12 Days Beijing Xian Chengdu Guilin Shanghai Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

   Hello, guys! Welcome to Beijing for this carefully designed 12-day tour in China! Upon arrival, your private driver will pick you up at the exit of the Arrival Hall and escort you to the hotel in downtown area. After check-in, have the rest of the day at your leisure to explore the capital city.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing City Tour
   Explore the Historical Landmarks of Beijing

   Your first day in Beijing begins after breakfast. The tour guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the center of Beijing to visit the Tiananmen Square. The square covers an area of 440,000 square meters and can accommodate one million people at the same time. You will be guided to see the National Flag Pole, the Monument to the People's Heroes, Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall and the Zhengyangmen Gate from north to south.

   Continue walking a short distance to the Forbidden City. Aka the "Palace Museum", it used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) and is the essence of ancient Chinese palace architecture. Learn some basic facts from your well-informed tour guide, such as when it was built, why it was built, and how many rooms it has.

   

   In the afternoon, you will hop into a rickshaw to traditional hutong (narrow alley). Here, your guide provides you an insight into the daily life of old Beijingers. If you are interested, we can arrange you a visit to a local family in Siheyuan (optional).

   In the evening, you can go to the Red Theater for a Chinese Kung Fu show. It features rich tradition of Chinese Kung Fu. (at additional cost)

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

3. Day 3: Great Wall Adventure Tour
   Enjoy a Great Wall Hike and Admire the Olympic Sites from Outside

   The highlight of today's Beijing trip is the Mutianyu Great Wall. From your hotel, the car ride takes 1.5 to 2 hours, during which, your guide will tell you the facts about the construction of the Great Wall. Mutianyu Great Wall has dense enemy buildings and high vegetation coverage, which is not found in other sections of the Great Wall.

   You will hike up to the Great Wall or you can choose to go up in a more relaxing way - cable car to the Great Wall. Learn about its history and importance over the centuries while exploring the wall. Your tour guide will point out some of the best locations for you to take unforgettable photos.

   

   After the Great Wall hike tour, we return to the hotel for good rest. On the way back to the downtown center, we will admire the Bird's Nest and Water Cube which were built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Walk around the outside of the building to appreciate the unique design and take some pictures.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

4. Day 4: Beijing to Xian Tour by Flight
   Spend a Leisure Time in the Summer Palace of the Qing Emperors

   Today is your last day of Beijing tour. After breakfast, you will be escorted to visit the 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... In addition, you can take a boat ride to enjoy the Kunming Lake (optional, if the weather permits).

   

   After lunch, your driver will escort you to the airport for a flight to Xi'an.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xi'an

5. Day 5: Xian Highlights Tour
   Marvel at the Ancient Wonders in Xian

   Meet your Xian tour guide and begin the China tour in Xian with a visit to the Ancient City Wall. You will be introduced to the most complete and oldest city defenses with ancient walls, ramparts, gates, watchtowers, and horse passages. Walk on the massive wall (tall, long, and thick), or rent a bike (optional, at your own expense) to get some good views of the city and the surrounding moat.

   After lunch, we head to the world-famous Terracotta Army (an hour's drive from city center). Aka Terracotta Warriors and Horses, this is an archeological miracle featuring thousands of life-size clay soldiers, horses and chariots. Over 2,000 years ago, the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, built this world heritage site. You will spend 2-2.5 hours here and be surprised that each soldier displays a unique expression.

   

   In the evening, your guide will lead you to enjoy the Tang Dynasty Show. It is a cultural spectacle that transports audiences back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) through traditional music, dance, and costumes.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xi'an

6. Day 6: Xian to Chengdu Tour
   Have a Deep Exploration of Xian Culture

   Start your today's Xian tour by exploring through the bustling Muslim Quarter. Also called Muslim Street, this is a famous Muslim community with a population of about 300 thousand Muslims. Since the end of the 1990s, some Muslims began to sell food there, and later the place has been full of restaurants gradually. You could taste snacks from all over Shaanxi and famous local cuisine in Xi'an.

   Next, you'll be transferred to see the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a landmark of Xian. Situated in Da Ci'en Temple, it is the oldest and largest square brick tower in the Tang Dynasty. Xuanzang, an eminent monk of the Tang Dynasty, once translated the Buddhist scriptures that he brought back to China from India here. The pagoda has a history of more than 1350 years. Your guide will tell you more about this World Heritage Site.

