10 Days China Golden Triangle Group Tour with Zhangjiajie

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Welcome to start your wonderful 10-day tour in China’s capital, Beijing! After arrival, our driver will take you to a hotel in the city center to check in (after 2 p.m.).

   The rest of today is arranged by yourself. You may try traditional Beijing food such as Beijing duck and Beijing copper hot pot. You may go to the Panjiayuan Antique Market to explore treasures or ancient crafts. In the later time, experiencing nightlife at bars in Houhai is also a good choice.

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
2. Day 2: Beijing City Sightseeing
   Decode Celestial Blue Rooftops and Enjoy Kilometer-Long Pigment Scrolls

   After breakfast, your guide will lead you to Tian'anmen Square first. Tiananmen Square is located at the center of Beijing. It was the main entrance of the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is the largest square in the world, which is now often used to host major events in China. The portrait of Mao Zedong is hung above the red walls to respect the foundation of the People’s Republic of China.

   After a short walk, you arrive at the Forbidden City, which is also known as the Imperial Palace and has a history of 600 years. You can see many jade carvings and dragon thrones in the rooms, which show the grandeur and wealth of the ancient Chinese royal family. Your guide will introduce more to help you know some histories of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

   In the afternoon, be guided to visit the Temple of Heaven: the place where the ancient emperors held ceremonies to pray for good harvests. After walking across the marble bridge, you arrive at the central building: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The guide will introduce the intricate design of the hall. This building shows the ancient Chinese philosophical concept of “Heaven is round and the Earth is square”.

   Then, you transfer to the Summer Palace and appreciate the amazing royal garden views. Taking a boat ride on Kunming Lake (at an extra fee of 80-100 CNY per hour) is also a good choice. It is worthy to walk along the Long Corridor, which is the world’s longest painted gallery (728 meters long). You may climb the Tower of Buddhist Incense to enjoy the views of willow-covered islands. During the day, you will also visit a pearl factory to learn about pearl farming and processing.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
3. Day 3: Hike the Great Wall of China
   Touch History Through Exploring Watchtowers on Winding Great Walls

   Our guide and driver will pick you up at 7-8 a.m. and drive for around 1.5 hours to the Mutianyu Great Wall. This hike will take about 2 hours. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall in Beijing. It is the longest one stretching 5,400 meters. During the climb, you will not only enjoy the great natural scenery but also see impressive structures such as beacon towers and watchtowers on the walls.

   There are some famous towers in the Mutianyu Great Wall: The Big Corner Tower marks the end of the eastern section of the Great Wall. It connects two different sections of the Great Wall with an expansive view. The No. 4 Tower, also known as Zhengguan Terrace, is composed of three hollow watchtowers connected together. This structure is unique throughout the entire Great Wall. If you feel tired during climbing, our tour guide will lead you to purchase cable car tickets. Later, you will go to a jade shop to appreciate wonderful jade works before returning to your hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
4. Day 4: Beijing to Xi’an by Bullet Train
   Chase 600-Year-Old Bell Tower Echoes and Explore Snack Alleys

   After breakfast, the driver will send you to the train station for your high-speed train to Xi’an. Xi’an was the ancient capital of thirteen ancient Chinese dynasties. Besides its long history, it is also famous for the delicious food made of flour. The high-speed train takes about 5 hours, and the local driver will meet you at the train station.

   After 1 hour driving to the hotel in the city center, you can have a good rest after checking in. Around 6 p.m., your guide will lead you to visit the Bell and Drum Tower Square, located in the center of Xi'an city. The Bell Tower has a history of over 600 years and was used for alarm and time reporting in ancient times. About 200 meters west of the Bell Tower is the largest drum tower in China. If you are interested, our guide is willing to introduce more related stories to you.

   Then, it’s time to explore the savory food in Xi’an. You will come to the Muslim Street after walking for about 5 minutes down the stairs. It is a very popular food quarter, especially in the evening. There are many famous Shaanxi foods, such as Roujiamo, Liangpi, beef/lamb skewers, and soup dumplings, etc. You may tell the guide your taste and preference, and she/he will recommend some snacks for you. You will be sent back to the hotel after that.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
5. Day 5: Xi’an’s Ancient Relics
   Witness 8,000 Silent Warriors, Glimpse the Tang Dynasty History & Culture

   Your trip today begins with the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses first. The Terracotta Warriors is called the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, a collection of the tomb treasures of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Its 3 large pits are filled with more than 8,000 clay soldiers, horses, and chariots. The Terracotta Warriors, constructed from 246 BC to 208 BC, was first discovered in 1974. As the largest ancient military museum in China, it provides a unique way for people to know the weapons and armor used in ancient Chinese warfare. The visit time is about 2.5 hours, and the guide will tell you more historical stories, like who created them, the purpose behind their construction, and the story of China’s first emperor Qing Shi Huang.

   After lunch, you will go back to Xi’an’s downtown to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In ancient times, the monk Xuanzang translated the Buddhist texts in this place, so the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was the center of Buddhist culture in the Tang dynasty. If you are interested, you can pay an extra fee (CNY 20) to climb the pagoda and appreciate the scenery of Xi'an.

   Around there, you can wander along the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-Bright City, which has lots of cultural performances and makes you feel energetic. This street is surrounded by buildings with Tang Dynasty-style, bringing you back to ancient times. After that, the driver will send you back to the hotel, and you can have a good rest.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
6. Day 6: Xian to Zhangjiajie by Flight
   Trace Xi’an’s Past in Museum and City Wall, Walk the Ink-Scented Streets

   After breakfast, your trip today starts from the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. This pagoda has 13 levels and is 43.4 meters tall, which is shaped like a tall rectangular pyramid. After a short walk, you will come to the Xi’an Museum. It collects more than 130,000 cultural relics, such as tri-colored glazed potteries of the Tang Dynasty, paintings, porcelain, seals, Buddhist statues, jade pieces, as well as other precious items.

