Guide

English speaking tour guides in each destination, except on the trains and the last departure day; All Truly China group trips are accompanied by one of our tour guides. The aim of the tour guide is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Your guide will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. You can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Truly China Travel we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your guide can recommend a scenic spot guide service in most of the main scenic spot of your trip.

Accommodation

All accommodations in double and twin share rooms with private facilities, including breakfast. Hong Kong Metropark Hotel Kowloon, a 4-star hotel (1 night) Yangshuo New Century Hotel, a 4-star hotel (3 nights) Ibis Chengdu Temple of Marquis, a 4-star hotel (2 nights) Xi’an Forest City Hotel, a 3-star hotel (2 nights) Cygnus International Hotel, a 3-star hotel (1 night) Luoyang to Beijing, an overnight SOFT SLEEPER train (1 night) Beijing Chongwenmen Hotel, a 3-star hotel (3 nights) Suzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel, a 3-star hotel (1 night) Shanghai Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhabei, a 3-star hotel (2 nights) Travelling with Truly China Travel is a little bit different. We endeavour to provide travellers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible. When travelling with us in China you may find yourself staying in a: Overnight Sleeper Train Your overnight journey will give you plenty of time to finally learn how to play mah-jong, mingle with the locals or simply relax and watch the scenery whiz by. Monastery Enjoy the simpler things in life, waking up to the sound of monks chanting amongst peaceful mountain scenery. Staying in a monastery is truly an unforgettable experience. Special Information: If you wish to arrive a few days early in Hong Kong, we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Meals

15 breakfasts and 2 lunches are included, and normally they are Chinese and Western buffet, there are no lunch and dinner included on this tour. VEGETARIANS & VEGANS: Vegetarians in China certainly won’t go hungry as there are always plenty of meat free options on menus including vegetable, tofu and egg dishes. Your tour guide can advise on some local favourites. Dairy is uncommon in Chinese cooking, although in some regions like Tibet, Xinjiang and Yunnan you will find milk products as part of the local cuisine. Vegans should also have few problems finding tasty meals in most locations. Nearly all cities will have vegetarian restaurants, often near to temples or monasteries that specialise in Buddhist cuisine. DIETARY NEEDS: Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may wish to supplement inclusions with their own supplies from markets or supermarkets. Please note that some dietary requirements, such as Gluten Free, will be uncommon in China and you may need to explain to your tour guide what you can and can’t eat as well as research common dishes before you travel. ALLERGIES: For those suffering from particular food allergies, your tour guide will endeavor to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic and research suitable local foods before travelling.

Others

Yangshuo - Orientation walking tour; Yangshuo - Countryside Cycling tour; Chengdu - Tianfu Square, People’s Park Walking tour; Chengdu - Panda Breeding Center; Xi’an - Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter and City Wall Walking tour; Xi’an - Terracotta Warriors; Luoyang - Longmen Grottoes; Shaolin - Temple, Pagoda Forest & Kung Fu show; Shaolin - Buddhist vegetarian lunch; Beijing - Orientation walking tour; Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall; Beijing - Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City; Suzhou - Walking tour; Suzhou - Exploring Classical Gardens; Shanghai - Orientation Walking tour; Shanghai - The Bund and Old Street Walking Tour.

Transport

All transportation during the tour is included; High-speed train(Hong Kong-Guilin-Chengdu-Xian,Beijing-Suzhou-Shanghai), 2nd class; Overnight train (Zhengzhou-Beijing), soft sleeper. Truly China Travel believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Truly China Travel uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are heaps more fun. Depending on which trip you’re on while in China, you may find yourself travelling by: Bicycle Cycling through China is a great way to see the country from ground level. Whether you’re pedalling through the hutongs or the countryside, you’ll see the sights and get to meet locals along the way. Bullet train Speed across China in a super fast bullet train. It’s one of the most effective ways to cover long distances in a short time.

Not included:

Others

International flight and departure tax; Arrival transfer on Day1 and departure transfer on Day17; Lunches and dinners; Other optional excursions and entrance tickets; Tips to drivers and tour guides; Other personal expenses; Visa to China.

Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. When travelling on a trip, you won’t be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company’s 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact number rather than the bank’s name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.

