10D9N CHINA GUILIN GUIYANG & FANJINGSHAN

10D9N China Guilin Guiyang & Fanjingshan Private Tour

Day 01 – ARRIVE GUILIN
On arrival at Guangzhou airport, travel on a high-speed train to Guilin, renowned for its stunningly beautiful karst landscape characterized by limestone hills, caves and clear waters of the Li River which meanders through the city and the surrounding limestone formations and lush flora.

Day 02 – GUILIN  [B]
Today we will visit two of Guilin’s top attractions: (1) the Reed Flute Cave, an ecological wonder with exquisitely-formed stalactites and stalagmites and the colourful illumination within the cave adds to the beauty of the structures, and, (2) the Elephant Trunk Hill, a limestone formation that resembles an elephant drink from the river with an ancient pagoda sitting atop the hill.  From Elephant Trunk Hill, we will continue on to the “Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area”, a beautiful and picturesque park encompassing two rivers and four man-made interconnected lakes with a number of ancient pagodas and temples within the area.  The area is especially popular for its illuminated and romantic night scene when the structures including bridges and buildings within the park are lit up with colourful lights.  We will end the day at the popular Zhengyang Pedestrian Street in Guilin town centre where you can spend the evening at your own leisure.   

Day 03 – GUILIN – YANGSHUO  [B/L]
Today we will go on a cruise on the Li River and take in the stunning scenery of Guilin as we cruise towards Yangshuo – there is probably no better way to enjoy the beauty of Guilin!  As you cruise along the river, you might also get glimpses of local life along the riverbanks, be it fishermen on their bamboo rafts casting their nets or farmers tending to their lands.  Yangshuo, the destination, is a great place to enjoy the natural beauty of Guilin in a more laid-back rural atmosphere.  Enjoy the town centre in Yangshuo at your own leisure, or if you would like to see more of the karst landscape, you can opt for a traditional bamboo raft cruise along the Yulong River, a tributary of the Li River that runs through some of the most stunning karst landscapes in the region. 

Day 04 – YANGSHUO – LONGJI TERRACES  [B]
In the morning, go for a tour of the charming Xingping Ancient Town, reputedly the most beautiful ancient town along the Li River and the site where the Guilin scenery on China’s RMB20 note was taken.  Thereafter, we will head to the Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a history dating back more than 650 years.  The spectacular agricultural landscape of terraced rice fields carved in the steep hillsides by the Zhuang and Yao ethnic minority communities over centuries utilising a sustainable gravity-based irrigation system is in itself an engineering marvel!

Day 05 – LONGJI TERRACES – GUIYANG  [B]
Today, we will head back to Guilin and ride a high-speed train to Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province.  Enjoy the city at your own leisure.  Qianling Park is a popular attraction and Qingyun Road, a famous pedestrian street, is certainly worth a visit in the evening for its food and bustling nightlife.

Day 06 – GUIYANG  [B]
Today, we will visit the Huangguoshu Waterfalls, the largest cluster of 18 waterfalls in the world where the largest among them at 83m wide and 67m tall is itself the largest waterfall in Asia and the third largest in the world.  Apart from the sheer magnificence of the waterfalls, highlights at the waterfalls include the Water Curtain Cave, a visitor-accessible cave behind the curtain of water, and the Tianxingqiao Scenic Area, a scenic area downstream featuring among others pools, cascades and smaller waterfalls.  Thereafter, we will move on to Qingyan Ancient Town, a well-preserved walled town with a history dating back more than 600 years that was originally built as a military fortress and later developed into a trade centre.  Its historical and cultural significance has earned it the recognition of being a “National Historical and Cultural Town of China”.

Day 07 – GUIYANG – MOUNT FANJING  [B]
Today, we will head to the foot of Fanjingshan, one of the 5 sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism with a history dating back more than 1,300 years and quite deservedly a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  At a height of 2,572m, the mountain is the highest in the Wuling Mountains and its landscape is characterized by stunning granite peaks and exquisite rock formations like the highly-iconic “Mushroom Rock” amidst lush greenery.  The mountain is home to a number of Buddhist temples and monasteries some of which date back more than a thousand years.  At the top of the mountain is the Golden Summit, site to a “temple in the sky”, the Fanjingshan Temple that straddles by way of a stone bridge the 2 peaks of the Golden Summit.  Needless to say, views from the Golden Summit are nothing short of spectacular!

Day 08 – MOUNT FANJING – TONGREN  [B]
Due to its popularity, it is advisable to visit Fanjingshan early in the morning.  A scenic cable-car ride will take you to a high point on Fanjingshan for you to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the place.  Physical fitness permitting, you may wish to continue on to the Golden Summit and be rewarded with the stunning views it affords from that elevation.  Upon reaching the summit, the first of the two halls of the Fanjingshan Temple is the Buddha Hall (representing the present) and across the heart-stopping stone bridge linking the 2 peaks is the Maitreya Hall (representing the future).  Due to its elevation, the Golden Summit is often surrounded by mists or clouds, adding to its mystical atmosphere.  We will end the day in Tongren where you can enjoy the city at your own leisure.

Day 09 – TONGREN  [B]
Today, we will visit the quaint and historic town of Fenghuang, otherwise known as Phoenix Ancient Town, which has the reputation of being “The most beautiful town in China”.  Located on the banks of the Tuo River, Fenghuang is renowned for its ancient architecture, rich cultural heritage and scenic landscapes.  Well preserved and with a history dating more than 1,300 years, Fenghuang reflects various periods of Chinese history with much authenticity.  Not surprising therefore that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Whether strolling on its cobblestone streets or taking a boat ride along the river,  enjoy the beauty of the town as reflected in its traditional architecture, its ancient bridges and its other historic structures of cultural significance.  Return to Tongren for the evening.

Day 10 – TONGREN – DEPART CHANGSHA  [B]
Depart Tongren and head to one of China’s oldest cities, Changsha, the vibrant capital of Hunan Province.  It is also the hometown of Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People’s Republic of China.  Go on a city tour of Changsha to visit Orange Island, Taiping Old Street, Pozi Street, Huangxing Pedestrian Street and see the young Mao Zedong statue.  In the evening, transfer to Changsha airport for your departure flight.

Whether you prefer the above itinerary “as-is” or have it customised, if you will indicate the start/end dates of your intended travel and provide your contact details, we will get in touch with you to discuss the itinerary on a no-obligations basis on your part.