11-day China Biking Tour

Day 1Arrival/Beijing

Upon your arrival in Beijing, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or explore Beijing on your own.

Day 2Beijing

Biking: Bike through a Beijing Hutong

Special Cultural Experience: Peking (Beijing) Duck Dinner

In the morning after having breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to the magnificent Forbidden City, home to China’s emperors for over 500 years. In the afternoon you will cycle through one of Beijing’s Hutongs, the ancient alleyways and courtyard homes which were the traditional residences of Beijingers. The ancient Hutongs with their maze-like alleys are a fantastic way to get a glimpse into the local life of Beijing residences.

In the evening you are in for a real treat when you are taken to dinner at China’s oldest and most famous Peking (Beijing) Duck Restaurants for a Peking Duck Dinner.

Day 3Beijing

Biking: Bike through the Beijing Countryside

Special Cultural Experience: Chinese Kung fu Performance

After having breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to the unforgettable Great Wall (Mutianyu Section). No photograph can prepare you for the magnificence of the Great Wall. You can climb to the highest point and see the wall weave its way through the mountains into the distance. This section of The Great Wall is the most popular with visitors because it is not as crowded as other sections and the views of the surrounding mountains are stunning. After having lunch next to the Great Wall, you will be driven back to Beijing. On the way you will stop for a bike ride through the countryside, where you will stop at an ancient village. Many people do not know that villages can still be found in the suburbs of Beijing and this trip is a fantastic way to see a side of Beijing that most people miss.

In the evening you will be thrilled by the edge of your seat excitement of Beijing’s Kung fu Performance.

Note: If you prefer to not climb the Great Wall, there is a cable car available to take you to the top.

Day 4Beijing

Biking: Bike to the main venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics

In the morning after you’ve had breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be cycle to the site of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. There you can get some fantastic photos of the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube, the two largest venues for the Olympic Games. In the afternoon you will be driven to the Summer Palace, the summer retreat of the emperor. The Summer Palace is the best preserved imperial garden in China.

Day 5Beijing

Biking: Bike to all of the sites on this day’s itinerary

After having breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will spend the day biking around Beijing to get a better glimpse into this modern metropolis. You will first cycle to the ancient Drum and Bell Towers, which during feudal periods were the official time keepers of the city. From the towers you will get fantastic views of the surrounding Hutongs. After visiting the towers you will cycle to the nearby Muslim Quarter, where you will see how Beijing’s Muslim populations live and work. It is a great inside look into a unique part of Beijing local life. You will then ride your bicycle to the Yonghe Lamasery. The Lamasery was once the home to the Qing Dynasty’s Emperor Yongzheng. Once he became emperor, his former home was turned into a Lamasery of imperial proportions. It is a stunning example of Buddhist architecture and art. Around 200 monks still live and pray there.

Day 6Beijing/Guilin

In the morning after you have had breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you and you will be driven to the airport for your flight to Guilin. Upon arriving in Guilin, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out into the city of Guilin for an adventure on your own.

Day 7Guilin/Yangshuo

Biking: Bike through the Yangshuo countryside

Special Cultural Experience: Li River beer fish dinner

After breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you and you will be driven to the Zhujiang Pier (40 minutes). There you will board your boat for your Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. The scenery along the Li River is often referred to as the most beautiful under heaven. Upon docking in Yangshuo, your guide will escort you to your hotel. After checking in you will cycle out to the countryside surrounding Yangshuo. You will be mesmerized by the beauty of the scenery and the ancient villages that dot the landscape. In the evening you will witness the Impressions of Liusanjie (Third Sister Liu) performance. The performance, created by Zhang Yimou, China's premiere movie director and director of the Beijing Olympics' Opening Ceremony, is made up of hundreds of performers and is performed on the Li River with the mountains as the backdrop. It is an unforgettable experience.

In the evening you will dine on Yangshuo's amazing Li River Beer Fish.

Day 8Yangshuo/Guilin/Shanghai

After having breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you and you will be driven back to Guilin. Upon arriving in Guilin, you will be driven to Fubo Hill. Located on the Li River, the beautiful karst rock hill is the centerpiece of a small park. After, you will be driven to Reed Flute Cave. The cave's many bizarre stalagmites and stalactites make visitors feel like they have stepped into another world. After exploring the cave, you will then be driven to Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin, which offers commanding views of Guilin City and the Li River. You will then be driven to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon your arrival in Shanghai, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or explore this amazing cosmopolitan metropolis.

Day 9Shanghai/Suzhou/Shanghai

Sites Visited:the Suzhou Museum, Lion Grove Garden, Humble Administrator’s Garden, North Temple Pagoda, Guanqian Street

In the morning after breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to Suzhou. Upon arriving in Suzhou, you will be driven to the Suzhou Museum. The newly built museum’s architecture is as impressive as the artifacts it holds. After visiting the museum, you will head to the Lion Grove Garden. The garden is one of Suzhou’s four most famous traditional Chinese gardens. It is known for its rockeries and its labyrinth which was constructed of stones and features many different levels, caves, and hidden paths. After visiting the Lion Grove Garden, you will transfer to the Humble Administrator’s Garden. This beautiful garden, another of Suzhou’s four most famous gardens, is very large and is famed for its layout, architecture, and rockeries. You will then go to visit the North Temple Pagoda. Located in the Baoan temple, the nine storey pagoda offers bird’s eye views of the surrounding area. After visiting the pagoda, you will be driven to Guanqian Street. Famed for its ancient architecture, and located along the Grand Canal, the street offers great firsthand views into Suzhou’s local people and their lives. After your visit in Suzhou, you will be driven back to Shanghai.

Day 10Shanghai

In the morning after having had breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to the Yu Garden. The garden is the only remaining ancient garden in Shanghai and a stunning example of Chinese garden design. What makes this garden so unique is that even though it is not large compared to other gardens, a new surprise awaits visitors around each turn. After visiting the garden, you will visit the Yuyuan Market located outside. The market is huge and offers something for everyone. It is a great place to mingle with locals and get a feel for local life. After visiting the market, you will be driven to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. From its observation deck you will get stunning views of Shanghai’s Huangpu River and The Bund. After visiting the tower, you will visit Shanghai’s Xintiandi Street. One of the trendiest spots in Shanghai, the street is lined with traditional Shanghai dwellings which have been turned into cafés, and boutiques. It is a fantastic place to sit, see, and be seen.

Day 11Shanghai/Departure

On this day you will be free until your local guide meets you and you are driven to the airport for your flight home.