Reservation for flight from Paris to Beijing. Overnight flight.

Arrival at Beijing Airport. Your driver will meet you with a sign bearing your name and transfer you to the charming Shadow Art Hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Beijing and the Hutong neighborhood around your hotel.

Meet your guide and driver at 9:00 a.m. Begin your tour of Beijing with a visit to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, once the residence of Chinese emperors and the center of political power. It is the largest and best-preserved architectural complex in China. Walk around Tiananmen Square, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, and Coal Hill, where you can enjoy a 360-degree view of Beijing. Continue to Beijing’s lake districts for a pleasant stroll. Meals not included.
Overnight stay at the charming Shadow Art Hotel.

Departure at 8:00 a.m. for the Great Wall at Mutianyu: built over 6,700 km to protect the Middle Kingdom from invasions by northern barbarians, listed as a World Heritage Site. You can take the cable car up and walk down. Lunch on your own at the site. On the way back to Beijing, visit the Summer Palace outside Beijing, former residence of Empress Cixi. Walk around the inner lake. Dinner on your own. Overnight stay at the charming Shadow Art Hotel.

Alternative program for day 4: Hike on the Great Wall of China (breakfast, lunch)

Depart at 8:00 a.m. for the Great Wall of China and the Gubeikou section. Meet your local guide who speaks some English. A simple picnic lunch will be provided. Walk along the still wild wall, where you can enjoy magnificent views of the Great Wall winding along the Yanshan ridge. The passes of Gubeikou, Shanhaiguan, and Juyongguan were considered strategic points for military companies. The protection of these three passes was of considerable importance for Beijing’s security against Mongol attacks. The hike ends on a better-maintained section at Jingshanling, contrasting with the start of the hike. Today’s hike lasts 4 to 5 hours. Meet your driver for the return trip to Beijing. Overnight at the Shadow Art Hotel.

Free day. You can visit the Temple of Heaven nestled in the huge Tiantan Gongyuan park, whose majestic triple-roofed rotunda is one of the finest examples of Ming architecture. Explore the hutong district around the Drum and Bell Towers, and visit the Lama Temple. Meals not included. Transfer to Beijing Railway Station for the night train to Xi’an (soft sleeper compartment).

Arrival in Xi’an early in the morning. Meet your new English-speaking guide upon arrival, then transfer to the 3.5* Zuoyouke Hotel. Breakfast. Depart for the famous Terracotta Army site, believed to protect the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi. Experience the moving sight of 6,000 life-size clay warriors and horses lined up in battle formation. Return to the city center via the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Stroll through the Hui district. In the evening, optional (250 RMB per person), dumpling banquet dinner featuring local specialties, followed by a Tang Dynasty dance and song show. Overnight in Xi’an.

Transfer to Xi’An airport for the morning flight to Lijiang. Meet and greet by a driver, and transfer to the charming Green Village Inn hotel located in the heart of Lijiang’s old town. Today will be free for you to visit Lijiang’s old town at your own pace and relax.

Meet your English-speaking guide at 8:00 a.m. Explore the Naxi village of Baisha, then drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge for a short walk down into the gorge. Lunch on your own. Continue on to Shangri La in the afternoon. Upon arrival, check in at the Timeless Inn guesthouse located in the heart of Shangri La’s old town, a two-minute walk from the small square where locals dance at the end of the day. Take your first stroll through the old town of Shangri La.

Day trip to Shangri La and the surrounding area, starting with the magnificent Tibetan monastery of Songzanlin. Stroll through the local market, then walk through the old town, notably to the Bai Ji Si temple, which offers beautiful views of the Shangri La area and the Shika mountains. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, explore the Tibetan countryside on foot or by bike (several routes are possible, to be discussed in the morning with your guide according to your desires and abilities). Stop at random along the way and meet a Tibetan family, who are always welcoming, to taste yak butter tea, “Tsampa” and yak butter cheese, local specialties and staples of their daily diet. Watch and participate, if you wish, in the spontaneous evening dances of the locals in the old town square. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight stay at your guesthouse.

Morning drive to Shaxi. In the afternoon, explore Shibaoshan Mountain, a stunning collection of Buddhist sculptures carved into the rock and Zen temples. After the visit, you can walk down a small path to the old town of Shaxi, or take a vehicle. Explore Shaxi, a former major trading center on the tea and horse caravan route. Meals not included. Accommodation in the heart of the old town at the charming Aoding Courtyard Hotel.

Walk through Shaxi this morning before heading to the Dali region. Discover the pleasant Bai minority village of Zhoucheng, meet its inhabitants (learn more about the batik dyeing process, practiced here for generations) and visit its small, old-fashioned but charming temples. Explore the old town of Dali, strolling through its narrow streets. Visit the Three Pagodas Temple. Continue on to Xizhou. Check in at the superb and comfortable Linden Center boutique hotel, built in a beautiful traditional Bai residence and equipped with all modern comforts. Dinner at your leisure at the hotel restaurant.

Enjoy a leisurely day in Xizhou. Explore the morning market and the village of Xizhou on foot from your hotel, then cycle through the surrounding countryside to Erhai Lake (bicycles available at the hotel). Meals not included. Overnight stay at the Linden Center.

Transfer to Dali train station for the direct train to Shilin (3-hour journey). Explore the Stone Forest site. We offer a 2-hour walk within the site, between rocky peaks and sometimes along narrow paths, away from the trails trodden by the many Chinese tourists. Return to Kunming for a stroll through the old flower and bird market district and a visit to a traditional Chinese pharmacy. In the evening, enjoy the beautiful show of dances and songs of the minorities of Yunnan entitled “Dynamic Yunnan” (8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., optional at 200 RMB per person). Overnight stay at the Home Inn Plus 3* hotel.

Free time in Kunming. You can stroll around Emerald Lake, where locals like to walk, sing, dance, and play music. Option to extend your visit to Yuantong Buddhist Temple, located 5-10 minutes away on foot. Transfer to Kunming Airport for your return flight to France. Overnight on the plane.

Arrival in the morning. End of our services.