14-Day China Highlights Tour: Ancient Wonders, Avatar Mountains & Karst Landscapes

Upon your flight land in Beijing, our local driver will be ready to greet you at the arrival hall with a nameplate. Then, you will be transferred to your downtown hotel by a comfortable vehicle.

The rest of the day is free for you to have a rest and explore the city on your own.

Recommended spots to enjoy Beijing's local snacks and vibrant nightlife include:

• Gui Street (Ghost Street): A top choice for late-night food, combining local snacks and nightlife

• Houhai / Shichahai: Lakeside bars stay open until around 2 AM

• Qianmen, Dashilan & Xianyukou: Classic local snacks and traditional food in the daytime and early evening

• Niujie (Cow Street): A great daytime destination for authentic halal local food

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby.

Start your Beijing city highlights discovery today with a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped Heaven and pray for good harvests every winter solstice.  

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the most iconic building, with its blue-glazed tiles and circular design reflecting traditional Chinese ideas about Heaven and the cosmos.

Beyond its impressive imperial architecture, the Temple of Heaven also offers a glimpse into local life, with residents gathering here to practice tai chi, sing, dance, and exercise.

Head to Tian'anmen Square, one of the world's largest city squares. Take a brief stroll to experience its solemn atmosphere and impressive scale.

Walk through the Tiananmen Gate to reach the Forbidden City (aka Palace Museum). 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties once lived and governed from this imperial palace. After entering through Meridian Gate in the south, you will walk along its central axis to explore the main halls, admire the golden roofs, red walls, and mythical creatures on the rooftops as your guide introduces traditional architectural design and fascinating imperial legends.

After the visit, continue to the hutongs for a closer look at the city's traditional neighborhoods and local life. These traditional lanes are lined with siheyuan (courtyard houses). A popular way to explore them is by taking a traditional rickshaw.

Optional Activities in the Hutongs (at an extra cost): To enhance your experience, consider adding some hands-on cultural activities, like a Chinese calligraphy class, making dumplings, and other cultural experiences.

Today, you will drive about 73 km to the Mutianyu Great Wall section. A favorite section among international travelers, Mutianyu is better preserved, and generally less crowded than the famous Badaling section. It stretches for approximately 2.25 km and features 23 watchtowers.

Expect to see many distinctive watchtowers, such as the Zhengguantai (with three watchtowers standing side by side), and Dajiaolou (eastern end, where three sections of the Great Wall meet).

Tips to go up and down:

Instead of hiking the entire section on foot, you can choose the following options to save time and energy.

• For families with kids or older travelers, you can take the enclosed cable car directly to Watchtower No. 14. Then, hike westerward a little while along the moderate trail until you reach No. 20 Watchtower, the highest point of Mutianyu. Enjoy spectacular vista before hiking back to Watchtower No. 14 and descending by the cable car again.

• For young travelers, take the enclosed cable car or open chairlift up, then take the toboggan and slide down to the mountainside.

  
  

Photo tips:

• Stand beside the battlements with a watchtower in the background.

• Catch the excellent panoramic views of the wall winding along the mountain ridges from the cable car.

Drive back to central Beijing after the Great Wall. En route, make a stop at Beijing's Olympic Park. You'll have some time to take striking photos of the National Stadium and National Aquatics Center. They are nicknamed Bird's Nest and Water Cube, respectively, due to their distinctive appearance. The Bird's Nest once hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of both the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics, and the Water Cube hosted swimming and diving events during the 2008 Olympics.

Before taking a high-speed train to Xi'an, you'll enjoy about 2-2.5 hours in the Summer Palace. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. It was first built by Emperor Qianlong in 1750, with its landscape design inspired by Hangzhou's West Lake. Kunming Lake covers about three-quarters of its entire area.

You can explore Longevity Hill, Kunming Lake, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Tower of Buddhist Incense, and the 728-meter Long Corridor on a leisurely walk, with plenty of opportunities for photos along the way. An optional boat ride on Kunming Lake can also be added at your own expense.

After that, the driver will escort you to the train station for your high-speed train to Xi'an (about 4.5-6 hours). Upon arrival, your driver in Xi'an will be ready to greet you at the station and escort you to the hotel for check-in.

The first stop of your Xi'an tour is one of the city's greatest highlights — the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Over 2,200 years ago, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, ordered the creation of this vast underground army for his afterlife.

Allow about 2.5–3 hours to explore the three main excavation pits, which contain around 8,000 life-sized terracotta figures in total, as well as the Bronze Chariots & Horses Exhibition Hall, which houses two world-famous bronze chariots and horses. Each warrior features distinctive facial details, while the Bronze Chariots and Horses are considered masterpieces of ancient Chinese bronze craftsmanship. Your guide will introduce you to their fascinating details and share the stories and legends behind them.

Optional activities near the Terracotta Army (aditional cost): Learn to make your own mini terracotta warrior from an intangible cultural heritage artisan. It will be a memorable hands-on experience, and you can take your mini warrior home as a unique souvenir.

