China Expedition 18D: Beijing to Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Yangshuo, Shanghai etc.

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of P.R.China. Upon arrival by flight or train, you will be met and transferred to Beijing hotel by our representative. 

Today you will take 2-hour ride to the Mutianyu Great Wall, which was built 600 years ago in the early Ming Dynasty. You can choose walk up or take cable car up to the Great Wall, and view the imposing ancient Chinese military construction. The impressive Wall extends like a dragon on the top of the endless mountains. It is a nice walk on the Wall to enjoy the fantastic scenery.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant before moving back to Beijing hotel.

You will visit the biggest city square in the world, the Tiananmen Square. Then walk to The Forbidden City, the biggest palace in the world. Explore the main buildings with a local guide in the palace. Note the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays, so we will change the visiting day when it is on Monday. 

Then you will catch 5-hour bullet train to Xian after included lunch. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel. 

This morning you will take the fantastic tour to Terra-cotta Warriors that is one-hour car ride from Xian. There are 3 exhibition halls presenting various warriors and horses that were made 2200 years ago, and each warrior has unique face.

This afternoon you will move to visit the 14-km old City Wall in Xian, which was built in Ming Dynasty and still well preserved. You can walk, or ride bike on the wall to view the old city and modern city in and out of the city wall. 

Later, you will visit the Muslim Quarter in the city center, which is situated near Bell and Drum Tower. There are shops, snack stands, market, and restaurants in this area, and it is nice to view the bustling street here.

Today you will take 3-hour bullet train this morning from Xi'an to Chengdu. 

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to explore the Kuan & Zhai Alleys, Qingyang Temple in the afternoon. The yummy hot pot is a well-known meal in Chengdu, so taste the hot pot here! You can choose the Sichuan opera performance as option this evening to learn Chinese traditional drama culture.

Visit the Chengdu Panda Base to observe the giant pandas during their feeding time.

Then head to explore the Sanxingdui Museum, renowned for its exceptional collection of ancient bronze artifacts.

Later: Transfer to your hotel for overnight stay.

Today you will take 2-hour bullet train ride to Chongqing. Then you will explore Chongqing, the magic modern city, including Liziba light train station, Ciqikou Ancient Street and Hongya Cave.

You will go to Liziba Station, is one of the light rail stops in Chongqing. It is well-known for the light train plunging straight through the residential high-rise buildings. You can take a perfect photo of this engineering marvel.

Head to Ciqikou Ancient Town, which is a well-known port since ancient time. There are cobbled streets wind past Ming-Qing era teahouses and workshops still making traditional porcelain. The air hangs heavy with the aroma of freshly ground chili and sizzling street snacks.

Dive into the pulsing heart of the city at Jiefangbei CBD, where the Liberation Monument stands sentinel over luxury boutiques and neon-lit shopping arcades. Just steps away, Bayi Road Snack Street assaults the senses with its cacophony of sizzling woks and vendors hawking fiery Chongqing specialties.

Hongya Cave is very popular place recent years in Chongiqng, which looks like a fairy tale, eleven tiers of glowing stilted houses clinging to the cliffs above the Jialing River.

After hotel breakfast, you will takes about 2 hours for 129 km from Chongqing to Dazu. 

Dazu Rock Carving was inscribed on the list of the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1999. The history of Dazu Rock Carving can be traced back to 7th century. And the well-preserved part of rock carvings were from the 9th to the 13th century. The carvings are remarkable for their aesthetic quality, their rich diversity of subject matter, both secular and religious. 

The Dazu Rock Carvings is composed in Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shimenshan as well as Shizhuanshan, all of which are of the highest artistic attainment and demonstrate the most exquisite skills, and the most famous ones are in Beishan and Baodingshan.  

You will visit both Beishan and Baodingshan rock carvings with your guide, the fresh color to construct various stories about Buddha, human and gods. Lunch is included at local restaurant. 

Later, you will be transferred back to your Chongqing hotel. 

This morning, board a high-speed train for a scenic three-hour journey to the otherworldly landscape of Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, ascend directly into the clouds at Tianmen Mountain by either the world's longest cableway or the thrilling cliffside bus, you'll be rewarded with jaw-dropping views. Explore the famous cliff-hanging glass walkways, stand in awe beneath the massive natural arch of Tianmen Cave, and wander the mountain's sacred temples and peaks before descending to your hotel for the evening.

Today, you will be transferred (approximately 1 hour) to Zhangjiajie National Park. The adventure begins with a breathtaking ascent on the glass-walled Bailong Elevator, which swiftly transports you to the Yuanjiajie summit for unparalleled cliffside views. Here, you will encounter the monumental "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain," the soaring pillar-like landscape that inspired James Cameron’s blockbuster film.

In the afternoon, continue to Tianzi Mountain, celebrated as the "Monarch of the Peak Forest." This scenic area offers spectacular panoramic vistas and is famed for its four natural wonders—most notably the ever-shifting Sea of Clouds.

Your tour concludes with a visit to the picturesque Ten-Mile Gallery, a tranquil valley adorned with stunning rock formations. For a relaxed yet immersive experience, you will enjoy a one-way ride on the electric sightseeing train.

Take a car from Zhangjiajie to Furong Town (approx. 83 km, 2 hours by road). Furong Town, also known as the "Thousand-Year-Old Town Hanging on a Waterfall," has over 2,000 years of history and is home to the Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities. The waterfall view is especially stunning in the evening when it is beautifully lit up. Overnight in Furong Town.

Take a car or train from Furong Town to Fenghuang Ancient Town (approx. 140 km, 2-2.5 hours). Built along the Tuojiang River, Fenghuang is a 2,000-year-old town famous for its well-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture. It is also home to the Miao and Tujia ethnic minorities. 

Wander around Fenghuang old town in the morning, and then drive 4 hours to Longsheng to view the rice terrace in Longji. You will stay in village that is situated on the hill where you will view the impressive rice terraces. 

Today enjoy the amazing landscape of Longji Rice Terraces in Dazhai, which offers difference view during four seasons. Then you will take 3-hour car ride to Yangshuo. 

You can explore the buzzling West Street in the evening in Yangshuo.

Today you can ride a bike to the stunning Yulong River, or hike around if you do not want to ride bike. 

Then you will take a boat on the pretty Li River to view the picturesque karst mountains and the rice paddies. 

Free morning in Yangshuo. Then you will be transferred to Guilin Airport where you will take 2-hour flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transferred to hotel in Shanghai.

City explore in Shanghai today with a local guide, you will visit the Bund that is riverfront of the Huangpu River, Yu Garden that is an old pretty garden, Xintiandi that is former French Colony, and Jade Buddha Temple etc. Note we will arrange to visit City God Temple instead of Yu Garden that is closed on Mondays. 

Today is departure day, you will be transferred to Shanghai Airport to catch your flight back home, where the wonderful tour concludes.