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Combining some of China's most beautiful and mysterious landscapes with the secluded hill villages of the Dong, Yao, Zhuang and Miao ethnic minority peoples, this tour gives you a glimpse of a truly exotic world. It even includes a special rafting adventure! First-time visitors and experienced "China hands" alike will be enchanted by this visit to a land seldom seen by western tourists.

The tour begins with two days in Beijing. Our full program of sightseeing takes us to the major sights, but also takes us on foot through the hidden back streets, quiet residential quarters and bustling open-air marketplaces of the capital. After your visit to the remarkable sights of China's imperial and modern capital, explore the magical landscape of Guilin and Yangshuo by boat and bicycle. A cruise on the Li River takes you through the heart of this wonderland of jagged limestone pinnacles and includes a stop at a magnificent cavern, where you sail on an underground river to reach the vast central chamber. In nearby Yangshuo, bicycle on traffic-free country lanes past small villages and grazing water buffalo.

A special adventure awaits you in rural Ziyuan County: a two-day rafting trip on the Zijiang River. Enjoy the gentle but exciting rapids and the magnificent mountain scenery, then camp near a riverside village (all equipment provided) and enjoy a bonfire party featuring performances of local dance and music played on the large bamboo pipes called "Lusheng".

Explore the isolated villages and mysterious forested hills of Longsheng and Sanjiang to discover ancient ways of life preserved by their isolation. Climb the amazing Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces, one of the largest terraced fields in the world, to marvel at the labor and ingenuity which created rich agricultural land from a vertical landscape. Walk through the villages of the minority peoples to discover their colorful costumes, unusual customs and unique architecture, such as the extraordinary wooden Drum Towers and elegant "Wind and Rain" covered bridges. For refreshment, try local specialties such as the Yao people's Pearl Oil Tea, the Zhuang people's Dragon's Backbone Wine and the pickled fish and pork of the Dong. Then hike through the hushed forests of the nature preserves, called "botanical treasure houses" for their sub-tropical richness, to discover the remains of an even more ancient world.

Please note: This special adventure to an exotic land is designed for the adventurous traveler. Accommodations range from first-class hotels to rural guesthouses with simple facilities. The tour involves extensive road travel through remote areas. While the trip is not physically difficult, travelers should be prepared for primitive conditions and rough roads. Those in good health, reasonable physical condition and with a curious, adventurous spirit will find much to reward them.

Day by Day Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing, meet at airport and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2 Walking tour of Beijing, including visits to hutongs (ancient residential quarters), da za yuan (old courtyard houses) and the Forbidden City. In the evening, visit the open-air night food markets.

Day 3 Excursion to the Great Wall. In the evening, enjoy a Beijing Roast Duck dinner and attend a performance of the Beijing Opera or the Chinese acrobats.

Day 4 Fly from Beijing to Guilin; balance of day for sightseeing in Guilin, depending on flight schedules.

Day 5 Cruise the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, having lunch aboard the boat and stopping for a side trip to the Crown Cave. In the evening, take a boat cruise to see the cormorants catching fish.

Day 6 Bicycle trip to Moon Hill Village for lunch at a local family's home; return to Guilin by road in the evening.

Day 7 Travel by road from Guilin to Ziyuan County (morning); begin the rafting trip on the Zijiang River and spend the night camping near a riverside village, enjoying a bonfire party with local people.

Day 8 Finish the rafting trip on the Zijiang River and sightsee nearby.

Day 9 Travel by road from the Ziyuan County to Longsheng (morning); visit the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces (afternoon).

Day 10 Sightseeing in the rural villages of the Longsheng area.

Day 11 Travel by road from Longsheng to Sanjiang.

Day 12 Sightseeing in the Dong minority region of Sanjiang, visiting the Drum Towers and Wind and Rain bridges in the local villages.

Day 13 Sightseeing in the Dong minority region of Sanjiang, visiting the Drum Towers and Wind and Rain bridges in the local villages.

Day 14 Return to Guilin by road (morning); After lunch, transfer to airport and see you off.