Beijing. O/N Beijing

Beijing - Today, your tour guide will meet you in your Beijing hotel lobby at 8:00am. You will then be taken to Tiananmen Square.

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - At Tiananmen Square, you can capture stunning photos of the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to People’s Heroes, and Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. Located in the heart of Beijing, Tiananmen Square has been the site of numerous historical events and gatherings over the centuries. Today, it hosts grand celebrations, military parades, and welcoming ceremonies for foreign dignitaries. Visitors can also admire the towering Monument to People’s Heroes and the solemn Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. Traditional structures like the Tiananmen Tower, Zhengyang Gate, and Qianmen Arrow Tower are also present.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum - Next, you will cross the Tiananmen Tower to visit the Forbidden City, where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911) resided and managed state affairs. The Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden complex in the world, served as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The palace is divided into the Inner Court and Outer Court by the Palace of Heavenly Purity, with the Outer Court used for state affairs and the Inner Court as the living quarters for the imperial family. The complex also functions as a vast museum, showcasing over one million national treasures.

Mutianyu Great Wall - Upon arriving at the scenic area’s parking lot, you will take an electric car to the entrance and then a chairlift to the 14th watchtower. Enjoy a leisurely hike on the wall for about 2 hours, ending with a toboggan ride down. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, built and restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), is one of the most renowned sections. Known for its unique beauty, Mutianyu stands out among the Great Wall sections. Explore the ancient structure and learn about its history and significance. Your professional guide will provide insights and answer any questions about the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Beijing - Finally, you will be escorted back to your Beijing hotel.

Beijing - Xi’an by flight. O/N Xi’an.

Beijing - In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel to continue your Beijing tour.

Temple of Heaven - Your first stop will be the Temple of Heaven, the largest group of royal ceremonial buildings in China. Emperors used to hold annual sacrificial ceremonies here to worship heaven and pray for a good harvest. Today, it is a large park where you can see locals exercising and engaging in recreational activities.

Back Lakes (Hou Hai) - Next, you will visit Beijing Hutong, where you will take a rickshaw ride through the old alleys and visit a Hutong family to see how traditional Beijingers live. The area is filled with popular restaurants, cafes, and local food stores, making it a great place to have lunch and taste local cuisine. Your guide will offer suggestions. After lunch, you can stroll around Houhai Lake and explore more of the Hutong area.

Lama Temple (Yonghegong) - After visiting the Hutong, you will be driven to the Lama Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Beijing. The temple combines various architectural styles from different ethnic groups, including Han, Manchu, Mongol, and Tibetan. Open to tourists since 1981, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually for prayer and sightseeing.

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - A 30-minute drive will take you to the Summer Palace, known as the museum of ancient royal gardens. Your expert guide will show you around the garden, which mainly consists of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The Long Corridor, 728 meters (796.2 yards) long, is the longest corridor in Chinese gardens, linking Longevity Hill with Kunming Lake. You can admire the exquisite murals and enjoy the melodious music while walking along the corridor.

Beijing Capital International Airport - Finally, your guide and driver will escort you to Beijing airport, where you may take flight CZ8821 at 20:00, arriving at 22:20. The flight takes around 2.5 hours.

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport - Upon arrival in Xi’an, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel (driver only, no guide).

Xi’an. O/N Xi’an.

Xi’an - In the morning, your tour guide will meet you at your Xi’an hotel lobby at 9:00am and transfer you to the Terracotta Warriors Museum, a 45km drive taking about 80 minutes.

The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses - Your guide will reserve tickets for you online in advance, helping you skip the line at the museum entrance. You will explore the Terracotta Warriors Museum, visiting the three excavated pits and the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall. Despite being buried for over 2,200 years, the clay warriors and horses remain vivid and distinct. You will spend at least two and a half hours at this remarkable site.

Small Goose Pagoda - Next, you will visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, located inside Jianfu Temple, about one kilometer south of Xi’an city proper. This pagoda, along with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, is one of the two significant Buddhist sites from the Tang Dynasty, dating back 1,300 years. The two pagodas symbolized Chang’an (Constant Peace) city, which was the name of Xi’an until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when Beijing became the capital of China. Chang’an served as the capital for ten dynasties.

Xi’an City Wall (Chengqiang) - After lunch, you will visit the ancient City Wall, one of Xi’an’s most famous attractions. You can walk or cycle around the wall, with bike rental fees paid locally if you choose to cycle. The City Wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved Chinese city walls, is also one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

Muslim Quarter - Your last stop will be the Muslim Bazaar, the city’s most vibrant area. You can explore the bazaar at your own pace and then return to your hotel independently. Your guide will provide directions for returning to your hotel. The Great Mosque and the Bell and Drum Tower Square are within walking distance of the bazaar. The bazaar offers many boutique stores with fair prices and numerous excellent dining options for dinner.

Xi’an - Finally, you will be driven back to your Xi’an hotel.

Xi’an - Chengdu by train. O/N Chengdu.

Xi’an - In the morning, your tour guide will meet you at your Xi’an hotel lobby at 8:30am and transfer you to Hanyanglin, a 15km drive taking about 30 minutes.

Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling) - You will first drive for one hour to visit the Hanyangling Mausoleum, the site of the Mausoleum of Western Han Emperor Liu Qi, built in 153 AD. With your guide, you will closely examine the thousand-year-old tombs through glass floors and walls in the tomb pits. The advanced Spectra Vision program will recreate the real life of the Western Han Dynasty from 2,000 years ago. You will have two hours to explore the site.

Shaanxi History Museum - After lunch, continue your Xi’an tour with a visit to the Shaanxi History Museum. The museum, a treasure house of Chinese civilization, showcases Shaanxi’s unique historical and cultural heritage. With around 370,000 antiquities ranging from prehistoric relics to those from the 1840s, the collection spans over a million years and is notable for its value, quantity, rank, and variety. Your guide will provide detailed explanations.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) - Instead of entering the temple to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, you will have a photo stop here for half an hour. Based on suggestions from previous guests, it is sufficient to see the pagoda and the statue of Monk Xuanzang at the south square outside the temple. The pagoda, built during the Tang Dynasty, is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It was once the site where Xuanzang translated Buddhist sutras.

Xi’an North Railway Station Parking Lot - In the late afternoon, you will be driven to Xi’an North Railway Station to catch a train to Chengdu (D1947 18:00–21:41). The train journey takes around 4 hours.

Chengdu Station - Upon arrival in Chengdu, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel (driver only, no guide).

Chengdu. O/N Chengdu.

Chengdu - In the morning, your driver and guide will meet you at 8:00am at your Chengdu hotel and transfer you to the Chengdu Panda Base, a 15km drive taking about 30 minutes.

Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Xiongmao Jidi) - Your first stop will be the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, home to over 80 of China’s iconic pandas, including the familiar black and white variety and the smaller red pandas. You will observe the pandas eating and playing in a habitat that closely resembles their natural environment. You will also learn about the efforts of scientists and ecologists to protect the remaining wild pandas and expand the captive population. Since 1987, over 100 pandas have been born at the Base. The Base gained even more importance after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, which led to the relocation of eight pandas from the damaged Wolong reserve. Your visit supports the ongoing conservation efforts.

Chengdu Renmin Park - Next, visit Renmin Park, a comprehensive garden that combines cultural heritage and entertainment. Locals often relax here by drinking tea. To experience the true lifestyle of the “Capital of Leisure,” visit Renmin Park, where you will find crowds sitting in the shade from sunrise. Enjoying a slow life in Chengdu, you may feel a sense of happiness.

Jinli Pedestrian Street - After lunch, take a private car to Jinli Old Street, a lively area filled with delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, and interesting folk shows. Time will pass quickly as you explore the bustling streets.

Chengdu - Finally, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Chengdu - Chongqing by train. O/N Victoria Cruise boat.

Chengdu - After breakfast at your hotel, your driver and guide will meet you at 9:00am and transfer you to Leshan, a 150km drive taking about 2.5 hours.

Leshan Giant Buddha (Da Fo) - Dating from the 8th century, the Giant Buddha of Leshan is the largest carved stone Buddha and the tallest pre-modern statue in the world. Carved from the cliffs of Lingyun Shan, it was created to calm the turbulent waters of the three rivers that converge below. Stairs carved into the cliff connect the area at the Buddha’s feet with the land above, offering various vantage points to view this astonishing sight. The views over the Buddha’s elbows and knees, the river scene, and Leshan’s skyline are stunning. Upon arrival in Leshan, you can have lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Giant Buddha. You will then explore the Giant Buddha and enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding landscape from atop the Buddha’s head. You will also visit Lingyun Temple and Museum to gain deeper insights into the history of this amazing Buddhist site and learn about the carving of the Giant Buddha.

Chengdu East Railway Station - Afterwards, take a private car back to Chengdu East Railway Station to catch train G8513 (16:21–18:02). The train journey takes around 2.5 hours.

