2-Week China Tour: Shanghai Guilin Zhangjiajie Xian Beijing

Nihao! Welcome to Shanghai, China’s most internationalized and vibrant city! As the dazzling starting point of your 2-week China tour, Shanghai sets the stage with its unique fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. Upon your arrival at the airport/train station in Shanghai, the driver will meet and greet you at the exit, and then escort you to the well-selected hotel in downtown Shanghai. The rest of the day is free on your own, so you can have a good rest for the jet lag or explore by yourself around your hotel.

Shanghai Arrival Ideas:

Travelers can go to Shanghai easily by air or high-speed train. There are two airports - Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport operating numerous international and domestic airlines. Travelers can go to Shanghai by air from most cities in China, like Beijing, Xian, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Guilin, Kunming, Lijiang, Lhasa, and more. In addition, travelers can take high-speed train to Shanghai from Beijing (4.5-6 hours), Xian (6-7.5 hours), Huangshan (2.5-3 hours), Guangzhou (7-8.5 hours), Suzhou (0.5 hour), Hangzhou (about 45 mins), Wuhan (3.5-4.5 hours), etc.

Free Time Ideas:

You are welcome to ask your tour guide for some useful tips to spend your free time based on your time and interest.

Today, your group will have full day to experience the perfect blend of East and West in the "Paris of the East." Explore brilliant museums, classical gardens, futuristic skyscrapers, and stunning architecture - all in one vibrant city.

First, head to Pudong and the Lujiazui financial district, home to a trio of iconic skyscrapers. The Shanghai Tower, China’s tallest and the world’s second-tallest building at 632 meters (2,073 ft), soars with a dramatic 120-degree twist from base to peak. Ride the world’s fastest elevators (64 km/h) to the "Top of Shanghai Observatory" on the 118th floor, 546 meters above ground. Enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of the city, with the Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center below.

Later, visit the Shanghai Museum (East), one of the world’s finest museums of ancient Chinese art. Its sleek, modern design is inspired by the traditional Chinese jade bi disc. Inside, explore galleries of bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, jade, furniture, coins, and sculptures. Don’t miss iconic treasures like the Da Ke Ding, a 3,000-year-old bronze vessel, displayed with the Zi Long Ding and Marquis of Jin Bells - a rare highlight of the Bronze Gallery. Also, see the legendary Sword of King Goujian of Yue, a masterpiece of ancient craftsmanship.

Next, visit Yu Garden, Shanghai’s most famous classical garden, hidden in the heart of the city. Stroll through elegant pavilions, rockeries, and lotus ponds, and admire exquisite carvings and traditional architecture. Outside, Yuyuan Bazaar offers local snacks, souvenirs, and handcrafted art.

In the afternoon, walk along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, lined with global brands, cafes, and historic buildings. End at the Bund, Shanghai’s top must-see landmark. Known as the "Exhibition of International Architecture," it features 52 grand buildings in Gothic, Baroque, and Art Deco styles. From here, enjoy a stunning view of the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.

Travel Notes:

• Yu Garden is closed on Mondays. In this case, we may visit the City God Temple, or French Concession
• Shanghai Museum (East) is closed on Tuesdays. You will visit **Shanghai Museum (People’s Square)**on that day. If access to the People’s Square location is unavailable, we will arrange an alternative city attraction.

This morning, you will be free until your guide and driver take you to the airport to catch a flight to Guilin (about 3 hours).

Welcome to Guilin, the most picturesque paradise in China! Transitioning from the urban pulse of Shanghai to the second destination of our 2-week China tour, you are now in the most picturesque paradise in the country. Upon your arrival at the airport in Guilin, the tour guide and driver will meet and greet you at the exit, and then escort you directly to Longsheng County, where the famous Longji Rice Terrace with the most fantastic rural scenery in China is located. You will be dropped off at Ping’an Village at Longji Rice Terrace (about a 2.5-hour drive). You will spend your night at Ping’an Village.

(Note: You need to walk about 900 steps from Ping’an Village Tourist Center to your hotel. Please wear comfortable shoes today.)

