Meals: No meal

Accommodation: Decent 4-star or 5-star hotel in Beijing (centrally located)

Nihao! Welcome to China. As one of the TOP 4 civilized countries in the the world, China boasts the 5000-year-old history, splendid culture, numerous historical heritages as well as its various gourmet food.

Upon arrival, our local guide and driver will hold a pick-up sign with your name and meet with you at the Arrival Hall of Beijing International Airport. Then be transferred to your hotel in the city downtown.The rest of the day, easy and free on your own.You will stay in Beijing for 3 nights.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Peking Roast Duck Dinner at Quanjude Restaurant

Accommodation: Decent 4-star or 5-star hotel in Beijing (centrally located)

After breakfast, you will walk on Tian’anmen Square, the biggest city square in the world. Covering 440,000 square meters, it has witnessed many important historic events taking place here. Then discover the Forbidden City (close on Mondays), one of the five most famous palaces in the world where the 24 emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties lived and ruled for over 500 years. It is also inscribed as the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Then you will visit Jinshan Park and climb up to the top where you can enjoy the great panoramic view of the whole Forbidden City.

This afternoon, continue on to visit the largest imperial garden, The Summer Palace, which was built in late Qing Dynasty as the summer resort for the Empress Dowager Cixi. You can enjoy a fascinating landscape of the park there. After that, drive back to your hotel for rest.

Tonight, the welcome dinner will be arranged with Peking Roast Duck Dinner at Quanjude Restaurant which is considered to be one of the best Peking Roast Duck restaurants in Beijing.

Activities: Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking (off-the-beaten track) 

Meals: Buffet breakfast

Hiking Distance: 5 km

Duration: 3-4 hours

Level: Easy-Moderate

Accommodation: Decent 4-star or 5-star hotel in Beijing (centrally located)

Early this morning, you will embark on your exploration tour to off-the-beaten place, Jinshanling Great Wall which is around 140 km away from Beijing downtown (around 2.5 hours on the way). Great Wall is listed among the “Eight Wonders” in the world as well as the World Cultural Heritage. Built in 1567-1582 in Ming Dynasty, Jinshanling Great Wall is considered to the highlight of Great Wall of Ming Dynasty. Unlike some of the other sections, Jinshanling has been only partially restored, and much of it remains in its original state. This gives you a more authentic experience of the Great Wall as it would have been during the Ming Dynasty.

This route is also a paradise for photographers. Both Jinshanling and Simatai West sections offer some of the Great Wall’s best views, with their well-preserved structures set against stunning natural scenery. The hike is moderate and takes about 3-4 hours from Jingshanling to Simatai West, covering a 5km trek. We would provide the walking stick, snacks and water for Lunch during the trip.

After the tour, drive back to your hotel for rest.

Activities: Taichi session at the Temple of Heaven, Rickshaw Hutong tour

Meals: Buffet breakfast

Decent 4-star or 5-star hotel in Xi’an (centrally located)

After breakfast, continue to visit the famous Temple of Heaven, the landmark of Beijing, which was used to pray good harvest and hold the Heaven Worshiping Ceremony by the emperors in Ming and Qing dynasty. You will also take part in an traditional Taichi Session at the Temple of Heaven. Taichi is considered to be a good way to keep health and widely practiced by local people in China. Then take a leisurely rickshaw tour in Beijing Hutong. You will see the original residence of the local people and experience its lifestyle.

This afternoon, drive to the railway station for your departure bullet train to the ancient legendary city, Xi’an. Bullet train is the fastest in China, equipped with comfortable and modern facilities. Enjoy the landscapes between the two ancient cities. Once there, your local guide pick you up and transfer you to the hotel.You will stay at Xi’an for 2 nights.

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Dinner at Xi’an Cuisine at Black Pearl Restaurant

Accommodation: Decent 4-star or 5-star hotel in Xi’an (centrally located)

After breakfast, kick off your exploration tour in Xi’an. First, drive to visit the well-known Terra cottar Warriors and Horses. The Terra cottar Army was created to guard Emperor Qin Shihuang’s tomb and to protect him in the afterlife. It is estimated that there are over 7,000 life-size Terra-cottar figures and horses buried here. Our guide will lead you to unveil its mysterious veil.

This afternoon, drive back to the downtown and visit the landmark of the city-Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Built in the Tang Dynasty, the square pyramid stands at 60 meters high and seven-story tall. It was built to restore the Buddhist scriptures brought by the famous Monk Xuanzang. The story had been rewritten to a famous classic novel, <The Journey to West >. Continue to visit the well-preserved Drum Tower which was used for timekeeping, issuing government decrees, and holding celebrations and other activities in ancient time. Conclude your day at the bustling Muslim Quarters. It is a renowned food and cultural district composed of several streets, bustling with numerous Halal restaurants, snack stalls, and specialty shops.

Tonight, we will arrange the dinner at Xi’an Cuisine at Black Pearl Restaurant for you.

Activities: Cycling on the ancient city wall

Meals: Buffet breakfast

Accommodation: Decent 4-star hotel in Zhangjiajie (close to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park)

After enjoying your breakfast, you will check-out from hotel and begin your day tour to know more about Xi’an. First, visit the Xi’an Museum, a comprehensive museum, which integrates cultural relic collection, scientific research, education, and leisure. With a collection of over 110,000 artifacts, including bronze ware, jade ware, porcelain, and more, it serves as a window to understanding the historical and cultural heritage of the ancient capital of Xi’an. Then, visit the Ancient City Wall, which was built in Ming Dynasty with a history over 600 years and might be the largest and best-preserved city fortifications in China. It spans 13.74 kilometers in length and stands 12 meters tall, featuring a comprehensive defensive system including city gates and arrow towers. Serving both military and cultural purposes, it stands as a testament to Xi’an’s illustrious history as a capital for multiple dynasties. You will take a leisurely cycling tour on the ancient city wall.

