Senior-Friendly China Tour With Hangzhou & Guilin

Your Day in Detail

Your Beijing tour begins at the grand Tiananmen square, one of city's most iconic landmarks and the gateway to the Forbidden City. From there, step into the Forbidden City and explore its many palaces while your guide shares the stories of Ming and Qing emperors. The red walls and golden roofs are striking, and the mythical creatures perched along the eaves show off the craftsmanship and legend of ancient China.

Next, follow your guide into the city's hutongs. These narrow lanes are lined with traditional courtyard homes, each brick and tile reflecting the everyday life and charm of old Beijing. Rather than exploring on foot, enjoy a relaxed, senior-friendly rickshaw and weave through the narrow lanes to experience authentic neighborhood life.

Your Day in Detail

After breakfast, set out on a comfortable private drive (about 2 hours) to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Mutianyu is known for its beautiful scenery in every season and its well-preserved walls and watchtowers. Your visit includes a round-trip cable car ride, reducing the physical effort of climbing. Once on the wall, you may enjoy an easy walk, with time to pause and take in the sweeping views. The pathways here are relatively even, though there are some steps, your guide will adjust the pace to suit your comfort level.

After the visit, return to the city in the late afternoon for time to relax.

Your Day in Detail

Start the morning with visit to the Temple of Heaven, once the place where emperors prayed for good harvests and now a beloved park for locals, especially seniors. Early in the day you can see people doing morning exercises, and the perfect way to experience the authentic local life is to join in a tai chi practice.

In the afternoon, your guide will take you to the railway station for a comfortable high speed train ride (about 4 - 5 hours) to Xi’an. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you and take you to your hotel for check in.

Your Day in Detail

This morning, visit the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors. Created as part of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's burial complex, this vast underground army showcases life-size warriors, each with unique features, offering a powerful glimpse into the strength of the Qin Empire more than 2,200 years ago. Return to the hotel for a short rest in the afternoon.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at the Tang Palace. Set in a banquet hall inspired by Tang-dynasty court life, you'll dine on refined traditional dishes while watching music and dance performances that recreate the grandeur of an imperial feast.

Your Day in Detail

Today is all about food and culture. Your morning begins with a visit to a local family, where you can learn how to make real Xi'an dishes, from dumplings to hand-pulled noodles and a few family recipes. If time allows, join your host for a visit to the market to pick out fresh ingredients and see how it differs from the markets back home.

Next, visit Gao's Courtyard, the only fully preserved courtyard residence in Xi'an. Watch a traditional shadow puppet show as the room goes dark, and a veteran artist makes the figures move behind the lit screen with quick fingers and lively storytelling. You can also try a calligraphy session and take your own brushwork home as a souvenir.

End your day with a stroll along the lively Muslim Street where you can taste beloved local snacks and dishes made by the city's Hui community.

Your Day in Detail

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin, a laid-back city surrounded by mountains and rivers. It's a perfect place to slow down and recharge after days on the road.

Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you and accompany you to your hotel for check-in.

After a short rest, take a visit to the iconic landmark of Guilin - Elephant Trunk Hill, a naturally formed mountain that looks like an elephant dipping its trunk into the water. As evening falls, take a pleasant stroll along Banyan Lake and Cedar Lake, where the reflections of ancient bridges and softly lit pavilions create a peaceful and memorable scene.

Your Day in Detail

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive about 50 minutes to Zhujiang Pier, where you'll board a scenic Li River cruise to Yangshuo. The journey takes around 4 hours, depending on the water level. It offers breathtaking landscapes - graceful karst peaks, clear waters, and peaceful rural scenes along the riverbanks. A simple lunch will be served on board as you drift past this picture-perfect scenery.

Arriving in Yangshuo around 1:30 p.m., stroll through lively West Street, lined with cafés, shops, and restaurants, before being transferred to your hotel for check-in and rest.

Your Day in Detail

Follow your guide, step into the poetic scenery of West Lake, learn the deep cultural stories behind it, and feel the charm of this carefully crafted open-air city garden. For a more relaxed experience, you'll board an electric boat for a cruise on the lake, taking in the changing views of water, hills and garden landscapes.

In the afternoon, visit the peaceful Lingyin Temple, one of China's most renowned Buddhist temples. Then, visit a traditional Chinese herbal medicine shop, surrounded by the rich fragrance of herbs. As you browse the rows of roots, flowers, and dried ingredients, you'll see how this time-honored practice continues to shape everyday life for local people. Try a small sample of herbal tea if you're interested.

End the day with a stroll along Hefang Street, where you can sample a beloved local treat made from lotus root powder.

Your Day in Detail

Take a comfortable drive to the ancient Water Town of Wuzhen, about 80 km from Hangzhou. Stroll along its cobbled lanes and stone bridges to admire the traditional houses, quiet canals, and local life along the waterways. In the western area, Xizha, enjoy authentic Jiangnan dishes and watch craftsmen demonstrate traditional handicrafts. End the visit with a relaxing boat ride through the old canals before returning to Hangzhou.

Your Day in Detail

Before departing for Shanghai, visit Meijiawu Tea Village for a relaxing cultural experience. Try your hand at tea picking, learn about the tea-making process, and enjoy a tasting of fresh local tea while taking in the tranquil countryside.

In the afternoon, you'll take a short, high-speed train ride (45 mins) to Shanghai. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in and rest.

Your Day in Detail

Start the day with a visit to the Bund, where European-style buildings line the riverfront, facing the modern skyline of Pudong across the Huangpu River. Continue to Yu Garden, a beautifully preserved classical garden from the Ming Dynasty, known for its pavilions, ponds, and winding corridors.

Afterwards, visit a silk workshop to see the fine craftsmanship of traditional silk weaving. Enjoy a delicious dim sum lunch at the well-known Jade Garden Teahouse, where you can experience Shanghai's refined culinary traditions.

In the afternoon, take a leisurely walk from the peaceful Fuxing Park to Bugaoli Stone Gate and Sipailou Road. Explore lively markets filled with local snacks, handicrafts, and everyday scenes of Shanghai life. Finally, meet the charming streets of the French Concession, walk along the tree-lined avenues, boutique shops and villas that are full of a sense of the times.