Longji Rice Terrace, also called Dragon's Back Terraced Fields, is an incredible farm engineering with a history of over 650 years. It is also an ethnic paradise where you can experience the Yao and Zhuang people’s unique ethnic culture and taste local specialty food. If the weather permits, you can watch the beautiful sunrise from a great location on the terraces. After breakfast, it is time to fully explore the best highlights of Longji Rice Terrace at a very comfortable pace. The rice terrace is layer upon layer, like the changing ladder created by nature, leading to the blue sky, forming a majestic painting between heaven and earth. Hike on the well-paved paths and get to Seven Stars Accompany the Moon and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers. The two sites are very good locations for photography ,where you can catch superlative views of terraces and villages. The whole hike takes about half a day.

After the memorable time at Longji Rice Terrace, you will be transferred back to Guilin city. You will have free time after your hotel check-in. Taking a walk along the Binjiang Road is the recommended activity for your leisure time.

“East or west, Guilin landscape is the best”. After breakfast, you will go to explore the most stunning natural scenery along the Li River, which is renowned as one of the "world's top 10 watery wonders" by National Geographic. Drive about 1 hour from your hotel to the pier and start a 4.5-hour relaxing sightseeing Li River cruise trip to Yangshuo. Along the 84-kilometer scenic cruise, you will feast your eyes on endless Chinese paintings of winding rivers, numerous green limestone karst peaks, grazing water buffalo, farmers working in the fertile fields, and idyllic villages nestled at the bases of the hills. (Note: Lunch is served on the cruise with simple local Chinese cuisine.)

After arriving in Yangshuo, the driver will pick you up from the dock and drive to your hotel in Yangshuo town for a short rest. Then it's a relaxing moment for an impressive exploration of the Yangshuo countryside with its beautiful rural landscape. You can either hop on a bike or rent an electric scooter to explore the postcard-like karst hills and rice paddies and pass by some tranquil villages. Let all the picturesque scenes please your eyes and your souls to the maximum for total relaxation.

Later, you will stroll along West Street, which is the most prosperous area in Yangshuo. Restaurants, bars and souvenir shops along the street are always full of guests. It is a fusion of western culture and Chinese culture and it is the best place to spend your nightlife here. Whether you want to enjoy a cup of coffee, taste some local food, or just throw yourself into the vivid atmosphere... all you can get.

After breakfast, transfer back to Guilin for further exploration. Start your visit to the Symbol of Guilin - Elephant Trunk Hill. Located on the intersection of the Li River and the Peach Blossom River, the Elephant Trunk Hill looks like a huge elephant drinking water in the river. And then you will pay a visit to the Reed Flute Cave, which is a classic scenic spot of karst landform. The amazing stalactites and stalagmites in the cave look like animals or plants. When the colorful neon lights are on, you will feel like walking in a crystal palace.

After the tour, you will head to the train station for your bullet train to Zhangjiajie (about 7 hours). Welcome to Zhangjiajie! As the most surreal nature destination among the 2-week China tour, this is an incredible place where you can see the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in reality! Upon your arrival in Zhangjiajie, the local guide and driver will greet you at the exit of the airport, and then escort you to your hotel in the Wulingyuan Area. Enjoy some free time on your own after the hotel check-in.

After breakfast, you will have a whole day to explore Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a spectacular island of nature dominated by more than 3,000 narrow quartz sandstone pillars. First, take a sightseeing bus to Bailong Elevator, where, within 1.5 minutes you can go from the valley bottom up to the pillar peak. It is the fastest and as well as tallest outdoor elevator in the world. Next, enjoy the hike into a mysterious Pandora World - Yuanjiajie, which is rightly the shooting location of “Hallelujah Mountains” in reality. Catch the chance to shoot South Sky Pillar, the landmark of Yuanjiajie, about 150 meters high, vertically rising high from the deep valley, looking like a giant standing so upright under heaven. Go to the Enchanting Platform for a marvel at the unbelievable scenery with hundreds of various peaks like bamboo shoots towering from the grounds. And then enjoy the lush scenery of Natural Bonsai at Backyard Garden.

Next, take the sightseeing bus to the second tourist site - Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, which was named after the leader of the local Tujia ethnic group, Xiang Dakun in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is a fairyland in the movie Monkey King. Hike to He Long Park, which has a fascinating viewing deck to appreciate the incredible and magnificent scene of peculiar stone peaks. Move to Dianjiang Terrace to overlook the West Sea Stone Forest, rugged rock rising out of a misty canyon. The last stop today is the Ten-mile Galley. You will take a small green train to explore the beautiful scenery, where you will feel like you're getting through a Chinese ink painting. After the tour, get back to your hotel for a good rest.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon for the breathtaking Grand Canyon Glass Bridge experience. The Grand Canyon Glass Bridge wants to say “hello” to you and makes you yell “my god” to give a deeper impression of Zhangjiajie. Suspended between two peaks, the glass bridge is 430 meters long and 300 meters high, which is the longest and highest glass bridge in the world. Standing on the transparent glass is like floating in the air and you can have a superb panoramic view of the entire Grand Canyon.

After your "tremble" on the glass bridge, move to Baofeng Lake to do a scenic cruise to bring you back to peace. Surrounded by green trees and stone peaks of various shapes, Baofeng Lake is an idyllic place for relaxation. When leisurely cruising on the boat, you can see the reflection of the marvelous peaks and enjoy the folk songs performed by the local minority people.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel lobby. Today, you will make a breathtaking visit to Tianmen Mountain, one of the world’s most beautiful mountains. You won’t miss the chance to experience the world’s longest cable car, walk on the glass skywalk, and pay a visit to Heaven’s Door and view Avenue toward Heaven with 99 turns.

First, take the 30-minute cable car with 7,455 meters in length which means you’ll travel from the city of Zhangjiajie to the top of Tianmen Mountain. From the cable car you will have a perfect view of Heaven’s Door and a shocking look at the winding Avenue toward Heaven. Next, move to Tianmen Temple where you can enjoy the typical Qing Dynasty-style Buddhist structure with verdant forest surrounding by.

Now, the challenge time is coming. Hold your breath to experience the scary walks on the cliff path hanging on the mountain. Walk on the Glass Skywalk, which is transparent glass 1430 meters above the bottomless valley, giving you a thrilling feeling like walking in the sky. Also, try the 1.6-kilometer-long Cliff-Hanging Walkway, built along the edges of the mountain’s summits. Amazing, isn’t it? After that, go down by the escalator from the peak to Tianmen Cave which is also known as “Heaven’s Door”. Tianmen Cave is a natural arch between two peaks of a height of 131.5 meters, rising above the ground and reaching the sky with a lofty and towering posture. It is the highest hole of its sort in the world. (Note: Tianmen Mountain is the famous spot for Wingsuit Flying, you might have a chance to witness this unbelievable sport there.) After the memorable time, take the cable car down the mountain. And then, you will be transferred to the Wulingyuan area and have accommodation here.

After the tour, it is time to say goodbye to Zhangjiajie. You will be escorted to the airport for your night flight to Xian (about 2 hours). Upon your arrival in Xian, the local driver will meet you at the exit of the airport and escort you to your hotel.

Optional Transfer Plan from Zhangjiajie to Xian in the Off-Season:

During the off-season, if there is no direct flight from Zhangjiajie to Xian, we will adjust the plan for you: transfer from Zhangjiajie to Changsha by high-speed train, and then take a flight from Changsha to Xian.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Drive about 40km (about 1 hour) to uncover one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world - the Terracotta Army Museum, built by the first emperor of China, Qin Shihuang, to protect him in the afterlife. Around 8,000 vivid life-size Terracotta Warriors have been found so far. First, visit the largest and most imposing pit, believed to contain over 6,000 terracotta figures of soldiers and horses. You will be amazed by this subterranean life-size army of thousands standing silently to guard the emperor. Marvel also at the fabulous artistic skills of ancient Chinese artisans. Next, move to another pit where you can see around 1,300 warriors and horses. Examine the ancient army formation, including the kneeling and standing archers, the chariot war array, and numerous troopers holding weapons.

After lunch, head to visit the Ancient City Wall, also known as the Fortification of Xian, representing one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved Chinese city walls. Spend time leisurely walking the wall and enjoying its inner and outer walls, watchtowers, and moat, taking in panoramic views of modern Xian, there, you will also visit the awe-inspiring Bell Tower (or Drum Tower), a landmark from the Ming Dynasty dating back 600 years, will be beautifully illuminated, creating a captivating backdrop for stunning photos showcasing the harmonious blend of ancient history and modernity in Xian.

In the evening, you may also have the chance to visit the lively Bell & Drum Tower Square (Zhongulou Square), allowing you to immerse yourself in Xian's vibrant nightlife like a local.

