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Home China Tours from Shanghai 17 Days In-depth China Tour with Best China & Three Gorges, Panda, and Holy Tibet
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On this 17 days In-depth China Tour, you will travel across China from east to west and discover beautiful China with modern cities and some remote areas. This China panorama trip includes China's Golden Triangle (Beijing, Shanghai, Xian), the classic Yangtze River Cruise (Three Gorges Dam), Panda Hometown (Chengdu), and the City of Sunlight (Lhasa). Let's explore China with the top 6 tourist cities together.

In Shanghai, the financial city of China, you will find an old Shanghai through the Bund and experience the speed of China’s development through a view from Shanghai Tower. From Yichang to Chongqing, you will take the world-famous Yangtze River Cruise which is blessed with a richness of natural and manmade scenery and cultural relics such as the Three Gorges Dam, and the Shennong Stream. In Xian, you will visit the well-known Ancient Wall, Muslim Quarter, and Terracotta Warriors. In Chengdu, immerse yourself in watching at the adorable pandas and the delicious Sichuan food. In Lhasa, the roof of the world, you will unveil the mysteries of the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street, and try yak butter tea in the only nunnery in Lhasa. In Beijing, you will walk on the top-ranked part of the Great Wall and marvel at the heritage sites like the Forbidden City and Summer Palace. Discover Beautiful China with a trip that covers China's vast territory, long history, rich culture, cuisine with varied styles, Chinese painting-like landscapes, cute pandas, and holy Tibet.

You Can Experience “Must-see & Must-do” with This Tour
Highlight 1: Take the fast elevator to 546 meters on Shanghai Tower to have a full view of the Economic Hub of China and also Walk on the banks of the Huangpu River on the Bund, read and feel the old Shanghai and the modern Shanghai.
Shanghai Yichang Yangtze River Chongqing Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing Tour
 
Highlight 2: A Lifetime Yangtze River Cruise tour to the Three Gorges, can bring you with the stunning scenery and the ancient cultural sites along the river. With the cruise tour, you can witness the world's biggest hydro project-Three Gorges Dam.
Shanghai Yichang Yangtze River Chongqing Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing Tour
Highlight 3: Count the cute pandas in Chengdu Panda Base, watch the national treasure eating bamboo, playing with unique toys, climbing trees, sleeping... and enjoy the relaxing lifestyle in Chengdu’s parks and streets.
Shanghai Yichang Yangtze River Chongqing Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing Tour
Highlight 4: A journey to the City of Sunlight on the Tibetan Plateau, get your camera ready to record the brilliant palace, monasteries, and Tibetan culture.
Shanghai Yichang Yangtze River Chongqing Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing Tour
Highlight 5: In Ancient Capital Xian, chase the Silk Road marks through the Ancient Wall, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (World Heritage), and Shaanxi History Museum.
Shanghai Yichang Yangtze River Chongqing Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing Tour
Highlight 6: A closed visit to Terracotta Warriors (World Heritage), find more about the 2,200 years old underground army for China's first emperor’s afterlife.
Shanghai Yichang Yangtze River Chongqing Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing Tour
Highlight 7: Explore China’s capital city by Gardens & Traditional Hutongs while listen to the stories of ancient Beijing through its Imperial Palaces.
Shanghai Yichang Yangtze River Chongqing Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing Tour
Highlight 8: Enjoy hiking time on a top-ranked part of the Great Wall and have a panoramic view of the spectacular landscape
Shanghai Yichang Yangtze River Chongqing Chengdu Lhasa Xian Beijing Tour
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Itinerary at a Glance

17 Days In-depth China Tour with Best China & Three Gorges, Panda, and Holy Tibet
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Shanghai (3 Days)

Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, The Bund, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Tower, Jade Buddha Temple

Yangtze River Cruise (3 Days)

Three Gorges Dam, Captain's Welcome Party, Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge, Xiling Gorge, Shennv Stream, Shibaozhai Pagoda

Chongqing (1 Day)

Chaotianmen Port, Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum, Ciqikou Ancient Town

