CHINA OF A THOUSAND FACES, WITH HONGKONG
From the Great Wall to the Lights of the Fragrant Harbour in Hong Kong
“Faces of China” invites you to experience China from within — from the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors to Shanghai’s Bund and the charming water town of Zhujiajiao, before continuing on to Hong Kong. A true crossroads of cultures, Hong Kong brings together colonial heritage, contemporary creativity, and enduring Cantonese traditions.
This journey is designed for travelers who seek what lies beyond the surface — to sense authenticity, hear real stories, and experience the essence of a place. At every stop, a diverse, welcoming, and profoundly human China reveals itself.
This journey is designed for travelers who seek what lies beyond the surface — to sense authenticity, hear real stories, and experience the essence of a place. At every stop, a diverse, welcoming, and profoundly human China reveals itself.
Day 1 Beijing
Arrival in Beijing and welcome by your French-speaking guide. Transfer into the city. Early-morning visit to the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO), where Qing dynasty emperors prayed for good harvests during the summer solstice. Enjoy a Tai Chi Quan session in the park, surrounded by centuries-old pine trees. Immerse yourself in local life by joining a choral singing moment with Beijing residents in the heart of the park. Walk across the iconic Tiananmen Square, then discover the Forbidden City (UNESCO), former residence of emperors and their concubines, with its red-walled pavilions and golden rooftops.
Arrival in Beijing and welcome by your French-speaking guide. Transfer into the city. Early-morning visit to the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO), where Qing dynasty emperors prayed for good harvests during the summer solstice. Enjoy a Tai Chi Quan session in the park, surrounded by centuries-old pine trees. Immerse yourself in local life by joining a choral singing moment with Beijing residents in the heart of the park. Walk across the iconic Tiananmen Square, then discover the Forbidden City (UNESCO), former residence of emperors and their concubines, with its red-walled pavilions and golden rooftops.
Day 2 Beijing
Drive to the Great Wall (UNESCO), Mutianyu section, winding along sculpted ridges far from the main crowds (optional cable car ascent). Return to Beijing and visit the 798 Art District, a former Mao-era industrial zone transformed into a vibrant contemporary art quarter with galleries, cafés, and boutiques. Visit a pearl workshop. In the evening, enjoy a Peking duck dinner, the capital’s most famous specialty. Overnight at the hotel.
Drive to the Great Wall (UNESCO), Mutianyu section, winding along sculpted ridges far from the main crowds (optional cable car ascent). Return to Beijing and visit the 798 Art District, a former Mao-era industrial zone transformed into a vibrant contemporary art quarter with galleries, cafés, and boutiques. Visit a pearl workshop. In the evening, enjoy a Peking duck dinner, the capital’s most famous specialty. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Beijing → Pingyao (by high-speed train)
Visit the Summer Palace (UNESCO) and discover the former imperial summer residence, renowned for its magnificent landscaped park dotted with elegant pavilions and pagodas surrounding Kunming Lake. Return to the city for lunch, followed by a visit to the impressive Lama Temple, a powerful symbol of the Qing emperors’ acceptance of Buddhism. Enjoy an introduction to the art of tea with tasting. Continue with a pleasant walk through the hutongs, a maze of narrow alleys lined with traditional low-rise houses, evocative remnants of old Beijing. Transfer to the railway station and depart for Pingyao by high-speed train, second-class seated accommodation.
Visit the Summer Palace (UNESCO) and discover the former imperial summer residence, renowned for its magnificent landscaped park dotted with elegant pavilions and pagodas surrounding Kunming Lake. Return to the city for lunch, followed by a visit to the impressive Lama Temple, a powerful symbol of the Qing emperors’ acceptance of Buddhism. Enjoy an introduction to the art of tea with tasting. Continue with a pleasant walk through the hutongs, a maze of narrow alleys lined with traditional low-rise houses, evocative remnants of old Beijing. Transfer to the railway station and depart for Pingyao by high-speed train, second-class seated accommodation.
Day 4 Pingyao
Pingyao (UNESCO) is a remarkably well-preserved medieval walled city, frozen in time since the Ming and Qing dynasties. It boasts intact city walls, cobbled streets, traditional wooden houses, and historic banking houses. One of China’s finest historic towns, Pingyao has retained its original urban layout, along with its civil, religious, and military buildings and its ancestral banking system. Visits include Rishengchang Draft Bank, the Yamen, the China Finance Museum, the Confucius Temple, and the old commercial streets. Take part in a Shanxi noodle-making workshop, followed by a tasting of this local specialty.
Pingyao (UNESCO) is a remarkably well-preserved medieval walled city, frozen in time since the Ming and Qing dynasties. It boasts intact city walls, cobbled streets, traditional wooden houses, and historic banking houses. One of China’s finest historic towns, Pingyao has retained its original urban layout, along with its civil, religious, and military buildings and its ancestral banking system. Visits include Rishengchang Draft Bank, the Yamen, the China Finance Museum, the Confucius Temple, and the old commercial streets. Take part in a Shanxi noodle-making workshop, followed by a tasting of this local specialty.
Day 5 Pingyao → Xi’an (High-speed train)
Travel by high-speed train to Xi’an, a millennia-old capital that reached its golden age during the Tang dynasty. Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an City Museum. Discover the Great Mosque, an active place of worship and an architectural masterpiece blending Islamic art with traditional Chinese design. Free time to stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter in the city center, enjoying Xi’an’s relaxed, provincial atmosphere. Dinner features Chinese hot pot. Optional Tang dynasty dance performance (payable locally).
Travel by high-speed train to Xi’an, a millennia-old capital that reached its golden age during the Tang dynasty. Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an City Museum. Discover the Great Mosque, an active place of worship and an architectural masterpiece blending Islamic art with traditional Chinese design. Free time to stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter in the city center, enjoying Xi’an’s relaxed, provincial atmosphere. Dinner features Chinese hot pot. Optional Tang dynasty dance performance (payable locally).
Day 6 Xi’an
Excursion to the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (UNESCO), with more than 7,000 life-sized warriors and horses guarding the mausoleum of China’s first emperor. Visit a jade workshop and take part in an introductory calligraphy workshop. In the evening, enjoy a dumpling banquet, a renowned regional specialty. After dinner, optional sound-and-light show on the ancient city walls, Dream of Chang’an (payable locally).
Excursion to the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (UNESCO), with more than 7,000 life-sized warriors and horses guarding the mausoleum of China’s first emperor. Visit a jade workshop and take part in an introductory calligraphy workshop. In the evening, enjoy a dumpling banquet, a renowned regional specialty. After dinner, optional sound-and-light show on the ancient city walls, Dream of Chang’an (payable locally).
Day 7 Xi’an → Shanghai (Flight)
Free time in the morning until transfer to the airport. Late-morning flight to Shanghai. Lunch at leisure. Upon arrival, stroll along Nanjing Road, China’s most vibrant shopping street, followed by a walk along the Bund, lining the Huangpu River and bordered by historic buildings from the concession era, offering magnificent views of Pudong’s skyline.
Free time in the morning until transfer to the airport. Late-morning flight to Shanghai. Lunch at leisure. Upon arrival, stroll along Nanjing Road, China’s most vibrant shopping street, followed by a walk along the Bund, lining the Huangpu River and bordered by historic buildings from the concession era, offering magnificent views of Pudong’s skyline.
Day 8 Shanghai → Zhujiajiao
The day begins with a walk through Fuxing Park, where locals gather to exercise, dance, and play cards. Discover the leafy streets of the former French Concession. Walk through Xintiandi and Tianzifang to explore Shanghai’s traditional lilong alleyways, boutique shops, and small cafés. Visit Zhujiajiao, known as the “Venice of Shanghai,” a charming water town founded over 1,700 years ago, featuring stone bridges, traditional houses, and tranquil canals. Optional Shanghai by Night excursion after dinner (payable locally).
The day begins with a walk through Fuxing Park, where locals gather to exercise, dance, and play cards. Discover the leafy streets of the former French Concession. Walk through Xintiandi and Tianzifang to explore Shanghai’s traditional lilong alleyways, boutique shops, and small cafés. Visit Zhujiajiao, known as the “Venice of Shanghai,” a charming water town founded over 1,700 years ago, featuring stone bridges, traditional houses, and tranquil canals. Optional Shanghai by Night excursion after dinner (payable locally).
Day 9 Shanghai → Guilin
Visit the Yu Garden, a refined Ming dynasty classical garden, considered one of the finest in the region. Explore the historic Chenghuangmiao old town district. Lunch featuring Shanghai’s specialty Xiaolongbao. Visit the Shanghai Museum, home to an outstanding collection of ancient Chinese art, and a silk factory. Transfer to the airport and fly to Guilin, known as the “Forest of Osmanthus,” an enduring source of inspiration for Chinese poets and painters. Dinner at leisure.
Visit the Yu Garden, a refined Ming dynasty classical garden, considered one of the finest in the region. Explore the historic Chenghuangmiao old town district. Lunch featuring Shanghai’s specialty Xiaolongbao. Visit the Shanghai Museum, home to an outstanding collection of ancient Chinese art, and a silk factory. Transfer to the airport and fly to Guilin, known as the “Forest of Osmanthus,” an enduring source of inspiration for Chinese poets and painters. Dinner at leisure.
Day 10 Guilin → Ping’an Village (Terraced Rice Fields) → Yangshuo
Morning visit to a green tea farm, including plantation tour, tea processing, and tasting. Transfer to Ping’an, a Zhuang ethnic minority village nestled in the Longji (Dragon’s Backbone) Mountains, home to some of the most spectacular terraced rice fields in China. Walk through the village and along the terrace paths, encountering villagers at work in the fields. Lunch in the village. Overnight in Yangshuo.
Morning visit to a green tea farm, including plantation tour, tea processing, and tasting. Transfer to Ping’an, a Zhuang ethnic minority village nestled in the Longji (Dragon’s Backbone) Mountains, home to some of the most spectacular terraced rice fields in China. Walk through the village and along the terrace paths, encountering villagers at work in the fields. Lunch in the village. Overnight in Yangshuo.
Day 11 Yangshuo
Boat cruise along the Li River, surrounded by breathtaking scenery: dramatic karst peaks, farmers working in rice paddies, bamboo groves along the riverbanks, and fishermen on traditional rafts wearing conical hats. Visit Fuli, a charming riverside town founded over 1,000 years ago, stroll along its cobbled main street, and discover traditional fan shops and the local market. Continue to Xingping, an ancient fishing village featuring well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, with more than 48 traditional residences still intact. Free time to explore the countryside, local market, old town, and West Street (Xijie).
Day 12 Yangshuo → Guilin → Hong Kong (High-Speed Train)
After breakfast, transfer to Guilin railway station and board the high-speed train to Hong Kong (approx. 3h15). Lunch at leisure. Upon arrival, meet your French-speaking guide and explore Kowloon. Discover the architecture of the M+ Museum and stroll through its third-floor garden offering panoramic waterfront views. Visit the tranquil Nan Lian Garden, designed in Tang dynasty style, with serene ponds, elegant pavilions, manicured greenery, and a gallery showcasing traditional Chinese wooden architecture. Walk along the Avenue of Stars, followed by an authentic local dinner. In the evening, visit the lively Ladies’ Market in Mong Kok.
After breakfast, transfer to Guilin railway station and board the high-speed train to Hong Kong (approx. 3h15). Lunch at leisure. Upon arrival, meet your French-speaking guide and explore Kowloon. Discover the architecture of the M+ Museum and stroll through its third-floor garden offering panoramic waterfront views. Visit the tranquil Nan Lian Garden, designed in Tang dynasty style, with serene ponds, elegant pavilions, manicured greenery, and a gallery showcasing traditional Chinese wooden architecture. Walk along the Avenue of Stars, followed by an authentic local dinner. In the evening, visit the lively Ladies’ Market in Mong Kok.
Day 13 Hong Kong
A fascinating day discovering Hong Kong’s unique blend of modernity and tradition. Ascend to Victoria Peak via the historic funicular for breathtaking views over Victoria Harbour, the South China Sea, and the city skyline. Visit Tai Kwun, a former central police station transformed into a dynamic cultural and artistic complex. Enjoy a sampan ride in Aberdeen Harbour, offering a striking contrast between modern skyscrapers and traditional fishing boats.
Lunch of Dim Sum and free time until transfer to the airport.
Lunch of Dim Sum and free time until transfer to the airport.