Itinerary
- Day 1
Hong Kong
You'll arrive in Hong Kong and head to your hotel to settle in. The rest of the day is yours to spend however you'd like, whether that's resting after your journey or getting out to explore the city on your own. Either way, you're free to move at your own pace.
- Start point
- China (Hong Kong)
- Day 2
Hong Kong
Hong Kong's public transportation is reliable and signs are in English, so getting around on your own is pretty straightforward. You might take the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor for some good views, or ride the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak to see the city from above. There's shopping at local malls, dim sum restaurants to try, and if you time it right, the 'A Symphony of Lights' show over the harbor in the evening is worth catching. A walking tour is another option if you want to get a sense of different neighborhoods.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Hong Kong
- Star Ferry ride with views of Victoria Harbor
- Victoria Peak via Peak Tram with panoramic cityscape views
- Shopping at local malls
- Authentic dim sum experience at local restaurant
- A Symphony of Lights evening show
Landmarks/POIs Victoria Harbor Victoria Peak - Day 3
Hong Kong to Shanghai
Spend the morning checking out more of Hong Kong before heading to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Once you land, your private guide will be there to pick you up and take you to the hotel. After you check in, the rest of the day is open for you to relax or explore at whatever pace feels right.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 4
Shanghai
This day covers quite a bit of Shanghai. You'll see the Shanghai Museum, then head to Yu Garden along with the busy Yuyuan Market around it. There's a silk production workshop to watch, and you can walk through the Former French Concession to see the colonial architecture on the Bund. Shanghai Tower offers great views of the city. Later, if you're interested, there's an option to watch the Acrobatic Show in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Shanghai Museum visit
- Yu Garden and Yuyuan Market exploration
- Silk production workshop
- Former French Concession exploration
- Colonial architecture viewing on the Bund
- Shanghai Tower views
Optional Activities
- Acrobatic Show in the evening
Landmarks/POIs Shanghai Museum Yu Garden Yuyuan Market The Bund Shanghai Tower - Day 5
Shanghai to Zhangjiajie
After breakfast, you'll drive about 1.5 hours to Xitang Ancient Town, a water town with history going back to 771 BC. You'll take a boat ride through the canals, then head to the airport for your flight to Zhangjiajie. Your local guide meets you when you arrive, and then it's off to the hotel to get settled.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic drive to Xitang Ancient Town (approximately 1.5 hours)
- Boat ride along Xitang canals
Landmarks/POIs Xitang Ancient Town - Day 6
Zhangjiajie
Following breakfast, you're heading into Wulinyuan Scenic Area. The Bailong Elevator takes you up to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, where you'll see the tall rocky pinnacles said to have inspired Avatar. Tianzi Mountain Natural Reserve has cable car views and the 'First Bridge under the Sun' rock formation. You'll see rock shapes with names like Fairy Maiden Presenting Flowers and Imperial Brush Peak. The day wraps up at Ten-mile Gallery, a 6-kilometer valley with streams running through it and peaks all around.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Wulinyuan Scenic Area exploration
- Yuanjiajie Scenic Area access via Bailong Elevator
- Tianzi Mountain Natural Reserve cable car ride
- First Bridge under the Sun natural stone bridge viewing
- Fairy Maiden Presenting Flowers rock formation viewing
- Imperial Brush Peak viewing
- Ten-mile Gallery valley walk
Landmarks/POIs Wulinyuan Scenic Area Yuanjiajie Scenic Area Bailong Elevator Tianzi Mountain Natural Reserve - Day 7
Zhangjiajie to Xi'an
It's a 15-minute drive from your hotel to Baofeng Lake, a quiet spot in the mountains where you'll take a boat ride and soak in the natural surroundings. After you return to the hotel to rest a bit, the afternoon brings Tianmen Mountain with its massive natural cave halfway up. The cable car ride takes 30 minutes and covers 7,455 meters to get to the top. Then it's a 20-minute drive to the airport for your flight to Xi'an.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Baofeng Lake boat ride
- Tianmen Mountain cable car ride (7,455 meters, approximately 30 minutes)
Landmarks/POIs Baofeng Lake Tianmen Mountain - Day 8
Xi'an
You'll start by seeing the Terracotta Warriors, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers made about 2,200 years ago for Emperor Qinshihuang's tomb. From there, Muslim Street is a busy area that's been part of the city's Muslim community for over 1,000 years, with lots of cultural sites and food. The Drum Tower, which dates back six centuries, is well preserved and sometimes has traditional folk music playing. If you want, there's a Tang Dynasty Show in the evening with music and dance performances.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Terracotta Warriors visit
- Muslim Street exploration
- Drum Tower exploration
Optional Activities
- Tang Dynasty Show performance
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Warriors Muslim Street Drum Tower - Day 9
Xi'an to Beijing
Start early with a one-hour Tai Chi session taught by a skilled instructor, working through hand, leg, and waist movements. After that, you'll cycle along the Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved city walls in China, with stops along the way for photos. Later in the afternoon, you board a high-speed train to Beijing, which takes around 4.5 to 6 hours. Your guide will meet you at the station and check you into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tai Chi session with skilled master (approximately 1 hour)
- Cycling excursion along Ancient City Wall
Landmarks/POIs Xi'an City Wall - Day 10
Beijing
Tiananmen Square is huge, spanning 109 acres, and from there you'll go to the Forbidden City, which used to be home to Ming and Qing emperors and now holds the Palace Museum with important historical pieces. Next is the Summer Palace, where emperors would go to escape the heat. You can wander through temples and pavilions, walk across bridges, and if you want, take a boat out on the lakes. There's also a stop at a pearl store where you can create your own pearl jewelry. An optional Legend of Kung Fu Show is available in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tiananmen Square visit
- Forbidden City (Palace Museum) exploration
- Summer Palace exploration with temples, pavilions, bridges, and theaters
- Pearl store customized jewelry creation
Optional Activities
- Scenic boat excursion on Summer Palace lakes
- Legend of Kung Fu Show
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Summer Palace - Day 11
Beijing
The Temple of Heaven was where Ming and Qing emperors came each year to ask for good harvests. You'll see local Beijingers doing Tai Chi, playing cards, or singing traditional songs in the area. Then it's roughly a 1.5-hour private transfer to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. This part stretches 1.4 miles and has 22 blockhouses and watchtowers with views out over the winding wall and the mountains surrounding it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Temple of Heaven visit
- Mutianyu section of the Great Wall visit (1.4 miles with 22 blockhouses and watchtowers)
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Heaven Mutianyu section of the Great Wall - Day 12
Beijing
Your time in China is wrapping up today. You'll have some final moments to take in the country before your guide escorts you to the airport for your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
