China's Shangri-La
16 days - Shanghai, Kunming, Lijiang, Zhongdian (Shangri-La), Guilin, Xi'an, Beijing
16 days - Shanghai, Kunming, Lijiang, Zhongdian (Shangri-La), Guilin, Xi'an, Beijing
This tour explores scenic and fascinating Yunnan Province in Southwestern China, and offers a truly rewarding experience. Yunnan has a mild climate and pleasant temperatures year-round, and stretches from the Tibetan plateau in the north to the borders of Vietnam, Laos, and Burma in the south. It is rich in biodiversity, and home to the greatest number of ethnic minorities in all of China. Kunming, capital of Yunnnan Province, has a history that dates all the way back to 279 BC. A full-day excursion takes us to the Stone Forest; the multitude of karst formations jutting from the ground, and the unique shapes they form, give the appearance of a forest made of stone. We continue to Lijiang, where the beautifully preserved Old Town transports back you back in time. Here we find charming restaurants lining the banks of the canals, a sea of red lanterns illuminating the night, and narrow cobblestone streets that wind their way through town, with interesting shops and a new discovery around every corner. Touring in the area takes you to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, beautiful Black Dragon Pool, and a visit to a Naxi minority village. Next we head north to Zhongdian, located on the Tibetan Plateau, it was renamed Shangri-La in 2001. En Route visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, a place of scenic beauty and filled with legend, it is one of the world's deepest canyons. In Zhongdian visit the impressive Songzanlin Monastery, filled with treasures and backdropped by snowcapped mountains, it has been nicknamed "Little Potala Palace" because of it's traditional style. We finish the tour with three of China's most important cities. First Guilin, like Yunnan, another area of magnificent beauty, it's landscape a tapestry of karst mountains flanking the meandering Li River. In Xi'an we visit the amazing underground tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, guarded by an amazing army of terra cotta warriors, it is truly one of the world's most important archeological sites. Finally Beijing, the capital city, and political and cultural center of China. The treasures here include the incomparable Forbidden City, enormous Tian'anmen Square, the Summer Palace, and of course the Great Wall of China.
Private tour itinerary
Day 1: Shanghai. Arrive in Shanghai and transfer by sedan to your hotel in Shanghai.
Day 2: Shanghai. Full-day private tour of Shanghai. Visit the Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, and the Xintiandi area. In the evening enjoy an acrobatic show after dinner. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 3: Kunming. Fly to Kunming, capital of Yunnan province in southwest China, it is known as the "city of eternal spring" for it's mild and delightful weather year-round. In the afternoon tour Western Hills and the Golden Palace. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 4: Kunming. A full-day excursion to the Stone Forest. Located about 75 miles outside Kunming, the landscape of rock formations jutting into the sky like trees are a sight to behold and a true masterpiece of nature. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 5: Lijiang. Fly to Lijiang, whose delightful Old Town is perhaps the best preserved ancient town in all of China. Upon arrival tour picturesque Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Cultural Museum before heading into the city. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 6: Lijiang. Embark on a full-day tour including visits to Yak Meadow, where you can ascend by cable car to the top of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. See Yuhu Village, belonging to the Naxi minority people, it is where the famous botanist Dr. Joseph Rock choose as his home and place of research. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 7: Zhongdian (Shangri-La). Proceed by road to Zhongdian, located on the Tibetan plateau, it was renamed Shangri-La in 2001. En route visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, believed to be one of the world's deepest, it is a place of scenic beauty. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 8: Zhongdian (Shangri-La). A full-day tour includes visits to the Songzanlin Monastery, Napa Prairie, and a visit to a local Tibetan town with a local family visit. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 9: Guilin. Fly to Kunming and continue by flight to Guilin, known for it's lovely scenery that has inspired poets and painters throughout the years. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 10: Guilin. Take a cruise on the Li River today. Wind your way through an amazing landscape of karst topography, where beautiful limestone peaks rise from the green plain at odd angles, and daily life happens along the riverbanks. Visit a local market in Yanghuo; a picturesque town of wonderful shops and restaurants, surrounded by karst mountains and bordering the Li River. Return to Guilin in the evening. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 11: Xi'an. Tour Reed Flute Cave, where amazing stone formations of stalactites and stalagmites take on familiar shapes of people, nature, food, and other familiar objects. Later transfer to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 12: Xi'an. Full-day tour to see the underground tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, guarded by more than seven thousand life-size terracotta warriors and horses. Also visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. In the evening enjoy a Tang Dynasty Dinner Show. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 13: Beijing. Fly to Beijing, China's capital and cultural and political center. In the afternoon tour the Summer Palace. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 14: Beijing. Full-day private tour of Beijing. Visit Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, and tour the Hutongs (backstreets of Beijing). (breakfast, lunch).
Day 15: Beijing. Full-day private excursion to the Great Wall of China. Also visit the Changling (Ming Dynasty) Tomb and "Sacred Way", a seven kilometer road lined with statues of guardian animals and officials. In the evening enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 16: Depart Beijing. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (breakfast).
Meals: breakfast daily (15), fourteen lunches, and three dinners.
For pricing, please contact us here.
Day 1: Shanghai. Arrive in Shanghai and transfer by sedan to your hotel in Shanghai.
Day 2: Shanghai. Full-day private tour of Shanghai. Visit the Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, and the Xintiandi area. In the evening enjoy an acrobatic show after dinner. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 3: Kunming. Fly to Kunming, capital of Yunnan province in southwest China, it is known as the "city of eternal spring" for it's mild and delightful weather year-round. In the afternoon tour Western Hills and the Golden Palace. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 4: Kunming. A full-day excursion to the Stone Forest. Located about 75 miles outside Kunming, the landscape of rock formations jutting into the sky like trees are a sight to behold and a true masterpiece of nature. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 5: Lijiang. Fly to Lijiang, whose delightful Old Town is perhaps the best preserved ancient town in all of China. Upon arrival tour picturesque Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Cultural Museum before heading into the city. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 6: Lijiang. Embark on a full-day tour including visits to Yak Meadow, where you can ascend by cable car to the top of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. See Yuhu Village, belonging to the Naxi minority people, it is where the famous botanist Dr. Joseph Rock choose as his home and place of research. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 7: Zhongdian (Shangri-La). Proceed by road to Zhongdian, located on the Tibetan plateau, it was renamed Shangri-La in 2001. En route visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, believed to be one of the world's deepest, it is a place of scenic beauty. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 8: Zhongdian (Shangri-La). A full-day tour includes visits to the Songzanlin Monastery, Napa Prairie, and a visit to a local Tibetan town with a local family visit. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 9: Guilin. Fly to Kunming and continue by flight to Guilin, known for it's lovely scenery that has inspired poets and painters throughout the years. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 10: Guilin. Take a cruise on the Li River today. Wind your way through an amazing landscape of karst topography, where beautiful limestone peaks rise from the green plain at odd angles, and daily life happens along the riverbanks. Visit a local market in Yanghuo; a picturesque town of wonderful shops and restaurants, surrounded by karst mountains and bordering the Li River. Return to Guilin in the evening. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 11: Xi'an. Tour Reed Flute Cave, where amazing stone formations of stalactites and stalagmites take on familiar shapes of people, nature, food, and other familiar objects. Later transfer to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 12: Xi'an. Full-day tour to see the underground tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, guarded by more than seven thousand life-size terracotta warriors and horses. Also visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. In the evening enjoy a Tang Dynasty Dinner Show. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 13: Beijing. Fly to Beijing, China's capital and cultural and political center. In the afternoon tour the Summer Palace. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 14: Beijing. Full-day private tour of Beijing. Visit Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, and tour the Hutongs (backstreets of Beijing). (breakfast, lunch).
Day 15: Beijing. Full-day private excursion to the Great Wall of China. Also visit the Changling (Ming Dynasty) Tomb and "Sacred Way", a seven kilometer road lined with statues of guardian animals and officials. In the evening enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 16: Depart Beijing. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (breakfast).
Meals: breakfast daily (15), fourteen lunches, and three dinners.
For pricing, please contact us here.
Our deluxe China tours are carefully designed to provide a unique experience in the destination, promote cultural understanding and exchange, flow smoothly from place to place, allow time for relaxation and exploration on your own, provide maximum value, and very importantly to be enjoyable. The itinerary can be modified to suit your tastes, time frame, budget, and special interests.
