13-Day Essence of China Tour with Yangtze River Cruise & Panda

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China! When you arrive at the airport or train station, you will meet your tour guide and driver. Then you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore.

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Beijing

In the morning, you will travel to Tiananmen Square where there is a flag-raising ceremony every day. Go north and head to the Forbidden City which is now a museum that records the history of China. Accompanied by your tour guide, tour around the Forbidden City to discover the most magnificent gates and palaces. Enjoy a lunch of Beijing Roasted Duck at Siji Mingfu Roasted Duck Restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will visit Jingshan Park, a beautiful imperial garden of the Ming and Qing dynasties. You can climb up Jingshan Mountain which is a great place to have a stunning panoramic view of the Forbidden City.

In the evening, enjoy Peking Opera at Liyuan Theatre as the perfect end to the day.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Beijing

Today, you will spend a morning at the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall. To save your energy, you can take the cable car to the mountain. Hike on the Great Wall and be captivated by its majestic views. You can enjoy the chain of mountains and lush trees. Take a Mutianyu toboggan ride down the Great Wall. Enjoy lunch at a farmhouse restaurant at the foot of the Mutianyu Great Wall.

In the afternoon, you will head to the Summer Palace. Explore the gardens and Chinese-style architecture. You can walk around the Kunming Lake or enjoy a boat trip. In the evening, you can taste Beijing copper hot pot for dinner.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Beijing

In the morning, you will travel to the Temple of Heaven where the emperor used to offer sacrifices to heaven. Now, you can join locals for morning exercise. Take a rickshaw tour and travel through Beijing Hutong. Beijing Hutong is a place to get a flavor of Beijing's local life. You can see locals drinking tea and chatting under the trees. Visit various antique shops and small boutique shops. Taste Zhajiangmian (Beijing noodles with soybean paste) for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Xi'an by high-speed rail train. After about 5 hours, you will be met at the exit of the high-speed railway station by your private guide and driver. After checking in at the hotel, you can tour the surroundings on your own.

Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Xi'an

After breakfast, you will head to Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum and discover the Terracotta Army. Observe the life-size soldiers and horses and marvel at superb ancient Chinese sculpture art. After visiting, you can learn how to make a mini terracotta warrior.

After lunch, you will return to downtown Xi'an and take a tour of the Xi'an City Wall. You can ride a bicycle on the stable city wall. Stand by the city wall and take in the beauty of Xi'an.

In the evening, head to the Muslim Quarter to discover delicious food for dinner. Stroll through the street and stop at food stalls or restaurants for the ultimate taste feast.

Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Xi'an

In the morning, you will travel to the Shaanxi History Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Explore China's culture and history from precious historical relics.

In the afternoon, you will head to the high-speed rail station and take a 4-hour high-speed rail train to Chengdu. Upon arrival, your private local guide and driver will greet you at the station and take you to your hotel. You can have a rest or start to explore by yourself. You can travel to Kuanzhai Alley or Jinli Ancient Street where you can find local specialties and interesting small stores.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Chengdu

Today, spend a morning with cute pandas! The best time to see pandas is in the morning when they are most active. You will head to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Get a deeper understanding of pandas and learn about how experts protect this endearing creature. You have the opportunity to observe them playing and feeding in their habitat.

At noon, enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine at the nearby Sichuan restaurant. After returning to downtown Chengdu, you will visit Wenshu Yuan Monastery. Explore exquisite ancient architecture and appreciate Buddhist statues, scriptures, and murals. Enjoy a quiet moment with a cup of traditional Chinese tea at the teahouse.

In the evening, you can taste the authentic Sichuan hot pot or watch the wonderful Sichuan Opera Face Changing Show on your own. (Optional activity).

Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Chengdu

In the morning, you will be taken to Chengdu East Railway Station and take a 2-hour high-speed rail train to Chongqing.

After arriving in Chongqing, you will visit Ciqikou Ancient Town where you can appreciate many ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. You can step on the cobblestone road and taste local street food. Find a teahouse to relax and feel the customs of old Chongqing. Stop at a small store to discover fine handmade crafts.

Travel to the Three Gorges Museum which houses a large collection of precious cultural relics such as Ba Shu bronze ware, and sculptures of the Han Dynasty. You can get a glimpse of the history and culture of Chongqing and Three Gorges.

Before 8:00 pm, Your private guide will take you to Chaotianmen Dock where you will board the ferry. You will embark on your Yangtze River Cruise Tour. The cruise ships usually depart from Chongqing at 9:00 pm. In the evening, head to the Captain's welcome reception and enjoy a tasty buffet dinner.

Meals: B, D
Accommodation: on the ferry

In the morning, you can join a morning Tai Chi class on the deck of your cruise ship. Tai Chi morning exercises help you wake up from tiredness. After breakfast, you can attend a lecture and learn more about the history and culture of the Yangtze River. Then you can sit on a cozy sofa for a cup of coffee. Or pay a self-funded visit to Fengdu Ghost City where you can explore statues and frescoes about the nether world.

In the afternoon, you will travel to Shibaozhai ("Stone Treasure Fortress"). You can see a 12-story red pagoda backed by a steep and craggy hill. In the evening, attend a lively dinner and fun party on the ferry.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: on the ferry

Today, the cruise ship continues to sail along the Yangtze River. You will travel through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. When you enjoy breakfast, you can appreciate stunning mountains and cliffs on both sides.

In the afternoon, you will venture to Goddess Stream on a smaller boat. Goddess Stream is famous for its untouched nature and beautiful scenery. In the evening, you will watch great shows performed by the crew. Childcare services are provided on the cruise ship when you participate in activities.

Kind Reminder:
1. In the morning, you can choose to visit Baidi Cheng (White Emperor City) with extra charges.
2. Today's itinerary may vary slightly during the off-season and is subject to the cruise line.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: on the ferry

After breakfast, you will head to the Three Gorges Dam, a great hydroelectric gravity dam in China. You can stand on the 185 Platform and look down at the majestic dam.

Head to Yichang where you can take the high-speed rail train to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your private local guide and driver will meet you and take you to your hotel to rest.

Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Shanghai

In the morning, enjoy a local breakfast, such as a pan-fried pork bun, pan-fried dumplings, and egg pancake. After breakfast, you will visit the Shanghai Museum and learn about ancient Chinese art from more than 102 million collections of cultural relics. Then continue your tour to Yu Garden, a classical garden built in the Ming Dynasty. You can admire classical garden architecture and exquisite sculptures.

Pay a visit to Shanghai World Financial Center and get a bird's eye view of Shanghai from the sightseeing skywalk on floor 100. You can see the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and other skyscrapers. Take a walking tour to the Bund and explore Broadway Mansions.

After dinner, enjoy the Huangpu River cruise and sail along the Huangpu River. You can appreciate the scenery of the Huangpu River and the lights of the landmark buildings on both sides.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Shanghai

Today, you will say goodbye to your 13-day China tour. After breakfast at the hotel, your driver will take you to the airport or train station for departure. Have a nice trip!

Meals: B
Accommodation: N/A