11 Day Itinerary in China: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, & Hong Kong
大家好！I am amazed that my time in China flew by so quickly. I wanted to share the wonderful journey and memories that I made while there. I have to honestly say, it was unreal to finally be in China again after so many years! I have previously traveled to China six other times when I was younger. When I was experiencing China all over again, I was reminded why I fell in love with the country. Its beauty, charm, simple but bustling lifestyle, and many other aspects all play into why it holds such a special place in my heart. I was traveling around China from December 17 until the 28th. Our China tour started in Beijing, China and was completed in Hong Kong. I traveled with my family as a Christmas vacation. I have to say it was the best Christmas present ever! Although our time in China was short, the memories and journey through the different parts of China will forever be in my heart. We ate, trekked, biked, and cruised our way through many of China’s historical landmarks. Even if, by the end of the day, I was exhausted and felt dead on my feet, I am so thankful that I got to have this incredible vacation bursting with activities that I had only dreamed of doing; or doing again.
My family and I drove up to Seattle from Walla Walla on December 15 since our flight was departing the next day from SeaTac Airport. I believe that all of us, including me, were bursting with excitement and anticipation that we were finally going back to China after such a long time.
The next day, we boarded our Delta flight at the airport and departed around 4:00 pm. I honestly think I didn’t get any sleep on the plane over to China. We landed in Beijing at approximately 8 pm, on the 17th. The flight had taken about 11 hours. Since it was nighttime, we saw all the city lights while flying over Beijing. It was amazing to see the lights lighting up the darkness. Once we had found our bags, we exited the airport and found our first tour guide, Cindy. She welcomed us warmly and ushered us to our transportation that we were taking to the hotel. Since I was jet-lagged, the crowded airport, with the many honking cars and taxis, was overwhelming. We finally arrived at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and crashed. I knew that I would need a decent night’s sleep considering all the activities we had planned for the next day.
Beijing
I was in Beijing for a total of three days and three nights. Although it was such a short amount of time, we certainly saw and did many things. Every morning we would get up early and go to breakfast in the hotel lobby. The breakfast was to die for! In my opinion, it is way better than American breakfasts. The breakfast was served buffet-style and there were so many options. Included, were soups, fruit, buns, congee (like rice soup), noodle dishes, and much more. After our meal, we would head out to explore the sites.
The first day, we visited Tiananmen Square (天安门广场), the Forbidden City (故宫), a silk factory, the Hutong (胡同) area, and a paper-cutting shop. Since it was winter, we bundled up in as many clothes so that we would stay warm while strolling around outside. It is very nice to come to China in the wintertime because the tourist season is over. Therefore, there were hardly any other tourists around.
With the uncrowded streets, it was great to experience a more authentic China. It also made taking photos and seeing the landmarks easier since you did not have to shove your way through throngs of people.
At Tiananmen Square, it is a wide, open plaza facing the government building, the Forbidden City (with the huge photo of Mao Zedong), and a historical museum. It is hard to imagine that the tragic massacre happened there. Many Chinese people were just wandering around, playing with their children, and taking photos. To enter the square, it is required that you go through a security checkpoint that is heavily guarded with many military carrying guns. As I mentioned before, Mao Zedong’s photo is hanging up on the front of the Forbidden City. Considering all the destruction and death that he brought about during the Cultural Revolution, it is interesting that the Chinese still hail him as an influential and great person.
The Forbidden City is an amazing piece of architecture that has been the imperial emperor’s palace for quite awhile. There are the outer sections of the palace where many of the officials wandered around, and then the inner courts where only the emperor and his trusted advisers could enter. There was even a section designated for the emperor’s many concubines. This section included a massive garden where the concubines could gossip and rest.
At the end of our first day we ate a delicious noodle dinner and roamed around the Wangfujing night market. At the night market, there were many exotic things that you could choose to eat.
The next day, December 19, we departed early to go to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall. I have been to the Great Wall two other times, but it was two different sections of the wall. The section that we were going to, was apparently not very touristy and there were many places on the wall that were authentic and not repaired. The climb up this section was supposed to be more difficult too. When we got there the wind was blowing, so it was quite chilly. The brisk fresh air sure perked us all up. The steps were very tall and steep. Which you can imagine, with me being short, it was not the easiest combination! I can’t imagine how the soldiers back then climbing up and down the stairs in their armor. It must have been hard with all their gear on, especially when there was an emergency.
