12 Days China Golden Essence Tour

Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guilin, Hong Kong

Traveler Reviews

Tour Code: TCT-Classic-07

Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Highlights:

  Covering 5 most popular tourist destinations in China
  One of the best sellers in Top 10 China Tours
  Reasonable price, awesome private trip and service beyond your expectation
  Hand-picked scenic spots combined with fine-designed itinerary to make you an impressive holiday
 

Best Travel Time: Suitable for the whole year, best from April to November.

From $ 2001

Free Inquiry

Day 1Arrival Beijing
Transfer service to hotel

Meals: No Meals
Recommended Hotel: Citadines Ritan Service Apartment ★★★★

Arrive in Beijing, the capital city of China. You will be greeted and met by TCT tour guide at the airport and transferred to your hotel, whenever your flight arrives in Beijing. After check-in, free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Beijing City View
Beijing City View

Day 2Beijing
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Panjiayuan Antique Market

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel:  Citadines Ritan Service Apartment ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to explore the historical city of Beijing.

[09:30-12:30] You will reach the Tian’anmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Walk through the square and visit today’s highlight: Forbidden City , the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Hike to Jingshan Park, where gives a nice panoramic view of the Forbidden City at the top of Coal Hill.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at an authentic Chinese restaurant enroute.

[14:00-16:30] Visit Temple of Heaven, which was used to pray for harvest by the emperors. It is China's existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven. Shopping time at Panjiayuan Antique Market and tea store.

[16:30-17:30] Back to the hotel, en route you can plan for the night show or the Peking duck dinner with your guide and ask for suggestions.

Forbidden City
Forbidden City

Day 3Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Park, the exterior of Bird Nest and Water Cube

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Citadines Ritan Service Apartment ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to explore the Great Wall.

[09:30-12:30] Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall, which section is more popular among foreign visitors. Upon arrival, you can choose to hike on the Great Wall, or take cable car up and walk around.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant nearby The Great Wall.

[14:00-16:30] Drive back to Beijing city, while you can take a nap in the car. Have a stop at jade store. and then visit the exterior Bird Nest and Water Cube, the amazing architectures that built for Beijing Olympic Games.

[16:30-17:30] Back to the hotel, en route you can plan for the night activities, such as foot massage, houhai night bars and Sanlitun bar street.

Mutianyu Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4Beijing - Xian
Hutong Tour by rickshaw, Summer Palace, Departure to Xian by high speed train

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] You will have enough time to pack up and check out. Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and have half day leisure tour in Beijing.

[10:00-11:30] Drive to Drum Tower area for taking a relaxing Hutong Tour by rickshaw , which is the way to know the Beijing local lifestyle.

[11:30-14:30] Drive to Summer Palace, which is the existing largest, best-preserved imperial garden in China. Boat ride on Kunming Lake is included. Lunch will be arranged at a nearby restaurant.

After lunch, be transferred to the railway station for the high speed train(about 5hrs) to Xian. Your Xian tour guide will wait for you at the station and help you to transfer to the hotel.

Beijing Hutong Tour
Hutong Tour by rickshaw

Day 5Xian
Terracotta Warriors, Bell Tower, Gao's Courtyard, Muslim Quarter

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Somerset Xindicheng Xian ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to explore the Ancient city.

[09:30-12:30] Drive to  Terracotta Warriors and explore one of the world's most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation. Shuttle bus will be arranged for your convenience. Then you will have a chance to visit pottery figurine factory, where you can learn how to make a pottery figurine.

[12:30-14:00] A chinese Lunch will be arranged nearby the scenic area of Terracotta Warriors.

[14:00-17:00] Afternoon visit the Bell tower, which is the largest bell tower in structure and shape and the best-preserved one in China. Then have a visit at Gao's Courtyard, which is a wonderful choice for you to appreciate ancient residences and explore local culture of paper-cutting and shadow puppetry. Continue to walk around Muslim Quarter and enjoy your shopping time there and you can also challenge the various local snacks.

[17:00-17:30] Back to the hotel, en route you can plan for the night activities, such as Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner.

Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army

Day 6Xi'an - Shanghai
Ancient City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and north square, Hanyang Mausoleum, Fly to Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel:SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] You will have enough time to pack up and check out. Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and have one day leisure tour in Xian before leaving for Shanghai.

