15-Day Classic Panoramic China Tour: Beijing + Xi'an + Chengdu + Chongqing + Zhangjiajie + 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-famous Tian'anmen Square. 【Tian'anmen 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 see the majestic and solemn Tian'anmen Gate Tower and learn about China's long-standing culture. Afterwards, cross the square to visit the Beijing Palace Museum. 【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 wooden palace complex of the Forbidden City. Here you can visit the important palaces along the central axis in sequence, admiring the splendid and exquisite ancient palace architecture while following the guide's explanations to further understand the historical stories of the Forbidden City. After that, 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 drive to visit the famous royal garden, the Summer Palace. 【The Summer Palace】 is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China, one of the Four Great Gardens of China, and is known as the Royal Garden Museum. The garden has beautiful scenery, with pavilions, towers, lakes, bridges, and other views too numerous to take in. Warm Tips 1. Visiting Jingshan Park is mainly on foot. Comfortable, non-slip shoes are recommended. Whether to climb to the top viewing platform 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, 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 catch a high-speed train to Xi'an. The journey takes about 4.5 to 5.5 hours, and along the way you can take in panoramic views of Chinese towns and mountain scenery. Upon arrival at Xi'an Railway Station, our driver will greet you at the station 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 brought back from India by Master Xuanzang that are housed in the pagoda, and climb this thousand-year-old pagoda to look out over the city of Xi'an. Afterwards, you will head to Xi'an's famous food and culture street - Muslim Quarter, where you can 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 Wonder of the World." The [Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses] is a site museum built on the original location of the terracotta pits and is also China's largest ancient military museum. With your professional guide's vivid commentary, you will visit Pits No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 in sequence, learning about the historical background of the Terracotta Army, its craftsmanship, 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 ancient [Xi'an City Wall]. The Xi'an 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 existing in China. You can climb onto 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 it and enjoy the superb scenery formed by the ancient city wall and modern city views together. In addition, near the Xi'an 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 and are magnificent. When night falls, the lights of the Bell Tower and Drum Tower come on together, creating a spectacular scene.

This morning, after enjoying breakfast at the hotel, our driver will take you to the railway station in advance according to your ticket time, to board the high-speed train to Chengdu (journey time approximately 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 are free to arrange the rest of the time as you wish. If you are tired, you can rest at the hotel to recharge; if it is still early, you can also take a stroll around the neighborhood.

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 base with the largest captive giant panda population in the world. Here you can watch giant pandas of different ages playing, eating, climbing hills and trees, and sleeping in the park, 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 giant panda cubs at the Moon Nursery and Sun Nursery. Warm tip: Giant pandas prefer cool 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, known 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 so far in southwestern China. Here you will see the majestic bronze standing figure, the exquisitely crafted bronze sacred tree, the gossamer-thin gold mask, the intricately decorated gold scepter... and follow your guide's footsteps 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 street, with a history dating back to the Qin and Han dynasties. Here you can explore and taste traditional Chengdu snacks, watch interesting folk performances, and admire the beauty of traditional Chinese 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 get. 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 and a great 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 period to the Republic of China era, 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 rapping pottery figurine, the mysterious Sanxingdui bronze human-face mask, the exquisite lacquered figure marked with acupuncture points, and the finely crafted openwork gilded sachet are the museum's treasures and well worth careful viewing. In addition, the 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 and lets you experience the brilliance of Chengdu's history and culture and the charm of its unique folk customs up close. Afterwards, 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 leisurely, slow pace of local Chengdu life. Strolling at ease, you can admire the exquisite ancient architecture, taste authentic old Chengdu food (dandan noodles, spicy rabbit head, skewers, and more), 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 leisurely culture up close and the slow rhythm of local life. Here, you can order a fragrant cup of gaiwan tea in a century-old teahouse, sit on a bamboo chair chatting leisurely with friends, try the intangible cultural heritage ear cleaning (at your own expense) for a tingling "little comfort" that shoots straight to your head, or watch the exciting local mahjong games and browse 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, about 1-2 hours. Upon arrival, meet your guide, who will take you to begin today's Chongqing tour. First stop, head to 【Liziba Station】 to witness with your own eyes the world-famous "light rail passing 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 scene of the "light rail passing through a building" immersively. Remember to record this futuristic scene with your phone or camera. Next, head to visit 【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 the air, which is very breathtaking. This architectural wonder is also an excellent place to experience Chongqing's three-dimensional feel. After that, head to visit 【Liberation Monument】. This 27.5-meter-high stone monument is Chongqing's spiritual landmark, witnessing the city's resilience and unyielding spirit during World War II. A piece of the city's memory from that era is still preserved inside the base of the monument. 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 flavor here is the most authentic. Sit around the pot, dip a piece of tripe, take a sip of an iced drink, and feel the most genuine everyday life of Chongqing people amid the rising steam. Afterward, head to 【Hongya Cave】 by the Jialing River. This is one of Chongqing's most iconic cultural and 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 dazzling 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, 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 Site, home to the world-famous Three Natural Bridges — Tianlong Bridge, Qinglong Bridge, and Heilong Bridge. These three massive natural limestone arch bridges span the gorge with magnificent 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 take in the panoramic view of the gorge from the observation deck 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 trail, 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. Standing beneath it and looking up, you truly understand what "superb workmanship" means — it is deeply awe-inspiring. Tianfu Official Post: An ancient Tang-dynasty-style post station hidden deep in the valley, with gray-tiled roofs and gray walls, full of antique charm. The crew of Transformers 4 once filmed here, and today it stands quietly, becoming the most story-rich corner in the frame. Qinglong Bridge: Locals like to call it "Guandao Bridge," because the shape of the arch closely resembles an inverted Qinglong Yanyue Blade. The bridge body and the surrounding green cliffs and forests form a picture — every casual shot looks great. 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. Travel Tips Footwear: The scenic area has many steps and uneven paths, 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 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 the railway station in advance according to your ticket time to catch a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie (about 2-3 hours). Welcome to Zhangjiajie! Our driver will greet you at the railway station exit and take you to the hotel to check in. For the rest of the time, you are free to arrange your own activities.

Today you will have a full day to tour Wulingyuan Scenic Area. First, you will head to visit China's first national forest park - 【Zhangjiajie National Forest Park】. Take the scenic area shuttle bus to the Bailong Elevator, known as the "World's No. 1 Elevator." This elevator once broke the Guinness World Record for the tallest outdoor elevator, and is also the fastest and heaviest outdoor sightseeing elevator. It takes only 66 seconds to deliver you smoothly from the foot of the mountain to the top, letting you experience the thrill and excitement of rising from a deep valley straight to the clouds in an instant. After reaching the mountaintop platform, you can take in the magnificent surrounding mountain scenery. Then hike into the real-life Pandora world - Yuanjiajie. This is the filming location of the movie "Avatar" and the site of the real-life Hallelujah Mountain (originally named South Heaven Pillar). Here, you can walk along the trails and visit major attractions in sequence, including the Back Garden, Mihun Terrace, and No. 1 Bridge under Heaven. You can also immersively admire Zhangjiajie's fantastical peaks as you walk, and gain a deeper understanding of Zhangjiajie's geological and landform features during the tour. Afterward, take the shuttle bus to visit 【Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve】, known as the "King of Peak Forests." Here you will first go to Dianjiang Terrace to overlook the spectacular scenery of the West Sea peak forest, and then head to the representative of the king of peak forests - Yubi Peak, to admire rows of upright peaks arranged like writing brushes. Finally, hike to Helong Park to visit the bronze statues of Marshal Helong and his warhorse, and on the way visit the nearby Tianzi Pavilion, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire national forest park. Warm reminder: To avoid the crowds during peak tourist season, your guide may flexibly adjust the order of attractions visited that day, avoiding peak crowd times and ensuring you can enter the scenic area before large tour groups, so you can enjoy a more comfortable touring experience.

After breakfast, you will drive about 56 kilometers, roughly 1.5 hours, to visit [Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon], praised as "one of the most beautiful canyons in the world," and experience the world's longest and highest fully transparent glass bridge — the Yuntiandu Glass Bridge. This is the world's first cable-stayed, large-variable spatial cable glass suspension bridge, with a total length of about 375 meters, paved with 99 panels of fully transparent glass. From a distance, the glass bridge is as thin as a cicada's wing, "invisible" amid the mountains and sky. The bridge deck is about 300 meters above the valley floor. Walking on the bridge, you can take in the magnificent scenery of the entire grand canyon and look down into the deep gorge below — very thrilling and exciting. In addition, in the middle of the bridge there is the world's highest bungee jumping platform. If you are brave enough, you can give it a try — very thrilling and unforgettable (optional, bungee jumping fee at your own expense). Afterward, head to visit the mirror-like [Baofeng Lake]. Baofeng Lake sits surrounded by mountains, with clear emerald-green water reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and surrounding peaks, like an exquisite ink-wash painting. You can take an antique-style boat through the landscape, immersively enjoying the beauty of the surrounding lake and mountains and enjoying a leisurely, peaceful time. After the tour, return to the hotel to rest.

This morning, you will visit Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park. About 8 kilometers from downtown Zhangjiajie, Tianmen Mountain is the foremost sacred mountain of western Hunan and a mountain suitable for visitors of all ages. You will take a cable car directly to the summit (about 30 minutes), enjoying a panoramic view of the 99-bend winding mountain road and the magnificent surrounding scenery along the way. After reaching the summit, visit Tianmen Temple, one of only five Buddhist temples in the world preserving a Buddha relic, and enjoy the pleasant views of the layered green peaks around you. Afterwards, you can set off on two exciting cliff walkway hikes. First, walk the fully transparent glass skywalk, 1.6 meters wide and 60 meters long. Walking on it feels like strolling above the clouds, with majestic mountain scenery beside you and a bottomless valley below, making it very thrilling. Then walk the 1,600-meter-long Ghost Valley Plank Road, which clings to the cliff face like a giant dragon, offering sweeping views of the mountains along the way in a journey that is both thrilling and spectacular. Next, take the escalator to Tianmen Cave, the most unmissable attraction in Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area and the world's highest natural karst cave through a mountain. After enjoying the view, take the elevator to the cable car station and then ride the cable car down the mountain. Finally, head to Zhangjiajie Airport to fly to Shanghai. After arriving in Shanghai, our driver will greet you at the airport exit and take you to a downtown Shanghai hotel to check in.

After breakfast, you will head 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 360° unobstructed view of Shanghai's magnificent skyline and panoramic city views, overlooking famous buildings around you. Next, head to 【Shanghai Museum】 to admire various exquisite precious cultural relics and gain a deeper 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: On this bronze water basin vessel from the Spring and Autumn period, more than 30 lifelike aquatic animals are carved. When clear water flows into the basin, these animals all rotate 360°, full of fun, and further demonstrate the superb craftsmanship of the ancients. Next, head to 【Yu Garden】, known as the "Crown of Famous Gardens in the Southeast," to enjoy the scenery of China's classical Jiangnan gardens. Yu Garden was first built in the 38th year of the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1559 AD), with a history of more than 460 years. 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 cuisine or browse various traditional Chinese handicraft shops. Afterward, you can walk along 【Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street】, known as "China's No. 1 Commercial Street," to the Bund, about 2 km in total. Along the way, you can appreciate Shanghai's architectural style from the 1930s and 1940s, and also 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 World Architecture." It gathers 52 exotic buildings of different styles, such as the Shanghai Club, Peace Hotel, and HSBC Building. Stepping into it feels like entering the golden age of the former Oriental Wall Street. Standing by the river, you can also look out 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 visit falls on a Monday, your itinerary will be adjusted to visit Shanghai Museum East and City God Temple. 2. During peak season, tickets to Shanghai Museum may be difficult to get. If this happens, you will be taken to visit Shanghai Museum East instead.

After breakfast, this wonderful 15-day China group tour comes to an end. You can spend some time exploring Shanghai freely until your 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 journey ends, we can also plan a follow-up itinerary for you. Just tell us your ideas, and we will help you extend the trip, making your journey more flexible and enjoyable.