15-Day China Water and Land Super-Value Small Group Tour: Beijing + Xi'an + Chengdu + Chongqing + Yangtze River Cruise + Shanghai

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China. Our driver will greet you at the exit of the airport/train station and take you to your hotel in downtown Beijing to check in and rest. After that, you are free to spend your time as you wish—relax at the hotel to ease the effects of jet lag, or take a stroll around the neighborhood. Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: Beijing has two airports, Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Both airports offer numerous international and domestic routes. You can fly to Beijing from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Cambodia, as well as from most cities in China, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, and Wuhan. 2. By train: Beijing's rail network is extremely well developed. You can take a high-speed train to Beijing from cities such as Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and Harbin.

After breakfast, you will visit the world-renowned Tiananmen Square. 【Tiananmen Square】is located on Beijing's central axis and is the largest city-center square in the world. It holds an important place in Chinese history and has witnessed countless major historical events. Here you can view the majestic Tiananmen Gate Tower and learn about China's long-standing culture. Afterwards, cross the square and visit the Palace Museum in Beijing. 【The Forbidden City】, also known as the Purple Forbidden City, is located at the center of Beijing's central axis. It was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and is the world's largest and best-preserved complex of wooden palace architecture. Here you can visit the important halls along the central axis in sequence, admiring the splendid and exquisite ancient palace architecture while following your guide's commentary to learn more about the historical stories of the Forbidden City. After finishing, you can also go to the nearby Jingshan Park (about a 15-minute walk) to overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City and the magnificent scenery of Beijing. In the afternoon, you will take a car to visit the famous royal garden - the Summer Palace. 【The Summer Palace】is a large and well-preserved imperial garden in China, one of the Four Great Gardens of China, and is known as the Museum of Royal Gardens. The scenery in the garden is beautiful, with its pavilions, towers, lakes, bridges, and other views too numerous to take in. Warm Tips 1. Visiting Jingshan Park is mainly on foot, so comfortable non-slip shoes are recommended. Whether to go up to the viewing platform at the top can be flexibly chosen according to your personal physical condition. 2. The Palace Museum is closed every Monday (except statutory holidays). If your itinerary falls on a Monday, we will arrange a visit to the Temple of Heaven or Prince Gong's Mansion as an alternative attraction, depending on the opening conditions and time that day.

After breakfast, you will drive 73 kilometers (about 1.5–2 hours) to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. [Mutianyu Great Wall] is the longest and best-restored section of the Great Wall in China, and enjoys the reputation of being "the most spectacular section of the Great Wall." You can first take the cable car up to Watchtower No. 14, then hike westward, enjoying the magnificent mountain scenery and the winding, majestic views of the Great Wall along the way, before reaching the highest point at Watchtower No. 20 to complete your Great Wall journey. After touring the Great Wall, return to downtown Beijing and, along the way, view the exterior of the Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium) and the Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center), and take photos with them. Then return to your hotel and have a good rest.

Today our driver will take you to Beijing Railway Station to board a high-speed train to Xi'an. The journey takes about 4.5–5.5 hours, and along the way you can take in views of Chinese towns and the mountains and forests. Upon arriving at Xi'an Railway Station, our driver will greet you at the exit and take you on the rest of your itinerary. First, you will visit Xi'an's famous cultural landmark—the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Located within Daci'en Temple, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is the earliest and largest existing square pavilion-style brick pagoda of the Tang Dynasty. It has seven stories and stands about 64 meters tall. Here you can admire the ancient architectural style, view the Buddhist scriptures and statues that Master Xuanzang brought back from Tianzhu (ancient India) and that are housed in the pagoda, and even climb this thousand-year-old pagoda to look out over the cityscape of Xi'an. Afterward, you will head to Xi'an's famous food and culture street—Muslim Quarter—to soak up the local atmosphere while savoring local specialty snacks such as roujiamo and Biangbiang noodles.

After breakfast, you will drive about 40 kilometers (1 hour) to visit the Terracotta Army, one of the "Eighth Wonders of the World." The 【Terracotta Army Museum】 is a site museum built on the original pits, and also China's largest ancient military museum. With the vivid explanations of a professional guide, you will visit Pits 1, 2, and 3 in sequence, learning about the historical background of the Terracotta Army, the crafting techniques, and the little-known stories behind these thousand-year-old clay figures buried in the long river of history. In the afternoon, head to visit the time-honored Xi'an Ancient City Wall. The 【Xi'an Ancient City Wall】 was first built in the Ming Dynasty, also known as the Xi'an Ming City Wall, and is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. You can climb the wall, walk on the historic blue bricks, and feel the charm of the ancient city wall, or ride a bicycle (optional, at your own expense) to tour and enjoy the superb scenery formed by the ancient city wall and the modern cityscape. In addition, near the Xi'an Ancient City Wall, you can also visit the amazing Bell Tower and Drum Tower. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower were first built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, about 600 years ago. The two buildings echo each other from afar, magnificent and imposing. When night falls, the lights of the Bell Tower and Drum Tower light up together, creating a spectacular scene.

This morning, after enjoying breakfast at the hotel, our driver will, according to your ticket time, transfer you to the railway station in advance to take the high-speed train to Chengdu (journey time about 3–4 hours). Welcome to Chengdu, the Land of Abundance. Our driver will greet you at the railway station exit and escort you to your hotel in downtown Chengdu for check-in. You can arrange the remaining time freely; if you are tired, you can rest at the hotel to recharge, and if it is still early, you can also take a stroll around the area.

After breakfast, you will drive about 17 kilometers to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, to see China's adorable national treasure, the giant panda, and learn about their habits and conservation. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, or Chengdu Panda Base for short, is home to more than 100 giant pandas, making it the world's largest captive panda breeding facility. Here you can watch giant pandas of different ages playing, eating, climbing hills and trees, and sleeping in the park—cute and amusing scenes of their daily lives—and you can also follow your guide to visit the Panda Museum to learn more stories about pandas. In addition, if you visit in autumn, you may have the chance to see adorable newborn panda cubs at the Moon Nursery and Sun Nursery. Warm tip: Giant pandas prefer cooler weather and are more active in the morning, so it is recommended to arrive early to see more natural panda behavior. In the afternoon, you will drive about 1 hour to visit the Sanxingdui Museum, famed as "dormant for three thousand years, astonishing the world upon awakening." Unearthed in 1929, Sanxingdui is the largest, longest-lasting, and culturally richest ancient state site discovered to date in southwestern China. Here you will see the majestic bronze standing figure, the exquisitely crafted bronze sacred tree, the gold mask as thin as a cicada's wing, the gold staff with intricate patterns... and, following your guide's steps, travel through the dust of history to explore the ancient Shu civilization and unlock the mysterious stories behind these artifacts. After the visit, return to downtown Chengdu and stroll through Jinli Ancient Street. Jinli is Chengdu's oldest and liveliest commercial district, with a history dating back as far as the Qin and Han dynasties. Here you can explore and taste traditional Chengdu snacks, watch entertaining folk performances, and admire the beauty of traditional Chinese ancient architecture. Plan B: Chengdu Panda Base + Chengdu Museum + Kuanzhai Alley + People's Park Warm tip: During peak season, the Sanxingdui Museum is very crowded on holidays and tickets are hard to come by. If tickets are sold out, your itinerary will be adjusted to Plan B, a tour of downtown Chengdu. The changes are as follows: In the afternoon, you will visit the Chengdu Museum, the largest comprehensive city museum in southwestern China—a perfect place to learn about Chengdu's history, culture, and art. Its rich collection of more than 200,000 items covers precious artifacts from the Neolithic Age to the Republic of China period, such as bronzes, gold and silver wares, pictorial bricks, stone carvings, ceramics, calligraphy and paintings, and furniture. Among them, the humorous Eastern Han drumming-and-singing pottery figurine, the mysterious Sanxingdui bronze human-face mask, the exquisite lacquered figure with meridian points, and the finely crafted openwork gilt sachet are the museum's treasures and well worth careful viewing. In addition, the Chinese intangible cultural heritage on display at the Chengdu Museum—such as shadow puppetry, puppet shows, Sichuan opera, Sichuan cuisine, and teahouse culture—is truly stunning, allowing you to experience up close the charm of Chengdu's splendid history and culture and its unique folk customs. Afterward, you will visit Kuanzhai Alley, hailed as one of the "Ten Most Beautiful Streets in Sichuan." This is the only remaining ancient street from the Qing Dynasty in Chengdu, preserving the authentic old Chengdu style and a great place to experience the city's laid-back, slow-paced life. Strolling leisurely through it, you can admire the exquisite ancient architecture, taste authentic old Chengdu foods (dan dan noodles, spicy rabbit head, chuan chuan, etc.), and take great travel photos. Next, continue to People's Park, hailed as one of the "Most Beautiful Parks in Chengdu," to experience Chengdu's relaxed culture up close and the slow-paced life of the locals. Here you can sit in a century-old teahouse, order a cup of fragrant gaiwan tea, and chat leisurely with a few friends on bamboo chairs. You can also try the intangible cultural heritage ear cleaning (at your own expense) and enjoy the tingling "little comfort" that shoots straight to your head, or watch the locals' exciting mahjong games and visit the famous matchmaking corner. If you are lucky, you may even encounter locals square dancing, practicing tai chi, or playing traditional Chinese instruments.

This morning, you will take a high-speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing, a journey of about 1-2 hours. Upon arrival, meet your guide and begin today's Chongqing tour. First stop, head to [Liziba Station] to witness the world-famous "monorail through a building" spectacle. This is China's first rail transit station co-built and coexisting with a commercial and residential building, located on Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2. We will stop at a dedicated viewing area and take you to watch the stunning "monorail through a building" scene immersively. Remember to capture this futuristic image with your phone or camera. Next, head to [Kuixing Tower], one of Chongqing's "8D magical" landmark buildings. It looks like an ordinary city square, but when you stand at the edge and look down, you will find a 22-story drop beneath your feet, as if suspended in midair, which is truly breathtaking. This architectural wonder is also a great place to experience Chongqing's three-dimensional character. Afterwards, head to [Liberation Monument] for a visit. This 27.5-meter-high stone monument is Chongqing's spiritual landmark, bearing witness to the city's resilience and unyielding spirit during World War II. Inside the base of the monument, a piece of the city's memory from that era is still preserved. Here, why not take a commemorative photo saying "Hello, Chongqing" and leave your first impression of the mountain city. At dinner time, enjoy an authentic Chongqing hot pot together. As one of the birthplaces of hot pot, the spicy flavors here are the most authentic. Sit around the pot, dip a piece of tripe, take a sip of an iced drink, and amid the rising steam, feel the true everyday warmth of Chongqing people's lives. Afterwards, head to [Hongya Cave] by the Jialing River. This is one of Chongqing's most iconic cultural tourism landmarks, famous for its traditional Bayu stilted building complex, dazzling night light show, and 8D mountain city wonders. You can stroll and explore, and easily take "floating architecture" 8D magical photos. Especially when night falls and the brilliant lights come on, you can check in at the real-life "Spirited Away" scene. To capture the most beautiful night view, you do not necessarily have to go onto the bridge - you can walk under the Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge, or stand in front of the Jiangbeizui Grand Theatre on the opposite bank, and both offer a view of this fantastical night scene. After the tour ends, you will return to your hotel in downtown Chongqing to rest.

This morning, you will drive to the [Wulong Karst Tourism Area], about a 2.5-hour journey. This is a UNESCO World Heritage natural site, home to the world-famous Three Natural Bridges — Tianlong Bridge, Qinglong Bridge, and Heilong Bridge. These three giant natural limestone arch bridges span the gorge with tremendous momentum, and the site was also one of the filming locations for the movie *Transformers: Age of Extinction*. After arriving at the scenic area, first overlook the panoramic view of the gorge from the viewing platform at the entrance and feel the awe of looking down from above. Then take the sightseeing elevator directly down to the bottom of the valley to officially begin this "journey to the center of the earth." Along the hiking route, you will encounter these masterpieces of nature: Tianlong Bridge: The most majestic of the three bridges, with a towering arch like an open natural gate welcoming every visitor. Only when you stand beneath it and look up do you truly understand what "superb workmanship" means — it is truly breathtaking. Tianfu Official Post: An ancient Tang Dynasty-style post station hidden deep in the valley, with gray tiles and walls full of antique charm. The crew of *Transformers 4* filmed here back then, and today it stands quietly, becoming one of the most story-rich corners in the frame. Qinglong Bridge: Locals like to call it "Guandao Bridge" because the shape of the arch closely resembles an upside-down Green Dragon Crescent Blade. The bridge body and the surrounding green cliffs and forests form a picture together — every casual shot turns out beautifully. Heilong Bridge: The most secluded of the three bridges, with a deep and dark arch; walking inside, you can hear the murmuring of water. Fine springs often cascade down the cave walls like mist and silk, bringing waves of cool, moist air that make you slow your steps involuntarily. Travel Tips Footwear: The scenic area has many steps and uneven surfaces, so be sure to wear comfortable, non-slip sports shoes or hiking shoes. Hydration/Energy: It is recommended to carry a small amount of drinking water and light snacks so you can replenish your energy in time along the way. Photography: The gorge is spacious, and a wide-angle lens best captures its grandeur; when near waterfalls, be careful to protect your equipment from water. Clothing: The temperature inside the gorge is relatively low and the humidity is high, so it is recommended to wear layered clothing that is easy to put on and take off, and bring a lightweight raincoat during the rainy season.

This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, our driver will take you to Chaotianmen Dock to board the Yangtze River cruise. After completing the boarding procedures, you are free to explore the charming riverside scenery at your leisure. Today's Yangtze River cruise journey officially begins at 21:00 in the evening. Warm tip: From March to September in summer, if the water level is too high or too low, there may be a situation where you are transferred by bus from Chongqing to Fengdu to board the ship, about a 2.5-hour drive, with a relatively high frequency especially in March–April and July–August. Our travel consultant will closely monitor the water level and notify you of the relevant transportation arrangements in advance.

Today, the cruise will sail peacefully along the Yangtze River. After waking up in the morning, you can first head to the restaurant to enjoy a buffet breakfast. Afterward, you can admire the charming river views along the Yangtze, or choose to enjoy the cruise's rich entertainment facilities and activities. Next, you will follow your guide ashore to visit the Fengdu Ghost City. [Fengdu Ghost City], also known as "Youdu," is famous for its many buildings and sculptures depicting the Chinese underworld, such as the Hengha Shrine, the Hall of the Son of Heaven, the Bridge of Helplessness, the Road to the Yellow Springs, the Home-Viewing Terrace, and the Hall of the Medicine King. It is renowned at home and abroad for its mysterious ghost culture. You can follow your guide's commentary to learn many legends about ghosts and gods of the Chinese underworld or traditional Chinese myths. If you are interested, you can also visit the Shibao Tower at your own expense. [Shibao Tower] is the tallest and most multi-storied surviving folk chuandou-style wooden structure in China, known as one of the "Eight Wonders of the World." Climbing the 12-story redwood pagoda offers a panoramic view of the Yangtze River. Warm reminder: The above itinerary is for reference only. The attractions visited may vary depending on the cruise company. We will choose the most suitable cruise for you based on your preferences.

Today you will continue your cruise through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, following the guide's explanations to learn about the scenery and legends of the Three Gorges. First, you will sail through Qutang Gorge, which combines majesty, wonder, danger, and steepness, and check in at Kuimen, the backdrop pattern on the 10-yuan RMB note and known as the gate of Chinese landscape. [Qutang Gorge] is the shortest, narrowest, and most perilous section of the Three Gorges, with a total length of 8 kilometers. The cliffs on both banks are like knife-cut and axe-hewn; the mountains are high and the gorge is narrow, and when you look up at the blue sky, the clouds and sky form a single line. The water in the gorge is deep and the current swift, and at the narrowest point the river surface is less than fifty meters wide, with turbulent waves that are breathtaking. Afterward, pass through Wu Gorge, famous for its deep seclusion and beauty. [Wu Gorge] has green mountains without end on both banks, with peaks like screens. As the ship moves through the gorge, sometimes a great mountain looms ahead and the rocks seem to block the way; then suddenly the peaks turn and the path opens, the clouds part, and another world appears, like a winding gallery full of poetic charm. Finally, pass through Xiling Gorge. [Xiling Gorge] is the longer gorge among the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. Inside the gorge, the scenery is bright and beautiful and majestically spectacular; the peaks on both banks rise high, standing like walls flanking the river, with steep ridges and cliffs stretching across the sky, jagged rocks, hanging waterfalls like white silk, and ancient vines and trees that blot out the sky and sun. In the afternoon, follow the guide ashore to visit Shennü Stream. [Shennü Stream], also known as "Beauty Stream," is 15 kilometers long. Inside the stream, the mountains are high and the valleys deep, the scenery is gorgeous, and the stream water is deep and dark green, like an ink-wash painting. You will transfer to a local sightseeing boat and go downstream along the stream to closely admire the beautiful scenery of its peaks and gorges and the mysterious hanging coffins on the cliffs. If you are interested, you can also join the local Tujia song and dance performance, which is very lively and joyful. Afterward, return to the cruise ship, attend the captain's dinner in the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner together, and stay overnight on the cruise. Warm reminder: The above itinerary is for reference only, and the attractions visited may vary depending on different cruise companies. We will choose the most suitable cruise for you according to your preferences.

After breakfast, you will check out, disembark at Maoping Port, and visit the world's largest water conservancy project—the Three Gorges Dam. The Three Gorges Dam is 2,309 meters long, with the entire line poured to a designed elevation of 185 meters and a maximum impoundment level of 175 meters, making it the world's largest concrete gravity dam. Optional experience: You may choose to ride the world's largest ship lift—the Three Gorges Ship Lift. It is like a giant "water elevator" for the Three Gorges Dam, allowing you to rise and descend smoothly with the ship and feel the awe-inspiring scale of this magnificent project up close from the water. After visiting the Three Gorges Dam, you will take a tour bus arranged by the cruise company at around 12:30–13:30 to the Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. In the afternoon, we will take you to the train station to board a high-speed train to Shanghai. Upon arriving in Shanghai, our driver will greet you at the train station exit and take you to your hotel in downtown Shanghai to check in. Warm tips Check-out and luggage: Please check out at the cruise front desk and store your luggage there. The cruise company will transfer your luggage to the Three Gorges Tourist Center for your convenience. Three Gorges Dam only: After the visit, you will arrive in Yichang by tour bus at about 12:30. Choosing the ship lift experience: After it ends, you will arrive in Yichang at about 13:30. (PS: The operation of the ship lift is affected by weather, water levels, maintenance, and other factors. If it is temporarily suspended, the guide will inform you in advance and coordinate arrangements.)

After breakfast, you will go to the Lujiazui business district in Pudong, Shanghai, to visit the tallest building in Shanghai and even China - 【Shanghai Tower】. Here, you will take the world's fastest sightseeing elevator (73.8 km/h) directly to the "Top of Shanghai Observatory" on the 118th floor, 546 meters above the ground, and enjoy a magnificent 360° panoramic view of Shanghai's skyline and the city, overlooking the famous buildings around. Then, go to visit 【Shanghai Museum】to admire various exquisite precious cultural relics and gain an in-depth understanding of China's long and profound history and culture. Shanghai Museum has many cultural relics on display, and especially worth seeing are its famous treasures: • Da Ke Ding: This bronze vessel from about 3,000 years ago has a majestic and solemn appearance and is an outstanding representative of China's Western Zhou bronze culture. • Shang Yang Fang Sheng: As a relic of Shang Yang's reforms, it is not only a physical standard of weights and measures in the Qin Dynasty, but also carries the ultimate code of the rise of Great Qin's economy. • Zi Zhong Jiang Pan: This bronze water basin vessel from the Spring and Autumn period is carved with more than 30 lifelike aquatic animals. When clear water flows into the basin, these animals all rotate 360°, full of fun, and it also showcases the superb craftsmanship of the ancients. Next, go to 【Yu Garden】, known as the "Crown of Famous Gardens in the Southeast," and enjoy the scenery of China's classical Jiangnan gardens. Yu Garden was first built in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1559 AD), more than 460 years ago. It was originally a private garden built by Pan Yunduan, the Ming Dynasty provincial administration commissioner of Sichuan, for his father to spend his later years in comfort. Strolling along Yu Garden's winding paths, you can admire China's ingenious garden layout, exquisite classical architecture, and superb brick carvings, stone carvings, clay sculptures, and wood carvings. Yuyuan Bazaar near Yu Garden is a very lively district where you can taste the most authentic Shanghai food or browse various traditional Chinese handicraft shops. Afterwards, you can walk along 【Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street】, known as "China's No. 1 Commercial Street," to the Bund, about 2 kilometers in total. Along the way, you can appreciate Shanghai's architectural style from the 1930s and 1940s and browse various century-old brand stores. 【The Bund】is located on the west bank of the Huangpu River and is one of Shanghai's iconic attractions, known as the "Exhibition of Ten Thousand Nationalities' Architecture." It brings together 52 exotic buildings of different styles, such as the Shanghai Club, Peace Hotel, HSBC Building, and others. Stepping into it feels like entering the golden age of the former Wall Street of the East. Standing by the river, you can also look into the distance at landmark buildings such as Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center. Tips 1. Yu Garden and Shanghai Museum are closed on Mondays. If your itinerary falls on a Monday, your itinerary will be adjusted to visit the Shanghai Museum East and the City God Temple. 2. During peak season, tickets to Shanghai Museum may be difficult to buy. If this happens, you will be taken to visit the Shanghai Museum East.

After breakfast, this wonderful 15-day China land-and-water group tour comes to an end. You can spend some time exploring Shanghai freely until the scheduled pickup time. Our driver will escort you to the airport or railway station for your next destination. If you would like to continue exploring other destinations in Asia after the trip ends, we can also plan a follow-up itinerary for you. Just tell us your ideas, and we will help extend your journey to make your trip more flexible and enjoyable.