   

   After the tour, you will a flight to Chengdu, the hometown of giant panda. Upon arrival, a local driver will escort you to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

7. Day 7: Chengdu to Dujiangyan for Panda Volunteer Tour
   Volunteer at Dujiangyan Panda Base, Cleaning, and Cooking for Pandas

   After breakfast at 7:30 am, leave the hotel for Dujiangyan. In about an hour, you will arrive at Dujiangyan Panda Base, the only scientific research institution in China.

   Here you will see the fluffy black and white giant pandas sleeping, chewing bamboo, climbing trees, and wrestling with each other. You will be greeted by a professional panda keeper who will give you a brief introduction about pandas, and then your volunteering day begins!

   The main volunteering activities include:

   • After changing into work clothes, clean the pandas' rooms and activity sites and carry fresh bamboo under the guidance of the panda nursing staff.
   • Visit the panda villa to learn about the habits of giant pandas.
   • Have lunch at the panda base to enjoy the authentic local dishes.
   • Watch a documentary to get further insight into pandas' origin and tempers.
   • Witness how the keepers take care of the pandas on a daily basis on the spot.
   • Make steamed bread of corn for pandas.
   • Get your Panda Volunteer Certificate.

   

   After the whole day of panda volunteering, your tour guide will escort you back to your hotel in Chengdu. Have a good rest.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

8. Day 8: Chengdu City Tour
   A Day with Pandas and Relaxing Tea Time

   Today is a highlight of Chengdu panda tour! After breakfast, go to visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. It is the cradle of giant pandas, where you can observe pandas of different ages eating, playing, and resting

   

   After lunch, spend a relaxing tea time in Renmin Park. You can enjoy a cup of tea in a nice tea house and watch local people playing cards, playing mahjong, or napping. Following that, take a stroll along Wide and Narrow Alley, one of the top places to visit during Chengdu travel. Admire Qing Dynasty style buildings, enjoy shopping and taste some yummy food that you never saw before.

   After the China tour in Chengdu, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Guilin.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Guilin

9. Day 9: Guilin to Yangshuo Tour
   Hop on a Li River Cruise and Enjoy a Countryside Cycling

   After breakfast, your China tour in Guilin begins with a Li River cruise. Li River is the world's largest and most scenic karst landscape excursion area. Along the way you will see clear mountains, beautiful water, strange caves, deep pools and flying waterfalls. In about 4 hours, you will arrive at Yangshuo. Check in at your local hotel.

   

   Later, embark on a countryside cycling, passing through lush fields and quaint villages. You can stop at any time along the way to capture the charming rural scenery of China. Perhaps you can also happen to see local farmers farming. In the late afternoon, go to visit the West Street, 517 meters long, famous for its rich exotic atmosphere. The street is lined with ancient houses and buildings. The small stores on both sides of the street offer a variety of tourist souvenirs and snacks and are well worth a visit.

   In the evening, you can enjoy the performance of Impression Liu Sanjie, a grand open-air show featuring local folk songs and stunning visual effects (optional).

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Yangshuo

10. Day 10: Yangshuo Tour to Guilin, To Shanghai
    Take a Cooking Class after Visiting a Local Farm Product Market

    Today, you will join an interesing cooking class. After breakfast, your guide will take you to browse a local farm product market, to purchase some fresh ingredients that we need for our dishes. Be ready to cook traditional Chinese dishes under the guidance of an expert chef. You will enjoy your 'achievements' as lunch.

    After that, you'll catch a flight to Shanghai, the most prosperous city in China.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

11. Day 11: Shanghai Exploration Tour
    Embark on a Journey of Shanghai's Past and Present

    The first stop on your Shanghai tour is the Shanghai World Financial Center. The building looks like a bottle opener from outside. You will have a chance to go up to the 100th floor to have a marvelous panoramic view of the Huangpu River. Walking on the 55-meter-long transparent sightseeing corridor will be an exciting experience.

    

    Next, head to Yuyuan Garden, a well-known classical garden in Jiangnan (the south of the Yangtze River). Covering an area of 2 hectares, Yuyuan Garden has been in existence for more than 450 years. It was originally built by the owner as a place for his parents to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. You will enjoy a delectable Cantonese meal for lunch.

    In the afternoon, you can enjoy a half day customized experience. Your travel consultant will tailor a Shanghai half day trip based on your interests, such as visiting art galleries or exploring museums. Some recommended attractions: The Bund, Nanjing Road, Jade Buddha Temple.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: in Shanghai

12. Day 12: Departure from Shanghai

    Today is your final day of this 12-day China tour from Beijing. You have the morning free to relax at your own pace.

    Your driver will then escort you to the airport for your onward journey to your next destination. Thank you for choosing China Xian Tour. We are always here serving you and hope to see you again!

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A