Jasmine's China Adventure Tours

Yangshuo village scene
Bike ride on a country road near Yangshuo
(Photo courtesy of John Stamper, Los Angeles.)

China Panorama

Beijing--Xi'an-- Guilin-- Yangshuo-- Shanghai
14 days
Monthly departure on the 2nd Saturday of the month, all year around
$2,900 USD per person, double occupancy
Land cost only; does not include international airfare
Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 2 people
(Special note: Those joining this trip between May 1 and October 31, 2010, will have the chance to visit the Shanghai Expo!)

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Combining ancient monuments and modern cities with one of China’s most beautiful river cruises, this tour will introduce you to the vast panorama of the Middle Kingdom. As you explore by foot through the hidden back streets of Beijing, ride along quiet country lanes amid the rice paddies of rural Yangshuo, or visit family homes and even enjoy a meal of their home-cooked local specialties, you'll experience the real life of China close up in a way few group tours permit.

One of my local friends, from the cave house village near Xi'an (Photo by Sue Wright)

One of my local friends, from the cave house village near Xi'an (Photo by Sue Wright)

Start in China’s capital, Beijing, which holds the major monuments of the Chinese Empire: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and, above all, the Great Wall. But it is also a city of hidden residential alleyways where families live quietly in ancient courtyard homes, city parks where elderly people gather to do morning exercises, crowded street markets bursting with unusual produce, and night food streets offering unsuspected culinary treasures.

Xi’an, of course, offers the world-renowned terra cotta army. But the city also holds an intriguing Moslem Quarter, where the traveler can find traces of Xi'an's Silk Road past in the colorful and aromatic spice markets and the Central Asian faces of their vendors. Stroll the lively food markets of the Quarter to snack on local specialties such as persimmon cake and steamed dumplings. Along the way, visit the inner courtyards of Xi'an's Great Mosque and perhaps see the local men at prayer. Dinner at a 100-year-old dumpling specialty restaurant gives you the chance to try the local Hui (Moslem) people's cooking in more depth. And you will also have the chance to visit Jasmine’s local friends in their village of traditional "cave houses" that are a unique feature of the Shaanxi plains.

One of my local friends, from the cave house village near Xi'an (Photo by Sue Wright)

Li River scene (Photo courtesy of John Stamper)

For centuries, poets and painters have tried to capture the fairy-tale landscape of our next stops, Guilin and Yangshuo, in lyrics and traditional scroll paintings. Far different from the powerful Yangtze and the massive mountains of the Three Gorges, Guilin's gentle Li River flows through a forest of delicately-shaped karst pinnacles surrounded by electric-green rice paddies. Your four-hour cruise through the heart of this magnificent scenery is one of the highlights of China. Most group tours disembark from the cruise, stop in Yangshuo for no more than an hour and then head back to Guilin by road and on to their next destination. They miss one of the most enjoyable experiences in China. Yangshuo is a fascinating small town where the timeless rhythms of rural life mingle with the sounds of jazz from the international cafes on "Foreigner's Street". Spend two days in Yangshuo, exploring the quiet lanes and paths that lead into the surrounding countryside, passing Ming Dynasty stone bridges and farmers plowing with water buffalo, to visit nearby market towns and farming villages. A highlight is the bicycle ride along quiet country lanes to visit an ancient village (or you can do it by private minibus as you choose). In the village, enjoy lunch at Jasmine’s local friend Mr. Li’s family restaurant—he is an excellent cook! You can even go to the kitchen to learn how he prepares the local specialties. (As a special option in Yangshuo, Jasmine can arrange for you to stay at Mr. Li’s guest house in the village for 1 night. If you are interested in this option, please contact her for more details.)

One of my local friends, from the cave house village near Xi'an (Photo by Sue Wright)

Shanghai’s past and modern times (Photo courtesy of John Stamper)

The final stop on the tour is Shanghai, the commercial and financial center of modern China. Shanghai is a dynamic metropolis in which narrow residential alleyways connect with bustling modern shopping streets and ultramodern skyscrapers overshadow ancient gardens. Experience the life of Shanghai along the famous riverfront Bund, learn about the art and history of China in the magnificent new Shanghai Museum, and explore some of the once-infamous foreign concessions with their surprising European-style houses. And then return home with memories of the vast panorama of the Middle Kingdom.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 (Saturday): Depart from the United States or Canada.

Day 2 (Sunday): Arrive in Beijing and transfer to hotel.

Day 3-5 (Monday-
Tuesday-Wednesday): Sightseeing in and around Beijing, including: an all-day excursion to the Great Wall, a visit to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the beautiful Summer Palace; wander around in some old neighborhoods of "Hutong" alleyway homes; walk through the lively Wangfujing area with its interesting night food street. In the morning, get up early to take part in local people's morning exercises at the park--you will be surprised how many people there are! In the evenings, enjoy a performance of Chinese acrobats and taste the famous Beijing Roast Duck in a neighborhood restaurant--where the local people enjoy it. On the late afternoon of Day 5, fly from Beijing to Xi’an. Overnight in Xi’an.

