Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
You'll arrive in Beijing and get settled at your hotel. Later in the evening, head out to Wangfujing Street, a busy pedestrian shopping area lined with restaurants and stores where you can start getting a feel for the city. Dinner's included, and then it's back to the hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Transfer to hotel upon arrival
- Evening visit to Wangfujing Street
Landmarks Wangfujing Street 
- Day 2
Beijing Highlights
This is a full day exploring Beijing's main landmarks. The Forbidden City is on the agenda first, the massive palace complex where 24 emperors ruled (though visitor limits sometimes mean you might visit the Confucius Temple or Lama Temple instead). From there, walk through Jingshan Park for views looking back at the Forbidden City, then check out Tiananmen Square and the Beijing Opera House. After lunch, you'll ride in a tricycle through the old Hutong neighborhoods to see how people actually lived, stopping at traditional shops and a classic courtyard house.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Full-day Beijing city tour
- Visit to the Forbidden City (access not guaranteed)
- Visit to Jingshan Park
- Panoramic views from Coal Hill summit
- Stroll through Tiananmen Square
- Visit to Summer Palace
- Tricycle ride through Hutong neighborhoods
- Visit to Siheyuan courtyard house
- Alternative visits: Confucius Temple and Lama Temple (if Forbidden City unavailable)
Landmarks Forbidden City Jingshan Park Coal Hill Tiananmen Square Beijing Opera House Summer Palace Hutong neighborhoods Confucius Temple Lama Temple 
- Day 3
Great Wall & Beijing to Shanghai
Early morning transfer takes you to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. You'll ride the cable car up to walk the wall itself, then take it back down. Lunch features Peking duck, after which you head to the train station to board a high-speed train for Shanghai. Once you arrive in Shanghai later that evening, transfer to your hotel for check-in.
- Meals
- Lunch (Famous Peking duck)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Excursion to Great Wall at Mutianyu section
- Cable car ride up and down the Great Wall
- Transfer to train station
- Transfer from Shanghai station to hotel
Landmarks Great Wall of China - Mutianyu Section 
- Day 4
Shanghai Highlights
Start in Pudong, Shanghai's modern financial district on the opposite side of the Huangpu River from the old city, where you'll see the distinctive Pearl Tower and tall office buildings. A ferry ride across the river gives you views of both the historic and contemporary sides of Shanghai. Then wander through the Old City and the serene Yuyuan Garden, a preserved Ming Dynasty private garden where you'll take part in a traditional tea ceremony. After lunch, explore Xintiandi, a trendy neighborhood full of boutiques and cafes, then head to Tianzifang, a former residential area known for its winding alleys, craft shops, and art galleries. Later, walk along The Bund where old colonial-era buildings line the waterfront. Your afternoon is free, and if you're interested, there's an optional night boat tour to see the city lit up.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Full-day Shanghai city tour
- Visit to Pudong financial district
- Scenic ferry ride across Shanghai River
- Stroll through Old City
- Visit to Yuyuan Garden
- Traditional tea ceremony experience
- Exploration of Xintiandi neighborhood
- Exploration of Tianzifang district
- Walk along The Bund
Optional Activities
- Night boat trip to see Shanghai illuminated
Landmarks Pudong Financial District Oriental Pearl Tower Huangpu River Shanghai Old City Yuyuan Garden Xintiandi Tianzifang The Bund - Day 5
Shanghai to Luoyang
Head to the train station early for a 07:17 a.m. departure on a high-speed train. The journey covers 1,000 km through rural countryside and takes just over five hours to reach Luoyang. Lunch is included on the train. Upon arrival, visit the Longmen Buddhist Caves, a remarkable archaeological site stretching over a kilometer along rocky cliffs with more than 100,000 Buddha statues carved into the stone. A boat ride along the river gives you a better view of the entire complex. Later, transfer into ancient Luoyang itself, passing through the city walls and walking its busy, well-lit streets filled with local shops and traditional atmosphere.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Luoyang), Hotel (Ramada By Wyndham Downtown)
Included Activities
- Transfer to train station
- High-speed train journey to Luoyang
- Visit to Longmen Buddhist Caves
- Scenic boat ride along the river at Longmen
Landmarks Longmen Buddhist Caves Luoyang Ancient City 
- Day 6
Luoyang to Xian
Start early at the White Horse Buddhist Monastery just outside Luoyang, a large historical center where Buddhist scholars and practitioners have studied for centuries. Travel next to Sanmenxia to see the Yellow River and visit the Baolun Temple, famous for its tall pagoda. The Guo Museum is your next stop, one of China's best museums with ancient funeral carriages from the former State of Guo that show what life was like in the region long ago. Lunch is included. As you head eastward, you'll pass Mount Hua, one of China's holiest mountains known for dramatic peaks and spiritual importance. By late afternoon, you arrive in Xian.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- Visit to White Horse Buddhist Monastery
- Visit to Baolun Temple
- Visit to Guo Museum
Landmarks White Horse Buddhist Monastery Yellow River Baolun Temple Guo Museum Mount Hua 
- Day 7
Xian
Xian is where the ancient Silk Road started, and you'll begin with the Terracotta Army, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers that were buried underground for centuries guarding the tomb of China's first emperor. Back in the city, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist structure standing for over 1,000 years. Walk through the historic Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque, a site showing how different cultures and religions mixed throughout Chinese history. You'll also enter the Drum Tower to see a short performance of traditional Chinese music played on ancient instruments. After that, you'll have free time to explore on your own.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Xian Scpg), Hotel (Delta By Marriott Xian)
