Your tour - at a glance
Day 1~3 Guilin -Yangshuo - Longsheng
Be picked up at hotel in Guilin and have a Guilin tour. You will enjoy half day leisure visit of Elephant Trunk Hill and Reed Flute Cave. And then catch the stunning Li River Cruise to Yangshuo. After the Yangshuo tour, you will get to amazing Longsheng Rice Terraces!
Day 4~5 Longsheng - Kaili
Drive to visit Sanjiang, Zhaoxing and Kaili. You will pay visits to wonderful primitive villages like Zhaoxing Dong Village, Biasha Miao Village, Langde Miao Village, Matang Gejia Village, etc.
Day 7~8 Mount Fanjing & Tongren Departure
Admire the sacred Mount Fanjing and enjoy a classic hike there. Drive back to Tongren to end the tour.
Full Itinerary Day by Day
Day 1 Guilin Arrival & Guilin
Welcome to Guilin, the most scenic city in China! Upon your arrival, be met by your local guide and escorted to your hotel in Guilin downtown.
You will start your Guilin tour after a break. Firstly make a visit to the symbol of Guilin landscape - Elephant Trunk Hill. A giant rock hill vividly shapes like an elephant which is drinking water. Besides, there are many historical sites here for you to explore, such as stone carving, Buddhist temple, relic exhibition, etc. Then, drive about 7 kilometers (about 20 minutes' drive) to the next attraction - Reed Flute Cave, a majestic underground palace with sparkling different colors. The magical Mother Nature condenses millions years of natural efforts to form the incredible stalactite, stalagmite, stone shield and stone waterfall of different sizes and shapes.
After the tour, be transferred to your hotel.
Evening Ideas: In the evening, if you want, you can to take a leisure walk around the famous city water system - Two Rivers and Four Lakes for the amazing night views.
Arrival Ideals: At present, there are many international and domestic flights to Guilin. Besides, you can take a high speed train to Guilin from Guiyang (about 2.5 hours), Guangzhou (about 3 hours), Changsha (about 3.5 hours), etc.
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Marina's Family Visited Elephant Trunk Hill in September, 2019
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Delma from Ireland visited Reed Flute Cave in July, 2021
Day 2 Guilin - Li River Cruise - Yangshuo (B, L)
As the declaration in Chinese textbook "Guilin's landscape is the best under heaven", today you will explore this best landscape starting with a relaxing sightseeing cruise along the Li River from Mopanshan Pier to Yangshuo Town. Along the 84-kilometer cruise, dazzling scenery overwhelms your eyes like a vast endless Chinese painting of winding river, green limestone karst mountains, fascinating countryside views, amazing scene of A Painting of Nine Horses, and notable view printed on the back of the 20 RMB note. (Please note: Lunch is served by the cruise with simple local Chinese cuisine. And you can take some snacks when getting on board.)
After about 4 hours's cruise, disembark in Yangshuo Town, and check into your hotel.
After a short break, start your impressive exploration of the best charming sightseeing and ideal countryside ease at Yulong River. Let all the refreshing scenes please your eyes and souls to the utmost. Just enjoy every moment with the Karst hills dotted around, chatting stream, rippling mountain reflection, swaying floras, patches of vivid crops, comfortable breeze... There are diverse kinds of ways for your enjoyment of the fun and beauty, including biking, hiking, bamboo rafting and driving. You can easily choose and combine your ideal way(s) and part of Yulong River. (Please tell your likes to your travel consultants before booking the tour, as the final prices will differ by activities you choose).
Biking (some physically demanding & sightseeing by the river) - Ride to enjoy the river view and the real fields (route: Yangshuo - Jima - Shuiedi Dock - Gongnong Bridge - West Street; for 1.5-2 hours).
Bamboo Rafting (relaxing and interesting & sightseeing on the river) - have fun with the classic bamboo rafting (Route A: Shuiedi Dock - Gongnong Bridge for 40-50 minutes; Route B: Jima Dock - Gongnong Bridge for 1.5 hours) to see the more serene view like pieces of traditional Chinese landscape ink paintings.
Driving (most leisurable and comfortable & sightseeing on the road) - drive and travel from Jima to Gongnong Bridge to appreciate the lovely countryside view (about 0.5 hour). You can get off and on anywhere on the middle way to explore more about your interested place.
After that, walk leisurely on the ancient West Street to witness how the western culture and Chinese culture perfectly and peacefully coexist here. Whether you want to enjoy a cup of drink in bar, taste some local food, or just experience the relaxing atmosphere, you get it here.
Note: according to the regulations of Yulong River Tourism, children less than 1 meter high and elders over 70 years old are not allowed to take the bamboo rafting.
Optional evening activity:
Watch the splendid evening performance of Impression Liu Sanjie with the Li River itself as the stage, which was directed by famous director - Zhang Yimou (usually performs for an hour between around 19:45 and 22:20).
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Guilin Li River Scenery on 20 RMB Chinese Note, Taken by Rose from India in September 2024
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Josh's Group from USA Enjoyed Cycling along Yangshuo Yulong River in July, 2023
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Christina's Group from Denmark Enjoyed Yulong River Bamboo Rafting in July 2021
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Giorgia's group from Italy visited Yulong River in August, 2019
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Chusi's Family from USA Visited Yangshuo West Street in June, 2018
Day 3 Yangshuo - Longji Rice Terrace (B, L)
In this morning,
you’ll be escorted from Yangshuo to Longji Rice Terrace in Longsheng
County (about 140km for 2-3 hours’ driving). Longji Rice Terrace is an amazing feat of farm engineering rising up to 1000m high in Longsheng
County. There are several featured Zhuang and Yao minority villages along the
road and you’ll take a visit to the special Huangluo Yao Village,
the First Village of Long Hair in the World, where you can see women in red
ethnic clothes with very long hairs (the longest can reach up to 1.7 meters).
Later, continue your drive to a beautiful 600-year-old
Zhuang Village - Ping’an and check in your hotel
located near the rice terraces. After some rest, start to explore the breathtaking
views. The rice terrace is layer upon layer, like the changing ladder created
by nature leading to the blue sky, forming a majestic painting between heaven
and earth. From Ping’an, you can hike on the cobbled paths built among terraces
to catch the best landscape. Climb up to the great lookouts at Seven
Stars with Moon and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers from
which you can get superlative views of terraces and villages. Hike half day
around, then back to Ping’an for dinner and accommodation.
Good to Know:
1. Best time to visit: Longji Rice Terrace can be visited all year round. Go
mid-April to mid-June for mirror-like irrigated terrace and rice transplanting
scene; go mid-June to mid-September for green terraces; go late September to
early-October for golden and harvest scene.
2. Walking: When arriving at Ping’an Village, you can only
be dropped at Ping’an Village Tourist Center parking lot that you need to walk
about 900 steps to your hotel. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended!
3. Luggage carrying: For the aged or travelers who are lack of
physical strength, you’d better hire a local porter to help carry your heavy
luggage to the hotel (pay extra expense on your own).
4. Notice: The Viewing Platform of Seven Stars with Moon is
under a reconstruction which means it is closed for travelers at present. The
hiking route between Seven Stars with Moon and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers
would do some adjustment during the construction. You won’t miss the amazing
rice terraces scenery when visiting.
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Longji Rice Terraces (Pingan) in late August 2019, Taken by Our Customer Gerhard from Germany
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Gerhard's group from Germany visited Huangluo Yao Village late August, 2019
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Longji Rice Terrices (Pingan, Seven Stars with Moon) in late September 2019, Taken by Caryn from Australia
Day 4 Longji Rice Terrace - Guilin - Zhaoxing Dong Village (B, L)
When waking up in the fresh air of peaceful morning, you may forget where you are. You can go to watch the magnificent sunrise over the beautiful rice terraces at a great location. Then get back to hotel for breakfast.
Later, drive back to Guilin to take a bullet train (about 1 hour) to Congjiang Railway Station. Your local guide and driver in Guizhou will meet you at the arrival hall and take you to Zhaoxing Dong Village, the largest Dong village in Guizhou. After checking in to your hotel, you’ll start to explore Zhaoxing Dong Village. It has been selected as “one of the six most beautiful countryside in China” and together with its drum towers were listed into the Guinness World Records in 2001. It is divided into 5 natural small villages, living in five different areas - which are called “Tuan” locally. Besides, there are five drum towers, five Wind and Rain Bridges and five stages setting in the village. Start your exploration from the village gate and get atop of the viewing platform to enjoy the panorama, where you can also clearly appreciate the five drum towers standing beautifully in the village. Afterwards, pay a visit to the Zhaoxing Dong Culture Museum to have a
better understanding about Dong people and its culture in all aspects. Follow the route to visit Xin Tuan (means faith) with the highest drum tower at 25.9 meters, Zhi Tuan (means wisdom), Yi Tuan (means righteousness), Li Tuan (means Rritual) with the first drum tower in Zhaoxing built in 17th century and Ren Tuan (means benevolence). You won’t miss the great performance in this afternoon and watch the famous Grand Song of Dong People and other interesting programs.
Accommodate in a local guest house or hotel in Zhaoxing Dong Village.
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Zhaoxing Dong Village
Day 5 Zhaoxing - Congjiang - Kaili (B, L)
After breakfast,
your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel. First, head to Biasha
Miao Village for an exciting exploration. Biasha Miao Village is called as
“the Last Gunslinger Village in China”. This is the only place in China where
residents are still legally allowed to own and carry guns. The Biasha people
are said to be the descendants of Chi You, a mythological warrior in ancient
China, and have traditions dating back 2000 years. Men of Biasha dress as
ancient warriors with black waistcoats and straight black trousers as well as
swords, hunting dogs, and firelocks. Women of Biasha wear black pair shirts and
pleated skirts, which are simple but embroidered with bright colors. Once
getting into the village, you will witness the welcome ceremony - Biasha men
line up and fire 3 shots to welcome guests! Later, enjoy the folk
performance to learn more about Biasha culture, including customs of
farming, hunting, ancestor-worshiping, gaming and marriage. You can even watch
an amazing haircut ritual - a live shave with a sickle. If you have more
time, you can take a walk around this beautiful village.
Later, drive a
long journey for 200 km (around 4 hours) to Shiqiao Miao Village. This
village is famous for the national intangible cultural heritage of traditional
paper making with trees’ bark by Miao ethnic group. Traditionally, paper was
first invented during the Eastern Han Dynasty around the year of 100 BC from
hemp, tree barks and old rags, etc. While the paper making technology in
Shiqiao can be dated back to 1,300 years and the skill is called Tang Dynasty
paper making. Catch the great opportunity to see the traditional ways of making
papers. If interested, you can learn paper making in the Chuan Cave (extra payment),
from which the underground river water in quite clean and good for the paper
quality.
Stay overnight in Kaili.
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Shiqiao Village is good at making flower paper in traditional way
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Haircut Ritual at Biasha Miao Village - a Live Shave with a Sickle
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Biasha Miao Village's Wooden Houses
Day 6 Drive to Fanjingshan in Tongren (B, L)
After breakfast,
your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Today, you’ll be
transferred about 28 km for a visit to Langde Upper Miao Village which
is reputed as “the Hometown of Chinese Folk Song and Dance Art”. It is with
less crowds, peaceful natural atmosphere, friendly villagers and rich cultural
heritage. Upon arrival at the village, you will be warmly treated with a traditional
welcome ceremony by the beautiful ladies and girls dressed in traditional
Miao costumes (long skirt). They will set twelve tables with “block-the-way”
wine and you can taste the wine to feel their hospitality. Once the toasts are
completed, you will continue to experience the singing and dancing performance
at the Lusheng Ground. The men will play Lusheng and the ladies will dance. If
you like, you can participate in the dance to enjoy more fun.
Later, you’ll be
transferred to Matang Gejia Village, a primitive Miao village with over
400 Gejia people who are called the 57th ethnic group in China
unofficially. According to the legend, Gejia people are the direct descendants of Hou
Yi, a legendary hero who was said to shoot the nine scorching
suns in order to save his people. Matang Village is famous for exotic attires, colorful
festivals and countryside feelings. The women and girls here
are specialized in batik that you can fully appreciate the uniqueness of the
Gejia batik patterns and embroidery as well as the excellent craftsmanship of
the villagers. If you are interested, you can learn how to make batik with
wax from a local master and create your own batik work (optional
experience with extra payment).
After the visiting, be
driven about 3 hours to the foot of Fanjingshan in Tongren City! Have a nice
sleep for the next hiking day!
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Matang Gejia Village
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Upper Langde Miao Village Performance
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Upper Langde Miao Village
Day 7 Fanjingshan - Tongren (B, L)
After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you
at your hotel. Then, you will be driven not far to the entrance of Fanjingshan
to discover this world well-known fantastic holy mountain along the popular
south route for about 7 hours.
Fanjingshan National Nature Preserve was listed as the UNESCO World Natural Heritage
in 2018 with the peculiar conspicuous mountains formation in sea of karst
retained from the remote era 65-2 million years ago and praised as the No.5
Buddhist Mountain in China for being the place of enlightenment of Buddha
Maitreya.
Enter the mountain and take a sightseeing bus for
about 20 minutes to Yu’ao Station and continue to take the cable car there to
catch a bird’s eye view of the dense emerald forest of Mount Fanjing during
another 20 minutes in the air. Now, start your hiking from the Forest
Hiking Road with 45 minutes up to witness the famous Mushroom
Stone. It is the landmark of Fanjingshan and draws people’s follow by
its unbelievable image of the bigger top quadrate putting off center on the
smaller quadrate bottom, which forms like a mushroom vividly and seems easy to
fall. However, for one million years, it just stands so still there after
centuries of rain, snow, wind and sunburn. Remember to take a standard photo of
tourists with it!
Then, continue to hike for about 30 minutes to
the Old Golden Summit and walk up to its peak. With
an elevation of 2,494 meters, it is the best observation deck to appreciate the
panorama of Fanjingshan with layers of forest of strange shaped stones, rolling
verdant mountain range, and vegetation forest in light and dark green. Also,
from the summit, you will see the iconic Red Clouds
Golden Summit clearly from a distance.
Then, walk down gradually to admire the natural
scenery along the way to visit the sacred Buddhist attractions including Wanming
Cave, Buddha Worshipping Stage, Monk Pagoda, Pudu Square, etc. You will not
miss the Cheng En Temple that was built first from
the Ming Dynasty and one of the four royal temples at Fanjingshan. Walk in the
major temple with solemn scarlet walls and dark tiles, worship among the about
10 halls, and imagine the rising and falling and recovery of Fanjingshan’s
Buddhist status in the past hundreds of years.
Here, take your challenge to hike along the narrow,
steep and rough steps with iron chain up to Red Clouds Golden
Summit that shows particularly often on Fanjingshan photographs.
This thumb-like peak is a world rare miracle erecting about 100 meters high
from the flatter mountain bed millions of years ago and is separated with two
peaks and a gorge by natural wearing and with a bridge linked between. After
reaching the top, visit the appealing Temple of Buddha, the bridge and Maitreya
Temple in sequence to feel walking from present to the future in Buddhist
belief. While witnessing the hard-to-believe difficulty of building houses on
such a steep crest, stand on the peak to command the panoramic view of
Fanjingshan and enjoy the feeling of being in the “space in the sky”. (Note:
You can choose to go up or not considering your physical condition at that time.
Just tell your needs to the guide.)
After the physical consuming hiking, walk by Jingxin
Pool and go to see Wanbao Rock. You will truly believe
Fanjingshan was in fact a part of ocean in the remote 1.4 million years ago by
the strong proof of the cobbles, shells, paleontological fossils, and so on
left within the shale rock there.
After the amazing sightseeing hiking exploration, take
the cable car and sightseeing bus down to exit Fanjingshan Scenic Area. You
will be driven to Tongren City for accommodation. Have a good sleep!
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Fantastic Aerial View of Fanjingshan
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Bizarre Mushroom Stone of Fanjingshan
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Magnificent Red Clouds Golden Summit of Fanjingshan
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Panorama of Sacred Cheng En Temple
Day 8 Tongren Departure (B)
Today, after breakfast, our local guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then escort you to the airport / train station for your flight / train for your next destination or home! Service Ends!
Departure Ideas: For your convenient leaving from Tongren, you can take a flight to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Kunming, Xiamen, etc. or take a bullet train to Zhangjiajie (5hrs), Changsha (2hrs), Guiyang (1-1.5hrs), Shanghai (8hrs), Beijing (9.5hrs), Chongqing (3.5hrs), Guangzhou (5hrs), Wuhan (4hrs), Kunming (4hrs), Zhengzhou (6hrs), Xiamen (9-9.5hrs), Fuzhou (7-7.5hrs), etc. to enjoy more highlights in China or catch your international flight to other country or your home.
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Tongren Fenghuang Airport
Make an Inquiry for Free
Travel Tips for Traveling China
Beijing Great Wall Hiking Tips
You need to pack some personal gears, such as light and comfortable walking shoes, outdoor coat
and pants.
You'd better also pack sun cream, sun glasses.
Tibet Travel Tips
1. A valid passport, a valid China visa and Tibet Permits are necessary documents for traveling
in Tibet.
2. In Tibet, we suggest you avoid strong activity; do not take shower at the first day; drink
more water
and avoid of alcohol; better not to take oxygen if your AMS symptoms are mild. Always remember
that
if you have any problems or feel uncomfortable, please tell your guide immediately or contact
our
travel consultant.
3. A windbreaker, a pair of durable and comfortable shoes, a down jacket (better with hat),
sunscreen
cream, sun block, skin cream and lip balm, sunglasses, medicine for urgent use.
Panda Volunteer in Chengdu
Chengdu Research Base of Panda Breeding is only available to see giant pandas. If you are interested in
giant panda volunteer experience, please extend to Dujiangyan Panda Base, Wolong Shenshuping
Panda
Base or Ya'an Bifengxia Panda Base instead.
High Speed Train Experience
Taking high speed train to travel around China will be unique and special experience for you.
Instead
of taking flight, you can take high speed train from Beijing to Xian/Xian to Beijing, Chengdu
to
Chongqing, Yichang to Shanghai/Shanghai to Yichang, etc. All are within comfortable traveling
time
to reach the destinations. If you are interested, please feel free to ask our travel
consultants
to arrange high speed train for you.
Practical Info about Traveling with Us
Restaurant & Food
Vegetarian food Requirement
Vegetarian food in Chinese cuisine culture is usually divided into 3 categories: the Monastery
Vegetarian
Food, the Court Vegetarian Food and the Folk Vegetarian Food. And the main ingredients are:
soybean,
taro powder, mushrooms, fresh vegetables and tofu (bean curd). It will be easier to find the
vegetarian
restaurants in big cities of china, such as: Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, HK, etc.
If allergic to some food
We suggest you to list any food or ingredients that you are allergic to and let our travel
consultant
know. Then your travel consultant will mark them in the guide’s itinerary, so that our guides
in
different cities can make some preparations and arrangements in advance.
Do our guide and driver join the meal with us?
