Overview
Typical ancient towns odyssey across the breadth of China in its beguiling old ways
Beijing – Pingyao - Xi’an – Kunming – Dali – Shaxi - Lijiang - Hangzhou – Wuzhen - Shanghai
The trip sweeps the age-old charms of rural China, the intriguing countryside scenes, where you go back in time on a comprehensive cultural journey, for a fascinate insight of ancient towns, the remaining traditions and lifestyles. Beginning in the imperial Beijing, we travel across the breadth of China and penetrate into the magnificence of its old ways, spanning over the walled towns in north, the water towns in south, as well as the enchanting rustic villages in southwestern ethnic region. We will have an opportunity to visit several of country’s typical best-preserved ancient towns including Pingyao, Dali, Shaxi, Lijiang, Wuzhen and Zhujiajiao, admire their distinctive architectures, unassuming people, tasty food and impressive artwork. Most of the towns were thrived in Ming and Qing dynasty for a prosperous place of the trade and commerce, and today they have kept the beguiling narrative largely intact that fast disappearing from the modern days China. The tiny towns, threading a narrow street paved with stone slabs and dominated by elegant courtyard architectures, red-lantern-hung alleys, arched stone bridges, unfold a beautiful image of all fancy of old China, that you’ll see from our journey.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival Beijing
Day 02 Beijing Sightseeing (B / L / D)
Day 03 Beijing Sightseeing & Overnight Train to Pingyao (B / L)
Day 04 Arrive in Pingyao & Sightseeing
Day 05 Pingyao (B)
Day 06 Arrive in Xian & Sightseeing
Day 07 Xian Sightseeing & Train to Kunming (B)
Day 08 Kunming – Stone Forest – Train to Dali (D)
Day 09 Dali Arrival & Sightseeing (B)
Day 10 Explore hidden old town Shaxi (B)
Day 11 Lijiang & Leisure in Old Town (B)
Day 12 Lijiang Sightseeing & Flight to Hangzhou (B)
Day 13 Hangzhou Sightseeing (B)
Day 14 Wuzhen – Shanghai (B)
Day 15 Shanghai Sightseeing (B)
Day 16 Shanghai Sightseeing (B)
Day 17 Shanghai Departure (B)
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Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Beijing
Upon arrive at Beijing, the capital of China, you will be met by the local guide and driver and then transfer to the hotel. Rest time is free leisure or rest in the hotel for jet leg.
Day 02: Beijing Sightseeing (B / L / D)
Get up early morning, take the public subway (or alternative private vehicle) to Temple of Heaven, experience the bustle local way of life; Visit Temple of Heaven, the solemn site for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven. View the local people doing exercises there. Then we drive the vicinity of Beijing to visit Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, where is lesser crowded and has magnificent scenery set amidst the emerald green hills dominated with fragrance orchards and stunning hamlets offering the amazing views especially in spring and autumn. Today’s lunch will be arranged in nearby local villager’s house to have organic food includes flavor of BBQ fish, dinner will be served as the famous Beijing Roasted Duck in a small courtyard-style restaurant located in Hutong.
Day 03: Beijing Sightseeing & Overnight Train to Pingyao (B / L)
Full day sightseeing tour in Beijing. Visit Tian'anmen Square, the world’s largest city square near the centre of Beijing. Then visit the Forbidden City, located heart of Beijing, it was once the Chinese imperial palace for almost 500 years. Later take the particular rickshaw to tour of Beijing's Hutong, a labyrinth of old narrow alleyways lined with authentic courtyard residential houses. Wander around Houhai Lake, stop for some lovely Chinese tea. Climb to the local bell tower, have a birds view of the old Beijing area. Visit a local family in Hutong, learn how to make traditional food of dumplings with the hostess. Have dumpling lunch with the Beijing family and taste the dumpling made by yourself. Then visit Summer Palace, the largest and most well-preserved royal park in China. In the evening time, transfer to the train station and take the overnight sleeper train to Pingyao.