[10:00-12:30] Visit the Ancient City Wall, which represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. Bicycle or sightseeing car will be arranged on the wall to go around. After that visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and you will have chance to watch the North plaza fountain show.

[12:30-16:30] After lunch, drive to Xian airport, on the way visit the Hanyang Mausoleum, the largest museum with largest floor space in China.

Fly to Shanghai. Your Shanghai tour guide will wait for you at the airport and help you to transfer to the hotel.

Xian City Wall
Xian City Wall

Day 7Shanghai
Jade Buddha Temple, the exterior of Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Old Street, The Bund

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel:SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to explore the Modern city of China.

[09:30-12:30] Visit Jade Buddha Temple, which is famous for the seated Buddha, encrusted with jewels, which is said to weigh 1,000 kg.Then visit the exterior of Oriental Pearl TV Tower, while walking on Riverside Promenade Bingjiang Da Dao. On the way, we will have a stop at silk museum.

[12:30-13:30] Have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant enroute.

[13:30-16:30] Visit Yuyuan Garden, which is a Chinese classic garden in city downtown, shopping time at Shanghai Old Street and Nanjing Road which is the earliest commercial street in Shanghai, you could look for some special souvenirs and silk product there. After that, enjoy a leisure walk along the Bund, famous for groups of buildings known as "a Gallery of world architecture".

[16:30-17:30] Back to the hotel, en route you can plan for the night Acrobatic Show, especially the ERA show, which is one of the most popular evening entertainments in Shanghai.

Yuyuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden

Day 8Shanghai - Guilin
Fly to Guilin, Reed Flute Cave

Meals: Breakfast
Recommended Hotel: Guilin Bravo Hotel ★★★★

Free day at leisure and be transferred to the airport for flight to Guilin. Your Guilin tour guide will wait for you at the airport. In the afternoon, visit Reed Flute Cave which is a famous scenic spot offering a magic fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites in fantastic shapes and colors. On the way back to hotel, a shopping stop at pearl store.

Reed Flute Cave Guilin
Reed Flute Cave Guilin

Day 9Guilin - Yangshuo
Li River Cruise, West Street, Yangshuo countryside

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Guilin Bravo Hotel ★★★★

[08:00-08:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to explore the Li River on Cruise.

[09:30-14:00] Enjoy Li River Cruise tour with buffet lunch on board. Deluxe cruise will be arranged with decent facility and good service. Savor the fairy-tale scenery while cruising down the meandering river to Yangshuo. You can go on the sundeck or just sit and appreciate the view from the picture windows. After disembarking, walk through the West Street or take sightseeing car to the parking lot.

[14:30-17:00] In the afternoon, you will have a leisure trip in the countryside of Yangshuo by riding a bicycle, enjoy the beauty of southern China. Then drive back to Guilin for overnight.

[17:00-17:30] If you would like to stay in Yangshuo longer,  you can plan for the Impression of Liu Sanjie or just hang out at West Street night bars before back to Guilin. If you decide back to Guilin earlier, Two Rivers and Four Lakes Night Cruise is a good choice as your optional night activity.

Li River
Li River

Day 10Guilin - Hong Kong
Elephant Trunk Hill, Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park, Take high speed train to Hongkong

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Harbour Plaza Metroplis Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and check out from hotel in the morning. 

[09:30-13:00] Start to the morning tour to visit Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin. Walk to Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park next to Shahu Lake, which is famous for the golden and silver twin pagodas. Lunch is arranged at a local restaurant.

Drive from the expressway to Guilin West Railway Station for the 3.2hrs high speed train to Hong Kong in the afternoon. Your Hong Kong driver guide will wait for you at the station and help you to transfer to the hotel.

Elephant Trunk Hill
Elephant Trunk Hill

Day 11Hong Kong
The Victoria Peak, Stanley Street, Aberdeen Fishing Village, Gem Factory Outlet

Meals: Breakfast
Recommended Hotel: Harbour Plaza Metroplis Hotel ★★★★

Today, enjoy your half day city tour to Victoria Peak - will give you the best angle to capture exceptional video footage while you are moving to the 373 meters hill top. And then, move to the Aberdeen (no sampan) - home to hundreds of people living on fishing junks. Finally go to visit Stanley Street and the largest jewelry factory in Hong Kong. After the tour, you can enjoy your own free exploration in this city.

