Highlights
Start the tour from Bejing a renowned metropolitan city with time-honored history. It is home for world-famous Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square. Then we move to south part of china to see more natural scenery which highlights the beautiful Li River Cruise in Guilin, Silver Beach in Beihai, Qingxiu Mountain in Nanning, Wuyi Mountain and Gulangyu Island in Fujian. Your last top of the tour is Shanghai.You will probably be shocked by Shanghai's modernization and fashionable life. A walk to the Nanjing Road and the Outer Bund will inform you how booming China's economy is.
Itinerary
Upon your arrival in Beijing, meet your local CET representative and transfer to your hotel. Relax and rest before a welcoming dinner as well as a tour briefing with your CET representative.
Stay overnight in Beijing.
Meals included:
After breakfast, we visit the [Tian’anmen Square]. Flanked by the People Great Hall on the left and the China National Museum on the right, with the People’s Hero Monument and Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum in the middle, Tian’anmen Square is the world's largest city square. One visitor has written, "An army troop could be massed, and all the kites in the world could fly." After roaming the Square we walk through the Tian’anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace), under the famed portrait of Chairman Mao, to enter the [Forbidden City] , the symbolic center of the Chinese universe and a lasing monument of dynastic China, from which 24 emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties ruled the Middle Kingdom for nearly 500 years (1420-1911).
Afterwards, let’s enjoy a [rickshaw ride along Old Beijing's Hutongs] (narrow ancient alleys) to discover the sights and sounds of local Beijing life in these traditional Chinese neighborhoods. See the locals as they go about their daily activities; and tour the maze-like alleyways and courtyard houses. Highlights include visits to a traditional courtyard home, to a local market, and a leisure walk along the "Lotus Lane" lined with bars, restaurants and tea houses. This unique tour features a delicious lunch served at a local family home with a Chinese dumpling-making demonstration.
Return to your hotel for some free time in the afternoon. In the evening, we arrange a [Beijing Duck] diner for you to taste the city’s most famous specialty.
Stay overnight in Beijing.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner
A memorable day awaits with an excursion to the [Sacred Way of Ming Tombs] and the [Great Wall]of China at the less-visited Mutianyu section.
After breakfast, you take a drive to the northwest of Beijing to visit the Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, regarded as China's finest example of imperial tomb architecture. Situated in a peaceful valley, the site was chosen by the Ming emperors as their burial place for its auspicious Fengshui alignment — a ridge of mountains to the north cradles the tombs on three sides, opening to the south and protecting the dead from the evil spirits carried on the north wind. Here you will walk along the elegant Sacred Way that leads to the tombs. Beginning with a grand marble gateway more than 400 years old, the long avenue is lined with 36 massive stone sculptures of officials, lions, elephants, camels and mythical beasts.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you take a scenic drive through the countryside and mountains to reach China’s most renowned monument-the Great Wall. Since the Great Wall is the single greatest attraction of China travel, we take you to the less-visited and more "original" Mutianyu section and try to avoid the most accessible and consequently the most crowded section of Badaling.
Stay overnight in Beijing.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
In the morning, you visit the [Temple of Heaven], the largest temple complexes in China and a paradigm of Chinese architectural balance and symbolism. One key element in China's architectural genius was the blending of the monumental with the delicate, and the Temple of Heaven is perhaps the finest expression of this mixing of near opposite.
Time permits, you take a photo stop at the "Bird Nest" and visit the exterior portion of this huge complex — the main stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympics. In the afternoon, you tour the idyllic [Summer Palace], once the summer retreat and playground for the imperial family and royal court during the late Qing Dynasty. Considered the finest Chinese imperial garden, the Summer Palace spans over 700 acres with breathtaking views, temples, pavilions, palaces and halls including the lavishly painted "Long Corridor". It is most associated, however, with the Empress Dowager Cixi who paid for the extravagant Marble Boat with funds meant for the modernization of the Imperial Navy. Weather permitting you can take a Dragon boat ride across the picturesque Kunming Lake.
Later, transfer to the airport for a flight to Guilin to experience the naturally beautiful side of your China trip.
Stay overnight in Guilin.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
Today's excursion will take us to appreciate “the Best Scenery under Heaven” — The Li River. Drive from our hotel to the wharf for the [Li River cruise]; enjoy the Li River picturesque scenery all the way to Yangshuo. Lunch will be served onboard. After getting disembarked at Yangshuo, have some free time to stroll around in this lovely and beautiful small town before going back to Guilin.
