Historical Heritage & Scenic Zhangjiajie

In the morning, your guide and the driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and accompany you to Tiananmen Square, a landmark of Beijing. An array of iconic buildings along its axis composes a prelude to the Forbidden City. We’ll pass through the majestic Tiananmen Tower and enter this ancient palace complex constructed between 1406 and 1420 AD. Throughout the palace, you’ll encounter visitors dressed in traditional Chinese attire, posing for photos against crimson walls, creating a scene that vividly evokes the imperial past. During exploration, you’ll notice that most structures follow traditional Chinese architecture: wooden frames, golden glazed-tile roofs, and crimson walls, until you reach the Palace of Prolonging Happiness in the Inner Court. This unusual building stands out with its steel framework and white marble exterior. It was originally designed as a Western-style “crystal palace”, an aquarium-like structure filled with water and fish, intended to ward off fire according to traditional feng shui principles. However, construction was abandoned after the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 AD, leaving only the metallic skeleton bearing visible bullet marks. 

Exiting through the northern gate, we’ll directly head to Jingshan Park, where you can climb the hill for a breathtaking panoramic view of the Forbidden City, whose golden roofs gleam in the sunlight.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue to the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the Ming and Qing (1368-1911 AD) emperors performed ceremonies to pray for blessings from heaven. Its architecture reflects the ancient Chinese belief in a “round heaven and square earth,” which can be seen in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with its triple-eaved circular roof on a square base, and the Circular Mound Altar enclosed within a square wall. At the end of the day, your guide and the driver will escort you back to the hotel. 

► FYI: On Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays, you can linger in the temple on your own until dusk to see the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests illuminated after dark. Should you choose to extend your visit, please arrange your own return transportation: take a 10-minute taxi costing around CNY 20 (USD 3); otherwise, from the east gate of the temple, ride Subway Line 5 for 2 stops to Chongwenmen Station, or bus nos. 17, 39, 60, 84, 128, or 599 for 3 stops from Fahuasi to Huashi Lukou South, and then walk 5 minutes to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel (4 stars)

After breakfast, your guide and the driver will escort you on a 1.5-hour private car ride to the Mutianyu Great Wall. The round-trip cable car we arranged for you will lift you to the Watchtower No.14. You’ll understand why the ramparts were built on the precipitous ridges when you command elevated views across the mountains. On sunny days, you can even see Beijing’s tallest building, CITIC Tower, 50 km (30 mi) away, creating a dialogue between ancient fortification and contemporary architecture. If you climb to Watchtower No.15, you can add your signature to the cloth-covered walls as a personal memento. 
► FYI: If you seek a more thrilling experience, the combination of chairlift and toboggan is also available. Please tell your guide in advance to book the ticket for you. 

In the afternoon, we’ll return to the city to explore Beijing’s traditional Hutong alleys by rickshaw. Aboard a rickshaw, when the wheels crackle over the narrow lanes flanked by grey walls, you may encounter locals gathering under trees, drinking tea, gossiping, and playing chess. These alleyways knit neighbors together, while the compound courtyard hidden behind the crimson gates offers a peaceful and private space from urban bustle. We’ll step inside one to see how rooms enclose a central courtyard, and sometimes you may hear the whistles of homing pigeons flying overhead. Finally, we’ll escort you back to your hotel.

► Free Time Suggestion (at your own expense):
If you’d like to experience Beijing’s nightlife, you can stay longer in the Hutong area on your own. Stroll along Back Lake to enjoy live music from bars, or visit Tobacco Pipe Lane to sample local snacks like Door Nail Meat Pancake and Pea Flour Cake. Afterwards, please make your own back to the hotel. A taxi takes about half an hour and costs approximately CNY 60 (USD 8). Subway takes a similar time at a cost of under 1 US dollar: board Line 8 from the Shichahai Station and transfer to Line 2 Outer Ring to Chongwenmen Station (Exit C) and walk 7 minutes to your hotel.   

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel (4 stars)

Your Beijing journey concludes this morning with a guided visit to the Summer Palace. Under the pretense of a so-called birthday gift to his 60-year-old mother, Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796 AD) constructed this expansive garden as his personal retreat, escaping from heavy political affairs. Spanning four times the area of the Forbidden City, the complex is dominated by Kunming Lake, occupying three-quarters of its grounds. Along the eastern causeway, you’ll encounter a gilded bronze statue of an ox. According to the legend, this ox sacrificed itself to subdue a great flood, so locals honored it as a divine and installed its statue to guard the lake’s eternal tranquility. If time permits, you can climb Longevity Hill on the lake’s north shore to take in the full sweep of pavilions, bridges, and water.

