13-Day China Natural Wonders Tour with Zhangjiajie & Guilin

Welcome to China! After arriving in Beijing, you will meet your private tour guide at the airport hall and head to your hotel in downtown Beijing. Then you are free to explore the surroundings.

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Beijing

In the morning, you will first head to Tiananmen Square. You can take photos of Tiananmen Gate. The flag-raising ceremony at sunrise is worth seeing. Take a guided walk to the Forbidden City and visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The buildings of the Forbidden City are arranged along the Beijing Central Axis. Vermilion walls and bright yellow roofs make it impressive.

For lunch, you will enjoy crisp Peking Roast Duck at Siji Mingfu Roasted Duck Restaurant outside the east gate of the Forbidden City. Tour to the Summer Palace which is dominated by Kunming Lake and Longevity Mountain. You can visit magnificent and splendid palace halls and pavilions or take a dragon boat tour on Kunming Lake.

After dinner, travel to Liyuan Theatre and watch Peking Opera. Experience the art of Chinese opera in an immersive way.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Beijing

In the morning, you will visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, the essence of the Great Wall. You can get to the mountain easily by cable car. Hike on the Great Wall to explore beacon towers and appreciate the beautiful scenery. Descend the Great Wall by taking the Mutianyu Great Wall Toboggan.

Eat Beijing homemade dishes for lunch at a farmhouse restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall. After lunch, you will return to downtown Beijing and visit Beijing Olympic Park (the Olympic Green), the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. There are many sports buildings with a unique design, such as the Bird's Nest and Water Cube.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Beijing

This morning, you will travel to the Temple of Heaven which consists of several worship buildings. Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the main building and the place where the emperor prayed for an abundant harvest of all crops. Now, it is one of the most popular places for morning exercise in Beijing. Tour through Beijing Hutong on a rickshaw. You can feel the peaceful life of old Beijing and see locals chatting or playing chess leisurely.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Xi'an by high-speed rail train. After about 5 hours, you will arrive in Xi'an and meet your private tour guide. After checking in at the hotel, you can spend the rest of the day exploring on your own.

Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Xi'an

After breakfast, you will head to Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum where you can visit the Terracotta Army, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can admire thousands of terracotta warriors of different identities, costumes, expressions, and amazing large chariots. These terracotta figurines are made to scale with real people. After visiting, you can create a mini terracotta soldier as a crafting experience.

After lunch, travel to Xi'an City Wall, the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Stand on the strong city walls and touch the green-gray bricks. You can stroll or bike on the city walls and enjoy a breathtaking bird's view of the moat. In the evening, you will visit the Muslim Quarter which has various food stalls and restaurants to choose from.

Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Xi'an

In the morning, you will visit the Shaanxi History Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Appreciate the precious treasure and discover more ancient history. Then head to a local family where you can dive into local daily life. You can learn how to make dumplings and enjoy a dumpling lunch.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport and take a 2-hour flight to Zhangjiajie. Prepare to embark on your China natural wonders tour itinerary in Zhangjiajie! Upon arrival, your local tour guide and driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for rest.

Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Wulingyuan Area

Today, you will enjoy a full-day tour at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. You will be taken to the entrance to the park and take the shuttle bus during your adventure. First, take the cable car up to Tianzi Mountain and appreciate a forest of stone peaks. If it's just raining, you may have a chance to see the stunning sea of clouds floating among the sandstone columns. Then take the cable car down the mountain.

Travel to Yuanjiajie for a visit to Hallelujah Mountain. Imagine you're in the Avatar world. You can take the thrilling Bailong Elevator, the highest elevator in the world. Enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding spiky sandstone peaks.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Wulingyuan Area

This morning, you will head to Tianmen Mountain National Park in downtown Zhangjiajie. Take the world's longest cable car to the top which will take you about 28 minutes. Along the way, you can enjoy spectacular karst landscapes.

Visit Tianmen Mountain Temple and overlook magnificent scenes of Tianmen Mountain. Walk on the thrilling Glass Skywalk and then travel to Tianmen Cave. You can climb the 999 steps and get to this natural water-eroded cave. Take the shuttle bus down the scenic 99 Bends.

In the afternoon, you will head to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Walk on the transparent Glass Bridge and experience the adrenaline rush. The Glass Bridge is suspended between valleys with a height of 300 meters.

Kind Reminder:
Tianmen Cave and Glass Skywalk may be closed due to heavy snow or severe cold weather in winter. Your personal tour guide and travel consultant will adjust your itinerary accordingly.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Downtown Zhangjiajie

After breakfast at the hotel, you will say goodbye to Zhangjiajie and transfer to the next destination, Guilin. You can prepare some food and drink to eat on the long bullet train travel.

After arrival, you will be met by your tour guide and taken to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore.

Kind Reminder:
There are only two morning direct high-speed rail trains from Zhangjiajie to Guilin which will take you about 7 hours. If the direct high-speed rail train tickets are sold out, you'll transit to Changsha and then to Guilin.

Meals: B
Accommodation: Guilin

After breakfast, you will head to Zhujiang Pier where you can take a five-star cruise to idyllic Yangshuo. You can tour the picturesque Li River and admire the rolling hills and the spectacular scenery. You will sail past iconic attractions, like the background image of Twenty Yuan Note and Nine Horses Fresco Hill. Enjoy your buffet lunch on the luxury cruise ship.

After arriving in Yangshuo, your driver will meet you at the pier and drive you to the hotel. You can have a rest and prepare for the Yangshuo countryside tour. You can rent a bike or electric scooter. Travel through postcard karst hills, rice fields, and tranquil villages. Feast your eyes on the unbeatable natural view. Continue to the Yulong River and experience bamboo rafting. Board a 2-person bamboo raft and enjoy a 50-minute sightseeing tour. You will experience the excitement of passing over small dams.

In the evening, you can enjoy the nightlife in vibrant and bustling West Street. Explore restaurants, shopping stores, and entertainment venues.

Kind Reminder:
Li River cruise tour time depends on the water level which may take about 4 to 5 hours.

Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Yangshuo

After breakfast, you will return to downtown Guilin and visit Reed Flute Cave, known as "the Palace of Natural Arts". Step into the wonderland-like natural limestone cave and appreciate odd-shaped stalactite and multicolored lighting.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to the modern city of Shanghai. Your private tour guide and driver will pick you up at the airport. Once settled in, you can explore the surroundings on your own.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Shanghai

After breakfast, you will visit the Shanghai Museum which displays ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics, paintings, coins, and other cultural relics. Head to Yu Garden and relax at the Chinese classical garden. Continue to the Yuyuan Bazaar with a variety of local snacks, drinks, and exquisite handmade goods.

Ascend to the sightseeing hall on the 100th floor of Shanghai World Financial Center and get a bird's-eye view of the whole of Shanghai. Stroll to Nanjing Road where you can start an unforgettable shopping tour and food tour. Travel to the Bund, the landmark of Shanghai. Appreciate the Oriental Pearl Tower and Western-style architectural complex, like Broadway Mansions.

After dinner, enjoy a Huangpu River cruise tour. You will pass by Waibaidu Bridge, the glitzy cityscape of Lujiazui, and the international architecture of the Bund.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Shanghai

This is the end of your 13-day China tour of natural wonders. In the morning, your driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: B
Accommodation: N/A