Stay overnight in Guilin.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
In the morning, we tour [Daxu Old Town] where you can see over 300 hundred years old street and wood and adobe houses, and then a [tea plantation] to learn some tea culture and have a taste of several kinds of tea they make themselves there. After lunch, visit the [Reed Flute Cave], which boasts a natural gallery full of fantastic limestone stalactites and stalagmites and stone pillars. Then transfer to the airport to catch the flight for Beihai.
Stay overnight in Beihai.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
It’s a day for you to relax thoroughly on the [Silver Beach] and the old street in Beihai.
Stay overnight in Beihai.
Meals included: Breakfast
Take our van or private bus or train to travel to Nanning, the capital of Guangxi. After lunch, we will visit the [Qingxiu Mountain] , which is the 'green lung' of Nanning City. Located 5 kilometers (about 3.1 miles) southeast of the suburbs of Nanning and bordering the Yongjiang River, the mountain range is renowned for its beauty and the clear waters which run through it. It is no wonder they are counted as one of the Eight Wonderful Sceneries of ancient Nanning.
Stay overnight in Nanning.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
After breakfast, take our van or private bus to Detian, and then we will have a visit to [Detian grand water fall], the second largest cross-country waterfall in the world (between China and Vietnam). Come back to Nanning after the visit.
Stay overnight in Nanning.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
After breakfast, we will take a domestic flight to Fuzhou, and in the afternoon, we will proceed to travel to Wuyishan by train.
Stay overnight in Wuyishan.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
In the morning, you will visit the [Mount Wuyi] for a full day tour, which is famous for its natural conservation of a large number of ancient plant species, wild animals and reptiles, many of which are peculiar to China. Its tranquil beauty and intact environment offer a refuge to the primitive forest, so it is called the 'Natural Arboretum'. Afterwards, come back to hotel.
Stay overnight in Wuyishan.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
After breakfast, we will visit [other famous scenic spots of Mt. Wuyi] (Yixiantian/Huxiao rock/Dingming Bridge, etc). In the evening, we will travel to Xiamen by train.
Stay overnight on the train.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
You will arrive in Xiamen in the early morning. After breakfast, visit [Gulangyu Island] and [Sunlight rock], the most famous scenic spots of Xiamen. Then process to the [Southern Putuo temple] and go shopping at [Longtoulu shopping street]. Afterwards, go to the airport for our flight for Shanghai.
Stay overnight in Shanghai.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
Today, we begin our tour in the heart of old Shanghai at the 16th century city bazaar, the [Town God’s Temple Bazaar]. This complex, with its classical architectural details, maze of walkways and reflecting pools, has been a marketplace and social center for over 200 years. In contrast, there is the futurist Pudong area. Transformed from once fertile farmland, this new area is rapidly becoming the symbol of modern China with its world class hotels, international financial institutions, and commercial centers.
We visit to the 88th floor of the [Jinmao Tower] , the third tallest building in China. From its lofty platform, you enjoy a stunning view of Shanghai. After lunch, you visit [People's Square] and tour the famed [Shanghai Museum] , an unique and inspiring piece of art and architecture, home to more than 120,000 cultural relics of ancient China, including a priceless collection of jade, bronze, ceramics, paintings, furniture, etc. After dinner, you attend an unforgettable performance of the Shanghai Acrobats.
After the performance, we will be dropped at the [Xin Tian Di] for a leisure and romantic night. Literally means "New Heaven Earth", it is Shanghai's trendiest lifestyle destination. This 2-block complex of high-end restaurants (some of Shanghai's best), bars, shops, and entertainment facilities, mostly lodged in refurbished traditional Shanghainese shikumen (stone-frame) housing, is the first phase of the Taiping Qiao Project, an urban renewal project. Busloads of domestic Chinese tourists traipse through in the evenings, Western visitors feel like they've never left home, and hip young Shanghainese flood here to enjoy the good life they feel they're due.
Stay overnight in Shanghai.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
It will be a relaxing day today. We will be provided with a specially prepared orientation list. Stroll through the Old Shanghai bazaar, shop at Nanjing Road’s emporiums, or enjoy a nostalgic evening performance by the renowned senior citizen’s Jazz band at the Peace Hotel.
