Incredible Zhangjiajie

After your flight arrives at Beijing Airport, you will meet your local guide at the exit once you have claimed your luggage and cleared customs. You will then be driven to your hotel and assisted to check in. The rest of the day is free for you to arrange.

Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong

To start your China group tour, your guide will host a short pre-trip meeting at your hotel lobby this morning. It includes a briefing and preparations for your trip. After that, your trip officially begins.

First, you will visit Tiananmen Square, a spectacular city square surrounded by majestic buildings, such as Monument to the People's Heroes, Great Hall of the People, Museum of the Chinese Revolution, and the historical Tiananmen Tower.

Next, we will take you to explore the marvelous Forbidden City. It’s an imperial palace complex that includes the office and living quarters of Ming and Qing (1368 to 1911 AD) emperors. Today, your tour will cover the grandest palace - Hall of Supreme Harmony – at the very heart of the compound. The hall, housing the Dragon Throne, was where state-level events or ceremonies were held, including the emperors’ enthronement ceremony. Its two auxiliary buildings, Tiren Pavilion and Hongyi Pavilion, which flank the sides of the courtyard before it, were used respectively for selecting erudite talents and storing ceremonial gold and silver wares. It indicates that only with talents and money, the country could have a development.

★ Special Visit to Treasure Gallery of Forbidden City
The most special highlight of this tour will be a visit we exclusively arrange for you to the Treasure Gallery, an exhibition hall in which you get to witness the most valuable historical treasures that were kept private by royal figures. A Qing Dynasty era relic that is worth mentioning is a coronet worn by the concubines. You may gain an insight into the extravagant imperial life by its countless decorative blue feathers, which were taken from kingfishers.

After a busy morning of sightseeing, we will drive to a popular local restaurant for an a la carte welcome lunch where you are able to order dishes of your choice (to a value of CNY150.00 per person, and included in our price). The roasted Peking duck is highly recommended. Its rich easily-absorbed nutrients will replenish your consumed energy.

Your journey then continues to the Yonghe Temple, the imperial lamasery of the Qing Empire and now a place of pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhists. Then we head to Temple of Heaven, the largest existing imperial altar in the world constructed 600 years ago and used by emperors to pray for abundant harvests. Here you get to enjoy the splendid architecture, as well as a lively atmosphere where locals sing, dance and exercise.

You are going to have a fascinating evening, as we will take you to appreciate a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage left by Chinese ancestors – the performance art of Peking Opera, in a theater with 30 years of history. It stands out from all opera forms not only for its complicated Chinese-style costumes and headwear, but for its allegorical heavy make-up, the pattern of which varies to indicate a specific character type. Before the show starts, we will arrive earlier to get close to the artists and watch them “paint” their faces. After that, we will drive you back.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch

We believe that you have probably heard much about the Great Wall of China. Today you will visit the Mutianyu Great Wall and have a chance to witness this extraordinary defense project in human history. A round trip cable car ride is included. Standing on the wall and appreciating its snaking path along the mountain ridges will certainly bring you unique feelings. Your guide will also invite you to clink glasses of red wine to commemorate this moment.

In the afternoon, we will have a photo stop by Olympic National Stadium, a landmark of Beijing and venue for national and international sports events with an award-winning steel structure. Then we take you to experience the traditional lifestyle of common Beijing people in Hutongs, alleyways lined with residential courtyard houses. You will have a rickshaw ride through Hutongs and a local family visit, to help you explore this historical area to the fullest. The 700-year-old gray bricks used to build the houses will leave you with a great impression. Then it’s time for us to escort you back.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

After the hotel check-out, your guide will pick you up and take you to visit giant pandas in Panda Hall, Beijing Zoo. You get to how those adorable creatures redefine “cute” through their puzzling behaviors, like their hobby of playing in water.

Then we head to the world famous Summer Palace. Built in 1750, it represents the pinnacle of Chinese traditional art of garden construction. Artfully taking advantage of the surrounding mountains and lakes, the Summer Palace not only represents a resplendent imperial garden, but also reflects the beauty of nature.

Eat some local food to restore your energy as lunch, and wave goodbye to Beijing before catching the flight to Xi'an. Upon your arrival at Xi'an airport, your local guide and driver will welcome you and escort you to the hotel for checking in.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an

Begin the morning with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, then we will head for the Terracotta Army, world-famous for its tremendous scale as the funeral object for Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC), founder of the first empire and the imperial history of China. The lifelike details of each warrior shows mysteriously incredible artistic skills of people of the Qin Dynasty (211 – 206 BC). But the biggest mystery sleeps with the emperor’s body in the Underground Palace. There must be priceless treasures hidden within if it’s a mausoleum of an emperor, but why does it still seem to remain untouched? Archeologists provided with several possible reasons: a difficult depth for tomb robbers, toxic mercury filled up in it, or deadly traps. It’s said that whoever knew the secret of the area had all been murdered, so no one could even imagine what awaited ahead, and those potential diggers simply gave up.

★ What makes us different

► Meet and talk with the Army’s first discoverer
The life-size terracotta warriors shocked the world with its appearance, but few people know who, when, and how they were found. Out from the museum, you will have your answers during a visit to the home of the first discoverer - Mr. Yang Zhifa. You get to meet and communicate with him or his family to learn the secret stories and see the hoe and the wooden cart once used to dig out and carry the clay figure.

