Messecretsdevoyage.com destination China program details of my journey, day by day

CHINA, 14 days / 13 nights
Cost of my trip: 1200€

Day: : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Day: - 1

Arrival in Beijing - Transfer (private car with driver, no guide)from the airport to the hotel in the district of Hutongs with its narrow streets in the old city of Beijing. The oldest parts of this area date back to the thirteenth century and have been developed during the reign of the emperors of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, between 1271 and 1911. Free time : if it's a weekend you could take a ride by taxi to the local flea market "Panjiayuan shichang". Or you walk in the late afternoon, to the the Coal Hill (Jingshan Park). Spend the night in an old style hotel recommended by me.

Day: - 2

Beijing - Welcome by the local guide in your hotel. Begin your day in the Chinese capital with Tian Anmen Square, the largest square in the world. Lunch in the center. Continue with your driver, and walk to the Summer Palace which is located in the suburbs of Beijing. Visit the Imperial Theatre and the temple of blue clouds. Back in town and spend the night in the hotel.

Day: - 3

Beijing : visit Lama Temple, transfer (through MuTianYu entrance) to the Great Wall of China which like a dragon forms the 6000 km long ancient border with Mongolia. Lunch at the foot of the Great Wall. Devote maximum time at this wonderful site and then back to town having a stop at the Tea House. Evening reserved for Beijing Opera with dinner. Spend night in the hotel.

Day: - 4

Beijing/Xi'an : morning visit to the Forbidden City. This huge complex of palaces covers an area of 720 hectares and includes more than 9,999 magnificent rooms. Lunch with a Beijing family: an opportunity to experience the daily life of local people! A rickshaw ride through old Beijing and its neighborhoods (hutongs). Transfer to the station. Train to Xi'an. Spend the night in this "luxury" train (sleeper).

Day: - 5

Xi'an : arrive early in the morning, welcome by the local guide and transfer to the hotel for breakfast. Departure to the famous Terra-cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di, 50 km from Xi'an. More than 8,000 soldiers have remained buried for more than 2,000 years, individually shaped for battle and equipped with horses and carriages to protect the tomb of the first emperor. Only 600 statues have been restored. Lunch in town. Visit of the Chinese medicine market, the Great Mosque and its neighborhood. Spend the night in the hotel.

Day: - 6

Xi-an/Guilin: In the morning flight to Guilin, welcome by the local guide and start to discover the very special landscapes of karstic mountains. Install yourselves in the hotel. Excursions to the the Fubo Hill with your guide. Discover the Cave of the Flute Roseau. Stay overnight in the hotel.

Day: - 7

Guilin/Yangshuo : start early in the morning for a cruise throug the magical landscapes of the Li River to Yangshuo. The boat trip takes around 4 h on the river which winds itself through the hills covered with bamboo. Lunch on board. Free time in the afternoon to stroll in the Street of the West "Xi Jie" which is the main shopping street. Overnight in the hotel. If you wish, you could partipate in a night fishing excursion (with cormorants). It proved to be an extraordinary experience for me.

Day: - 8

Yangshuo : free day to explore the village and surrounding area. You can rent a bike (10 Yuan) and find a guide for a ride through the rice fields including lunch with his family. Spend the night in the hotel.

Day: - 9

Yangshuo/ Guilin/ Longsheng/ Ping An : meet your driver and your guide and route to the region of Longsheng through the rice fields and villages of the Miao area. Lunch on the way. Here you see the ladies of the Yao tribe who wash their 4 feet long hair at the banks of the river. They hold a Guinness record for the length of their hair! Upon arrival at the foot of the mountains of Ping An you will climb up a small path to reach the beautiful village of Ping An(your luggage will be taken care of by porters). Ping An is situated at 1900 m altitude. Arriving at midday in the hotel you will have free time in to spend there, in the Dong's minority village. It is a good starting point for exploring the beautiful rice terraces that cover the surrounding mountains. The large wooden houses are built on the hill and are connected by small cobblestone streets. The trail leading from Ping An to Viewpoint 1 and Viewpoint 2 with stunning views will take you about 1h30. Accommodation in the hotel.

Day: - 10

Ping'An/Guilin : free time to stroll around and return to Guilin. Lunch on the way and visit a tea plantation. Spend the night in the hotel.

Day: - 11

Guilin/ Xiamen/ Hukeng : after breakfast, transfer to the airport, flight to Xiamen. Welcome by your local guide and drive to Hukeng village. Free time in the village and spend the night in the hotel.

Day: - 12

Hukeng/ Xiamen/ Beijing : drive in the morning to Chenqilou to explore the largest round house, dating back more than three hundred years, see other old houses in the area. Transfer to the airport and fly from Xiamen to Beijing. Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Beijing. Spend the night in the hotel.

Day: - 13

Beijing : enjoy free time to visit parks Beihai and Shichahai, and the Lake District which lies on the other side of Beihai Park. Browse Liulichang Street, which stretches over 750m. Its shops with traditional Chinese architecture, sell mainly old books, antiques, prints, calligraphy, paintings, handicrafts items, etc.. Last night in the hotel.

Day: - 14

Beijing : transfer from the hotel to the airport (driver and car, without a guide). End of your journey.

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