14 Days China Essence Tour from Hong Kong

Welcome to Hong Kong - China's most energetic city! After arrival in Hong Kong, our local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The rest of day is free at your own leisure.

Be picked up from your hotel by your guide after breakfast in your hotel. Today’s tour will last about 5 hours. Hong Kong is a fascinating combination of East and West but it has its own unique and distinctive culture.

Your half day tour will take in Victoria Peak, Hong Kong's number one tourist destination. It features the 112 year old Peak Tram and Hong Kong's most unusual building, The Peak Tower.

Next stop is Aberdeen Harbor which is home to hundreds of people living on fishing junks. If you would like close up look at this unusual way of life, you can take a sampan ride (US$10-12). Repulse Bay is the last stop today; it is one of Hong Kong's most exclusive residential areas.

Free in the day until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Guilin. Upon your arrival in Guilin, you will be met and escorted to your hotel in Guilin. Rest of the day is free at your own leisure.

After breakfast today, you’ll be driven to Zhujiang Pier (40-minute drive) to start your boat cruise down the picturesque Li River, which is the highlight of any visit to Guilin, until you get to Yangshuo County. Along the river, you’ll be inspired by breathtaking views of peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and picturesque pastoral views of rice paddies and water buffaloes. Visitors feel they have stepped into a traditional Chinese painting. After checking into your hotel in Yangshuo, free to explore the beautiful town and its famous West Street.

today, you will be driven back to Guilin (1.5-hour drive), where you will tour Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill and Reed Flute Cave

Today will be free until your guide picks you up to the airport and flight to Chongqing. After arriving in Chongqing city be met and transferred to the Chongqing downtown. Your tour guide and driver will take you to the Chongqing zoo to see the Giant Panda, and then visit the Ciqikou Old Town, if time permits.

Then, you'll be transferred to the Cruise pier, and board the ship from 17:00 to 20:00. Your lifetime Yangtze River Cruise starts in Chongqing at around 22:00. (note: the departing time changes based on the cruise ships, season, water level, weather, etc.)

Shore excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City to check why it has been regarded as the "City of Ghosts".

Shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges by smaller vessels.

The Lesser Three Gorges, like a shinning pearl hiddden in remote mountains, are much smaller, narrower and have some dramatic scenery to offer. That is the most splendid river adventure throughout China for you.

Note: Some cruise ships make the shore excursion to the Shennong Stream. You have the final say on which excursion to make, as we can book any of the cruise ships at great rates!

Today's highlight is your morning excursion to the world-famous Three Gorges Dam. Be prepared for your check-out procedure and the ship will arrive in Yichang at about 11:30. Our guide will expect you on board and visit the Yichang Museum if time permits. After lunch at a local famous restaurant, drive to the Yichang airport and take a flight to Shanghai. Arrival in Shanghai, be escorted to the hotel, and the rest of the day is free.

Today you will first visit the the magnificent Yu Garden. Right out of the Yu Garden, you can observe local people's life at the Yuyuan Market (Yu Garden Market). Proceed to the Temple of Jade Buddha. Take a stroll or shop in the famed Nanjing Road and then down to the Bund alongside the Huangpu River to explore the modern aspect of Shanghai. Drive to the Pudong New Area to enjoy a bird's eye view of Shanghai from the Jinmao Tower.

Today, you will be picked up and visit the People’s Square and the Shanghai Museum. After lunch, escorted to the airport with exciting Maglev Train Experience, and take the flight to Beijing.

After arrival in Beijing, be met and picked up to your hotel, and the rest of day is free to explore the imperial capital city on your own.

Today you will first visit the world's biggest city plaza, the Tiananmen Square; then walk to the marvelous "Egg" (National Centre for the Performing Arts) to take some pictures from its outside; subsequently, go to the Forbidden City, the most complete imperial palace in China; and later proceed to the impressive Temple of Heaven. After the sightseeing tour, be driven back to your hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the Badaling Great Wall (about 80 km, 1.5hours) where you will experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. For lunch you'll sample some delicious fare in a local restaurant. Afterwards, visit the Sacred Way and Changling, one of the Ming Tombs; on the way back to your hotel, you might make a stop at the Beijing Olympic Village to take some photos of the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube from the outside; Feel a little bit tired? Not to worry! We will arrange a foot massage (free of charge) for you, just relax and enjoy it! With a Peking Roast Duck dinner you will complete today's tour!

After breakfast, you will marvel at the exquisite Summer Palace, the imperial garden. Then head to visit the Drum Tower dating from 1420. Ascending the big Drum Tower, you will have a bird's eye view of the surrounding communities of Hutongs and Siheyuan from here. And then move on to an ordinary family courtyard home for a tea break. Afterwards, take a rickshaw to visit the most famous Hutongs keeping the original layout in the Shichahai area. Then move on to the Prince Gong's Mansion.

After the tour, our guide will escort you to the airport to your next destination or back to your home.