China Natural Beauty Tour 12 Days / 11 Nights

Transfer via:  Flight, arranged on your own

Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will be warmly greeted by your guide and transferred to your downtown hotel in a private car. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Meals:  Breakfast, A la carte lunch

Shanghai is a city that perfectly integrates its old and new glamour, which can be fully found today. The city exploration begins at the Shanghai Museum, where you will be astounded by the bronzes, jades, paintings, sculptures, and other valuable collections of ancient Chinese artifacts. Continue to the Yu Garden, an artistically designed one with over 400 years of history, shining among all traditional Chinese gardens in the south of the Yangtze. Then change your tempo to the Yuyuan Market, a bustling bazaar nearby that sells all kinds of stuff. After a short break at a silk shop, wander through the Bund to feel the old appeal of the city.

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Shanghai Museum (with audio guide, closed on Mondays): Located in the heart of Shanghai, the Shanghai Museum is the largest museum in China and boasts an extensive collection of Chinese artifacts. If you're interested in Chinese history and culture, a visit is highly recommended.

Yu Garden (closed on Mondays, except holidays): Situated in Shanghai’s Old Town, Yu Garden was originally designed in 1577 AD by a powerful Ming Dynasty official. It features a stunning classical Chinese landscape filled with pagodas, pavilions, rockeries, fountains, ancient trees, and rare flowers.

Yuyuan Market: Just outside Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market is a bustling bazaar offering a wide array of local snacks, souvenirs, and traditional trinkets. It’s a great place to sample authentic Shanghai street food.

Silk Workshop (Factory): Chinese silk has fascinated the world since the days of the ancient Silk Road. Discover how tiny cocoons are transformed into elegant silk and intricate embroidery—a process often described as magical. A visit to the workshop reveals the traditional techniques behind silk production, and it's also a great spot to find meaningful souvenirs for family and friends.

Transfer via:  2 hour flight with economy class seating.

Meals:  Breakfast

There are several picturesque water towns not far from Shanghai, and Xitang is a representative of them. Check out your hotel in the morning and take a drive (around 1.5 hours) to Xitang Ancient Town, a quaint town dating back to 771 B.C. Have a mesmerizing boat ride on the canals and soak up the charming views.

Afterward, be escorted to the airport in Shanghai for your flight to Zhangjiajie. When you land at the airport, your Zhangjiajie local guide will be awaiting you and ready to take you to the hotel.

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Xitang Ancient Town:  Xitang is an ancient water town, approximate 80 minutes drive from Shanghai. The town is divided to eight sections by nine rivers and is linked by old-fashioned stone bridges. In the older parts of town, the buildings are set along the banks of the canals, which serve as the main transportation thoroughfares in the area. It also contains numerous antique residences and temples, such as the Temple of the Seven Masters.

Boat cruise at Xitang:  Riding a small, gondola-like boat (called sampan) cruising on the small river would be a unique experience. It normally takes 6-8 people together in one boat. If you like, you can also pay the extra fee to occupy the whole boat.

Meals: Breakfast and à la carte lunch

The stunning scenery of Zhangjiajie makes it quite famous and attracts numerous tourists from all over the world each year. After breakfast, head to Wulinyuan Scenic Area and spend the whole day there. Take the Bailong Elevator up to the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, a surreal world with thousands of towering pinnacles that are said to have inspired James Cameron's blockbuster Avatar. Then, ride the public shuttle bus to the Tianzi Mountain Natural Reserve to marvel at the First Bridge Under the Sun and the spectacular pinnacles like Fairy Maiden Presenting Flowers and Imperial Brush Peak. Take a cable car down and conclude the tour today at Ten-mile Gallery, a 6-km long valley with beautiful peaks on both sides and a peaceful stream running through.

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Note:  Our private van is not allowed to enter into the Scenic Area. You will take the shuttle bus inside the Scenic Area from one scenic spot to another. Our tour guide might change the touring order to help you avoid the crowds.

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Zhangjiajie National Forest Park:   Located in the northwest of Wulingyuan, this park spans 4,300 hectares. It was the first state-designated national forest park in China and only opened to tourists in the 1980s.

Yuanjiajie Scenic Area:  It is essentially a vast landscape of shrub- and tree-covered, platform-like blocks and obelisks, surrounding a hollowed-out valley floor with a pristine mountain stream running through its center. The mist-wreathed mountains of this region inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountains in James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster Avatar, set in the fictional world of Pandora.

Tianzi Mountain: Located in the northern part of Wulingyuan Scenic Area in Hunan Province, Tianzi (Son of Heaven) Mountain Nature Reserve is one of the four scenic spots in Wulingyuan (three other spots are the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the Suoxiyu Natural Resource Reserve and the Yangjiajie Scenic Area). It covers an area of 67 square kilometers (about 16,550 acres), and the highest peak is 1,262 meters (about 4,140 feet) above the sea level.

Ten-mile Gallery (including round trip train):

Located in the northwestern part of the Suoxigu Nature Reserve, at the foot of Tianzi Mountain, this valley stretches approximately 5.8 kilometers in length. A stream flows through its center, while the surrounding peaks on both sides form striking natural sculptures. Among the most spectacular formations are the Herb-Collecting Old Man and Immortals Worshipping Guanyin.

Transfer via:  Bullet D train with second class seating

Meals: Breakfast and à la carte lunch

Take the morning to visit Tianmen Mountain, which literally means "heaven's gate mountain" for the huge natural cave halfway up the mountain. The 7,455-meter cable car, which had been the longest one in the world until 2021, will take you to the top within 30 minutes.

After the unforgettable tour in Zhangjiajie, get to the railway station for your train to Changsha.

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Tianmen Mountain (including two Glass Walkways, the cable car and Mini bus):  Tianmen Mountain is regarded as the symbol and soul of Zhangjiajie. It is the first mountain recorded in the history of the region. Its highest peak rises to approximately 1,518.6 meters above sea level. The mountain gets its name from a massive natural cave located halfway up the slope, resembling a gateway to the heavens. This is why it is called Tianmen Mountain, meaning "Heavenly Gate Mountain."

Transfer via:  High speed G train with second class seating. (Duration: 3.5 hours)

Meals:  Breakfast

After breakfast, board your train to Guilin.

Upon arrival, be greeted by your local tour guide and proceed to visit Reed Flute Cave,  in which you can see lots of stalactites & stalagmites illuminated by the lights of different colors and learn how they were formed. After that, check into your hotel and have a rest.

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Reed Flute Cave:  5 kilometers away from the city center, famed as "A Natural Palace of Art", in which you can see lots of stalactites & stalagmites illuminated by the lights of different colors and learn how they were formed.

Transfer via:  Boat

Meals:  Breakfast and lunch

Today you will take a relaxing Li River cruise down to the scenic town of Yangshuo. Along the way, immerse yourself in the dramatic landscape of clear water, karst hills, paddy fields, and rural villages.

Disembark in Yangshuo at around 1:30 pm to 2 pm (depending on the water condition) and walk through the bustling West Street, followed by a private transfer to your Yangshuo hotel. For the rest of the day, relax, indulge and explore your scenic surroundings.

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Li River Cruise:  By taking the cruise on Li River, you will be inspired by breathtaking views of peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and reflections in the water together with the serene pastoral countryside view. The cruise usually takes around 4 hours, depends on the water conditions.

Transfer via:

Yangshuo - Guilin, Private vehicle

Guilin - Xi'an, Flight (Duration: 1 hour and 55 minutes), Economy Class

Meals:  Breakfast

Wake up early to get back to Guilin and board your morning flight to Xi'an.

Once arrival, your private guide there will pick you up and escort you to visit the Ancient City Wall. After that, check into your hotel and rest.

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Ancient City Wall:  The Xi'an City Wall is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient fortresses in China with a circumference of 13.74 km. Walking on the wall, you can best enjoy the watchtowers, moat, landscaped environs and feel like stepping back in time to ancient China.

Meals:  Breakfast and à la carte lunch

Unlike Zhangjiajie, which is well-known mainly for its natural wonders, Xi'an is world-famous due to its extraordinary archaeological discovery of the Terracotta Warriors. These life-size clay soldiers had been created about 2,200 years ago to accompany the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, after his death.

After being astonished by the incomparable Terracotta Army, meander through the famous Muslim Quarter, which has been the center of the Muslim community in Xi'an for over 1,000 years. Explore the Muslim culture and try some exotic snacks there.