Stay overnight in Shanghai.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
You will be transferred to either Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport to catch your flight directly home or home via Beijing. Your tour we sponsored ends at the airport in Shanghai or Beijing.
Meals included: Breakfast
Pricing & Accommodation
- US Dollar
- Euro
- GB Pound
- CA Dollar
- AU Dollar
- HK Dollars
- Renminbi
1 person | 2-5 persons | 6-9 persons | ≥10 persons | Single Room Supplement | |
First Class Tour | $5131 | $3414 | $3033 | $2569 | $1130 |
Comfortable Tour | $4095 | $2979 | $2595 | $2098 | $650 |
Standard Tour | $3468 | $2672 | $2275 | $1780 | $410 |
* Price in every box above is for each person.
* The default currency is in US dollar. Please use the Currency Converter to see the equivalent quote in your currency. Price is for references only, it may vary according to your actual travel itinerary, travel time, hotel price rise or fall, US dollar exchange rate fluctuation, car fuel price change and government tax adjustment, etc..
* The price is only for your reference and it is subject to seasons, high or low.Please send us your inquiry if you are interested.
* The differences between First Class Tour, Comfortable Tour and Standard Tour are mainly reflected in the hotels we use. For First Class Tour, we use mostly 5 star hotels (or hotels corresponded to 5 star ones), 4 star hotels for Comfortable Tour and 3 star hotels for Standard Tour. But there’re exceptions when there come home stay experience, remote destinations and other specified circumstances in the itinerary.
Inclusions / Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Attraction Entrance Fees
- Centrally Located Hotels
- Authentic Chinese Food
- Private Experienced Guides
- Private Cars/Van with Drivers
- Internal Flights/Train(s) in China
- Luggage Transfers
- Airport Taxes and Fuel Fees
- Service Charge & Government Taxes
- Travel Insurance
Exclusions:
- International Airfare to Enter/Leave China
- China Entry Visa Fees
- Excess Baggage Charges
- Personal Expenses
- Single Room Supplement
- Tips or Gifts to Guides/Drivers/Bellmen
Important Information
How to Pack up
We suggest that each person packs up one rollable suitcase with the weight under 20 kg/44lbs. For this tour, we also suggest you to prepare a big carryable backpack to carry your clothing and other necessities for the Tiger Leaping Gorge section. You will also need a small day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like iPods and mobile phones.
Checklist
It’s only for reference, you may not need all of them. Choose from below according to the tour you pick up:
Passport (with photocopies)
Travel insurance (with photocopies)
Airline tickets (with photocopies)
USD cash and travelers checks
Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
CET Travel vouchers and trip dossier
Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
Day pack for daily personal items
Wet wipes / Moist towelettes
Alarm clock
Flashlight
Sun hat, Sun block, Sunglasses
Insect Repellent
Water bottle and Plastic mug for train journeys
Ear plugs for train journeys or light sleepers
Small towel and swim wear
Toiletries (biodegradable)
Sturdy walking shoes/Sport sandals
Money belt
Shorts for summer months (June – September)
Long pants
Shirts/T-shirts
Warm clothes for Nov-April. Fleece, Jacket, hat and gloves
Umbrella or waterproof jacket.
Cover for backpack or plastic bags to keep clothes dry.
Camera, film and memory chip
Reading/writing material
Binoculars
Pocketknife
First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
Local Dress
Generally speaking, the dress standard is more conservative in China than it is in western countries. Things also changes quickly, nowadays the young Chinese share the same hobbies with their western counterparts. When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of summers. In predominately Buddhist and Muslim regions we ask that you dress respectfully and avoid very short shorts/skirts and singlets/tanktops when visiting temples or mosques or other holy sites.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Money Exchange
As currency exchange rates in Asia fluctuate often we ask that you refer to internet for the recent exchange rates. There are many ATM machines that accept both Visa and MasterCard and other credit cards in most Chinese cities. We also recommend the use of cash and travelers checks in USD currency. Major credit cards are accepted in big shops but they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee. For the small shops and the street venders, they take cash (either Chinese Yuan or US dollar) only.
Meals
Eating is a big part of your traveling in China. Travelling with CET Travel you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally breakfasts and lunches are included except dinners to give you the flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. Your group leader or local guide will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip.
