13-Day Authentic Panda & Natural Wonders China Tour: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie & Shanghai

You will first visit Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City in the morning. Then, have lunch in a local restaurant. Later, you will get on a rickshaw and the rider will take you into the beating heart of Beijing: the hutongs (old alleyways). Follow up by spending some quality time with a local family in a hutong.

In the morning, take a relaxing visit to the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese emperors used to worship God. Later, visit the Mutianyu Great Wall (2.5 hours’ drive from downtown Beijing). This is a less-crowded section of the Great Wall. A cable car takes you up to a good spot, where you can have an easy walk along the wall. You can return either by cable car, walking down or tobogganing down. Tobogganing down is actually the most popular.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to visit Summer Palace. The Summer Palace, initially built in 1888, is also known as the Royal Garden Museum. The long gallery, where there are over 8000 paintings about ancient Chinese stories, is the must-see in the Summer Palace. After a fair well lunch with your Beijing tour guide at the charming traditional Chinese restaurant, later on be transferred to the train station, in just a few hours you’ll be in Xi’an, meeting your local Xi’an tour guide.

The first Emperor united all of China. Stand face to face with 6,000 statues at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, created by the first Emperor. It is said the warriors were all sculpted in the shape of powerful or rich people of the time. After a dumpling lunch, explore the Ancient City Wall, which surrounds the city center. The wall was built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City. Later, visit the Muslim Quarter. Many souvenir shops, cafés and bars there are operated by Muslim people. At its heart is one of the largest Islamic mosques in China, remarkable for its combination of Chinese architecture and Islamic practice.

Continue to explore more highlights of the city. The Shaanxi History Museum is said to record the history of China, and this museum is one of the nation’s best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. Then you will visit the Great Mosque and the Muslim Quarter, where the descendants of the Silk Road traders live, making this an exotic addition to the day. It really opens up a side of Xi’an’s history that many travelers miss, being Xi’an’s link to the Silk Road. Now it is a paradise for people who seek local snacks. Your guide will invite you to try some food that you are interested in, such as steamed soup dumplings, a Chinese hamburger, and pancake in mutton soup. After enjoying the historical sites and delicious food of Xi’an, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Chengdu.

Today, enjoy your interesting tour to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Center or to Dujiangyan Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Center. Note: 1. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Center has no “Panda Holding Project” 2. Dujiangyan Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Center has “Panda Holding Project” 3. If you want to join a pand holding project, pls choose Dujiangyan Center. The project needs a donation of 1800 CNY/person for this breeding center, then you can sit close to the panda, touch and hold the panda and take photos/videos as you want. And then, back to downtown Chengdu to visit Thatched Cottage of Du Fu – the former residence of the famous Tang Dynasty poet, You could not miss a chance to Jinli Old Street – elegant style of the architectures tells you what Sichuan looks like during the Qing Dynasty. After that, back to your hotel and free of the rest time.

Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, meet your local Zhangjiajie tour guide at the arrival hall for your transfer to the hotel in Wulingyuan town. Transfer to visit Yellow Dragon Cave: stretches a total length of 7.5 kilometers with four layers. It’s home to an impressive collections of stalactites and stalagmites, illuminated in a variety of colored lights.

Wake up and have breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Wulingyuan Entrance. Morning: Take Bailong Elevator up to explore Yuanjiajie, where the Avatar Mountain locates. Yuanjiajie: It is also called AVATAR Mountain for the movie AVATAR is filmed here. Located in the northwest part of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Yuanjiajie is a naturally formed platform mountain, surrounded by higher summits which are divided by deep valleys. You will enjoy Hallelujah Mountain, NO.1 Bridge in the world and so on. Afternoon: Go to visit Tianzi Mountain and Yangjiajie. After the trip, take Yangjiajie cable car down. Tianzi Mountain: It is known for 4 natural spectacles – the clouds of mist that circle the peaks of the mountain, the amazing views of the rising sun, the moonlit nights and snowcapped winter peaks. They include more than 80 natural platforms to take in the magnificent scenery. After the trip, be driven back to your hotel.

Transfer to visit Baofeng Lake. Baofeng Lake: It is the masterpiece of nature and human beings’ wisdom. It is 85 meters above the ground and attains an altitude of 585 meters. With an average depth of 72 meters. All the water is from rainfall and spring without any pollutant. It is pure just like a big crystal among Bao feng mountain Range.When you cruise, you can hear authentic song from Tujia minority people. You can fully understand the harmony and peace between human beings and nature. Transfer to visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and the Glass Bridge You will explore the main attractions in Zhangjiajie Great Canyon: One-Line-Sky, Family Portrait, The Millennial Ancient Rattan, Chuangwang Pavilion, the Southern Red Flag Canal, Zhuaxian Spring, Rotten Ship Rock, The Bandit Hole, the World’s Highest See-through Skywalk Bridge and so on. The trip is finished at approximately 17:00 pm. Then be transferred to the hotel and check in.

Be transferred to Tianmen Mountain Cable Car Station and take the cable car uphill to explore Tianmen Mountain. Tianmen mountain: It is the highest mountain in Zhangjiajie, with the sea level of 1518M, it is praised to be the soul of Zhangjiajie. Your guide will take you to explore the best scenic spots such as Heavenly bus road, The Glass Skywalk, Tianmen Cave and so on. The trip is finished at approximately 17:00 pm. Then be transferred to Zhangjiajie airport for your evening flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, meet your local Shanghai tour guide at the arrival hall for your transfer to the hotel.

Today worlds collide, starting at the history exhibition (under the TV tower) watch Shanghai literally rise, at nearly 500m it’s a breathtaking panoramic view from the Oriental Peal TV Tower. Lunch is arranged at Old Shanghai. After lunch, take a relaxing walk to ancient Yuyuan Garden, followed by the Bund, a must-see colonial waterfront area.

Your car, driver and our guide will be ready and waiting at your hotel to get you to the airport on time. Sit back and relax, they will help you check-in and escort you to the correct security gate. Good to Know: You may want to add Zhujiajiao Water Town for your last day of the tour, if your flight takes off in the evening or later.