Itinerary
- Day 1
In Transit to Chengdu
Your flight to Chengdu gets you there with time to settle in. Once you land, grab your travel guide and start reading up on what's coming. It's a good chance to mentally prepare for the next couple weeks and get familiar with the basics before things kick off tomorrow.
- Day 2
Chengdu
Your guide meets you in Chengdu and you'll start with the relaxed side of the city. People's Park is first, where locals hang out with tea and mahjong games. From there, you'll walk through Kuan Zhai Xiang Zi district with its traditional teahouses, boutique shops, and old Qing-style buildings tucked into narrow alleyways.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit People's Park
- Stroll through Kuan Zhai Xiang Zi historic district
Landmarks People's Park Kuan Zhai Xiang Zi - Day 3
Chengdu
This morning you're heading to the panda breeding station for a close look at giant pandas. Next comes the Sanxingdui Museum to see Bronze Age archaeological finds. Later in the afternoon, you'll check out the Tibetan Quarter on Wuhou Street to experience the architecture and culture firsthand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit panda breeding station
- Explore Sanxingdui Museum
- Walk through Tibetan Quarter on Wuhou Street
Optional Activities
- Traditional fire pot dinner - €28
Landmarks Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Sanxingdui Museum Wuhou Street Tibetan Quarter - Day 4
Chengdu - Guiyang - Kaili
Board the express train to Guiyang, then continue on to Qingyan, an old city famous for well-preserved buildings and streets. After seeing the sights, you'll travel to Kaili for the night where you can soak in the rural atmosphere and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Qingyan ancient city
Landmarks Qingyan Ancient Town - Day 5
Kaili
Start early at Kaili's morning market where local Miao and Gejia tribes sell goods. Then you'll go to Shiqiao to see traditional papermaking. Lunch happens with a local family in Qingman village. In the afternoon, head to Matang village where the Gejia minority lives and you'll make your own batik artwork.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with local family in Qingman village)
Included Activities
- Visit morning market in Kaili
- Learn about traditional papermaking in Shiqiao
- Lunch with local family in Qingman village
Optional Activities
- Create your own batik work in Matang village
Landmarks Shiqiao Qingman village Matang 
- Day 6
Kaili - Langde - Zhaoxing
Travel to Langde, a Miao village where you'll see a traditional welcome and learn about their culture. From there, continue to Huanggang, a well-preserved Dong village, then head to Zhaoxing later in the afternoon for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Traditional welcome ceremony in Langde
- Visit Langde Miao village
- Visit Huanggang Dong village
Landmarks Langde Huanggang Zhaoxing 
- Day 7
Zhaoxing
Visit Tangan, a Dong village with its own unique culture. You'll hike through rice terraces to take in the natural landscape. Back in Zhaoxing by evening, you have the option to listen to the Great Song of the Dong minority, a traditional musical performance that's deeply rooted in their history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Dong village of Tangan
- Hike through rice terraces in Tangan
Optional Activities
- Dong dance performance - €19
Landmarks Tangan - Day 8
Zhaoxing - Sanjiang - Longsheng
Head to Sanjiang to see the famous wind and rain bridges, impressive wooden structures built by the Dong minority. Then continue to Longsheng for the well-known rice terraces with their carefully laid out fields. You'll also visit a Yao minority village known for the women's long hair and unique traditions. Stay overnight in accommodation within the rice terraces.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit wind and rain bridges in Sanjiang
- Visit Longsheng rice terraces
- Visit Yao minority village
Landmarks Sanjiang Wind and Rain Bridges Longsheng Rice Terraces 
- Day 9
Longsheng - Yangshuo
Wake up early to catch the sunrise over the rice terraces at your own pace. Then continue toward Yangshuo, sitting in a beautiful karst landscape. You'll stop for lunch in a Zhuang village where you can learn about their customs and way of life.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing over rice terraces
- Lunch in Zhuang village
Landmarks Longsheng Rice Terraces Yangshuo - Day 10
Yangshuo
Take a bike tour through rural Yangshuo, riding past rice fields and karst formations. In the afternoon, you have the option to float down the Yulong River on a traditional bamboo raft, which gives you great views of the village and the surrounding karst mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Bike tour through rural Yangshuo and rice fields
Optional Activities
- Bamboo raft ride on Yulong River - €30
Landmarks Yulong River - Day 11
Yangshuo - Fenghuang
Spend the morning in Yangshuo however you like. In the afternoon, board the express train to Fenghuang, known as the Phoenix City. It's known for well-preserved architecture and sits nicely along the riverside.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Fenghuang (Phoenix City) - Day 12
Fenghuang
Walk through the narrow streets of Fenghuang's old town and take in the atmosphere of this ancient city. By evening, the riverside architecture and historic district light up with bright colors, and things really come alive.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of old town
Landmarks Fenghuang Old Town - Day 13
Fenghuang - Zhangjiajie
On the way to Zhangjiajie, you'll visit the Tujia minority and see their distinctive stilt houses, plus check out the brocade museum. In the afternoon, you'll see Tianmen Sacred Mountain before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Tujia minority stilt houses
- Visit brocade museum
- View Tianmen Sacred Mountain
Landmarks Tianmen Sacred Mountain - Day 14
Zhangjiajie
Spend the day in Zhangjiajie Nature Park, entering through the world's highest elevator. You'll take in impressive views of cliffs and valleys. Next is the glass-bottom bridge, which offers thrilling views of the surrounding landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Enter Zhangjiajie Nature Park via world's highest elevator
- View majestic cliffs and valleys
- Cross glass-bottom bridge
Landmarks Zhangjiajie Nature Park Zhangjiajie Glass Bottom Bridge - Day 15
Zhangjiajie - Hangzhou
Board the express train early to Hangzhou. Your afternoon is open so you can rest and explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Landmarks Hangzhou - Day 16
Hangzhou
Start with a boat trip on scenic West Lake. Then visit the Pagoda of the Six Harmonies at the foot of Yuelen Mountain. You'll also explore the Hu Qing Yu Tang pharmacy, a landmark in traditional Chinese medicine with a long history. Wrap up the day at a traditional tea plantation in Mei Jia Wu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat trip on West Lake
- Visit Pagoda of the Six Harmonies
- Explore Hu Qing Yu Tang pharmacy
- Visit traditional tea plantation at Mei Jia Wu
Landmarks West Lake Pagoda of the Six Harmonies Hu Qing Yu Tang Pharmacy Mei Jia Wu Tea Plantation - Day 17
Hangzhou - Shanghai
Take the express train to Shanghai in the morning. Visit Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden in the old town. You can optionally go up the Shanghai Tower for city views. In the afternoon, explore the Bund and the modern Xin Tian Di district to see both the historical and contemporary sides of this dynamic city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Yu Garden classical Chinese garden
Optional Activities
- Shanghai Tower viewing platform - €38
Landmarks Yu Garden Shanghai Tower The Bund Xin Tian Di - Day 18
Shanghai - Germany
It's time to say goodbye. Board your flight back to Germany, carrying unforgettable memories from your journey through China.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 19
Germany
You arrive back in Germany, concluding your 19-day journey through China with memories and stories to last.