Optional

Hong Kong - Victoria Peak & Peak Tram Hong Kong - Star Ferry Hong Kong - Nightly Light Show Hong Kong - The Story of Hong Kong Urban Adventure Hong Kong - Old vs New Hong Kong Urban Adventure Hong Kong - Around Kowloon in 8 Markets Urban Adventure Yangshuo - Li River Cruise Yangshuo - Bike hire Yangshuo - Cooking School & Market Tour Yangshuo - Zhang Yimou’s Impressions Show Yangshuo - Tai Chi/Kung Fu class Yangshuo - Moon Hill Chengdu - Sichuan Opera Chengdu - Cooking class Chengdu - Bike hire Xi’an - Cycling on City Wall Xi’an - Bell & Drum Towers Xi’an - Small Wild Goose Pagoda Xi’an - Big Wild Goose Pagoda Xi’an - Great Mosque Beijing - Acrobat show Beijing - Kungfu Show Beijing - Lama Temple Beijing - Summer Palace Beijing - Temple of Heaven The above optional activities are for tourists to reference only, and tour guides from travel agencies cannot force or indirectly force tourists to consume.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Arrive In Hong Kong & Group Meeting
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Arrive In Hong Kong & Group Meeting

Nimen Hao! Welcome to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a vibrant and fast paced city only minutes away from quiet islands and beaches. The entire day is yours to spend as you see fit. Hong Kong Island is a great area to explore on foot, with plenty of family friendly hiking trails on offer with varying levels of difficulty. The Peak offers stunning views over the city, and can be reached by several trails or alternatively by tram. Ask your leader for details, but make sure you pack snacks and water if you plan to hike – there are no replenishing stations along the way. A more relaxing way to spend an hour is the Stay Ferry Harbour Tour, which takes you past the city’s landmarks and around the stunning harbour. The Hong Kong Science Museum is perfect for families with young kids, particularly if you’re visiting in rainy season (April to June) and don’t want to risk being caught out. Many of the exhibits are interactive, and entry prices are reasonable.

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place.

Arrival Complications：We don’t expect any problems (and nor should you!) but if for any reason you are unable to commence your group trip as scheduled, please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your trip leader.

If you have pre-booked an airport transfer (where available) and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing

customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel.
Day 2 Hong Kong To Yangshuo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hong Kong To Yangshuo

Take high-speed train from Hongkong to Guilin, then travel by private transfer direct to your next destination, Yangshuo (approximately 2 hours). When you arrive, take a rest and soak up the charm of this little town, popular with the Chinese and Western travellers alike, who come for the beautiful landscape and stay for the great cafe and bar culture. It’s also one of the best places in the country to get a feel for local culture and traditions, while having plenty of fun at the same time. The countryside around Yangshuo is immortalized in many traditional Chinese paintings – picture immense limestone karsts dotting the rural landscape and towering spectacularly over rice paddies and the meandering Li River, all celebrated on every 20 yuan note.
Day 3 Explore Yangshuo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Explore Yangshuo

Today you’ll shake out your train legs and experience the dramatic limestone Karst landscape during a bike ride, where you’ll gain a real insight into rural Chinese life. Stop for lunch at the house of our local friends for a tasty meal made from locally grown produce. This is an absolutely stunning region to explore, as every turn in the road brings you to another postcard-worthy location. You’ll have a local guide during the ride, and helmets and bike rental are included in the trip price. The evening is free for you to explore Yangshuo’s lively cafe and bar scene. Maybe grab a bowl of pork stuffed tofu or beer fish (simmered fresh water fish).
Day 4 Continue To Discover The Beauty Of Yangshuo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Continue To Discover The Beauty Of Yangshuo

Today is as clear as a Yanghsuo spring day, but there are plenty of optional activities to choose from. You could begin the day by focusing your body and mind with a morning Taichi class or Kung-fu lesson. Perhaps try your hand at Chinese calligraphy, or simply sit back and relax as you enjoy a relaxing cruise down the Li or Yulong River. Maybe visit the market to shop with the locals and get a feel for the regional produce. You can then put this new knowledge to use in a cooking class at the Yangshuo Cooking School. Learn to cook Chinese dishes with recipes that are easy to make and ingredients readily available outside of China, so that you’ll soon be wowing friends and family back at home. Later, perhaps watch an outdoor light show staged by 2008 Beijing Olympics’ Opening Ceremony director Zhang Yimou.
Day 5 Yangshuo To Chengdu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Yangshuo To Chengdu

