14-Day China Tour with Zhangjiajie & Guilin Landscapes

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China! After arrival, the local driver will pick you up at the exit with a welcome board "China Xian Tour" and take you to a hotel in the city center.

   Free time ideas: Please feel free to inquire with your 1-to-1 travel consultant on how to enjoy your leisure time. He/she will provide useful advice tailored to your schedule and interests.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing City Exploration
   Imperial Palaces along the Central Axis of the City

   After breakfast, your exploration of Beijing culture will begin with the Temple of Heaven, a sacred site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the heavens. This royal altar, covering an area of 273 hectares, is renowned for its architectural philosophy of "round Heaven and square Earth". The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is an iconic building with three layers covered in blue tiles, giving it a grand and majestic appearance.

   Next up, go to visit Tiananmen Square – it's huge, able to fit a million people at the same time! A lot of history has happened there. You'll see the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and the Monument to the People's Heroes.

   

   Head through the Meridian Gate to get into the Forbidden City, also called the Palace Museum. It has 8707 rooms and used to be where 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties lived. Looking forward to more Chinese royal stories? Follow your tour guide down the central axis to view the gold brick floor in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the carved wood flowers in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. In a 3-hour xploration, you will glimpse the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty.

   Afterwards, you will be transferred to the alleys around Shichahai. The courtyard community with green bricks and grey tiles hides the most vivid living scenes of old Beijing. If you are interested, you can choose to take a rickshaw to shuttle through winding alleys, or participate in dumpling making at the homes of a local hutong family (extra fee).

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing Great Wall Hiking

   Today, your private tour guide will take you on an unforgettable hike on the Great Wall of China. You have two choices.

   The first one: You can hike about 5 kilometers from Jinshanling to the Simatai West Great Wall. Along the way, you will appreciate the undulating mountains, historic enemy buildings, and ancient and even unrepaired Great Wall ruins. This hiking route is moderately difficult and suitable for most tourists.

   

   Second: Take a leisurely walk along the Mutianyu Great Wall. Mutianyu is the longest and most beautiful section of the Great Wall in Beijing. With a total length of 5.4 kilometers, there are as many as 20 watchtowers here, which are not found in other Great Wall cities. This section of the Great Wall has been carefully repaired. Strolling on the stone bricks, admiring the lush vegetation around. To save energy, you can choose to take the cable car back and forth (at an additional cost on site).

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing to Xi'an by Bullet Train
   Have a Wonderful Time in the Classical Summer Resort

   After breakfast, we go to visit the Summer Palace, which is known as the "Royal Garden Museum". It perfectly blends the elegance of Jiangnan gardens with the grandeur of northern landscapes. Strolling along the 728 meter long corridor, you can see different story paintings painted on each beam. Overlook the embankment scenery of Kunming Lake imitating West Lake in Hangzhou. The Seventeen Arch Bridge spans between Nanhu Bridge and the east bank, with 544 exquisitely stone lions. You can choose to take an antique boat on the Kunming Lake (pay on site) and enjoy a close-up view of the Wanshou Mountain architectural complex.

   In the afternoon, we will take the high-speed train to Xi'an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties. The local driver will pick you up at the exit and escort you to the hotel in the city center. Along the way, you can see the outline lights on the Ancient City Wall. At night, you can go to the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City by yourself and experience the prosperous Tang Dynasty amidst the brilliant lights.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Xi'an

   

5. Day 5: Xi'an Terracotta Army Tour
   Countless Objects Buried with Qin Shi Huang & The Best Way to Go Around the Ancient City

   Good morning! Your Xi'an tour guide will take you to explore Xi'an culture and history today. As the eighth wonder of the world, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses is a must-see in Xian. In three archaeological pits, there are more than 8000 pottery figurines of various shapes displayed in military formations. From generals to soldiers, the facial features, hair accessories, and armor of each figurine are lifelike. The casting process of war horses and bronze chariots is even more breathtaking.

   We will arrange a special handmade experience. You will personally make a miniature pottery figurine under the guidance of intangible cultural heritage inheritors.

   

   In the afternoon, drive back to the city center and climb the largest Ming Dynasty Ancient City Wall in China. This military defense system with a circumference of 13.74 kilometers has been well preserved to this day. You can measure the green brick trail on foot, or choose to ride a bike on the 12-meter-wide wall. Get a panoramic view of the skyline that blends modern Xi'an with ancient architecture.

   If you are interested in folk culture, the guide can take you to visit a local family and learn from the host how to make dumplings, from prepare fillings, making dough, rolling out wrappers to shaping dumplings. Finally, savor the delicious food cooked by yourself.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Xi'an

6. Day 6: Xi'an to Zhangjiajie by Flight
   Delve into China’s Splendid Civilization

   In the morning, you will visit Xi'an Museum (closed on Mondays). This national first-class museum has a collection of 130000 cultural relics. Your knowledgeable guide will take you to appreciate some of the museum's treasures, such as Han Dynasty jade carvings and Tang Dynasty tri colored horses. The Little Wild Goose Pagoda in the scenic are dates back to the Tang Dynasty. It is one of the city landmarks in Xian.

   Afterwards, visit city landmark of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a seven-story structure 64.5 meters high. As the earliest and largest surviving square-based pavilion-style brick pagoda in China, it is a vital testament to the cultural exchanges along the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty's golden age. This was the site where the revered monk Xuanzang translated the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from India. For an unparalleled experience, you may choose to climb to the top for a small extra fee (CNY 30 p.p) to enjoy a panoramic view of the ancient city of Xi'an.

   

   Before leaving Xi'an, Muslim Street is the last stop. It is not just a street, but a collective term for multiple streets, consisting of Beiyuan Gate, Xiyangshi, Dapiyuan, and others. This is a food paradise. You can eat almost all Xi'an special snacks, such as Roujiamo, Pita bread soaked in Lamb Soup, and Biangbiang noodles. As a Muslim community with a history of hundreds of years, this place has a strong Muslim atmosphere.

   After that, your guide will escort you to the airport to take a flight to Zhangjiajie, a city renowned for its floating mountains in the movie "Avatar."

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan

7. Day 7: Zhangjiajie Natural Landscape
   Witness the Mysterious Hallelujah Mountain of Avatar

   Today, you will enjoy an amazing journey of natural exploration. The first stop is Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area, known as the "Natural Bonsai Museum", where there are different beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons - clouds, moonlit nights, rosy clouds, and winter snow. Riding the sightseeing cable car slowly up, you can marval at the unique landforms evolved from underwater sedimentary rocks 380 million years ago. The Imperial Pen Peak is like a towering giant pen pointing straight to the sky, the Fairy Dispersing Flowers are presented in a lifelike manner, and the Immortal Bridge spans over a secluded valley... Every landscape tells the geological legend of the ever-changing world.

   

   After lunch, transfer to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area located in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. More than 3000 rising quartz sandstone columns form a spectacular "maze of peaks", and the prototype of the suspended mountain in the Avatar film is based on this. Here, you have a special experience - riding the Bailong Elevator at lightning speed. This sightseeing elevator with a vertical height difference of 326 meters will take you directly to the summit at a speed of 5 meters per second. At dusk, witness the sunset casting a golden veil over the peaks. After the visit, we drive back to the hotel to relax the leg muscles.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan

8. Day 8: Zhangjiajie Canyon Adventure
   Walk on the World’s Highest and Longest Glass Bridge

   In the morning, your guide will take you to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. The canyon has lush vegetation and fresh air. Flying waterfalls and small streams and springs can be seen everywhere, just like a big natural oxygen bar. The highlight here is the thrilling Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, the longest and highest glass bridge in the world. Summon up the courage to walk up and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the canyon below, while experiencing the adrenaline rush.

   After that, drive to the Tianmen Mountain Forest Park near the city center, named after the natural wonder "Tianmen Cave". The karst landform here is formed by strong erosion and dissolution. After arrival, take the cable car directly to the sky garden at the top of Tianmen Mountain. The cable car is 7455 meters long and is the world's longest high-altitude passenger cable car, with a one-way travel time of 28 minutes. At the top, follow your guide to the Ghost Valley Plank Road, Glass Skywalk and visit Tianmen Mountain Temple. Finally, descend to the Tianmen Cave, where you can challenge yourself to climb 999 steps.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Zhangjiajie Downtown

   

9. Day 9: Zhangjiajie to Guilin by High-speed Train

   After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to Zhangjiajie. The driver will send you to the train station and take the high-speed train to Guilin. There are no direct flights between Zhangjiajie and Guilin. There is a high-speed train from Zhangjiajie to Guilin every day. The entire journey takes approximately 7.5 hours.

   In addition, you can first fly to Changsha from Zhangjiajie, and then transfer to take the high-speed rail to Guilin. Regardless of how you arrive in Guilin, local drivers will pick you up and take you to a hotel in the city center for check-in.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: Guilin

10. Day 10: Guilin’s Landmarks & Ancient Town
    Guilin Natural Highlights & An 1,800-Year-Old Town Along Li River

    Good morning! Your Guilin guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. First up on our tour is Reed Flute Cave, near the Taohua River. It's called the Palace of Natural Art because it's full of cool stalagmites, stalactites, and other rock formations. With colorful lights, it feels like you're in a fancy, underground palace made of precious stones, corals and jade!

    

    Then, it's about a half-hour drive to Elephant Trunk Hill. You'll find it right in Guilin where the Li and Taohua Rivers meet. It's called Elephant Trunk Hill because, well, it looks like a giant elephant getting a drink from the river! People have been visiting this spot since way back in the Tang and Song dynasties (960-1279), and lots of famous poets stopped by too.

    After seeing Elephant Trunk Hill, you will be transferred to Daxu Ancient Town. It's about an hour away by car. This old town is over 1,800 years old and used to be a popular spot for traders. When you walk around, you'll still see old stone streets, buildings and eye-catching antiques. After you're done exploring, we’ll take you back to your hotel in Guilin.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: Guilin

11. Day 11: Guilin to Yangshuo by Cruise
    Feast Your Eyes with Picturesque River Views

    After breakfast, your driver transfers you to the Mopanshan Dock. Your guide will accompany you to board a 3-star cruise ship. You will have a pleasant 4-hour journey along the Li River. The ship advances slowly, with towering green mountains and serene blue water forming a beautiful and moving Chinese ancient painting. Along the way, your guide will explain some of the famous sights including Nine Horse Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal (the backdrop on CNY 20 banknote). The Li River cruise is a feast for the eyes and ears and is a must-do in Guilin.

    Note: Lunch on the cruise is simple, local Guilin food. Feel free to bring some snacks for the cruise too.

    

    At noon, you will arrive at Yangshuo. Your driver picks you up at the dock and escorts you to your hotel for check-in. You can explore this charming countryside at your own pace. Various activities are available, such as immersive cooking class, thrilling rock climbing or interest agricultural experience.

    Optional Activity in the Evening:

    Catch the Impression Liu Sanjie show! It's on the Li River, and Zhang Yimou (a very famous Chinese filmmaker) directed it. It usually runs for about 70 minutes. (The first performance will be held at 7:30 pm, and the second performance will start at 9:10 pm)

    Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

    Accommodation: Yangshuo

12. Day 12: Yangshuo Back to Guilin, Fly to Shanghai
    Take in Stunning Rural Landscape in Different Ways

    Today you will be immersed in the picturesque Yangshuo countryside. We have organized a cycling experience along the Yulong River (often referred to as the “Little Li River”). Follow your tour guide to ride passes through lush green rice paddies, limestone karst hills and local villages. If you're lucky, you may run into villagers doing farm work in the fields. After the bike tour, float along the Yulong River on a bamboo raft.

    

    In the afternoon, drive back to Guilin airport. Take a 2-hour flight to Shanghai, one of the busiest metropolises in the world. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you at the airport exit and escort you to your hotel in the city center. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the “Magic City” on your own.

    Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

    Accommodation: Shanghai

13. Day 13: Shanghai Day Tour
    Explore the Magic City in Your Favorite Way

    Do you want to know how prosperous Shanghai is as an international metropolis? Meet your tour guide and then we kick off our exploration at the Bund. It's right by the Huangpu River and has over 50 amazing European architecture. It's a really important spot in China's history. The Bund has been a British concession since 1844. Since the 1840s, concessions have been occupied by countries such as Britain and France, and operated, managed, and constructed in their respective ways. So far, most of the buildings on the Bund have undergone three or more renovations. Your guide will tell you more stories about what happened here.

    

    Next, climb one of the world's tallest skyscrapers, the Shanghai Tower, which is at 632 meters. There's an observation deck on the Floor 118 with views all around, so you can see the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower, and the World Financial Center really well. You'll also spot the World Expo Park, Suzhou Creek, and the Huangpu River snaking its way to the East China Sea way off in the distance. Then, let's grab some lunch.

    The afternoon experience is customizable to your interests. If you are a history and culture buff, we can take you to visit the Shanghai Museum (closed on Mondays), the former French Concession, and Shanghai's old alleyways. Of course, Zhujiajiao is known as the Venice of Shanghai is very popular. You can spend your afternoon in this quaint water town. Or you can go shopping and explore Shanghai's fashionable places on your own.

    Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

    Accommodation: Shanghai

14. Day 14: Departure from Shanghai

    It's time to say goodbye to your 14-day Beijing Xian Zhangjiajie Guilin Shanghai tour. After breakfast, your driver will escort you to Shanghai Airport for your flight to your next destination. Thank you for choosing China Xian Tour and hope to see you again for your next China trip with us!

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A