North and South China with the Avatar Trail (2025)

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Welcome to China. Transfer to the hotel. Early in the evening, to familiarise ourselves with the city, we provide a transfer to Wangfujing street, a pedestrian and commercial street full of life with many shops and restaurants. Dinner included and return to hotel.

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An exciting day awaits us. We will discover the main points of interest in the Chinese capital. We will have a full day visit in which we will visit some of the main avenues in the city. The Great Chinese Imperial Palace, better known as "The Forbidden City", the most majestic architectural complex in China from where 24 emperors ruled for almost 500 years. We will also have the opportunity to visit Jingshan Park where the Coal Hill is located, one of the best preserved imperial gardens in Beijing. We ascend to the top of the hill to have the best views (if the day is clear) on the Forbidden City. We will walk through the immense Tiananmen Square one of the largest squares in the world, and from them, we will appreciate the Great National Theater, Beijing Opera House. Lunch is included. Today, we will also visit the SUMMER PALACE, the Imperial House of the Qing Dynasty with its beautiful gardens and lakes. In the afternoon we include a tricycle ride through the traditional neigbourhood of Beijing, known as Hutong. In this area we can see the typical life style in these popular neighborhood, visit typical shops and even a traditional house, a Siheyuan, with all its lounges around a courtyard. Return to the hotel and overnight.*Note: For reasons of heritage protection and increased visitor safety, the governing body of the Imperial Palace or Forbidden City has reduced the daily capacity of visitors for an indeterminate period of time. For this reason, we cannot guarantee that such a visit will take place. If it cannot be carried out, it would be replaced by a visit to the Confucius Temple and also the Lama Temple, both also emblematic of Chinese history and culture.

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In the morning, our trip includes a visit round this impressive city. We will know the area of Pudong, located across the Huangpu River, is now the financial district, with its skyscrapers as the Pearl Tower. We include a ferry crossing of the Shanghai River which will give us great views of the two parts of the city. We will stroll the Old City and the Yuyuan Garden, a private garden that was built during the Ming Dynasty. We will enjoy a demonstration of the Tea ceremony,traditional drink that plays an important cultural role in China. We will pass by one of the most fashionable neighborhoods of the capital, Xintiandi. Lunch included. Then, visit Tianzifang, a former residential area known for its narrow, labyrinthine traditional streets with its small craft shops and art galleries. We finish the visit along the Bund with its old buildings that remind us of the influence of European trade. Free afternoon. If you wish, you can enjoy a boat trip to see Shanghai at night, it will be an unforgettable experience.

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Transfer to the station. We take the high-speed train (a train is expected to leave at 07.17 h), and in a little over five hours, through many sections of pretty countryside, we cover the 1,000 km to LUOYANG. Lunch included. We see the impressive Buddhist caves of LONGMEN over more than a kilometre of the rocky walls of the river, where they sculpted more than 100,000 images of Buddha. We will include a boat trip. After this, transfer to the ancient city, where we cross its impressive wall and can enjoy the great traditional activity and its lit up streets.

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In the early hours, on the outskirts of Luoyang, we visit the WHITE HORSE BUDDHIST MONASTERY, a huge monastery and place of study where Buddhists from all countries of the world. We continue our route to SANMEXIA. In this historic city we will see the Yellow River and the Baoulon temple with its tall pagoda and we will visit one of the best museums in China: the Guo museum with the funeral carriages of the former state of guo. Lunch included. We continue eastwards, passing of Mount Hua, a holy mountain. XIAN, arrival at the end of the afternoon.

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We have arrived in the fascinating city where the silk route originated. First thing in the morning, we will go to see the TERRACOTA ARMY, with its thousands of life size clay soldiers that were found underground. We return to XIAN, where we will visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Later, we go across through the walled centre. We will cross the Muslim quarter there and we will enter the mosque, where we will be able to see the multiple cultures and religions that have left their mark on this country. Our tour will also include entry tickets to the Drum Tower where we will enjoy a short show of traditional instrument playing. Free time.-

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We’ll depart from Xian and head to the station to board a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, we’ll provide a transfer to the hotel in Wulingyuan. After, you’ll have free time to explore the surrounding area. Overnight in Zhangjiajie.