Take a high speed train to Chengdu. The capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu is most famous for two things – the pandas living in the mountains, and the food. Chengdu’s signature spicy cuisine is largely regarded as the best within China. In such a food-focused country, this is no mean feat. Maybe sample a Sichuan hotpot this evening. Go on a walking tour with your leader and check out Tianfu Square and People’s Park, arguably the most lively park in China, full of locals singing, dancing, doing tai chi or even modelling! It might be one of China’s biggest cities, but Chengdu has preserved plenty of its traditional flavour, and you’ll get a tase of it during this tour and your free time. Don’t miss out on the tea houses – pull up a stool and sample the local favourite green and jasmine tea. Don’t be surprised if someone offers to give you a head massage or clean your ears while you sip!
Day 6 Chengdu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Chengdu

Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base today, where you’re able to witness the conservation efforts being made to save this endearing species. There are only around 1000 pandas left in the world and 80% of them are found in the mountains in Sichuan. The facility was set up 30 years ago to help protect this animal, and there are more than 80 giant and red pandas living at the base. The pandas have over 600 acres of parkland to live in, and today you’ll have the honour of getting up close to these gorgeous creatures. Watch them play, eat bamboo and climb the trees. If you’re lucky enough (and travelling between July and September) you might get to see newborns taking their first steps in the nursery. Afterwards, return to downtown Chengdu for some free time. Perhaps take in a performance of traditional Sichuan Opera, visit the Wenshu Temple, or take a cooking class. Ask your leader for details.
Day 7 Chengdu To Xian
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Chengdu To Xian

Today you’ll travel to Xi’an by high-speed train (around 3.5 hours). The capital of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an is the largest city in northwest China. Once the imperial centre of China for nearly 2000 years, Xi’an is now a vibrant, modern city dotted with many interesting historical sites and is a great place to explore. Join your leader on a short walking tour to uncover what was once the start of the ancient trading route of the Silk Road. The city has a wonderful Muslim Quarter, and you’ll wander the narrow streets past shops, lively markets, and groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in cafes. See the City Walls and Gates, the most complete in China, running over 13 kilometres (8 miles) around the city. Xi’an’s Silk Road history means it has an exciting mixture of cultures, exemplified by its food options, which range from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in Chinese restaurants. Maybe choose to visit the Bell and Drum Towers, the former built (according to legend) to restrain the dragons that were causing earthquakes, the latter is (unsurprisingly) full of drums, once used to mark time and warn in emergencies. Perhaps visit the night markets and try many of the tantalising local specialties such as pao mo (lamb broth that you break flat bread into), hand pulled noodles, hot pot and barbecue.
Day 8 Xian
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Xian

Today we will travel by private bus (around 1.5 hours) to visit what is undoubtedly one of the man-made wonders of the world – the Terracotta Warriors. You’ll learn all about this incredible archaeological find, rediscovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well after being buried for 2000 years. These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots (originally all painted) were commissioned by the emperor Qin Shi Huangdi as part of his mausoleum after he ascended to the throne in 264 BC. Three main pits are open for you to view, where just under 2000 of the warriors – each individually sculpted from clay and with a different costume, height, and even facial expressions – stand in battle formation. The scale is incredibly impressive. Return to Xi’an for you final evening in the city.
Day 9 Xi’An - Luoyang To Shaolin
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Xi’An - Luoyang To Shaolin

This morning take a high speed train to Luoyang, after arrival you’ll drive to the Longmen Grottoes. These 2100 caves, filled with more than 100,000 statues of Buddha dating back as far as the 4th century, are rare examples of exquisite Buddhist rock carving. Learn more about this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site as you explore some of the masterpieces with a local guide. Then drive to Shaolin Temple.
Day 10 Shaolin Kungfu Temple To Beijing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Shaolin Kungfu Temple To Beijing

Today, visit the legendary birthplace of kung fu - the Shaolin Monastery. A private bus journey of around 3 hours will take you to the monastery, which remains the primary source of Shaolin Buddhist training and learning to this day. Learn about the warrior monks of Shaolin and how the martial art has changed over centuries. Watch an athletic kung fu performance and then wander through the Pagoda Forest, where respected monks have been laid to rest in towering tombs since AD791. For lunch enjoy a vegetarian feast at nearby Yongtai Temple where you will sample innovative Buddhist cuisine. Enjoy a free afternoon and evening in Luoyang. As night falls, you’ll see thousands of colourful lamps light the streets and squares across the city, creating a lovely ambiance. In the evening, take a night train to Beijing.
Day 11 Beijing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Beijing