Chongqing Railway Station - Upon arrival in Chongqing, you will be picked up and transferred to the Chongqing cruise port (driver only, no guide), a 50-minute drive. Board the ship between 18:30 and 21:00, and the ship will depart Chongqing at 21:30 (dinner is not included tonight).

Sailing & Shore Excursion at Fengdu Jade Emperor. O/N Victoria Cruise boat.

Sailing through Three Gorges & Shore Excursion at Shennv Stream. O/N Victoria Cruise boat.

Sailing & Shore Excursion at Three Gorges Dam. The cruise ends at Yichang and flight to Shanghai. O/N Shanghai.

Yichang - Your local guide will meet you at the Three Gorges tourist center and accompany you to visit Yichang city center, including Riverside Park and Wanda Plaza. After lunch, you will be dropped off at Yichang airport to catch a flight to Shanghai (MU2675 18:00–19:55).

Shanghai Pudong International Airport - Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel (driver only, no guide).

Shanghai. O/N Shanghai.

Shanghai - Your guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby at around 9:00am. You will be escorted to the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, a 20-minute ride away.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall - At the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, you can view various textual and graphic files and architectural models, providing an overall understanding of Shanghai’s development.

Yu Garden (Yuyuan) - In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing stroll through the beautiful Yu Garden. Located in the old town, Yu Garden is the most famous ancient site in Shanghai, known for its ingenious layout and delicate architecture. The garden’s treasure, Yu Ling Long (an exquisite jade stone), and an artificial hill are considered among the three most well-known peaks in Southern China.

Yuyuan Bazaar - Next, visit the Yuyuan Bazaar, also known as Yuyuan Market, located outside Yu Garden in the heart of Old Shanghai City, near the Old City God Temple. The area features traditional Chinese buildings now used as commercial stores selling local products, snacks, jewelry, souvenirs, antiques, and more.

Shanghai World Financial Center - Afterwards, visit the Shanghai World Financial Center and go up to the 100th floor for panoramic views of the city. The building is the world’s 8th tallest and the 4th tallest in Mainland China. The 100th floor has a 55-meter-long viewing gallery, the second highest observation deck in China, higher than the viewing platforms on the Canadian TV Tower (447 meters) and the Dubai Tower (440 meters).

The Bund (Wai Tan) - After that, visit the Bund area, the quintessential part of Shanghai. Located on the bank of the Huangpu River, the Bund offers charming riverside scenery and unique western and gothic architecture. You will have some free time to stroll around the Bund and take photos.

Shanghai - Finally, you will be driven back to your hotel, or you may enjoy your own time at Nanjing Road, which is nearby.

Shanghai. The tour ends.

Shanghai - Your guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby at around 9:00am. You will be escorted to Zhujiajiao water town, a 60-minute ride away.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town - Zhujiajiao water town, known as Shanghai’s Venice, has a history of over 1,700 years. Covering an area of 47 square kilometers (11,614 acres), the fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains. Three places in the water town are worth visiting: Kezhi Garden, Qing Dynasty Post Office, and Fangsheng Bridge. Your tour guide will accompany you to these sites.

Kezhi Garden, built in 1912, features various pavilions and buildings, a lotus pond, stele corridors, a bridge of nine turnings, and different kinds of plants. The stele corridor contains calligraphy inscriptions from the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD) with high artistic value.

In the Qing Dynasty Post Office, you can see precious old postcards and letters from the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD). A post box with a carved dragon, still in use today, is also on display.

Fangsheng Bridge, built in the Ming Dynasty, is the largest and longest stone arch bridge in Shanghai, with five arches.

You will take a local wooden boat from Kezhi Garden and disembark at North Street. You will have free time to wander around the ancient streets and interact with the local people.

Jade Buddha Temple - After lunch, visit the Jade Buddha Temple, built in 1882 to house two white jade Buddha statues from Burma. The temple is a famous Buddhist shrine and an active Zen monastery, playing a significant role in disseminating Buddhism through cultural means, including lectures, library services, academic publications, and regular cultural activities.

Tianzifang - Later, visit Tianzifang, an old-style cultural block featuring distinctive Shikumen buildings with art studios, themed cafés and bars, and handicraft workshops.

Shanghai - Finally, you will be driven back to your hotel or taken to Shanghai Railway Station/airport, concluding your 11-day tour.

• Private car and guide for personalized experience
• Included flight tickets for convenient travel between cities
• All entrance fees covered for hassle-free sightseeing
• Meals provided, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Comfortable travel with in-vehicle air conditioning
• First-class train tickets for a luxurious journey

• The hotel and dinner
• Others not mentioned above
• Yangtze Cruise service charge of CNY150 per adult