The tour guides and driver will be at the same restaurants with you, but they will only join the
meal
when you invite. Sometimes the drivers are shy to join as they usually eat fast and could not
understand
English talk around the table, so the guide will be with you more often.
Will we be able to try some local foods during our visit?
Yes, you will. There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private
guide
will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants, if you
are
interested in local food tasting. But remember, some local snacks may not match your stomach,
so
ask your guided for more information before eating.
Shopping
What to buy in China?
In China, there are myriads of souvenirs for visitors, and each city has its own specialty.
Some of the best buys are:
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Beijing: Cloisonné; Fresh water pearls
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Xi'an: Replicas of the Terra Cotta soldiers; Tangsancai (Tang Dynasty hand
painted China);
Antique Furniture
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Shanghai: Silk carpets
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Hangzhou: Longjing Tea; Silk
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Suzhou: Silk
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Guilin: Scroll paintings; China Southern Sea Pearls
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Yunnan: Mounted Butterflies; Pure tea; Dali Batik (tie-dyed fabric)
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Xinjiang: Carpets; jade articles
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Tibet: Thang-ka(tanka)(Sheep skin wall hangings)
How to bargain?
Bargains are not acceptable in big supermarkets and department stores. But in some night markets
or tourist
shops, you can bargain for a lower price, since the vendors always ask for very high price for
a
certain item. You’d better ask the opinion of the guide first, and then the guide will tell you
the
real value and quality of the item. Please note that when the bargain is processing, the guide
will
be hesitate to help as it may annoy the bosses. Just try to let the guides know you will
bargain
in advance.
What to do with persistent vendors?
If you do not need something from them, just do not ask for price. Some of the venders are very
persisted,
and if they keep selling things to you, you can simply say “No, thanks.” (Chinese
pronunciation:
”Bu, XieXie”). If they do not give up, you just keep silence. Silence is sometimes useful to
handle
this situation.
More Tips for free-time shopping
- 1. If you think you have no desire or interest, you do not feel embarrassed to let our
guide know
DIRECTLY (since some of our guides are enthusiastic in taking you shopping)
- 2. Better to choose the shops run by the state when buying expensive articles.
- 3. Do not shop everything in one city, because every place has its unique local products
which worth
buying.
- 4. Do not feel obligate to buy anything only because the shop attendants are very kind to
you.
- 5. Be smart consumers. Do not spend big money on things you are not familiar with. Do ask
for shop
guarantee, contacts and certificates when purchasing big items like antiques, jade, arts
pieces.
- 6. Leave plenty of time for transactions. When you see something you like - buy it.
Usually, you
would not find it elsewhere and you would not have time to go back.
- 7. Always verify the date of antiques before you purchase them. Antiques dated before 1795
cannot
legally be exported.
- 8. Articles made from rare wild animals are contraband and will be confiscated by customs
without
compensation.
Private tour features
- 1. Private guide, driver and vehicle are for your exclusive use; no matter you are
individually,
or in a family or friends group. The tour is run exclusively for you without strangers.
- 2. Every itinerary can be customized to meet your specific interests/ wishes, that is, you
can choose
your favored hotels, sightseeing spots, the tour length, means of transportation, budget,
etc.
All are free of charge.
- 3. Start the tour on any date you want.
- 4. Escort you through the whole tour. All private transfers during the tour are offered,
including
airport/train station transfer, hotel-attractions round trip transfer.
- 5. The sightseeing during the tour could be based on your own timetable and pace. Flexible
to change
at your short notice.
- 6. Ideal for people who need considerate care and assistance, such as elderly, the
disabled, families
with small children.
Emergency calls
Call your guide, or if you can’t find your guide, call your travel consultant or our office
immediately.
All the phone numbers include in our confirmation letter. Keep the letter with your during your
trip.
Note: As our Beijing office is using the different guide arranging system, so
we will not
be able to provide the Beijing guide information until the day before you arrival, but once we
have
it, we will email you immediately.