Itinerary
- Day 1
Shanghai
You'll arrive in Shanghai and head to your hotel where check-in opens at 2 pm. This first day is about getting settled, so you'll have time to drop your bags and familiarize yourself with the area around your accommodation. You're staying two nights here, which gives you a chance to adjust and prepare for exploring the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
- Day 2
Shanghai
Start with Yu Garden, one of China's finest examples of classical garden design. After wandering through the old town's alleyways with their shops and traditional pharmacies, head to the Bund where colonial architecture and the skyline create memorable views. You'll then walk through Nanjing Road's sprawling shopping district. Later, make your way to Pudong's skyscraper district and the trendy Tianzifang quarter with boutiques and handicraft stores. By evening, wrap up at Shanghai Museum to see its impressive collections.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Yu Garden
- Explore old town of Shanghai
- Visit the Bund
- Browse Nanjing Road shopping district
- Visit Pudong district
- Explore Tianzifang artist quarter
- Visit Shanghai Museum
Landmarks Yu Garden The Bund Nanjing Road Pudong Tianzifang Shanghai Museum - Day 3
Shanghai to Suzhou
A short train ride takes you to Suzhou, known as the Venice of the East. You'll visit two classical gardens like the Garden of Lingering and the Garden of the Master of the Nets, where gates, zigzag paths, bridges and pavilions create surprising perspectives around each turn. After that, tour a silk spinning mill to see how production works. You'll spend the night in Suzhou.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Train journey to Suzhou
- Visit 2 classical gardens (e.g., Garden of Lingering and Garden of the Master of the Nets)
- Visit silk spinning mill
Landmarks Garden of Lingering Garden of the Master of the Nets - Day 4
Suzhou to Yichang
Transfer to the train station and travel by train to Yichang. From there, head to Maoping Pier to board your Yangzi river cruise ship. You're settling in for four nights on board as you prepare to experience the river and its surrounding landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel, Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Train journey from Suzhou to Yichang
- Transfer to Maoping Pier
- Embark on Yangzi river cruise
- Day 5
Yangzi River Cruise
In the morning, a bus takes you to the Three Gorges Dam where you'll see the scale of this engineering project firsthand. Back on the ship, you'll sail through the landscape including the Xiling Gorge, where Asia's longest river carves its dramatic course through the terrain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Three Gorges Dam by bus
- Cruise through Xiling Gorge
Landmarks Three Gorges Dam Xiling Gorge - Day 6
Yangzi River Cruise
This morning involves traveling through the Wu Gorge, then boarding smaller boats to explore a tributary where you can see relatively untouched nature without the company of large freighters. You'll return to the cruise ship and continue through the Qutang Gorge, which stands out as the most distinctive of the three gorges.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel through Wu Gorge
- Explore tributary on smaller boats
- Cruise through Qutang Gorge
Landmarks Wu Gorge Qutang Gorge - Day 7
Yangzi River Cruise
You'll spend time relaxing on board while the landscape passes by. During this stage, a shore excursion takes you to visit the Snow Jade Cave near Fengdu, a natural cave formation known for its colorful karst features and impressive rock structures.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Shore excursion to Snow Jade Cave near Fengdu
Landmarks Snow Jade Cave - Day 8
Chongqing to Chengdu
After disembarking in Chongqing, your tour guide leads a city walk through the old town district of Ciqikou with its porcelain and handicraft shops. Around midday, you'll transfer to the train station for a fast train to Chengdu in the Sichuan Basin. Once there, check out the Kuanzhai bar and restaurant district with its Qing dynasty buildings. The rest of your day is free, so you might try some famous Sichuan cuisine in the evening. You're staying one night in Chengdu.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- City tour of Chongqing
- Explore old town district of Ciqikou
- Train journey to Chengdu
- Visit Kuanzhai bar and restaurant district
Optional Activities
- Try Sichuan cuisine dinner (available at local restaurants)
Landmarks Ciqikou Kuanzhai Bar and Restaurant District - Day 9
Chengdu to Xian
Visit a panda breeding station where staff care for endangered pandas in their natural habitat, which is a special experience not to miss. Then head to Wenshu Temple, an important Buddhist monastery in Chengdu that's been drawing worshippers since its original construction during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). In the afternoon, transfer to the train station for an express train to Xian. You'll spend two nights there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit panda breeding station
- Visit Wenshu Temple
- Express train journey to Xian
Landmarks Wenshu Temple - Day 10
Xian
You'll see the terracotta army, one of the major archaeological discoveries of recent times. Spread across three pits are thousands of life-size foot soldiers, cavalry soldiers, horses, war chariots and weapons that show the scale of ancient production. Back in Xian, visit the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and an important historical site.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Army
- Visit Great Wild Goose Pagoda
Landmarks Terracotta Army Great Wild Goose Pagoda - Day 11
Xian to Beijing
Explore the old town of Xian, which is surrounded by a Ming-period city wall that's approximately 13.7 kilometers long with numerous guard and defense towers. Stroll through the old town's alleyways to reach the Great Mosque, one of the oldest and most famous mosques in China. Then head to the train station for your journey to Beijing. You'll spend three nights in the capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Explore Xian city wall
- Stroll through old town alleyways
- Visit Great Mosque
- Train journey to Beijing
Landmarks Xian City Wall Great Mosque - Day 12
Beijing
Start by exploring Tiananmen Square, then enter the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City. A short rickshaw ride through the area rounds off the morning. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven to see the Hall of Harvest Prayers, Echo Wall and the surrounding Walkway.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Tiananmen Square
- Visit Imperial Palace (Forbidden City)
- Rickshaw ride
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Visit Hall of Harvest Prayers
- Visit Echo Wall
- Visit Walkway at Temple of Heaven
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Imperial Palace (Forbidden City) Temple of Heaven - Day 13
Beijing
You'll take a trip to the Great Wall of China, which involves travel but offers incredible views and a sense of the structure's massive scale. Later, visit one of the Ming tombs and stroll along the Sacred Way, which is lined with giant stone statues of animals and soldiers. On the way back to your hotel, make a short photo stop at the Olympic Stadium from the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Great Wall of China
- Visit Ming tomb
- Stroll along Sacred Way
- Photo stop at Olympic Stadium
Landmarks Great Wall of China Ming Tombs Sacred Way Olympic Stadium - Day 14
Beijing
Transfer to the airport for your departure. This marks the end of your round trip through China, concluding your journey through some of the country's most significant historical, cultural and natural sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast
