China's Contrasts

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Your next UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Summer Palace. Its classical Chinese gardens and impressive architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into the country’s imperial past Set beside Kunming Lake, the complex is home to the famous Marble Boat and the 700-metre Long Corridor, richly decorated with paintings and offering excellent photo opportunities.

In the afternoon, travel north of Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall , one of the most popular sections of the Great Wall and a highlight of any visit to China. Generally less crowded than other sections, Mutianyu offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. Take a cable car up to the wall, where you will have time to walk at your own pace and admire the magnificent structure as it winds across the mountain ridges. Return to Beijing in the evening.

Mutianyu Great Wall

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Continue your journey to Zhengzhou by modern high-speed train, travelling at speeds of up to 300 km/h. The journey takes approximately four hours. From the station, continue to Dengfeng, the birthplace of Shaolin kung fu. Visit the extensive Shaolin Temple complex and the nearby Pagoda Forest. You may also choose to watch a kung fu demonstration performed by students from a local martial arts school. After the visit, transfer to Luoyang.

Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng

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As Buddhism spread through China, grottoes containing Buddhist carvings began to appear at various sites from the fifth century onwards. Among the most famous are the Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang, carved into the cliffs along the Yi River. More than 2,000 caves contain countless statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in a remarkable range of sizes. The site has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for more than 20 years. In the afternoon, take a high-speed train to Xi’an, an ancient imperial capital. The journey takes approximately one and a half hours.

Longmen Grottoes

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Begin the day with a visit to the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor. A highlight of many tours of China, it was also among the country’s first sites to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Explore the three excavated pits and see how remarkably well the 2,200-year-old clay army has been preserved. In the afternoon, visit one of Xi’an’s best-known landmarks, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, located within the Buddhist Temple of Great Mercy. Built during the Tang Dynasty, it is one of China’s oldest buildings.
End the afternoon at the Great Mosque in the city centre. Xi’an has a large Muslim community and, as a major destination on the Silk Road since the Han Dynasty, has long been a meeting point for cultures from abroad.

Terracotta Warriors

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In the morning, travel to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, by high-speed train. Second-class tickets are included, and the journey takes approximately three to four hours. Spend the afternoon exploring the city on foot. Stroll along Jinli Street, lined with traditional-style buildings, small restaurants, teahouses, and shops, before transferring to your hotel.

Jinli Old Street

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Chengdu is famous not only for its spicy cuisine and many teahouses, but above all for its connection to the giant panda, which is native to Sichuan. Today, visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can see these rare animals up close. The spacious enclosures are home to pandas of different ages, most of which are being prepared for eventual release into the wild. Afterwards, transfer to the railway station and take a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie. The journey takes approximately five hours.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

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Remember the floating mountains in Avatar? You will not meet the blue Na’vi here, but the dramatic scenery of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park may look familiar. Take a cable car up Tianzi Mountain for breathtaking views across this remarkable landscape. For an added thrill, walk across the 430-metre-long glass bridge—just try not to look down at the deep gorges of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon below.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area

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Early in the morning, take a high-speed train from Zhangjiajie to Guilin. The journey takes approximately seven and a half hours. The area around Guilin is famous for its green karst mountains and the Li River, which winds like a jade ribbon between the hills and nourishes the surrounding fields. Upon arrival, continue directly to Yangshuo, a small town surrounded by some of the region’s most beautiful karst formations. Popular with both Chinese and international visitors, the town is known for its lively atmosphere. Depending on your arrival time,
you may have time for a walk or to explore its bustling main street.

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Today, you will explore the surrounding countryside in two different ways. First, relax on a bamboo raft ride through the karst landscape, drifting past steep hills, fields, and villages. Afterwards, there will be plenty of time for a bike ride or a longer walk through the beautiful countryside, including a visit to Moon Hill.

Bamboo Rafting on Yulong River

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The morning is free for you to spend at your leisure. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. In the evening, take a stroll along the Bund, the city’s famous waterfront promenade, and admire Shanghai’s spectacular illuminated skyline.

The Bund

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Begin the day with a walking tour of Shanghai’s Old Town, which offers a glimpse of what the city looked like towards the end of the Qing Dynasty. Today, the area is home to numerous souvenir shops and well-known restaurants, as well as the famous Yu Garden, a fine example of a traditional private garden from southern China. Although popular with visitors, the garden remains a peaceful green oasis in the heart of the Old Town.
Next, visit the Urban Planning Museum in modern People’s Square, where you can learn about Shanghai’s history and plans for future development. If this visit cannot be arranged, the Shanghai Museum, featuring a selection of exhibits from Chinese history, will be offered as an alternative. End the day with a bird’s-eye view of the city from the observation deck of Shanghai Tower.

Shanghai Tower

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Depending on your departure time, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home or onward journey.