Itinerary
- Day 1
Shanghai
You'll get picked up from Pudong or Hongqiao Airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. After you settle in, the rest of the day is open for you to walk around Shanghai and see what interests you most. The Bund has those iconic riverside views, Yu Garden offers traditional design, and the city's mix of old neighborhoods with modern skyscrapers is worth taking in.
Optional Activities
- Explore Shanghai's historic neighborhoods
- Visit the Bund
- Visit Yu Garden
Landmarks The Bund Yu Garden 
- Day 2
Shanghai to Beijing
Following breakfast, you have the morning and early afternoon to explore Shanghai on your own. Then around noon you'll head to the airport for your 3-4 p.m. flight to Beijing. Once you land, there's a welcome meeting with your guide and other travelers starting at 6 p.m. After that, you can spend the evening checking out some of Beijing's neighborhoods like Houhai Lake, the CBD, or Temple of Heaven Park if you're not too tired.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Welcome meeting with tour guide and fellow travelers
Optional Activities
- Explore Houhai Lake area with bars and restaurants
- Explore Beijing's CBD area
- Visit Temple of Heaven Park in the evening
Landmarks Houhai Lake Temple of Heaven Park 
- Day 3
Beijing
Start with breakfast, then head to Tiananmen Square to see Chairman Mao's tomb from outside and explore the various monuments around it. From there, you'll spend time at the Forbidden City, a massive palace complex with over 800 buildings and 9,000 rooms that'll take hours to walk through. During lunch you can grab food in the area, and afterward you'll wander through the old hutongs, narrow alleyways with traditional courtyards where locals have lived for centuries. Later, walk along Wangfujing Pedestrian Street for shops and street food. The day finishes with Peking roast duck for dinner, a specialty you shouldn't miss.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Peking roast duck dinner wrapped in thin pancakes with spring onions and hoisin sauce)
Included Activities
- Tiananmen Square exterior viewing of Chairman Mao's tomb
- Forbidden City tour
- Beijing hutongs exploration
- Wangfujing Pedestrian Street visit
- Peking roast duck dinner
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Wangfujing Pedestrian Street - Day 4
Beijing
You'll travel to the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall, known locally as the 'Yellow Flower Great Wall.' This UNESCO site has a unique feature where part of the wall sits partially underwater. You'll hike along the wall and take in the views while learning about its history. Later that evening, you'll watch a Chinese acrobatic performance that showcases traditional martial arts and acrobatic skills.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Huanghuacheng Great Wall hike
- Chinese acrobatic performance
Landmarks Huanghuacheng Great Wall Great Wall of China - Day 5
Beijing to Luoyang
After breakfast, you'll head to the railway station and take a high-speed train to Luoyang, about 4 to 4.5 hours away. Your local guide meets you on arrival and you'll have lunch at a restaurant. Then you'll visit Longmen Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site cut into the cliffs along the Yi River. These caves hold the world's largest collection of Buddhist art and statues from more than 10 dynasties spanning 1,400 years. In the evening, you can stroll through Old City Shizi Street, a popular food street where you'll find local dishes and flavors.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant lunch)
Included Activities
- High-speed train journey Beijing to Luoyang (2nd class)
- Longmen Caves tour
- Old City Shizi Street exploration
Landmarks Longmen Caves Old City Shizi Street 
- Day 6
Luoyang
This morning you'll start at Xiyuan Park where locals gather for dancing and singing activities, and you're welcome to join in if you'd like. Then you'll travel to Shaolin Monastery, the legendary birthplace of Chinese martial arts and an important spiritual site for Kung Fu training. You'll watch a martial arts performance featuring monks demonstrating their skills. The day ends with dinner at a local restaurant serving Luoyang cuisine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local restaurant dinner featuring Luoyang cuisine)
Included Activities
- Xiyuan Park morning activities
- Shaolin Monastery visit
- Martial arts performance
Landmarks Xiyuan Park Shaolin Monastery - Day 7
Luoyang to Xi'an
You'll catch an early train to Xi'an and once there, either bike or walk along the Xi'an City Wall, one of China's oldest and best-preserved walls with nice views of the city. Next, you'll explore the Muslim Quarter with its busy food stalls and the smell of lamb skewers cooking. At the Gao Family courtyard you'll see a 15-minute shadow puppetry show, an ancient art form from this region. You'll also visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi'an Museum. The day finishes with you making dumplings at a local place and eating what you've just created.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dumpling-making experience with dumplings you've created and refreshing drink)
Included Activities
- Xi'an City Wall bike ride or walk
- Muslim Quarter exploration
- Gao Family shadow puppetry show
- Small Wild Goose Pagoda visit
- Xi'an Museum
- Dumpling-making experience and dinner
Landmarks Xi'an City Wall Muslim Quarter Small Wild Goose Pagoda Xi'an Museum 
- Day 8
Xi'an to Chengdu
You'll see the Terracotta Army and Warriors, a UNESCO site with 8,000 life-size soldier statues, 100 chariots, and 600 horses made to guard Emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb. Each figure has its own unique details. You'll also visit a Terracotta Warrior Factory to learn how they make the statues using techniques unchanged since the Qin Dynasty. After lunch, you'll board a high-speed train to Chengdu (2nd class), about 2 hours away in Sichuan Province, which is famous for giant pandas and spicy food.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant lunch)
Included Activities
- Terracotta Army and Warriors tour
- Terracotta Warrior Factory visit
- High-speed train journey Xi'an to Chengdu (2nd class)
Landmarks Terracotta Army and Warriors 
- Day 9
Chengdu
After breakfast you'll head to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which covers over 92 acres with facilities for breeding, research, and education. The panda nursery is a must-see for infant pandas. Later you'll visit Wenshu Monastery from the Qing Dynasty and stop at its teahouse for green tea and vegetarian food. Then you'll go to Jinli Street, an old pedestrian area packed with food vendors and stalls. You'll also see Wuhou Memorial Temple surrounded by gardens. Dinner is hotpot, Chengdu's signature dish combining spicy and numbing flavors.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hotpot dinner featuring Chengdu's signature spicy and numbing flavors)
Included Activities
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding visit
- Panda nursery visit
- Wenshu Monastery visit
- Jinli Street exploration
- Wuhou Memorial Temple visit
- Hotpot dinner
Landmarks Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Wenshu Monastery Jinli Street Wuhou Memorial Temple - Day 10
Chengdu
You'll travel to the Great Buddha of Leshan near Chengdu, a huge statue carved into red sandstone on Lingyun Hill where three rivers meet. The Buddha's features are massive, with 8-meter feet, 7-meter ears, a 28-meter shoulder span, and a 5.6-meter nose. You'll join a line for a short boat ride on the Minjiang River to see the whole statue from the water. After lunch, if there's time, you can visit the old town of Huanglongxi with its traditional buildings, cobbled streets, ancient temples, and market stalls. The evening is free for you to relax, walk around, try local food, or catch a Sichuan Opera performance if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Great Buddha of Leshan visit
- Minjiang River boat ride
Optional Activities
- Stop at ancient town of Huanglongxi
- Sichuan Opera performance at Shufengyayun Theatre
Landmarks Great Buddha of Leshan Minjiang River Huanglongxi 
- Day 11
Yangtze River Cruise
After breakfast you'll go to the train station and board a high-speed train to Chongqing, nicknamed the 'Mountain City.' When you arrive, you'll get on the Yangtze River Cruiser for a three-night adventure. You'll watch sunsets from the water and learn about the Yangtze River's historical importance to China.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- High-speed train journey Chengdu to Chongqing (2nd class)
- Yangtze River Cruiser boarding
Landmarks Yangtze River - Days 12 - 13
Yangtze River Cruise
You're cruising the Yangtze River, the world's third-longest at 6,340 kilometers, and exploring the famous Three Gorges. Day 1 includes a shore trip to the Jade Emperor Scenic Area near Fengdu to see the world's largest Jade Buddha image (or Shibaozhai with its wooden pagoda if river conditions change plans). Day 2 takes you through Qutang Gorge (the shortest and narrowest) and Wu Gorge (about 40 kilometers long). You'll transfer to a smaller boat for a relaxing trip through Goddess Stream gorges (or Shennong Stream if water levels affect access). Then you'll enter Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest of the three.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Jade Emperor Scenic Area shore excursion
- Three Gorges tour
- Qutang Gorge passage
- Wu Gorge passage
- Goddess Stream or Shennong Stream excursion
- Xiling Gorge passage
Optional Activities
- Alternative excursion to Shibaozhai with wooden pagoda
Landmarks Jade Emperor Scenic Area Fengdu Shibaozhai Three Gorges Qutang Gorge Wu Gorge Goddess Stream Shennong Stream Xiling Gorge 
- Day 14
Yangtze River to Yichang to Shanghai
When sunrise comes, you'll tour the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest power station stretching across the Yangtze at Sandouping in Xiling Gorge. After looking around, you'll leave the cruise and transfer to Yichang. From there, a high-speed train takes you to Shanghai, about 8 hours away. Shanghai is where your journey continues with its mix of cultures and diverse neighborhoods to check out.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Three Gorges Dam tour
- High-speed train journey Yichang to Shanghai
Landmarks Three Gorges Dam - Day 15
Shanghai
You have the full day to explore Shanghai however you like, checking out the city's attractions and neighborhoods at your own pace. If you're interested, there are optional tours available, but nothing is scheduled.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Full Day City Tour of Shanghai's cultural and historical treasures (Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, and more)
- Full Day Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town - picturesque water town on the outskirts of Shanghai
- Full Day Tour to Suzhou - city celebrated for its classical Chinese gardens and historical charm
Landmarks Yu Garden Jade Buddha Temple Zhujiajiao Water Town Suzhou - Day 16
Shanghai
This is your last day of the tour. After breakfast and when you check out at noon, you'll make your way to the airport for your onward flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