After the tour, drive to airport for your departure flight to the fairyland of China—Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, you will meet with your local guide and be transferred to your hotel. You will stay in Zhangjiajie for 2 nights.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Accommodation: Decent 4-star hotel in Zhangjiajie (close to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park)

Today, you will spend a full day time to discover the core area of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. You will take the Tianzishan cable car up to explore Tianzishan, which is always regarded as  “the king of all mountains”. It is named after the farmer Xiang Dakun of the Tujia ethnic group, who led a successful local farmers’ revolt and called himself “tianzi”. This means “son of Heaven” and is the traditional epithet of the Chinese emperor. You will visit Helong Park, West Sea Peak Forest, Yubi Peak, Tianzige Pavilion, and Fairy Offering Flowers, among other attractions.

In the afternoon, on the way to Yuanjiajie, you will have a stop at the amazing Sky Farm. Stepping onto the Sky Farm, the gentle breeze brushes your sleeves, and the mists cling to you, creating a sense of being in a fairyland. It’s like hearing green peaks hum with birdsong and high mountains resound with flowing springs; while standing in this pastoral scene, you feel as if you’ve ascended to the realm of colorful clouds.

After that, take a vehicle to Yuanjiajie. A seemingly magical place, its Southern Sky Pillars inspired the floating mountains in blockbuster movie, Avatar. When the clouds and mist rise, it looks like a fantasy wonderland — truly amazing. The peak scenery, resemble epic columns, towers, even birds and animals, Mother Nature’s art work that you can’t find anywhere else but in Yuanjiajie. You will visit its highlights including World’s First Bridge, Avatar Mountain (Hallelujah Mountain), and Mesmerizing Terrace. Descend the mountain on foot (1.5 hours down the stairs), then walk along Jinbianxi (from Qianli Xianghui to Shuirao Simen section for 1 hour). Finally, take a vehicle back to Wulingyuan.

After the tour, drive back to your hotel.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Accommodation: Decent 4-star or 5-star hotel in Shanghai (centrally located)

Today is your last day of your exploration tour. After check-out from the hotel, drive to visit the world famous Tian’men Mountain (cable car incl.). Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain, formerly known as Songliang Mountain, stands at an elevation of 1,518.6 meters, making it the highest peak in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie, and only 8 kilometers away from the urban area. Named after the natural wonder Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Gate Cave), which soars 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide, and 60 meters deep, hanging majestically on a towering cliff, it exudes a breathtaking grandeur. The mountaintop preserves a complete primitive secondary forest with a forest coverage rate of 90%, earning it the reputation of “the World’s Most Beautiful Aerial Garden.”

You will embark on a 1.5-hour hike to explore the highlights on the mountain: the Glass Skywalk, Guigu Stack Walkway, and Tianmen Mountain Temple. After that, take the cable car at the summit to Yunxiaodian Hall on the top of Tianmen Mountain, then follow the East Route and take the mountain-traversing elevator down to Tianmen Hole. You will descend the 999 steps and take the express cable car back down the mountain. 

After the tour, drive to the airport for your departure flight to the modern city, Shanghai. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. You will stay in Shanghai for 2 nights.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Accommodation: Decent 4-star or 5-star hotel in Shanghai (centrally located)

After breakfast, start your full day tour to explore the metropolis. First, visit Shanghai Museum. As one of the top three museums in China, it focuses on the collection, exhibition, and research of ancient Chinese art and houses nearly a million cultural relics, with particularly outstanding collections of bronze ware, ceramics, and calligraphy and paintings, making it a world-class museum of ancient Chinese art.Then stroll around the bustling Old Town which features the Qing Dynasty style architectures. It is considered to be the “Root of Shanghai”. 

This afternoon, drive to the Former French Concession which is is lined with trees and well-preserved European style architecture. The Former Shanghai French Concession is the earliest, largest and most prosperous concession among all the 4 concessions in modern China. It was established in 1849A.D. and ended in 1943 A.D. Tianzifang is a popular site which is occupied by art studio, art gallery, bars, restaurant. All the buildings were typical SHI KU MEN style architecture which were built during 1850s-1930s. Stroll around the famous Nanjing Road which is the most popular pedestrian street in Shanghai. After that, you will walk around on the romantic place the Bund which is a famous waterfront with 52 various buildings of different architectural styles. You can enjoy a beautiful skyline of the city.

Meals: Buffet breakfast

Conclude your China tour with the landmark of Shanghai, the Shanghai World Financial Center. As one of Shanghai’s iconic landmarks, it stands proudly at a height of 492 meters along the Pudong skyline. Within its magnificent structure of 101 floors above ground and 3 floors below, it integrates four major functions: office spaces, commercial facilities, a five-star hotel, and cloud-top observation decks. The observation galleries on the 94th, 97th, and 100th floors are arranged in a tiered layout, with the suspended walkway on the 100th floor being particularly remarkable. Visitors can enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view through the massive glass walls, taking in the meandering Huangpu River winding through the city and the dazzling financial district of Lujiazui, showcasing the grandeur of this megacity.

After the tour, you will be transferred to the airport for your homeward flight. End you memorable lifetime journey in China.