► DIY a mini terracotta warrior and keep it
Next you are going to make a mini terracotta warrior, within just 40 minutes! There will be an artisan giving a very detailed instruction about the whole process and you can follow it step by step. The body of statue is mainly made through a mold, but you still need to use tools to refine it. Even kids can enjoy making a cute cartoonish clay soldier. Of course, you can take your self-made work back home!

Then you will visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, an ancient Buddhist tower, which was built more than 1,300 years ago and still stands in its elegance. This evening, you will be taken to a theatre to enjoy a delicious dumpling dinner and appreciate the classic Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Performance. Then we will drive back.

Travel Tip: Guests visiting in Jan, Feb, Mar and Dec need to arrange the dinner and evening activity on your own for this day, since the theater is usually not open in those months.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dumpling dinner

You will spend the whole morning visiting the City Wall area. At the foot of the wall, there is a City Wall Park where locals do their morning exercises. You will become one of them by learning to do Tai Chi boxing from a master, who will teach you some moves of Chinese Kung Fu exercise that is practiced nationwide to keep fit and healthy. Then follow your guide to ascend the City Wall, the fortification for Xi'an city. Built in the Ming Dynasty, it indeed has witnessed a long history! You can have more fun by hiring a bike, which charges a small fee, for an exciting ride on the old city wall.

You will have your lunch at the Muslim Quarter to taste food of authentic local flavors. The quarter has developed to a bustling bazaar and paradise for foodies, for the snack stalls seen everywhere on both sides of streets. In this noodle capital of China, you may want to try Liang Pi (cold skin noodle), Yangrou Paomo (crumbled flatbread in mutton stew), or Biang Biang Noodles, which have gained national fame for their special textures.

Then your guide and driver will escort you to the airport and help you board the flight to Zhangjiajie. On arrival, you will be greeted and taken to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Local flavor lunch
Accommodation: Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel

An exciting day in the fantastic Zhangjiajie National Forest Park awaits you! Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, Golden Whip Stream, and Ten-mile Gallery are the main spots that you will explore today. You will have your lunch in the middle of your tour today.

The Bailong Sightseeing Elevator in Yuanjiajie will rapidly take you up to a mountain top, where you get spectacular vistas that inspired the science fiction film Avatar. It takes only 66 seconds to the top, while a laborious hike up requires 4 to 5 hours. You will marvel for sure at the karst views formed by those sandstone pillars decorated with green plants. Do not miss the chance to view the Avatar Hallelujah Mountains! Next, follow the guide to explore Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, which is hailed as 'the Monarch of the Peak Forest', and you can imagine how magnificent it is. Golden Whip Stream, with overlapping peaks, rippling waters, verdant forests and tranquil valleys gives everyone a visual feast. Take a sightseeing train to travel through the Ten-mile Gallery, which is like a journey across a huge scroll of scenic paintings.

After a day’s journey, we will take you back to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Today, your forest park exploration continues to the world's highest and longest Glass Bridge at Glass Bridge Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. We will first take the challenge to walk across the transparent Glass Bridge over the 300-meter-deep valley. You will feel you are in the midair and likely to fall at any time. But don’t worry, its safety is guaranteed by its world-famous architectural designers. Later, you will take a boat excursion on the Baofeng Lake, which offers you fresh air and the opportunity to capture a lot of beautiful photos. Then the time comes for us to drive you back.

Travel Tip: If you have a fear of heights, just tell your guide to skip crossing the glass bridge. He/she will arrange for you to admire this world famous construction spanning two cliffs at close range.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Today we get the chance to take the world's longest cable car to ascend Tianmen Mountain,, eight kilometers away from downtown Zhangjiajie. Its name comes from the natural wonder Tianmen Cave, which suggests its otherworldly beauty for its resemblance to a portal to the heaven.

After sightseeing in the mountain, you will get down by cable car, and then be transferred to the airport for the flight to Shanghai. Your local guide will welcome you at the airport in Shanghai and transfer you to the reserved hotel for checking in.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World

Your first stop today will be Shanghai Museum. You will stroll amid artfully organized displays covering ancient Chinese bronzes, paintings, ceramics, ethnic minority arts and crafts, and even ancient Chinese currencies. After seeing so many antiques, we will transfer you to Yu Garden, an elegant garden with a history of more than 400 years. Every bridge, hall, pavilion, pond, and rockery in the garden has its own charm. With the tour guide's detailed introduction, you will learn some of the characteristics of a classical Chinese garden. Later, we will leave you with some time at the nearby Yuyuan Bazaar, full of traditional commodities, in the old City God Temple area of Shanghai.

An a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a popular local restaurant follows.

This afternoon, we will first sightsee in the Bund and have a one-hour cruise tour along the Huangpu River. You get to take some free time to walk around the Bund and see different architectures of historical buildings, and then get on a ship traveling along the Huangpu River, the lifeline of Shanghai, to gain a better overview of this city. Appreciating the stunning skyline of the metropolis would be one of the best things to do on your China tour. Off the ship, your amazing trip will continue to the Shanghai’s Former French Concession - Tianzifang, for unique charms exploration of the art, boutiques, local snacks, old houses, and authentic life. Your guide and driver will transfer you back to the hotel and bid you bon voyage.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch

As this is the last day of your 11 days group tour, after having breakfast at the hotel you will need to prepare for your departure flight. Taking a taxi or Metro Line 2 from the metro station near your hotel will get you to either Pudong or Hongqiao Airport. We wish you a safe journey home and we will be always happy to serve you again in the future.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast