11 Days Beijing Xian Zhangjiajie Shanghai Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Welcome to Beijing

   Welcome to our carefully designed China tour to Beijing, Xian, Zhangjiajie, and Shanghai for 11 days! Upon arrival, the local driver will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. After checking in, you can explore on your own.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing City Tour
   Glimpse the Royal History of the Qing Dynasty

   After breakfast, your guided Beijing tour starts at Tian'anmen Square, the biggest public square in the world. Tiananmen was the main gate of the Imperial Palace in the Ming and Qing dynasties, situated on Beijing's traditional central axis. Only the emperor could pass through it in the past.

   Heading north, you'll arrive at the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City. It covers about 720,000 square meters and has around 9,000 rooms, making it China's largest and best-preserved ancient palace complex. The museum holds many paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, gold and silver objects, and other art treasures. Here, you can see the original historical sites, learn about the imperial court's history, and enjoy various art collections.

   

   For lunch, we will arrange Peking Roast Duck for you at a local restaurant.

   In the afternoon, take a rickshaw tour through the Hutongs. Your guide will show you a local family and share with you real Siheyuan life. Then, you'll go to the Temple of Heaven, China's biggest ancient sacrificial building. It's where Ming and Qing emperors worshipped heaven and prayed for good crops and rain.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Great Wall Adventure
   Hike on the Most Beautiful Section of the Great Wall in China

   In the morning, we'll drive to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, 75km north of Beijing. It's 5,400 meters long, the longest section in China and one of Beijing's famous sixteen sights. Your tour guide will take you up by cable car, and you'll see amazing views of the wall and the landscape. Enjoy a nice walk along this ancient wonder.

   

   Next, we'll visit the Ming Tombs, where emperors were buried. Your guide will tell you about the Ming Dynasty and how these grand mausoleums were built. On the way back to Beijing, you'll see the Bird's Nest, the famous stadium from the 2008 Olympics.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

4. Day 4: Beijing to Xi'an Tour by High-Speed Train
   Enjoy Leisurely Time in a Qing Dynasty Garden

   After breakfast, you'll spend a relaxed morning at the Summer Palace, a famous Qing Dynasty garden and one of China's top four gardens. It has pavilions, temples, and peaceful lakes. For fun, you can optionally boat on Kunming Lake (at your own expense) and see how well the buildings and nature go together.

   

   At the end of your China tour in Beijing, your guide will transfer you to take a high-speed train to Xi'an (about 5.5 hours). When you arrive, a Xi'an local driver will meet you and take you to your hotel in the city center.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi'an

5. Day 5: Xi'an Historical Tour
   Explore Pits 1, 2 and 3 of the Terracotta Army and Museum Artifacts

   After breakfast, drive for around 1 hour to reach the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses in the Lintong District. You can see over 7000 life-size clay warriors, all of which were made during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), with different facial expressions. You will spend 2-2.5 hours exploring three pits.

   

   After lunch, drive back to Xi'an city center to continue your Xian trip - admiring the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. This Buddhist building from the Tang Dynasty is one of the symbols of ancient Xi'an. Then, visit the nearby Xian Museum, which displays gold and silver artifacts, pottery, bronze ware, calligraphy and painting, seals, porcelain, jade, Buddhist statues, and more.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi'an

6. Day 6: City Tour, Xian to Zhangjiajie Tour
   Ascend Ming Dynasty City Wall and Try Shaanxi Snacks

   Today, continue your guided Xian city tour in the City Wall Park, where you can watch locals do Tai Chi and play table tennis. If you want, you can join them. Then, your guide will lead you to walk up to the Ming Dynasty City Wall. Enjoy an optional bike ride (at your own expense) and see a city panorama.

   

   Next, head to the Great Mosque, a mix of Chinese and Islamic architecture and one of Xian's oldest. Then, explore the lively Muslim Quarter with its delicious smells and colorful market stalls. Your guide will take you through the small streets, showing you local foods and important places.

   Before leaving for the airport, visit the Han Yang Ling Museum. This historic site was built for Emperor Jingdi and the Empress Wang of the Han Dynasty. Unlike the more famous Terracotta Warriors, the Hanyang Mausoleum has a complex layout that includes the emperor's tomb and surrounding sacrificial pits. You'll get a closer look at the royal Han tombs as well as the carefully preserved ceramic figures, animals, and other artifacts. Then, fly to Zhangjiajie.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Zhangjiajie

   

7. Day 7: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour
   Explore the Famous Hallelujah Mountains

   Your China trip in Zhangjiajie starts at Tianzi Mountain. It has amazing rock peaks, thick forests, and clear streams. From the top, you can see the whole valley.

   Next, spend the rest of your day in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Visit Yuanjiajie, where the world's highest natural stone bridge and the Guinness World Record Bailong Elevator are. Ride the highest outdoor elevator and see the view of "Hallelujah Mountain" from Avatar.

   

   After that, walk along Golden Whip Stream. It's a clean stream with beautiful mountains and water. It's also a filming location for "Journey to the West."

   Finally, take a scenic train ride through the beautiful Ten-mile Gallery.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Zhangjiajie

   

8. Day 8: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tour
   Challenge Walking on the World's Highest and Longest Glass Bridge

   Your China tour in Zhangjiajie today leads you to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, a natural scenic spot with lush vegetation and cool, fresh air. Here you will challenge yourself to walk on the world's highest and longest glass bridge - Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge. The arch of the bridge is about 400 meters in relative height from the bottom of the valley, and the total length is about 536 meters. The bridge surface is all paved with transparent glass, and there is the world's highest bungee jump in the center of the bridge. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

   

   After that, go to visit the Baofeng Lake Scenic Area. This is a lake-type natural scenic area that combines natural landscape with humanities and folklore. A boat ride is the best way to visit this lake. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to the hotel for rest.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Zhangjiajie

9. Day 9: Zhangjiajie to Shanghai Tour
   Discover Breathtaking Natural Sights of Tianmen Mountain

   After breakfast, conclude your tour in Zhangjiajie at Tianmen Mountain, characterized by typical karst mountainous terrain. You will be arranged to take a cable way up the mountain. With a total length of 7,455 meters and a height difference of 1,279 meters, the ropeway is the longest alpine passenger ropeway in the world.

   Upon arrival at the mountain, some highlights await you, such as the Sky Walk on the cliff and the Tianmen Mountain Temple. After that, take the escalator through the mountain down to Tianmen Cave. With a height of 131.5 meters and a width of 57 meters, this cave is a rare high-altitude natural cave through the mountain in the world.

   

   After the adventure, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport for a flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, a local driver will take you to your hotel in the downtown area.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

10. Day 10: Shanghai Highlights Tour
    Enjoy a Historical and Modern Exploration of Shanghai

    After breakfast, your Shanghai tour guide will meet you and take you to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall to see Shanghai's urban planning and development. Learn about its history, planning, and future through exhibits, models, and multimedia.

    Next, explore the classic Yu Garden and Yu Bazaar. This Ming Dynasty garden has a 400-year history. Your guide will tell you about its importance.

    

    After that, relax on a Huangpu River cruise, with your guide narrating the history of Shanghai's iconic skyline. Explore the Bund, a symbol of Shanghai's historical and architectural evolution. In the late afternoon, stroll around Tianzifang, a vibrant area filled with art studios, boutiques, and cafes. You will learn about the district's transformation from your guide's wonderful explanation

    Then, relax on a Huangpu River night cruise and hear about Shanghai's skyline history. Visit the Bund, a symbol of Shanghai's evolution. In the late afternoon, walk around Tianzifang, a lively area with art studios, boutiques, and cafes. Your guide will explain its transformation.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

    

11. Day 11: Departure from Shanghai

    Your 11-day private China tour ends here. Enjoy your leisurely morning in Shanghai. Your driver will pick you up at the appointed time and escort you to the airport or train station.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A