In the afternoon, your guide and the driver will escort you to the railway station for a 2.5-hour high-speed train journey to Datong in Shanxi Province. On the way, watch the scenery shift from urban architecture to open landscapes of glistening lakes, rolling hills, grasslands, and fields of wind turbines. Upon arrival, your local guide and the driver will greet you and assist with hotel check-in.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Yungang Meigao Hotel, Datong (4 stars)

Once lesser-known, Shanxi has captured global attention since the release of the acclaimed game “Black Myth: Wukong” for its numerous real-world locations that inspired its breathtaking visual design. 

Today, your guide and the driver will offer you a 30-minute drive to the Yungang Grottoes. Carved during the 5th century, this UNESCO World Heritage site stretches about 1 kilometer (1,100 yards) along a cliff and contains 45 major caves with more than 59,000 Buddhist statues. If you are a fan of “Black Myth: Wukong,” you’ll recognize the sculptural group at the entrance of Cave 19, which inspired the “Crouching Tiger Temple” in the game. Equally impressive is Cave 12, the “Music Cave,” where you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a heavenly concert: celestial musicians play flutes, waist drums, and other instruments while apsaras dance across the ceiling, scattering blossoms.

Later, we’ll drive about two hours to the Hanging Temple. Built in 491 AD into a vertical cliff and supported only by crossbeams, it looks like an embossed carving clinging to the rock. You can climb the narrow wooden walkways to experience its dizzying height and enjoy sweeping views of the lush valley and distant city. After the visit, we’ll escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Yungang Meigao Hotel, Datong (4 stars)

Your morning will begin with a visit to Datong Ancient City, accompanied by your guide and the driver. Here, historic architecture from temples to archways offers a tangible connection to the city’s past. Entering through the west gate, we’ll first visit Huayan Temple. Originally built in 1038 AD, it ranks among China’s largest and best-preserved temple complexes. Before the Main Hall, you can recreate the iconic pose of Monkey King at Leiyin Temple from the game against the very architecture that inspired it. Inside, the walls are covered with murals painted more than a century ago by a master and his apprentices over three decades, depicting stories of Buddhas.

Continuing east, we’ll pass the Nine-Dragon Screen, China’s oldest surviving glazed-tile wall of its kind, dating to the late 14th century. Its nine vibrant dragons twist through waves and clouds as if about to leap from the surface. Beyond historic buildings, you’ll have time to browse souvenir shops and sample local snacks at your own expense in the ancient city. The deep-fried millet cakes and spicy potato jelly are the locals’ favorites.

In the afternoon, we’ll provide a transfer to the railway station for your 3-hour high-speed train to Pingyao. Upon arrival, your local guide and the driver will greet you and accompany you to the carefully selected hotel.

Meals: Breakfast 
Accommodation: Yide Guesthouse, Pingyao

This morning, your guide and the driver will accompany you to the Wang Family Compound, widely considered China’s finest example of traditional residential architecture. Originally built by a wealthy merchant clan starting in 1796 AD, the complex took generations to complete and eventually grew to cover an area equal to 35 soccer fields, inspiring the local saying, “Wang’s home is a compound, and the compound is half the city.” Though the Wang family built their fortune through commerce, later generations pursued scholarly honors and official positions, gradually losing touch with business acumen. Combined with growing extravagance among descendants, this shift ultimately led to the family’s decline. As you explore the courtyards and lanes, you’ll admire intricate brick carvings on screen walls and pillar bases, along with finely detailed woodwork decorating doors and windows. Wind chimes whisper between courtyards and red lanterns sway beneath the eaves, preserving the atmosphere of past daily life.

We’ll then continue to Shuanglin Temple, another key visual inspiration for “Black Myth: Wukong.” Originally constructed around 520 AD, the temple is celebrated for its exquisitely painted clay sculptures. Among the most revered is the statue of Weituo in the Thousand-Buddha Hall, which is known as the “Oriental David” for its powerful S-curve posture, finely rendered musculature, detailed armor, and intense gaze. After today’s visits, your guide and driver will convoy you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast 
Accommodation: Yide Guesthouse, Pingyao

This morning, with your guide and the driver, you’ll explore Pingyao Ancient City, a living chronicle of Shanxi merchants’ prosperity from the late 14th to early 20th century. During its economic peak, it was known as the “world’s wealthiest city.” Its 750-meter-long (2,400-foot) flagstone thoroughfare of Ming-Qing Street is lined with shops that once served as banks, pawnshops, pharmacies, butcher shops, grocery stores, and silk shops. Centuries ago, merchants from across China gathered here, transporting goods and silver by horse-drawn carriage.

After visiting the Ancient Government Office, let’s enter the Rishengchang Exchange Shop, the pioneer of modern Chinese banking. This institution once conducted extensive financial operations reaching as far as Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. Through displayed ledgers, drafts, and seals, you’ll discover how traditional finance operated centuries before digital transactions. Next, we’ll explore the Tongxing Armed Escort Company, a combined security and logistics firm. Clients paid escorts to protect valuable goods from bandits during transit. Here you’ll learn about their operational methods and see historical weapons such as spears, broadswords, and concealed arms. 

Your Pingyao tour will conclude with a climb up the Ancient City Wall. If you head toward the West Gate, the ramparts will offer a glimpse into local life, where you can see vegetable gardens in traditional yards and hear vendors hawking in narrow lanes.

In the afternoon, the guide and the driver will see you off at the railway station. After bidding farewell to Pingyao, you’ll take a 2.5-hour high-speed train to Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province. Upon arrival, enjoy a smooth car ride to the pre-booked hotel accompanied by your guide and the driver.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Xian Big Goose Pagoda (4 stars)

As a popular saying in Northwest China goes, “While Shanxi boasts relics above ground, Shaanxi treasures those below.” Among Xi'an’s unique attractions, its ancient imperial mausoleums stand out. Today, your guide and the driver will accompany you to one of the most famous burial sites, the Terracotta Army Museum. This remarkable army was created to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC). Astonishingly, the excavated figures represent only about one ten-thousandth of the entire mausoleum complex. Inside the archaeological pits, you’ll see thousands of terracotta warriors arranged in precise military formations. Each one has distinct facial features, age, hairstyle, and even beard details. Archaeologists confirm that no two faces are alike. It’s said that everyone can find their lookalike here, so keep your eyes open for a familiar face!

★ Special Experience: Terracotta Figure DIY 

After the museum visit, we’ll head to a workshop where you can create your own miniature terracotta warrior. Guided by local artisans, you’ll press clay into molds and carefully carve details like armor and hairstyles. You can even engrave your name on it, turning your creation into a unique souvenir.In the afternoon, we’ll return to the city to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. This architectural marvel was built by the celebrated monk Xuanzang (602-664 AD) to house the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from India. Finally, we’ll escort you back to your hotel.

► Free Time Suggestions (at your own expense):
If you’d like to explore further on your own, the area around the pagoda offers great options. The North Square features a spectacular musical fountain show, with free performances daily at 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, each lasting about 10 minutes. To the south lies the Great Tang All Day Mall, Xi'an’s most vibrant pedestrian street and an ideal spot to experience local nightlife. Please note that you’ll need to return to the hotel on your own if you choose to extend your stay. You can take the Metro Line 4 from the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Station for 1 stop to the University of Science and Technology (Exit B), then walk about 15 minutes to the hotel. It costs CNY 2 (USD 0.3). A car-hailing takes half the time at CNY 30 (USD 4).  

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Xian Big Goose Pagoda (4 stars)

As the morning light bathes Xi'an, your guide and the driver will accompany you to Xi'an City Wall Park, a lively gathering spot for locals nestled along the ancient moat. Lined with lush vegetation on both banks, the moat is often called a “miniature Seine River.” Here, you’ll see residents strolling, jogging, or singing local opera.

Along the path, you’ll reach the South Gate of the Xi'an City Wall, where a drawbridge spans the moat, the city’s first line of defense in ancient times. During attacks, it would be raised to block entry. Climb atop the wall to stand where sentries once kept watch, and capture sweeping views of the city. Bicycles are available for rent up on the wall, and your guide can assist you in renting one (at your own expense) if you want to cycle along the ancient fortifications.

Next, we’ll head to the Muslim Quarter. Some 1,300 years ago, when Xi'an was one of the world’s greatest metropolises, it attracted Muslim merchants traveling the Silk Road from Central and Western Asia. Many settled, intermarried with locals, and gradually formed this distinctive neighborhood. Today, it has evolved into one of Xi'an’s busiest food streets, where you can sample local specialties like Chinese hamburgers and Cold Noodles. Tucked behind the bustling lanes is the serene Great Mosque. Inside, you’ll discover a striking blend of traditional Chinese architecture of wooden gateways, brick-carved pavilions with upturned eaves, alongside intricate Islamic patterns and calligraphy. 

At the end of the day, your guide and driver will escort you to the railway station to catch the high-speed train to Chengdu. Upon arrival in 4 hours, your local guide and driver will transfer you to the handpicked hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza (4 stars)

★ Soak in the Charisma of Giant Pandas

How could you explore Chengdu without seeing its most beloved residents, the giant pandas? This morning, your guide and the driver will accompany you to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can observe these charming animals up close. With their round heads, sturdy limbs, and plump bellies, pandas have served as “diplomatic ambassadors” since as early as the 7th - 8th centuries, when Chinese emperors gifted them to Japan. Behind their seemingly clumsy appearance lies remarkable intelligence, which is comparable to that of a four- or five-year-old child. You may even see them respond to keepers by tilting their heads or making distinctive calls, or clinging playfully to their caretakers like children seeking attention.

Waving goodbye to pandas, let’s continue to the Xiaojiahe Community, a place where you can touch the soul of old Chengdu. If modern Chengdu were a young adult striding briskly forward, then Xiaojiahe would be its contentedly retired elder. Here you’ll find no skyscrapers, only low-rise residential buildings, earthy food markets, and traditional teahouses. Entering the local market feels like stepping into a living museum of old Chengdu. You’ll discover time-honored snacks like walnut pastry and sponge cakes, alongside nearly-vanished trades such as knife sharpening, shoe repairing, and cotton fluffing. For the perfect respite, we’ll find a riverside teahouse where you can enjoy a coffee in traditional Chinese lidded teacup. Sit back and absorb the neighborhood’s soundscape: the clatter of mahjong tiles blending with cheerful conversations, letting you fully embrace the city’s unhurried rhythm.

► Restaurant Recommendation (at your own expense):
For lunch, consider Yongle Restaurant in Xiaojiahe Community, known for authentic Sichuan dishes, such as Steamed Pork Ribs with Sticky Rice, Mapo Tofu, and classic Meatball Soup. Most local dishes feature bold, spicy flavors, so it is better to ask your guide or the restaurant staff for recommendations. A satisfying meal typically costs between CNY 50-100 per person (USD 7–14). Please note that this popular spot draws both locals and tourists, so you may experience a wait during peak hours.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza (4 stars)

After checking out in the morning, your guide and the driver will accompany you to the railway station to board the 5-hour high-speed train to Zhangjiajie, a city renowned for its stunning karst landscapes. Upon arrival, your local guide and the driver will greet you at the station exit and offer you a transfer to your hotel near the Forest Park.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Expert Village Courtyard Hotel, Zhangjiajie (4 stars)

Have you ever imagined yourself as a Na’vi from the movie “Avatar”, soaring among floating mountains? Today, your guide and the driver will accompany you to explore the real-world Pandora, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Not only did this spectacular karst landscape inspire the world of Avatar, it also helped shape the visual universe of the game “Black Myth: Wukong”.

The Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor lift, will take you to the summit at a height equivalent to 107 floors in just two minutes. As you glide upward through the mist, you might feel like you are the Monkey King himself, riding the somersault cloud. At the top, you’ll step out into the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, home to the real-life “Hallelujah Mountains.” Hundreds of quartz-sandstone pillars tower into the sky, with surfaces completely draped in lush evergreen vegetation, resembling giant baguettes dusted with matcha powder viewed from a distance.

An eco-friendly shuttle bus of the park will then convoy you to Tianzi Mountain, whose rock formations cluster tightly or stretch into immense natural stone walls, presenting a striking contrast to Yuanjiajie. A 10-minute cable car will bring you down the mountain, after which you’ll board a mini-train for a round-trip journey through the Ten-Mile Gallery. Along the way, you could spot rock pillars shaped like an old herb-gatherer, three embracing sisters, and more. You might even encounter Monkey King’s relatives, macaques! At the end, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Expert Village Courtyard Hotel, Zhangjiajie (4 stars)

Today, your guide and the driver will offer you a smooth ride to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, where you’ll challenge the world’s highest Glass Bridge. As you step onto the transparent panels suspended 300 meters (984 feet) above the ravine, you’ll experience a truly nerve-wracking vista. You can lie on the glass for photographs, creating an illusion of floating mid-air. When the mountain breeze blows, you may even feel the subtle sway of the bridge, adding thrill to the experience. Surmount fear and you can enjoy panoramic views of the entire canyon and distant landmarks, including the Bailong Elevator.

