China Essence: Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Yangtze Cruise, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai 14 Days

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of P.R.China. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Beijing hotel. 

Today you will take 2-hour ride to Mutianyu Great Wall, a section of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty 600 years ago. You can walk up or take cable car up to the Wall, and walk from tower to tower. It is amazing to view the ancient military construction that is well preserved on the giant mountains.

Head to Summer Palace this afternoon to view the amazing Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill this afternoon, where it used to be a summer resort for the royal families during Qing Dynasty.

Later you will be transferred back to your hotel.

You will visit the biggest city square in the world, the Tiananmen Square. Then walk to The Forbidden City, the biggest palace in the world. Explore the main buildings with a local guide in the palace. Then you will catch 5-hour bullet train to Xian after included lunch. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel. 

Today you will take one-hour car ride to The Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum that is one of the highlights of the Silk Road. Discovered and excavated in 1974, the museum was built on the original site, and each of the warriors is unique one with its own uniform. You will learn the history and story about this site with your local guide.

In the afternoon, your will visit Muslim Quarter, particularly the Grand Mosque that is a traditional Chinese architectural style mosque.

Today you will visit the old city wall of Xi'an, which is nearly 14km and could be tracked its history to Tang Dynasty about 1600 years ago. Then you will catch 3-hour bullet train to Chengdu. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Chengdu hotel.

Visit Chengdu Panda Base in the morning to see the cute panda feeding the bamboo. Then you will explore the well-known Kuai & Zhai Alleys, and Wenshu Temple in Chengdu with local guide to learn the history about here. Taste the yummy hot-pot dinner, which is renowned in the world.

Take 2-hour morning bullet train to Chongqing. Then you will explore the wonderful city Chongqing. You will view the light train through the Liziba Station, and wander around the Ciqikou Old Town, then you will visit Hongyadong(view it from the bridge during the holidays because too many people). In the evening, you will board the Yangtze cruise and start sailing at night.

Today continue sailing on the Yangtze River, and you will take a shore excursion to Shibaozhai or Fengdu's“Ghost City" or Yuhuang Shengdi (Jade Emperor Sanctuary) or others.

Note: The included excursions are subject be change as per different boat schedule, please check the onboard cruise itinerary.

Enter the Three Gorges, one of nature’s most extraordinary sculptures. 

Today you will pass through the first two—Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. Qutang Gorge is the shortest (8km), narrowest, and most dramatic. The 46km long Wu Gorge is known for its quiet beauty, forest-covered mountains, and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices. 

Transfer to another vessel for a relaxing excursion through the attractive gorges of Goddess Stream. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to the gorges of Shennong Stream or or Small Three Gorges or others. 

Enter Xiling Gorge, the longest (76km), and the deepest of the Three Gorges. 

Additional optional Shore Excursion to White Emperor City (river conditions permitting), an ancient city overlooking the western end of Qutang Gorge. 

Note: The included excursions are subject be change as per different boat schedule, please check the onboard cruise itinerary.

Enjoy breakfast. Then it is the included shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam, and optional tour to Ship Lift.

Afterwards, take bus to Yichang Sanxia Tourist Center.

Then you will take 5-hour car ride to Zhangjiajie hotel.

Today you will head to Zhangjiajie National Park where you will overlook the wonderful views by super elevator. The elevator takes 1.58 seconds to transport tourists from the bottom to the Yuanjiajie top exhibiting unbelievable and fantastic views. Enjoy the heaven and earth pillar unpredictable prototype mountain of the movie AVATAR directed by Jame Cameron on the Summit Sightseeing Platform. 

Afterwards you will move to visit Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve that offers a perfect location to have a panoramic picture. Known as 'the Monarch of the Peak Forest', Tianzi Mountain has four wonders: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, the Rays of Sunshine and the Snow in winter. Later you will head to Shilihualang (10-Mile-Gallery) to explore. (One way by electric train; other way on foot for about 30 Minutes.)

Drive to Tianmen Mountain, then walk along the road leading to Gateway of Heaven. The glass walkway makes it so distinctive. You will take Tianmen Mountain Cableway to explore Tongtian Avenue (a way to Heaven), Tianmen Cave (Heaven Gateway), Tianmen Temple, Tianmen glass walkway, Ghost-valley plank road, and Yunmeng Fairy Summit. You will take a small cable to the main cable, then take the world's longest cableway, with a length of 7455 meters and elevation of 1518 meters to go down. (The round-way of the main cable and upper way for the small cable are included. If you take round-way small cable car, you will miss some sights.) 

Afterwards, you will be transferred to Zhangjiajie Airport to catch your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your Shanghai hotel.

City explore in Shanghai today with a local guide, you will visit the Bund that is riverfront of the Huangpu River, Yu Garden that is an old pretty garden, Xintiandi that is former French Colony, and Jade Buddha Temple etc. 

Today is departure day, you will be transferred to Shanghai Airport to catch your flight back home, where the wonderful tour concludes.