The guide told us that the section that we climbed is actually the most original compared to the other parts around us. We climbed up quite a bit and got a great view of other parts of the wall and the land surrounding us. There were parts of the wall that were crumbling and some parts that were barely left. Seeing the history disappearing and disintegrating was interesting, because it’s hard to believe that the wall is actually hundreds of years old.
After descending the wall, we went to lunch and then to a cloisonne factory. The intricate designs were amazing and so detailed. We then continued on to the Sacred Way which is part of the Ming Tomb of the Emperor Zhu Di. The Sacred Way is actually a 5 minutes drive away from the tomb, so we went and saw the Sacred Way first, and then proceeded on to the tomb. Emperor Zhu Di is famous because his tomb is the largest. Fun fact: on the pavement there is a middle section that has smooth marble (in the Forbidden City it is either smooth or carved marble) where only the emperor could walk/be carried over in his litter. Everyone else had to walk on both sides of the marble part.
Our final destination was the jade factory. While there, we learned many interesting facts about the jade and how to tell quality from a fake. Some jade even changes according to a person’s health. You can imagine, those pieces were very expensive! We ended our day with some delicious ramen and a relaxing evening in our hotel.
On our final day in Beijing, we still had an extremely full day visiting the Temple of Heaven, Yonghegong Temple, a tea ceremony, and an acrobatic show at the Chaoyang Theater. The time in Beijing passed by so quickly, and the final day was no different.
China is full of symbols whether it be in the architecture or the everyday lives of the Chinese. The Temple of Heaven is just one prime example of the careful symbolization incorporated into the building. This temple is where the emperor would come fast and worship the gods. It was supposed to be a place where heaven met earth. I am constantly amazed by the intricacy of thought that was put into each detail. For example, unlike the gold roof (which symbolizes royalty), the Temple of Heaven has blue roofing which symbolizes heaven. The circular buildings represent heaven in comparison to the square buildings that represent earth.
The Yonghe Buddhist Temple was a peaceful place where one could gather and center one’s thoughts. It felt amazingly different and was definitely an experience seeing all the people bowing and paying their respects. Incense was being burned in certain places, and some people had incense sticks for their own devotion. The chanting of the monks in the background combined with the incense and prayers of the Chinese made for a very unique and exceptional experience. The temple was actually bigger than it appeared when I first entered. There were many different buildings with various Buddhas. In the back of the temple, there was a 18 meter Buddha.
At the end of our day we concluded our time in Beijing with a visit to the Chaoyang Theater to see an acrobatic performance. Although we were sad to leave Beijing, we were excited to continue on our way to our next destination; Xi’an. We left the next day on the bullet train to explore new things in Xi’an.
Xi’an
At 2 pm on December 21, we took a bullet train to Xi’an. Even though it wasn’t my first time on a bullet train, it is still a fun experience. The train station was bustling with people scrambling to make their train, getting in line to order food, playing with their children while they waited in the rest area, etc.
The travel time (instead of the normal 10 hours) took 4 hours on the bullet train. The train was going 305 km/h. Our new guide, Jerry, meet us at the station. Since the train ride wasn’t too long, we weren’t too exhausted. We ended our first day in Xi’an with some delicious hotpot. After we were finished, we traveled to our hotel, Bell Tower Hotel, which is located in the city wall (the old part of Xi’an is surrounded by the old wall, while the rest of Xi’an is outside of it) and near the bell tower in the center of the city. Although we had been in Xi’an for only a short while, I could already tell it was filled with history and charm that I would appreciate while there.
Our first day exploring Xi’an, we visited the Temple of the 8 Immortals and the Terracotta Warriors. Although we only toured two sites, there was still quite a lot to see at both sites.
The Temple of the 8 Immortals was fascinating to see, because it was Daoist. The difference between the Daoist and Buddhist temples is subtle. The day we visited this temple, there were many people there offering money and incense to pay their respects. Our guide told us that the people were there because it was winter solstice. The atmosphere was very peaceful with the Chinese rubbing the walls filled with Chinese characters. The Chinese would rub their hands over the desired words so that they might get that luck in their life. Down the street from the temple, there were shops were the people could buy fake paper money, phones, etc. to offer at the temple for their loved ones.
We traveled to the Terracotta Warrior site which is quite a ways out from the city. I was so glad that it wasn’t tourist season, because the place would have been buzzing with people clambering to see the Terracotta Warriors. There are three different pits where the Terracotta warriors have been discovered. These soldiers and their horses were built to protect the body of one of the emperors. The emperor’s burial site is a few miles away from this site and hasn’t been excavated in fear that the artifacts will crumble to dust when exposed to the air. It was amazing that I was finally seeing the Terracotta warriors in reality. They were stunning in their detail and how they haven’t been damaged beyond repair even though they were crushed beneath the ground. Pit no. 1 is the largest and people can view the archaeologists piecing the warriors together. As of now, they are still uncovering and putting together the warriors, but have currently stopped uncovering as many of them because they want to preserve the colors on them. When the Terracotta warriors are exposed to the air, the colors on them disappear in minutes. This was a new piece of information to me since I had thought that they were initially just clay-colored. Whereas the first pit holds the general army with the foot soldiers, the second pit holds officers, and the third pit holds the generals and other highest ranking people. All this historical information was so fascinating and seeing the Terracotta warriors transported me back to that time. It was definitely an experience I would recommend to everyone!
December 23 was our last day in Xi’an. Although our time in Xi’an was brief, I would definitely say the time there was well-spent. In the future, I would love to return to explore it more fully. Our schedule for the day included biking on the city wall, wandering through the Muslim market, dumpling lunch, and visiting a high school.
One of the many highlights of this trip to China was biking around the city wall. As I mentioned previously, the city wall runs around the original Xi’an city. Many people could be seen on the wall running, biking, walking, relaxing, etc. It was plain to see that the Xi’an city wall drew people to it who wanted to have a pleasurable, relaxing time. There were many bikes on the wall that people could rent if they so desired. I biked around the entire wall in an hour and 10 minutes. It was enthralling to see how the city within the walls is still preserved to look more traditional and the buildings maintained no higher than the walls. Whereas, outside the walls there are skyscrapers and modern-looking buildings. The difference was striking and compelling.
The Muslim market is also inside of the city walls. The market was very lively with the street vendors calling out their wares so that people might be persuaded to buy them. This place was a great place to get a good deal on souvenirs since it was permitted to bargain. It was very fun to try out our bargaining skills while searching for the best deals. The streets while filled with noise, were also filled with the smells of meat, candy, sweets, and many other delicious treats. However, our guide warned us to be aware that the cuisine might not settle in our stomachs well since we weren’t accustomed to it. In China, it is well-known that some people use recycled oil or other fake ingredients, so it is good to be cautious.
Our day in Xi’an ended with a huge dumpling feast. It was really impressive how the chefs shaped the dumplings into various shapes including bunnies, hedgehogs, etc. Our time sadly came to an end, and we had to quickly make our way to the airport to catch our flight to Guilin.
Guilin & Yangshuo
We arrived in Guilin at 6:30 pm and were warmly welcomed by Cherry, our guide. We settled into our hotel, the Bravo Hotel, for the night. The next morning, December 24, we boarded the Li River cruise. It was amazing to see all the river traffic, which included other cruise boats, regular fishing boats, men with their cormorants (fishing birds), people selling their snacks and fruit from their small rafts, the water buffalo, etc. The river and the land around it was teeming with life and activity. The cruise was very comfortable and there was a lunch buffet provided. People were allowed to stroll around on the deck to look and capture the view. The mountains were indescribable, shaped in formations unseen in the United States or anywhere else I have been in the world. The cruise lasted for four hours until we finally arrived at our destination, Yangshuo.
Yangshuo is tucked into the mountains and is very picturesque. If you want a place to get away from the bustling lifestyle, and just relax, this is the best place. Wandering around the village, you could see that people were enjoying their simple lifestyles. The children were wandering around happily while their parents watched over them from their workstations. The locals were biking to their destinations while dogs were lazing or scrounging around from food scraps.
Our hotel, Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, was nestled in the mountains with a peaceful, winding river only steps away from the it. The sunsets and sunrises peeking and sinking over the mountains while its rays reflected on the water was definitely a sight to see. The hotel itself was environmentally friendly and served meals outside, for those who desired to, right near the water. The breakfasts were scrumptious and filling which was necessary before our excursions.
The first night, we went and saw a cultural performance that was put on by 600 of the local people. It featured the mountains in the background and many of the scenes were acted out on the water. It was simply spectacular. It was prohibited to take photos, but in hindsight, this allowed me to solely focus on the beautiful performance and wholly enjoy it. The first day was filled with seeing all these familiar sights again (I have been to Yangshuo before). The next day was Christmas and we had plenty activities planned out.
