China Viral Tour: Avatar Peaks & Cyberpunk Cities

Your Day in Detail

Visit some of Shanghai's best-known sights and popular new landmarks in one day. The tour starts at Yu Garden, a traditional Chinese garden filled with rockeries, koi ponds, pavilions and zigzag bridges. Take a walk through the garden and appreciate its classic design and delicate details.

Next, explore Zhangyuan, a historic Shikumen neighborhood with old brick houses and narrow lanes. Today, its traditional architecture sits alongside fashionable boutiques, cafés and international brands. A short walk away is The Louis, Louis Vuitton's ship-shaped flagship store. Stop outside to admire its distinctive silver exterior and take some photos.

Continue to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, a two-story coffee space known for its large copper cask, brass pipes and on-site roasting area. You can look around the impressive interior or purchase a freshly made coffee or coffee cocktail to enjoy during your visit.

Later in the afternoon, head to the Bund for a walk along the waterfront. See the historic buildings that define Shanghai's famous skyline and look across the Huangpu River towards the modern skyscrapers of Pudong. The day ends at a rooftop bar overlooking the river, an ideal place to enjoy the city views around sunset.

Note: The Louis visit includes an exterior photo stop only. Advance reservations are required for exhibition visits or dining. Please contact our travel consultants if you are interested in either experience.

Enjoy a free day in Shanghai and make your own plans. Explore more of the city, browse its shops and cafés, discover local neighborhoods or simply take a break and enjoy the day at your own pace.

If you'd like to add something special to your day, consider one of the following optional experiences, available upon request:

• Immersive Chinese Banquet Experience: Enjoy an imperial-style Chinese banquet accompanied by live music and dance performances. You can also dress in traditional Chinese attire, complete with professional hair and makeup styling.
• Chinese Tea Tasting & Cultural Experience: Sample a selection of Chinese teas, followed by one hands-on activity of your choice, such as sachet making, calligraphy or Song-style tea whisking.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine Experience: Learn more about traditional Chinese wellness through selected activities, such as Tai Chi, herbal tea blending, acupoint discovery or a personalized wellness consultation.
• Xiaolongbao Making Class: Learn how to make Shanghai's famous soup dumplings, then enjoy your freshly prepared xiaolongbao with traditional wontons.
• Day Trip to Zhujiajiao or Suzhou: Explore the canals and old lanes of Zhujiajiao Water Town, or visit Suzhou's classical gardens and historic waterways.

Your Day in Detail

Spend the day exploring the dramatic sandstone landscape of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, home to towering rock pillars and some of China's most remarkable mountain scenery.

Take the Bailong Elevator, rising 326 meters along the mountainside, to reach Yuanjiajie. Follow the scenic walkways to see the First Bridge Under Heaven, a natural stone arch connecting two peaks, and Hallelujah Mountain, famous for its resemblance to the floating mountains in the movie Avatar.

Continue to the Sky Garden, an unexpected sight high among the cliffs. Later, explore Tianzi Mountain, known for its distinctive formations, including Imperial Brush Peaks and Fairy Offering Flowers. Take the cable car down and enjoy sweeping views of the forest of stone pillars along the way.

Your Day in Detail

Today, discover two of Zhangjiajie's striking natural attractions, starting underground at Yellow Dragon Cave. Walk through its vast limestone chambers, filled with impressive stalactites and stalagmites illuminated along the pathways. A short boat ride on the underground river offers another way to explore the cave's fascinating rock formations.

In the afternoon, visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and cross its famous glass-bottom bridge, suspended high above the valley. Look through the transparent floor for a thrilling view of the canyon below, then continue along the trails to see its steep cliffs, forested slopes and clear streams.

After the visit, transfer to your hotel in Zhangjiajie city.

If you’d like to extend your day, you can also consider the following optional experiences:

• Grand Canyon Zipline: Fly over the valley on a high-altitude zipline for an extra thrill.
• Tianmen Fox Fairy Show: Watch this outdoor musical performance staged in a valley at the foot of Tianmen Mountain. Performances are seasonal.
• 72 Strange Buildings: Visit this illuminated architectural complex, known for its unusual design and evening entertainment.

Your Day in Detail

Get ready for an exciting outdoor challenge at Qixing Mountain. After a safety briefing and fitting your climbing gear, follow the via ferrata route along the steep cliff face, using iron rungs and fixed safety cables as you make your way across the mountainside.

Along the route, cross a suspended cable bridge before reaching the main challenge: the 168-meter Sky Ladder. Secured to the safety system, climb rung by rung up the exposed mountainside, with dramatic views of the valley far below. Reaching the top is a rewarding finish to this high-altitude adventure.

After the climb, return to your hotel for a relaxing evening and a good rest before your early high-speed train journey the next morning.

Note: The Ferrata Experience is open to participants aged 12–55 who are at least 1.4 meters tall. Those aged 12–16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. For further details, please contact our travel consultant.

Your Day in Detail

Take an early high-speed train from Zhangjiajie to Guilin. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the railway station and arrange a private transfer to your hotel. Settle in and take some time to rest after the journey.

Later in the afternoon, visit Chuanshan Cave Café, a distinctive coffee spot tucked inside a natural limestone cave. Step inside to admire the unusual rock formations and enjoy a drink in this atmospheric setting as the light shifts towards sunset. One selected drink per person is included.

Afterwards, return to your hotel. The rest of the evening is free for you to relax or explore the neighborhood at your own pace.

