13-Day Across China Tour: Ancient Capitals, Pandas, Mountains & Skylines

Upon arrival, your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with your name on a board. A private car will bring you into the city centre to check in at your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in, or step out for a first taste of Beijing on your own.

If you are wondering where to eat or what to do after dark, below are some local favourites:

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

• Houhai and Shichahai — Feature lakeside bars and cafés, many open until around 2 am.

• Qianmen, Dashilan and Xianyukou — A good place to seek old-school snacks and shops, best earlier in the evening.

• Niujie (Cow Street) — The place to go for authentic halal cooking during the day.

Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel after breakfast and the day begins at Tian'anmen Square, a vast open plaza in the heart of the capital. Spend a little time taking in its scale before passing through the Tiananmen Gate.

Beyond the gate lies the Forbidden City, the walled palace where 24 Ming and Qing emperors ruled. You enter through the Meridian Gate on the south side and follow the central axis past the grand halls, red walls, and golden-tiled roofs, while your guide shares the stories and symbolism behind the architecture.

Leaving the palace behind, you step into the hutongs — the narrow lanes lined with the low courtyard houses, or siheyuan, where the city's old neighbourhood life continues. A rickshaw ride through them is the classic way to get around (at an extra cost).

The day finishes at the Lama Temple, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Beijing and once the private mansion of Prince Yong (later Emperor Yongzheng). The highlights here include the Chinese symmetrical courtyard layout, Tibetan-style roof skylights & golden spires, Manchu & Mongolian decorative details and unmatched woodcarving treasures. Now it is an active monastery with resident monks.

After the visit, your driver will transfer you back to the hotel.

Today you drive roughly 73 km out of the city to Mutianyu, a section of the Great Wall that is better kept and far less crowded than Badaling. The wall here runs for about 2.25 km and is dotted with 23 watchtowers.

This section is facilitated with cable cars and a toboggan (both at an extra cost), so you can choose a route based on your energy level and preferences. If you enjoy a bit of adventure, take the cable car up, walk along the Wall, and take the toboggan back down. If you are traveling with children or prefer less steep steps, take the cable car up, hike the gentler high section before riding back down. 

Photo tips: To take great photos, you can stand beside the battlements with a tower behind you, or shoot the wall snaking along the ridgeline from the cable car on the way up.

Drive back to the city and the afternoon is for you to visit the Summer Palace, a UNESCO-listed imperial garden where Kunming Lake fills around three-quarters of the grounds. Wander past Longevity Hill, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and the 728-metre Long Corridor at your own pace; if you like, add a boat ride on the lake for a small extra cost.

Your driver will transfer you back to the hotel at the end of the day.

The morning starts at the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors held winter ceremonies to pray for a good harvest. Its centrepiece, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, is a blue-roofed circular building full of symbolism about heaven and the cosmos.

It is also a lively public park today, where locals gather each morning for tai chi, singing and exercise. Try to join them if you like.

There is time for a short wander along Wangfujing Street, the capital's busiest shopping avenue, before your driver takes you to the railway station. 

Your high-speed train to Xi'an takes about 4.5 to 6 hours. On arrival, the driver in Xi'an is waiting at the station to transfer you to your downtown hotel.

Start your Xi'an exploration at the Terracotta Army, a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called the Eighth Wonder of the World. More than 2,200 years ago, China's first emperor ordered thousands of life-sized clay soldiers made and buried with him to protect him in the afterlife.

Today, the three excavated pits display around 8,000 figures, horses, and chariots. The warriors have remarkable differences in their faces, hairstyles, clothing, and poses. Allow about 2.5-3 hours to admire the details of these figures and listen to your guide's stories about the Terracotta Army and the Qin emperor.

Back in the city, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty landmark within the Da Ci'en Temple. The pagoda was built under the supervision of the famous monk Xuanzang to house the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from India. Leisurly stroll around the pagoda and the surrounding square. If you like, you can ascend the pagoda (at your own expense) for a panoramic view of the city.  

Move on to the Muslim Quarter. This lively area with food stalls and old eateries is the place to sample local specialities such as lamb paomo, roujiamo and liangpi, and to watch everyday life in one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods.

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.

Start this morning at the Xi'an City Wall, the best-preserved Ming-era wall in China, standing about 12 metres high and running 13.74 km around the old city area. Walk a stretch of it, or rent a bike (extra expense) and ride along the top, looking down over both the historic districts and the modern side of the city.

Next on your list is Hanyangling Mausoleum, the shared tomb of a Emperor Jing in the Han Dynasty and his empress. Its glass-floored museum lets you look down onto the burial pits — a quieter, more intimate glimpse of ancient funeral rites than the grand Terracotta site.

Similar to the Terracotta Army, the mausoleum also features numerous pottery figures, but they are only 1/3 of human height. These miniature figures offer a glimpse into court and everyday life during the Han Dynasty, including soldiers, court ladies, eunuchs, servants, and farm animals such as pigs, sheep, cattle, and dogs.

Your driver then will drop you off at the station for the high-speed train to Chengdu.

Today you will follow your local travel guide in Chengdu to cover its two most iconic sides: the giant panda and Chengdu's rich history and Sichuan culture.

Set an early alarm, as you will head to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding early in the morning, when the pandas are at their most active. This is also a good option to avoid the large crowds, allowing you to see them eating bamboo, climbing, playing, or resting up close.

The natural bamboo forest environment in the park and its exhibitions provide insight into panda protection efforts. If you are lucky, you may also spot adorable panda cubs and red pandas here.

Then, drive back to the city center to visit Wuhou Shrine. This is one of the most important historical sites related to the Three Kingdoms period - one of China's most influential historical eras. While admiring the traditional wooden halls, ancient stone inscriptions, and statues of historical figures, your guide will share the stories behind Liu Bei, founder of the Shu Han Kingdom, Zhuge Liang, his legendary strategist and symbol of wisdom, and their relationship and achievements during the Three Kingdoms period.

Located next to Wuhou Shrine is Jinli Ancient Street. Walk to the lively pedestrian street to glimpse into Sichuan folk culture and traditional architecture, and treat yourself to some authentic local dishes. As one of the most famous old streets in Chengdu, Jinli Ancient Street features Qing Dynasty-style wooden buildings, traditional theatres, small bridges, and many local shops.

Recommended dishes you can try here include Zhong dumplings, dandan noodles, and sweet glutinous rice treats. Also, you can pick us some traditional crafts and souvenirs, such as the famous Shu embroidery and lacquerware.

After the visit, your driver will escort you to the train station for your high-speed train to Chongqing. Your driver in Chongqing will pick you up at the train station and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

The itinerary today brings together some of Chongqing's most iconic experiences - the famous “8D mountain city” landscapes, unique urban transportation, historic riverside neighbourhoods, and spectacular night views.

The first stop is Liziba Light Rail Station, where the famous “light rail passing through a building” scene perfectly reflects how Chongqing has developed around its mountainous landscape. We will lead you to the best viewing platform to watch trains smoothly pass through the building.

Then, continue to another unique transportation option in Chongqing — the Yangtze River Cableway. Since the city is surrounded by mountains and crossed by rivers, the cableway was once used as a daily transportation option by local residents. Now, many tourists choose this unique way to experience the city's dramatic geography and enjoy wide-open views of the river, bridges, hillside buildings, and the Yuzhong Peninsula from above.

After crossing the river, visit Longmenhao Old Street, a historic neighbourhood overlooking the Yangtze River. Taking a leisurely stroll along the hillside streets, you will see restored historic buildings, old stone steps, traditional houses, and Western-style architecture. This area is much quieter than the commercialised old streets.

Then, it is time to hop on a short ferry at the confluence of the Yangtze River and Jialing River to admire the city's riverside scenery. The ferry is more convenient than larger sightseeing cruises, offering layers of hillside buildings, bridges, and waterfront views.

Continue to Jiefangbei, Chongqing's central business district. The surrounding shopping malls, restaurants, local snack shops, and lively streets show you another side of Chongqing — a modern metropolis full of energy and local life.

Walk to Hongya Cave to catch one of Chongqing's most recognizable scenes. This traditional-style stilted building (diaojiaolou) is built along the hillside by the river. You can see how the traditional designs adapt to Chongqing's terrain. After dark, when the lights come on, Hongya Cave transforms into a spectacular night scene with glowing buildings, river views, and illuminated bridges.

In the evening you are driven to the station for the high-speed train to Zhangjiajie.

After an early breakfast, you head into Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO site whose forest of sandstone pillars wree the inspiration for the floating mountains in the film Avatar.

A convenient route strings the highlights together without too much climbing:

Enter the park → ride the Bailong Elevator up the cliff face → walk the Yuanjiajie viewpoints, where the Avatar-inspired pillars crowd the horizon → continue to Tianzi Mountain for the sweeping panoramas → descend to Golden Whip Stream and finish with a gentle riverside walk through the valley.

Good to know: The park gets extremely busy in peak season, so treat the route above as a guide only. Your guide may reorder the sights to dodge the biggest queues, for example going up to Tianzi Mountain first and visiting Yuanjiajie afterwards.

Today is for two of Zhangjiajie's most dramatic feats. First you walk out onto the Glass Bridge across the Grand Canyon, a 430-metre span suspended about 300 metres above the gorge floor — a perfect setting for adventure.

Afterwards, drive to Tianmen Mountain and ride the 7,455-metre cableway to the summit, walking the cliffside paths and glass skywalks toward Tianmen Cave. The cave is actually a great natural arch punching through the mountain at around 1,300 metres. You can take the escalators straight through the rock or climb the famous 999 steps. People with knee trouble will prefer the escalators.

In the evening you are driven to the airport for the flight to Shanghai (about 2 hours), and a driver will meet you on arrival to take you to your downtown hotel.

Your first full day in Shanghai starts at Longhua Temple, a Buddhist monastery that can be traced back to the 3rd century and is among the oldest in the city. Soak up the quiet here before diving into the Old Town.

There you visit Yu Garden, a Ming Dynasty garden of pavilions, rockeries and ponds in the Jiangnan style. Then wander the neighbouring Yuyuan Bazaar to hunt down Shanghai snacks.

The next stop, Xintiandi, shows the city's other side — rows of shikumen lane houses turned into cafés, restaurants and boutiques.

Continue your trip to the Bund, the riverfront promenade lined with 52 historic buildings. Across the Huangpu River, the Lujiazui skyline lights up — the Shanghai Tower, the World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower and the Oriental Pearl. If you like, cross by ferry or take a river cruise (at an extra cost) to see the lights from the water, before your driver returns you to the hotel.

Your last day is a gentler wander through Shanghai's quieter corners. Start in the Former French Concession, where plane trees shade rows of old villas.

Stop at the Little White House, a 1905 villa that now serves as the city's arts-and-crafts museum, with jade carving and Gu embroidery among its displays.

Continue to the Shanghai Museum, whose collection of bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and painting ranks among China's finest.

Cross the Huangpu River to Pudong, and round off the day at the observation deck of the Shanghai World Financial Center. Due to its distinctive rectangular cut-out at the top, the building is nicknamed "the Bottle Opener". The high observation platform here offers sweeping panoramic views across the Huangpu River, contrasting the colonial architecture of the Bund and the futuristic skyscraper skyline of Pudong.

Drive back to your hotel at the end of the day.

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.