10-Day China Journey: Pandas, Yangtze River Cruise & Zhangjiajie

Upon arrival in Chengdu, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to rest after your journey or begin getting acquainted with the city. A welcome dinner featuring regional Sichuan cuisine is included this evening, subject to arrival time.

Meals: Dinner (Sichuan cuisine, subject to arrival time)

Accommodation: Tibet Hotel Chengdu or similar 5-star property

Begin at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can observe giant pandas in a leading conservation and research setting. Continue to Du Fu Thatched Cottage, a quiet garden complex associated with one of China's best-known poets. Later, slow down in Renmin Park with tea in a traditional teahouse, then stroll through Kuanzhai Alley, where restored courtyards reflect both historic and contemporary Chengdu life.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch 

Accommodation: Tibet Hotel Chengdu or similar 5-star property

After breakfast, travel by high-speed rail to Chongqing, a mountain city shaped by steep terrain and the meeting of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. On arrival, experience the city’s vertical character on the Yangtze River Cableway and at Liziba Station, where a monorail passes directly through a residential building. Continue through selected hillside neighborhoods, such as Mountain City Trail or Shibati Traditional Style Area, depending on timing. Later, explore Longmenhao Old Street or Xiahaoli, where historic lanes, river views, and evening lights offer a relaxed introduction to Chongqing after dark. Conclude with exterior night views of Hongya Cave before returning to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

Accommodation: Ascott Raffles City Chongqing or similar 5-star property

Begin at Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, where modern towers surround one of Chongqing's best-known historic landmarks. Continue to Bai Xiang Ju and Kuixing Tower for a closer look at the city's vertical residential architecture and multi-level streets. Depending on timing and port arrangements, visit Eling Park or Testbed 2 for a quieter urban perspective before transferring to the port. Board your Yangtze River cruise, settle into your cabin, and enjoy a welcome reception and dinner as the voyage begins.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner (Buffet)

Accommodation: Yangtze River cruise – Deluxe Cabin on Deck 2

Today combines scenic cruising with one included shore excursion along the middle Yangtze. Please select one option in advance, subject to the confirmed docking schedule:
Option A: Baiheliang Underwater Museum & Fuling Zhacai History Memory Hall, combining ancient hydrological inscriptions with Fuling's distinctive local food heritage.
Option B: 816 Underground Project, a vast Cold War-era military complex hidden inside the mountains.

Important Note: If the ship docks at Fengdu due to weather, river conditions, navigation restrictions, or operational needs, the scheduled excursion may be replaced with a visit to Fengdu Ghost City.

In the evening, attend Feng Yan San Guo (War Fire of the Three Kingdoms), an open-air performance inspired by the era of the Three Kingdoms, subject to the cruise's operating schedule.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner / Late-night snack on board

Accommodation: Yangtze River cruise – Deluxe Cabin on Deck 2

Choose one included shore excursion:

Option A: White Emperor City, long associated with Chinese poetry and Three Kingdoms history.

Option B: Three Gorges Summit, offering panoramic views over the river valley.

Throughout the day, sail through Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and the western section of Xiling Gorge, where sheer cliffs, narrow passages, and layered mountain scenery create some of the Yangtze's most memorable views.

In the evening, enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Dinner and a performance by the crew.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner / Late-night snack on board

Accommodation: Yangtze River cruise – Deluxe Cabin on Deck 2

Subject to operational conditions, the ship is scheduled to pass through the Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift and Gezhou Dam Ship Lock before continuing through the eastern section of Xiling Gorge.

Important Note: 

1. This itinerary does not include a scheduled shore visit inside the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area. The dam can still be viewed from the deck during the sailing.
2. If the Ship Lift is unavailable due to weather, water levels, navigation conditions, or other operational reasons, the cruise company may substitute a shore visit to the Three Gorges Dam and adjust the Xiling Gorge sailing arrangement.

After disembarkation in Yichang, continue by road to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast on board, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel or similar 5-star property

Spend the day exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic Area. With your guide, use the park's scenic-area transport, including the Bailong Elevator, cableways, and shuttle buses, according to the day's route. Visit Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain, where towering sandstone pillars, forested valleys, rugged rock formations, and layered mountain views create one of China's most recognizable landscapes, often associated with the floating mountains in Avatar. The route and sightseeing order may be adjusted based on weather, visibility, crowd levels, scenic-area operations, and the evening flight schedule. Later, transfer to Zhangjiajie Airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Sunrise on the Bund Hotel or similar 5-star property

After a relaxed start, visit Yu Garden, a classical garden dating to the Ming Dynasty, where pavilions, ponds, and rockeries offer a quiet contrast to Shanghai’s modern skyline. Continue along Nanjing Road to the historic Bund, where early twentieth-century architecture faces the contemporary towers of Pudong across the Huangpu River. Later, take a Huangpu River cruise for panoramic views of the Bund and Pudong skyline.

The day’s start time and sightseeing order may be adjusted depending on the previous evening’s actual arrival time, allowing for a comfortable pace.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation: Sunrise on the Bund Hotel or similar 5-star property

After breakfast, transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) according to your flight schedule.

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Not included

- Accommodation in listed or similar-standard properties, including six hotel nights and three nights in a Deluxe Cabin on Deck 2 aboard the Yangtze River cruise, based on double occupancy. Optional cabin upgrades may be available on request

- Meals as listed in the itinerary, with complimentary bottled drinking water provided daily

- All tour transportation as outlined in the itinerary, including premium tour vehicles and scheduled intercity travel by high-speed train or domestic flight

- Professional English-speaking guides

- Entrance fees and scheduled activities listed in the itinerary

- International flights and airport taxes

- Visa fees (if applicable)

- Meals not specified in the itinerary

- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, snacks, and alcoholic beverages; optional activities arranged on request; and any costs not listed as included

- Travel insurance (highly recommended)

- Single room supplement

- Gratuities for the guide and driver

1. A minimum of 4 people is required to schedule a tour. If you are traveling alone, please consult our customer service department, and they will assist you in joining another group. Early booking is highly recommended as availability may be limited.
2. Please note that this itinerary serves as a sample. The order and locations of planned events may change due to factors such as flight arrival times, road and weather conditions, as well as our desire to tailor the tour to your abilities and interests. Your guide will provide daily updates to keep you informed. Our priority is to ensure that everyone enjoys a safe adventure, creating cherished memories and an unforgettable experience!
3. Accommodations on this journey are selected for overall comfort, location, facilities, service level, character, and suitability for the itinerary rather than star rating alone. Hotel ratings and guest expectations may vary between local and international platforms, so listed properties are intended as a guide to the standard and style of accommodation provided. If a listed property is unavailable, it may be replaced with a similar-standard accommodation, including selected feature stays where noted.

1. Please note that itineraries are subject to change due to unforeseen issues and/or delays.
2. This tour operating company acts solely as an intermediary for suppliers, facilitating the sale of travel-related services and accepting reservations or bookings for services not directly provided by the company (such as air and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, tours, cruises, etc.). The company shall not be held responsible for any breach of contract arising from intentional or negligent actions or omissions on the part of such suppliers, which may result in loss, damage, delay, or injury to you, your travel companions, or group members.
3. Unless the term "guaranteed" is explicitly stated in writing on your tickets, invoice, or reservation itinerary, we do not guarantee the rates, bookings, reservations, connections, scheduling, or handling of personal effects by such suppliers.
4. The travel agent shall not be liable for injuries, damages, or losses incurred by any traveler in connection with terrorist activities, social or labor unrest, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws, climatic conditions, criminal acts, abnormal conditions or developments, or any other actions, omissions, or circumstances beyond the control of the travel agent.
5. The traveler assumes full responsibility for verifying passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements for each destination, as well as safety and security conditions during the proposed travel.
6. Traveler voluntarily assumes all risks associated with such travel, whether expected or unexpected. The traveler is hereby informed of these risks and is advised to obtain appropriate insurance coverage to mitigate them.

We understand that travel plans can change. Our cancellation policy is designed to be as fair and transparent as possible.

• More than 60 days before departure: 80% refund of the total trip cost; a 20% cancellation fee applies.
• 59 to 35 days before departure: 50% refund of the total trip cost; a 50% cancellation fee applies.
• Within 34 days of departure: No refund can be issued; a 100% cancellation fee applies.

Cancellation requests must be received in writing. We recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance to help protect your trip investment in the event of unforeseen circumstances.