Highlights
What you will see
China is a country of contrasts and this route combines imperial Beijing, historic Xi'an, dramatic Zhangjiajie and cosmopolitan Shanghai.
Itinerary
Day by day
Arrive in Beijing
Meet your guide at Beijing Capital or Daxing Airport and transfer to your inner-city hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in Beijing.
- TicketsNone
- MealsNone
- GuideA English-speaking local guide
- NotesAirport pick‑up Service
Beijing
After breakfast today explore Beijing with your guide who will collect you from the hotel. Visit the world’s largest city square, Tiananmen Square. Make your way across the road to the magnificent Forbidden City, a culturally historic landmark in China, which was the former residence of Chinese royalty and courtiers for five centuries. After the Forbidden City tour, exploration continues with a visit to the Summer Palace. Appreciate the beautiful gardens and imagine the lifestyle of royalty and courtiers who enjoyed this summer resort during imperial times. A stopover at Beijing’s stadium and pool – the Bird's Nest and Water Cube – built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics – provides a modern contrast to China’s ancient history. Return to the hotel.
- TicketsForbidden City, Summer Palace
- MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner
- GuideFull‑day escort by a English-speaking local guide
- NotesForbidden City may be adjusted if it is closed on Monday.
Beijing
In the morning, commence the day’s adventure with exploration of the Mutianyu Great Wall, a less frequented part of China’s 1,400-year-old iconic landmark, located approximately 70 kilometres from Beijing. Take a pleasant and comfortable round-trip cable car transfer over the picturesque scenery, then walk the wall to take in the Ming dynasty guard towers and sensational views. On return to the city in the afternoon, exploration continues with a visit to the Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum. Stroll through the hutongs nearby and experience local life as you wander through quaint shops, enjoy a coffee, and gain an insider’s view of a real Beijing community.
- TicketsMutianyu Great Wall, Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum
- MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner
- GuideFull‑day escort by a English-speaking local guide
- NotesRound‑trip Great Wall cable car ticket
Beijing – Chengdu
This morning, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, the sacred site where Ming and Qing emperors performed annual ceremonies to pray for good harvests. Built in 1420, this magnificent complex features the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Circular Mound Altar, reflecting the ancient cosmological concept of “round heaven and square earth.” Stroll among the ancient cypress trees, admire the acoustic wonders of the Echo Wall, and immerse yourself in the solemn atmosphere of imperial rituals. After the tour, you will be transferred to Beijing Capital International Airport for your flight to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (approx. 3 hours). Upon arrival, your local guide will greet you at the arrivals hall with a welcome sign and escort you to your pre‑booked hotel in the city centre. After check‑in, the evening is free for you to explore Chengdu at your own pace – perhaps try some authentic hotpot or take a leisurely walk to soak up the relaxed vibe of the “Land of Abundance.”
- TicketsTemple of Heaven
- MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner
- GuideBeijing drop‑off + Chengdu pick‑up guide
- NotesBeijing–Chengdu flight ticket (economy class)
Chengdu
This morning, drive to Dujiangyan and arrive at the Dujiangyan Panda Base for a unique “Panda Volunteer Experience”: under the guidance of professional keepers, you will put on a work suit and help clean enclosures, prepare bamboo and special steamed cornbread, and hand-feed the giant pandas while observing their adorable behaviour up close, while staff share fascinating facts about panda habits and conservation efforts, giving you a deeper understanding of wildlife protection, and at the end of the session you will receive a volunteer certificate as a keepsake of this memorable day; after lunch, return to downtown Chengdu and visit the trendy Chunxi Road–Taikoo Li district, an open-air shopping area that blends traditional Sichuan architectural style with modern design, featuring international brands, boutique cafés and art exhibitions, where you can enjoy free time to shop, take photos, or relax in charming courtyards, experiencing the city’s unique blend of fashion and leisure; as dusk falls, wander into Kuanzhai Alley (Wide and Narrow Alleys), a well-preserved Qing-era street complex of three parallel lanes, where grey-brick courtyard houses are filled with snack stalls, tea houses and handicraft workshops, allowing you to sample local treats like “Three Cannons” and candied fruit, watch a face-changing Sichuan opera performance, or simply sit in an open-air teahouse and watch the world go by – the very essence of Chengdu’s laid-back lifestyle; after the tour, you may return to your hotel on your own or arrange for a guide and driver to pick you up.
- TicketsDujiangyan Panda Base
- MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner
- GuideFull‑day escort by a English-speaking local guide + keeper assistance.
- NotesPanda Volunteer Program – book 2 weeks ahead; ages 8–70; medical certificate required.
Chengdu – Chongqing
Visit Xi'an City Wall, then fly to Zhangjiajie and transfer to your scenic area hotel after arrival.
