Chengdu. O/N Chengdu.

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

Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Xiongmao Jidi) - Your first stop is the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, home to over 80 of China’s iconic pandas. While most are the familiar black and white variety, the Base also houses several smaller red pandas.

You’ll observe the pandas eating and playing in a habitat designed to mimic their natural environment. You’ll also learn about the efforts of scientists and ecologists to protect the remaining wild pandas and increase the captive population. Since 1987, over 100 pandas have been born at the Base.

The Base gained even more significance after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, which led to the relocation of eight pandas from the damaged Wolong reserve. Your visit supports ongoing conservation efforts both morally and financially.

Chengdu Renmin Park - Next, visit Renmin Park, a comprehensive garden that combines cultural heritage and entertainment. Locals often relax here by drinking tea. To truly understand the lifestyle in the “Capital of Leisure,” a visit to Renmin Park is essential. The park is always bustling with people enjoying the shade from sunrise. Popular activities include visiting a teahouse, ordering a cup of tea, reading for an entire afternoon, daydreaming, or chatting with old friends. Embracing the slow life in Chengdu, you may suddenly realize how happy you are.

Jinli Pedestrian Street - After lunch, take a private car to Jinli old street for an impressive visit. Time seems to slip away as you stroll through the lively streets filled with delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, and interesting folk shows.

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

Chengdu- Chongqing by train. O/N Chongqing.

Chengdu - After breakfast at your hotel, our driver and guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 09:00am and transfer you to Leshan, a 2.5-hour drive covering 150km.

Leshan Giant Buddha (Da Fo) - Experience the Giant Buddha of Leshan, one of Chinese Buddhism’s holiest sites, on this full-day tour from Chengdu. Dating back to the 8th century, the Giant Buddha of Leshan is the largest carved stone Buddha and the tallest pre-modern statue in the world. It was carved from the cliffs of Lingyun Shan 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 river scene and Leshan’s skyline are stunning.

Upon arrival in Leshan, you can have lunch at a restaurant with a view of the Giant Buddha. You’ll then explore the Buddha and enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding landscape from atop the Buddha’s head.

Next, visit Lingyun Temple and Museum to gain deeper insight into the history of this amazing Buddhist site and learn the story behind the carving of the Giant Buddha.

Chengdu East Railway Station - Afterwards, take a private car to Chengdu East Railway Station, where a train to Chongqing awaits you. You may book the G1887 17:59-19:33 train, which takes around 1.5 hours.

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

Chongqing. O/N Chongqing.

Chongqing - At around 08:30, your tour guide will pick you up at your downtown Chongqing hotel for a 3-hour private vehicle drive to Wulong County.

Wulong Karst Geological Park - Wulong, known for its peculiar karst landforms, features jaw-dropping stone bridges, caves, pits, eroded sinkholes, and gorges. Wulong gained international fame due to Michael Bay’s movie – Transformers: Age of Extinction, which showcased the majesty of the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong. Besides the famous movie site, other interesting natural attractions in the area include Furong Cave, Longshuixia Gap, and Fairy Mountain.

Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges - After a hearty lunch at a local restaurant, your Chongqing Wulong karst tour begins with the Three Natural Bridges, the essential scenic feature of this world heritage area. Sculpted by nature, the three giant stone arch bridges are unique wonders. Inside the tranquil scenic area, you can appreciate the rugged beauty of the mountain bridges and gorges by walking along the narrow path at the valley’s bottom.

During the 2 - 2.5 hour visit, you will also stop by an ancient staging post near Qinglong Bridge, constructed during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) for handling official business and receiving guests. The wooden-structured courtyards are well-preserved with more than 20 rooms remaining.

After some free time to wander around, your Wulong trip concludes. You will be transferred back to your hotel, arriving around 18:30.

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

Chongqing. O/N Chongqing.

Chongqing - In the morning, your driver and tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 09:00am and transfer you to Chongqing city center for a city day tour.

People’s Assembly Hall - Your first stop will be The People’s Hall of Chongqing, a landmark building completed in 1954 to commemorate China’s resistance war and the establishment of the new government. It is also one of the top 10 classic buildings in 20th century Asia.

Stilwell Museum/Former Residence of General Stilwell (Shidiwei Jiangjun Jiuju) - Next, visit the Chongqing Stilwell Museum - The Flying Tiger Memorial, which was once an important lodging place for VIPs during the war against Fascism.

Ciqikou (Porcelain Port) - After the museum visit, your guide will take you to taste authentic Chongqing Hot Pot (steam bowl), a well-known and popular dish in China. Challenge yourself with this hot and spicy dish for lunch to appreciate its popularity. In the afternoon, visit Ciqikou old town, named for its ancient chinaware production. It is also a great place to explore local folklore.

E’ling Park - Your last stop in Chongqing will be Eling Park, the highest scenic location where you can enjoy aerial views of the entire city.

Chongqing. O/N Victoria Cruise boat.

Chongqing - Today, you will visit Dazu County for a full day of sightseeing (your guide will meet you at 08:30 in your hotel lobby).

The Dazu Rock Carvings - A famous world heritage site, the Dazu Rock Carvings encompass several large scenic areas in Dazu County. Today, your guide will accompany you to tour the well-preserved Baodingshan Carvings. Green buses will take you directly to Baodingshan. The mountain cliffs are densely scattered with Buddhist and Taoist statues as well as celebrity figures from the late Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). You can wander at your own pace to closely examine the precious grotto art.

Chongqing Chaotianmen - After that, transfer to the Chongqing Chaotianmen pier and assist with your check-in. Board the ship from 18:30 to 21:00, and it will depart Chongqing at 21:30.

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 you will drive to Zhangjiajie. O/N Wulingyuan.

Yichang - Your local driver will meet you at the Three Gorges tourist center and transfer you to Zhangjiajie by car, a 4.5-hour drive covering 378km.

Zhangjiajie. O/N Wulingyuan.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - On this full-day tour, your guide will meet you at 9:00am in your hotel lobby in Zhangjiajie city center or Wulingyuan hotel. You will visit different mountain areas such as Tianzi Mountain, where the world’s longest cable car ride takes you to the mountain’s peak, and the unique platform-shaped Yuanjiajie Mountain.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is home to over 500 species of wildlife and vegetation, including rare monkeys, gingko trees, and thousands of colorful birds. The park’s most notable features are its hundreds of towering sandstone pillars. Fans of Hollywood blockbusters will recognize the stunning landscape as the inspiration for Pandora in James Cameron’s movie Avatar.

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area of Zhangjiajie - Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, located north of Zhangjiajie City, is a charming tourist attraction and one of China’s 40 famous scenic spots. It is described as ‘The amplifiable miniascape and the contractible fairyland’ and was added to the ‘World Heritage List’ in 1992.

The Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area boasts natural beauty where mountains, valleys, forests, caves, lakes, and waterfalls exist in harmony. Over 560 attraction sights can be found here. The strangely-shaped peaks, absurd stones, hidden valleys, wonderful waters, and limestone caves form the ‘Five Wonders’ of Wulingyuan, which are truly worth seeing.

Covering an area of 690 square kilometers (266 square miles), Wulingyuan Scenic Area consists of four parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, and the newly added Yangjiajie Scenic Area.

Today, our tour will visit the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve area.

Tianzi Mountain - After purchasing the main park entrance tickets, you will take a shuttle bus (20-minute drive) to the Tianzi Mountain cable station and walk up 200 steps to reach the station.

Tianzi Mountain Clouds - After a 20-minute cable car ride, you will reach the top of Tianzi Mountain. Then, take a shuttle bus (5-minute drive) to the Tianzi Mountain central area, which offers stunning views of peaks rising one after another. Known as ‘the Monarch of the Peak Forest,’ the top of the mountain provides a full view of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. The mountain offers beautiful scenes in different seasons, including the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine, and Snow in winter.

BaiLong Elevator - After visiting Yuanjiajie (Avatar Mountain), take a shuttle (15-minute drive) to the Bailong Elevator. The Bailong Elevator is magnificent, with a total height of 335 meters (1099 feet), of which 326 meters (1069 feet) is the running height. 154 meters (505 feet) of the total height is in the mountain wells, and the remaining 172 meters (564 feet) consists of steel derrick and other components. The Elevator includes three parallel sightseeing elevators. Each elevator can carry 50 passengers at a speed of 3 m/s (accelerated to 5m/s since 2013). If all three elevators run simultaneously, they can transport 4,000 passengers per hour.

Golden Whip Brook - Hike for about an hour along the Golden Whip Stream, then take a shuttle out of the park and back to the hotel.

