13-Day In-depth Tour of Natural Wonders A Journey Through Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, and Shanghai

Today, you will spend the entire day visiting famous Chinese landmarks and exploring Beijing's ancient castles, appreciating royal grandeur.

After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to Tiananmen Square—the world's largest public square and a symbol of China. It has witnessed many significant events in Chinese history.

Crossing the square, you will visit the magnificent Forbidden City, the largest palace complex in the world and the former residence of 24 Chinese emperors. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Forbidden City boasts a history of about 500 years and served as the political and ceremonial center of China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). With over 8,700 rooms, it is not only the largest and best-preserved ancient building complex in China but also a city within a city. Our tour begins at the Meridian Gate and follows the central axis. Led by the tour guide, you will learn about the historical stories of the emperors who once lived here, admire the splendid architecture, and view numerous ancient treasures.

Subsequently, Jingshan Park is just a 15-minute walk away, where you can climb up to enjoy a panoramic view of modern Beijing and the terracotta roofs of the Forbidden City.

(Travel Tip: The Forbidden City is closed every Monday.)

In the morning, you will head to the Mutianyu Great Wall, located in the northwest of Beijing, about 1.5-2 hours by car. With a history of over 2,000 years, the Mutianyu Great Wall stretches over 3,000 miles across multiple provinces in northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient feats on earth. Mutianyu Great Wall is the longest and best-preserved section of the Great Wall, with fewer tourists. It is also famous for its 23 Ming Dynasty watchtowers and breathtaking scenery. Take a cable car to the 14th watchtower and enjoy an unforgettable hike along the west line of the wall. Surrounded by towering pine and cypress trees, the winding wall stands majestically on the vast land, and you will capture the most stunning natural views in this area. Of course, you can also challenge yourself by climbing up to the 20th watchtower to fulfill your Great Wall dream.

After the experience, return to downtown Beijing, where we will visit and take photos outside the Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium) and the Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center). Both were designed for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and used for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

After breakfast, we will embark on a journey to explore the most beautiful royal garden—the Summer Palace. This "Royal Garden Museum" was once a royal summer resort. Gardens, temples, pavilions, lakes, bridges, gates, corridors—it is a miracle of landscape design. Every step here allows you to feel the unique charm of the royal garden. Admire the royal architecture, hilltop views, and beautiful lakes, immersing you in the idyllic scenery of traditional Chinese landscape paintings.

After lunch, we will take the high-speed train to Xi'an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties in China. Upon arrival at the train station, your driver will meet you at the exit and escort you to your hotel in Xi'an.

After breakfast, your tour guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel. Drive about 40 kilometers (about 1 hour) to explore one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world—the Terracotta Army Museum.

The museum was built by China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, to protect his afterlife. About 8,000 lifelike, life-sized terracotta statues have been found. First, visit the largest and most spectacular pit, which houses over 6,000 terracotta statues. You will be amazed at this underground army of thousands of lifelike figures silently guarding the emperor. You will also be amazed by the exquisite artistic skills of ancient Chinese craftsmen. In another pit, there are about 1,300 warriors and horses. Here, you can observe ancient military formations, including kneeling and standing archers, chariot formations, and numerous soldiers holding weapons. Even after more than 2,000 years, the terracotta statues remain lifelike, with each figure having a unique pose, hairstyle, and armor.

After lunch, return to downtown Xi'an to visit the Ancient City Walls. The walls are 12 meters high, rectangular, and 14 kilometers in circumference, presenting a magnificent sight. They are also among the oldest, largest, and best-preserved city walls in China. Strolling on the city walls, you can feel the former glory of Xi'an, the ancient capital.

After delving into the historical stories of this city, be sure to taste the delicious cuisine. The Muslim Quarter is a paradise that blends snacks from various regions and Muslim culture. Here, you will definitely taste the most authentic local cuisine. Also, don't miss the Great Mosque, an architectural treasure that perfectly fuses Islamic and Chinese design styles.

This morning, drive to visit the Xi'an Museum (closed on Tuesdays). It is one of China's top museums, displaying the history, economy, social life, and foreign cultural exchanges and trade of Xi'an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, over 3,000 years. The museum has fewer visitors than the Shaanxi History Museum. Xi'an Museum now holds over 110,000 cultural relics, including bronze ware, Buddhist statues, stone carvings, and porcelain, which enjoying widespread reputation for its historical and cultural value. Xi'an Museum comprises the Exhibition Hall, the ruins of Jianfu Temple of the Tang Dynasty, and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda (World Heritage Site) is one of the two famous and important Buddhist pagodas built during the Tang Dynasty, with a history of over 1,300 years. Originally 15 stories high, a major earthquake in 1556 reduced it to its current 13 stories. "Morning Bell at Small Wild Goose Pagoda" is one of the "Eight Scenic Views of Guanzhong."

After the visit, your two-day tour of Xi'an comes to an end. You will be escorted to the airport/railway station to take a flight or high-speed train to your next destination.

Your first destination this morning is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This is China's first national forest park. It is a spectacular natural island composed of over 3,000 narrow quartz sandstone pillars. With its unique landform, towering rock peaks, various shapes, lush vegetation, and magnificent landscapes, it is a sight to behold. Take the sightseeing bus to the Bailong Elevator, known as the "World's First Outdoor Elevator." This elevator holds the Guinness World Record for being the tallest, fastest, and heaviest outdoor sightseeing elevator. In just 66 seconds, you can ascend 326 meters from the valley floor to the top of the stone pillars.

Next, you will enter the mysterious world of Pandora—Yuanjiajie, the actual filming location of the movie 《Avatar》and the real-life inspiration for Hallelujah Mountains. Among them, the Nantian Pillar is a landmark of Yuanjiajie, standing about 150 meters tall and rising vertically from the deep valley like a giant standing under the sky. Ascend the Qiufeng Platform where hundreds of peculiar peaks rise like bamboo shoots, leaving you in awe.

Next, take the sightseeing bus to your second tourist attraction, Tianzishan Nature Reserve. It is the fairyland featured in China's popular TV series "Journey to the West." Tianzishan (1,262m above sea level) is famous for its spectacular sunrises, sea of clouds, red moons, winter snow, red leaves, and peak forests. You can also visit the Dianjiang Platform to overlook the Xihai Peak Forest, where rugged rocks rise from the foggy valleys. Also, don't miss the row of six stone pillars known as Yubi Peak, the bronze statue of Marshal He Long and his steed in Helong Park, and the Tianzige Pavilion. The Tianzige Pavilion is 30 meters tall. After climbing to the top, you can take in a panoramic view of Tianzishan, with rolling green peaks stretching out as far as you can see. The scene is indeed very spectacular.

After the tour, return to Zhangjiajie City for overnight accommodation.

After breakfast, head to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to experience the breathtaking Glass Bridge of the Grand Canyon. Suspended between two peaks, the Glass Bridge is 430 meters long and 300 meters high, making it the longest and highest glass bridge in the world. Standing on the transparent glass, it feels like floating in the air, allowing you to take in the stunning beauty of the entire Grand Canyon and of course, leaving you with a deeper impression of Zhangjiajie!

After experiencing the thrill and excitement of the Glass Bridge, proceed to Baofeng Lake for a leisurely boat tour to restore your calm. Surrounded by green trees and rock peaks of various shapes, Baofeng Lake is an idyllic retreat. While sailing leisurely on the boat, you can also enjoy the folk songs of the local ethnic minorities.

After breakfast, your tour guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby. Today, you will visit one of the most beautiful mountains in the world, Tianmen Mountain. You will experience the world's longest cable car, walk across the glass skywalk, visit the Heavenly Gate, and admire the Heavenly Road with 99 turns.

First, take a 30-minute cable car ride across a 7,455-meter cable line, which will take you directly from Zhangjiajie City to the top of Tianmen Mountain. As you ascend, the winding Heavenly Road with 99 turns and the magnificent scenery of the Bonsai Garden come into full view.

Next, experience the walk on the cliff trail halfway up the mountain: isn't it thrilling to walk on a 60-meter-long transparent glass walkway suspended over a bottomless valley at a height of 1,430 meters?!

Additionally, you can also experience the 1.6-kilometer-long cliff-hanging trail built along the edge of the mountain peak, which is also a fantastic adventure. Afterwards, head to Tianmen Temple to admire the Buddhist architecture typical of the Qing Dynasty.

