15-Day Fully Guided China Tour

Today you leave Amsterdam for Beijing with your booked flight. On the day of departure, you must register at the Schiphol Airport at least 4 hours in advance for your international flight from Amsterdam to Beijing with a switch. For current departure, arrival times and desk check-in information, please consult the Schiphol digital screens in the departure halls. Attention: Take your passport, ticket and travel and health insurance

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Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be taken to your hotel accommodation and have the rest of the day off to spend. Overnight stay: Peace Hotel Beijing hotel a.k.a. Vol Pension

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After breakfast, start exploring the Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing. This vast square is of great importance to the Chinese people and often sets the scene for important national events. Here you will visit several highlights, including the Monument for the Volkshelden, which is located in the middle of the square. Dive into the history of the Forbidden City, an ancient palace complex where 24 Emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties resided. Your guide will provide you with fascinating details about the history of this complex and the life of those who lived there. The Forbidden City is on the UNESCO World Heritage list because of its extensive collection of preserved wooden buildings and is of invaluable cultural value. Continue your journey to the Jingshan Park, opposite the Forbidden City. From the top of the hill in this park you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Forbidden City and the vast city landscape of Beijing. After lunch, you will travel northwest towards the Summer Palace, a royal residence built during the Qing Dynasty. Walk through the spectacular gardens, past palaces and temples, and admire the architectural beauty. Overnight stay: Peace Hotel Beijing hotel a.k.a. Vol Pension

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After breakfast you travel south, to the Temple of Heaven, an imperial shrine where the emperors prayed at the time for an abundant o harvest. Explore this architectural masterpiece and then continue your journey to the Chinese Wall at Mutianyu; One of the best places to visit this world wonder. This location is about 80 km north of the center of Beijing and the drive takes about 2.5 hours by private car. Once you arrive, you will have 2 to 3 hours to walk over this centuries-old defense work and enjoy the magnificent view while the wall runs through the mountain landscape. Would you rather not walk upstairs? Then you can use a cable car; there is also a toboggan run (optional; the cost of the cable car or toboggan run is not included). On the way back you can make a stop at the Olympisch Park (optional) or take a walk through the Qianmen street. Overnight stay: Peace Hotel Beijing hotel a.k.a. Vol Pension

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High Speed Train Journey Beijing – . – . – . . After breakfast you will travel to the Lama temple, also known as the Yonghegong temple. This is a temple and monastery of the Gelug current within Tibetan b uddhism; here is the largest wooden Buddha in the world. Then you have 1 to 2 hours to experience the traditional hutong culture by visiting Shichahai, in the west of Beijing. You make a trip by rickshaw through the centuries-old hutongs of Shichahai Ohio a unique opportunity, as these neighborhoods are threatened with demolition. Walk through the historic street Yandai Xiejie, which has been around the Trommel Tower of Beijing for 800 years. You have plenty of time to explore nearby Nanluoguoxiang; taste local snacks or sniff in the many antique shops for souvenirs for family and friends. In the afternoon take the high-speed train to Xi'an (a journey of about 5 hours). On arrival in Xi'an you will be picked up and taken to your hotel. Overnight stay: Eastern House Xi'an a.k.a. Vol Pension

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Visit this morning one of China's most iconic sights: The museum of the Terracotta Army. This vast underground army, often called the "eighth wonder of the world," was built over 2000 years ago to protect and protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife. You will explore the impressive excavation pits and also get the chance to make your own little warrior figure during a practical clay workshop. Return to the city in the afternoon and stroll along the city wall of Xi'an, China's oldest and best preserved city wall. From here you have a beautiful panoramic view of the old town. Then walk through Shuyuan Men Street, a lively alley full of shops with traditional art and calligraphy studios. Close the afternoon in the Muslim quarter, where you can taste delicious local snacks and experience the lively Hui culture. Overnight stay: Eastern House Xi'an a.k.a. Vol Pension

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Visit Tiamen Mountain In the morning you fly on flight 3U3257 from Xi'an to Zhangjiajie; Departure is at 08:50 and arrival in Zhangjiajie at 10:20. On arrival in Zhangjiajie you will be picked up for a visit to Mount Tianmen. The picturesque area around Mount Tianmen has been designated as the second national forest park of Zhangjiajie. With an altitude of almost 1,520 meters, the Tianmen is the highest peak in the region and is often considered the 'soul' of the area. The mountain is covered with graceful trees and karst formations, and hosts a wide variety of medicinal herbs and plants. Mount Tianmen is also known for its 'four miracles': the cable car of Tianmen, the Tongtian Dadao (the 'road to heaven'), the Tianmen cave and the 'bonsai garden in the sky'. You can also visit cultural attractions, such as the Tianmen Temple, and take an exciting walk along the glass path (the 'Glass Skywalk') on Mount Tianmen. Overnight stay in Wulingyuan. Overnight stay: 4 star hotel a.k.a. Vol Pension