Day 04: Arrive in Pingyao & Sightseeing
Arriving in Pingyao in the morning, met by our tour guide in Pingyao and transferred to your hotel in Pingyao. After breakfast, visit the Ancient City Wall of Pingyao City, one of the four remaining well-preserved ancient cities in China. Visit the Rishengchang Exchange Shop, the earliest bank in China. Later stroll in Mingqing Street, once was used to be the commercial center of Pingyao ancient city. Then visit Armed Escort Company Museum. It offers an eye-opening armed escorts in protecting commerce. Finally visit County Government Office, an ancient city hall and law court. Rest time is your own explorations of the town.
Day 05: Pingyao (B)
Morning drive short distance to the vicinity of Pingyao. Visit Shuanglin Temple with its hundreds of painted Buddhist sculptures and the local profound Buddhist culture. Then visit the nearby Wang’s Courtyard to see the grand residence of local rich people. This residence was built during the Qing Dynasty, covering a floor area of 250,000 square meters. There are a hundred plus compounds and a thousand rooms in antique flavor. In the late afternoon, drive back to Pingyao and catch the overnight train to Xi’an.
Day 06: Arrive in Xian & Sightseeing
Morning arrive in Xi’an, one of the oldest cities in China, was the capital for 11 dynasties and is the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Today visit Ancient City Walls, built in 1370 during the Ming dynasty, the 12m-high walls are surrounded by a dry moat and form a rectangle with a perimeter of 14km. Walk or bicycle ride on the wall. Later visit Wide Goose Pagoda, one of China’s best remains Tang-style architecture, housing the Buddhist sutras brought back from India by the monk Xuan Zang. Then visit Grand Mosque, one of the largest mosque in China, blending of Chinese and Islamic features; wander in Muslim Quarter for night market and local snacks, where is home to the city’s Hui community for centuries since Tang dynasty.
Day 07: Xian Sightseeing & Train to Kunming (B)
Today visit the highlight of any trip to Xi'an, the Terracotta Warriors. In this world’s archeological wonder, thousands of life-sized armies and horses silently stood guard the tomb of the China’s first unifier of Qin Emperor for over two millennia. Following visit Forest of Steles, witness more than 1000 stone tablets including collections of ancient calligraphy, maps, portraits and sculpture stelae. In the evening time, transfer to the train station and take the overnight train to Kunming.
Day 08: Kunming – Stone Forest – Train to Dali (D)
Upon arrival in Kunming train station, you will drive short distance to visit Stone Forest, a bizarre karst geology with massive collection of grey limestone pillars. In the afternoon, we drive back to Kunming. Rest time leave your own exploration for this eternal spring city. Dinner will be served as the local flavor mushroom hot pot, one of Yunnan’s characters with infinite varieties. In the night, transfer to the train station and take the overnight train to Dali.
Day 09: Dali Arrival & Sightseeing (B)
The train arrives at Dali in the early morning. Later explore Dali from attending the fabulous morning market in the nearby Xizhou, witness old lifestyles long-standing among the local people. Complex of age-old Bai private houses is still well-preserved include Yan’s compound. Try local snacks of Xizhou Baba and the fragrant Three-course Tea, a tea drinking ceremony of the Bai minority. Visit Zhoucheng, a village famed for Bai’s Tie-dyeing art. Boating on Erhai Lake, gaze at the cormorant fishing in old ways. Then leisurely walk in Dali old town, step on flagstone streets, look around delicate courtyards, fall in beautiful handcrafts, hang out yourself in bars or tea houses in Foreigner’s Street, take an overlook for Three-pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, visit an interesting Catholic church built in 1927 and framed in typical Bai’s architecture features.
Day 10: Explore hidden old town Shaxi (B)
Take the way northward to Shaxi via Jianchuan, where has the China’s heaviest Bai minority population. In Jianchuan, wander the flagstone alleyways for extant Ming and Qing architectures, visit a nearby village to get insight of the extraordinary woodcarvings that widely decorated on those old houses. Later visit Shibao Mountain, a notable site with the exquisite Buddhist grottos and the best Bai stone carvings. Shaxi, a serene and pristine small town, while the crucial outpost on one of the old Tea-Horse trading routes. Explore the extremely pretty old town, cross the ancient stone bridge, walking the same trail as the horse caravans.
