China: Everything that matters

Day 1. Arrival in Beijing

Arrival in Beijing. Meet the group at the airport (transfer to the recommended flight).

Walk around the city center: Tiananmen Square - the largest square in the world, is the center of socialist China; Imperial Palace - Forbidden City Gugong, climbing Jingshan Hill, where you can see the panorama of the historical city center.
Lunch with Peking duck, there will be an opportunity to order vegetarian dishes (lunch is self-paid). Visit to a tea shop.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Free time for rest, optional excursions or walking.

Overnight in a hotel in Beijing: Dong Fang Hotel in a building dating back to 1918.

A hotel in Beijing is always a compromise, China's most expensive accommodation (not counting Hong Kong and Macau). They are often “tired” hotels, with the typical Euro standard in a skyscraper. You don't want to live in Beijing in a typical average hotel. This time we picked a hotel in the city center, with easy access to the most popular walking spots. This hotel has two buildings, one is new - typical Euro, the other is historic 1918 - this is where the rooms we are interested in are - they may be a bit shabby, but they are beautiful, in the old style. We very much hope that our repeated calls to the hotel before the group arrives will have a positive result, and that the receptionists will air the rooms well and warm them up if necessary. We really hope that our choice of hotel will be positive and will add its own zest to the trip. If it will not be to our liking, we will rebook a room in the new building. You can view the hotel in more detail here.

Day 2. Great Wall of China

After breakfast at the hotel, we leave for a tour of the Great Wall of China. The transfer will be a little longer, but it is important for us to see the beautiful curve of the wall and enjoy the setting without the crowds. The WCC is one of the largest structures created by human hands in its history. We will take a circular route. It starts with crossing the transparent bridge over the dam and then the goal of our arrival is the Wall. We walk along the restored section with a beautiful view, noting small mounds of old masonry. Pay attention: there will be places where you can see rice husks - this is also an interesting moment, rice was not only eaten, but also used as a component of gluing. Further on, we go down from the wall on a wagon to the river. We get on the boat and finish our route.

If it's time for lunch, there are restaurants near the Wall. You can have lunch there.

Back to the hotel. We rest and walk around.

Day 3. The city where the spirit of old China Pingyao is preserved

Not far from the train station is the entrance to Pingyao, the largest surviving medieval city in China. The city within the perimeter of the fortress wall is virtually unspoiled by modern development. We will visit the museum “Ma Merchants' House”. There are 3 large courtyards, 6 small courtyards and 197 houses with rich and exquisite interiors. From a bird's eye view, the overall layout of the complex resembles the shape of a big horse, which warns future generations to never forget their roots. Let's try to plunge into the atmosphere of the past.

Rest in a hotel in the historical part of Pingyao: The Kylin Grand Hotel Pingyao 5*. This hotel is an asset of the city. It is like spending a night in a museum.

Dear travelers, the rooms may be chilly before it finally warms up, as the building is historical and by choosing authentic accommodation, we have to be extra tolerant of some peculiarities. We will try very hard to see to this point in advance.

Day 4. The capital of ancient China Xi'an

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Transfer to the train station. In the afternoon: high-speed train to Xi'an - the ancient capital and the most significant city in the history of China. Meeting at the train station with a guide. Check-in at the hotel. In the evening there will be time to walk the main streets of Xi'an with a visit to the city wall, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the hutongs.

Accommodation in a hotel in the city center: Grand Noble Hotel Xi'an 4* or similar. Convenient location and the hotel is good.

Day 5. Terracotta Army

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to one of the most amazing archaeological finds in the world - the Terracotta Army.
After lunch - sightseeing tour of the ancient capital of China. Bell and Drum Towers, Muslim Quarter, visit to a Chinese style mosque. Xi'an was the starting point of the Great Silk Road, through which Buddhism and Islam entered the country. The Muslim market is incredibly colorful. 

Accommodation at the same hotel. 

Day 6. Landscapes of Huashan Mountain

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out with your belongings. 

Transfer to Huashan Mountains (Flower Mountains), one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism. The walk through the mountains will take about 5 hours, enter through the West Entrance. There will be food points along the route in the mountains, the food is Chinese (not everything is suitable for our taste, but boiled corn or juices will be very welcome).

Our hotel is next to Huangshan mountain Novotel Huashan 4*, we walk as much as we can and then a short transfer to the hotel. Rest

Day 7. Shaolin Temple and Lunmen Grottoes (Dragon Gate Caves)

After breakfast, transfer to Luoyang by high speed train. Excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunmen (Dragon Gate Caves), several hundred Buddhist cave temples. At this site, the Ihe River flows in a gorge between the two mountains of Xianshan and Lunmenshan. This rather picturesque gorge is named Dragon Gate. Exploring the grottoes. The construction of cave Buddhist temples on the slopes of the gorge began in the late fifth century AD during the Northern Wei Dynasty, when Emperor Xiaowen moved the state capital to Luoyang. Many of the buildings date back to the later seventh to ninth centuries of the Tang Empire. 