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We’ll visit the northern part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, where we’ll take the famous Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie. This scenic area is world-renowned, as the mountains here inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. The peaks of Yuanjiajie are nearly the same height, creating an ideal mountain platform for enjoying panoramic views. Lunch will be included. Next, we’ll take a tourist bus to Tianzi Mountain, where you’ll be treated to an impressive view of the peaks rising one after another. The summit offers a full expanse of the entire scenic area, which is both magnificent and awe-inspiring. Tianzi Mountain is famous for its four natural wonders: the Sea of Clouds, the Moonlight Glow, Rays of Sunshine, and Winter Snow. We’ll return to the hotel afterward and spend the night in Zhangjiajie.

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We’ll visit Baofeng Lake, known as the Paradise of Water, which showcases the iconic landscapes of Wulingyuan. Here, green peaks encircle the clear waters, and the waters mirror the peaks. We’ll take a scenic boat ride. Later, we’ll continue to Tianmen Mountain, renowned for its unique and miraculous geological formations, unparalleled natural beauty, and deep cultural significance. We’ll ride the longest cable car in Asia, stretching over 7,200 meters. At the summit, we’ll enjoy the cliffside walkways and the thrilling Glass Sky Walk. We’ll also visit the natural karst cave that runs through the mountain. Lunch will be included. Afterward, we’ll transfer to Furong, a Tujia ethnic village built around a waterfall. After exploring this picturesque spot, we’ll return to Zhangjiajie for accommodation.

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After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the station to board the high-speed train to the city of Guilin. The train departs at 07:15 a.m., arriving in Guilin at 02:07 p.m. Upon arrival, we’ll provide a transfer to the hotel and have free time to explore or relax.

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A full day in GUILIN, one of the most popular cities in China with a very pleasant atmosphere on the banks of its lake, next to the river Li, and with its busy shopping streets in the centre. We include a visit to the Cane Flutes Grotto, a magnificent cave in which there are numerous fantastically shaped stalactites and stalagmites lit up in beautiful colours, creating a spectacular world in the bowels of the earth. Afternoon free, we recommend you visit the Jingjiang Palace, the “miniature forbidden city”. Accommodation.

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We will leave Guilin by boat and take a cruise on the Li river. The countryside is spectacular with its green mountains, the villages on the banks, the amazing rocks and its mountain peaks in amazing shapes. Lunch included. We come to YANGSHUO, a very lively tourist city. A stroll before continuing through central China to the rural HUANGYAO; this ancient city is magnificently preserved with its small streets, old buildings, temples. The life and activity of its inhabitants will also take us to another time. Time for a stroll. We continue on our way to GUANGZHOU -Arrival at the end of the day-

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Guangzhou, we include a two-hour tour of this thriving metropolis of southern China; we will walk along Shangiaxju Street with its traditional market, see the House of the Chen Clan from the end of the 19th century and we will explore the riverside area. Free time and lunch included. In the afternoon we travel to ZHUHAI on the China Sea; we stop next to the impressive Opera House built on land reclaimed from the sea, opened in 2016 and whose impressive shape symbolises the sun and the moon. BORDER CROSSING and entry in MACAU, where we see the area of the casinos, many of which are in the same style as those in Las Vegas. Their activity is impressive. VERY IMPORTANT: If you return to mainland China on your trip after your stay in Macau and Hong Kong, you need a double entry visa.

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MACAU. We include a tour of the city whose historic centre has been declared a World Heritage Site. Administered by the Portuguese from the 16th century until 1999, its history can be seen in its ancient churches, the tiles of the civil buildings, its fortress and the oldest lighthouse in China. Free time and lunch included. In the afternoon we take the impressive bridge that connects Hong Kong with Macao. This was opened at the end of 2018 and is an engineering feat with more than 30 kilometres of bridges over the China Sea, 6 kilometres of tunnel under the sea and artificial islands; we will stop at its tourist platform to admire this work. HONG KONG - Arrival. After our accommodation, we will take the Star ferry, crossing Hong Kong bay by boat to enjoy a short walk to see the illuminated buildings from the other shore. Return to the area of our hotel. Dinner included. Accomodation.Note: If there are fewer than 12 people in the group, the trip from Macau to Hong Kong may be done by Shuttle bus.

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After breakfast, we will visit the city to see the financial centre with its tall skyscrapers, and we will visit the History Museum that enlightens us on the history of the city (colonial period, World War, etc.) the avenue of the Stars by the dock, which shows us the celebrities of the cinema industry. We will take the Star ferry across Hong Kong Bay and climb by bus up to Victoria Peak (552 m) with a view of the whole city. Return on Peak Tram. After our visit, free afternoon.

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After breakfast, our services will come to an end, hoping to leave you with wonderful lasting memories.