Overview
Designed for private travelers.
This 15-day/14-night tour traverses Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai by rail and flight, delivering immersive encounters with China’s imperial history, timeless folk culture and spectacular natural landscapes, alongside local gastronomy and seamless airport transfers.
Route
Interests
Highlights
One city, one scene; five regions' landscapes offer differentiated check-ins
It encompasses five distinctive features: the royal capital, the ancient capital of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the slow-living city of Tianfu, the world-class peak forest secret realm, and the international metropolis.
A concentrated and in-depth exploration of the treasures of cross-era civilizations
Take a one-time tour of world-class landmarks such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qinshihuang, and Wulingyuan. Explore Sanxingdui to unlock the mysterious ancient Shu civilization and gain a longitudinal understanding of the thousand-year development history of Chinese civilization.
Immersive and in-depth interactive experience of local folk customs
Unlock special activities such as handicrafts in old Beijing hutongs, Sichuan Opera face-changing, and DIY Terracotta Army clay figurines in Xi 'an, break away from conventional sightseeing, and experience the daily life of the local people firsthand.
Savor the flavors on your tongue and enjoy the exquisite delicacies from both the north and the south
Exclusive arrangements include Beijing-style roast duck, Tang Dynasty imperial banquet, authentic Sichuan cuisine, Xiangxi's characteristic three-pot dish, and rich Shanghai local cuisine, allowing you to deeply experience the dietary differences between the north and the south.
Comfortable transportation facilities, allowing for a relaxed tour without having to rush
Intercity travel adopts a combination of high-speed rail and flight services, with considerate pick-up and drop-off services at the airport throughout the journey.
Day-by-day outline
Day 1 | Arrival in Beijing
Route: Beijing Capital International Airport / Beijing Daxing International Airport → hotel
Welcome to China. Your private driver will meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. Settle in, rest after the journey and prepare for the days ahead.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Beijing
Day 2 | Imperial Gardens and Modern Beijing
Route: Summer Palace → Temple of Heaven → Sanlitun
Begin at the Summer Palace, where lakeside views, pavilions and the celebrated Long Corridor reveal the refined aesthetics of a Qing imperial garden. Continue to the Temple of Heaven, an architectural masterpiece once used by emperors to pray for good harvests. In the evening, discover Sanlitun, a lively district that reflects Beijing’s contemporary, international character.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Beijing
Day 3 | Mutianyu Great Wall and Olympic Icons
Route: Mutianyu Great Wall → Bird’s Nest & Water Cube
Travel to the beautifully preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Cable-car and slide options make access comfortable, while the watchtowers and mountain ridges offer magnificent panoramic views. Return to the city and stop at the Olympic Park to see the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, two landmarks of modern Chinese design.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Beijing
Day 4 | The Imperial Heart of Beijing
Route: Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City → historic hutong experience → Xi’an
Walk through Tiananmen Square before entering the Forbidden City, the vast palace complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Continue into Beijing’s historic lanes for a closer look at courtyard life and local traditions. After dinner, transfer for the onward high-speed rail journey to Xi’an.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and Peking duck dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Xi’an
Featured dining: Peking duck dinner.
Experience options: Dumpling making in a hutong; tea and incense culture; or a Beijing handicraft such as cloisonné or Lord Rabbit clay sculpture.
Transport note: The final train service and timing are subject to confirmation.
Day 5 | Xi’an City Heritage and Tang-Era Culture
Route: Xi’an City Wall → Bell Tower & Drum Tower → Muslim Quarter → Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Explore Xi’an’s remarkably preserved city wall and the historic Bell and Drum Towers. Walk through the Muslim Quarter, known for its energetic street life and local flavors, then visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, an enduring symbol of the city’s Buddhist and Silk Road heritage.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and Tang-inspired banquet dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Xi’an
Featured dining: Tang-inspired banquet experience.
Day 6 | Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace
Route: Terracotta Army → Huaqing Palace → clay-figure experience
Stand before the life-sized Terracotta Army, one of the world’s most extraordinary archaeological discoveries, and learn how this vast formation guarded China’s first emperor. Continue to Huaqing Palace, celebrated for its imperial hot springs and Tang-dynasty stories.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Xi’an
Featured experience: DIY Terracotta Warrior clay figure.
Optional evening: The Song of Everlasting Regret, a large-scale outdoor performance staged against Lishan Mountain. Subject to season, weather and ticket availability.
Day 7 | Chengdu’s Teahouse Rhythm and Sichuan Opera
Route: Xi’an → Chengdu → old teahouse → Sichuan Opera → Jinli Ancient Street
Travel by high-speed rail to Chengdu. Ease into the city’s famous slow pace over covered-bowl tea in a traditional teahouse, then enjoy the dramatic artistry of Sichuan Opera face-changing. In the evening, stroll through lantern-lit Jinli Ancient Street, where regional snacks and handicrafts evoke the culture of the Three Kingdoms.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and authentic Sichuan dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Chengdu
Featured dining: Authentic Sichuan cuisine.
Transport note: The final train service and timing are subject to confirmation.
Day 8 | Giant Pandas and Ancient Shu Civilization
Route: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding → Sanxingdui Museum → Yulin Road
Visit the panda base early, when the animals are generally most active, and observe giant pandas in bamboo-filled habitats. Continue to the Sanxingdui Museum to encounter bronze masks, sacred trees and other astonishing objects from the ancient Shu civilization. End the day with a relaxed walk along Yulin Road, loved for its neighborhood atmosphere and small local venues.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring Sichuan cuisine
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Chengdu
Day 9 | From Chengdu to Tujia Culture in Zhangjiajie
Route: Chengdu → Zhangjiajie → Zhangjiajie Museum → Baiyang Ancient Temple → Tujia Folk Custom Park → Nanmenkou
Take the high-speed train to Zhangjiajie and begin with an introduction to local history and ethnic culture. Visit the time-honored Baiyang Ancient Temple, then discover Tujia architecture, music, dance and handicrafts at the folk custom park. Finish among the lively food stalls of Nanmenkou.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring Zhangjiajie sanxia guo
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Zhangjiajie
Featured dining: Zhangjiajie sanxia guo, a hearty local specialty.
Transport note: The final train service and timing are subject to confirmation.
Day 10 | Avatar-Inspired Peaks of Wulingyuan
Route: Bailong Elevator → Yuanjiajie → Tianzi Mountain
Ride the Bailong Elevator to the mountaintop landscape of Yuanjiajie, famous for the towering sandstone pillars associated with the scenery of Avatar. Continue through the misty viewpoints of Tianzi Mountain for sweeping panoramas across the Wulingyuan peak forest.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Zhangjiajie
Day 11 | Tianmen Mountain and the Gateway to Heaven
Route: Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area → Yunmeng Summit → mountain escalator → Tianmen Cave → 999 Steps
Spend the day exploring Tianmen Mountain. Take in the high-altitude views from Yunmeng Summit, travel through the mountain by escalator and approach Tianmen Cave, the immense natural arch cut through the cliff. Weather and scenic-area operations may affect the exact route.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Zhangjiajie
Day 12 | Forest Valleys and Evening Flight to Shanghai
Route: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: South Gate → Huangshizhai → Golden Whip Stream → Shuirao Simen → airport
Return to the Wulingyuan landscape for a day among forested valleys and quartz-sandstone peaks. Enjoy the panoramic viewpoints of Huangshizhai, then walk beside the clear waters of Golden Whip Stream toward Shuirao Simen. After the visit, transfer to the airport for the flight to Shanghai.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Shanghai
Transport note: The final flight service and timing are subject to confirmation.
Day 13 | Shanghai: Skyline, Gardens and the Bund
Route: Lujiazui → North Bund → Yu Garden & City God Temple area → The Bund
Discover Shanghai’s dramatic contrasts. View the Pudong skyline in Lujiazui and from the North Bund, then step into the classical atmosphere of Yu Garden and the City God Temple district. As evening falls, stroll along the Bund, where historic international architecture faces the illuminated modern skyline across the Huangpu River.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and Shanghai local cuisine dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Shanghai
Featured dining: Shanghai local cuisine.
Day 14 | Shanghai’s Leafy Heritage Streets
Route: Shaanxi North Road → Xinhua Road → Hengshan Road → Yongjia Road
Explore Shanghai’s tree-lined historic neighborhoods, where villas, former residences and independent boutiques preserve the city’s distinctive East-meets-West character. The relaxed pace leaves time to enjoy cafés, architecture and neighborhood life.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Shanghai
Alternative option: Choose a free day at leisure with no vehicle or guide service, or a full day at Shanghai Disney Resort with transfer service only. Ticketing and arrangements are subject to confirmation.
Day 15 | Departure from Shanghai
Route: Hotel → Shanghai airport
Enjoy time at leisure according to your flight schedule. Your private driver will collect you from the hotel and transfer you to the airport, bringing your 15-day journey through China to a close.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: No overnight stay
What’s Included
- Four-star hotel accommodation for 14 nights, based on twin or double occupancy, with daily breakfast.
- All meals specified in the itinerary: dinner on Day 1; breakfast, lunch and dinner from Day 2 through Day 14; and breakfast on Day 15, including the featured regional meals stated in the daily program.
- All transportation specified in the itinerary, including private air-conditioned vehicle services, airport and railway-station transfers, high-speed rail tickets and the domestic flight from Zhangjiajie to Shanghai.
- Services of excellent English-speaking local guides during sightseeing and transfer programs. Guides do not accompany guests on board intercity high-speed trains or domestic flights.
- Main entrance tickets for the attractions listed in the confirmed itinerary.
- Local service coordination and travel support throughout the journey.
What’s Excluded
- International flights to Beijing and from Shanghai, and any transportation not specified in the confirmed itinerary.
- China visa fees, passport costs and other personal travel-document expenses.
- Single-room supplement and hotel incidentals such as minibar, laundry, telephone calls and room service.
- Optional activities, performances, free-day expenses and any service marked as optional or subject to separate confirmation.
- Travel insurance, medical expenses, excess-baggage charges and other personal expenses.
- Gratuities for guides and drivers, unless specifically stated otherwise in the final quotation.
- Any cost arising from force majeure or circumstances beyond the operator’s control.