China: From the City to the Rice Fields

DAY 1: SHANGHAI
Arrival in Shanghai and private transfer to the hotel (about 1 hour). Accommodation for 3 nights, with breakfast.

Departure for a private half-day tour, with an English-speaking guide, passing through some parts of the city, including the French Concession and the Bund, Shanghai's postcard.

In the evening, dinner (excluding drinks) at Hakassan restaurant.


DAY 2: SHANGHAI
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for a private tour, with an English-speaking guide, through the main points of the city.

Start at Astor House, followed by crossing the Waibaidu Bridge (Waibaidu Bridge), visit the Former British Consulate, and end at the Yu Yuan Garden (Yu Garden),

continue to Lujiazui, the modern financial district, and visit the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China, and the bustling Nanjing Street (Nanjing Road), where luxury stores are located and entertainment.

In the evening, presentation on your own to Jiashan Station for a gastronomic tour, with the opportunity to taste traditional Xiaolongbao dumplings and other local cuisine specialties.

Return to the hotel.


DAY 3: SHANGHAI
Breakfast at the hotel. Private vintage bike tour with English-speaking guide, exploring authentic areas of Shanghai.

Visit to the “Little White House”, a reference in local architecture and Chinese crafts, with a demonstration of needle embroidery, paper cutout and jade cutting, among others.

Throughout the day there will be gastronomic stops to try local specialties. Highlight is a visit to an old Shikumen complex, currently revitalized with high-end stores, hotels and residences.

Continue through historic alleys to a stop to taste Suzhou-style noodles, known for their light broth. Finishing with traditional Chinese desserts, such as ginger milk, double-layered boiled milk, or mango sago cream with grapefruit.

Visit the Old Town, which houses the Yu Yuan Gardens, an example of Chinese landscape art, and the local bazaar. Alternatively, time for relaxation and cultural experience at Huxinting Teahouse, one of the most prestigious in China.

In the evening, admission to the ERA show, a show that combines traditional Chinese acrobatic arts with modern technology.


DAY 4: SHANGHAI - CHENGDU
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Private transfer to Shanghai airport for boarding a flight to Chengdu.

Arrival and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.

Departure for a private tour with an English-speaking guide, with a visit to the Wenshu Temple (Wenshu Monastery), participation in a tea ceremony and a visit to the People's Park.

In the evening, a ticket to the Sichuan Opera (Sichuan Opera) performance, with the opportunity to go behind the scenes and try on the costume of the play. The opera is famous for blending local dialect, customs, folk music and regional dances and for its mask-changing, fire-breathing and light show effects.

After the show, private transfer to the hotel.


DAY 5: CHENGDU
Breakfast at the hotel. Private tour with an English-speaking guide to Dujiangyan Panda Base (Dujiangyan Panda Base) to observe giant pandas.

The base is a reference center for research, disease prevention and rescue of giant pandas, currently housing more than 30 giant pandas and 5 red pandas.

Then, visit Mount Qingcheng (Qingcheng Mountain), famous for its natural landscapes and historical importance, with several centuries-old temples, pavilions, and caves.

After the visit, private transfer to the hotel.


DAY 6: CHENGDU - GUILIN - YANGSHUO
Early in the morning, private transfer to Chengdu Station to board a high-speed train bound for Guilin (about 5 hours).

Arrival and private transfer to the hotel in Yangshuo (about 1 hour and 10 minutes). Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.

In the afternoon, walk (about 10 minutes) halfway up the mountain hill for afternoon tea, enjoying the panoramic view of the Li River, villages and rice fields at sunset (subject to weather conditions).


DAY 7: YANGSHUO
Breakfast at the hotel. Private bike tour, with an English-speaking guide, to Baisha village, passing Yulong Bridge and fruit orchards. You can return to Yangshuo or head to Moon Hill for about 30 to 60 minutes, famous for its natural arch and panoramic views (admission not included).

Visit a local family to learn about the Chinese tofu production process. Stop for lunch (not included) and go rafting on bamboo rafts along the Yulong River. Then bike ride through the rice terraces of Guangxi, watching water buffaloes and “sugar loaf” mountains.

In the evening, ticket for the open-air show “Impressions Liu Sanjie”, with hundreds of local actors portraying scenes from rural everyday life in traditional costumes of the region's ethnic minorities.


DAY 8: YANGSHUO - LONGSHENG
After breakfast and hotel check-out, panoramic tour to Longsheng (about 2 hours).

Longsheng's main highlight are the Longji Rice Terraces, carved into the hillsides centuries ago. In the village of Ping'an, it is possible to experience the traditional preparation of bamboo rice, popular among the peoples of Zhuang and Yao.

Then, hike through the mountains, enjoying the stepped terraces and visiting villages of different ethnicities, such as Dong, Miao, Yao and Zhuang, including the Old Zhuang Village, symbol of the region's cultural richness.

Accommodation for 1 night, with breakfast.


DAY 9: LONGSHENG - GUILIN - BEIJING
Breakfast and hotel check-out. Private transfer to Guilin Airport to board a flight to Beijing (flight not included).

Arrival and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for 3 nights, with breakfast.

Rest of the day free for independent activities.


DAY 10: BEIJING
Breakfast at the hotel. Private tour, with an English-speaking guide, of the city.

Visit to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors performed rituals to connect their authority to the heavens. In the surrounding area, it is possible to observe various traditional Chinese activities, such as Kung Fu, meditation and other practices, including participation in a Tai Chi class conducted by a local master.

Then, visit the Forbidden City, completed in 1420 during the reign of the Ming Dynasty, serving as an administrative center and imperial residence until 1911. The Forbidden City requires the original passport for entry and is not open on Mondays, except during national holidays.

During the tour, the opportunity to climb the Coal Hill (Jingshan Park), located behind the Forbidden City, from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the palace and downtown Beijing.

At the end, private sidecar ride to discover the Hutong area.


DAY 11: BEIJING
Breakfast at the hotel. Private tour with an English-speaking guide to the Great Wall of China (about 2 hours and 30 minutes).

Visit the Jinshanling section of the wall, renowned for its preserved landscapes and lower tourist flow. Despite the myth that it would be visible from space, the Great Wall extends over 6,000 kilometers, stretching from ancient Manchuria to the Gobi Desert.

Stop for lunch (without drinks) at the Great Wall.

In the evening, after the tour, farewell dinner (without drinks) at the Duck De Chine restaurant.


DAY 12: BEIJING
After breakfast and hotel check-out, private transfer to Beijing airport.