Victoria Harbor
Victoria Harbour

Day 12Departure Hong Kong
Transfer service to airport

Meals: Breakfast

Pack-up & check-out. Free day at leisure and be transferred to the airport for return flight. Your pick-up time will be reconfirmed by our tour guide beforehand according to your departure flight timing. Anyway, shopping spree before leaving for the airport

Service Ends

Tailor-made Free Inquiry

Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class Group Size Dec. ~ Feb. Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel
★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

From on request

From on request

6 ~ 9 pax

From on request

From on request

Comfortable Hotel
★★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

From on request

From on request

6 ~ 9 pax

From on request

From on request

Deluxe Hotel
★★★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

From on request

From on request

6 ~ 9 pax

From on request

From on request

Notice:
Due to the uncertainties of this tour, such as special local conditions , the changes of accommodation rate, etc, the tour has to be tailor-made and its price is on request. Please tell us in advance your group information inclusive of departure date, number of pax, and other individual needs, which will be helpful to work out a fit program and the right price.

Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos >>Feedbacks

5.0

Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Top China Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect. My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly. Thank you Vicky and all at TCT and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.
lakazdi

5.0

I went on a Top China Travel group tour. Everything was so well organised that I never had to worry about anything. I really liked that the group was small and it felt like we were a big group of old-friends all travelling together, not just a passenger on the bus. Every hotel, guide, driver and restaurant was very well picked. I was very happy with how well-informed each guide was, how flexible they were to ensure we all had a great time, and their English was all very good. At every step of the way, guides had us fill in a Top China Travel feedback form which I am certain the company take very seriously since their service was so good. I will be passing on their details to all my friends and family who want to travel in China.
ourview_11

5.0

From the first email to Top China Travel with Joyce to our wonderful Tour Guide Linda and our driver I can not say more happily what a wonderful trip we have had. Linda was very Kind and very informative with all your tours. The vehicle used was at very high standard and the Driver very safe. We had a private Tour for myself and my Husband we would totally recommend this company.
Chris W

5.0

When planning our China trip we read many trip advisor reviews and noticed Janet Chan’s name came up a number of times so we asked for her to arrange our journey across this fascinating land. What a great choice we made, she listened and responded to our questions and arranged all our trip that went off without any problems. We didn’t want shopping nor group travel and she responded brilliantly. Two days hiking on the wall with fabulous guide Miko, in fact all our guides and drivers were just excellent. High speed train meant we saw lots of China’s varied countryside and went to some out of the way places. We can only say great things about TCT and especially Janet Chan if you are planning a trip. Thank you Janet for an exciting and memorable trip! Chris n Jools Winstanley
Leandri P

5.0

We did a private tour of Beijing and the Mutianyu portion of the Great Wall in October. The company seamlessly put together the tour for us (graciously making changes to accommodate our preferences) without any problems. All the staff I dealt with (Joyce as the organizer and Sisi as the tour guide) was absolutely fantastic. Very kind and knowledgeable people who goes out of their way to make suggestions to ensure the most amazing experience you could possibly have. I wholeheartedly recommend this company for anyone wanting to travel to China. Truly an amazing company!
karenilena

5.0

wonderful visit and wonderful guide Li. Li showed us all the charms of this great city together with our Li river tour. We fell in love with this place and Yangshou. Great place to visit and it was a favourite city in all the cities we visited. great guide
Alngina

5.0

When we booked our trip to China we had a limited time to see everything we wanted to but Janet Chan at TCT did an absolutely amazing job at ticking every box and more. The itinerary was perfect. Journeys and accommodation were meticulously planned and accomplished. Our guides too were excellent. Alex in Beijing, Ken in Xian, and especially Maria in Shanghai were so professional and efficient that we never felt like strangers in a strange land. Many thanks TCT, best trip ever.
brenda1lee2000

5.0

I found Top China Travel in the internet, and started a conversation via email with one of the travel agents, her name is Joyce Tang, needless to say, she was excellent and understood exactly what we wanted to do and visit as a family. Joyce created a semi-private itinerary for my family. Everything went perfectly as planned and as described in the itinerary that I received from Joyce. We visited Shanghai, Xian, and Beijing, a 6 Day itinerary. We are extremely happy with the service we received!
bennystein

5.0

We finished our trip to China (2.5 weeks) before one week, and from then we have not stopped thinking and talking about it. Undoubtly was one of the best trips we have ever had. The trip was organized for 2 couples by TCT's agent Janet Chan who did a PERFECT planning and organization. Everything worked so well, starting with the scheduled plan, the outstanding guides, the proffesional drivers, the vans we had, the excellent hotels we stayed on. Everything was well planned and perfect delivered. We will not forget our guides, Alice in Shanghai, Linda in Beijing, Sue in Xian and Juli in Guilin and Yangshou, everything supervised and controled by Janet Chan. Thanks to all the team for enabling us to know China and its great People. Benny Stein.
diacamand

5.0

With Bonnie in TCT we organized a 12 days private tour, and she was really amazing. She organized more than 5 times our trip!!! She helped us with all duties, questions, everything!! All our guides were really good, high professional behavior, knowledge and advice. All of them did their best to let us to see as much as possible and gave us the best suggestions!!! Thanks a lot to Kurt in Beijing, Lee in Xian Susan in Guilin, Ken in Chongqing, Amber in Yichang and Vicky in Shanghai!!! GREAT!!! If you can ask for them, do it!! They were very professional, flexible and helpful. Thanks a lot, all of you, to make our trip unforgettable!!!
ILma H

5.0

We had the most wonderful time in our trip to China, thanks to TCT. We had a great team in every City: Leo in Shanghai; Sarah in Guilin and Yangshuo; Snow in Chengdu, Carol in Xian and Jane in Beijing. They prompt met us at every airport, and train station and welcomed us with warm friend smiles. We appreciated how responsible they were and always on time to take us everywhere we were going! They made our vacation the most memorable ever. We learned so much about China's history and the fascinating stories they shared with us! our trip organizer Janet had lunch with us in Guilin and introduced her daughter to us. we felt like part of the family:) and that's how we felt the entire trip, like we had our cousins waiting for us on every airport...what an AMAZING trip. we highly recommend TCT! Very special thanks to Snow for re- arranging our visit to the Panda bear sanctuary for us to take pictures with the baby Panda! Thanks again to Leo, Sarah, Snow, Carol and Jane. We loved you guys!!!
Sharma550000

5.0

It has been a wonderful private tour with TCT visiting Hong Kong, Guilin, Yangshuo, Xian, Bejing. We were promptly received at every airport and train station and warmly welcomed by all of the tour guides and also brought to our departure flights and trains always on time with warm and friendly smiles. This team (Billy, Summer, Eric) is very responsible which is very comforting for a traveller. Billy (Guilin/Yangshuo), Summer (Xian) and Eric (Bejing) are very knowledgeable about these cities and towns, and, easily provide the historical and traditional context of things which provided us deep understanding and clarity to our perspectives. We really enjoyed the Four Lakes cruise (Guilin), dinner in Yangshuo West Street, the performance impressions of Liu Sanjie (Yangshuo), Imperial show and Dumpling Banquet (Xian), dinner in the Houhai lake (Bejing), Peking Roast Duck at Quanjude Restaurant. At every location where we ate this team (Billy, Summer, Eric) ensured that our food preferences were taken care of even when it meant some last minute changes to the menu. Great flexibility. Strongly recommend these apart from visiting all the cultural and historical sites. Outstanding planning by Bonnie and immaculate execution by Billy, Summer, Eric made this a wonderful and memorable trip. Thank you guys and girls of TCT.
THELMACONTLA

5.0

My family and I chose a 12 day trip in China with Top China Travel: Beijing, Xi´an, Shanghai, Guilin and Hong Kong. It was a wonderful and unforgettable trip, everything was well organized by the company and I really recommend it.
rr201410

5.0

We book a China Tour through TCT. We received great assistance during the planning phase when our trip advisor (Rebecca) gave as details of all the visits, shows and transportation between cities and was very attentive to our demands. The tour was great, run according to the script and we want to send our words of thanks and appreciations for the efforts, knowledge, flexibility and punctuality to our guides: Lily (1) in Beijing, Lily (2) in Xian, Jane in Guilin, David in Chongqing, Helen in Yichang, Ryan in Shanghai. Many thanks to TCT for the great tour of China.
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