13-Day Beijing Xian Chengdu Zhangjiajie Shanghai Group Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
   Explore Serene Imperial Retreat, Stunning Lake, and Mountain Scenery

   This 13 day China group tour starts from the capital city of Beijing! After arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport, your tour guide and driver will greet you at the airport from 10 am to 11 am and escort you to the hotel.

   In the afternoon, go to explore the peaceful Summer Palace in the western suburbs of Beijing. This palace was a summer resort for the Qing emperors and their families, built around Kunming Lake and Wanshou (Longevity) Hill. It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998. Your well-informed tour guide will take you on a glimpse of the history of the Chinese royal family.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

2. Day 2: Great Wall Hiking Tour
   Drive to Scenic Mutianyu, Ascend by Cable Car, and Hike

   This morning, you will learn about the sacrificial culture of the Chinese royal family. After breakfast, we're off to the Temple of Heaven. Back in the day, emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties came here to worship and pray for rain. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the main attraction – it's a round building with a three-eaved roof covered with blue glazed tiles, which shows the harmony of heaven. The Temple of Heaven has a park around it where you can see how Beijing people live day-to-day. Locals often practice Tai Chi and folk dances here.

   

   Next, we will drive for 2 hours to reach the 5400 meter long Mutianyu Great Wall. It is undoubtedly an ancient engineering miracle surrounded by lush vegetation. When you ascend the Great Wall by cable car, your guide will tell you the rich historical stories of the Great Wall and tell you the best shooting locations. The winding paths of this UNESCO World Heritage site stretch endlessly.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing City Highlights
   Visit the Vast Square and Grand Imperial Palace

   Today you will delve into the royal history of China. Before that, let's take a brief visit to Tian’anmen Square. It is one of the largest urban squares in the world. From north to south along the central axis you can see the national flag pole, the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, and the Zhengyang Gate.

   Afterwards, walk north for 10 minutes and arrive at the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Undoubtedly, this is a symbol of imperial power in ancient China. There are nearly 9,000 rooms here, storing countless precious cultural relics. The guide will accompany you to visit the some of the most important locations for about 2.5 hours: the Hall of Supreme Harmony (where the grand ceremonials are held, such as the enthronement and wedding ceremony), the Palace of Heavenly Purity (where the emperor handles the affairs of the state and his daily life), the Meridian Gate (the main gate of the Forbidden City) and the Shenwu Gate (the North Gate), and many more.

   

   You will enjoy delicious Beijing Roast Duck, a specialty dish of Beijing, for lunch. In the afternoon, take you for a stroll on Yangmeizhuxie Street and explore the peaceful Shichahai. Later, you will experience taking a rickshaw through traditional hutongs. Your tour guide will tell you about the daily life of Beijing people.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

4. Day 4: Beijing to Xian by High-speed Train
   Sample Authentic Regional Snacks at Muslim Quarter

   Savor a leisurely morning at your hotel. In the afternoon, your driver will escort you to the railway station for a high-speed train journey to Xian.

   Upon arrival, the guide will show you around the Muslim Quarter and taste authentic local snacks, such as Biangbiang noodles, ice peak (a kind of drink), soup dumplings, mirror cake, sour plum soup, dried persimmon and lamb skewer. (at your own expense)

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xian

   

5. Day 5: Terracotta Army Tour
   Marvel at Unique Clay Figures of Terracotta Warriors

   This morning, the local guide will greet you again in the hotel lobby. After an hour's drive from the city center, you will arrive at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It is a name card of China's ancient glorious civilization. Here you can see thousands of life-size clay soldiers, horses and chariots in three pits. Over 2000 years ago, the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, built this world heritage site. You will be surprised that each soldier has a unique facial expression.

   

   Optional: If you are interested in making a replica small terracotta soldier, we'd like to arrange that for you. Around 1h making, costing RMB 90 per person.

   After lunch, visit another landmark of Xi'an - the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. At around 65 meters tall, the pagoda was built in 652 (in the Tang Dynasty) to store Buddhist scriptures brought back by Xuanzang from India. Have a relaxing time there. After that, head to Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City, which is next to the Great Wild Goose Pagoda. It is like a time travel when you walk among many Tang Dynasty-style architectures.

   

   In the evening, your guide will take you to one of Xi'an's most famous restaurants for a sumptuous dinner, including Calabash Chicken, Hele Made of Buckwheat Flour, Small Hard Flour Pancake with chili, etc.

   Meal: Breakfast + Dinner

   Accommodation: in Xian

6. Day 6: Xian History & Food Tour, To Chengdu by High-speed Train
   Visit the Historic Pagoda and Tour the Ancient City Wall

   Today we will go to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which is a Buddhist building with a long history dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). You will be amazed by its complex carvings. You can leisurely stroll in the surrounding gardens. In the scenic area, you will be led to visit the Xi'an Museum, which will show you more about the history of this ancient city.

   

   Then, go to Xi'an Ancient City Wall, and be introduced to the most complete and oldest city defenses with ancient walls, ramparts, gates, watchtowers, and horse passages. You can walk on the massive wall (tall, long, and thick), or rent a bicycle (optional, rent the bike at your own expense) to get some good views of the city and the surrounding moat.

   Say goodbye to Xi'an as you board a high-speed train to Chengdu.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

   

7. Day 7: Chengdu to Leshan
   Capture the World's Largest Stone Carved Maitreya Buddha

   After breakfast, drive to Leshan to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha. The Giant Buddha is 71 meters high and is a masterpiece of Tang Dynasty cliff sculpture art. It is also the world's largest stone carved Maitreya Buddha sitting statue. You will climb up the stairs to get a close-up view of this majestic Buddha statue, or pay an extra fee to choose to cruise along the river and see the Buddha statue from a distance.

