8 Days Xian – Guilin – Shanghai Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Xian Arrival

   Our driver will meet you at Xian airport / Train station by holding a welcome sign with your name. Then you will be transferred to the hotel we have booked for you and check in. In the rest of the day, take the time to relax yourself or explore the city.

   Accommodation: Xian

2. Day 2: Xian
   Terracotta Warriors and Horses, City Wall, Shuyuanmen Ancient Street, Yongxingfang Local Food & Folk Culture Quarter (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel at 08:30am. Today’s first stop is the famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It shows a much high level in handicraft and sculpture are the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM: In the afternoon drive back to city center to visit Xian Ancient City Wall, the most completely preserved and the largest city wall in China. It was built for military defense in the ancient time. Visitors can optionally ride a bike on the top of the City Wall to see the city from a unique angle. Going down from City Wall you will roam on the Shuyuanmen Ancient Street. The 570 meters long ancient Chinese style pedestrian street bears over 100 book stores and stationery stores. At last you will visit a new food street in Xian – Yongxingfang Local Food & Folk Culture Quarter. It is an excellent place to try some local snacks in good sanitary condition. Then you will walk around for a while to have a glimpse of the lifestyle of the local people.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

3. Day 3: Xian – Guilin by Flight
   Xian Museum, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square, Muslim Quarter (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: In the early morning, you will be picked up at the exit of Xian train station, meet your local Xian guide who’s holding a name board. Then we drive to visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda first, which is one of the two completely preserved Tang Dynasty Buddhist Pagodas in Xian. Next go to Xian Museum where you will find historical relics and learn about the history of this ancient capital city. Later on, visit the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda here was built in the Tang Dynasty for keeping Buddhist Sutra and figurines of the Buddha that Master Xuanzang brought back from ancient India. Now surrounding the Pagoda is the large public square for leisure.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM:  You will continue to explore the graceful Bell and Drum Tower Square which locates in the very center of the city and is considered as the symbol of this old capital. Next, walk to Muslim Quarter where you will find many special local products and authentic local snacks. You can enjoy preserved meat, casserole, various noodles, and purcahse some Terracotta Warriors imitation as souvenirs.

   After finishing here you will be escorted to airport for flight to Guilin. Met by local driver and transfer to hotel inGuilin.

   Accommodation: Guilin

   

4. Day 4: Guilin - Yangshuo by Cruise
   Li River Cruise, Yangshuo West Street (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: Today is the highlight of your Guilin tour as you will embark on a ship to cruise down the picturesque Li River!

   Taking the cruise on the Li River, you will admire the picturesque scenery of this land with a harmonious combination of the green hills, rivers, lakes and fields. But its beauty is not like a still painting, it’s alive when vivid – brisk bamboo rafts leaving wrinkles on the water and cormorants hovering under the working fishermen… Our guide will uncover the hidden history and culture behind the natural screen before you during your cruise. You will learn from the local expert about how the city formed and developed and how local people manage their life along the famous Li River.

   Friendly Tips: The Li River Cruise takes around 4 hours, and you will be staying on the boat to enjoy the scenery for most time, so 3-star boat as included would be  adequate according to most tourists’ experience.

   Noon: You are suggested to have a good breakfast at your hotel and take some snack as there will be only simple box lunch be provided on the boat.

   PM: After the 4 hours’ cruise, you will disembark at Yangshuo. Follow your guide to explore the famous Yangshuo West Street to admire the antique buildings and local crafts, hanging out in bars and coffee shops, and try some delicious local snacks.

   Last, transfer to Yangshuo local hotel for overnight.

   

5. Day 5: Guilin
   Longji Rice Terraces, Long Hair Show (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: After breakfast, drive to the painting-like Longji Rice Terraces, which has thousands of years’ history. It is hard to believe that the minority people were able to bring the remote mountains under cultivation by the slash-and-burn method over 2,000 years ago. Now the rice terraces not only feed the local people but also provide the people around the world a retreat from everyday life.

   Arrive at Longji Terraces Scenic Area, you will enjoy the one-of-a-kind Long Hair Show performed by Yao Minority women in Huangluo village, which was awarded the “World’s Longest Hair Village” by Guinness World Records. Famous for their long and shiny hair, the women of Huangluo cut their hair only once in their lives upon turning 18. In addition to that, you can also have a glimpse of the Zhuang and Yao minority people’s lifestyle through this visit.

   Noon: Lunch at local restaurant.

   PM: After enjoying the spectacular rice terraces, the fragrant bamboo-tube-cooked rice will be waiting for you. The soaked rice is put inside a fresh bamboo tube, and the mouth of the tube is plugged with fresh leaves. The rice will be ready after cooking over a fire for about half an hour. When you cut open the bamboo tube by using a knife, the delicate fragrance will greet your nostrils.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Guilin

   

6. Day 6: Guilin – Shanghai by Flight
   Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Seven-Star Park (Breakfast + Lunc)

   AM: In the morning meet the guide and driver in your hotel and start your Guilin tour with Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin City. Afterward head to Fubo Hill which towers in the river. Climbing up to the hill top you will have a overlook of Guilin City.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Then continue the tour to Reed Flute Cave, one of the top famous Karst Caves in China. The last top will be Seven-Star Park, the best park in Guilin City where you will appreciate a great work including hills, rivers, courtyards, architecture, and cultural relics.

   After the tour transfer to Guilin Airport and take the flight to Shanghai. Arriving in Shanghai meet your driver and check in hotel in city area.

   Accommodation: Shanghai

   

7. Day 7: Shanghai
   Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Market, Shanghai Museum, People Square, Former French Concession, Nanjing Road, the Bund (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: At 08:30, our English speaking tour guide and driver will pick you up from the downtown hotel. Your exploration in Shanghai begins with the famous Yuyuan Garden, which is a representative of classical Chinese gardens with elegant pavilions, old bridges, artistic rockeries, small ponds, etc. It was originally built by Pan Yunduan in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty for his parents to enjoy their old age in peace. The garden has gone through a lot in the over 400 years’ history. It was once deserted at the death of Pan Yunduan, restored by new owners, badly damaged during the Opium War, and reopened in 1961 after a lot of repairs.

   Nearby is the lively Yuyuan Market, wonder around here you can get everything from traditional Chinese crafts like chopsticks, fans, and pottery to local delicacies such as steamed buns, crab shell cake, and pork chop with rice cakes. Don’t forget to haggle for a better price.

   After that, move on your visit to Shanghai Museum( closed on every Monday ). The museum houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings and calligraphy works.  Finish the exploration of history, stroll on People Square to have a glimpse of the daily life of the locals. The square now is most famous for its match-making corner where parents try to seek partners for their children.

   

   Noon: Lunch at local restaurant.

   PM: Next, come to the Former French Concession, the largest and most prosperous concession among all the four French concessions in old China. From 1849 to 1943, this area was ruled by France for almost a century. Here your tour guide will reveal a history of humiliation and you will see many old beautiful European style buildings which look very charming hidden in the shade of French parasol trees.

   Afterwords, come to the earliest shopping street in Shanghai-Nanjing Road. Your tour guide will point out the four time-honored department stores, Yong’an Company, Xianshi Company, Xinxin Company and Daxin Company, from which you can get a bit history of this commercial street. If you want to try some delicious food, the street definitely will not disappoint you.

   Last, enjoy your sightseeing in one of the landmarks of Shanghai - the Bund. You may not know that the area used to be a desolate tidal flat, but turned into British settlement and Shanghai’s financial center in the late Qing Dynasty. It is the perfect place to take great photos of amazing skyline. Make sure to bring your camera!

   Accommodation: Shanghai

   

8. Day 8: Shanghai Departure

   Our guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and send you to the airport for your flight back home after this pleasant 8 days Xian Guilin Shanghai tour.