Note: Reaching Chuanshan Cave Café requires climbing a flight of stairs. Please make sure you are comfortable walking up steps before visiting.

Your Day in Detail

Board a four-star cruise boat in Guilin for a scenic journey down the Li River to Yangshuo, lasting around 3.5–4 hours. Along the way, pass some of the river's most famous landscapes, including Nine Horses Fresco Hill and the scenery around Xingping Ancient Town. Look out for the stretch of river featured on China's 20 RMB banknote. Head to the open deck to enjoy the views of limestone peaks, green hills and riverside villages as the scenery changes along the route.

After arriving in Yangshuo, switch from the river to the countryside on a bicycle or e-bike ride along the Yulong River. Follow quiet country roads and riverside paths through rice fields, bamboo groves and small villages, enjoying a closer look at rural life around Yangshuo.

Your Day in Detail

Enjoy a free morning in Yangshuo before driving to the Longji Rice Terraces in Longsheng this afternoon. After checking in to your hotel, head out to explore Ping'an Village, a traditional Zhuang village surrounded by terraced hills. Walk along its stone-paved lanes, pass wooden stilt houses and enjoy views of the rice terraces stretching across the mountainsides.

Around dusk, make your way to the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers Viewing Platform. Arrive during the blue hour, when the fading daylight casts a different atmosphere over the layered terraces and mountain landscape.

If you’d like to make the most of your free morning in Yangshuo, you can also choose from the following optional experiences:

• Yangshuo Cooking Class: Visit a local market to see how residents shop for fresh ingredients, then learn to prepare the area’s famous Beer Fish with guidance from a local instructor.
• Traditional Costume Photoshoot: Dress in classic Chinese attire or ethnic clothing for photos by the river, with bamboo rafts and local fishermen as the backdrop. Professional makeup services are also available.
• Fuli Paper Fan Painting: Visit Fuli Town, known for its hand-painted paper fans, and try painting your own using traditional designs inspired by Guilin's landscapes, flowers or birds.
• Chinese Tea Ceremony: Learn about China’s six major tea types, traditional tea utensils and tea etiquette. Watch a tea-brewing demonstration, then try preparing and tasting tea yourself.

Your Day in Detail

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Ping'an Village, surrounded by mountain scenery and the quiet atmosphere of this traditional Zhuang settlement. Later, take part in a hands-on local cooking experience and learn to prepare one of two Longji specialties: bamboo tube rice or Youcha (oil tea). Work alongside local village people as you prepare the dish and learn more about the area’s traditional food culture.

Afterwards, leave the village and drive back to Guilin for your afternoon high-speed train to Shenzhen. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the station exit and arrange a private transfer to your hotel.

The rest of the day is free. After the peaceful mountain setting of Longji, Shenzhen offers a very different atmosphere, with a modern skyline, lively streets and plenty to explore at your own pace.

Discover Shenzhen's technological innovations, starting at Robot 6S Store Shenzhen, the world's first robot 6S store. Explore a variety of humanoid, service and consumer robots, watch demonstrations and try interactive experiences such as customized robot coffee latte art.

In the afternoon, head to OCT Harbour and visit the DJI flagship store to explore the latest drones, cameras and other products. Subject to availability, you may also have the opportunity to try a drone flight experience.

The tech adventure continues with two smart-city experiences. Take a ride in a self-driving robotaxi and see how it navigates the streets without a driver. You will also experience drone delivery, with a drink or snack delivered by drone to a designated collection point.

Note: Robotaxi and drone delivery services may be suspended due to weather conditions or maintenance. If either experience is unavailable on the day, our travel consultant will discuss alternative arrangements with you.

Your Day in Detail

Spend the morning exploring two of Shenzhen's best-known specialist markets. First, visit Huaqiangbei Electronics Market, one of Asia's largest electronics hubs. Stop at the Huaqiangbei Museum to learn how the area developed from an electronics street into one of China's major technology trading centers. Then explore its many electronics malls, browsing the latest gadgets and products such as AI glasses, foldable smartphones and smart wearables. The lively market atmosphere offers an interesting look at how new technology makes its way into everyday life.

Next, head to Shuibei Gold & Jewelry Market, China's largest gold and jewelry trading hub. Made up of several connected shopping centers, the market features an extensive range of designs, from traditional handcrafted gold pieces to contemporary styles inspired by Chinese aesthetics. Its impressive displays and vast selection also make it an interesting spot for photography.

In the afternoon, transfer to the railway station for your high-speed train to Guangzhou. Upon arrival, your local driver will meet you and take you to your hotel.

Your Day in Detail

Start the day the Cantonese way with a traditional dim sum breakfast. Sip tea, sample a variety of small dishes and enjoy one of Guangzhou’s favorite food traditions.

Next, step into the world of traditional Chinese ingredients at Qingping Chinese Herbal Medicine Market. Wander past stalls filled with dried herbs, roots and spices, and discover the local belief in food as part of everyday wellness.

Then head to Shamian Island, where European-style buildings, leafy avenues and old riverside streets create a very different side of Guangzhou. Continue to Lizhiwan, a charming Xiguan neighborhood of narrow lanes and canals. Between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m., you may catch local residents performing Cantonese opera at Liwan Opera Stage - an informal community gathering rather than a staged tourist show.

The day ends at Yong Qing Fang, where traditional Xiguan houses now sit alongside independent shops, cafés and cultural spaces.