Golden Whip Stream (Jinbian Stream) is famous for its pristine water, verdant mountains, steep cliffs, and serene valley. As a paradise for plants, its pathways are adorned with flowers, trees, and grasses. It is also a kingdom of animals. Golden Whip Stream is named after Golden Whip Crag, its landmark spot, and runs from Laomo Bay to Shui Rao Si Men (water-surrounded gates).

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge - Next, head to the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge area, but there won’t be time to visit the Grand Canyon. The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, also known as the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon skywalk, is the world’s longest and highest glass bridge, hanging over Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. From a distance, it looks like a piece of white silk floating between the clouds and fog, hence its name Yuntiandu, meaning “a way of clouds to the sky.” Standing on it, if you dare, you can have a bird’s eye view of the Grand Canyon.

Zhangjiajie - Finally, drive back to your hotel.

Zhangjiajie - Beijing by flight. O/N Beijing.

Zhangjiajie - At 9:00am, your tour guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to Zhangjiajie Tianmen Park.

Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park - Spend 3-4 hours at Tianmen Mountain Park. You will use the cable car or shuttle bus to go up the hill, depending on the traffic. Tianmen Mountain, known as the ”New Legend Of Zhangjiajie,“ is the highest spot (1500m) in Zhangjiajie. Here, you can walk on the thrilling cliff-path and glass walkway, and see the whole city and beautiful countryside from a bird’s eye view. The landscape is different from, but equally impressive as, the Zhangjiajie National Park. Both are world-class sceneries, making Tianmen Mountain a must-visit highlight. The mountain holds four World Guinness Records, each overwhelmingly impressive. It’s an amazing experience you won’t forget.

Zhangjiajie - After lunch, transfer to Zhangjiajie airport for your flight to Beijing. You may take the CA1360 22:15-00:40 flight.

Beijing Capital International Airport - Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel (Driver only, no guide).

Beijing. O/N Beijing

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - At Tiananmen Square, take great photos of the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to People’s Heroes, and Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. Tiananmen Square is located in the center of Beijing City. Over the past hundreds of years, it has witnessed numerous historical events and assemblies. Today, it hosts grand celebrations, military parades, and welcoming ceremonies for foreign leaders. Visitors can admire the towering Monument to People’s Heroes and the solemn Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao. Traditional Tiananmen Tower, Zhengyang Gate, and Qianmen Arrow Tower can also be found there.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum - Then, cross the Tiananmen Tower to visit the Forbidden City, where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911) lived and handled national affairs. The Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved old 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 for handling affairs and the inner court as the living place for the imperial family. The complex is also a giant museum with more than one million national treasures on display.

Mutianyu Great Wall - Upon arrival at the scenic area parking lot, take an electric car to the entry, then take the chairlift up to the 14th watchtower. Enjoy a leisurely hike on the wall for about 2 hours, and take the toboggan down at the end. The Great Wall at Mutianyu, built and restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), is one of the most famous sections of the Wall. Mutianyu is renowned for its beauty. Roam the ancient structure and learn the history and facts that make it so famous. Your professional guide will answer any questions and share exclusive stories and facts about the Mutianyu Great Wall.

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

Beijing. The tour ends.

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

Temple of Heaven - First, visit the Temple of Heaven, the largest royal ceremonial building group in China. Emperors used to hold annual sacrificial activities here to worship heaven and pray for a good harvest. Now, it has developed into a large park where you can see local people exercising and engaging in recreational activities.

Back Lakes (Hou Hai) - Next, visit Beijing Hutong. Take a rickshaw through the old alleys and visit a Hutong family to see how old Beijingers live. There are many popular restaurants, cafes, and local food stores in the area, so you may have lunch there. It’s a great chance to taste local food. Your guide will offer suggestions. After lunch, stroll around Houhai Lake and explore more of the Hutong area.

Lama Temple (Yonghegong) - After the Hutong visit, drive to the Lama Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Beijing. It combines various architectural styles of different groups, including Han, Manchu, Mongol, and Tibet. Opened to tourists in 1981, hundreds of thousands of people visit each year to pray and tour.

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

Beijing - Finally, your guide will escort you to your hotel or Beijing airport/train station, concluding your 12-day tour.

• Flight tickets from Zhangjiajie to Beijing (Economy class)
• First-class bullet train ticket from Chengdu to Chongqing
• Entrance tickets included
• All meals covered (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Air-conditioned in-vehicle comfort
• Private car with a personal tour guide

• The hotel & breakfast & dinner