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Today you have the chance to explore the breathtaking natural wonders of Yuanjiajie and the Tianzi Mountain in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Your adventure begins with an exciting ride in the highest and fastest open lift in the world, which takes you to Yuanjiajie, often called the "Backyard" of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This nature reserve is one of the most important attractions of the Wu Lingyuan Nature Reserve and offers unrivalled landscapes with magnificent mountains and special mountain peaks. With a total area of 1200 hectares and a height of 1074 meters, Yuanjiajie is home to the famous First Bridge. This natural stone bridge spans 20 meters over the thin air between two mountain peaks and forms an impressive arch. While exploring this area, you will be immersed in majestic views of steaming valleys, vaporizing moisture, waving pine trees and fluttering winds. After lunch, visit Mount Tianzi, named after leader Xiang Dakun, a rebellion of the Tujia minority. Mount Tianzi, often praised as the "king of the mountains," offers enchanting views of the seas of clouds and fog. Especially after rain showers, when the air clears up, the landscape becomes even more enchanting. Overnight stay in Wulingyuan. Overnight stay: Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Expert Village Courtyard Hotel a.k.a. Vol Pension

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In the morning, you will travel to the glass bridge of Zhangjiajie Ohio with a length of 435 meters, the longest bridge with glass bottom in the world, which hangs 375 meters above the Grand Canyon. After crossing the bridge, your guide will take you on a walk of about two hours through the gorge, passing waterfalls, streams and lush forests. In the afternoon you will visit Lake Baofeng, which is hidden in a quiet mountain valley. After a short walk you will reach the water, where you will take a boat trip of 30 minutes along impressive mountain peaks, accompanied by traditional songs from local minority groups. If you prefer to walk, you can choose the Golden Whip Stream in the Zhangjiajie National Park instead; a simple, flat path of 7.5 kilometers through sandstone valleys, where you can sometimes encounter wild monkeys on the way. At the end of the afternoon you will travel to the city of Zhangjiajie, where you will spend the night. In the evening you will visit the '72 Strange Building' (72 Qilou), a huge architectural complex in the style of the Tujia people. With its spectacular light shows, cultural performances and offerings of street food, this is one of Zhangjiajie's most vibrant places after sunset. You will stay in the center of Zhangjiajie. Overnight stay: Hampton by Hilton a.k.a. Vol Pension

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In the morning you will be dropped off at the train station of Zhangjiajie, from where you will take a train trip of about 7 hours to Guilin. On arrival at Guilin Train Station you will be picked up and taken to your hotel. You can spend the rest of the day as you see fit: relax or explore Guilin on its own. Overnight in Guilin. Overnight stay: Guilin Bravo Hotel a.k.a. Vol Pension

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Excursion Rural experience Yuangshuo Start your day with a relaxing boat trip across the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo; a four-hour scenic journey through one of China's most iconic karst landscapes. The middle section is particularly impressive, with highlights such as the Wall Hill (Mural Hill) where the patterns in the rocky wall reminiscent of galloping horses and the town of Xingping, known as the location depicted on the 20 yuan banknote. Enjoy a lunch on board while passing bamboo forests, limestone peaks and quiet fishing villages. On arrival you will be picked up and brought to your hotel in Yangshuo. In the afternoon you can enjoy a two to three hour exploration of the countryside around Yangshuo. You can choose to explore the area by bike, on foot or by cart along the Yulong River, passing through rice fields, water buffaloes and traditional stone villages. Overnight stay in Yangshuo. Overnight stay: Yangshuo Riverside Resort Hotel a.k.a. Vol Pension

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Domestic flight Yangshou - Shanghai Meet your local guide this morning and go to the 600-year-old Dragon Bridge, one of the most iconic stone arch bridges in the upper course of the Yulong River. Enjoy the peaceful countryside, followed by a relaxing one-and-a-half hour walk on a bamboo raft across the Yulong River to the village of Jiuxian. Along the way you can look out for bamboo forests, rice fields, orchards and traditional farm life. The village of Jiuxian is a quiet, ancient settlement known for its stone houses, quiet alleys and authentic rural charm. In the afternoon, you will travel to the Xianggong Hill in about 40 minutes (also known as Husband Mountain). A short walk of 15 minutes will take you to the summit, where you will be rewarded with a magnificent panorama of the Li River that will take you through impressive karst mountains. The transfer to Guilin Airport will follow for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival you will be waited and brought to your hotel. Overnight stay in Shanghai. Overnight stay: Shanghai SSAW Boutique Hotel Bund a.k.a. Vol Pension

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In the morning after breakfast you will be picked up and visit Yu Garden and take a walk through Shanghai Old Street to learn more about the history of Shanghai. After lunch, go to Xintiandi in the French concession. This was the location of the first congress of the Chinese Communist Party, but is nowadays a hip cultural center of Shanghai. Finally visit the Shanghai Tower on the outskirts of Lujiazui in the Pudong District. Finally, walk along the Shanghai Bund and Nanjing Road, where you will discover the city's modern life. Overnight stay in Shanghai. Overnight stay: Shanghai SSAW Boutique Hotel Bund a.k.a. Vol Pension

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In the morning after breakfast you will be picked up for an excursion to water town Tongli. This is an excellent choice to experience the water city culture. Tongli is famous for its gardens, buildings and classic bridges. Here you can take a tour and visit the Tuisi garden, which is known for its unique and compact design. The main halls and pavilions are built close to a central pond, giving the serene impression of a garden floating on the water. Overnight stay in Shanghai. Overnight stay: Shanghai SSAW Boutique Hotel Bund a.k.a. Vol Pension

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Full of new spiritual and unique experiences and memories, you will be taken to the Shanghai International Airport about four hours before your flight to Amsterdam.

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