Tiananmen Square   天安门广场

Most people visit Tiananmen Square on their way to the Forbidden City, both can be done together in a morning or afternoon. Chinese citizens from around the country descend on Tiananmen to take their photos in front of the portrait of Chairman Mao. When there is a breeze you can buy a kite and fly it on the square.

Tiananmen Square is the largest public square in the world. It is a tourist site everyone tends to visit on their trip to Beijing. A vast desert of paving stones, the square can hold over one million people. It lies on the historical central axis going through the Forbidden City.

Expect to go through airport level security when going onto the square, with metal detectors and x-ray machines. There is also a high level of police presence. Nonetheless people are very friendly and its on most Beijing itineraries.

The Forbidden City   故宫

The Forbidden City was the former imperial palace which was the home to twenty-four Chinese emperors over 491 years between 1420 and 1911. The Forbidden City is now known as the Palace Museum and is open to Beijing's visitors.

Wear comfortable walking shoes as the palace is 960 metres long and 750 metres wide. It has 9,999 rooms - a room being the space between four pillars.

The well guarded palace is surrounded by a moat 3,800 metres long and 52 metres wide. Intruders were discouraged by guards in watchtowers with bow and arrows.

There are five entrances to the gate - the central one reserved for the emperor. The empress was allowed through it only once - on her wedding day.

As well as walking through the wide open courtyards along its central axis, the sides offer some museum exhibits and small courtyards worth exploring.

An excellent view of the Forbidden City from the north is seen atop Coal Hill in Jingshan Park. The hill is made from the dirt excavated from the moat surrounding the Forbidden City, and according to Feng Shui, keeps the evil spirits from the north from entering.

Jingshan Park   景山公园

Jingshan Park was a part of the Forbidden City until the early 1900's when the walls were pulled down and a road cut through it destroying several gates and buildings between the park and the rear entrance of the palace. The hill in Jingshan Park was made with the earth removed to create the palace moat. It is well worth the climb on a clear day for spectacular views of the Forbidden City and Beijing.

The best view of Beijing is from the Pavilion of Everlasting Spring (Wanchun-ting) perched on top of the middle peak, which used to be the highest point in the city. Northwards, one can see the Drum and Bell Towers, a traditional feature of old Chinese cities. To the northwest, the two slabs of water of the Shichahai and Beihai Lake are intersected by Di’anmen Dajie. To the south, the golden roofs of the Imperial Palace can be seen stretching into the distance.

Just north of the Imperial Palace, the site occupied by Prospect Hill was a private park reserved for the use of the emperor in the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). During the Ming (1368-1644), an artificial hill with five peaks was made, utilizing earth excavated when the moat of the Imperial Palace was dug.

There is an old but fallacious story that an emperor kept supplies of...   Read more here

Hutong Tour   胡同游

Hutongs are the old traditional alleyways and courtyard homes which once covered all Beijing. Many still survive today and are pleasant to walk or bike through. Not much has changed and you can see how people lived in the past.

The China Guide's Hutong Tour starts with a cycle rickshaw ride through the hutongs. Cycle rickshaws are a traditional means of transportation in the old narrow streets.

We take you into a traditional family courtyard home. The family will greet you, serve tea and show you through their home. Your guide will explain the cultural and historic significance of various aspects. For instance, the layout of the courtyard, who lived where and how to tell the importance of the people living in a home.

Nanluoguxiang is a trendy hutong area with fun restaurants and cafes, nice to visit during the day for a coffee or lunch, or return in the evening for dinner.

The Silk Market (Xiushui)   秀水

Once a real outdoor silk market, the modernized Xiushui "silk market" is a popular destination for tourists. It has a huge array of goods over 5 floors including silk goods, souviniers, luggage, name brand goods and clothes. The vendors are a bit on the pushy side and they try to charge as much as they can get away with, so you need to be tough, bargain hard and shop in a few stalls since most goods are repeated. One advantage of this market is most of the vendors speak some English and a lot of the goods are aimed at the taste of western tourists. This is not a commissions shopping market. Surrounding the market you can find coffee, sandwiches and western fast food in case you want a snack or dinner.