Day 11: Lijiang & Leisure in Old Town (B)
Enjoy the calm morning of Shaxi, then takes around 2 hours drive to Lijiang. Rest time sink yourself in old town of Lijiang, famed for its brilliant ancient architectures, unique Dongpa pictographic script, excellent traditional music, and fabulous lifestyles of Naxi people. Explore the town through deep alleys spreading out in all directions, visit the Mu’s Palace, the former residence of the chieftain Mu Clan that ruled Naxi people for over 400 years. As the way up the hill behind it, get a finest bird’s view of panoramic Lijiang old town. Later visit Black Dragon Pond, where offers the best view of the majestic backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Get insight about Naxi Dongba cultures and traditions in Dongba Culture Museum. In evening time, many joyous Naxi square folk dances could watch in central Sifang Street, join them or just take a look.
Day 12: Lijiang Sightseeing & Flight to Hangzhou (B)
Today out of Lijiang to visit a pristine village of Yuhu (Jade Lake Village), where gains the name due to a nearby turquoise lake. Additionally, it is the ancient home of famed botanist Joseph Rock who lived here decades of earlier 20th century. Horse trek or moderate hike around for pretty countryside views. Next, visit Baisha village and see the ancient murals preserved there, fusion of Chinese Taoist, Tibetan and Naxi Buddhists and Dongba shamans. In the afternoon, take the flight to Hangzhou, the capital town of Zhejiang Province.
Day 13: Hangzhou Sightseeing (B)
Morning visit Leifeng Pagoda, where you can get a panorama of dreamy West Lake. Excursion at West Lake or boating on the lake, sip cup of famous Longjing (Dragon Well) tea at the lake side, enjoy the picturesque scenes surrounded by emerald trees and hilly environs. Later visit Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou’s most famous Buddhist temple built in AD326. Walk up to the temple skirts the flanks of Feilai Peak, get the close-up view of the exquisite Buddhist carvings lining the hillsides. In the afternoon, drive to Wuzhen, a water town whose network of waterways and access to the Grand Canal once make it a prosperous place for its trade and production of silk.
Day 14: Wuzhen – Shanghai (B)
Explore the waterways of Wuzhen, wonder through the old and narrow alleyways, visit some interesting shops including Grains Workshop for making a pungent rice wine, Blue Prints Workshop for showing the dyeing and printing process for the traditional blue cloth of eastern China, the Pawn House, was once a famous pawnshop that eventually expanded to branches in Shanghai. In the afternoon, drive to Shanghai.
Day 15: Shanghai Sightseeing (B)
Visit Shanghai’s major highlights including Yuyuan Garden, a beautiful Ming-style garden over 400 years; Jade Buddha Temple, a century-old Buddhist temple housed a 1.9m high pale green Jade Buddha; The Bund, a famous waterfront alongside with array symbolic architectures of Shanghai; Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the Asia’s highest TV Tower topping its height to 468 meters. In the evening time, cruise on Huangpu River, enjoy the amazing night scenery of Shanghai.
Day 16: Shanghai Sightseeing (B)
Out of Shanghai downtown and head to the rural of Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town dominated by the unique old bridges, well-structured courtyards and calm rivers. Boating on the river. In the afternoon, return to downtown and visit old French Concession site in Xuhui District. Established in1849, it was developed into the premier residential area of Shanghai during the 1920s. Later visit the old alleyways of Nongtang and traditional Shikumen houses, explore the contrast of the old quarter lifestyles embedded in modern Shanghai. In the evening time, wander in Xintiandi, a complex area good for leisure, dining and relax.
Day 17: Shanghai Departure (B)
Maglev train to Pudong International Airport for exit.
Experiences & Activities
- Visit Great Wall, Forbidden City and other Beijing’s main highlights
- Pedicab Hutong (alleyways) tour, Hutong family visit and dumpling making
- Explore Pingyao, one of the four best-preserved ancient towns in China
- Visit the historic imperial capital of Xi'an and the famed Terracotta Warriors
- Eye-open in the bizarre labyrinth of Stone Forest with myriad rock pillars
- Step back in time in flagstone streets of ancient Dali old town
- Discover Shaxi & Jianchuan, the crucial nodes on the old Tea-Horse route
- Get lost amongst the ancient and intriguing cobblestone town of Lijiang
- Wander in the waterways of Wuzhen, a prosperous water town on the Grand Canal
- Visit Shanghai with contracts of modern part and old water town of Zhujiajiao
