11 Days Beijing – Zhangjiajie – Shanghai Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Welcome to our 11 days Beijing Zhangjiajie Shanghai tour! Upon arrival in Beijing, meet your driver who will hold a welcome sign with your name at the exit. Then transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be free for your own exploration.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing Exploration Tour
   Explore Royal Heritage and the Lives of Locals in Beijing

   Your China tour in Beijing takes you to visit Tian'anmen Square, the largest city square in the world. Then from the square, you will walk to visit the Forbidden City, which was the imperial palace of 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, it is now open to the public as the Palace Museum. The Forbidden City is very large, but our time is limited. Your guide will take you on a classic and time-saving tour route. Admire the magnificent palace architecture and appreciate some precious cultural relics.

   

   After lunch, enjoy some leisurely time in Summer Palace. With an area of 2.9 square kilometers, this palace was the best place where the emperors of the Qing Dynasty spent their summers. Here you will enjoy the amazing lake view, explore the exquisite long corridor, appreciate precious cultural relics, step on the elegant stone bridge, see high old trees, etc. You also can enjoy an optional boat ride on Kunming Lake.

   Afterward, go to explore the time-honored South Luogu Lane (also called Nanluoguxiang). It is the only traditional residential area in China that has completely preserved the checkerboard-style layout of hutongs exclusively to the Yuan Dynasty. Walk around the alleys with your tour guide to feel the hidden culture and check out the bars, souvenir stores, or cafes if you would like to. Houhai, known as Beijing’s Bar Street, is a large man-made lake that dates back to the Yuan Dynasty. In ancient times, the place was only for the royal family. Now there are many bars, restaurants, cafes, and shops along the lake.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Beijing

3. Day 3: Beijing Great Wall Hiking Tour
   Hike on the Most Beautiful Section of the Ancient Great Wall in China

   The first stop of today's Beijing tour is the Dingling Mausoleum, one of the 13 Ming Tombs in Beijing. After that, continue your trip to the highlight of your tour in China - the Mutianyu Great Wall. It is one of the best-preserved sections of China's Great Wall. Take a cable car up to the wall and enjoy a scenic ride. Spend time exploring the Mutianyu Great Wall at your own pace. You can hike along its ancient pathways, take pictures of beautiful views, and even climb up or down if you have the energy.

   On the way back to Beijing, stop to see the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube from the outside.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing to Zhangjiajie Tour by Flight

   Free and easy on your own in the morning. Take an afternoon flight to Zhangjiajie. Upon your arrival, the local driver will meet you at the airport by holding the name board. Then transfer to the hotel for check-in.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

5. Day 5: Zhangjiajie Natural Tour
   Witness the Real Hallelujah Mountain in the Movie Avatar

   Start your guided Zhangjiajie tour at Tianzi Mountain. There is a saying that you will not want to see any other mountains after visiting Tianzi Mountain. One of the spectacular sights is the sea of clouds after rain if you are lucky. You will witness rugged rocks and a forest of stone peaks which looks like a group of warriors listening to orders.

   

   After that, continue to explore the Yuanjiajie in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - the first national forest park in China. Yuanjiajie Scenic Area is the inspiration for Hallelujah Mountain in the super famous movie Avatar. You also can experience the Bailong Elevator, the highest and heaviest outdoor elevator in the world. You will be amazed by the speed of the elevator, only 66 seconds up to the top. When you step out of the elevator, a magical landscape painting will unfold in front of you. The massive quartz-sandstone pillars are just towering over you or next to you.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Area

   

6. Day 6: Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour
   Experience the Longest Cableway in the World for 28 Mins

   After breakfast, follow your guide to explore another highlight of Zhangjiajie - the Tianmen Mountain National Park. Firstly, drive to the cableway base for you to take the cable car up to the top. With a length of 7445 meters, the Tianmen Mountain cableway is regarded as the longest cableway in the world. The one-way cable car ride takes about 28 minutes. The half-hour ride is an excellent chance to see the picturesque scenery of the mountain

   Arriving at the mountain top, you will first visit Tianmen Temple. The temple was built in the Ming Dynasty and is the Buddhist activity center in the western Hunan Province.

   Next, take a walk on the vertiginous Sky Walk built with transparent glass. For some people, it is a test of courage! Then, move to the Tianmen Cave (Heaven's Door Cave). This natural stone archway is 131.5 meters high and 57 meters wide. It will take about half an hour to walk up the cave through the 999 steps.

   Last, take a shuttle bus down to the mountain foot by the 99-bend Road – the scenic round hill road. You'll be dropped off at Zhangjiajie Airport/train station for departure. Your 6-day Beijing Zhangjiajie tour comes to an end here.