Great Wall Mutianyu Section w/toboggan or cable car   慕田峪长城

For those who want to see a restored section of the wall which is more fun and less touristy than Badaling and not as far as Simatai or Jinshanling, then Mutianyu is a good choice. Just over an hour from Beijing in normal traffic, it is possible to see in a morning or afternoon and combines well with the Ming Tombs.

Mutianyu has some good options. You can take the cable car up, have a little stroll on the wall then come back down the cable car. Or you can take the cable car up and walk for about 45 minutes on the wall, down hill mostly, to the toboggan sled. Its pretty long run on the toboggan track down the hill from the wall. There are double cars for parents with kids as well as the usual single cars. Fun and safe, everyone seems to enjoy this.

In Mutianyu village there are fish farms and restaurants, so you can fish out your own trout from the pond and have it cooked up for your lunch.

The Great Wall was key to protecting agriculture and resisting cavalry of the Huns and other warrior tribes from the north. The advantages of the enormous barrier diminished with the advancement of gunpowder and other weaponry.

The wall was originally built of stone, wood, grass and earth. In the Ming Dynasty bricks were produced in...   Read more here

Olympic Venues (outside view)   北京奧林匹克公園

The Olympic Swim Cube and the Bird's Nest Stadium on the Olympic Green are two of the major architectural achievements of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. You can walk around the Swim Cube whose skin is modeled on soap bubbles and the Birds Nest Stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies occurred as well as many broken olympic records.

This tour takes you around the outside of these two venues. It is also possible to arrange a visit to the inside of the stadium or Swim Cube at additional cost, please select this in advance with your agent. You can even swim inside the Swim Cube.

The Sacred Way   神路

The Sacred Way, the road leading to heaven, is a long, straight path flanked by statues first of ancient government officials and then by animals.

Located close to the tombs this is a stop made on the way to the tomb by the emperor. We also try and put it as a stop on your itinerary (but not on your way to heaven). Out of the city, its best done in conjunction with a visit to the Great Wall.

The Ming Tombs   定陵

Of the 16 emperors who ruled during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), 13 are buried in a canyon. Most of the tombs are not open to the public. We take you to the underground Ding Ling tomb, an underground palace rediscovered in 1956. It was the burial place of the Wanli emperor (reign 1572-1620), his wife, and his favorite concubine. Construction of the burial chamber commenced before the emperor was 20 years old.

Morning activities in the park surrounding the Temple of Heaven  

Visit the park surrounding the Temple of Heaven and see the wide range of physical activities and games people do. From taichi to dancing and activities you have never seen before, its an eye opener to see how the elderly stay active in China.

Temple of Heaven   天坛公园

The Temple of Heaven is the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would worship the god of heaven and pray for a good harvest.

The grounds are part of a huge parkland and in the morning you can see the locals practicing martial arts and other exercises. Located nearby is the Hongqiao Market and Toy Market as well as the Legend of Kungfu show in the Red Theater.

Panjiayuan Weekend Market   潘家园

The Panjiayuan Market is a super shopping market for all Chinese arts and crafts. It is made up of over three thousand individual stalls covering 48,500 square metres. There really is something for everyone here. Even Hillary Clinton has shopped at Panjiayuan.

There is a little overlap between stalls so you can compare and bargain but the range of goods is excellent. Stall owners come from twenty-four provinces around China to sell their wares.

Panjiayuan Market is at its best on weekends. The Antique Zone is open every day and the Arts and Crafts Warehouse Zone is open on Saturday and Sunday only.

Summer Palace   颐和园

Time allowing, the Summer Palace is well worth a visit for its historical significance and to enjoy strolling its spacious grounds. You may take a boat ride across the lake if you prefer not to walk. Located 15 km northwest from the central city and occupying an area of about 300 hectares, the Summer Palace is associated with the Qing dynasty's dowager empress Cixi, but has a history of more than 800 years as an imperial garden dating back to the 1150s.

The name in Chinese, Yiheyuan, means "garden of restful peace." It served as a suburban pleasance for emperors, a place in the countryside yet near the capital.

The Yiheyuan in its present form dates from Manchu rule over China, 1644-1911. In the 1750s the emperor Qianlong commanded the creation of the lake and redesigned the temple atop Longevity Hill. Severely damaged during the punitive Anglo-French expedition of 1860 the Empress Dowager ordered its restoration in the 1880s. It became a public park in 1924.

The Long Corridor - The function of corridors in Chinese garden architecture is offer a sheltered passageway from direct sun as well as inclement weather when passing between buildings. The corridor in the Summer Palace, over 700 meters long, is interspersed with a...   Read more here

Terracotta Warriors   兵马俑

The buried army of Qin Shihuangdi is one of the largest and most stunning archaeological finds of the 20th century. Discovered in 1974 at Lintong, 35 kilometres east of Xi'an, the warriors and horses have deservedly become known as a Wonder of the World. Now exhibited in situ, the life-size terracotta figures so far excavated testify to the power of the man for whom they were moulded to protect in afterlife.

This site is an archaeological find on a monumental scale. Literally an army of sculptured warriors, it is a stunning display that every visitor to China should see.

Qin Shihuang's Tomb  

The mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is the largest preserved tomb in China. No doubt thousands of statues still remain to be unearthed at this archaeological site, which was not discovered until 1974. Qin (d. 210 B.C.), the first unifier of China, is buried, surrounded by the famous terracotta warriors, at the centre of a complex designed to mirror the urban plan of the capital, Xianyan. The small figures are all different; with their horses, chariots and weapons, they are masterpieces of realism and also of great historical interest.

There is not actually a lot to see on this site aside from a large hill so if you are interested to stop because of the historical significance it does not take that long.

Huaqing Hotsprings   华清池

Huaqing Hot Springs has been a favorite spa since the Tang dynasty. For centuries emperors had come here to bathe and enjoy the scenic beauty. The more energetic visitors may climb some or all of Li Mountain, on which are situated several Taoist and Buddhist temples. A cable car has now been installed to make this possible for everyone.

Don't expect to jump in the hot springs for a nice refreshing dip. The name is deceiving - it HAD working hot springs in the time of the emperors. Now there is no swimming. A visit to Huaqing Hotspring is more like visiting a park with some buildings and ponds. Expect a nice walk, pleasant scenery, climb a hill if you wish, but no swimming!

Tang Dynasty Show and Dumpling Dinner   唐歌舞饺子宴

The Tang Dynasty Dinner Show is a combination of Chinese traditional dumpling banquet and the fabulous Tang Dynasty dance and music. Tang Dynasty (618 - 907AD) was the most prosperous dynasty in Chinese history and also the climax of China’s development in music and dance.

You begin with a dumpling banquet before the show. Dumplings come in various artistic shapes and sizes, all handmade, and filled with different combinations of meat and vegetables. If you've ever experienced dimsum in the west then you might want to give this variation a try.

After dinner sit back, digest and watch a show fit for an emperor!

Walk or Bike the Old City Wall   城墙

The old city wall is high and wide which leaves a road on the top which is empty. A peaceful retreat from the billions for strolling or getting on a bike. We organize as part of our tours a bike trip on the city wall. You can bike the entire circuit in 1-2 hours or just cruise along part of it then return. You can stop at various viewpoints and look down at the scene below. Nice for photographers. Great fun and a chance to work off some of those delicious Chinese meals we serve you!

Xi'an's 14th-century wall still stands, although today it is intersected by a few modern roads. It is one of the most important city walls in China and certainly one of the best examples from the Ming. Construction began during the reign of Hongwu, the first Ming emperor, on the remains of the Sui and Tang wall and took eight years to complete. Repairs and renovation have now been carried out by the local government to restore the wall to its original splendour and the structure is now once again completely connected. The circumference is 13.7 kilometres (8.5 miles), and it is 12 metres (40 feet) high, 12-14 metres (40-46 feet) wide at the top and 15-18 metres (49-59 feet) wide at the bottom. It is surrounded by a moat.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda   大雁塔

The Big Goose Pagoda, perhaps the most beautiful building left in Xi'an today, is one of the city's most distinctive and outstanding landmarks. Completed in 652 CE, the pagoda was built at the request of the Tang monk, Xuan Zang, whose pilgrimage to India is immortalized in the 16th-century Chinese novel Pilgrimage to the West or Monkey.