Day 6 (Thursday): Sightseeing in and around Xi'an, including a full-day excursion to the terra cotta army, and a visit to a family living in a village of unusual Shaanxi-style "cave homes". In the evening, enjoy a wonderful dumpling banquet in a 100-year-old restaurant.

Day 7 (Friday): Take a walk to get to know the Moslem Quarter of this ancient city, including the Great Mosque, the Drum Tower and a visit to the 600-year –old city walls. In the afternoon, fly from Xi’an to Guilin. Overnight in Guilin.

Day 8 (Saturday): Boat cruise on the picturesque Li River through the stunning landscape, stopping along the way to visit an underground cavern; arrive in the small town of Yangshuo in the afternoon and have the balance of the day to explore the town. Overnight in Yangshuo.
(As a special option while we are in Yangshuo, I can arrange for you to stay at Mr. Li’s guest house in his village for 1 night. If you are interested in this option, please contact me for more details. )

Day 9-10 (Sunday-Monday): Sightseeing in and around the beautiful countryside of Yangshuo, including a bicycle ride on country lanes and paths to a village for lunch at Jasmine’s farmer friends' home; a visit to nearby market towns and villages to see local produce fairs and traditional farming methods where rice cultivation is done by hand or with the aid of water buffalo. On one of the evenings, you will be taken out on the Li River to see the cormorants catching fish by the light of lanterns. (**The dinner on Day 10 is not included. This is a lively small town with a lot of restaurants and cafes, many with English menus.)

Day 11 (Tuesday): Drive from Yangshuo to Guilin to catch your flight to Shanghai. Balance of the day for sightseeing in Shanghai. Overnight in Shanghai.

Day 12-13 (Wednesday): Sightseeing in and around Shanghai, including: A visit to the old foreign concession areas, one of which was the Jewish Ghetto during the World War II; explore the Yuyuan Gardens; wander through the former French concession area at Huaihai Road; take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront Bund and visit the Pudong new development area; visit the world famous Shanghai Museum; and walk around the antique and bird market. On one of the evenings, take an evening cruise on the Huangpu River (about 1 hour) to see the illuminated skylines of the Bund and the fantastic Pudong area.

Day 14 (Thursday): Return home, arriving the same day.

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Day 1 (Saturday):	Depart from the United States or Canada.
Day 2 (Sunday):	Arrive in Beijing and transfer to hotel.
Day 3-5 (Monday- Tuesday-Wednesday):	Sightseeing in and around Beijing, including: an all-day excursion to the Great Wall, a visit to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the beautiful Summer Palace; wander around in some old neighborhoods of "Hutong" alleyway homes; walk through the lively Wangfujing area with its interesting night food street. In the morning, get up early to take part in local people's morning exercises at the park--you will be surprised how many people there are! In the evenings, enjoy a performance of Chinese acrobats and taste the famous Beijing Roast Duck in a neighborhood restaurant--where the local people enjoy it. On the late afternoon of Day 5, fly from Beijing to Xi’an. Overnight in Xi’an.
Day 6 (Thursday):	Sightseeing in and around Xi'an, including a full-day excursion to the terra cotta army, and a visit to a family living in a village of unusual Shaanxi-style "cave homes". In the evening, enjoy a wonderful dumpling banquet in a 100-year-old restaurant.
Day 7 (Friday):	Take a walk to get to know the Moslem Quarter of this ancient city, including the Great Mosque, the Drum Tower and a visit to the 600-year –old city walls. In the afternoon, fly from Xi’an to Guilin. Overnight in Guilin.
Day 8 (Saturday):	Boat cruise on the picturesque Li River through the stunning landscape, stopping along the way to visit an underground cavern; arrive in the small town of Yangshuo in the afternoon and have the balance of the day to explore the town. Overnight in Yangshuo. (As a special option while we are in Yangshuo, I can arrange for you to stay at Mr. Li’s guest house in his village for 1 night. If you are interested in this option, please contact me for more details. )
Day 9-10 (Sunday-Monday):	Sightseeing in and around the beautiful countryside of Yangshuo, including a bicycle ride on country lanes and paths to a village for lunch at Jasmine’s farmer friends' home; a visit to nearby market towns and villages to see local produce fairs and traditional farming methods where rice cultivation is done by hand or with the aid of water buffalo. On one of the evenings, you will be taken out on the Li River to see the cormorants catching fish by the light of lanterns. (**The dinner on Day 10 is not included. This is a lively small town with a lot of restaurants and cafes, many with English menus.)
Day 11 (Tuesday):	Drive from Yangshuo to Guilin to catch your flight to Shanghai. Balance of the day for sightseeing in Shanghai. Overnight in Shanghai.
Day 12-13 (Wednesday):	Sightseeing in and around Shanghai, including: A visit to the old foreign concession areas, one of which was the Jewish Ghetto during the World War II; explore the Yuyuan Gardens; wander through the former French concession area at Huaihai Road; take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront Bund and visit the Pudong new development area; visit the world famous Shanghai Museum; and walk around the antique and bird market. On one of the evenings, take an evening cruise on the Huangpu River (about 1 hour) to see the illuminated skylines of the Bund and the fantastic Pudong area.
Day 14 (Thursday):	Return home, arriving the same day.