the following link for details on Maglev Train Disclosure.
If your final destination is New York (JFKAirport), it takes 17 ½hours with a same day arrival at 2:30pm. (Flight time includes a custom inspection in Beijing where you must claim and re-check your luggage). *No Maglev Train available for JFK departure due to different airport in Shanghai (SHAAirport).
This tour features the biologically diverse Yunnan Province (Kunming, Dali and Lijiang), home to 24 of China's 55 ethnic minorities. The province's intriguing tribal cultures and mesmerizing landscape first caught the attention of the West a century ago when National Geographic featured the northern part of Yunnan. It has now become the focal point for tourists of the world. Included with this tour are visits to Guilin, Beijing and Shanghai, which are some important highlights of China.