Xuan Zang asked Emperor Gaozong to build a large stone stupa like those he had seen on his travels. The emperor offered a compromise brick structure of five storeys, about 53 metres (174 feet) high, which was completed in 652 CE. Originally called the Scripture Pagoda, it is said to be where Xuan Zang translated into Chinese the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from India. Its present name, Big Goose Pagoda, has never been satisfactorily explained.

Shaanxi Museum   陕西历史博物馆

The National Museum of Shaanxi History opened in 1991, eighteen years after Premier Zhou Enlai first suggested that such an establishment was needed to exhibit the province's archaeological treasures. Occupying a large site in Xi'an's southern suburbs close to the Big Goose Pagoda, the museum, housed in a complex of striking Tang dynasty style pavilions, is popular for visitors to the city.

The exhibits here represent the very best of the museum's collection, the greater portion of which remain stored in its underground warehouse. The permanent exhibition on the ground and first floors is supplemented by touring exhibitions, usually two, in the basement. Included elsewhere in the museum are lecture theatres, conference rooms, a library, research laboratories and an extensive restoration centre. A new unit for restoration has been funded by an Italian Antiquities Department donation of US$4 million.

For security reasons, visitors to the museum must leave their bags in the cloakroom before entering the galleries.

Muslim Street   穆斯林街

Muslim Street while touristy, is genuinely local too. A great place to stroll and see traditional Muslim culture alive and well in China. Worth visiting by day or night, the food is authentic and is a great place to have a Muslim style meal. There are a variety of shops selling different souvenirs and the area should be the itinerary for photographers. Not to be missed, Muslim Street is one of Xian's major attractions.

The early Muslims in China came from what was known at Xiyu, or 'the west', areas usually identified as Arabia or Persia. These people were much different from the Chinese in terms of their language, culture and physical appearance. Like other foreigners in China, they were labeled 'foreign sojourners'. Islam was first introduced by Arab merchants during the Tang dynasty, and flourished during the Yuan (1279-1368). The Muslims gradually became concentrated in the northwestern part of the walled city, where they remain to this day. The community now numbers more than 60,000, or about one percent of the city's population. The residents, whose families have lived here for hundreds of years, are proud of their religion. They strongly identify with their mosque, frequently introducing themselves as 'belonging' to this or that mosque. This is because...   Read more here

Elephant Trunk Hill   象鼻山

Elephant Trunk Hill, located at located at the intersection of the Taohua River and the Lijiang River, is the symbol of the city of Guilin. If you are in Guilin it is one of the places you "must" see. However if you are not a fan of Chinese cultural history, you may not find it all that exciting. If you are there, by all means visit it for 20 minutes, its right in the city center, but if you are bypassing Guilin and going straight to Yangshuo, you will see much more dramatic scenery there.

It is called Elephant Trunk Hill because it looks like an elephant drinking water. The gap that is under the elephant’s trunk is called the Water-Moon Cave because at night the reflection of the moon can be seen through the arch. It is said to look like it is under the water and floating on the surface of the water at the same time.

Enjoy the Li River Scenery  

As you cruise down the Li River you can photograph the scenes which have inspired Chinese painters for centuries. Traditional fishing methods can be seen in some areas.

Buffet Lunch on board  

A wide selection of Chinese dishes to enjoy as you cruise down the river.

West Street in Yangshuo Village   西街

West Street in Yangshuo village is a pedestrian area full of shops, restaurants, bars and tourists. The shopping and eating options are pretty endless. Its easy to find good Chinese food and even pizza or a sandwich. Even McDonald's has made its way here. As a tourist its an easy place to navigate, shop, eat and explore.

If you are staying at a hotel outside the village its easy to get dropped off here and call to be picked up again later or arrange a pickup time.