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Terracotta Warriors:  Discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, the Terracotta Warriors is one of the most significant archeological finds of the 20th century and has been registered in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site consists of three main buildings, Pit 1, Pit 2, and Pit 3. The three pits occupy an area of 22,000 square meters, housing about 8,000 life-size pottery warriors and horses. These painted terracotta warriors and horses, which individually sculpted from real-life models and arranged in battle formation, have been protecting the mausoleum of the first emperor in Chinese history, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, since 2,200 years ago.

Muslim Street:  Muslim Street is the center of the sizable Chinese-Muslim community in Xi'an, considered as a snack street by the locals. It is a fantastic place to wander and pass through linked with shops selling a large variety of interesting local delicacies, snacks, and souvenirs. It is also packed with small restaurants serving typical Muslim food.

Transfer via: High speed G train with second class seating (Duration: about 4.5-6 hours)

Meals: Breakfast

Take a morning train to Beijing.

Once arrival, be escorted by your local guide to explore the Forbidden City, admiring its magnificent imperial buildings with exquisite details. Before heading to the hotel, spend some time strolling around a well-preserved Hutong and get on a rickshaw to discover the most traditional community of old Beijing.

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Rickshaw Hutong Tour:  The old narrow paths with lots of courtyard homes where common people are living, they are like villages within megalopolis, through the hutongs' teeming maze of alleyways, and you will see the old houses and learn about the daily life of ordinary Beijing citizens.

The Forbidden City (Closed on Monday):  It is located in the center of Beijing, used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years, it is the grandest integral palace complex still remaining in China.

Meals:  Breakfast and à la carte lunch

Before heading to the Great Wall, enjoy some time at the Temple of Heaven, where emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped heaven once a year for bountiful harvests.

Drive about 2 hours to the suburb of Beijing to visit the awe-inspiring Great Wall at Mutianyu. This less-frequented section of the Wall stretches 1.4 miles, with 22 blockhouses and watchtowers offering splendid views of the meandering Great Wall and the surrounding mountains. Do not forget to take some photos and share with your family and friends this engineering masterpiece.

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Temple of Heaven:  It is the place which was visited yearly by the emperors who performed intricate rituals to insure a good harvest for the whole nation at ancient times.

Great Wall (Mutianyu Section):  The most famous symbol of China and one of the world's most remarkable architectural wonders, it was built over 2,000 years ago and stretching about 6,700 km.

Mutianyu Cable Car (round way):  Round-way cable car of Mutianyu Great Wall included. Chair-lift and Toboggan are also available. If you want to change to any of them, please inform the local guide before he or she purchases the tickets for round-trip cable car for you. Please pay the extra charge in cash to the local guide.

Transfer via:  Flight , arranged on your own

Meals:  Breakfast

Enjoy some free time on your own until you're taken to the airport for your flight. Thank you for traveling with us and wish you a pleasant flight.

1. A minimum of 2 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!

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.
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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.

-Cancellation received 60 days or more before the departure of the first product or service in the relevant booking: The Lifetime Deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms. The remainder of the payments made to the Tour Operator for the cancelled product will be refunded.

-Cancellation received 59-30 days before the departure of the first product or service in the relevant booking: The Lifetime Deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms. An amount equal to 50% of the remaining payments made to the Tour Operator for the cancelled Tour will be refunded.

-Cancellation less than 30 days before the departure of the first product or service in the relevant booking: The Lifetime Deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms, and no further refund will be provided.

Private arrival and departure airport transfers

Domestic flights and high-speed train tickets shown in the itinerary

All ground transportation and transfers listed in the itinerary (private vehicles)

11 nights’ accommodation (as specified in the itinerary)

Daily breakfast at hotels

Selected meals as noted on the itinerary

Professional local guides and interpreters throughout the tour

Entrance fees to all listed attractions in the itinerary

International airfare to and from China

Visa fees and required travel documents or vaccinations

Travel insurance, including medical and evacuation coverage

Meals and drinks not listed as included in the itinerary

Optional activities, optional upgrades, and private excursions (for example private boat charters or private transfers) unless explicitly stated as included

Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, porters, hotel staff, or local providers

Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, minibar, souvenirs, and extra snacks or drinks