In the afternoon, drive to Shaolin, the most famous monastery in China for the martial art of Kung Fu. Kung Fu Masters Show. Visit Talin - “Forest of Pagodas”. Despite the popularity of this place, we think it is the most famous monastery in China, but it still feels quiet and peaceful. 

If you have time and desire, - easy trekking in the Sunshan Mountains. Climbing by cable car up to 1400 m height and descending along a fascinating mountain path among rocks and small temples (paid independently on the spot).

Overnight at Zhengzhoudong Holiday Inn Express or similar. This is a transit hotel for us, to make it more convenient to get to the next place on the route tomorrow. We rest after an interesting day.

Day 8. Fenghuang or Phoenix City

Breakfast at the hotel. There will be time for respite, you can sleep longer.

Transfer to the train station. High-speed train to Fenghuang.

Despite the speed limit of 300 km/h, it will be a long ride. Food is sold on the train, it is quite edible, but still unfamiliar. Please, take care of a snack: take fruit and chocolate on the train. There is always boiling water in trains, you can make tea or coffee.

Meeting with the guide. Short transfer to the ancient city of Fenghuang. Our hotel is conveniently located near the walking area of the old town and at the same time our transfer will be able to come here. Hotel 凤凰故事精品度假酒店(虹桥中路店) Fenghuang Story Boutique Hotel. 

This hotel is very conveniently located. It is made in Chinese style. The rooms are quite comfortable and there is a self-catering laundry option. The breakfasts may seem very simple, please be prepared for that. Why didn't we choose a hotel by the river? Because of the concern for your comfort. There needs to be a middle ground. No one wants to live in mold, noise and dankness. We'll take the option we like. 

Day 9. Big panda nursery

Chinese breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel with your belongings.

Optional visit to the big panda nursery (extra cost). The main nurseries are in Chengdu and there are 8 panda individuals here. This is not a zoo, but exactly a nursery. There are other animals besides pandas. The tour will take 40-60 minutes. Return to Fenghuang, transfer 20 minutes.

Walk around the city with a Russian-speaking guide or on your own.
We found ourselves in an atmospheric town along the river: wooden houses on stilts by the Tojiang River, stone bridges, many lanterns, many temples and gazebos in the neighborhood, the life of the local people Miao (Hmong) and Tunzya. Grannies selling strange fruits and berries, in the alleys you can find a small flea market with new and old goods, coffee shops and delicious milk teas (try it, there are so many options). It's hard to get lost, it's a pleasure to walk around. There is a poet's house in this city, you can look there at will, or you can waste no time and just take in the atmosphere of the streets as you wish.

There are a lot of cafes and restaurants. Choose any place, everywhere will be +- one and the same, that on prices. that on a choice of dishes. The food is delicious! Try it.

Day 10. Zhangjiajie Canyon and transparent bridge

We continue on our way. Today transfer to Zhangjiajie. By group transfer we drive to the Avatar Mountains. The transfer is 4-5 hours. Please prepare for it, stock up on snacks. 

Today we will see Zhangjiajie canyon with transparent bridge. 

Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel 5* The location of the hotel suits us perfectly. The comfort is also very good.

Day 11. Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie Park, transparent elevator.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to explore the Avatar Mountains. This is one of the most visited places in China. Here the queues can stretch like an endless ribbon. In high seasons, a VIP pass will be organized for our groups. Incredible scenery! It's worth going here and seeing for yourself. 

Day 12. Tianmen Heaven's Gate

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Tianmen, a mountain range famous for the huge “Heaven's Gate” grotto, through which an airplane can fly. A picturesque serpentine “thousand turns” leads to the grotto.
If you have free time and energy, you can make a circular trekking on the summit to the Buddhist temple of Tianmenshan. There is a section of the trail with a glass floor and a suspension bridge over the abyss 300-400 meters high.
Descent by cable car and transfer to the airport.

Evening flight to Shanghai.
Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation and rest.
 

Day 13. Shanghai

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Excursion around Shanghai. Glass-floored observation deck on the TV tower “Oriental Pearl” and the Museum of Shanghai History. By visiting the museum, we kind of combine the story of China started in Beijing. Time for a stroll along the waterfront overlooking the gleaming skyscrapers.
Accommodation in the center of Shanghai, Golden Tulip Bund New Asia 4* hotel or similar. 

Day 14. Suzhou and evening Jouzhuang

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Optional excursion (paid separately): Suzhou, the water city of Jouzhuang and a visit to the national show. Two very beautiful cities that will be a great addition to the experience of China and put a bright spot in our trip.
Suzhou is the only city in the world that has existed in one place for more than 2.5 thousand years (founded in 514 BC). Silk has been made here from time immemorial and here is the beginning of the famous Silk Road. The most beautiful gardens in China are also in Suzhou, incredible! 

The second part of the day will be devoted to Zhouzhuang, the water city or “Venice of China”, famous for its canals and bridges, the evening lighting here is fabulous. We will visit Zhang Garden and Shen Garden, De Sheng and Yunan Bridges, Old Street, the Four Seasons of Zhouzhuang water show. It will be beautiful.

Return to Shanghai.

Day 15. Way home

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport (under group flight).