17-Day China Food Tour

Tour Overview
Dig facts of ancient Chinese history, art and culuture at the China's tourist golden triangle. Enjoy the most stunning river cruise in the world and learn how to cook Sichuan cuisines and taste many different style delicious food...

Day 1  Arrive in Beijing (no meals)
Meet your guide and driver at the airport, and then transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 2 Beijing (B, L, D)
Today, you will have a full-day tour of Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. In the evening, experience local culture at the Beijing Opera, including a behind-the-scenes look at the colorful make-up being applied to the performers. Beijing Roast Duck for dinner.

Day 3 Beijing (B, L, D)
After breakfast, take your private car (about 1 hour drive) to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall. Then lunch at a local restaurant, and drive straight to visit the Sacred Way and the Dingling Tomb (one of the 13 Ming Tombs). Beijing hot pot for your dinner.
 
Day 4 Beijing/Xian by high speed train (B, L)
Morning enjoy sightseeing tour of Summer Palace. After lunch you will take high speed train to Xi'an. Meet your guide at Xi'an train station and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
 
Day 5 Xian (B, L, D)
Have a full day tour of Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Shuyuanmen Market and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the Evening, you will enjoy a delicious dumpling (Jiaozi) dinner with the wonderful Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show at the Shaanxi Grand Opera House.

Day 6 Xian (B, L)
Full-day tour of Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, the Bell Tower, Muslim Quarters and the Ancient City Wall.

Day 7 Xian/Chengdu by high speed train (B)
Be escorted to the station for the high speed train to Chengdu. Meet your guide and driver at the Chengdu Station, and then transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 8 Chengdu (B, L, D)
Morning attend the cooking course at 09:00 - 11:30. During the class, you will learn some theoretical knoledge about two Sichuan courses. The teaching contents will inculde their seasonings and cooking methods etc.. Enjoy lunch at the students' dining hall. Practice to making the two courses at 14:00 - 17:00. The teacher will guide and make comments on your dishes. End the class, and then enjoy Sichuan flavor dinner at a  famous local restaurant.

Day 9 Chengdu (B, L)
Morning pay a visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and then transfer to Leshan. After lunch, proceed to visit the Lingyun Temple, Jiuqu Zhandao (a steepy plank road built along a cliff reaching to the feet of the Giant Buddha) and the Giant Buddha. Later drive back to Chengdu. In the evening, you can take an optional Sichuan Opera performance with the wonderful face-changing show.

Day 10 Chengdu/Chongqing (B, D)
After breakfast, be escorted to the train station for high speed train to Chongqing. Be picked up and transferred to have hoppot dinner before boarding your Yangtze cruise ship.

Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Taiji boxing at 6:30 (if you like you can join it), coffee and tea are free in the bar. After breakfast, you will attend a meeting to listen to the introduction about the itinerary and the ship's facilities. When reach Fengdu in the afternoon, you will have a shore excursion to this legendary ghost city where you will see many Taoist Temples and experience the mysterious Chinese ghost culture. After dinner, take part in a welcome party.

Day 12 Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Cruise through the Qutang Gorge -- a grand gorge flanked by steep mossy cliffs. Then, sail on through Wu Gorge, celebrated for its 12 peaks. At Badong, transfer to a small cruiser for an exciting excursion to Shennong Stream or Lesser Three Gores based on different cruise programs. Next, sail through the breathtaking Xiling Gorge, the last and most scenic of all the gorges. Finally, pass through the giant Three Gorges Ship Lock. After dinner take part in a party. 

Day 13 Yangtze River Cruise/Yichang/Hangzhou (B)
This morning, you will stop at Sandouping to view the largest hydroelectric project in the world --Three Gorges Dam. It is noted for the Great Wall across the Yangtze River in China. Proceed to Yichang where you will disembark. When arrive, you will be picked up to the airport for the flight to Hangzhou. Be met and transferred to the hotel.

Day 14 Hangzhou (B, L)
Visit the West Lake in the morning with a boat cruise on the lake. Later, you will head to Longjing village to view the most famous Chinese Longjing Green tea plant and see the processing of tea. Unique tea cruisine will be highlight of today, in which Fried Shrimp with Longjing Tea Leaves is the most famous. Afternoon visit Huxueyan Mansion and take a walk at Qinghefang Street for more local snacks. Take high speed train to Shanghai in late afternoon.

Day 15 Shanghai (B, L)
Full-day sightseeing of Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market, Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the former French Concession - Xintiandi. In the evening watch acrobatics show at a local Theatre. Famous Shanghai cuisines for your dinner.
 
Day 16 Shanghai (B, L)
Drive about 1.5 hours to Zhouzhuang Water Village to see the Shen Family Residence, Zhang Family Residence, the Mi Tower, and then have a gondola boat cruise in the water lanes. Drive back to your hotel in the afternoon.

Day 17 Shanghai / Departure (B)
Be free until your local guide escorts you to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport for your homebound flight.

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