Christmas Day!!! 圣诞节快乐! Even though it was Christmas day, it was strange how un-Christmas-like the day felt to me. In China, they don’t celebrate Christmas, except in the tourist areas where they put up decorations for the tourist shops and hotels. Being in China for Christmas was a whole different experience from any other Christmas, since I have always celebrated it in the United States. It was amusing to see the bedraggled Santas that they had out in front of the stores and shops. It was evident that the decorations were only there because tourists flocked to this place. There were a few Christmas trees here and there, but not many.
First on our agenda was a cooking lesson. The cook, who was teaching us, took us to the market first to select our ingredients. The market was a surreal experience. The sounds of the many animals and the vendors shouting at you to buy their wares, was indeed an experience I will never forget. In China it is acceptable to eat dog and cat meat, which, seeing in person, was a huge shock to me. After we bought our ingredients, we headed over to the designated kitchen where we learned to make a variety of Chinese dishes. I have to say, they turned out really well and were absolutely delicious!
In the afternoon, we had a leisurely bike ride through the countryside. There were cows grazing right next to the run-down brick houses. Many of the locals had crops planted right beside their houses. There was a distinct difference between the atmosphere and way-of-living in China compared to the United States’ lifestyle. It was refreshing to glimpse a simpler way of life. We encountered many children walking, skipping, and bike riding home. Their infectious laughter echoed around us, and lit up the foggy day. The bike excursion is one of my new favorite memories. Christmas Day was well-spent and filled with many new, wonderful memories.
Sadly, December 26 we had to leave the hauntingly, beautiful Yangshuo and return to Guilin. While waiting for our flight to Hong Kong, we decided to visit the Reed Flute Cave. The Reed Flute Cave is famous for the stalactites and stalagmites growing within the cave. The Chinese have mastered highlighting the shapes and perceived animals and people with multi-colored lights. There is water down there too, so the lights reflect of its surface which makes it seem even more otherworldly.
Hong Kong
December 26 we regretfully had to leave mainland China and head over to Hong Kong. We left at 4:30 pm on Dragonair and landed around 6 pm. I have been to Hong Kong six other times, so we decided that it was not necessary to have a guide. Hong Kong is undoubtedly one of my favorite places. It is so diverse whether in the people living there or the cuisine. The lifestyle there is pretty relaxed and the landscapes are stunning. If you want to experience a cleaner version of China and have less of a culture shock I would recommend Hong Kong. It still has the Asian vibes, yet also has the European aspects that many Western people are accustomed to. Once we got there we headed over to the Caritas Hotel; the one we usually stay at when we stop over in Hong Kong.
We spent an amazing 2 days just wandering about the places that we were familiar with, and then discovering new destinations. Hong Kong is a great stop to just loiter through the streets and not have anything too scheduled. We visited the bird and flower markets which were bursting with birds chirping and flowers of all different shapes, sizes, and colors. The vibrant colors mixed with the ancient buildings brought about the sensation of years ago.
One of the attractions that is awesome is Ocean Park. It is an amusement park that contains both water and rollercoaster rides. It is fascinating how they put the rides all the way on one side of the island. Some tame rides and the aquarium were at the entrance to the park, but if you wanted the wilder rides you had to take the cable car to get to them.
If you are a foodie, Hong Kong is the place to come. There are all sorts of cuisine options there; Japanese, Italian, Muslim, Chinese, Korean, etc. Dim sum, small portions of food only served at lunch, is an authentic experience that is a must when in Hong Kong. Sadly, I got really distracted by seeing all the wonderful sites and did not take as many photos.
Our few-weeks-long Christmas vacation trip was unforgettable and I hope we have the opportunity to return soon. It was undoubtedly a stellar tour of seeing familiar and new sites. On December 29, we boarded our flight back to America. I will never forget this time and how much joy and happiness it brought me to explore my native country with my family.
I am overjoyed to announce that I will be updating my blog once again after I return from my month-long trip to Spain. I will be leaving on January 2 to Seville, Spain and returning to America on January 26. I can’t wait to tell you all about the absolutely fantastic things that happened and will happen on any other future trips. All of these journeys have impacted my life in ways that you can’t imagine. Thank you so much for continually supporting me in my dreams and adventures.