You will arrive in China’s capital in the morning. After settling into your hotel, you will have free time to explore - your leader can suggestion optional activities or where to go for a meal.
Day 12 Beijing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Beijing

It’s time to visit the legendary Great Wall today. Take a private bus to the Mutianyu section (approximately 1.5–2 hours) which features guard towers dating back to the Ming dynasty. You can either walk or catch a cable car up to the wall. On the way back down, you can walk or take a toboggan. The latter is highly recommended!
Day 13 Beijing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Beijing

Today you’ll enter the amazing Forbidden City, former home of China’s imperial rulers. Discover its many palaces, gardens and courtyards. You will also visit the historic Tiananmen Square, one of the world’s largest downtown squares. Then head to an area known for its hutongs (narrow streets and alleys) and explore the historic streets. Although Beijing is modernising rapidly (its contemporary culture is a huge source of fascination in itself), there are still some pockets in which to discover the nation’s ancient roots. Enjoy a final farewell dinner tonight with the perhaps the most well known of all the capital’s dishes - Beijing Duck.
Day 14 Beijing To Suzhou
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Beijing To Suzhou

Take high speed train to Suzhou. Grab a bicycle to explore the serene surrounds of Suzhou, taking in the famous gardens, canals and alleyways of this charming town. Top off the experience with an evening performance of traditional music, opera and theatre among the trees and waterfalls of one of the gardens.
Day 15 Suzhou To Shanghai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Suzhou To Shanghai

This afternoon take a fast train to Shanghai. As a cutting-edge global city, the food of Shanghai is an exciting blend of traditional and international flavors. Given Shanghai’s location on the East China Sea, as well as the region’s extensive network of rivers, lakes and canals, both seafood and freshwater produce are also common. Hairy crab is the city’s most notable delicacy, though it’s only available in winter between the months of September and November. Join your leader for a walking tour that will take you to historical Shanghai. At the Bund you can get a taste of 1920s Shanghai; its spectacular array of art deco style buildings, formerly belonging to Western banks, line what was once the most important financial street in Asia. Wander the narrow winding lanes (nongtangs) of old Shanghai, where you can get a real glimpse into the locals’ daily life. Explore the European-influenced French Concession, the area of Shanghai once designated for the French, where tree-lined avenues and Tudor mansions still retain an air of the ’Paris of the East’. To celebrate your arrival, why not join your leader for a drink at a rooftop bar overlooking the bright lights of this exhilarating city (not included). This rest of the evening is free for your own Shanghai food adventure. There are endless options in Shanghai, with a restaurant scene bursting with international flavours as well as one of the most vibrant street food scenes in China. Your tour leader will have plenty of suggestions for the best places to suit any taste or budget.
Day 16 Shanghai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Shanghai

Today join your leader for a walking tour that will take you to historical Shanghai. At the Bund you can get a taste of 1920s Shanghai; its spectacular array of art deco style buildings, formerly belonging to Western banks, line what was once the most important financial street in Asia. Using the efficient subway, we finish our tour at the Yuyuan Gardens, a classic example of traditional Chinese landscape gardening. This afternoon you might like to explore further afield on foot and wander the narrow winding lanes (Nongtangs) of old Shanghai. Take in the European-influenced French Concession, the area of Shanghai once designated for the French, consisting of today’s Luwan and Xuhui Districts. Luwan’s Huaihai Road is a busy shopping street and is home to both Xintiandi and Tianzifang, extremely popular shopping and dining spots for visitors. The area’s tree-lined avenues and their many Tudor mansions still retain an air of the ’Paris of the East’. Join back with your group tonight for an included dinner of Shanghai specialties.
Day 17 Shanghai (Departure)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Shanghai (Departure)

Your China tour comes to an end this morning. There are no activities on the final day and you are free to leave your accommodation at any time.

Kindly Reminder: the check out time normally is 12:00. If you have booked an airport transfer through Truly China Travel, please confirm the pick up time with your tour leader in advance.

+14

17 days tour

China Provincial Discovery

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip China Provincial Discovery

Arrive In Hong Kong & Group Meeting

Hong Kong To Yangshuo

Explore Yangshuo

Continue To Discover The Beauty Of Yangshuo

Yangshuo To Chengdu

Chengdu

Chengdu To Xian

Xian

Xi’An - Luoyang To Shaolin

Shaolin Kungfu Temple To Beijing

Beijing

Beijing

Beijing

Beijing To Suzhou

Suzhou To Shanghai

Shanghai

Shanghai (Departure)

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