Biking in the Countryside   自行车

Yangshuo is a lovely place to bike among the rice terraces, follow the meandering river and even stop for a cool swim. You will see lots of traditional agriculture and livestock including sedate water buffalos.

We can arrange for you to bike 1 hour up river and then take a bamboo raft ride back down the river for about 2 hours as part of your tour.

Bamboo River Rafting   竹筏漂流

While the Li River cruise is most famous, we far prefer this river cruise. You get your own bamboo raft and driver which seats 2 guests. If there are more than two of you then you have your own flotilla! The scenery is spectacular and you come much closer to stands of bamboo and the water itself.

You can combine the bamboo river rafting with a 1 hour bike ride up the river first. We can arrange for you to bike one way up the river, then raft down the river. The entire trip takes the morning.

Silver Cave   银子岩

From the outside, the Silver Cave looks like any other normal mossy karst peak in Guilin. However, take one step inside this spectacular network of underground caves and crystal formations and it is clear that this place is truly something special. Cascading stalactites pour like liquid silver from the roofs of these impressive caves, and the milky crystal deposits that cling to protruding rocks are a miraculous feat of nature.

Impression Liu Sanjie Night Show   印象刘三姐

Created by famous film director Zhang Yimou (who also did the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies), Impression Liu Sanjie is a sensational night show performed in the largest natural theater in the world. With the sky and rows of mountain peaks along Li River the stage is pure nature.

Impression Liu Sanjie is a large-scaled show with 600 plus actors and actress involved. The show lasts approximately 70 minutes combining the classical Sanjie Liu's folk songs and traditional fishing culture themes reflecting the harmony between human beings and the nature. The scale and quality of the performance are unique, it is well worth spending the time and money for this evening activity.

As the stage is so spread out we suggest you just buy ordinary tickets, the view is good from everywhere.

The show lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. There are two shows in the summer and one in the winter. We can reserve your tickets in advance as part of your tour. You need to be driven to and from the theater.

Moon Hill   月亮山

Moon Hill is Yangshuo's most famous landmark. The 30 to 40 minute climb up the hill will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and countryside. Best to climb the hill at the beginning or end of the day when its a bit cooler. The trip up and down with some time at the top takes about 1 1/2 or 2 hours.

Beijing 北京

Beijing offers much for visitors to do. It is the gateway to the Great Wall, which is 1 - 2 hours drive from the city depending on which part you visit. Within the city, the major sights include The Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Hutong tours and cycle rickshaw rides.

Aside from the sights Beijing is a fabulous place to dine. Arguably, it has some of the best Chinese food in the world with lots of regional variations. Western food in Beijing is also excellent due to the abundance of foreigners and embassies.

Beijing also boasts some fantastic parks, with boating, amusements for children, Chinese martial arts and good people watching in a quiet green atmosphere.

The pollution in Beijing comes and goes, blown away by a good wind. Sometimes it builds into a haze, but visitors planning a short trip should not put off. It's just another aspect to life in a city of over ten million.

Hotels in Beijing vary greatly, with the huge buildup and many renovations that occurred in conjunction with the 2008 Olympic Games. There are some palatial five star hotels, plenty of great four star hotels and budget hotel abound. Finding the good ones can take some effort but we personally check the ones we use...   Read more here

Xi'an 西安

Xi'an is considered one of China's must see destinations, the home to the Terracotta Warriors. People usually visit Xi'an for 1 or 2 nights and is a good part of a loop between Beijing and Shanghai or other destinations. You can get there by plane or the overnight train is also convenient from Beijing.

Xi'an is one of the few ancient Chinese cities with its old city wall still intact. You can walk on it or even ride a bike. The Muslim area is colorful and authentic, worth a walk around and also not a bad place to have dinner and do a bit of shopping.

The Terracotta Warriors are about 1 hour outside the city, look on the map below for details. Nearby the warriors are the Huaqing Hotsprings, which is more of a nice park with an historic spring, but no swimming.

Guilin 桂林

Guilin is famous for its beautiful mountain scenery, often seen painted on Chinese scrolls. But Guilin has grown into a city of 1.34 million. There are other places around Guilin, such as the rapidly growing village of Yangshuo that may be a better choice for visitors.

Often travelers will stay in Guilin for one night so they can take the riverboat ride to Yangshuo, which only leaves in the morning. Then they will spend 1 or 2 nights in Yangshuo. We recommend skipping Guilin entirely if possible as you can also see the same scenery from Yangshuo via bamboo river raft rides. But this might not be ideal for some travelers so adding Guilin to your itinerary is still a good option for many people.

Li River Cruise 船游漓江

Yangshuo 阳朔

One of the easier places to escape the cities and see a bit of the countryside. Yangshuo can be accessed directly from the Guilin airport, its about a 90 minute drive. You can bypass Guilin if you want and do river rafting among the mountainous scenery here. Once a small village, Yangshuo has grown up into a town because it is on the receiving end of Li river boat trips from Guilin. Thousands of Chinese tourists pour in daily from about 100 boats. If you want you can stay outside of Yangshuo town in a number of beautiful boutique hotels located along the Li river or rice terraces.

Activities in Yangshuo include biking, strolling the rural scenes along the Li river and through rice patties, climbing Moon Hill, caving and shopping / eating in Yangshuo village. Much of Yangshuo village is pedestrianized.

Jade Garden Hotel   翠明庄宾馆
★ ★ ★ ★

This comfortable Chinese hotel is 5 minutes walk from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. WangFujing Street with its departments stores of traditional and modern goods is just a stone's throw away. Hotel rooms are equipped with modern amenities and include free internet and breakfast. The hotel has sophisticated conference facilities. The on-site restaurants serve both Chinese and Western cuisines. The Moonlight bar caters for connoisseurs and offers exotic cocktails.

Bell Tower Hotel   西安钟楼饭店
★ ★ ★ ★

The Bell Tower hotel is very well located in the center of Xi'an. It is walking distance to many restaurants and shops. It is also right next to Muslim Street, which is nice to walk both in the day or evening.

Guilin Bravo Hotel   桂林宾馆
★ ★ ★ ★

The Guilin Bravo Hotel is our recommended hotel for guests seeking quality four or five star accommodation at a reasonable price. While it is not an international branded chain, we visited the hotel and viewed the rooms to assure it meets our standards. Its clean, fresh, has good service and facilities. It has a nice outdoor swimming pool for use by all guests, a great way to cool off after a day of travel or sightseeing.

The hotel has two wings, one four star and one five star. You can judge from the photographs we took and the prices which suits your needs.

Another benefit of the Bravo hotel is its central location. Its easy to walk along the waterfront, to the night market and the cities pedestrian district with shops and restaurants.

There are many different types of rooms from which to choose, including lake view rooms. The hotel has two different restaurants, Western and Chinese, and a lobby bar. There are also facilities for lectures and business meetings.

Other services include: 24-hour Room Service, Baby Sitting / Child Care, Facilities for the Physically Challenged, Hair / Beauty Salon, Laundry /Valet Service, Safety Deposit Box, Wired & Wireless Broadband Internet Access.

Mountain Retreat   阳朔胜地渡假山庄
★ ★ ★ ★

The Yangshuo Mountain Retreat is a quiet hotel situated on the banks of the Yulong River about 20 minutes drive outside Yangshuo. It blends well into the surrounding karst scenery. The hotel is geared towards the needs of foreigners and as such is a quiet and relaxing place to stay and an ideal location for river rafting, biking and strolling the countryside. The bamboo rafting can be done right up to the back of the hotel. It is great place for families to stay, being clean, friendly, efficient and with a garden away from the road. Its a small and popular hotel which during the busy season gets booked out far in advance so reserve early.

Hotel facilities: There are a variety of rooms in this hotel and the rooms are generally large so extra children can be easily accommodated. There is a rustic restaurant serving Western and Chinese meals and snacks and real coffee. Games, toys for children staying and books can be found here. Bikes of different sizes and multiple seats can be rented here and a grassy garden with tables to sit out and eat is quiet and backing on to the river. A small docking area for the temporary stopping of bamboo rafts is nestled amongst the hedge bushes.

The Beijing Chaoyang Acrobatic Show

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner