Wonders & Panda of China (12 Days)

Destinations: Beijing – Xian – Chengdu – Guilin – Yangshuo  – Shanghai

Day 1: Beijing Arrival

On arrival at the airport in Beijing Capital, you will be met by our tour guide outside the baggage claim area. On the way to your hotel, your guide will point out the highlights and history of Beijing. Spend the rest of the day exploring this incredible city.

Day 2: Beijing (B, L)

After breakfast, you will explore Beijing with your guide who will collect you from the hotel. Visit the world’s largest city square, Tiananmen Square. Make your way across the road to the magnificent Forbidden City, a culturally historic landmark in China, which was the former residence of Chinese royalty for five centuries. After the Forbidden City tour, exploration continues with a visit to the Summer Palace. Appreciate the beautiful gardens and imagine the lifestyle of royalty  and courtiers who enjoyed this summer resort during imperial times. A stopover at Beijing’s stadium and pool – the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube – built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics – provides a modern contrast to China’s ancient history. Return to the hotel.

Day 3: Beijing (B, L)

Before heading to the Mutianyu Great Wall, sample the famous local food market Sanyuanli where you can stock up on fruit and snacks for today’s trip. Continue on and enjoy the drive to explore the Mutianyu Great Wall, a less frequented part of China’s 1,400-year-old iconic landmark, located approximately 70 kilometres from Beijing. Take a pleasant and comfortable round-trip cable car transfer over the picturesque scenery, then walk the wall to take in the Ming dynasty guard towers and sensational views. On return to the city in the afternoon, exploration continues with a visit to the Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum. Stroll through Wudaoying Hutong and experience local life as you wander through quaint shops, enjoy a coffee, and gain an insider’s view of a real Beijing community.

Day 4: Beijing – Xian (B)

Start today with a visit to the remarkable Temple of Heaven, where emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties performed ceremonies and rituals to pray for good harvests and blessings for the country. Transfer to the Beijing West railway station and be checked in by your guide to travel by high speed rail train to Xian. Approximately a five hour trip, travelling at 300 kilometres per hour, you can relax and absorb the diverse landscape along the way. On arrival at the Xian North Station, your local tour guide will meet and escort you to your hotel for check-in.

Day 5: Xian (B, L)

Today’s tour highlight is the world-renowned Terracotta Army. Recognized as the largest underground military base in the world, take in this extraordinary archeological discovery, which houses thousands of unique life-sized figures. Return to the city and explore Xian’s ancient City Wall, currently the largest and best-preserved wall of its type in China. Enclosing China’s former capital city and almost 14 kilometres long, enjoy your free time by exploring on foot or bicycle. For a change of pace, take in the quiet of Xian’s Great Mosque, located in the middle of the city’s old block. Built mid seventh century, the Great Mosque is the oldest and largest Islamic mosque in China. Mix with locals and find food of every flavor in Muslim Quarter, which is bustling with authentic eateries and travel souvenirs. Today’s final destination is Xian’s famous Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square. Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening or book a dinner, show, or both for an evening of entertainment.

Day 6: Xian – Chengdu (B)   

After breakfast, our tour guide will take you to the Shaanxi History Museum where you’ll discover over 370,000 relics of Chinese history. Take in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of two iconic Buddhist pagodas in Xian. You may have a chance to explore the top of the pagoda and look out over Xian’s 1,400 years of history, before enjoying a contemplative walk through the temple and gardens. Following on from the morning’s activities, you’ll be driven to the train station for your bullet train trip to Chengdu. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet and transfer you to the hotel, providing a brief introduction to China’s panda capital on the way.

Day 7: Chengdu (B)   

This morning, you’ll visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and experience China’s adorable pandas, ranging in age from babies to adults. Return to Chengdu’s city centre and wander down bustling Jinli Street. Lined with unique regional street food and artisans, you’ll find yourself up immersed in typical local culture and have the opportunity to sample traditional food snacks and meet local craftsmen. The final stop today allows you to enjoy leisure time in Wangjiang Pavilion Park where you can amble among the rare bamboo groves and drink fragrant teas.

Day 8: Chengdu – Guilin (B)   

After breakfast, you’ll be accompanied by your guide to Chengdu Airport for the flight to Guilin. On arrival in Guilin, you’ll be met by your local guide and start your tour at Elephant Trunk Hill, the most recognizable landmark in Guilin for its some resemblance to an elephant standing in the water. Move on to the beautifully eerie Reed Flute Cave, featuring a walk through unusual stalactite formations. Follow these local sights with a visit to Seven Star Park, after which you will be driven to your hotel and have free time to enjoy the rest of the day.

Day 9: Guilin – Yangshuo (B)   

Check out from your hotel and transfer with your guide to Mopanshan Pier for a memorable half day trip on the Li River as you cruise to Yangshuo. On arrival, appreciate the slower pace and country feel of this small rural town. Enjoy a free night and dine with the locals.

Day 10: Yangshuo – Guilin – Shanghai (B)   

After breakfast, drive back to the airport in Guilin to board your flight to Shanghai. On arrival, you will be picked up and escorted to the hotel by your local guide. The rest of the day is free for you to explore and relax.

Day 11: Shanghai (B, L)

Commence your tour of Shanghai with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, a massive museum housing over 140,000 artifacts, presenting the full history and culture of this cosmopolitan city. Enjoy a walk along the Bund, iconic and prestigious, one of the most well-preserved examples of old Shanghai glamour. Walk Nanjing Road, the busiest shopping precinct in China. Change tempo and visit Yuyuan Garden, where you can marvel at the artistically designed traditional Chinese gardens; then stroll around the nearby Chenghuangmiao bazaars and make a worthwhile detour and visit the Shikumen Museum in New Spot (XinTianDi) for a true taste of old world Shanghai. Make the most of your afternoon by wandering the quieter streets of Dongping Road or Sinan Road in the Former French Concession, where you will find the essence of classic Shanghai.

Day 12: Shanghai – Departure (B) 

Free at leisure for explore more the city until transfer to the airport for your own departure flight home.

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Inclusions: Hotel accommodation as mentioned; Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner; Domestic flights: Chengdu – Guilin – Shanghai; High-speed train Beijing –  Xian – Chengdu; Transport by private with AC; English speaking guide (Other languages on request); Boat trips; All entrance and sightseeing fees; Mineral water and wet towel; All taxes and service charges.

Exclusions: International flights to/from China; Visa fees; Early check-in & Late check-out at all hotels; Insurance; Personal expenses; Tipping/Gratuities; Other drinks; Surcharge on special days; Any other services not clearly mentioned above.