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD200 (or equivalent) as an “emergency” fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control, necessitate a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
Tipping
It is customary to tip service providers in travel industry in Asia, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is expected - though not compulsory - and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from $3-$5 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service, for driver, it could be half. If necessary, ask your tour leader or call your CET Travel tour advisor for specific recommendations based on the circumstances. If you have a tour leader for the whole tour, at the end of the trip if you felt he/she did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however as a guideline $3-5 USD per person, per day can be used.
Local Flights
All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are all e-tickets. They are issued locally and You will be given the information of them prior to the flight departure.
Laundry
Generally laundry facilities are offered by our hotels for a charge. You also can go to a laundry service center near your hotel to have your clothing washed at a lower cost. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Safety and Security
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travelers’ checks, cash and other valuable items. Many of the hotels we cooperate with have safety deposit boxes which are the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. When travelling on a trip, please note that your group leader or local guides has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader or local guides will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader or local guides will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time.
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of China but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is not acceptable for CET travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. Use of illegal drugs is completely contrary to this philosophy and local law. Our group leader or local guides has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or used.
Health
If you want to fully enjoy your trip abroad, a good health and confidence in physical strength are important. This trip may contain a fair amount of walking up and down steps in towns or climbing mountains. For your comfort and safety, we recommend our trips only to individuals who are comfortable participating in 4-6 hours of daily physical activities and sightseeing. You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders or local guides are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. In China pharmacies tend to stock the same western drugs as you get at home but they are usually produced locally so please bring the full drug name with you when trying to purchase a prescription drug. When selecting a tour please carefully read the itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings in this dossier for trip specific information. For travelers over 70 years a completed Medical Form is highly suggested to brought forth. CET Travel reserves the right to exclude any traveler from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our group leader or local guides they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Medical Form
It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an “average level of fitness and mobility” is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travelers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own bags at a minimum. Travelers over the age of 70, or travelers with a pre-existing medical condition, are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that senior travelers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our leaders or local guides work hard to ensure that all our travelers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. You must have comprehensive travel insurance that covers you for medical costs associated with hospitalization, emergency travel and repatriation back to your home country. Please take your insurance policy with you when you travel. You may take other cover, of course, but we require you to be adequately insured before we can allow you to participate in our programs. Your CET Travel leader or local guides will need to see and record your policy details at the pre-tour briefing at the starting city, so please bring a copy along to the meeting. If you arrive without travel insurance your tour leader or local guide will require you to purchase a policy before you continue your journey with us.
If you are covered by a policy arranged through your credit card company you will be asked to provide evidence of this cover, as well as a 24-hour emergency contact number. Many credit card companies do not provide an insurance policy number. In this instance, the tour leader or local guides will need to record your credit card number, as this is required to activate any request for emergency assistance. You should also bring along the travel insurance information booklet provided by your credit card company. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the requirements set out by your credit card company in order to be effectively covered and that the cover offered is of a suitable standard.
Passport & Visas
Well before travelling, please ensure that you have a current passport, with an accurate photo, that is valid for at least six months after your scheduled return home. Also check that your airline tickets are in exactly the same name as your passport.
Please note that visas for China and Hong Kong are the responsibility of the individual traveler. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. Americans, British, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders do currently require a visa for China. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your government. For the most up to date information please check your governments’ foreign ministry website. It is important that you check for yourself. For most travelers there will probably have an embassy and consulate in the country that you live in. Please note if you are travelling from China, into Hong Kong then back into China, you will need a double entry Chinese visa. Note that on some occasions people transiting through China on way to Hong Kong have been made to go through immigration and had their single entry visa stamped making this invalid. Do not allow your visa to be stamped if you are only going through transit.
Keeping in Touch
If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend that you set up an email address that can be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Email cafes are becoming increasingly commonplace and cheap throughout the country, and have quickly become the preferred way for our leaders and travelers to stay in touch. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact us so we can get into touch with your tour leader or local guide quickly by their cell phone and they can pass their cell phone to you! We recommend that family and friends don't try to contact you through phoning hotels en route, as our hotels are subject to change.
Feedback
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us and we'll record you and give you CET travel points so you can use the points to get discount for your next CET trip or your friends’ CET tours.