Guangzhou Holiday Planner. Tailor-made Holidays to Guangzhou in China

Day 1: Beijing

Today is the start of your fabulous China journey. We will pick you up from the airport and take you straight to your hotel.

This morning, we explore the heart of Beijing including the vast Tiananmen Square where Chairman Mao’s tomb and various monuments to the people are located. Entering through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, we enjoy a guided tour of this old city within a city. Later we take a rickshaw ride through the Hutongs of Beijing, weaving through old back lanes, traditional courtyards.

Day 3: Beijing

Don some comfortable shoes, today we walk the Jinshanling section of the famous Great Wall. Zig zagging some 6000 kilometres, ducking and weaving through mountain peaks and lush terrain, climbing the Great Wall is one of those ‘must do’ experiences! Afterward we visit a cloisonne workshop, viewing the unique art of decorating copper with colourful enamel.

Day 4: Beijing - Xi'an

Free morning, opt for a walk in the local street market located near our hotel. There are a few unusual breakfast delicacies on offer! Later we visit the Emperor's Summer Palace, set on Kunming Lake and the gartantuous Silk Alley Markets. After we drive past the 2008 Olympic stadium commonly referred to as the ‘birdsnest’ and aquatic centre before boarding our overnight sleeper train to Xi'an.

Day 5: Xi'an

Arrive Xi’an and hotel check in. Later we tour the Terracotta Warrior archaeological site where some 7,000 warriors stand in battle ready position and a factory demonstrating how the warriors are crafted. Tonight, optional Tang Dynasty Bolt-on, with dinner and performance.

Day 6: Xi'an - Yangshuo

Today, we visit Xi’an’s city symbol, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, first built in AD652 to hold sutras collected in India by a wandering monk. An awesome sight, the City Wall is over 15 km in perimeter and we embark on a bike ride (solo or tandem). A legacy of the Silk Road, we visit the Muslim Quarter and later fly south to Guilin. Onward transfer to Yangshuo (. Hot pot lunch, late evening hotel check in.

Day 7: Yangshuo

Renown for it’s striking scenery: vast areas of karst limestone outcrops that rise up from flat rice paddy fields, Guilin and Yangshuo are often the subject of many Chinese paintings. Today, we take a 2 hour rafting cruise along the calm clean waters of Yu Long River. As our captain punts our flat bottom boat along the shallow waters endless photo opportunities arise.

Day 8: Yangshuo - Guilin

The remainder of our time in Yangshuo is spent at leisure. Choose to hike, hire a bicycle or motorbike and head off on one of the many mountain trails or stop to watch the local fishermen use their trained cormorants to catch fish. By nightfall, sit in any of the al fresco cafes, pubs or bars serving cold beer and delicious speciality foods from the region. In the late afternoon of day 10 we return to Guilin.

Day 9: Guilin - Guangzhou

This morning we head off an a 90 minute drive leads us to Longsheng, to walk the rice terraces of the Dragon’s Backbone. Beginning at the base of Mt Longji the verdant green rice fields coil up the steep mountain, layer upon layer, climbing to its summit. Returning to Guilin, we travel onward to Guangzhou.