Shanghai City Discovery

Begin the day at Yu Garden, a serene Ming Dynasty masterpiece tucked into Shanghai's historic Old Town, where pavilions, rockeries, and koi ponds offer a glimpse of classical Chinese garden design. Continue to the Oriental Pearl Tower, where the observation deck reveals the full sweep of the city below. In the afternoon, explore the Shikumen neighborhood, where stone-gate houses tell the story of Shanghai's unique fusion of Chinese and Western architectural traditions. As evening approaches, stroll the Bund, where colonial-era facades face off across the Huangpu River with the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong, one of the most striking urban scenes in the world.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Sunrise on the Bund Hotel or equivalent accommodation

Shanghai to Guilin, Reed Flute Cave

Fly to Guilin, a city defined by the dramatic limestone peaks that rise from its rivers and rice fields. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel before visiting the spectacular Reed Flute Cave, where illuminated stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years offer a vivid introduction to the geology that gives this region its otherworldly landscape.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Sheraton Guilin Hotel or equivalent accommodation

Guilin to Yangshuo, Li River Cruise and Countryside

This morning, board the Li River Cruise for what many travelers consider the most beautiful boat journey in China. As you drift downstream toward Yangshuo, the river winds past emerald waters, bamboo groves, fishing rafts, and limestone peaks that rise like brushstrokes from a classical landscape painting. On arrival, head into the countryside for a gentle cycling tour through rural villages and rice fields, where the rhythms of daily life have changed little in generations.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Yangshuo Apsara Hotel or equivalent accommodation

Yangshuo to Guilin to Zhangjiajie

Return by vehicle to Guilin and board a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie, a region whose vertical sandstone pillars and forested gorges helped inspire the floating mountains of Avatar. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in and rest, ready for the day ahead.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel or equivalent accommodation

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

After breakfast, ascend to the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area aboard the Bailong Elevator, the world's tallest outdoor lift, set against a sheer cliff face. Explore Mihun Stage, First Bridge Under Heaven, and the Hallelujah Mountains, whose soaring stone columns inspired the landscapes of Avatar. Continue to Tianzi Mountain by shuttle to visit Helong Park and admire scenic formations like Fairy Maiden Presenting Flowers, then descend by cable car. The afternoon brings a relaxed mini-train ride through the Ten-Mile Gallery, where unusual rock formations come to life through local legend.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel or equivalent accommodation

Zhangjiajie to Xi'an

Fly to Xi'an, the ancient capital that anchored the Silk Road for over a millennium. On arrival, transfer to the Tang Dynasty Theater for a hands-on dumpling-making experience, learning traditional techniques from local chefs. The evening unfolds with a lavish dumpling banquet followed by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, a vivid performance that brings the music, costume, and choreography of imperial court culture to life.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Hotel: Sofitel Xi'an on Renmin Square or equivalent accommodation

Xi'an, Terracotta Army

Begin at a Terracotta Army Workshop, where artisans demonstrate the traditional sculpting techniques used to create the warriors more than two thousand years ago. Continue to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, often called the Eighth Wonder of the World, where thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, each with a distinct face and posture, stand guard over the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Return to the city in the afternoon to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a seventh-century Buddhist landmark central to the spread of Buddhism in China.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Sofitel Xi'an on Renmin Square or equivalent accommodation

Xi'an to Beijing

Walk along Xi'an's Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved fortifications in China, where watchtowers and ramparts still trace the outline of the old imperial capital. After the walk, board a high-speed train to Beijing. On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Beijing Sunworld Hotel or equivalent accommodation

Beijing, Imperial Heritage

Explore the spiritual and political heart of China. Begin at the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once performed the most important rituals of the imperial calendar, praying for good harvests and the favor of the heavens. Continue to Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, and from there into the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the largest palace complex on earth. Conclude at Jingshan Park, where the view from the hilltop pavilion reveals the full geometric grandeur of the Forbidden City laid out below.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Beijing Sunworld Hotel or equivalent accommodation

The Great Wall at Mutianyu

Travel to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, celebrated for its dramatic mountain setting, restored watchtowers, and lighter crowds. Ascend by cable car and walk the ancient ramparts, taking in the way the wall follows the spine of the ridges into the distance, a feat of human engineering that has shaped this landscape for over two thousand years.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Hotel: Beijing Sunworld Hotel or equivalent accommodation

Departure

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your international flight home, carrying with you the memory of Shanghai's skyline, the green waters of the Li River, the floating pillars of Zhangjiajie, the silent ranks of the Terracotta Warriors, and the long line of the Great Wall fading into the mountains.

Meals: Breakfast Hotel: Not included