- TicketsXi'an City Wall
- MealsBreakfast
- GuideTransfer support
- NotesFlight timing determines the sightseeing pace.
Chongqing
Start from Jiefangbei, the heart of Chongqing, then walk to Bayi Snack Street, where a variety of street foods like spicy sour noodles and mini tangyuan await – enjoy a self‑arranged lunch; then proceed to Kuixinglou, a rooftop square that offers a striking view of the Jialing River and reveals the city's unique vertical terrain – you’ll feel the magic of being “on the 22nd floor while thinking you’re on the ground”; next, drive to Liziba Station to witness the famous light‑rail train passing through a residential building, and capture this surreal scene from the viewing platform; continue to ride the Crown Escalator, one of Asia’s longest outdoor escalators, gliding downward as if in a time tunnel; then take the Yangtze River Cableway for an aerial crossing over the river, enjoying sweeping views of the water and the skyline; as night falls, finish at Hongyadong, where the cliffside stilt‑house complex glows with golden lights reflected in the river, creating a dreamlike scene – you can wander freely, take photos, or have a hotpot dinne.
- TicketsYangtze River Cableway
- MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner
- GuideFull‑day escort by a English-speaking local guide
- NotesCrown Escalator & Yangtze River Cableway
Chongqing – Shanghai
This morning, head to the Eling Creative Park (Eling 2 Factory), a vibrant arts district converted from a former printing factory, where industrial brick walls, steel frames and old machinery blend seamlessly with contemporary art galleries, indie bookshops, stylish cafés and design studios – it's a favourite spot for Chongqing’s creative crowd; take photos against the weathered factory facades, enjoy panoramic views of the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers from the rooftop terraces, or simply sip coffee while soaking up the city’s laid‑back vibe; after the visit, you will be transferred to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport for your flight to Shanghai (flight duration is roughly two hours), and upon arrival, your local guide will greet you at the arrivals hall with a welcome sign, then escort you to your pre‑booked hotel in the city centre, offering a brief introduction to Shanghai’s landmarks and urban character along the way; the rest of the evening is yours to explore at leisure or to rest after the journey.
- TicketsNone
- MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner
- GuideChongqing drop‑off + Shanghai pick‑up guide
- NotesChongqing–Shanghai flight ticket (economy class)
Shanghai
Commence your tour of Shanghai with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, a massive museum housing over 140,000 artifacts, presenting the full history and culture of this cosmopolitan city. Enjoy a walk along The Bund, iconic and prestigious, one of the most well-preserved examples of old Shanghai glamour. Walk Nanjing Road, the busiest shopping precinct in China. Change tempo and visit Yuyuan Garden, where you can marvel at the artistically designed traditional Chinese gardens; then stroll around the nearby Yu Garden Bazaars . Make the most of your afternoon by wandering the quieter streets of Dongping Road or Sinan Road in the Former French Concession, where you will find the essence of classic Shanghai. Then head to Lujiazui in Pudong to view the iconic skyscrapers, including the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower, from the riverside promenade, offering a modern contrast to the historic sights.
- TicketsShanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden
- MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner
- GuideFull‑day escort by a English-speaking local guide
- NotesShanghai Museum may be replaced when closed on Monday.
Depart from Shanghai
Before your airport transfer, enjoy a visit to Jing’an Temple, a serene Buddhist temple with a history of over 1,700 years, located in the heart of Shanghai’s bustling commercial district. Your tour guide will collect you at the hotel and drive you to the airport for your flight home. For small group tour travelers, a transfer service from your hotel to Hongqiao or Pudong Airport can be arranged on request.
- TicketsNone
- MealsBreakfast
- GuideAirport drop‑off guide
- NotesAirport drop‑off service
Accommodation
Comfortable stays along the route
Accommodation is arranged in carefully selected four- and five-star hotels in each city on the route.
Inner-city hotel with convenient access to the main sights.
Comfortable hotel close to the historic core of the city.
Scenic-area hotel for easier access to the national park.
Central hotel for the Bund, Yu Garden and old French Concession.
Inclusions / Exclusions
What is usually included
Included
- Admission fees to sightseeing spots and activities specified
- Accommodation in hotels based on double or twin occupancy
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Excellent private English-speaking guide
- High-speed train between Beijing and Xi'an
- Economy class domestic flights between Xi'an, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai
- Land transfers with drivers as specified
- Travel Agency Liability Insurance during the tour
- Government taxes and fees
Not included
- International flights to and from China
- China visa fees
- Gratuities to guides and drivers and any expense of a personal nature
- Travel insurance
- Small group airport transfer service from hotel to the Shanghai airport
Important information
Before you book
The route can be arranged as a private tour for your own group.
Small group departures are fixed and capped at 12 travelers.
The route uses a mix of high-speed rail and domestic flights to keep travel smooth.
Official holiday periods can affect pricing and availability.