Drive back to Xi'an city center in the afternoon. Follow your guide to ascend the Xi'an City Wall, the largest and best-preserved surviving Ming Dynasty city wall in China. The wall is about 12 meters high and 12–15 meters wide, stretching 13.74 km around the historic center of Xi'an.

You can walk or cycle along the top of the wall (bike rental at an additional cost) to explore ancient defensive platforms, rows of battlements, and watchtowers, while enjoying views of both historic neighborhoods and the modern city from above.

Note: On foot, you can explore a section of the wall. By bicycle, it takes about 2 hours to complete the full 13.74-kilometer circuit (bike rental at an additional cost).

Before getting back to your hotel, follow your local guide to enjoy the vibrant Great Tang All Day Mall (aka Grand Tang Mall). This pedestrian area is themed around the culture of the Tang Dynasty, featuring Tang-style architecture, sculptures, illuminated streets, and live performances. Its northern end stands the iconic Giant Wild Goose Pagoda at Da Ci'en Temple.

Optional activities at the Grand Tang Mall: After dark, the illuminated pagoda and Tang-style streets create one of Xi'an's most photogenic night scenes. You can dress up in traditional Hanfu with period-style hair and makeup (at an additional cost). This may make you feel as if you've stepped back into an evening in the Tang Dynasty.

This morning, you'll spend 2–2.5 hours exploring the Xi'an Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda for a deeper understanding of Xi'an's history. The two sites are located within the same garden-like historic complex.

Like the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is also an iconic Tang Dynasty landmark in Xi'an, standing 13 stories and 43.4 meters high.

Xi'an Museum houses more than 110,000 cultural relics, with exhibitions tracing the city's history from the Zhou and Qin dynasties through the Han and Tang dynasties. Top highlights include the large-scale model of Chang'an during the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Tri-colored Flying Horse, and the Western Zhou Yong Yu vessel with its 123-character inscription.

After a peaceful stroll around the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, move on to the very center of Xi'an — Bell and Drum Tower Square. This is one of the best places to admire and photograph both the iconic Bell Tower and Drum Tower from different angles. For most visitors, enjoying the panoramic views from the square is the highlight, but you can also climb either tower (at an additional cost) if you are interested in taking a closer look at its historic architecture, ancient bell, or traditional drums.

Just about a 5-minute walk away, you will reach the Muslim Quarter, one of Xi'an's most popular places for authentic local food. Strolling through the lively streets and lanes lined with time-honored restaurants and local food stalls, you can sample a variety of local specialties, and get a glimpse into the everyday life of Xi'an's historic Muslim community.

Popular foods to try include lamb paomo, roujiamo, liangpi, zenggao, and soup dumplings.

If you like, make a stop at the Great Mosque, hidden among the lanes of the Muslim Quarter. Dating back to the Tang Dynasty, this historic mosque beautifully combines traditional Chinese courtyards and architecture with Islamic religious culture.

Say goodbye to Xi'an and your driver will then drive you to the airport for your flight to Zhangjiajie (about 1.5 hours).

Get ready to immerse yourself in the otherworldly landscapes in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park after an early breakfast. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its spectacular sandstone peak forests and became popular as the inspiration for the floating Hallelujah Mountains in the movie Avatar.

Take this convenient and energy-saving route to explore two of Zhangjiajie's core scenic areas — Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie — and enjoy breathtaking views along the way:

Enter through the East Gate → shuttle bus to the lower station of the Tianzi Mountain Cable Car → Tianzi Mountain Cable Car up the mountain (about an 8-minute ride) → shuttle bus to Helong Park (the main sightseeing area of Tianzi Mountain) → shuttle bus to Yuanjiajie → walk through Yuanjiajie's main sightseeing area (including spectacular views of the sandstone peak forest associated with the floating mountains in Avatar.) → shuttle bus to Bailong Elevator → down the mountain in around 88 sceonds & complete the route.

Good to know: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park can get very busy, especially during peak travel periods. So, the above route is just for reference. To make the trip more efficient, your guide may adjust the order of the visits based on the crowds and waiting times on the day. For example, you may take the Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie first and then continue to Tianzi Mountain.

Continue your natural adventure in Zhangjiajie today. After breakfast, head to the Grand Canyon, to challenge the 430-meter-long glass-bottom bridge.

Suspended about 300 meters above the canyon floor, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge was recognized as the world's longest and highest pedestrian glass bridge when it opened in 2016. Allow about 40 minutes to walk across the bridge and enjoy dramatic views into the canyon below.

After that, drive to Tianmen Mountain, where you can see the Tianmen Cave, one of Zhangjiajie's most recognizable natural landmarks. The cave is a natural opening through the mountain at an elevation of about 1,300 meters.

You can take the 7,455-meter Tianmen Mountain Cableway to reach the summit. Follow your guide to walk along the dramatic cliffside paths and glass skywalks before making your way toward Tianmen Cave. You can take the escalators through the mountain or challenge yourself to the steep 999 steps leading to the cave. For people who have knee or mobility concerns, the escalators are more recommended.

Check out of your hotel in Zhangjiajie after breakfast. Your driver will take you to Zhangjiajie West Railway Station for your high-speed train to Guilin.

Note: Currently, there is only one direct high-speed train (D3967 / 07:12–14:13) between Zhangjiajie and Guilin. Direct flights are currently not available.

Alternative option: You can fly from Zhangjiajie to Changsha, then continue to Guilin by high-speed train.

Upon arrival in Guilin, your driver will be ready to greet you and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Get up early today. After breakfast, drive about 2 hours from Guilin to the Longji Rice Terraces. Cultivated by generations of local Zhuang and Yao communities, these terraces are one of the most impressive rural landscapes in China.

After arrival, make a stop at Huangluo Yao Village, home to the Red Yao people and famous for the exceptionally long hair traditionally worn by local women. A traditional long-hair performance is often available for an additional fee. However, the performance schedule is not fixed, so we cannot guarantee that it will be available during your visit.

Continue uphill to Ping'an Zhuang Village Rice Terraces, home to some of the most iconic viewpoints of the Longji Rice Terraces. Follow the stone paths through the village and terraced fields to visit its two best-known viewpoints: Nine Dragons and Five Tigers and Seven Stars Accompany the Moon.

There are walking trails connecting these two viewpoints, allowing you to admire the terraces from different angles. Enjoy your lunch in the village.

Note: The rice terraces offer distinct scenery in different seasons, from the water-filled terraces in spring to the lush green fields in summer and golden rice fields in autumn.

Today is for you to immerse yourself in the idyllic countryside scenery in Yangshuo. After breakfast, drive about 25 minutes from Yangshuo to the Seven Stars Tea Plantation, set among the hills on the western side of the Li River. Here, you can enjoy a hands-on introduction to traditional Chinese tea culture, learn about the process of making tea, and sit down for a freshly brewed cup of local tea.

Continue your trip to Xianggong Mountain, one of the best-known viewpoints overlooking the Li River. You can reach the viewing platforms at the top in just about 20 minutes. From there, take a stunning picture of the Li River winding in a broad bend through karst peaks.

In the afternoon, head to Xingping Pier and board a motorized bamboo raft to cruise through one of the most scenic sections of the Li River. The ride will take about 1.5 hours, passing famous landscapes such as Nine-Horse Fresco Hill, Yellow Cloth Shoal, and the famous Li River landscape pictured on the back of the 20-yuan Chinese banknote.

Return to Yangshuo after the bamboo raft ride.

Your driver will pick you up at the hotel and transfer to Guilin airport for your morning flight to Shanghai.

Your guide and driver in Shanghai will be ready to welcome you and escort your for your Shanghai city discovery from ancient temple to skyline.

Start at Longhua Temple, one of Shanghai's oldest and most important Buddhist temples, which can be traced back to the 3rd century. Take your time to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere here before heading to Yu Garden in Shanghai's Old City.

The Yu Garden was a classical Jiangnan-style garden built in the Ming Dynasty, featuring exquisite pavilions, rockeries, ponds, and covered corridors. After exploring the garden, walk to the lively Yuyuan Bazaar to seek out some authentic Shanghai delicacies.

Continue to Xintiandi, where traditional shikumen houses have been transformed into chic cafés, restaurants, and boutiques.  Stroll around the neighborhood or stop for an afternoon coffee.

Arrive at the Bund on the western bank of the Huangpu River. Admire the 52 historic buildings that line this pedestrian area.

As the city lights come on, look across the river to the striking Lujiazui skyline, dominated by the Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower, and Oriental Pearl Tower.

Based on your preference, take a public ferry or a Huangpu River Cruise (at an extra cost) to admire the dazzling nightscapes.

The driver will drive you back to your hotel after the visit.

This morning, enjoy a leisurely Shanghai city walk to discover a more traditional side of Shanghai. Start at Fuxing Park, a French-style garden dating back to 1909. The park offers a glimpse into everyday life in Shanghai, with locals gathering in the morning to exercise, play chess, dance, and socialize.

Continue walking to Tianzifang, a maze of narrow lanes lined with Shanghai's traditional shikumen houses. Local residents still live here while many of the old buildings are transformed into craft shops, galleries, cafés, and small boutiques.

The next stop on this city walk is the Little White House, an elegant white villa dating from 1905. It features French-style architecture and now serves as the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts. Inside, you can see examples of traditional Chinese craftsmanship, including jade carving, Gu embroidery, wood carving, and other decorative arts.

In the afternoon, travel to Zhujiajiao Water Town on the outskirts of Shanghai. This ancient town has a history of over 1,700 years. It features canals winding through the town, waterside streets, stone bridges, traditional neighborhoods, over 1,000 surviving Ming- and Qing-style buildings, and numerous protected historic sites.

You can walk across the impressive Fangsheng Bridge, explore the historic North Street, and sample local snacks. If you like, consider taking a traditional wooden boat ride along the waterways (at an extra cost).

At the end of the tour, your driver will drop you off at the hotel in Shanghai.

Enjoy some free time at your hotel before our driver picks you up at the scheduled time and transfers you to the airport for your departure flight.

Please note:

• If there are any children join the tour, please email us to check the detailed update price accordingly, thanks.  

• Feel free to contact us if you want to customize the itinerary based on your interests, preferences and schedule.