   Note: In winter, Tianmen Cave and Sky Walk may be closed due to heavy snow or severely cold weather. Your private guide and travel consultant will adjust your itinerary accordingly.

   

   After lunch, transfer you to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Challenge yourself at the longest and highest Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in the world with a length of 430 meters. You can have a panoramic view of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon while walking on the transparent glass floor.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Zhangjiajie City Center

   

7. Day 7: Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang Ancient Town Tour by Car
   Enjoy a Leisurely Boat Cruise on the Tuojiang River

   In the morning, you will be driven for about 5 hours to Fenghuang Ancient Town. Have your lunch at a local restaurant in Fenghuang Ancient Town.

   Fenghuang Ancient Town was built in 1704 during the Kangxi Era of the Qing Dynasty. After 300 years, the town now is a famous national cultural and historical city and enjoys equal fame with Lijiang Ancient City in Yunnan and Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi. It was once praised by New Zealand writer Rewi Alley as the most beautiful town in China.

   In the late afternoon, take a boat ride on the Tuojiang River, the mother river of the ancient town. You can see the typical Diaojiao buildings on the bank, the traditional dwelling of minorities such as Miao, Zhuang, Buyi, Dong, Shui, and Tujia. The houses are hanging in the air and supported by wooden pillars. Then make a stop to admire Wanming Pagoda.

   

   Next, cruise down to Hongqiao Wind and Rain Bridge. The attics on the bridge were ruined in the Cultural Revolution and later restored according to the original design. It is over 600 years old now. Then we will visit Tuojiang Jumping Rock. This ancient bridge could be dated back to the Tang Dynasty. It is 100 meters long and there are 15 stone piers. We will walk on it and take beautiful pictures.

   After the tour in Fenghuang Ancient Town, check in at a local hotel. The town is very beautiful at night. You can stroll around the town when all the lights are on.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Fenghuang Ancient Town

8. Day 8: Fenghuang to Shanghai Tour by Flight

   Please enjoy your free time in the morning.

   After lunch on your own, your private driver will meet you in the hotel and transfer you to Zhangjiajie Airport for a flight to Shanghai. Meet your Shanghai driver and be transferred to the hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

9. Day 9: Shanghai City Tour
   Explore the Past and Modernization of Shanghai

   At around 08:30 in the morning, your English-speaking tour guide will pick you up and start your exploration in Shanghai with the famous Yuyuan Garden. This is a representative of classical Chinese gardens with elegant pavilions, old bridges, artistic rockeries, small ponds, etc. It was originally built by Pan Yunduan in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty for his parents to enjoy their old age in peace. Nearby is the lively Yuyuan Market, wonder around and you can get everything from traditional Chinese crafts like chopsticks, fans, and pottery to local delicacies such as steamed buns, crab shell cake, and pork chop with rice cakes. Don't forget to haggle for a better price.

   After that, move on to your visit to the Shanghai Museum (closed every Monday). The museum houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings, and calligraphy works. Then, stroll on People Square to have a glimpse of the daily life of the locals. The square now is most famous for its match-making corner where parents try to seek partners for their children.

   

   In the afternoon, be guided to visit the Former French Concession, the largest and most prosperous concession among all the four French concessions in old China. From 1849 to 1943, this area was ruled by France for almost a century. Here your tour guide will reveal a history of humiliation and you will see many old beautiful European-style buildings hidden in the shade of French parasol trees.

   Afterward, come to the earliest shopping street in Shanghai - Nanjing Road. Your private guide will point out the four time-honored department stores, Yong’an Company, Xianshi Company, Xinxin Company, and Daxin Company, from which you can get a bit history of this commercial street. If you want to try some delicious food, the street definitely will not disappoint you.

   

   Last, enjoy your sightseeing in one of the landmarks of Shanghai - the Bund. You may not know that the area used to be a desolate tidal flat, but turned into a British settlement and Shanghai's financial center in the late Qing Dynasty. It is the perfect place to take great photos of the amazing skyline. Make sure to bring your camera!

   Huangpu River Cruise would be a not-to-miss activity for travelers to Shanghai! The river separates Shanghai into two parts, Pudong and Puxi. Cruising on the river will give you an unparalleled view of the city’s skyline and an unforgettable traveling experience.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

   

10. Day 10: Shanghai Free Day

    Today, you can enjoy a customized experience. Your travel consultant will tailor a Shanghai day trip based on your interests, such as visiting art galleries, museums, or a Shanghai side trip to Hangzhou / Suzhou.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

    

11. Day 11: Shanghai Departure

    After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will meet you in the hotel 3-4 hours before the flight departs and transfer you to the airport. This 11-day China private tour ends here. Safe travels!

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A