12 Days South China Artistic Tour & Yangtze Cruise (downstream)

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 »  Hong Kong - Guilin

• Take the flight to Guilin from Hong kong. Our guide meets you at the airport in Guilin and escorts you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Day 2 »  Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin

• Take a cruise on the meandering blue waters of Li River and view the limestone rock formations along the banks. You will agree that "Guilin waters and mountains are the most beautiful under heaven. Lunch is served on board.
• Go ashore as you arrive in Yangshuo. You can choose to rent a bicycle to tour the countryside of West Street if you want to get a taste of the laidback rural life of the farmers there.
• Appreciate Moon Hill and the Big Banyan Tree. Moon Hill is a limestone pinnacle with a moon-shaped hole in the middle.
• Big Banyan Tree became famous for its long history, towering beauty and the moving love story of Liu Sanjie.
• Then enjoy a local folk dance show of Impression Liu Sanjie before returning to Guilin.

Attractions

• Big Banyan Tree When you look closely you will marvel that the Big Banyan Tree has beautifully twisted roots, gnarled branches and exuberant leaves. It becomes famous for its long history, towerin ...
• Li River Originated in Mountain Mao'er at Xin'an county northeast of Guilin, Li River winds its way southeast for about 437 km, passing through Guilin, Yangshuo, Pingle, Zhaoping and finall ...
• Moon Hill A leisurely 30-minute ride from Yangshuo is the Moon Hill, a limestone pinnacle with a moon-shaped hole square in the middle, through which the sky can be seen like a full, half or ...
• West Street Enjoying a long history of more than 1,400 years, Yangshuo West Street is scattered by over 1,000 bars, restaurants, coffee shops, folk crafts shops, painting and calligraphy shops ...

Day 3 »  Guilin - Chongqing - Yangtze

• Visit the Reed Flute Cave in the morning. Reed Flute Cave is one of the most egregious underground scenery in China. The cave got its name from the verdant reeds growing outside it, with which people make flutes. Inside this water-eroded cave, you will see a spectacular world of various stalactites, stone pillars and rock formations created by carbonate deposition.
• Head for the Diecai Hill (Folded Brocade Hill). The thin shape of the hill and lush greenery around make it resemble brocaded fabric. The local osmanthus tea (Guihua) is very famous and worth trying.
• Then transfer to the airport for a flight to Chongqing. You are transferred to the cruise pier. Depart Chongqing at 9:00 p.m..

Attractions

• Diecai Hill Because of the resemblance of its rock formations, piled up layer upon layer on each other, to folded brocade, it is known as Diecai Hill (Folded Brocade Hill), famous for its amaz ...
• Reed Flute Cave Known as 'the Palace of Natural Arts' Reed Flute Cave's remarkable features impress domestic and foreign visitors alike. It displays a spectacular world of rock formation in fantas ...

Day 4 »  Yangtze

• Take an onshore excursion to sightsee either Fengdu or Shi Bao Zhai or Wanzhou. Fengdu, located on the north bank of the Yangtze River, is an ancient city with a long history, known as the "Ghost City" to most Chinese people.
• Shi Bao Zhai, literally means Stone Treasure Fortress, located in Zhong County, at the south bank of the Yangtze River, 278 km away from Chongqing, it was first built during Qing Dynasty in 1750.
• Wanzhou is a small mountainous city. It is at about the halfway point between Chongqing and Yichang, and has been an important river port for centuries.

Attractions

• Fengdu Traditionally known as the Ghost City, Fengdu attracts tourists with temple and shrines dedicated to the gods of the underworld. Instruments of torture and wild demon images vividl ...
• Shibaozhai Temple For 500 years, Shibaozhai Temple has sat on a hillside overlooking a crowded medieval village and the terraced green fields of the narrow Yangtze River valley. The wooden pagoda st ...
• Wanzhou Known as the gate way to East Sichuan, Wanzhou is an important port and industrial center. Its tangerines, oranges and peaches are renowned throughout China. Here, you may visit si ...

Day 5 »  Yangtze

• Sail through Qutang Gorge or Wu Gorge and take an excursion to Daninghe River Small Three Gorges or Shennongxi River (Shennong Stream). The disappearing boat trackers can be seen by the Yangtze River.
• Sail through the Three Gorges Dam and Dam Ship Locks.

Attractions

• Qutang Gorge As the shortest and most spectacular of the Three Gorges, Qutang Gorge is also the narrowest one. With vertical cliffs of some thousand meters high as its two flanks, the Gorge is ...
• Shennong Stream With a crystal clear stream flowing swiftly from north to south through very deep gorges, an exciting sampan tour allows you to enjoy the charming landscape on both lands of the ri ...
• Small Three Gorges Here sheer cliffs and steep mountains rise on either side, creating one of natural fine arts gallery as natural scenic wonders unfold on both banks of the Daninghe River. Lying on ...
• Wu Gorge Flanked by high peaks that are often capped by fog or clouds, Wu Gorge was long known to be as dangerous as it is beautiful. The river of Wu Gorge cuts its way through two majestic ...

Day 6 »  Yangtze - Yichang - Shanghai

• Go onshore to see the Three Gorges Dam site in the morning. The Three Gorges Dam will be the largest hydropower station and dam in the world.
• Then disembark from Yichang at 1:30 p.m..
• Take a flight to Shanghai.

Attractions

• Three Gorges Dam As the world's largest and grandest water conservancy project, Three Gorges Dam has become a symbol of China's efforts to join the modern world. When completed in 2009, the dam wil ...

Day 7 »  Shanghai - Huangshan

• After breakfast, explore the Town God Temple (Chenghuangmiao), a Taoist Temple. The street is also known as Old Chenghuangmiao, where you cannot miss typical Shanghai snacks such as steamed stuffed buns.
• Then, arrive at Yuyuan Garden, which has the exquisite layout, beautiful scenery, and the artistic style of Chinese private gardens.
• Finally, transfer to Huangshan by air. On arrival, visit Tunxi Ancient Street. It is paved with maroon stone slabs and typical ancient buildings stand on both sides. This old trading street is lined up with shops where you can find antiques, green tea of Maofeng and ink stones,etc.

Attractions

• Shanghai Museum Shanghai Museum has been famous for its large collection of rare cultural piece. The museum now houses over 120,000 pieces of cultural relics in twelve categories, including Chines ...
• Town God Temple In the old days temple fairs were held in this Taoist temple on special days. Gradually the permanent temple market was formed, encompassing the Yuyuan Garden and the Zigzag Bridge ...
• Tunxi Ancient Street Scattered with many shops and stalls sell an interesting mix of antiques and knick-knacks, Tunxi Ancient Street, houses buildings which are decorated with small green tiles, wood c ...
• Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden located in Anren Jie, Shanghai. The garden was finished in 1577 by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan ...

Day 8 »  Huangshan

• Drive about an hour to the Yellow Mountains Scenic Area.
• Spend a full day exploring the Yellow Mountains Scenic Area, take a cable car up to the Yellow Mountains. Marvel at the five unique views - the legendary pines, oddly-shaped rocks, phantasmagoric sea of clouds, hot springs and winter snows. You have no wish to visit any other mountains after viewing the Five Mountains You do not even wish to visit them after you come back from a trip to Huangshan Mountain. Stay overnight in the hotel located on the top of the mountains.

Attractions

• Yellow Mountains Together with the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Great Wall, Yellow Mountains has become one of the great symbols of China. The strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds ...

Day 9 »  Huangshan

• Get up early in the morning to appreciate the magical sunrise. After breakfast, visit the Begin-to-Believe Peak to see the grotesque pine trees. Take a cable car down from the Yellow Mountains.
• Take express bus to Hangzhou and be met by our local guide and escorted to the hotel.

Attractions

• Yellow Mountains Together with the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Great Wall, Yellow Mountains has become one of the great symbols of China. The strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds ...

Day 10 »  Huangshan - Hangzhou

• Start today's tour by cruising on the West Lake, the symbol of Hangzhou. It's one of the most famed tourist attractions in China. The islets and temples, pavilions and gardens, causeways and arched bridges of this jade-like lake have constituted the supreme example of lakeside beauty in China. See the Red Carp Pond, one of the ten places of interests at West Lake with countless carps living here
• Head for the Lingyin Temple, one of the most prestigious Buddhist temples in China. Its highlight is the Great Hall with its 65 foot camphor-wood statue of the Buddha.
• Appreciate the Feilaifeng Peak with quaint photogenic scene. There are many legends about the peak's name. It is a pure limestone mountain scattered with lots of large stones like a flying dragon, a running elephant, a crouching tiger, and a fleeting monkey. The caves shelter many stone Buddha statues in a variety of poses ranging from standing, to sitting, to sleeping.

Attractions

• Feilaifeng Peak Feilaifeng Peak, also named Nimble Vulture (Lingjiu) Peak, soars 209 meters (about 700 feet) and is a must-see in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Standing next to Lingyin Temple, it i ...
• Lingyin Temple Be sheltered by forested hills on three sides, The Lingyin Temple is really a sanctuary. It is the largest and most resplendent temple in Hangzhou, notable also as one of the ten m ...
• West Lake The famous Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo (960-1127) compared the West Lake to Xi Zi, the most beautiful woman in ancient China. It's easy for us to imagine the breath-taking beauty o ...

Day 11 »  Hangzhou - Shanghai

• In the morning, our drive to Shanghai.
• After arrival, drive to the Shanghai Museum, the exterior design of the round dome and the square base symbolizes the ancient idea of a round heaven and a square land.
• Have a look around the bustling shopping district of Nanjing Road. Walk along The Bund, the Bund houses 52 buildings of various architectural styles, which have been regarded as some of the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai.
• Ramble around the spectacular People's Square located in the heart of the city. Strolling along Xintiandi Area, which was built and re-orgnized on the basis of Shanghai's unqiue characteristics-Shikumen architectural structures, is well-known as a new stylish pedestrain street for Cuisines, Commerce, Entertainment and Culture tourism spot.

Attractions

• Huangpu River Taking a boat tour along the Huangpu River gives visitors an opportunity to see many of Shanghai's famous sites such as the Bund, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the dramatic skyli ...
• Nanjing Road As a major hotspot for travelers in Shanghai, this street is a paradise of top-tier shopping, and renowned commercial center. ...
• The Bund With its name given to Shanghai's waterfront area, meaning literally 'muddy embankment' in Anglo-Indian, the Bund became the city's first foreign street. ...
• Xintiandi Area As a car-free shopping, eating and entertainment area of Shanghai, China. Xintiandi is composed of an area of restored traditional shikumen ("stone gate") houses on narrow alleys, ...

Day 12 »  Shanghai

• Transfer you to Shanghai airport to prepare for departure.
• End of service.