Afterward, take the escalator down from the mountain top to Tianmen Cave. Also known as the "Gateway to Heaven," Tianmen Hole is a natural archway standing 131.5 meters high between two peaks, rising majestically from the ground. It is also the tallest hole of its kind in the world. (Note: Tianmen Mountain is also a famous location for wingsuit flying.) After spending an unforgettable time, take the cable car down the mountain.

The tour for today is finished, and it's time to bid farewell to Zhangjiajie. Your next destination is Guilin, known for its scenery being the best under heaven. You will be picked up by a driver and taken to your hotel.

After breakfast, head to explore the most charming natural scenery along the Lijiang River coast, hailed by National Geographic as one of the "World's Top Ten Aquatic Wonders." Drive about an hour from the hotel to the pier to start a 4.5-hour relaxing cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo along the Lijiang River. The 84-kilometer scenic cruise offers a feast for your eyes with flat and wide rivers, countless verdant limestone karst peaks, water buffalo grazing, fertile fields, farmers working, idyllic villages nestled at the foot of mountains, and a vast Chinese landscape painting that stretches out before you. (Note: Lunch is provided on the cruise ship, featuring simple local Chinese cuisine.)

Upon arrival in Yangshuo, proceed to your hotel in Yangshuo County for a short rest. Then, you can venture into the countryside of Yangshuo to experience its beautiful rural landscapes. You can rent a bicycle to navigate between karst hills and rice paddies and pass through some peaceful villages. All the picturesque scenery will delight your eyes and soul, allowing you to fully relax physically and mentally.

In the evening, you can leisurely stroll down West Street, the most lively street in Yangshuo. The street is filled with restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops bustling with guests. It is a fusion of Chinese and Western cultures and the best place to spend your nightlife. Whether you want to enjoy a cup of coffee, taste local cuisine, or just immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere...

After breakfast, return to Guilin to continue your tour. Your first visit will be to Elephant Trunk Hill, a symbol of Guilin. Located at the confluence of the Lijiang River and Taohuajiang River, Elephant Trunk Hill resembles a huge elephant drinking water in the stream.

Next, visit the classic karst landform scenic area, Reed Flute Cave. Inside the cave, the stunning stalactites and stalagmites resemble various animals or plants. When the colorful neon lights are lit, you will feel like walking through a crystal palace.

In the afternoon, you will depart for Shanghai, our tour guide and driver will escort you to the airport for check-in. After arriving at Shanghai, your exclusive tour guide and car will wait for you and transfer you to the hotel.

Today, you will spend the entire day in this "Paris of the East," experiencing the perfect fusion of East and West. This includes ascending modern skyscrapers, visiting historical museums, exploring traditional Chinese gardens, and taking a leisurely stroll along the exotic Bund.

First, head to the Shanghai Tower in Pudong, which stands at 632 meters (2,073 feet) tall, making it the tallest building in China and the second-tallest in the world. Get on the world's fastest elevator, traveling at a speed of 64 km/h, to reach the "Shanghai Tower Sky Deck" on the 118th floor, 546 meters (about 1,791 feet) above the ground, where you can overlook the Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center.

Next, we will visit the Shanghai Museum, where you can immerse yourself in the finest art collections and the profound history of China. The museum is shaped like an ancient bronze tripod, with a round top and a square base, symbolizing "heaven is round and earth is square." It contains 120,000 artifacts, showcasing incredible Chinese art spanning 5,000 years. Lose yourself in the bronze and ceramic galleries, admiring exquisite bronzes and artifacts. In particular, don't miss the top treasures such as the Da Ke Ding and the Set of Bells of Duke Su of Jin dynasty, ancient musical instruments dating back over 3,000 years.

Afterwards, proceed to Yu Garden, the most famous classical garden hidden amidst Shanghai's bustling city. It is a private garden with a history of over 460 years. The garden features winding paths leading to secluded spots, where you can appreciate the beauty of the regions south of the Yangtze River!

In the afternoon, take a stroll along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street and visit the Bund, a must-see attraction in Shanghai. Known as the "International Architecture Expo," the Bund boasts 52 buildings of various styles.

(Travel Tip: The Shanghai Museum and Yu Garden are closed every Monday. During these days, you can visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Shanghai City God Temple, or the French Concession.)