Pandas & Pagodas

Day 1 - Beijing

Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be greeted by a  local English-speaking guide and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation – Novotel Beijing Peace

Meals Included - None

Day 2 - Beijing

Today experience an amazing day tour. First, you will be led to visit the Qianmen Street. The area is distinctive with Chinese ancient architecture. People from home and abroad love to shop here or just walk around to take in the nice atmosphere. With a few steps, you may get to the world famous Tiananmen Square, the very place where Chairman Mao announced the foundation of China. Passing through Tian2anmen, you will reach the royal residence, the Forbidden City. Being one of the cultural symbols of China, the Forbidden City is exquisitely decorated and extremely mysterious with the past history and court stories. After that the day tour continues with a visit to Summer Palace, the massive garden and summer resort for royal members only during the imperial times.  Finally, drive back to the hotel. 

Accommodation – Novotel Beijing Peace

Meals Included – Breakfast & Lunch

Day 3 - Beijing & the Great Wall

Today, the first stop is the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, a comparatively quieter part of the ancient fortification system. A comfortable round-teip cable car is arranged for you. Plenty of time will be allocated to appreciate this magnificent sight. In the afternoon, you will explore the Beijing Hutongs, packed with antique and craft shops,. Here you will also visit a local family and learn how to make traditional Chinese Kites. 

Accommodation – Novotel Beijing Peace

Meals Included – Breakfast & Lunch

Day 4 - Beijing - Xian

Spend the morning at leisure. In the afternoon, you will be met by a guide at the hotel lobby and transferred to the train to Xi’an. The train ride is about 5 hours. It is high-tech and comfortable. You may enjoy countryside scenery that can’t be seen in the cities. When you arrive in Xi’an, a local guide will meet you and help you check in at the hotel.

Accommodation – New Century Grand

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 5 - Xian

This morning your guide will meet you at the hotel and head to the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Then, take the drive back to the city of Xian, to further explore the ancient walled city. End the day by exploring the Muslim Quarter where many delicious local snacks and souvenirs can be found, before transferring back to your hotel.

Accommodation – New Century Grand Hotel

Meals Included – Breakfast & Lunch

Day 6 - Xian - Chengdu

Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, you will be met by the guide at the hotel lobby and transferred to the train to Chengdu. The train ride is about 4 hours. It is high-tech and comfortable. Enjoy countryside scenery whilst onboard. When you arrive in Chengdu, your local guide will meet you and help you check in at the hotel there. 

Accommodation – Tianfu Sunshine Hotel

Meals Included – Breakfast 

Day 7 - Chengdu

In the morning, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel lobby. Sit back and relax in the comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle as you are driven to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The day just gets much more joyous seeing those adorable furry balls roll, play, eat and sleep. After departing the Research Base, you’ll be driven to Jinli Street, a commercial street with over 2000 years trading history. Here you will be able to try local Sichuan food and check out the arts and crafts in various interesting shops and stalls. Another Chengdu highlight awaits at Renmin Park, where you have a chance to enjoy some leisure time watching locals exercise, sing, dance or play mahjong while tasting a cup of tea. The tour will finish around 17:00, when you will be transferred to your hotel.

Accommodation – Tianfu Sunshine Hotel

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 8 - Chengdu - Guilin

Today after breakfast at the hotel, your guide will meet you and accompany you to the station. You will take the high speed train to Guilin. The train ride is 6-7 hours. Upon arrival in Guilin, your guide will meet you and lead you to the hotel. For lunch today, you may pack some food as most Chinese do, or order on the train (note: the food on the train is not as good as in city restaurants).

Accommodation – Aroma Tea House

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 9 - Guilin & Yangshuo

Today take a 4-hour scenic cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo. A packed lunch will be served on the cruise. When arriving in Yangshuo, you will visit the West Street with so many small shops and stalls. Later you will ride a bike through the picturesque countryside, taking in the fresh air and stop for photo opportunities. Transfer back to the city for your overnight in Guilin.

Accommodation – Aroma Tea House

Meals Included – Breakfast & Lunch

Day 10 - Guilin - Shanghai

Your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby. Then you will be transferred to visit the Reed Flute Cave. Renown as a dazzling underground palace or "Nature's Art Palace", the Reed Flute Cave is one of Guilin city's top tourist sites offering many stone pillars, stalactites, stalagmites, stone flowers, curtains and mushrooms etc. If time permits, you will take a leisurely walk in the Seven Star Park till it is time to get back to the car for the transfer to the airport, for the flight to Shanghai. When you arrive in Shanghai, the local guide will meet you and help you check in to your hotel.

Accommodation – Central Hotel Shanghai

Meals Included – Breakfast & Lunch

Day 11 - Shnaghai

Begin your tour today with visiting the Shanghai Museum, a good place to learn about the city’s history. After this, you will then pay a visit to the old city area of Shanghai. You will first visit the Yuyuan Garden presenting exquisite examples of gardening. Then spend some quiet time at the Longhua Temple, the oldest temple in Shanghai with a long history of over 1,700 years. Next comes Tianzifang, which has transformed itself from legacy residential architectures and factories into an artsy area housing bars, cafes, craft shops, design studios, galleries and boutiques. The last place is Xintiandi, a new popular business area in Shanghai where you will be able to see the traditional Shanghai buildings with modern interiors. A leisurely walk along the riverbank of Huangpu River makes a perfect conclude of the day, before the transfer you back to your hotel.

Accommodation – Central Hotel Shanghai

Meals Included – Breakfast & Lunch

Day 12 - Shanghai & Zhujiajiao

Today, you will escape the hustle and bustle of the big city and drive to Zhujiajiao Water Town. It’s about 1.5 hours on the way. With over 1,000 years history, Zhujiajiao, known as “The Venice of Shanghai”, features beautiful waterways, arched stone bridges, ancient streets paved with stone, and many houses dating back to Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. 

Accommodation – Central Hotel Shanghai

Meals Included – Breakfast & Lunch

Day 13 - Shanghai

Today your tour concludes with a transfer to the airport.

Meals Included - Breakfast