Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
Arrive in Beijing before 11 a.m. and your local guide will meet you at the airport. You'll head to the Temple of Heaven, a religious site where emperors once prayed, then check out the lively marriage market nearby. After grabbing lunch at a local restaurant, you'll transfer to your hotel for check-in and have the rest of the afternoon free to settle in.
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Explore marriage market
Landmarks Temple of Heaven 
- Day 2
Beijing
Start with breakfast at your hotel, then head to the Badaling section of the Great Wall, which has broad, well-maintained paths and is the most visited section. From there you'll explore a jade factory to learn about and buy jade jewelry. After lunch, you'll spend time at the Summer Palace looking at blooming gardens and pagodas around the artificial Kunming Lake. The evening is yours to relax at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Badaling section of Great Wall
- Explore jade factory
- Visit Summer Palace
Optional Activities
- Purchase jade jewelry at jade factory
Landmarks Great Wall of China - Badaling Summer Palace - Day 3
Beijing to Xi'an
This morning you'll visit Tiananmen Square and see the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong above the gates. Next is the Forbidden City, the imperial palace complex where Ming and Qing emperors lived. After lunch, you'll head to Beijing West Railway Station and board a high-speed train to Xi'an. When you arrive, your local guide will meet you at the station and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit Forbidden City
Optional Activities
- Visit Lama Temple (if Forbidden City is closed or sold out)
- Visit Confucius Temple (if Forbidden City is closed or sold out)
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Lama Temple Confucius Temple 
- Day 4
Xi'an
You'll start at the Terracotta Warrior Museum to see the life-sized terracotta sculptures from Qin Shi Huang's armies, with around 8,000 soldiers, 100 chariots, and 600 horses on display. After lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, you'll go to Xi'an's ancient City Wall where you can walk or bike along the top for city views. Later you'll visit the Grand Mosque, the largest Islamic place of worship in the country, then spend time in the vibrant Muslim Quarter.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local Chinese restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Warrior Museum
- Explore Xi'an's ancient City Wall
- Visit Grand Mosque
- Explore Muslim Quarter
Optional Activities
- Walk along the top of City Wall
- Bike along the top of City Wall
- Purchase food at Muslim Quarter food stalls
Landmarks Terracotta Warrior Museum Xi'an City Wall Grand Mosque - Day 5
Xi'an to Chengdu
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a famous Buddhist pagoda built during the Tang Dynasty that houses sacred scriptures brought from India. You'll have lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the railway station for a 3 to 4 hour high-speed train to Chengdu. Your local guide will meet you at the station when you arrive, then transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Landmarks Big Wild Goose Pagoda 
- Day 6
Chengdu - Dujiangyan - Chengdu
You'll visit the Giant Panda Base in Dujiangyan to see pandas in their natural habitat at this conservation facility. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll spend the afternoon at People's Park, the largest green space in downtown Chengdu, where you can stroll by the lake, watch locals sing and dance, try water calligraphy, or relax in a teahouse playing Mahjong or Chinese chess. Then you'll head to the Narrow and Wide Alley, a historic area with traditional courtyards and old alleyways.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Giant Panda Base in Dujiangyan
- Visit People's Park
- Visit Narrow and Wide Alley
Optional Activities
- Relax in teahouse at People's Park
- Learn to play Mahjong at People's Park
- Learn to play Chinese chess at People's Park
Landmarks Giant Panda Base People's Park Narrow and Wide Alley - Day 7
Chengdu to Lijiang
Start with breakfast at your hotel before transferring to the airport for your flight to Lijiang, which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Your local guide will meet you upon arrival and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. You'll have the rest of the day to explore Lijiang on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
- Day 8
Lijiang
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll visit the historic Shuhe and Baisha old villages. Shuhe was recognized as part of Lijiang Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Baisha Village, birthplace of Naxi culture, features important Baisha Mural artwork. You'll have lunch at a local restaurant, then head to the Black Dragon Pool, surrounded by lush greenery and willow trees with a nice reflection of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Shuhe Village
- Visit Baisha Village
- Visit Baisha Mural
- Visit Black Dragon Pool
Landmarks Shuhe Village Baisha Village Baisha Mural Black Dragon Pool - Day 9
Lijiang to Dali
This morning you'll drive to Dali with a private driver and meet your local guide in Xizhou after about 3.5 hours. Along the way, you'll explore Xizhou where the Bai minority group's well-preserved old houses and streets show the area's history. You'll experience the Three Courses Tea performance, a traditional ceremony showing the cultural significance of tea in Bai culture. After lunch, you'll transfer to your hotel in Dali.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Explore Xizhou
- Experience Three Courses Tea performance
Landmarks Xizhou 
- Day 10
Dali
Begin with breakfast, then head to the Three Pagodas, an iconic symbol of Dali at the foot of Mt. Cangshan facing Erhai Lake. These three pagodas sit in a symmetrical triangle with elegant, balanced design. Next you'll transfer to the pier for a 1.5 hour boat ride on Erhai Lake with views of the crescent-shaped lake between Mt. Cangshan and the city. You have the option to do a 15km bike ride along the lake road after disembarking. Later you'll return to your hotel with the evening free to walk through the ancient town of Dali.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Three Pagodas
- Boat ride on Erhai Lake
Optional Activities
- Bike ride (15km) along lake road
Landmarks Three Pagodas Erhai Lake - Day 11
Dali to Kunming
You'll take a train to Kunming, with the journey taking about 2 to 2.5 hours. Your local guide will meet you upon arrival. You'll have lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Bamboo Temple, built during the Yuan Dynasty as the first Zen Buddhist temple in Yunnan, known for its collection of 500 unique arhat statues showing different emotions. Then you'll transfer to your hotel with the evening at leisure.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Bamboo Temple
Landmarks Bamboo Temple 
- Day 12
Kunming
You'll head to the Black Stone Forest, a remarkable karst landscape with towering limestone formations shaped over millions of years into a maze of stone pillars and spires. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has geological significance and natural interest. After exploring, you'll return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.
Included Activities
- Visit Black Stone Forest
Landmarks Black Stone Forest - Day 13
Kunming to Hong Kong
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll transfer to the train station for your journey to Hong Kong, which takes approximately 7.5 hours. When you arrive in Hong Kong, you'll make your own way to the hotel with the rest of the evening free to explore the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
- Day 14
Hong Kong
Your tour ends after breakfast. You'll make your own way to the airport for your departure flight, or you can contact the operator to book a transfer. Safe travels on your way home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
