Great For :
Highlights
- Explore iconic landmarks like the Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, and the Great Wall of China.
- Witness playful giant pandas in Chengdu and marvel at Zhangjiajie's Avatar-inspired floating mountains and Glass Bridge.
- Cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo, admiring incredible karst landscapes, and delve into classical garden aesthetics in Suzhou and Tongli Water Town.
- Experience diverse ethnic cultures in Lijiang and Dali, and enjoy private guided tours with comfortable transportation throughout.
Package Included
- Experience diverse ethnic cultures in Lijiang and Dali, and enjoy private guided tours with comfortable transportation throughout.
- Domestic airfares and train fares as per itinerary
- 20 western buffet breakfasts and 5 a la carte lunches
- Private English-speaking guide services
- Air-conditioned private car with experienced driver
- Entrance fees to all tourist sites mentioned
Tour Plan
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
- Meet your English-speaking guide at Beijing Capital Airport and transfer to your downtown hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring central Beijing at your leisure, perhaps wandering through the bustling Wangfujing Street or the historic Nanluoguxiang Hutong area.
Day 2: Beijing (Imperial Landmarks)
- Begin with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of modern China, followed by the Forbidden City – the world’s largest imperial palace complex. Marvel at its 9,999 rooms, golden throne hall, and the iconic Nine-Dragon Screen, learning how dragon motifs symbolize imperial power.
- Enjoy an a la carte lunch at a local restaurant (included), where you can savor Peking Duck pre-ordered for your group.
- In the afternoon, explore the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for harvests, and Yonghe Temple, a grand lamasery with Tibetan Buddhist architecture and incense-filled courtyards.
Day 3: Beijing (Great Wall & Modern Icons)
- Journey to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, a well-preserved stretch with cable car access. Hike between watchtowers, admiring the wall’s serpentine path across mountain ranges.
- En route back to the city, stop at the Bird’s Nest (Olympic Stadium) for photos of its iconic steel structure.
- Experience traditional Beijing life with a rickshaw tour through ancient hutongs, ending with a visit to a local courtyard home.
Day 4: Beijing → Xi’an (Cultural Transition)
- Explore the Summer Palace, a Qing-era imperial retreat featuring the Seventeen-Arch Bridge (with 544 unique stone lions) and the Long Corridor adorned with historical paintings.
- Take a high-speed train to Xi’an, where your local guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Day 5: Xi’an (Terracotta Warriors & Tang Heritage)
- Discover the Terracotta Army Museum, where 8,000 life-size warriors guard Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. Later, try your hand at crafting a mini terracotta figure using ancient techniques in a nearby workshop.
- Visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty structure built to house Buddhist scriptures, and stroll along the Great Tang All Day Mall, where hanfu-clad performers recreate ancient street life.
Day 6: Xi’an → Chengdu (Culinary & Cultural Shift)
- Cycle along Xi’an’s 600-year-old City Wall, then explore the Great Mosque – a blend of Islamic and Chinese architecture.
- Wander the Muslim Quarter, sampling Biang Biang noodles (with a 40-stroke character name) before taking a high-speed train to Chengdu, known for its spicy cuisine.
Day 7: Chengdu (Pandas & Ancient Shu)
- Visit the Chengdu Panda Base in the morning to see giant pandas and their cubs.
- Explore Kuanzhai Alleys, a restored historic district with teahouses and Sichuan opera performances, then discover the 3,000-year-old Shu culture at the Jinsha Site Museum, home to the golden Sun Bird artifact.
- End the day at People’s Park, where locals play mahjong and matchmake in the park’s bustling teahouses.
Day 8: Chengdu → Lijiang (Yunnan’s Ethnic Charm)
- Fly to Lijiang and settle into your hotel in the Old Town, known for its cobblestone streets and canals.
Day 9: Lijiang (Naxi Traditions)
- Travel to Baisha Village to see ancient Naxi murals and visit a local family to learn about Dongba culture.
- Explore Black Dragon Pool Park, where Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflects in the lake, and wander Lijiang’s Old Town, ending at the 500-year-old Mu Family Mansion.
Day 10: Lijiang → Dali (Bai Culture Journey)
- Drive to Dali, stopping in Xizhou to admire Bai ethnic group’s traditional homes with painted screen walls. In Zhoucheng Village, try tie-dyeing and learn to make Xizhou Baba, a savory local cake.
- Stroll along Erhai Lake’s ecological corridor, then explore Dali Old Town with its ancient city walls and vibrant market streets.
Day 11: Dali → Kunming (Karst Wonders)
- Take a high-speed train to Kunming and visit the Stone Forest, a 270-million-year-old karst landscape with spire-shaped rocks and legends of the Ashima fairy tale.
Day 12: Kunming → Guilin (Li River Scenery)
- Journey to Guilin by high-speed train and explore Reed Flute Cave, an underground chamber with illuminated stalactites and an echoing lake.
- Visit Elephant Trunk Hill, where a karst formation resembles an elephant drinking from the Li River, a symbol of Guilin’s landscape.
Day 13: Guilin → Yangshuo (Li River Cruise)
- Board a cruise along the Li River, passing iconic spots like Huangbu Shoal (featured on the 20-yuan bill) and Nine-Horse Fresco Hill.
- In Yangshuo, wander West Street’s blend of traditional shops and international cafes, then visit a rural farmhouse to experience well-water fetching and local life.
Day 14: Yangshuo (Rural Adventures)
- Rent a bike to explore Moon Hill, a natural arch in the karst, and take a bamboo raft on the Yulong River, surrounded by rice paddies and limestone peaks.
Day 15: Yangshuo → Zhangjiajie (Natural Wonders)
- Stop at Xianggong Mountain for a panoramic view of the Li River, then take a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie, known for its "floating mountains."
Day 16: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Ride the Bailong Elevator up a cliff to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, where the Hallelujah Mountain inspired Avatar’s floating peaks.
- Explore Yangjiajie’s "Natural Great Wall" – parallel rock formations – and watch the sunset over Tianzi Mountain’s Imperial Brush Peak.
Day 17: Zhangjiajie (Thrills & Nature)
- Walk across the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, a 430m-high transparent bridge offering heart-pounding views.
- Hike along the Golden Whip Stream, where monkeys play among waterfalls and unique sandstone pillars.
Day 18: Zhangjiajie → Shanghai (Urban Contrast)
- Take the world’s longest cable car to Tianmen Mountain, walk the Glass Skywalk on its cliffs, and visit Tianmen Cave, where stunt pilots once flew through.
- Fly to Shanghai and settle into your hotel in the city’s vibrant downtown.
Day 19: Shanghai (Modern & Classical)
- Discover Shanghai Museum’s ancient art collections, then explore Yu Garden, a Ming Dynasty garden with rockeries, ponds, and the Huxin Pavilion teahouse.
- Cruise along the Huangpu River to see the Bund’s colonial architecture and Pudong’s skyscrapers, ending with a visit to Tianzifang’s artsy alleyways.
Day 20: Shanghai → Suzhou & Tongli (Jiangnan Charm)
- Drive to Suzhou to explore the Humble Administrator’s Garden, a UNESCO site known for its water features and pavilions.
- Wander Pingjiang Road’s ancient canal streets, then visit Tongli Water Town, where bridges and traditional homes line winding canals.
Day 21: Departure from Shanghai
- Depending on your flight, enjoy final sightseeing or shopping in Shanghai before your guide assists with transfer to the airport, where your journey concludes.
Day 1 : Arrive at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Day 2 : Cultural Exploration – Uluwatu & Jimbaran
Day 3 : Ubud – Art, Culture & Nature
Day 4 : Adventure & Wellness
Day 5 : Nusa Penida Day Trip
Places You’ll See