★ Hike to Explore Enchanting Golden Whip Stream

In the afternoon, let’s embark on a 7.5-kilometer (4-mile) hiking adventure along the Golden Whip Stream. This meandering path derives its name from the Golden Whip Rock. It was said that a fairy lost her whip when showering in the stream and finally transformed into this towering formation. The paths are flanked by lustrous bushes, which look like jade screens when the sunlight casts down. Plum blossoms along the way, and monkeys add more interest to your walk. Finally, the guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Expert Village Courtyard Hotel, Zhangjiajie (4 stars)

After breakfast, your guide and the driver will take you to Tianmen Mountain, the highest peak in Zhangjiajie. We will arrange all the facilities in the park, including cable cars, escalators, and a shuttle bus, to save your energy so that you can focus entirely on enjoying the magnificent landscapes. Around 380 million years ago, this area was an ancient ocean. Tectonic shifts gradually lifted the seabed into mountains, and some 2,000 years ago, natural forces carved out the legendary Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Gate). Ancient people regarded the cave as a passage between heaven and earth, and many believed that ending their lives here would allow souls to ascend directly to paradise. Even today, visitors tie red ribbons to trees along the path to seek blessings. At its summit, you’ll have a chance to walk the cliffside Glass Skywalk, where you can gain an adrenaline-pumping experience and capture the mountain’s panorama.

Next, we’ll visit the 72 Tujia Stilted Buildings, a complex of interconnected wooden stilted buildings, which resembles a “floating mountain village” when viewed from the observation deck. Ascend to the second floor, and exhibition halls here unveil the mysteries of local culture, including Chinese black magic and legendary corpse-driving rituals. You’ll also have a chance to sample local dishes like Pickled Fish and Fried Rice with Cured Pork at your own expense.

At the end of your Zhangjiajie journey, we’ll provide a private transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. After landing in 2 hours, your Shanghai guide and the driver will greet you and escort you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals: Breakfast    
Accommodation: Sunrise On The Bund, Shanghai (4 stars)

This morning, your guide and the driver will accompany you to the east branch of the Shanghai Museum. Here, you’ll have the chance to view an impressive collection of traditional Chinese artworks, from exquisite ceramics and classical calligraphy to ink paintings. At the entrance to the Ceramics Gallery, you can even touch a genuine blue-and-white porcelain piece dating back 360 years. One of the museum’s most treasured artifacts is the Da Ke Tripod, a ritual bronze vessel from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC). Crafted by an official to commemorate honors bestowed by the king, it has carried its owner’s legacy across nearly three millennia.

When you think of Shanghai, what comes to mind? Skyscrapers, rightly so. Yet nestled among the modern towers lies Yu Garden, a 450-year-old classical landscape that offers a striking contrast to its contemporary surroundings. Originally built as a private retreat for a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) official, the garden features elegant pavilions with upturned eaves, crimson-wooden structures topped with grey tiles, artistic rockeries, and quiet ponds, all interconnected like a living labyrinth. Pay attention to the openings and windows in the walls, which act as natural picture frames, revealing composed scenes where plants and architecture blend, as if a classical painting has sprung to life.

We’ll then continue to the Bund, a 1.5-kilometer (about 1-mile) riverfront promenade lined with 52 classical revival buildings that witnessed the area’s transformation into the “Wall Street of the East.” While at its opposite across the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower form a dazzling modern skyline. We’ll wander along the promenade to the dock and embark on a river cruise to admire the cityscape along both riversides. At the end of the day, the guide and the driver will offer you a smooth transfer back to your hotel. 

If you want to appreciate the neon-lit night view of the Bund, just walk 10 minutes by yourself from the hotel to the North Bund Green Land, which is less crowded than the Bund and offers a closer view of the cyberpunk skyline formed by soaring edifices.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sunrise On The Bund, Shanghai (4 stars)

The guide and the driver will see you off at the airport in the morning, where you’ll board your homebound flight. Suppose you want to extend your journey to other Chinese cities, such as Guilin, Chongqing, and Lhasa, or to other Asian countries, including Japan and Thailand. In that case, we will be happy to continue tailoring your itinerary. Welcome to consult at any time!

Meals: Breakfast