   

   Afterwards, we return to Chengdu to embark on a culinary adventure in Wide and Narrow Alley. Here you'll taste the most authentic Sichuan snacks, such as Dandan Noodles (with peppery sauce), Zhong Dumplings, Bo Bo Chicken, and other popular snacks.

   Meal: Breakfast + Snacks

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

8. Day 8: Chengdu Panda Tour, To Zhangjiajie by Flight
   Watch the Lovely Pandas up Close and Experience Cooking

   Today you will see the long-awaited giant panda! Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel at around 08:30 am. Drive for 30 minutes to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This base is famous for aiding in preservation and breeding of the endangered giant pandas. It is a bucket list item for most visitors to Chengdu. You will see many adorable giant pandas and maybe red pandas, resembling raccoons, with reddish-brown fur on their back. You can observe them eating bamboo, playing and sleeping!

   

   After that, it’s time for lunch. In the afternoon, have a memorable experience of cooking several authentic Sichuan food. Your guide will transfer you to Sichuan Cuisine Museum, where you can see many items displaying the culture of Sichuan cuisine. Get hands-on preparation of representative dishes under the guidance of a chef, such as Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken. Finally, enjoy the delicious “results” you have prepared.

   After that, your driver escorts you to the airport for your flight to Zhangjiajie, the filming location for the famous movie Avatar.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Zhangjiajie

   

9. Day 9: Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain
   Tour Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie with Stunning Views & Bailong Elevator

   After breakfast, your China group tour in Zhangjiajie takes you Tianzi Mountain. Take a sightseeing bus up to the mountain and you will witness rugged rocks and a forest of stone peaks. One of the spectacular sights is the sea of clouds after rain if you are lucky. After the visit, take a cable car down the mountain.

   Continue your adventure in the Yuanjiajie, the inspiration for Hallelujah Mountain in the super famous movie Avatar. Bailong Elevator, the highest outdoor sightseeing elevator (operating at a height of 326 meters) in the world, is a highlight in Yuanjiajie. You will ride the elevator up to the top, which takes only 66 seconds. A breathtaking landscape is waiting for you, with massive quartz-sandstone pillars.

   At the end of the visit, your guide and driver will take you back to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Zhangjiajie

   

10. Day 10: Zhangjiejia Grand Canyon Adventure
    Challenge to Walk on the World's Longest Transparent Glass Bridge

    After breakfast, your Zhangjiajie tour today begins at the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, a landform museum of Zhangjiajie, integrating mountains, rivers, and caves. You'll challenge walking on the world's highest and longest transparent glass bridge, the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge. The bridge arches about 400 meters above the valley floor and spans a total length of approximately 370 meters. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

    

    Then, head to Tianmen Mountain. You will take the 7,455-meter-long cable car up to the top of the mountain for 28 minutes. Walk on the thrilling Glass Skywalk & Ghost Valley Plank Road that hang on the cliffs. Explore the Tianmen Cave, a natural water-eroded cave with the highest elevation in the world. You can conquer the 999 steps to Tianmen Cave and enjoy the wonderful scenery from above.

    After the China tour in Zhangjiajie, you will take a flight to the bustling metropolis of Shanghai.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

11. Day 11: Shanghai Exploration
    Embark on a Journey of Shanghai's Past and Present

    After breakfast, meet your Shanghai tour guide and follow her/him to glimpse classic Chinese garden design at the elegant Yu Garden. Its history can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Learn about the construction story and enjoy the well arranged gardens, bridges, and ponds. Nearby you will visit the bustling Yuyuan Bazaar. Find some exquisite traditional Chinese handicrafts and taste local Shanghai snacks.

    

    After that, have a glance at the modernization of Shanghai. Go up the Jinmao Tower, Shanghai's third-tallest landmark (420.5 meters / 1379.6 feet), and have a bird’s-eye view of the panoramic city from the 88 floors. Next, go for a stroll along Nanjing Road, the first commercial pedestrian street in China, and savor the openness and prosperity of this 700-year-old city. The last stop is the must-see attraction - the Bund, where you can admire 52 buildings with different styles such as Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, etc.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

    

12. Day 12: Zhujiajiao Water Town from Downtown Shanghai
    Take a Stroll around the Venice of the East and Enjoy Huangpu River Night Cruise

    Your 13-day China group tour is going to end today. In the morning, be transferred to visit the last stop - the "Venice of the East" of Zhujiajiao Water Town. It is 48 kilometers away (1 hour) from the downtown Shanghai. The canals and stone bridges in this town can date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties (1616-1911). Leisurely stroll along the cobblestone streets and visit some exquisite handicraft shops and tea houses (on your own), and admire elegent ancient residences. If you want to learn more about garden culture, you can pay an additional fee to visit the Kezhi Garden (20 RMB per person). Your guide will help you purchase tickets on-site and provide you with detailed landscape explanations.

    

    You can choose to leisurely cruise along the ancient waterway by boat and appreciate the unique charm of this town from different perspectives.

    After the tour, return to Shanghai and take a night tour along the Huangpu River. The ship will pass the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Tower, the historic Bund and other landmark buildings.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

    

13. Day 13: Shanghai Departure

    Enjoy your free morning at the hotel. Then, your driver will escort you on a plane or train. The 13-day group tour in China ends. If you are interested in other destinations in China, we are always at your service.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A