17 days Ultimate China Tour

Your China journey begins with a private pickup at Beijing Airport. Our driver will meet you at the international arrival gate with a Wendy Wei Tours sign and transfer you directly to your hotel. No queues, no language barriers—just a comfortable ride into the capital.

After checking in, the rest of Day 1 is yours to relax and adjust to Beijing time. Rest from your flight or take a light walk around your hotel neighborhood to shake off travel fatigue. We recommend setting up WeChat so we can stay connected with you throughout your tour and provide support whenever you need it.

Your guide meets you at your hotel lobby this morning. First stop: the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Chinese emperors performed sacred rituals for nearly 500 years. Built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, this is one of the finest examples of classical Chinese architecture you'll see.

Walk through the Altar of Heaven with its perfect circular geometry, explore the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with its stunning triple-tiered roofs, and climb through the beautiful gardens. Your guide explains the symbolism behind every detail—the numbers, colors, and positioning that reflect ancient Chinese cosmology. It's not just pretty architecture; it's a living textbook of Chinese history and belief.

Next, experience real Beijing life with a rickshaw ride through traditional hutongs—the narrow alleyways and ancient courtyard homes that have defined Beijing for generations. Your rickshaw driver navigates these charming lanes while you pass locals going about their day, children playing in courtyards, and small vendors. This is what Beijing looked like before modern towers.

Your guide shares stories about hutong culture, how families lived together in these compounds, and how these neighborhoods are changing as the city modernizes. It's a peek into a Beijing most tourists never see.

After lunch, you'll visit Tiananmen Square, the world's largest city square and the political heart of China. Then step into the Forbidden City—the massive palace complex where emperors lived and ruled for nearly 500 years. This is the largest palace complex in the world, and it's overwhelming in the best way.

Walk through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, stand in courtyards where emperors made history, explore the private chambers of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and wander through imperial gardens. Every roof tile, every stone, every courtyard tells a story. Your guide brings it all to life, explaining the hierarchy of the palace, the ceremonies that took place, and how daily life worked for the imperial family.

Today is the iconic Great Wall experience. About 1.5 hours from Beijing, Mutianyu is one of the best-preserved sections and far less crowded than Badaling. Built during the Ming Dynasty, this section stretches across dramatic mountain ridges with watchtowers positioned at strategic defensive points. The engineering is remarkable—centuries-old brick and stone climbing terrain that would exhaust modern hikers.

Instead of climbing the entire slope, take a scenic chairlift to the highest point. This lets you conserve energy while enjoying panoramic views of the wall snaking across mountains for miles. Walk along the restored wall, explore the watchtowers, and soak in the grandeur. Then comes the fun part: ride down via toboggan, a steel slide that twists and turns down the mountainside like a roller coaster. It's exhilarating.

On the return to Beijing, you can choose to explore a local flea market or visit the Beijing Olympic Village to see the Bird Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatics Center)—iconic examples of modern Chinese architecture built for the 2008 Olympics.

The evening is free. Relax at your hotel, visit a local bathhouse spa, catch a Peking acrobatics show, or simply rest. It's your choice.

Your final Beijing morning is dedicated to the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 18th century as an imperial escape from the city's summer heat. Spanning 290 hectares, this palace complex is a masterpiece of classical Chinese garden design mixed seamlessly with architecture.

Walk across the famous Marble Boat, stroll through the Long Corridor decorated with thousands of traditional paintings, and explore the pavilions scattered throughout. Climb Longevity Hill for views over Kunming Lake and the entire complex below. Every bridge, every garden, every building placement follows principles of feng shui and imperial aesthetics. It's a different vibe from the Forbidden City—more intimate, more about beauty and retreat than power and ritual.

Next, visit the Lama Temple, Beijing's most important Tibetan Buddhist site and the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet itself. Built in 1694, this active monastery is filled with monks in burgundy robes, the scent of incense, and ornate Buddhist sculptures.

The showstopper is the 26-meter tall statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood—a jaw-dropping display of craftsmanship and devotion. Your guide explains the differences between Tibetan Buddhism and Han Chinese Buddhism, giving you spiritual and cultural context you won't get anywhere else.

In the afternoon, your driver takes you to Beijing South Railway Station. Here you'll experience one of China's greatest achievements: the high-speed train network. Your bullet train to Xi'an is a 4.5-hour journey covering over 1,400 kilometers in complete comfort.

The train is modern, smooth, and clean—you'll barely feel the speed. Most travelers say it's the most comfortable way to travel between Chinese cities. Relax in your seat, order from the dining car (Chinese and Western options available), and watch the countryside transform from rural farms to mountains as you approach Xi'an.

You'll arrive in the evening. Your driver meets you at Xi'an Railway Station and transfers you to your hotel. Check in and rest—tomorrow is the Terracotta Warriors.

Today you'll stand face-to-face with one of the most astounding archaeological discoveries of all time: the Terracotta Army. Buried for over 2,000 years, this UNESCO World Heritage Site holds thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors, horses, and chariots created to protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.

Your guide walks you through three massive pits. Pit 1 is the main battlefield—thousands of warriors stand in perfect rows. Pit 2 shows a mix of cavalry, chariots, and infantry. Pit 3 reveals the command center. Every warrior has a unique face, armor, and posture. They're not identical—artists carved each one individually. Standing among them, you really grasp the scale of ancient Chinese ambition.

This is one of the highlights guests love most. After exploring the pits, you'll sit down with clay and create your own miniature terracotta warrior, just like ancient craftsmen did 2,000 years ago. You'll mold the body, shape the head, add facial details, and hand-paint your warrior in traditional colors. It sounds simple, but you'll gain huge respect for the artisans who created the original army. You get to take your finished warrior home as a souvenir.

Back in Xi'an city, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a seven-story Buddhist temple built in 652 AD. It's one of China's oldest pagodas and sits in a beautiful square where locals practice tai chi and children play. Climb to the top for views over Xi'an—you'll see the contrast between ancient temples and modern skyscrapers.

Your guide takes you on a walk through historic Xi'an. You'll pass the photo stop at Bell & Drum Tower Square (the architectural heart of ancient Xi'an), and finally reach the Muslim Quarter—a maze of narrow alleyways filled with street food vendors, tiny restaurants, and shops selling everything from silks to souvenirs.

Your final Xi'an morning starts at a local market where real locals shop. No tourist trap—this is where families buy vegetables, meat, noodles, and breakfast. Your guide introduces you to vendors, explains what different foods are, and you can try local snacks like jianbing (Chinese crepes), baozi (steamed buns), and youtiao (fried dough). The energy and activity are authentic Xi'an.

Next, you'll bike on Xi'an's Ancient City Wall—one of the best-preserved city walls in China, built in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty. It's 13 kilometers around, and you'll cycle the most scenic sections. The wall is wide and flat, perfect for biking even if you're not athletic. Along the way, you'll see the old city gates, ancient architecture, and views over modern Xi'an spreading out below the wall. It's a unique perspective on how the city has evolved.

After biking, you'll transfer to Xi'an North Station for your high-speed train to Chengdu—approximately 5 hours. Like your Beijing-to-Xi'an journey, it's smooth, modern, and comfortable. You'll arrive in Chengdu in the early evening. Your driver meets you at Chengdu East Station and takes you to your hotel.

About 2.5 hours from Chengdu is one of the world's largest stone Buddha statues: the Leshan Giant Buddha. This 71-meter tall (233 feet) Buddha was carved directly into a cliff face over 1,300 years ago. It's so massive that when you stand at its base, you can't see the head. When you view it from across the river, the scale becomes mind-boggling.

Today you'll explore it by boat, floating down the river for a perspective most people miss. From the water, you see the Buddha emerge from the cliff—the hand, the robe, the overall sculpture. Your guide explains the engineering feat of carving this masterpiece without modern tools, and the religious significance of the Buddha's position overlooking the convergence of three rivers.

After the Buddha, visit a local ancient town near Leshan—a place where traditional architecture, narrow alleyways, and local life feel frozen in time. These towns aren't polished tourist attractions; they're authentic. You'll see red lanterns hanging from eaves, small temples, family businesses that have operated for generations, and locals going about their day without the crowds of more famous destinations.

Explore at your own pace, grab snacks from local vendors, photograph the details, and soak in the atmosphere. It's a slower, more meditative part of the trip after the intensity of the Terracotta Warriors.

This is an early morning. You'll meet at your hotel lobby at 7:00 AM and head straight to the Chengdu Panda Research Center. Why so early? Giant pandas are most active in the morning—they eat, play, and are generally more energetic before the sun gets hot. Show up at noon and they're sleeping. Early gives you the real panda experience.

The center is a working research facility dedicated to panda conservation and breeding. You'll walk through bamboo forests where pandas roam in semi-natural enclosures. You'll see mothers with cubs, teenagers wrestling and playing, and elderly pandas resting. Your guide explains panda behavior, conservation challenges, and why these animals matter to China. Unlike zoos, this center prioritizes the pandas' wellbeing and natural behavior. Many guests say this is their favorite part of the entire trip.

After the pandas, visit People's Park—a local gathering spot in central Chengdu. In the mornings and afternoons, it's crowded with locals playing cards, practicing tai chi, and just hanging out. But here's the cultural observation: in one section, parents gather to advertise their single adult children. Parents hold signs or chat in small groups, trying to arrange matches. It's called the "Marriage Market," and it's a real window into Chinese family culture and values. Your guide explains the dynamics and what you're witnessing.

In the afternoon, visit a local theater to see Sichuan Opera. Your guide takes you backstage to meet performers and learn about this 300-year-old art form. You'll see the elaborate costumes, masks, makeup, and props. The opera tells stories through exaggerated movements, acrobatic stunts, and face-changing (where performers change masks in seconds without touching their face—it's mesmerizing). It's so different from Western theater that most travelers have never seen anything like it.

End your day at Jinli Pedestrian Street, a restored Ming Dynasty-style marketplace filled with restaurants, tea houses, gift shops, and street performers. Walk the narrow alleys, grab snacks, watch local entertainment, and soak in the Chengdu vibe. This is where tourists and locals mix, and it's lively in the evening.

This morning you'll transfer to Chengdu East Station for your high-speed train to Zhangjiajie—approximately 5 hours. The journey takes you through rural Sichuan province and into Hunan's mountain regions. Relax, order from the dining car, and enjoy the scenery transformation as you get closer to Zhangjiajie.

Your driver meets you at Zhangjiajie West Station in the evening and takes you to your hotel in Wulingyuan, the gateway town to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Check in and rest—tomorrow you'll encounter one of the world's most spectacular landscapes.

Today you enter one of the most visually stunning landscapes on Earth. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is UNESCO-listed and famously inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. Thousands of sandstone pillars rise vertically from misty valleys—it looks like something from another planet.

Your first stop is Tianzi Mountain, accessed by cable car. From the top, you'll see an endless sea of peaks disappearing into clouds and mist. Walk along paths carved into cliffsides, with railings as your only safety barrier and thousand-meter drops below. The scale is breathtaking. On clear days, views extend for miles. On misty days, you see silhouettes of peaks emerging from clouds—either way, it's otherworldly.

Next, you'll travel by local shuttle bus to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, another section of the park with equally dramatic landscapes. From here, you'll experience the Bailong Elevator—a massive glass-fronted elevator built into a cliff face that drops 330 meters down. It's terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. As you descend, you'll see the entire landscape unfold below you—the pillars, the valleys, the scale of everything.

At the base, you'll walk the Golden Whip Stream trail, a gentle path following a stream through a canyon with dramatic rock formations on either side. After all the heights and intensity, this shaded walk is a nice change of pace. The stream is crystal clear and the air is cool and fresh.

Tianmen Mountain is the dramatic finale of your Zhangjiajie adventure. Ride one of the world's longest cable cars as it climbs the mountainside to the summit, where you'll explore the spectacular Tianmen Cave — an enormous natural opening in the mountain—and experience the famous Tianmen Mountain Glass Skywalk, a transparent walkway clinging to the cliff edge with breathtaking views and thousand-metre drops below. If heights aren't your thing, there's an alternative walkway that avoids the glass section.

In the afternoon, you'll transfer to Zhangjiajie Railway Station and board a high-speed train to Fenghuang Ancient Town (approximately 40 minutes). Fenghuang is unlike anywhere else on your journey — a beautifully preserved ancient town with narrow cobblestone streets, traditional wooden stilt houses lining the Tuojiang River, and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. As night falls, the entire town comes alive with thousands of glowing lights reflected on the river, creating one of China's most magical evening scenes. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the riverbanks, cross centuries-old stone bridges, and savour dinner at a local restaurant overlooking the water.

Today is a full-day driving adventure to Longji Rice Terraces, about 4.5 hours from Fenghuang Ancient Town. These aren't just terraces — they're architectural feats carved into mountainsides by Zhuang and Yao minorities over centuries. The stepped rice paddies follow the contours of mountains so precisely they look like natural amphitheaters.

You'll have a late lunch at a local Zhuang minority family's home (food cooked in a restaurant kitchen for food safety, but authentic recipes and atmosphere). After lunch, walk the terraces trail to Ping'an Village (about 50-60 minutes) through the bamboo forests and rice paddies. Upon arriving at Ping'an Village, you will explore the village, interact with locals, and photograph the terraces from different angles as light changes throughout the day.

In the late afternoon, you will continue drive to Guilin. Before checking into your hotel, we will have a quick photo stop at the landmark of the City - the Sun & Moon Pagodas reflecting in the lakes. The evening is free to explore Guilin or rest.

Today is the famous Li River Cruise, one of the most scenic boat journeys in China. You'll board a 4-star deluxe cruise in Guilin and cruise downstream to Yangshuo (about 4 hours). The scenery is postcard-perfect, with limestone karst peaks rising from the emerald-green river, water buffalo grazing along the riverbanks, and charming rural villages. A Chinese buffet lunch is included on board.

After arriving in Yangshuo, you'll visit West Street, the town's lively pedestrian street lined with cafés, shops, and restaurants. It's the perfect place to pick up souvenirs and gifts to take home. Then check in to your Yangshuo hotel and enjoy a free afternoon to relax - use the hotel facilities, take a nap, or explore the town at your own pace.

This is an active day exploring Yangshuo's countryside. Start with a visit to a local farmer's market (if open) to see local farmers buying fresh produce and interact with vendors. Then head to Xianggong Hill for a panoramic view of the Li River —the perspective from up here shows why this region is so famous for photography.

On the way back to Yangshuo, visit Jiuxian Village and the ancient Fuli Bridge, a 600-year-old stone structure bridge still used by locals. Then experience a traditional bamboo raft ride on the Yulong River — a smaller, more intimate river experience than the Li River. After rafting, you will have a countryside cycling or walking tour through rural Yangshuo, passing rice paddies and getting a real sense of life outside the tourist areas.

In the evening around 7:40pm, attend the Impression 3rd Sister Liu Show — a massive outdoor performance staged on the Li River at night with hundreds of local performers, elaborate costumes, and stunning lighting. It's a professional production that tells the story of local legends. Our VIP B1 seating gets you the best views. Return to your Yangshuo hotel late evening.

Morning is free at leisure in Yangshuo. Mid-morning, your driver transfers you to Guilin Airport. Flight to Shanghai (about 2 hours). Upon arrival, your driver meets you at Shanghai Airport and transfers you to your hotel in central Shanghai. Evening is free. Rest from travel or explore your hotel neighborhood.

Meet at your Shanghai hotel lobby. Visit City God Temple bazaar — a restored traditional marketplace with shops, tea houses, and restaurants in classical architecture. Adjacent is Yu Garden, a classical Ming Dynasty garden with bridges, pavilions, and manicured landscapes. It's beautiful but busy.

Next, explore the Former French Concession and Tianzifang Arts Area — converted colonial-era neighborhoods now filled with galleries, boutique shops, cafes, and street art. It's where creative Shanghai hangs out.

Then visit Shanghai Tower for a panoramic view over the entire city from the observation deck. In the afternoon, you will try Shanghai's driverless cars or interact with humanoid robots. Shanghai is one of China's most modern, futuristic cities, offering a great contrast to the old traditional ancient towns and mountain vibes you've just experienced—welcome to the civilization!

Transfer back to your hotel in the evening. Your tour guiding services end after this day.

Meet your driver at your hotel. Transfer to Shanghai Airport or train station for your departure. End of tour.