This morning, you will go to visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, one of Xi'an's most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of the magnificence of the Tang Dynasty. This seven-story pagoda standing in the tranquil Da Ci'en Temple is one of China's best examples of a Tang-style pagoda (squarish rather than round). It was completed in AD 652 to house Buddhist sutras brought back from India by the monk Xuan Zang. His travels inspired one of the best-known works of Chinese literature, Journey to the West. Later, you will have the opportunity to explore the vibrant and bustling Muslim Quarter (Muslim Street). This historic quarter, situated just behind the Drum Tower about 430 meters west of the Bell Tower in downtown Xian, has been around for over 1,000 years.

After the tour, you will be transferred to the train station for your high-speed train to your next destination - Beijing. Upon arrival in Beijing, your driver will meet you at the train station and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free on your own, so you can explore by yourself around your hotel.

Today you will spend the whole day exploring the ancient citadel of Beijing. As the grand finale of your 2-week China tour , Beijing welcomes you with its famous landmarks, imperial grandeur, and royal gardens.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and head to Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square and symbol of China. It has witnessed many major events in China's history over the past decades, and from here you can take great photos of Tiananmen Gate, seen daily on CCTV News.

Walking across the square, you will visit the mighty and splendid Forbidden City, the world's largest palace complex and former home of 24 Chinese emperors. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Forbidden City has about 500 years of history, serving as the political and ritual center of China during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. With over 8,700 rooms, it is not only China's largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings, but also a city within a city, like the Vatican in Rome. Enter through the Meridian Gate and visit along the central axis to ensure you see all the highlights. Admire the brilliant architecture and numerous ancient treasures while listening to your guide share stories of the emperors who once lived here.

Later, take a 15-minute walk up to Jingshan Park, where you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views over modern Beijing and the Forbidden City's russet roofs. (Note: It requires some walking, so please wear comfortable footwear. You can decide whether or not to climb to the top based on your physical condition.)

In the afternoon, drive to the Summer Palace, the "Museum of Royal Gardens," once a summer retreat for royal families. The grounds, temples, gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges, gate-towers, and corridors are marvels of landscape design. Take a leisurely stroll to appreciate the imperial architecture, hilltop views, and beautiful lakes, which offer a pastoral escape into the landscapes of traditional Chinese painting.

(Travel Note: The Forbidden City in Beijing is closed on Mondays. If your tour falls on that day, the itinerary will be adjusted to ensure you visit the Forbidden City.

This morning, you will head northwest of Beijing (about 1.5-2 hours’ drive, 73km) to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. The Great Wall boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient masterpieces on the planet. Mutianyu Great Wall is connected with the Jiankou Great Wall in the west and the Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. Mutianyu is the longest and best fully-restored Great Wall with fewer tourists and is also famed for its 23 Ming-era watchtowers and stunning views. Take the cable car up to the 14th watchtower and then enjoy the memorable hiking time on the wall while visiting its western route. With the green pines and cypresses covering the surrounding area, and the winding wall standing majestically on the vast land, you will capture the most stunning natural scenery in this section. Challenge yourselves while climbing up to the 20th watchtower, where you can fulfill your Great Wall dream. Cherish the chance and take as many photos as you like!

After the once-in-a-lifetime experience, head back to downtown Beijing and have the chance to take photos with the exterior of the Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium) and Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center). They were both designed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and used for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

After that, transfer back to your hotel and have a good rest tonight.

This morning, you will head to the Temple of Heaven. Located in Beijing's Tiantan Park, the Temple of Heaven is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace. As a World Heritage, the Temple of Heaven (Taoist temple) is also known for its rigorous symbolic layout, peculiar structure, and magnificent decoration. The Temple of Heaven used to be a place to offer sacrifice to Heaven by 22 Chinese emperors twice a year for good harvests. You can learn more about the grand praying ceremony there, as well as observe the amazing designs such as the Echo Wall and the Triple Sound Stones. Nowadays, it is also a park for local people to do morning exercise, and you are welcome to join them.

If there is more time, you can also enjoy the relaxing time exploring the ordinary local life through the old Hutongs. Take a rickshaw tour to travel through the narrow alleys with many featured shops standing on both sides.

Then, it is time to end your 14-day classic tour. You have successfully traversed the top 5 places to visit in China, creating memories that span from the modern Bund to the ancient Great Wall. Your guide will escort you to the airport/train station for your flight or high-speed train to your next destination.

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your 2-week China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia.