Tour Code: TG-404-BXCJS-15D
Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Shanghai
Arrive in Beijing, where you will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is left free for you to settle in, recover from the flight, and ease into the journey at your own pace before the tour begins.
Accommodation: Beijing
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: None
Morning:
Begin your first full day in China at Tiananmen Square, one of the country’s most symbolic landmarks. Then step into the Forbidden City, the grand imperial palace complex that stood at the heart of imperial power for centuries. As you pass through its gates, courtyards, and palace halls, the scale and legacy of old Beijing come vividly to life.
Afternoon:
Later, head up to Jingshan Park for a sweeping view over the golden rooftops of the Forbidden City and the old city beyond. It is one of the best vantage points for understanding the layout and grandeur of Beijing’s historic core.
Accommodation: Beijing
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Today takes you to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, one of the most scenic and rewarding stretches near Beijing. Surrounded by wooded hills and less crowded than some other sections, it offers a memorable Great Wall experience in a beautiful mountain setting. Take the cable car up and enjoy time walking along the ancient wall as watchtowers and ridgelines unfold around you.
Afternoon:
Return to the city and continue to the Olympic Park for outside views of the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube. These modern landmarks offer a striking contrast to the imperial sites of the previous day.
Accommodation: Beijing
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Depending on the final arrangement, visit either the Summer Palace, known for its lakes, pavilions, and elegant royal gardens, or the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s most important ceremonial sites. Both reveal another side of the capital’s imperial heritage.
Afternoon:
Later, transfer to the railway station and board a high-speed train to Xi’an. On arrival, meet your local guide and continue to your hotel, where the next chapter of the journey begins in one of China’s great ancient capitals.
Accommodation: Xi’an
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Visit the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in China. Standing before the vast underground army of life-sized figures is a powerful experience that brings the ambition and scale of the Qin dynasty into sharp focus.
Afternoon:
Later, head to Xi’an’s Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved city walls in the country. Walking along the top offers broad views over both the traditional quarters and the modern city that has grown around them.
Evening:
After dark, continue to Datang Everbright City, where illuminated Tang-style buildings, lively streets, and a festive evening atmosphere create one of Xi’an’s most distinctive night scenes.
Accommodation: Xi’an
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Start the day at Little Wild Goose Pagoda, a historic Buddhist site with a calmer and more local atmosphere. Then continue to Xi’an Museum, where the city’s long past as an imperial capital is presented through artifacts, architecture, and cultural displays.
Afternoon:
Later, visit the Bell and Drum Towers, two of Xi’an’s best-known landmarks, before moving on to the Muslim Quarter. Here, old lanes, local food, and everyday street life reveal a more vibrant and down-to-earth side of the city.
Accommodation: Xi’an
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Take a high-speed train to Chengdu. After arrival, meet your local guide and transfer into the city, where the atmosphere immediately feels more relaxed and easygoing.
Afternoon:
Visit Wuhou Shrine, one of Chengdu’s most important historic sites, closely tied to the legacy of the Three Kingdoms period. Afterwards, stroll through Jinli, a lively old-style street lined with local snacks, traditional architecture, and the unmistakable charm of old Chengdu.
Accommodation: Chengdu
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
This morning is devoted to one of Chengdu’s biggest highlights: the giant pandas. At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, you can watch these much-loved animals eating, climbing, playing, or simply resting in their leafy surroundings.
Afternoon:
Later, slow the pace down at People’s Park, where locals gather to sip tea, chat, and enjoy daily life. Continue to Kuanzhai Alley, a charming area of historic lanes, courtyard-style buildings, local snacks, and small shops that reflects Chengdu’s laid-back character.
Accommodation: Chengdu
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Travel by high-speed train to Zhangjiajie, leaving behind the major cities and moving toward one of China’s most dramatic natural regions. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and settle in.
Afternoon:
Later, visit Xibu Street in Wulingyuan, where regional-style architecture, craft shops, and ethnic cultural touches offer a gentle introduction to the local atmosphere of western Hunan.
Accommodation: Zhangjiajie
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Full Day:
Head to Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, one of Zhangjiajie’s most iconic scenic areas. Ride the famous cable car up the mountain and take in spectacular views of cliffs, forests, and the winding road below. At the summit, experience the dramatic glass skywalk and visit Tianmen Cave, the huge natural arch that has become one of the region’s best-known landmarks.
Evening:
In the evening, visit the 72 Wonder Towers, where bold architecture, lights, and a lively atmosphere present a very different side of Zhangjiajie after dark.
Accommodation: Zhangjiajie
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Ride the Bailong Elevator into the heart of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and explore Yuanjiajie, the area most closely associated with the famous “Avatar Mountains.” Towering sandstone pillars rise dramatically out of the forest, creating one of the most surreal landscapes in China. Continue on to Yangjiajie, where the scenery becomes even more rugged and striking.
