12-Day China Essences with Pandas

Please don't worry about visiting an unfamiliar country like China. On your arrival, your private tour guide will meet you and put you at ease with a warm smile and professional service. On the way to your hotel, your tour guide will give you a brief introduction to Beijing. After arriving at your hotel, check in and enjoy some free time to recover from your journey.

Overnight: Beijing

Departing from the hotel as planned, your tour guide will take you to see Tiananmen Square, the most important landmark of new China, followed by the Forbidden City, the seat of power for the period from 1406 to 1912. Start your heritage tour from the three main palaces on the central axis and explore some hidden places in this royal compound.

Afterward, climb the artificial coal hill in Jingshan Park to get spectacular, panoramic views of the Forbidden City and the layout of Beijing.

Optional: It is recommended that you spend the evening attending a Legend of Kung Fu show.

Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit one of the most iconic China highlights: the Great Wall. Drive to the Great Wall at Mutianyu section for about 2 hours, then hop onto a round-trip cable car up and down the mountains. Walking on the wall, you will enjoy the majesty of nature and man-made construction.

Later on, visit Changling Tomb and a jade store before heading back to the city.

Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, travel to the Temple of Heaven where once the Emperors prayed for good harvests, but now it is a popular park where you can get a glimpse of Beijingers' daily life and can even follow a master to play Tai Chi with others.

In the afternoon, take a 5 to 6 hours' high-speed train to Xi'an. Arrive in Xi'an in the early evening, be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Xi'an
Meal: Breakfast

Today's highlight is a visit to the awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors. Marvel at the grand array with thousands of lifelike clay soldiers, horses and chariots, created around 210 BC to guard the first emperor of China, Qin Shihuang in the afterlife. It's interesting that each warriors statue is unique as they are based on the appearance of real Qin people. Later, stop at the Xi'an Art Ceramics Factory to learn about how the warriors were created and then return to the city.

End the day with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and stroll around the Great Tang All Day Mall at your own leisurely pace.

Overnight: Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Xi'an is not only about history, but also the locals' lifestyle, which attracts tourists from all over the world.

In the morning, you will visit the Ancient City Wall with 600 years of history, explore the narrow and bustling Muslim Street, and enter a traditional Chinese dwelling to enjoy a shadow puppet show there.

Head to Chengdu by 4 hours' high-speed train in the afternoon. On arrival, be met and escorted to your hotel by your tour guide.

Overnight: Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Welcome to Chengdu, the home of Giant Pandas. The Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding cannot be missed, because you can't see so many cute guys in other zoos.

Continue your journey with a city tour to River Viewing Tower Park. You can get a better view of the surrounding area at Chongli Pavilion, sip a cup of local tea or join the locals to play Chinese Mahjong.

Optional: Shu Feng Ya Yun Sichuan Opera at night will be another option to further explore traditional Chengdu culture.

Overnight: Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Fly to Guilin in the morning. Upon your arrival, your personal guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. En route, take a detour to the most famed and beautiful karst cave in southern China - Reed Flute Cave and a pearl store.

Overnight: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Green bamboo groves, crystal-clear water and wonderful karst hills form the picturesque scenery of the Li River. A 4-hour Cruise from Guilin city to Yangshuo will give you an opportunity to fully experience the charm there.

Arrive in Yangshuo and be transferred to your hotel to rest. Later, drive out of Yangshuo to visit a hand-painted fan workshop, where you can see and participate in the production process.

Optional: If you would still like more activities, the Impression of Sanjie Liu, a magnificent outdoor show against the natural backdrop of karst mountains, is highly recommended.

Overnight: Yangshuo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

As an ancient Chinese proverb says, Guilin landscape tops those elsewhere, and Yangshuo's landscape tops that of Guilin. The idyllic countryside of Yangshuo is the reason why so many visitors come here. Cycling along a country road is the best way for you to take in the spectacular scenery. You can also take a car with your private driver and guide if you are not up to cycling. Later, fly to Shanghai where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

There are a lot more wonderful and exciting things waiting for you in Shanghai, one of China's most dynamic and modernized metropolises.

Discover the Bund first, where you can feel the colonial architecture lining one side of the river and the modern, new Shanghai on the other. Visiting exquisite, traditional Yu Garden will present the tenderness of Shanghai to you, followed by the adjacent Yuyuan Market, Jade Buddha Temple, a silk workshop and Fuxing Park. In Fuxing Park, you can see the locals enjoying their leisure time, such as dancing, playing cards, doing Tai Chi or badminton.

Continue to Bugaoli to see the traditional Stone Gate (Stone Arched Gates), stop at a food market and sample some popular snacks.

Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

All good things come to an end. When you are ready, your guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your home-bound flight.

Meal: Breakfast