Included Activities
- Visit to Terracotta Army Museum
- Visit to Small Wild Goose Pagoda
- Exploration of historic walled center
- Visit to Muslim Quarter
- Visit to Great Mosque
- Entrance to Drum Tower with traditional Chinese music performance
Landmarks Terracotta Army Small Wild Goose Pagoda Xian City Walls Muslim Quarter Great Mosque Drum Tower 
- Day 8
Xian to Chengdu
Board a modern high-speed train that covers 700 km to Chengdu in just over three hours. After you arrive and settle in, head to the Panda Bear research center, a reserve where about 120 giant pandas and 76 red pandas live. Lunch is included. In the afternoon, take a walk through People's Park, which has a small lake, locals doing Taichi, and traditional tea houses where you can relax.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dorsett Chengdu)
Included Activities
- High-speed train journey from Xian to Chengdu
- Visit to Panda Bear research and breeding center
- Stroll through People's Park
Landmarks Panda Bear Research and Breeding Center People's Park 
- Day 9
Sichuan Province Excursion
Spend the full day exploring Sichuan Province's landscapes and villages. Visit Dujiangyan to see a traditional irrigation system that's been working for over 2,000 years and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then head to Qingcheng Mountain, known as the mountain of the green city and a holy site for Taoism, where forest paths lead to caves, pavilions, and old wooden temples. Lunch is included. Stop at the ancient city of Jiezi, where alleys date back over 1,000 years of history. From there, return to Chengdu.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dorsett Chengdu)
Included Activities
- Visit to Dujiangyan traditional irrigation system
- Exploration of Qingcheng Mountain
- Visit to ancient city of Jiezi
Landmarks Dujiangyan Irrigation System Qingcheng Mountain Jiezi Ancient City 
- Day 10
Chengdu to Kunming
Transfer to the airport for your included flight to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. After landing, a transfer brings you to your hotel. Later, walk through the Bird and Flower Market and visit the Golden Temple of Kunming.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Dianchi)
Included Activities
- Flight transfer to airport
- Flight to Kunming
- Transfer from airport to hotel
- Visit to Bird and Flower Market
- Visit to Golden Temple of Kunming
Landmarks Bird and Flower Market Golden Temple of Kunming - Day 11
Kunming to Stone Forest
Start at the Zhuanxin Farmers' Market in Kunming, an old traditional market with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other local products. Then leave the city for an excursion to the Stone Forest, a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site and one of the world's natural wonders where unusual stone formations stand like petrified trees. Lunch is included. After that, return to Kunming and walk through the historic Kunming Laojie District.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Dianchi)
Included Activities
- Visit to Zhuanxin Farmers' Market
- Excursion to Stone Forest UNESCO Natural Heritage Site
Landmarks Zhuanxin Farmers' Market Stone Forest Kunming Laojie District - Day 12
Kunming to Dali
Take a high-speed train to Dali, a city known for the historic architecture of the Bai ethnic minority people. Visit Dali's Old Town and Westerner Street, a busy area filled with shops, bars, and local craft studios. Lunch is included. Later in the afternoon, visit the Chongsheng Temple, which you'll reach by electric vehicle. Stay overnight in Dali.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lanlinge)
Included Activities
- Transfer to train station
- High-speed train ride to Dali
- Visit to Dali's Old Town
- Exploration of Westerner Street
- Visit to Chongsheng Temple with electric vehicle ascent
Landmarks Dali Old Town Westerner Street Chongsheng Temple 
- Day 13
Dali to Lijiang
Head north through changing scenery, from crop fields along Erhai Lake to forested mountains. Your first stop is Xizhou Ancient Town where traditional courtyard houses of the Bai people stand. Continue to Zhoucheng Village, famous worldwide for its hand-dyed blue textiles made using traditional methods. Lunch is included during the drive. Keep going to Lijiang, one of Yunnan's best-preserved cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site that has maintained its character for centuries.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Duofu Holiday)
Included Activities
- Visit to Xizhou Ancient Town
- Visit to traditional courtyard houses of the Bai people
- Visit to Zhoucheng Village
- Exploration of traditional hand-dyed textile crafts
Landmarks Erhai Lake Xizhou Ancient Town Zhoucheng Village Lijiang 
- Day 14
Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yunnan's most well-known snow-capped peak and a must-see. Take a cable car up the mountain to see different landscapes depending on the season (lush green forests in summer, snow-covered peaks in winter). After descending, check out the traditional villages of Yuhu and Baisha, the historic home of the Nakhi people. Lunch is included. Then explore the ancient town of Dayan and take a scenic walk through Black Dragon Pool Park for views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Return to Lijiang for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Duofu Holiday)
Included Activities
- Ascent to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car
- Descent from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car
- Visit to Yuhu traditional village
- Visit to Baisha traditional village
- Exploration of ancient town of Dayan
- Scenic walk through Black Dragon Pool Park
Landmarks Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Yuhu Village Baisha Village Dayan Ancient Town Black Dragon Pool Park 
- Day 15
Tour Conclusion
After breakfast, your trip comes to an end with lots of memories from your time traveling through China.
- Meals
- Breakfast
