14 Days China Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking

Highlights: Welcome to Shanghai, the most metropolis of China! Upon arrival, you’ll be met by our guide and escorted to your hotel. The rest of today is at your leisure.

Highlights: After breakfast, you'll visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, a must-see for all true Shanghainophiles to witness how Shanghai became a cosmopolitan city from a shabby fishing village. Continued is a tour to the beautiful Yu Garden, a pleasant enough,well-contained classical Chinese garden, and savor some local flavor snacks at the Yu Garden Bazaar.Continued you will pay a visit to a Silk Factory to learn the Chinese silk culture. Then ascend the Jinmao Tower to get an amazing bird's eye view of this metropolis.

Note: Recommended optional night show---Acrobatics Opera (RMB260=USD43/per)

Shanghai Urban Planning and Exhibition Center: If you want to see what a city of the future is really going to look like, come and visit Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center on the eastern end of People's Square. Housed in a striking modern five-story building made of microlite glass, this is one of the world's largest showcases of urban development and is much more interesting than its dry name suggests. The highlight is on the third floor: an awesome vast scale model of urban Shanghai as it will look in a couple of decades, a master plan full of endless skyscrapers punctuated occasionally by patches of green. The clear plastic models indicate structures yet to be built, and there are many of them.

Yu Garden: Yuyuan Garden (Happy Garden) is one of the highlights of Shanghai. It isbelieved to have been built in the Ming Dynasty, more than 400 years ago, with an exquisite layout and beautiful scenery. The inner and outer gardens were both built in the Ming Dynasty classical style, with numerous rock and tree garden areas, ponds, dragon-lined walls and zigzagging bridges separating various garden areas and pavilions. It is in the center of Shanghai's Old City, a few blocks south of the Bund. The surrounding bazaar area has good shopping opportunities for traditional Chinese products, gold, and jewels.

Jinmao Tower: The Jin Mao Building symbolizes Shanghai emerging into the 21st century. It was the tallest building in the country and third tallest in the world until 2007, when the World Financial Center was finished, In 2014 the Shanghai Tower will become China's tallest building. With an east-meets-west design signifying Shanghai's emergence as a modern global city, Jin Mao follows a multi-use model, offering retail shopping at its base, offices above, and the Grand Hyatt  occupying the upper 38 floors.

Highlights: After breakfast, head to the famous Bund to witness Shanghai’s skyline, and stroll along China's No.1 shopping street, Nanjing Road. Then be escorted to the airport for the flight to Lijiang. Upon your arrival in Lijiang, be met by our guide and escorted to hotel. Rest of the day is free on your own to explore the ancient town.

The Bund: Which is a 1.5 km waterfront area of in Huangpu District of downtown Shanghai. The Bund usually refers to the buildings and wharves on this section of the road, as well as some adjacent areas. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai, on the east of this area, you can see the mother river of Shanghai----Huangpu River; and on the west of it, you will see rows of western architectures from 1930s. Building heights are restricted in this area. 

Nanjing Road: Starts at the Bund in the east and ends in the west, Nanjing Road is 3.4 miles and regarded as China's premier shopping street, it is a must-see metropolitan destination for shoppers from all over the world. Buildings with distinctive features erect on both sides of the street, huge signboards and advertisements show prosperity, and when the night falls, dazzling neon lights flicker with bright colors. 

Highlights: Today you will visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha Mural Painting, Naxi Dongba Museum, Black Dragon Pool Park. 

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Located 15km of Lijiang Ancient Town, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, at the elevation of 5596m, is the highest mountain at lowest latitude in the northern hemisphere. Along the mountain top it is all covered by snow all around the year and that makes it look like a jade dragon lying on the top of the mountain, hence the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Baisha Mural Painting: Located 10km of Lijiang Ancient Town, Baisha village was the birthplace of the Tusi (the word means clan chief) of and was the earliest political and spiritual center of Naxi ethnic minority. Baisha Murals were kept and displayed in some ancient buildings around Baisha village. 

Naxi Dongba Museum: Founded in 1984, Dongba Culture Museum has a collection of over 10,000 items of antique of cultural and historical value, 42 of them are at national level and more than 2,500 items as Dongba cultural relics. It is the biggest cultural relic museum for Dongba.

Black Dragon Pool: Located at the foot of Elephant Mountain in the north of the city, the Black Dragon Pool is a part of Jade Spring Park. It was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty and offers a spectacular view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. There are also some trees and flowers, ancient architecture with Chinese traditional designs scattering around the pool, which adds up more to its beauty.

Highlights: Drive 100km to Shangri-la (4.5 hours). Visit First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge along the way you will enjoy the enchanting natural scenes and various kinds of wildlife on the way.

Shigu Town: There a pentagonal pavilion on the riverside where a drum-shaped marble plaque (diameter 15 m, thickness 0.7 m) stands erect, and thus the town was named “Stone Drum”. The drum-shaped monument was built in the reign of the Emperor Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (in 1561), commemorating the victory and subsequent spread of power of the Tusi of Mu Family of Lijiang at that time. 

First Bend of the Yangtze River: Located in the Stone Drum Town, the First Bend of the Yangtze River is situated 1,850 meters above sea level, 130 km away from Shangri La County. The longest river, the Yangtze River, runs from the roof of the world, the- Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and then into Yunnan Province, converging with the Lancang River and the Nu River in the mountain ranges. When coming to the Stone Drum in Yulong County, the river makes sudden 100 degree turn, heading northeast, and forming a V-shaped bend.

Tiger Leaping Gorge: As the upper reaches of the Golden Sand River, the gorge is 5,596 meters in elevation and 18km in length. The gorge is divided into three sections, namely, Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge. The narrowest section is only about 30m. It is one of the most famous trekking site in China.

Highlights: Today you will visit the Songzanlin Lamasery, Pudacuo National Park (Bitahai Lake and Shudu Lake). In the evening, pay a visit to a local Tibetan family and experience the highly-praised hospitality of Tibetan people.

Songzanlin Lamasery: Which is the largest Tibetan Buddhist lamasery in Yunnan Province and one of the 13 famous monasteries of Tibetan Kham. The Lamasery was built in 1674, occupies an area of 33.3 hectares. The monastery copied the style of Potala Palace in Lhasa; hence it has another name "Small Potala Palace".

Pudacuo National Park: Pudacuo qualifies as a natural wonderland according, contains endemic species of fish found no where else in the world, rare and beautiful orchids, black-necked cranes, and taxus yunnanensis, a yew whose extracts are indispensable to the creation of many cancer-treating drugs. Nestled in the mountains of Southwest China, the park is an integral part of the Three Parallel Rivers Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Chinas most popular tourist destinations. The major attractions of Pudacuo are Shudu Lake and Bita Lake.

Highlights: Today you will be free until be escorted to airport for the flight to Kunming. Welcome to the spring city - Kunming! Upon arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel in Kunming. Rest of the day you will visit Flower-Bird Market, West Hill Park.

Flower-Bird Market: Located in downtown Kunming, the market is the city's biggest and most popular bazaar where visitors can purchase all kinds of flowers and birds, souvenirs, replica weapons, fish, turtles, rodents, and many other items on sale. 

West Hill Park: Located 19km west of Kunming, the West Hill extends a distance of more than 40km at an altitude of between 1900 meters to 2350 meters above sea level. It likes a beautiful lady laying beside Dianchi Lake with her face upward and her hair trailing into water. Xishan is also known for stone sculptures on the cliff, represented by the Dragon Gate, which took 72 years to complete. Tourists can take a bird-eye view of the grand Dianchi Lake from the spot of the Dragon Gate.

Highlights: Today you’ll be driven 86 km to visit Stone Forest, then proceed to visit Jiuxiang Scenic Region by taking gorge bamboo rafting. After the tour, drive back to Kunming 

Stone Forest: Located 86km away from Kunming, Stone Forest is the most famous site in Kunming. Walking through it, visitors will marvel at the natural stone masterpieces and are bewitched by the intricate formations. The magnificent, strange and steep landscape creates countless labyrinthine vistas. There is a local saying: "It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming", which vividly expresses the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder. 

Jiuxiang Scenic Region: Occupying an area of 20 sq km in area, Jiuxiang is known as the "museum of karst caves", which boasts its caves as the largest in scale and number in China. The caves in Jiuxiang fall into 4 cave clusters: Sanjiao Cave, Dashang Cave, Diehong Cave and Dasha Dam Cave. Tourists should take enough clothes since they may get wet when taking the boats to visit the karst caves and the gorges.

Highlights: Today you’ll be free until be escorted to airport for the flight to Xian. Welcome to Xian! Upon arriving in Xian, your local guide will meet you and take you to your hotel.Rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own.

Highlights: This morning you will visit the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors ---a lifetime view of the extraordinary 2200-year-old terra-cotta Army of China' First Emperor-Qin Shihuang., and then pay a visit to the Ceramics Factory to learn the Chinese ceramics culture. Afterwards you will visit the Ancient City Walls--a symbol of great significance of the famous historic cultural city of Xian, you might have a biking tour on the wall by paying addtional RMB45=USD7/per person, it could be very special experience. 

Terra-Cotta Warriors: As the most important site in Xian and China, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. It took 11 years to finish, a group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for a well nearby the royal tomb in 1974. It caught the attention of archeologists immediately. The museum covers an area of 16,300 square meters, divided into three sections: No. 1 Pit, No. 2 Pit, and No. 3 Pit respectively. They were tagged in the order of their discoveries.

Ancient City Walls: As the first landmark you will encounter in Xi'an, the ancient city wall stretches round the old city. Xi'an was originally a walled city, and even today the wall is considered a landmark dividing the city into the inner part and the outer part. The wall is massive - tall, long and thick. The South Gate and North Gate are the two main entrances to the inner city. Having a biking tour on the wall is special experience you should not miss.

Highlights: Today you will visit The Shanxi Provincial Museum---a large modern museum of the national level. Then move to visit the Muslim community before your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Beijing. Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China! Your local guide will escort you to your hotel in a private vehicle. The rest of today is free for you to explore the vast metropolis on your own.

Shaanxi Provincial Museum: As the largest comprehensive museum in Shanxi province, the museum was built at the site of a former Confucian temple in the southern of Xian, it occupies an area of 70,000 square meters, and exhibits historical relics and stone carvings of ancient China. If you are history lovers, Shaanxi Provincial Museum is a must on your Xian trip

Muslim Quarter: Xi'an, was the capital in Tang Dynasty (618–907), Muslim merchants followed the silk road and settled down to start their business there, and their traditions and belief have been well preserved. Muslim quarter is the community of the Muslims, and a fascinating area where you can find exotic food, interesting people and great souvenir stalls.

Highlights: Today you will visit Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace. Evening is a Kungfu Show for you to learn Chinese martial art culture. 

Tian'anmen Square: Literally means Gate of Heavenly Peace, is great cultural significance as several important events of Chinese history happened here. With 440,000 m² - 880 m by 500 m, the Tiananmen Square is the largest city square in the world . 

Forbidden City: As the seat of Imperial power, the Forbidden City was built between 1406 and 1420 by the 3rd Emperor of Ming Dynasty, it is also known as the Imperial Palace Museum. Being ruined and renovated for many time, what you can see today is the buildings date from the 1700’s and onwards. The complex is totally 183 acres, there are total 9999.5 rooms in the Museum, some of them are not open for visitors yet. 

Summer Palace: As the largest and best preserved imperial garden, the Summer Palace is also known as the Royal Garden Museum. It was used by royal family for 800 years, in 19th century, the famous Empress Dowager Cixi ordered massive renovations and restore by using the funds of Chinese navy. The garden is totally 293 hectares, of which the water takes 220 hectares, the highlights are Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. 

Kungfu Show: Which a great show telling a story of Chin Yu entering the monastery and making his way through life to finally becoming the Abbott. The show are with many demonstrations of Kungfu and various costumes. The show lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes, visitors are not allowed to take photos or videos, but DVD of the show are available to be purchased.

Highlights: This morning tour will take you to size up the world-famous Great Wall (Mutianyu section which is less crowded, round-way cable car fee is INCLUDED), the key symbol of China. Flexible visiting time allows you to enjoy a lifetime trekking trip (1-2 hours' hiking). On the way to the Great Wall, you may have a distant view of the Olympic sites--Brid's Nest and Water Cube. Afterwards is a visit to the Changling Tomb and Sacred Road. In the evening, try the flavorful dish of Peking Roast Duck Dinner.

Great Wall of Mutianyu section: In the northern part of Huairou County some 70 kilometers north-east of Beijing City, the Mutianyu (Mu Tian Yu) section of the Great Wall stretches its way for over 2 kilometers. This section is well preserved and is a good alternative for visitors who would like to avoid crowds along the highly popular Badaling (Ba Da Ling) section during holiday and peak seasons.

Bird's Nest:  Which is also known as the National Stadium, due to its iconic design was the key competition venue of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the 13th Paralympic Games. The opening and closing ceremonies of the two Games have taken place here, together with the football, and track and field competitions. The stadium is the world's largest steel structure

Water Cube: which is also called the National Aquatics Centre, is one of the dramatic and amazing venues to host Beijing Olympics in 2008. This is the first building of its kind in China and it is also an economical and water-saving creation. The structural design is based on the natural formation of soap bubbles which give a random, organic appearance and helping to link the structure to its aquatic function.The swimming pool is deeper than most Olympic swimming pools, allowing swimming at faster speeds, while the gutters to the side of the pool disperse wave energy.  A consequence of this was the breaking of 25 world records during the 2008 Olympics.

Sacred Road: Affiliated with the Ming Tombs, the Sacred Road was originally built to lead to the Changling mausoleum. It was considered to be the road leading to heaven. Chinese emperors were known as the Son of Heaven. During their reign they often passed through the sacred road to the sacrificial altar in order to converse with heaven. After their death, the funeral procession also took the path through the Sacred Road as a symbol of the passed emperor 's journey to heaven in the afterlife.

Changling Tomb: Fifty kilometers northwest from Beijing City lies the Ming Tombs – the general name given to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). The mausoleums have been perfectly preserved, as has the necropolis of each of the many emperors. Because of its long history, palatial and integrated architecture, the site has a high cultural and historic value. The layout and arrangement of all thirteen mausoleums are very similar but vary in size as well as in the complexity of their structures.

Peking Duck Dinner: Peking Duck or Beijing Roast Duck is regarded as one of the most delicious dishes throughout the world; It is a must for most visitors coming to Beijing to have a bite.

Highlights: Today you’ll visit the Temple of Heaven where the emperors worshipped heaven and prayed for peace and harvest. Then you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arriving in Xian, your local guide will meet you and take you to your hotel.Rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own.

Temple of Heaven: Located in southeastern urban Beijing, Temple of Heaven is a dignified complex of fine cult buildings set in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods,. The Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties visited the complex annually and prayed to Heaven for good harvest. Now, the Temple of Heaven, as a symbol of the city, is one of the must-see attractions in Beijing and has been listed as an UNESCO'S World Cultural Heritage site in 1998.