Discover the fascinating diversity of Chinese civilization on a journey through its imperial heritage, ancient history and spectacular landscapes. Explore Beijing’s iconic landmarks, including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall, before continuing to Xi’an to discover the extraordinary Terracotta Army and the city’s rich cultural heritage. Travel south to Guilin and Yangshuo, where a scenic cruise along the Li River reveals breathtaking karst mountains, rice fields and traditional villages. Conclude your journey in vibrant Shanghai, discovering its elegant Chinese gardens, historic temples and charming neighbourhoods, where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Beijing: Discover China’s imperial heritage at the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, and admire the spectacular Great Wall at Mutianyu.
Terracotta Army, Xi’an: Explore the extraordinary collection of life-size terracotta warriors and horses created to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
Guilin & Yangshuo: Cruise along the Li River through breathtaking karst landscapes, past rice fields and rural villages, and enjoy a cycling excursion through the peaceful Yangshuo countryside.
Shanghai: Experience the contrast between traditional and modern China, from the elegant Yu Garden and Jade Buddha Temple to the historic former French Concession, with its stylish shops, restaurants and lively streets.
Day 1: ARRIVAL BEIJING
Arrival in Beijing. You will be met by your driver and transferred by private car (without a guide) from the airport to your hotel. Check-in time is after 12:00 noon. Meals at leisure. Your hotel is located very close to Xiushui Market (Silk Market), approximately a 5-minute walk away, so you may visit the market if time permits.
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 2: BEIJING
Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your guide in the hotel lobby at around 08:30. Take public transport (metro or bus) to the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven is one of Beijing’s most visited monuments. Its magnificent triple-roofed structure with blue glazed tiles symbolizes the relationship between the human and divine worlds. In addition to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, visit the Circular Mound Altar and the Echo Wall. In the temple park, local residents enjoy leisure activities every day, including singing, dancing, chess and ground calligraphy. Do not miss the “love corner,” where elderly parents exchange information about their unmarried children in the hope of finding them partners. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the city center by public transport (metro and public bus). First take the metro to Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City, a consummate example of the architectural classicism of the Ming Dynasty. Return to your hotel.
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 3: BEIJING
Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel at around 08:30, then transfer for a morning excursion to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, located 80 km north of the city and less visited than other sections. Walk up and down (cable car available at an additional cost, payable locally). Lunch at a local restaurant on site. Return to the city and continue with a visit to the Summer Palace, the last imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty. Outside view of the Olympic sites: the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube.
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 4: BEIJING – XI’AN (6 hrs by high-speed train; included)
Breakfast at your hotel. Morning at leisure. Meet your guide at the hotel around noon (your guide will confirm the meeting time one day in advance according to the train schedule), then transfer to the railway station and take a high-speed train to Xi’an (journey approximately 4.5 to 6 hours depending on the train). On arrival in Xi’an in the late afternoon or early evening, you will be met by your local guide. Transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Overnight in Xi’an.
Day 5: XI’AN
Breakfast at your hotel. Day at leisure. Optional sightseeing of the Xi’an City Wall, the former residence of the Gao family and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, including lunch and dinner is available (payable locally).
Overnight in Xi’an.
Day 6: XI’AN – GUILIN (2.5hrs by flight; included)
Breakfast at a local restaurant. Meet your guide at the hotel at 08:30. Transfer to the Terracotta Army, consisting of 6,000 cavalrymen and infantrymen. In the site’s three pits, you can admire thousands of life-size statues seemingly frozen in time, guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Exhibition halls also display a fine collection of precious objects, including a remarkable bronze chariot. Lunch featuring Xi’an specialties: noodles and roujiamo. Return to Xi’an city and visit a jade workshop. Stroll through the Muslim Quarter and visit the Great Mosque, whose architecture is in Chinese style and set within a beautiful square courtyard. Dinner at leisure. Transfer to the airport in the evening for the flight to Guilin. On arrival, meet your French-speaking guide and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Guilin.
Day 7: GUILIN
Breakfast at your hotel. Day at leisure. Optional excursion to visit Yao and Zhuang ethnic-minority villages is available (payable locally).
Overnight in Guilin.
Day 8: GUILIN – YANGSHUO
Breakfast at your hotel. Morning transfer to the pier for a 4-hour cruise on the Li River through landscapes of sugar-loaf peaks and rice terraces, offering an insight into rural life in southern China. Lunch on board (simple menu) and arrival in Yangshuo in the early afternoon. Cycle through the Yangshuo countryside, among rice fields and small villages and stroll through West Street.
Overnight in Yangshuo.
Day 9: YANGSHUO – GUILIN – SHANGHAI (2.5hrs by flight; included)
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until transfer to Guilin Airport for the flight to Shanghai. Arrive in the afternoon or evening, meet your French-speaking guide and transfer privately to your hotel.
Overnight in Shanghai.
Day 10: SHANGHAI
Breakfast at your hotel. Visit the Yu Garden, a treasure of artistic refinement, followed by a walk through the old city. After lunch, visit a silk workshop. In the afternoon, visit the Jade Buddha Temple, founded in 1882 and home to two jade Buddha statues brought to Shanghai from Myanmar by sea: a seated Buddha (1.95 metres high, 3 tonnes) and a smaller reclining Buddha representing the Buddha’s death. Then take a walk through the former French Concession. This district remains lively and popular, combining modernity and history, with upscale shops and restaurants.
Overnight in Shanghai.
Day 11: SHANGHAI
Breakfast at your hotel. Day at leisure. Optional excursion to Suzhou is available (payable locally).
Overnight in Shanghai.
Day 12: SHANGHAI DEPARTURE
Breakfast at your hotel. Free time depending on your flight schedule. Transfer to Shanghai Pudong Airport for your return flight.
Comfortable and light clothing is best suited to travel in the warm months and warm clothing in the colder months in China. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or sparse clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses and a hat can be very useful during your stay.