   Then, you are going to climb the 12-meter-tall Xi’an City Wall located at the center of Xi’an. This wall was a military defense in ancient times, and it is one of China’s largest and best-preserved city walls. You can either choose to walk or rent a bike to ride along the wall and enjoy a beautiful view of Xi’an.

   The last station in Xi’an is Shuyuanmen, a pedestrian street that runs from Beilin to the entrance of Guanzhong Shuyuan. The Guanzhong Shuyuan was the highest learning institution of China in the Ming and Qing dynasties, which was also one of the four most renowned academies in China. The academy now has become a tourist street with many stores. These stores sell various inks, brushes, paper, inkstones, calligraphy, painting, seal carving, and jade ornaments. If you like Chinese calligraphy, you can’t miss this street.

   When all the visits are done, the driver will drive you to the airport for the Zhangjiajie flight. After landing, the local driver will pick you up and take you to the hotel in Wulingyuan.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
7. Day 7: Avatar Exploration in Zhangjiajie
   See Floating Hallelujah Mountains in the Real World

   After breakfast, your trip in Zhangjiajie begins! The guide will lead you to the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It is the first national forest park of China, and was added to the World Natural Heritage List in 1992.

   The journey begins at Tianzi Mountain, which has earned a good reputation as "King of Peak Forest". The sightseeing bus will take you to the top, and you can see many rocks and a forest of stone pillars. If the weather is good, you might be lucky enough to see an amazing sea of clouds after the rain. When the visit ends, you will take a cable car down the mountain.

   After lunch, you will go to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, located in the southwest of Tianzi Mountain. It has over 3,000 towering quartz sandstone columns and creates an amazing “maze of peaks". The movie Avatar is also inspired by this beautiful scenery. You will take the Bailong Elevator, which rises 326 meters to the top, reaching a speed of 5 meters per second. It only takes you a few seconds to get to the top. At dusk, you may see the wonderful view that the sunset paints the peaks in gold. Then, the driver will send you back to the hotel for a good rest.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
8. Day 8: Grand Canyon & Tianmen Mountain Adventure, Fly to Shanghai
   Walk on World’s Highest & Longest Bridge, Marval at Natural Water-Eroded Caves

   Your last day here begins at the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. It combines high peaks, deep valleys, clean streams, and water-eroded caves. It is a test for your courage because of the Glass Bridge - the world’s highest and longest transparent bridge. It stretches about 370 meters across the canyon and hangs 400 meters above the valley bottom. This must be your unforgettable experience on this tour.

   After driving about 1.5 hours, you will arrive at Tianmen Mountain and take the 7,455-meter-long cable car for 28 minutes to reach the top. In Tianmen Mountain, you can walk along the thrilling Glass Walkway and Ghost Valley Plank Road, which cling to the cliff edges but have amazing views.

   The Tianmen Mountain Temple is a recommended place. It is the Buddhist center of Xiangxi region (west of Hunan province), and was built in the Ming Dynasty. The highlight of the mountain is Tianmen Cave. It is the world’s highest natural water-eroded cave, and requires climbing the 999 steps for its splendid landscape. After your trip, you will take a cable car down the mountain.

   After your trip to Zhangjiajie, you will take the airplane to the modern city of Shanghai.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
9. Day 9: Best Day Tour in Shanghai
   From Ming-Dynasty Gardens & Modern Skyline to Buddha Temple and Art Park

   Following breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up and start your day trip in Shanghai.

   Your first station is Yuyuan Garden. It is a famous classical garden in the Jiangnan region. Its design has many traditional Chinese elements: Beautifully decorated pavilions, sparkling fish ponds under the sunshine, and tall old trees. Then, your guide will lead you to the Shanghai Bund, which is a good place to appreciate the skyline across the Huangpu River. The Shanghai Bund is also called the open-air museum because of its 52 European-style buildings.

   Nanjing Road, a famous shopping street, is one of the must-see places to visit. Xintiandi is a good choice for relaxing and shows you Shanghai’s modern lifestyle. It is featured by the Shikumen-style buildings and a nostalgic vibe.

   Jade Buddha Temple is our next stop. This is a Buddhist temple that was first built in 1882. It has a long history exceeding a century and is constructed in the style of the Song dynasty. It has two famous jade Buddha statues: A 1.95-meter-tall sitting Buddha and a smaller 0.96-meter reclining Buddha.

   The next destination is M50 Creative Park. The interesting thing is that it is transformed from an old textile factory. Different from other creative places, its outstanding feature is the street filled with graffiti and open gallery displays: abstract and realistic styles, watercolor and oil paintings are all included there. There are various art exhibitions with different themes in this creative park, and they are all free. This creative park also has some vintage shops waiting for your exploration. If you feel tired of walking around, you can drink a cup of coffee in cafes in the creative park and enjoy your afternoon tea.

   After that, you will go to 1000 Trees by Suzhou Creek. If you see it from a far distance, it looks like a lush mountain. When you are close to it, it’s like a floating oasis above the river because around 25,000 plants are growing on its staggered pillars, including shrubs and vines. Finally, you will visit a tea house. You can join a tea ceremony and learn more about the Chinese tea culture.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
10. Day 10: Shanghai Departure

    This 10-day China group tour including Zhangjiajie now comes to an end, and your driver will take you to the airport for your next destination. Thanks for trusting and choosing China Xian Tour. Wish you feel happy and worthy on this trip! Hope we will meet you again on your next China tour.

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