11 Days Beijing – Zhangjiajie – Shanghai Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival (No Meal)

   Welcome to our 11 days Beijing Zhangjiajie Shanghai tour! Upon arrival in Beijing, meet your driver who will hold a welcome sign with your name at the exit. Then Transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be free for your own exploration.

   Accommodation: Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing
   Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, South Luoug Lane, Houhai (B + L)

   AM: Meet your guide and driver in hotel in the morning and then drive to visit Tian’anmen Square, the largest city square in the world. Then from the square you will walk to visit Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Enjoy some leisurely time in Summer Palace. With an area of 2.9 square kilometers, this palace was the best place where the emperors of the Qing Dynasty spent their summers. Here you will enjoy the amazing lake view, explore the exquisite long corridor, appreciate precious cultural relics, step on the elegant stone bridge, see high old trees, etc. You will love every minute here with so much to see. You also can take the option of boat ride to enjoy the stunning Kunming Lake ( optional).

   Afterwords, come to explore the time-honored South Luogu Lane( also called Nanluoguxiang). It is the only traditional residential area in China that has completely preserved the checkerboard-style layout of hutongs exclusively to the Yuan Dynasty. Walking around the alleys with your tour guide to feel the hidden culture and check out the bars, souvenir stores or cafes if you would like to. Houhai, known as Beijing’s bar street, is a large man-made lake which can date back to the Yuan Dynasty. Today your last scenic site will be here! In ancient times, the place was only for royal family. Now there are many bars, restaurants, cafes and shops along the lake. You can just walk around, do people watching, and try some snacks. Today you will also pay a visit to silk shop to appreciate delicate silk product.

   In the evening you will appreciate Chinese Kongfu Show in Red Star Theater.

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing
   Mutianyu Great Wall, Dingling Mausoleum (B + L)

   AM: The first stop of today is Dingling Mausoleum, one of the 13 Ming Tombs in Beijing. Then after a short visit in Jade carving factory we will have lunch.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Continue to visit Mutianyu Great Wall which is famed for its magnificent landscape. If hiking up and down is too much for you, cable car is available and optional.

   Finish the amazing hiking, drive back to Beijing city. On the way, you can have an exterior visit of the marvelous Bird's Nest and Water Cube which were built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Walking around the outside of the building to appreciate the unique design and take some pictures would be perfect.

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing – Zhangjiajie by Flight (B)

   Free and easy on your own in the morning. Take evening flight to Zhangjiajie. Upon your arrival, the local driver will meet you at airport by holding the name board. Then transfer to hotel for check in.

5. Day 5: Zhangjiajie
   Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Bailong Elevator (B + L + D)

   Today’s first stop is Tianzi Mountain. There is a saying that you will not want to see any other mountains after visiting Tianzi Mountain. One of the spectacular sights is the sea of clouds after rain if you are lucky. You will witness rugged rocks and a forest of stone peaks which looks like a group of warriors listening to orders.

   After that, continue to explore Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, the inspiration for Hallelujah Mountain in the super famous movie Avatar. You also can experience Bailong Elevator, the highest and heaviest outdoor elevator in the world. You will be amazed by the speed of the elevator, only 1 minute and 58 seconds up to Yuanjiajie. When you step out of the elevator, a magical landscape painting will unfold in front of you. The massive quartz-sandstone pillars are just towering over you or next to you.

   Accommodation: Zhangjiajie

   

6. Day 6: Zhangjiajie
   Tianmen Mountain, Tianmen Temple, Skywalk, Tianmen Cave, 99-bend Road, Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge (B + L + D)

   After breakfast, follow your guide to explore one of the highlights of Zhangjiajie - the Tianmen Mountain National Park.

   Firstly, drive to the cableway base for you to take the cable car up to the top of Tianmen Mountain.With a length of 7445 meters, Tianmen Mountain cableway is regarded as the longest cableway in the world. The one way cable car ride take about 28 minutes. And the half-hour riding is an excellent chance to see the picturesque scenery of the mountain.

   Arriving at the mountain top, you will firstly pay a visit to Tianmen Temple. The temple was built in the Ming Dynasty and is the Buddhist activity center in the western Hunan Province.

   Next you will take a walk on the vertiginous Skywalk built by transparent glass. For some people it is really a test of courage! Then move to the Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s door cave). This natural stone archway is 131.5 meters high and 57 meters wide. It will take about half an hour to walk through the famous cave.

   Last, take a shuttle bus down to the mountain foot by the 99-bend Road– the scenic round hill road.

   In the afternoon, move on to challenge yourself at the longest and highest Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in the world with a length of 430 meters. You can have a panoramic view of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon while walking on the transparent glass floor. You may be scared to step on the bridge at first, but once you take the first step, you will enjoy the magnificent view of flying waterfalls, lush forests, running streams.

   Accommodation: Zhangjiajie

   

7. Day 7: Zhangjiajie – Fenghuang Ancient Town by Car
   Fenghuang Ancient Town (B + L)

   AM: In the morning board the car and drive for about 5 hours to Fenghuang Ancient Town.

   Noon: Lunch at local restaurant in Fenghuang Ancient Town.

   PM: Fenghuang Ancient Town was built in 1704 during Kangxi Era of the Qing Dynasty. After 300 years, the town now is a famous national cultural and historical city and enjoys equal fame with Lijiang Ancient City in Yunnan and Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi. It was once praised by New Zealand writer Rewi Alley as the most beautiful town in China.

   In the late afternoon, you will take a boat ride on Tuojiang River, the mother river of the ancient town. You can watch the typical Diaojiao buildings on the bank. Diaojiao building is the traditional dwelling of minorities such as Miao, Zhuang, Buyi, Dong, Shui and Tujia. The houses are hanging in the air and supported by wooden pillars. Then make a stop to admire Wanming Pagoda. Its name is very meaningful. Wan means “ten thousand” and ming means “name” in Chinese, which represents that the pagoda was funded by many kind person. Next we will cruise down to Hongqiao Wind and Rain Bridge. The attics on the bridge were ruined in the Cultural Revolution and later restored according to the original design. It is over 600 years old now. We can ascend to the second floor to have a panoramic view of the ancient town. Then we will visit Tuojiang Jumping Rock. This ancient bridge could be dated back to the Tang Dynasty. It is 100 meters long and there are 15 stone piers on which are thick wooden board and tied with iron chains from the bottom of the river. We will walk on it and take beautiful pictures.

   After the tour, come to local hotel for check-in. The town is very beautiful at night. You can stroll around the town when all lights are on.

   Accommodation: Fenghuang Ancient Town

   

8. Day 8: Fenghuang Ancient Town – Shanghai by Flight (B)
   Fenghuang Ancient Town

   AM: Please enjoy your free time in the morning.

   Noon: Lunch on your own.

   PM: After lunch on your own, your guide and driver will meet you in hotel and transfer to Zhangjiajie Airport for flight to Shanghai. Meet your driver in Shanghai and transfer to hotel.

   Accommodation: Shanghai

9. Day 9: Shanghai
   Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Market, Shanghai Museum, People Square, Former French Concession, Nanjing Road, the Bund, Huangpu River Cruise (B + L)

   AM: At 08:30, our English speaking tour guide and driver will pick you up from the downtown hotel. Your exploration in Shanghai begins with the famous Yuyuan Garden, which is a representative of classical Chinese gardens with elegant pavilions, old bridges, artistic rockeries, small ponds, etc. It was originally built by Pan Yunduan in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty for his parents to enjoy their old age in peace. The garden has gone through a lot in the over 400 years’ history. It was once deserted at the death of Pan Yunduan, restored by new owners, badly damaged during the Opium War, and reopened in 1961 after a lot of repairs.

   Nearby is the lively Yuyuan Market, wonder around here you can get everything from traditional Chinese crafts like chopsticks, fans, and pottery to local delicacies such as steamed buns, crab shell cake, and pork chop with rice cakes. Don’t forget to haggle for a better price.

   After that, move on your visit to Shanghai Museum( closed on every Monday ). The museum houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings and calligraphy works.  Finish the exploration of history, stroll on People Square to have a glimpse of the daily life of the locals. The square now is most famous for its match-making corner where parents try to seek partners for their children.

   Noon: Lunch at local restaurant.

   PM: Next, come to the Former French Concession, the largest and most prosperous concession among all the four French concessions in old China. From 1849 to 1943, this area was ruled by France for almost a century. Here your tour guide will reveal a history of humiliation and you will see many old beautiful European style buildings which look very charming hidden in the shade of French parasol trees.

   Afterwords, come to the earliest shopping street in Shanghai-Nanjing Road. Your tour guide will point out the four time-honored department stores, Yong’an Company, Xianshi Company, Xinxin Company and Daxin Company, from which you can get a bit history of this commercial street. If you want to try some delicious food, the street definitely will not disappoint you.

   Last, enjoy your sightseeing in one of the landmarks of Shanghai - the Bund. You may not know that the area used to be a desolate tidal flat, but turned into British settlement and Shanghai’s financial center in the late Qing Dynasty. It is the perfect place to take great photos of amazing skyline. Make sure to bring your camera!

   Huangpu River Cruise would be a not-to-miss activity for travelers to Shanghai! The river separates Shanghai into two parts, Pudong and Puxi. Cruising on the river will give you an unparalleled view of the city’s skyline and an unforgettable traveling experience.

   Accommodation: Shanghai

   

10. Day 10: Shanghai Free Day (B + L)

    Enjoy your free day.

    Accommodation: Shanghai

    

11. Day 11: Shanghai departure (B)

    Our driver will meet you in the hotel 3-4 hours before the flight departs and transfer you to the airport. This 11 days China tour package ends here.