8-Day China Highlights Tour: Visits to Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Beijing

Embark on an exclusive 8-day journey across China, visiting prominent destinations such as Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Beijing. The tour begins from your hotel in Shanghai and ends with a drop-off at your accommodation in Beijing.

Duration: 8 days
Cancellation: 3 days learn more
Highlights

Shanghai. O/N Shanghai.

Shanghai - Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Urban Planning Exhibition Hall in around 20 minutes ride.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall - At Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, you can view many textual and graphic files and architectural models, which will help you get an overall understanding of the development of Shanghai.

The Urban Planning Exhibition Hall showcases the urbanization and modernization of Shanghai. You will know more about Shanghai’s past and present by viewing the miniatures of the city, and rich materials about the city planning. Also, the high-tech methods are widely adopted to forecast the blueprint of Shanghai through 2020.

Yu Garden (Yuyuan) - Next, have a relaxing time rambling in the beautiful Yu Garden.Located in the old town, Yuyuan Garden is the most famous ancient site in this city for its ingenious layout and delicate architecture. The treasure of the garden, Yu Ling Long (an exquisite jade stone), an artificial hill, is considered as one of the three most well-known peaks in Southern China.

Yuyuan Bazar - Then,visit the Yuyuan Bazaar, also known as Yuyuan Market, is outside the Yu Garden, in the heart of Old Shanghai City, and close to the Old City God Temple. There are many traditional Chinese buildings, which nowadays are used as commercial stores to sell local products, snacks, jewelry, souvenirs, antiques and so on.

Shanghai World Financial Center - Afterwards, go to the Shanghai World Financial Center and go up to the 100th floor for the panoramic views of the city. It is the world’s 8th tallest building, and the 4th tallest structure in Mainland China. The 100th floor has a viewing gallery that is 55 meters long. It is the second highest observation deck in China. It is higher than the viewing platforms on the Canadian TV Tower (447 meters) and the Dubai Tower (440 meters).

The Bund (Wai Tan) - After that you will come to the Bund area which is the quintessential of Shanghai area. Located on the bank of Huangpu River, travelers come to the Bund not only for the charming riverside scenery, but the unique western and gothic architectures also deserve a look. We will set aside some free time for you to stroll around the Bund and take some photos.

Shanghai - Finally,will drive you back to your hotel, or you may enjoy your own time at Nanjing Road that is very close by.

Shanghai - Chengdu by flight. O/N Chengdu.

Shanghai - Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Zhujiajiao water town in around 60 minutes ride.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town - The Zhu Jia Jiao water town, is well-known throughout the country, with a history of more than 1,700 years. Covering an area of 47 square kilometers (11,614 acres), the little fan-shaped town, being regarded as Shanghai’s Venice, glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains.
The three places in the water town deserve your visit: Kezhi Garden, Qing Dynasty Post Office and Fangsheng Bridge. Your tour guide will accompany you to visit these.

Jade Buddha Temple - After lunch, will take you to the Jade Buddha Temple. Built in 1882 for the two white jade Buddha statues from Burma, the Jade Buddha Temple is a famous Buddhist shrine and an active Zen monastery. The temple plays an important role in disseminating Buddhism through cultural means, including lectures and library service, Buddhist academic publishes as well as regular Buddhist cultural activities.

Tianzifang - Then later will conclude at Tianzifang, an old-style cultural block featuring distinctive Shikumen buildings with art studios, themed cafés and bars, and handicraft workshops.

Pudong International Airport - At the end, your guide will escort you to Shanghai Pudong airport and flight to Chongqing. You may take the HU7407 20:20–23:30, the flight takes 3hrs.

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport - Upon arrival at Chengdu, you will be picked up on time and transferred to the hotel(Driver only, no guide)

Chengdu. O/N Chengdu.

Chengdu - In the morning, your driver and guide will meet you at 8:00am of your Chengdu hotel then transfer to Chengdu Panda Base, need 30 minutes driving, 15km.

Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Xiongmao Jidi) - Firstly, you will visit the Chengdu’s Giant Panda Breeding Research Base which is home to over 80 of China’s iconic pandas. Most are of the familiar black and white variety, but the Base is also home to a number of the smaller, lesser-known red pandas.

You’ll view the animals eating and at play in a carefully maintained habitat that is as close to their natural environment as possible. You’ll also learn how scientists and ecologists are working to protect the few remaining wild pandas and expand the captive population. On that last note, over 100 bears have been born at the Base since 1987.

The Base became even more important after the Sichuan earthquake of 2008, with eight bears sent here from the badly damaged Wolong reserve. Your visit provides both moral and financial support for the ongoing conservation effort.

Chengdu Renmin Park - Next, go to Renmin Park and you know that park is a comprehensive garden for both the cultural heritages collection and entertainment. The locals in Chengdu often drink tea for relaxing here. You will never know what real lifestyle in the “Capital of Leisure” is like unless you visit Renmin Park. There are always crowds sitting in the shade of the park from when the sun rises. The best things to do here include going into a teahouse, ordering a cup of tea, reading for a whole afternoon, thinking about nothing, or chatting with some old friends. Enjoying the slow life in Chengdu, you may suddenly feel that you are leading a happy life.

Jinli Pedestrian Street - After lunch, take the private car to Jinli old street which is an impressive trip to the famous old street. Time steals away from you quietly while walking on the lively streets which are full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, etc.

Chengdu - At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.

Chengdu - Xi’an by train. O/N Xi’an.

Chengdu - After breakfast at your hotel,your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel lobby of 09:00am then transfer to the Leshan and need 2.5hrs driving, 150km.

Leshan Giant Buddha (Da Fo) - Dating from the 8th century, the Giant Buddha of Leshan is the largest carved stone Buddha and the tallest pre-modern statue in the world. It was cut from the cliffs of Lingyun Shan in the hopes of calming the turbulent waters of the three rivers that flow together under its gaze. Stairs are carved into the cliff that connect the area at the Buddha’s feet with the land above, allowing you to view this astonishing sight from a range of vantage points. Views are stunning over elbows and knees, taking in the river scene and Leshan’s skyline.

Upon arrival in Leshan, you can have lunch at a restaurant within sight the Giant Buddha. You’ll then explore the Giant Buddha and enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding landscape from atop the Buddha’s head.

Wen then pay a visit to Lingyun Temple and Museum and get a deeper insight into the history of this amazing Buddhist site and learn the story of the carving of the Giant Buddha.

成都站 - Afterwards, take the private car to back to Chengdu East railway station and take a bullet train to Xi’an. You may take D1950 18;07–22:18, the train takes around 4hrs.

Xi’an North Railway Station Parking Lot - Upon arrival at Xi’an, you will be picked up on time and transferred to the hotel(Driver only, no guide).

Xi’an. O/N Xi’an.

Xi’an - In the morning,your tour guide can meet you at your Xi’an hotel lobby at 9:00am then transfer to Terracotta Warriors Museum, need 80 minutes driving,45km.

The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses - We reserve tickets for you online in advance and your guide will help you skip the line at the entrance of the Museum. Following your guide, you will explore the Terracotta Warriors Museum by visiting the three excavated pits, as well as the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall. Although the clay warriors and horses have been buried for more than 2,200 years, they are still vivid with distinct appearances. You will spend at least two and a half hours to see this amazing site.

Small Goose Pagoda - Next, you will Transfer to Small Wild Goose Pagoda which is located inside Jianfu Temple, about one kilometer south of Xi’an city proper. It is one of the two famous and important Buddhist pagodas erected in the Tang Dynasty about 1300 years ago. Small Wild Goose Pagoda and its large neighbor, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, are two important Buddhist sites, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, 1300 years ago.

The two pagodas were a symbol of Chang’an (Constant Peace) city. Xi’an (West Peace) was called Chang’an until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when Beijing became the capital of China. Chang’an had served as the capital for ten dynasties.

Xi’an City Wall (Chengqiang) - After lunch, you will Transfer to city wall.You can walking or cycling around the wall, the bike fees you pay locally if you do that.

The first landmark visitors will encounter in Xian is the ancient City Wall, which stretches round the old city. It is also one of the most famous attractions in Xian. Today, this wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

Muslim Quarter - Your last stop will be the Muslim Bazaar, the most thriving area of the city. If you are interested, you can explore the bazaar at your own pace and then return to the hotel by yourself. your guide will give you directions for returning to your hotel. The Great Mosque and the Bell and Drum Tower Square are within walking distance of the Bazaar. There are many boutique stores at fair prices in Bazaar and also a number of excellent choices of food for dinner.

Xi’an - At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.

Xi’an - Beijing by flight. O/N Beijing.

Xi’an - In the morning,your tour guide will meet you at your Xi’an hotel lobby at 8:30am then transfer to Hanyanglin, need 30 minutes driving,15km.

Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling) - The Hanyangling Mausoleum, which is on the site of the Mausoleum of Western Han Emperor Liu Qi built in 153 AD. In the company of the guide, you will have a close look at the thousand-year-old tombs through the glass floors and the glass walls in the tomb pits. Besides, the advanced Spectra Vision program will reproduce the real life of the Western Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago. We will ensure you two hours exploring the site.

Shaanxi History Museum - After lunch, you continue Xi’an group tour to explore Shaanxi History Museum. Unique historical and culture heritage of Shaanxi is undoubted worth the praise as treasure house of Chinese civilization, and Shaanxi History Museum is definitely a palace of art to display Shaanxi’s history and culture and China’s ancient civilization. There are as many as some 370,000 antiquities collected, ranging from prehistorical relics to that of the 1840s. Time spans more than one million years and the collection is superior in value, quantity, rank and species. Your guide will provide professional full explanations.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) - Instead of entering the temple to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, you will have a photo stop here for half an hour. With suggestions from our former guests, it is enough to see the pagoda and the statue of Monk Xuanzang at the south square outside the temple. As a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists, the pagoda built during the Tang Dynasty was once the site for Xuanzang to translate the Buddhist sutras.

Nowadays the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Area has become the most popular area for both tourists and locals in Xi’an. It is truly a wonderful place to enjoy the charming night scenes and get relaxed. Around the pagoda, there is south square leading to the Great Tang All Day Mall, where you can appreciate many unique sculptures of Tang Dynasty styles and enjoy some classical music performances in public; also there is north square with the biggest musical fountain in Asia. It is free but with show time schedules.

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport - At the end, your guide will escort you to Xi’an airport and flight to Beijing. You may take the MF7198 19:00-21:30. The flight takes around 2.5hrs.

Beijing Capital International Airport - Upon arrival at Beijing, you will be picked up on time and transferred to the hotel(Driver only, no guide).

Beijing. O/N Beijing

Beijing - Today,your tour guide can meet you at your Beijing hotel lobby at 8:00am.Then, you will be escorted to the Tiananmen Square first.

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - At Tiananmen Square, you can take great photos of the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to People’s Heroes, and Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao.
The Tiananmen Square is seated in the center of Beijing City. During the past hundreds of years, it has witnessed numerous historical events and assemblies. Nowadays, it becomes a holding place for grand celebrations, military parades, and welcoming ceremonies for foreign leaders. Besides, visitors can admire the towering Monument to People’s Heroes and the solemn Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao on the square. Traditional Tiananmen Tower, Zhengyang Gate and Qianmen Arrow Tower can also be found there.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum - Then, you will be led to go across the Tiananmen Tower to visit the Forbidden City, where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911) lived and handled national affairs.
Served as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Forbidden City is the largest and the best-preserved old wooden complex in the world. The whole palace is divided into Inner Court and Outer Court by the Palace of Heavenly Purity with the outer one for emperors to handle affairs and the inner one as the living place for the imperial family. The complex is also a giant museum with more than one million national treasures exhibited there.

Mutianyu Great Wall - Upon arrival in the parking lot of the scenic area, you will first take an electric car to the entry, and then take the chairlift up to the 14th watchtower. Have a leisurely hike on the wall for about 2 hours, at the end take the toboggan town.
The Great Wall at Mutianyu was built and restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and is one of the most famous sections of the Wall. Mutianyu enjoys the great reputation of “Out of all the Great Walls, Mutianyu stands apart”. Roam the ancient structure and learn the history and facts that make its so famous. Your professional guide will be able to answer any questions and offer exclusive stories and facts about the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Beijing - At the end, you will escort you to your Beijing hotel.

Beijing. The tour end.

Beijing - In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and continue your Beijing tour.

Temple of Heaven - You will firstly visit the Temple of Heaven. It is the largest royal ceremonial building groups in China. Emperors in the past used to hold the annual sacrificial activities here to worship the heaven and pray for a good harvest. Now it has developed into a large park where you can also see local people doing exercises and more recreational activities.

Back Lakes (Hou Hai) - Next you will continue your visit to Beijing Hutong. There you will take a rickshaw to go through the old alleys and pay a visit to a Hutong family to see how the old Beijingers live. There are many popular restaurants, cafes and local food stores in the area, so we may have a lunch there. It should be a good chance to taste the local food there. Your guide will offer you suggestions. After lunch, you could stroll around Houhai Lake and explore more of the Hutong area.

Lama Temple (Yonghegong) - After the Hutong visit, then will drive you to the Lama Temple, which is regarded as the largest Buddhist temple in Beijing. It combines the various architectural styles of different groups, including Han, Manchu, Mongol and Tibet. Opened to tourists from 1981, there are hundreds of thousands of people coming here for praying and visiting every year.

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) - An about 30-minute drive will take you to the Summer Palace, which is reputed as the museum of ancient royal gardens. Your expert guide will show you around. The whole garden mainly consists of the Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. The Long Corridor, seven hundred twenty-eight meters (796.2 yards) in length, boasts as the longest corridor in Chinese gardens. Beginning from the Yaoyue (Inviting-Moon) Gate and ending up with Shizhang Pavilion, the corridor ingeniously links Longevity Hill with Kunming Lake. You might appreciate the exquisite murals and enjoy the melodious music while walking along there.

Beijing - Finally,your guide and driver will escort you back to the hotel/airport/train station.End of the 8 days tour services.

What's Included
  • Entrance tickets included
  • Round-trip economy flights from Shanghai to Chengdu and Xi’an to Beijing
  • Lunch provided
  • Air conditioning in vehicle
  • Train ticket from Chengdu to Xi’an
  • Private car transportation
What's Not Included
  • Others not mentioned above
  • The hotels and dinner
Additional Information
  • Can add more days if you want
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 4 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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