12-Day Chinese Kung Fu and Panda Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Welcome to Beijing - the starting point of your 12-day China tour package! Beijing is not only the capital of China, but a city where history and modernity, culture and nature blend perfectly. Upon arrival, a private local guide will pick you up and take you to the downtown hotel for check-in.

   The rest of the day is free for you to explore Beijing. If you need any suggestions for your free time, see below:

   • In Sanlitun, you can browse international brands and fashion boutique stores.
   • In the evening, enjoy a tranquil time in a bar hidden in the alleys of Yangmei Zhuxie Street.

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
2. Day 2: Beijing Highlights Visit
   Explore the Historical Sites of Royal Family

   The first stop of your Beijing tour is Tian'anmen Square, one of the largest city squares in the world. It is a sacred site for major celebrations, grand gatherings, and foreign affairs receptions in China.

   Continue walking a short distance north to the Forbidden City, a royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, located at the center of Beijing's central axis. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1987. There are nearly 9,000 rooms, and your guide will take you to visit some important sites and tell you stories about what happened here.

   

   After a delicious Chinese lunch, head to the Qing Dynasty royal garden - the Summer Palace. It is the most well-preserved imperial palace and garden in China. Composed of Wanshou Hill and Kunming Lake, the garden was built based on the scenery of West Lake in Hangzhou, drawing inspiration from the design of Jiangnan gardens.

   Walk through the 728-meter Long Corridor and appreciate 14,000 exquisite paintings over its roofs and pillars, which have earned it a Guinness World Record.

   Optional Activities:

   To spend your leisurely afternoon, choose to take a boat ride on Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace (for an additional fee).

   Chinese Kung Fu has a very wide influence in the world, and most foreigners know Kung Fu from Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee's films. You can enjoy a superb Kung Fu show at Red Theater. The entire cast is very professional and talented combining fantastic martial arts, challenging acrobatics and a wonderful story.

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
3. Day 3: Beijing Great Wall Hiking
   Ascend the Mutianyu Great Wall via Cable Car and Have a Hike

   Today will be the highlight of your Beijing trip as you hike along the famous World Heritage site, the Great Wall.

   Before that, visit Dingling Tomb, the only imperial tomb among the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty that has an open underground palace. You will go deep into the 27m deep Underground Palace to explore the royal burial system of the Ming Dynasty, visit the three halls, the White Marble coffin, and cultural relics such as the replica of the Gold Filigree Crown and the Phoenix Crown.

   Then transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall, which is the most scenic part of the Chinese Great Wall. 90 percent of the Mutianyu is covered by vegetation. So in each season, this part of the Great Wall will treat visitors with its unique scenery. Take a cable car to the top. For the way down the Great Wall, there is also an option of a toboggan to see the spectacular scenery from different angles.

   

   Drive back to Beijing, stopping to view the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube from the outside. They are the famous buildings from the 2008 Olympic Games.

   Dinner Suggestion:

   You can enjoy the famous palace dish - Peking Roast Duck and learn how to roll ducks into pancakes.

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
4. Day 4: Beijing to Luoyang by High-speed Train
   Visit Imperial Sacrificial Buildings and Glimpse the Life of Beijingers

   After breakfast, admire the magnificent royal structure at the Temple of Heaven, which served as a complex of sacrificial buildings where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest.

   Nearby, take a walk under the cypress shade of a park where you will see locals doing morning exercises.

   Next, experience a rickshaw ride through the traditional hutongs. Visit a local family and learn about their daily life.

   

   After lunch, board a high-speed train to Luoyang. Upon arrival, a local driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Luoyang.

   Optional Activity: In the Hutong, try to learn Chinese calligraphy, make dumplings, and paper cuttings to glimpse more Chinese cultural life.

   Free Time in the Evening: At night, you can go to Lijing Gate on your own, known as the "first gate tower of the Central Plains". Ascend the city tower and overlook the lights of the old street, stroll along the cross street and taste Luoyang's unique Water Banquet, peony cakes, and more.

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   4-Star Hotel in Luoyang
5. Day 5: Luoyang Kung Fu Tour
   Take a 2-Hour Kung Fu Class after Watching A Wonderful Kung Fu Show

   In the morning,  drive to Dengfeng to explore the legendary Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple was founded in 495 AD and is not only the birthplace of Zen Buddhism, but also of Chinese Kung Fu. It is known as the "holy land of Kung Fu". The tour guide will take you to visit some major sites and explain the stories of the mountain gate, Heavenly King Hall, Bell Tower, etc.

   Pagoda Forest has collected over 200 pagodas from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. This site is a graveyard for the departed eminent monks. Pagodas are of different shapes, heights, and arrangements, making them look like a forest, so the place got the name Pagoda Forest.

   Then, watch an exciting Kung Fu performance, a highlight of the scenic area, by the skilled Shaolin Temple monks. It lasts for around 30 minutes.

   

   After the show, learn Kung Fu passed down through several generations of Shaolin monks under the guidance of a professional teacher (2 hours). Then, take a walk around and observe the daily practice of advanced students. You will witness the rigorous training that practitioners undergo to become true Shaolin Kung Fu masters.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Luoyang
6. Day 6: Luoyang to Xi'an by High-speed Train
   Discover the Historical Gems from Museum to Grottoes

   This is the last day of your China tour in Luoyang. Before leaving, visit Luoyang Museum. It has a collection of 20,315 cultural relics, including 5406 precious relics, especially famous for Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasty bronze ware, Han pottery figurines, Tang tri colored glazed pottery, and Song Dynasty porcelain.

   Next transfer to the Longmen Grottoes, the world's largest treasure trove of stone carving art with the most statues.

   It has gone through more than 10 dynasties and was built for over 1400 years. There are 2345 existing cave niches here, with over 110,000 statues. A large number of colorful paintings were used during construction, but most of them have now faded. Experience the beauty of ancient Chinese grotto art from your tour guide's wonderful commentary.

   

   After the tour, drive you to Luoyang Longmen Railway Station for a high-speed train to Xi'an.

   Free Time in the Evening:

   At night, there are interactive activities such as Tumbler Lady, Whirling Dance, and so on at the Great Tang Dynasty Ever-Bright City. At the northern end of the street, you can enjoy the magnificent array of fountains, the largest in Asia. Free access; it is recommended to go after 7:30 pm.

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
7. Day 7: Xi'an Historical Discovery
   Visit Three Pits of the Terracotta Army for Life-sized Warriors

   Your tour of Xian starts after meeting your tour guide. He/She will take you to visit the world-famous Terracotta Army, known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Through Pits 1, 2, and 3, where you can see life-sized warriors and many horses and chariots. After a Chinese-style lunch, drive back to the downtown area.

   

   Continue your visit atop the Ancient City Wall. It is the largest and most well-preserved ancient city wall in China, 12 meters high and 12-14 meters wide at the top. It is a closed rectangle with a circumference of 13.74 kilometers. On the city wall, ride a bicycle at your own expense and enjoy the scenery inside and outside the city wall.

   Next, stroll around Muslim Street, a food street where you can find almost all the snacks in Xian, including kebabs, steamed buns, Mutton and Bread Pieces in Soup, but also admire many exotic buildings in Islamic style. Also, go into the Great Mosque, a very unique mosque that looks like a Chinese classical garden. The architecture is also combined with Islamic style, with roofs with glazed tiles.

   Travel tips:
   

   • If you’re interested, you can handmake your own mini clay soldier at a factory near the Terracotta Warrior Museum.
     
   • If time permits, after seeing the mosque, you can shoot the moment when the Bell Tower lights up.

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
8. Day 8: Xi'an to Chengdu by High-speed Train
   Explore the Xian Landmark and Historical Artifacts

   Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda after breakfast, a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists, built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

   

   Next, immerse yourself in the rich history at the Xi'an Museum. The museum has a collection of 130,000 cultural relics from various historical periods in Xi'an, including some unearthed from influential dynasties in Chinese history such as the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang. The Tangsancai Horse (唐三彩腾空马) from the Tang Dynasty, unearthed in 1966, is the treasure of this museum.

   Take a high-speed train (about 4 hours) from Xi'an to Chengdu, the hometown of pandas. Upon arrival in Chengdu, you will be transferred to your hotel.

   Free Time Suggestions in the Evening:

   • Explore the bustling food areas, such as Kuixinglou Street popular with locals, and immerse yourself in Chengdu's spicy culinary world.
   • After dark, the illuminated Tower of Vitality creates one of Chengdu's most dazzling night views.

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   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
9. Day 9: Chengdu Panda Tour
   See Pandas Up Close and Experience A Slow-paced Local Life

   Today is a highlight of the Chengdu panda tour! Go early to visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It is well known for the protection and breeding of the endangered giant pandas that are unique to China. It is the cradle of giant pandas, where you can observe pandas of different ages eating, playing, and resting. If you're lucky, you can watch female pandas nursing their cubs.

   Next, head to the 1400-year-old Wenshu Temple. It is still frequented by local people who come to pray and relax today. It is a good place to learn Buddhism.

   

   For the afternoon, relax at a local tea house for a cup of tea and enjoy some relaxing time in People's Park. Last, wander around the bustling Jinli Old Street. 550 meters long, the street was once one of the oldest and most commercial streets in the history of Western Shu. You can enjoy shopping and tasting some yummy food that you have never seen before.

   In the evening, you can try the hotpot dinner / Sichuan cuisine or witness the wonderful Sichuan Opera Face Changing performance. (Optional activities)

   Optional Activities: 

   • Treat yourself to a comfortable ear-cleaning service in People's Park, recognized as an intangible cultural heritage.
   • Watch a Sichuan opera face-changing show, a magic in real life. The performer switched his colored masks in the blink of an eye to show the fleeting emotions of the characters.

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   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
10. Day 10: Chengdu to Shanghai by Flight

    After breakfast, your private driver will transfer you to the airport for a 2-hour flight to Shanghai, the most prosperous city in China. Upon arrival, the local driver will take you to the well-selected hotel.

    The rest of the day is on your own to relax or explore the city. If you’re a shopaholic, we can provide you with a map guide to shopping in Shanghai to help you find what you’re looking for.

    You can also enjoy a customized half-day tour in Shanghai. Your travel consultant will suggest a unique itinerary for you based on your interests, with activities like museum visits or going to some fashion blocks.

    

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    4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
11. Day 11: Shanghai City Exploration
    Embark on a City Journey of Shanghai's Past and Present

    Your first stop on your Shanghai trip is the Shanghai Museum. The museum houses 120,000 precious cultural relics. You will appreciate exquisite bronze ware, ceramics, calligraphy, painting, and more.

    Yuyuan Garden, known as "Mountain and Forest in City", was a private garden in the Ming Dynasty. Built in 1559, the entire garden is designed in the style of southern architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It features curved bridges, flowing water, and elegant pavilions.

    

    Then, ascend the Shanghai World Financial Center, one of the tallest skyscrapers in China. The building looks like a bottle opener from outside. Go up to the 100th floor to have a marvelous panoramic view of the Huangpu River. Walking on the 55-meter-long transparent sightseeing corridor will be an exciting experience.

    After that, walk along the first commercial pedestrian street in China, Nanjing Road. Keep heading east until you reach the famous Wai Tan or the Bund, a waterfront promenade, to admire various international architectural styles and the skyscrapers across the Huangpu River including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

    Optional Activity: After nightfall, you can take a Huangpu River Night Cruiseto see the buildings on both sides all lit up in colors.

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    4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
12. Day 12: Departure from Shanghai
    Explore Artistic and Creative Spaces of Shanghai

    Begin your final day in Shanghai with a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple. This is a Song Dynasty-style building named after the Jade Buddha enshrined in the temple. It is a quiet and peaceful environment, which is regarded by locals as "a piece of pure land in the midst of the downtown area".

    Next, transfer you to visit Tianzifang, a creative work base transformed from a group of Shikumen buildings. You can see numerous art and cultural studios. Experience its old Shanghai lifestyle and exotic charm.

    

    After the visits, the 12-day China tour with Kung Fu experience comes to an end. If you are interested in other destinations in China, we are always at your service.

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