Afternoon:
Later, visit Tianzi Mountain, another signature area of the park, known for its sweeping viewpoints and remarkable rock formations such as Imperial Brush Peaks and Fairy Scattering Flowers.
Accommodation: Zhangjiajie
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Take the cable car up to Huangshizhai, one of the classic viewpoints in Zhangjiajie. From here, the landscape opens into a sea of peaks, deep valleys, and extraordinary stone formations.
Afternoon:
Later, walk along Golden Whip Stream, a peaceful scenic route where clear water, lush vegetation, and dramatic cliffs come together beautifully. Continue to the Ten-Mile Gallery, another celebrated area of the park, where the scenery feels almost like a traditional Chinese painting brought to life.
Accommodation: Zhangjiajie
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Transfer to the airport for your flight from Zhangjiajie to Shanghai, the final major stop on this journey through China.
Afternoon:
On arrival, transfer to your hotel in the city. The rest of the day is left relaxed, giving you time to settle in and prepare for a change of pace as the journey moves from mountains and ancient capitals to one of China’s most modern and cosmopolitan cities.
Accommodation: Shanghai
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Start the day at Shanghai Tower, where sweeping views reveal the scale, energy, and contrast of the city below. Afterwards, visit Yu Garden, a beautifully preserved classical garden that offers a quieter and more refined side of Shanghai.
Afternoon:
Continue to Nanjing Road, one of the city’s busiest and most iconic commercial streets, before ending at the Bund. Here, historic waterfront architecture faces the futuristic skyline of Pudong across the Huangpu River, creating one of Shanghai’s most unforgettable views.
Accommodation: Shanghai
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
After breakfast, enjoy some free time before your transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule. Your 15-day journey through China comes to an end here, with lasting memories of imperial cities, giant pandas, dramatic mountain scenery, and Shanghai’s iconic skyline.
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast
Carefully selected local 5-star hotels are arranged in Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, and Shanghai for a smooth and comfortable journey.
Final hotel details will be confirmed before departure, and room upgrades or alternative options can be arranged based on your preferences and budget.
Professional English-speaking guides will be arranged in each destination, including Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, and Shanghai, to assist with transfers, sightseeing, and on-the-ground coordination throughout the trip.
Guide arrangements are organized according to the itinerary, so each part of the journey is handled smoothly and clearly.
Admission tickets to the attractions listed in the itinerary are included.
China travel accident insurance is included for the duration of your trip.
Full policy details can be provided upon request.
International transportation to and from China is not included in the tour price. We are happy to assist with flight recommendations or booking arrangements to help ensure a smooth connection with your itinerary.
China visa application and related fees are not included.
Comprehensive international travel insurance is not included.
The travel accident insurance included during your trip in China does not replace full international travel insurance.
Guests are advised to arrange suitable coverage before departure.
Any experiences, tickets, or transportation not specified in the itinerary are not included.
Optional shows, special experiences, or upgrades arranged during free time may incur additional costs.
Personal expenses such as shopping, individual purchases, and discretionary spending are not included.
Gratuities for your guide and driver are not included and remain at your discretion.
Yes. This tour is a great choice for first-time visitors who want to experience China in a fuller and more meaningful way. It combines Beijing and Xi’an’s imperial history, Chengdu’s giant pandas and local lifestyle, Zhangjiajie’s dramatic mountain scenery, and Shanghai’s modern skyline in one well-balanced journey.
The best time for this itinerary is usually from early March to late May, throughout September, and from after October 8 to before mid-December, when the weather is generally more comfortable for sightseeing in cities like Beijing and Xi’an, as well as in scenic areas such as Zhangjiajie. Summer is also possible, but it can be hotter and more crowded during peak travel periods.
English-speaking guides are arranged according to the itinerary in each destination. This allows you to enjoy local insights, sightseeing support, and smoother transfers while keeping the overall journey flexible and well organized.
This 15-Day Classic China Tour is available as both a small group tour and a private tour. The private tour can be customized based on your interests, pace, hotel preferences, and travel plans. Small group tours usually offer only limited flexibility, mainly in hotel choice and a few minor arrangements.
Yes, it can be arranged. However, for families traveling with children and seniors, we usually recommend a private tour, as it offers more flexibility and allows the guide and driver to better assist and look after both the children and the older family members during the trip.
Small Group Tour Inquiry:
Tell us your preferred small group departure, and we’ll send you the current availability, pricing, and next steps for booking.
You are inquiring about:
15-Day Classic China Tour: Culture, Pandas and Avatar Mountains
Share your travel plans and preferences, and we’ll prepare a tailored quote for your trip. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours with the next steps.
Your details are used only to prepare your itinerary and will never be shared.
Have questions about your China trip? Send us your question and get practical advice from our local travel team.
Get in Touch
