Day 1: Arrive Beijing
Arrive at Beijing, China's exciting and cultural heart. Your private guide and driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. Rest of the day is for recovering from jet-leg.

Day 2: Beijing     B,L,D (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
The day begins at Tiananmen Square, the largest City Square in the world. From there you will enter The Forbidden City, a powerful maze of ancient palaces and courtyards from which the emperor ruled the land for 500 years. You also see the Emperor's clock collection and the Qing Dynasty Jewelry, Robes and Relics collection (which westerners rarely see).

After lunch at local Chinese restaurant, we will take you to The Temple of Heaven, where the emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties prayed for good harvests.   It is an architectural wonder because not a single nail was used for its construction.  You will be surprised how many senior people singing, dancing and demonstrating their wonderful skills there.  Enjoy Peking Opera show after dinner.

Day 3: Beijing     B,L,SD (special dinner)
Today you have an excursion to The Great Wall (Badaling section with cable car), the symbol of China.  You have a chance to take a hike along one of the most beautiful sections and learn of its construction 2000 years ago.  On the way, you visit the workshops of a Jade Carving factory to see workers practice this unique art. 

After lunch at local Chinese restaurant, you will visit Ming Tombs, including the Sacred Way and the Ding Ling Museum. You will be able to enter one of the tombs. In the Ding Ling Museum you can see artifacts and replicas from the tomb itself. The Peking Duck dinner will be at famous Quanjude Restaurant.

Day 4: Beijing/Xi'an     B,L
Today you visit The Summer Palace, a grand and sensual imperial palace complex set around the beautiful Kunming Lake, is a favorite summer residence of Empress Cixi.
 
After lunch at local Chinese restaurant, you take trishaw into Hutong, which is an ancient city alley, to experience the life of the local people. Visit the old quadrangles inhabited by Beijing residents. You  have an opportunity to visit a local family in the Hutong and learn how to announce time in the past at Drum Tower. Take afternoon flight to Xi'an, China's former capital, and gateway to the legendary Silk Road.  Upon arrival, meet and transfer to your hotel. 

Day 5: Xi'an     B,L,SD (special dinner)
Today's highlight is the most spectacular and important places in China: the Archaeological Museum with more than 6000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of Qin Dynasty.  Afternoon explore the bustling Muslim Quarter or seek serenity in the grounds of the Grand Mosque.  Enjoy Tang Dynasty dinner show in the evening.

Day 6: Xi'an/Kunming     B,L
This morning, you will stroll along the South Gate, a lively pedestrian quarter where you'll see street artists demonstrating their wonderful skills. Sightseeing today features the ancient city wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Shanxi Provincial Museum.  You have opportunity to ride bicycle at the top of the wall.  Then fly to Kunming, “City of Eternal Spring”.  Meet and transfer to hotel.

Day 7: Kunming     B,L
A full-day excursion takes you to the Stone Forest, which is a special type of limestone formation known as karst. From a distance, it looks indeed like a dense forest, hence the name.  Visit Colorful Yunnan Jade Store on the way back to city.  Enjoy local flavour of “ over  the bridge noodles”. in the evening.

Day 8: Kunming     B,L
Today you will visit Dragon Gate on the top of the Western Hill.  And stop at the Grand view Tower, which was built in 1690.  And then visit Golden Palace, dazzling with light, its main hall is bronze; hence its name.  At night, we can take a stroll along the beautiful Green Lake, a quaint area surrounded by little teahouses, cafes and small shops selling souvenirs and paintings.

Day 9: Kunming/Lijiang     B,L
Take morning flight to Lijiang. Visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, take big cable car up to the peak of the mountain, hike in the mountain, enjoy the breath-taking view of the main peak (5596m high), Then drive to Baisha Grottoa and  pay a visit to a Naxi family and have a real contiguity with the local residents.

Day 10: Lijiang     B,L
Take morning flight to Lijiang.  Full day visit the Black Dragon Pool, Square Street and the Lijiang Old Town. As you walk through the old town, you will immediately get an unique feeling by small bridges, swift streams, cobbled streets and grey tiled roofs of the Residential Houses. We will stop at the small Naxi Culture Museum to learn about their distinctive Dongba pictographic characters The Naxi Ancient Music performance is arranged in the evening.

Day 11: Lijiang/Shanghai     B,L
Take flight to Shanghai, China's largest city and vibrant commercial heart.  Meet and transfer to hotel. Today you go to Pudong Area to see the socio-economic changes that are occurring in China and get a over view of Shanghai city on the oriental Pearl TV tower.  Then you will meander through the bustling Nanjing Road for some shopping. 

Day 12: Shanghai     B,L
You get up early and visit local people’s morning exercise of Taichi in the Bund.  Today’s city tour starts with Yuyuan Garden, formerly a private garden with rookies, pavilions, halls and ponds.  Then walk around the Chenghuangmiao Area (old town), the most-lively place in Shanghai.  In the afternoon, you visit world-class Shanghai Museum with its many fine exhibits (especially of note is the Chinese Minority exhibit). Enjoy Portman Acrobatic show after dinner.

Day 13: Leave Shanghai    B
Departure transfer to airport. Fly for home