Chengdu (2 Days)

Chengdu Panda Base, Sanxingdui Site, Jinli Old Street

Tibet (3 Days)

Potala Palace, Canggu Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Xian (2 Days)

Terracotta Warriors, Ancient Wall, and Muslim Quarter, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum

Beijing (3 Days)

Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Tian'anmen Square, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube, Temple of Heaven, Hutongs

Itinerary Day by Day

Day 1 Arrival in Shanghai | Airport Pick-up and Hotel Check-in

Nihao! Welcome to Shanghai, China’s most internationalized and vibrant city! Shanghai's long-term fusion of Eastern and Western cultures has contributed to Shanghai's unique culture. Upon your arrival at the airport/train station in Shanghai, the tour guide and 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.

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.

Day 2 Shanghai City Tour | Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road & The Bund

Today you will spend the whole day feeling the perfect blend of the West and East in this “Paris of the East” by visiting brilliant museums, traditional Chinese-style gardens, modern skyscrapers, and exotic architecture.

First, head to Shanghai Museum for an awe-inspiring visit to view the finest collection of art and learn about profound Chinese history. Built in the shape of an ancient bronze cooking vessel called a ding, Shanghai Museum has a round top and a square base, symbolizing “round sky, square earth”. It contains 120,000 cultural relics which showcase incredible artifacts of Chinese art throughout 5000 years’ history. Immerse yourselves in the Exhibition Hall of Bronze and Ceramic to appreciate the elaborate bronzes and exquisite artifacts. You won’t miss the chance to enjoy the top treasures - Da Ke Ding (bronze food vessel over 3000 years ago), and Bianzhong of Marquis Su of Jin (ancient musical instruments). Next, move to Yu Garden, the most celebrated classical Chinese garden hidden in the bustling Shanghai downtown area. Enjoy a leisure walk and visit the Chinese architecture, and feast your years with exquisite sculptures and carvings. Yuyuan Bazaar outside the garden is a fun place to taste some local snacks as well as buy some traditional Chinese handicrafts and artworks.

After that, you will take a stroll along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, where lots of well-known brands, restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and towering buildings stand on both sides. Continue your walk to the Bund, the top 1 place to visit on the Shanghai bucket list. Reputed as “An Exhibition of International Buildings”, the Bund is a collection of 52 buildings in various international architectural styles. Overlook the amazing skyline and skyscrapers of the Pudong Area from the Bund. The last stop today is the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China and the second in the world, at a height of 362 meters. Ascents up to 546 meters over the 118th floor for a breathtaking panoramic view of modern Shanghai.

Day 3 Shanghai to Yichang by Flight | Jade Buddha Temple, Airport Transfers

This morning, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to a peaceful walk in the Jade Buddha Temple in bustling Shanghai, among the modern blocks and mansions. It is one of Shanghai's few active Buddhist temples with about 70 resident monks. In this Shanghai must-see attraction, you will see the largest Jade Buddha in the world and local people throng to pray for prosperity. If there is still some time, you can transfer to Tianzifang in the former French Concession area of Shanghai. It is a place to find tourist arts and crafts, appreciate the preservation of local Shikumen architecture, and watch the daily life of local Shanghai people. Then you will head to the airport for your flight to Yichang (about 2.5 hours).

Upon your arrival in Yichang, you can take the cruise company's complimentary shuttle from Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal to reach Maoping Port for embarkation. The boarding time is 19:00-20:00.

Day 4 Yangtze River Cruise |Three Gorges Dam, Captain's Welcome Party

Today you will enjoy your leisure time on the Yangtze River Cruise and start to explore the longest river in Asia and the heart of China. There are lots of cultural activities and entertainment for you to join, such as the Yangtze River History and Culture Lecture, the Captain's Welcome Party, the shore excursion, wonderful evening shows, and so on.

The highlighted attraction today is the largest hydropower project in China - The three Gorges Dam. Catch the chance to view the dam and the system of locks. The body of the dam is immense with a height of 181 meters and spanning 2335 meters across the Yangtze River and 115 meters in width. (Optional experience: you can choose to sail through the world’s largest ship lift - Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift to very closely marvel at the huge dam which is a totally fresh and exciting experience for travelers.)

Optional excursion: Enjoy a shore excursion to Tribe of Three Gorges today for an extra fee. Famed as the "Protected Center of the Popular Culture and Art of the Three Gorges", Tribe of the Three Gorges Scenic Spot is located on Xiling Gorge between the Three Gorges Dam and Gehzouba Dam. It is a dreamland garden that consists of the Village on the Water, the Brook-side Village, and the Mountain Village. You could see women wash clothes by the brook side, fishermen cast their nets in the misty distance…

Day 5 Yangtze River Cruise | Three Gorges, Shennv Stream

Today, you will have a full day to view the beautiful Three Gorges. First, you will sail through Xiling Gorge well known for its rugged shoals and turbulent waters. Next, go through Wuxia Gorge which is serene and secluded and presents a panorama of lovely scenery. Then, pass Qutang Gorge which is celebrated for its magnificent, peculiar, and precipitous scenery in the world. Follow the guide's live interpretation, and you will marvel at the incredible scenery onboard.

You should make a leisure shore excursion to Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream) in Wushan County. Switch to a smaller boat to sail down the primitive stream for a close look at the steep mountains and hanging coffins high on the cliffs. If you are interested, you can join the local Tujia ethnic guide for singing and dancing performance.

Optional excursion: Enjoy a shore excursion to White Emperor City (Baidi Cheng) today with an extra fee. It is well-known for the story of Liu Bei (emperor Shu Kingdom) who entrusted his son to Zhuge Liang (renowned strategist of the Three Kingdoms era). Also, this place is very famous in China as Li Bai (a great poet in Tang Dynasty in the 7th century), wrote a very famous poem “Down River to Jiangling” about this place. Here is a translation of the poem: “In the midst of clouds all glowing, Baidi, I left you at dawn, by evening I'll be home at Jiangling, a thousand miles I've gone. While on the cliffs of the Yangtze Gorges, gibbons ceaselessly cry, ten thousand folds of mountains, my skiff has slipped them by!”

Note: The itinerary above is provided for your reference. Attractions and shore excursions may vary slightly depending on the cruise company. We will help you choose the most suitable cruise based on your preferences.

Day 6 Yangtze River Cruise | Ghost City of Fengdu, Captain's Farewell Party

On this day, your cruise will sail peacefully along the Yangtze River. Wake up leisurely and enjoy the fascinating river view with misty or gentle sunshine shining over the river. Have your buffet breakfast and start your beautiful day. There are some activities well designed by the cruise that you can do shore excursions to visit traditional Chinese cultural sites or stay onboard to relax and learn some Chinese culture.

Today, you will follow a local English-speaking tour guide and make a shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City in this morning. This ghost city is one large collection of temples, memorials and monasteries and you can know many legendary stories about underworld and different kinds of devils and Chinese demons. Or, you can take optional excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda with extra fee, one of the eight extraordinary architectures in the world located in Zhongxian County. Climb up the 12-story red wooden pagoda and you can have a panoramic view of the Yangtze River. In this evening, enjoy the Captain's Farewell Party and have a wonderful dinner. Then, have fun in the cabaret show to enjoy your last night in the cruise.

Note: The itinerary above is provided for your reference. Attractions and shore excursions may vary slightly depending on the cruise company. We will help you choose the most suitable cruise based on your preferences.

Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise to Chongqing & High Speed Train to Chengdu

In this morning, your Three Gorges Cruise trip will finish at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port at about 09:00, after the check-out procedure you can have some time to explore Chongqing, the Mountain City of China! Upon your arrival in Chongqing, your guide will meet you at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port.

First, we will head to visit Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum which was founded in 1951. Based on the heritage of the Southwest Museum and the Chongqing Museum, you can find the collections include the antique chinaware, paintings and calligraphy, Chinese zithers, Chinese inks, bronze wares from the Ba and Shu states period, cultural relics of the Three Gorges area... Now the museum holds 50 temporary exhibitions every year besides 10 permanent exhibitions of its own, attracting 1.70 million visitors annually. Then have a walk in Ciqikou Ancient Town (Little Chongqing), one of the oldest shopping streets in Chongqing, you will see what old Chongqing was like. Located on the west bank of the Jialing River, Ciqikou was a bustling port. The name Ciqikou literally means Porcelain Port (named during the Ming and Qing Dynasties), because of their production and exportation of porcelain.

After the tour, you will be escorted to Chongqing North Train Station for your train to Chengdu (about 1.5 – 2.5 hours).

Welcome to Chengdu, the panda hometown! Upon your arrival in Chengdu, your guide will meet you at the exit of the train station and escort you to your hotel in Chengdu downtown area. The rest of today is free on your own to explore this laid-back city well known for Giant Pandas and Sichuan cuisine. The Sichuan hotpot and Sichuan Opera are highly recommended evening activities.

Day 8 Chengdu Classic Tour | Chengdu Panda Base, Sanxingdui Museum

After breakfast, you will meet your guide early at the appointed time in the Chengdu hotel lobby. Today you are going to fulfill your panda dream with a 17-kilometer drive to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Xiongmao Jidi), or simply Chengdu Panda Base.

Chengdu Panda Base, the closest to the city proper, accommodated over 100 pandas which is the base with the largest population of captive giant pandas in the world. You will see giant pandas of different ages there. It’s great fun to watch them playing, eating, climbing, sleeping… If you come in autumn, you will have the chance to see the pink newborn giant panda cubs in the Sunshine Nursery House and the Moonlight Nursery House. Besides giant pandas, you can also meet the cute red pandas walking by your side in the Red Panda Playgrounds. Then follow your guide to discover more about panda’s secrets through the Panda Museum. (Note: Pandas like cool weather, so we advise you to arrive there early as pandas are more active in the morning. During the day of high temperatures, pandas would prefer to stay inside and sleep.)

In the afternoon, drive to visit the mysterious Sanxingdui Site Museum (about 1 hour’s drive, 50km). Unearthed in 1929, Sanxingdui keeps making archaeologists excited by its brilliant relics unearthed from the ancient capital 3,000-5,000 years ago. As one of the 50 Places in China that are worthiest for foreign travelers to visit, you will be amazed by the ancient people who created the outstanding relics. Sleep for thousands of years, wake up, and shock the world. In the Bronze Pavilion, you can have close contact with the Bronze Sacred Tree (3.96m, a treasure of the museum, archaeologists took 10 years to recover it), the Bronze Standing Figure (2.6m, the only complete figure of its size and kind), Vertical-eyed Bronze Mask (the protruding eyes are considered as the symbol of 'Can Cong', the first leader of Ancient Shu), Sun-shaped Bronze (looks like a car steering wheel)... Walking into the mysterious Comprehensive Pavilion, marvel at The Gold Scepter (the gold stick of the King of Ancient Shu Kingdom), Ceramic Utensil with Three Legs (Three-legged Cooking Pottery, local people called it hotpot), Jade Zhang, Gold Mask… With the Bronze, jade, and gold products shown from the Sanxingdui Site, you can imagine the brilliant Sanxingdui Civilization and the existence of the ancient Shu Kingdom that pushes the history of the Sichuan region back for over 2,000 years. After Sanxingdui visiting, drive back to Chengdu downtown.

Day 9 Chengdu to Lhasa by Flight | Jinli Old Street, Airport Transfers

After breakfast, you will have some free time in Chengdu and explore more on your own. You can have a relaxing stroll at Jinli Old Street. With a history over 1,800 years, it showcases the profound cultures of Ancient Shu Kingdom. Take a nice walk on the traditional stone-paved street full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, etc. After that your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Lhasa (about 2.5 hous).

Tashi Delek! Welcome to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region! Upon your arrival at the airport/train station in Lhasa, the tour guide and driver will meet you at the exit, and then escort you to the well-selected hotel in downtown Lhasa. You can have a good rest to get used to the altitude (3,650m) in your hotel and get ready to explore Lhasa with your guide the next day.

Kind Reminds:

1. It is good to avoid the highland sickness by slow down, keep warm, drink some water frequently, no shower for the first one or two days, take it easy, and sleep well.

2. You should always follow your doctor’s advice on altitude according to your health condition.

3. Be sure to let your guide or the hotel staff know whenever you feel unwell or need help. The people there are always willing to help and good at dealing with altitude sickness.

Day 10 Lhasa City Tour | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Today you will explore Lhasa for its brilliant architectures, culture, and history, then stroll through the famous Barkhor Street with locals and experience the daily kora life of Tibetans.

In the morning, you can walk into Potala Palace, the traditional residence and winter palace of the Dalai Lama (1649-1959). It takes 365 steps from potala gate to reach the Red Palace which is the highest palace in the world at an altitude of 3,700m. Through the principal halls, chapels, and shrines of past Dalai Lamas in the Red Palace, you will be astonished and touched by its remarkable paintings, gorgeous jeweled works, skilled carving, colorful ornamentation, and the mystery stories behind the treasures. Inside the Potala Palace you will meet lots of Tibetan pilgrims who come all the way from afar to this sacred site to pray as their life time destination. You can also ask your guide to share more information about Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd king of Tibet, who first build the Potala Palace in the 7th century for his marriage to Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty. (Note: We may adjust the visit order due to the visiting time of your Potala Palace ticket. All visitors must visit the Potala Palace with a tour group while staying inside for an hour. No photo inside.)

After exploring the Potala Palace Museum, the picture behind the 50 RMB, you can move to the 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet and a world cultural heritage site. It is said that the Jokhang Monastery is built for King Songtsen Gampo's two brides: Chinese Princess Wencheng and Nepal Princess Bhrikuti. "Jokhang" means "House of Buddha", it houses the statue of the life-size 12-year-old Sakyamuni which is the treasure of the Buddhism world. That is why Buddhist pilgrims take it as the holiest destination. The time seems to stand still when you watch them pray in front of the temple during the day and night.

Later, you can take a walk back to the busy Barkhor Street, it was a place for Buddhists to do a kora (pilgrim circuit) around the Jokhang Monastery in ancient times. Nowadays, it become a thriving local market where you can try local snacks, dress in Tibetan clothes for photos, and pick up some local Tibetan, Nepalese, and Indian handicrafts and souvenirs.

Day 11 Lhasa Culture Tour | Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Today you will enjoy the culture tour of Lhasa via a visit to two of the "great three" Gelug university monasteries of Tibet, the Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery.

In the morning, drive about 35min (12km) to visit Drepung Monastery which was the largest Tibetan monastery (Gelug Sect, Yellow Hat) in Lhasa. It used to be Dalai Lama’s palace before he moved to the Potala Palace in the 17th century. Now it is famous for Drepung Shoton Festival held each August, people come to offer yogurt to the monks who finished the 100 days’ meditation while enjoying the grandest Buddha (thangka) unfolding ceremony. Besides the unique architecture and amazing buildings, you can watch monks debating in Tibetan Buddhism vibrant and active with expansive gestures, clapping, and stamping.

After Drepung Temple, you will have about a 2-hour Tibetan culture tour at Tibet Handicraft Art Center. It is a great chance for you to learn about how to make Thangka, Tibet carvings, food, pottery, incense, jewelry…

In the afternoon, drive another 40min (14km) to visit Sera Monastery. Step on one of the most beautiful monastery compounds, and its white stone roads and walkways makes you feel almost Mediterranean. The highlight of Sera Monastery is watching the monks’ debate at around 15:00 - 17:00 (except Sundays). It is an interesting form of debate, you can see one monk, the questioner, standing while the answerer or group of answerers, sitting. The standing monk will ask question and slap his palms and stomp, each action has its special meaning, such as activating wisdom, and are not meant to be aggressive. After that, head back to your hotel.

Day 12 Lhasa to Xian by Air | Airport Transfers

You tour guide will escort you to airport for your flight to Xian (About 3 hours, Economy Class Flight Ticket arranged by AOT)

Welcome to Xian, the capital of 13 ancient China dynasties! Upon your arrival at the train station in Xian, the tour guide and driver will meet and greet you at the exit, and then escort you to the well-selected hotel in Xian. The rest of the day is free on your own to explore by yourselves around your hotel.

Day 13 Xian City Tour | Terracotta Warriors, Ancient Wall, Muslim Quarter

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, which was built by the first emperor of China - Qin Shihuang to protect him in his afterlife. There are about 8,000 vivid life-size Terracotta Warriors found so far. First, pay a visit to the largest and most imposing pit which is believed to contain over 6,000 terracotta figures of soldiers and horses. You will be amazed by the subterranean life-size army of thousands silently standing and guarding the emperor and also be awed by the fabulous artistic skills of ancient Chinese artisans. Next, move to another pit where you can feast your eyes with around 1300 warriors and horses. You can get to examine the ancient army array by visiting the kneeling and standing archers, the chariot war array and numerous troopers holding weapons, etc.

After lunch, drive back to downtown to visit the Ancient City Wall (also known as the Fortification of Xian). The city wall is a kind of defensive structure in Ancient Times and represents one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved Chinese city walls. Spend some time leisurely walking on the wall and enjoy its inner and outer walls, watchtowers, and moat, and have panoramic views of modern Xian.

Late in the afternoon, go to explore the vivid local life when you go to wander happily around the bustling and lively Muslim Quarter. It is a paradise mixed with different local snacks and Muslim culture.

Day 14 Xian to Beijing by High Speed Train | Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum, Train Station Transfers

This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (Big Wild Goose Pagoda). Standing in the Da Ci’en Temple complex, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (World Heritage) was originally built in Tang Dynasty which is about 1,370 years ago, it is functioned to collect Buddhist materials that were taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang. You can learn more from your guide about Xuanzang who set off from Chang'an (the ancient Xi'an) along the Silk Road, using 17 years to traversing 100 countries, finally arriving in India, the cradle of Buddhism.

After that transfer to Shaanxi History Museum. Regarded as “the Pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures”, it has collections of 130,000 historical artifacts, showing visitors a miniature overview of thousand years of Chinese history and the splendid ancient cultures of old times. Enjoy the educational visit while exploring historical relics ranging from bronze ware from the Western Zhou Dynasty, and terracotta figures, to gold and silverware and murals discovered in Tang tombs.

After the tour, you will be transferred to the train station for your bullet train to next destination – Beijing (4.5 - 5.5 hours). Upon arrival in Beijing, your guide 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.

Day 15 Beijing City Tour | Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace

Today you will spend the whole day exploring the ancient citadel Beijing through China’s famous landmarks, epic imperial grandeur and royal gardens.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and then head to Tian’anmen Square, which is the world’s largest public square and also the symbol of China. It has witnessed many big events in China over the past decades and from here you can take good pictures of Tiananmen Gate showing on CCTV News every day.

Walk across the square and you will visit the might and splendor of the awe-inspiring Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex and one-time home to 24 emperors of China. Listed as a world heritage site, Forbidden City has about 500 years’ history, and served as the political and ritual center of China during the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. With over 8,728 rooms, the Forbidden City is not only China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings, but also a city within the city, like the Vatican in Rome. Enter through Meridian Gate and visit along the central axis to ensure you won’t miss any highlighted palaces. You can admire its brilliant architecture and numerous ancient art treasures while listening to your guide and learning more about the emperors’ stories hidden inside the Imperial Palace. Later, take another 15-minute walk up to Jingshan Park, where you can have a magnificent panorama of modern Beijing and princely views over the russet roofs of the Forbidden City.

In this afternoon, drive to the “Museum of Royal Garden” - Summer Palace, which used to be the resort for royal families to flee summer heat. The grounds, temples, gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges, gate-towers, and corridors are a marvel of landscaping. Enjoy the leisure walk and take your time to appreciate the imperial architectures, hilltop views, and beautiful lakes, which offer a pastoral escape into the landscapes of traditional Chinese painting.

Recommended Optional Activity: You can try the famous Peking Roasted Duck at Quanjude this evening.

Day 16 Beijing Great Wall Tour | Mutianyu Great Wall, Bird’s Nest & Water Cube

In 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 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 could fulfill your Great Wall dream. Cherish the chance and take photos as many as you like!

After the once-in-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.

Day 17 Departure from Beijing | Temple of Heaven, Old Hutongs

This morning you will head to 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 17-day China tour. 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 China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia.

Price: What’s Included & What’s Excluded

Price: Request
The above price is based on a private tour for 2 people. Price varies depending on travel date, group size, hotel class, program in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate.

What’s Included?

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Experienced drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
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Professional licensed English-speaking local guide
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Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
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Domestic flights (economy class) or high-speed trains (second class) listed in the itinerary
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Admission tickets, activities, meals listed in the itinerary
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Accident insurance
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Our service from tour planning, handling, operational and finishing your trip

What’s Excluded?

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International airfares
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Entry visa fees
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Personal expenses
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Single room supplement
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Recommended optional activities
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Arrival/departure flights or train on the first and last day
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Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers

Important Trip Notes for Booking a Private China Tour

How do I book a private China tour?
It is very simple to book a private China tour. Select the tour you are interested, and click “Make an Enquiry for Free”. Tell us your demands and likes while submitting the form. During this process, you don’t need to pay immediately. After sending us your requirements, one of our professional travel experts will get back to you within 0.5 to 24 hours. When all the information have confirmed, then you make the deposit. Please feel free to contact the travel expert directly if you have any questions prior to booking.
Extend Your China Tour
The above itinerary is the sample one that most travelers would go like that. The tour can be customized based on your likes, interests and budget. At the same time, if you want to extend this tour, just tell us your favored destinations and things to do. Our professional travel experts will redesign the trip totally for you and your group at the best price. Tell us your ideas now >>
Transportation
In a private tour, it means you will transfer to the tourist attractions in one city by private vehicle. The private car we selected is spacious, comfortable and air-conditioned. And the driver we use are very experienced. As for traveling between two destinations, we use domestic flights (economy seat) or high speed trains (second class seat, usually less than 6 hours). The local guides and drivers will pick you up at the airport/train stations, and escort you to the hotel.
Meals
“B” stands for breakfast. You will have it at your hotel in the morning.
“L” stands for lunch. The restaurants we will arrange for you are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. All are in good sanitary conditions. Your guide will assist you with ordering the dishes.
“D” means dinner. All dinners are excluded in the itinerary. You have the chance to taste some authentic Chinese food and local snacks.
If you have special dietary requirements (vegetarian, halal, kosher, Indian, or gluten-free), please let us know before your booking. We will try our best to take care of you.

Accommodation & Hotel Condition for Your China Tour

Recommended 4 Star Hotel in China
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Recommended 4 Star Hotel in China
Recommended 4 Star Hotel in China
Recommended 4 Star Hotel in China
Have a good sleep everyday is very important during your China tour. In a private tour, you can decide on your own which hotel class you want - luxury 5 star, comfortable 4-star or economic 3-star.
All the hotels in each destination we selected are at good location, close to commercial street or tourist attractions. And, all the hotels we use have a business relationship for many years and they have windows, air-conditioners, hot water, showers, wifi... (except for basic accommodation condition when travel to Mount Everest) to ensure you luxury and comfortable sleep experience. The staff can speak English and they will provide you the high quality service. If you have any requirements, you can ask them to help.

Photo Gallery for This Itinerary

  • Shanghai Tower
  • Shanghai Museum
  • The Bund, Shanghai
  • Shanghai Jade Temple
  • Tianzi Fang, Shanghai
  • Three Gorges, Yangzte River Cruise
  • Three Gorges Dam, Yangzte River Cruise
  • Three Gorges Dam, Yangzte River
  • Xiling Gorge, Yangtze River Cruise
  • Qutang Gorges, Yangzte River
  • Shibaozhai Pagoda,Yangzte River Cruise
  • Fengdu Ghost City, Yangzte River Cruise
  • Chongqing Chaotianmen Port
  • Ciqikou Ancient Town, Chongqing
  • Chengdu Panda Base, Sichuan
  • Chengdu Panda Base, Sichuan
  • Sanxingdui Site Museum, Chengdu
  • Jinli Old Street, Chengdu
  • Welcome to Lhasa, Tibet
  • Potala Palace, Lhasa of Tibet
  • Potala Palace, Lhasa of Tibet
  • Jokhang Monastery, Lhasa of Tibet
  • Drepung Monastery, Lhasa of Tibet
  • Sera Monastery, Lhasa of Tibet
  • Barkhor Street, Lhasa of Tibet
  • Bell Drum Tower, Xian
  • Terracotta Warriors, Xian
  • Terracotta Warriors, Xian
  • Ancient City Wall, Xian
  • Ancient City Wall, Xian
  • Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian
  • Shaanxi History Museum, Xian
  • Forbidden City, Beijing
  • Forbidden City, Beijing
  • Forbidden City, Beijing
  • Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing
  • Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing
  • Bird Nest, Beijing
  • Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Latest China Tours from Shanghai Reviews from Our Customers

Discover what our customers are saying about the latest China Tours from Shanghai. Browse through their recent reviews and feedback on tour arrangements, guides, transportation, attractions, dining, hotels, and detailed itineraries to plan your own unforgettable China tour. View All Customers Reviews >>
Scott Wilkinson
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My Beijing Guide Helen
I went on the Asian Cultural 10 day tour starting in Beijing, to Xian, Guilin and Shanghai small group tour starting February 13, 2024. Helen was the best guide I’ve ever had. Her English is excellent, her knowledge is superb and her personality is warm and friendly. Thank you so much Helen.
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Scott Wilkinson
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I went on the Asian Cultural 10 day tour starting in Beijing, to Xian, Guilin and Shanghai small group tour starting February 13, 2024. Helen was the ...
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Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin/Yangshuo

Date of Experience: Feb 13, 2024

Tour Customized by: Vincent

You May be Interested in This Tour: Customized Tour

Lindsay
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Excellent
Our trip was amazing .Mr Leo and his team took away the stress of of touring in a foreign country with language barriers . This making our holiday more enjoyable with only good memories.
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Lindsay
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Our trip was amazing .Mr Leo and his team took away the stress of of touring in a foreign country with language barriers . This making our holiday mor...
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Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai

Date of Experience: Oct 26, 2023

Tour Customized by: Leo

You May be Interested in This Tour: 8 Days Shanghai Xian Beijing Classic China Tour

Kathy
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Highly recommend Asia Odyssey Travel 

My experience with Asia Odyssey Travel was exceptional as they provided thorough assistance throughout my train tour, from start to finish. From my initial contact with Mike to the follow-up from Lucy, their service was fantastic. Mike maintained excellent communication throughout the entire process, and when I needed to make amendments to my train tickets, he promptly and efficiently resolved the changes. Everything went smoothly, and I couldn't find any faults with their service. I highly appreciate their dedication and professionalism in ensuring a seamless experience.

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Kathy
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My experience with Asia Odyssey Travel was exceptional as they provided thorough assistance throughout my train tour, from start to finish. From my in...
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Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Tibet

Date of Experience: Jun 23, 2023

Tour Customized by: JoJo

You May be Interested in This Tour: 16 Days Classic China, Panda & Holy Tibet Tour in Small Group

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Destinations
  • Shanghai
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  • Yangtze River Cruise
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  • Chongqing
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  • Chengdu
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  • Tibet
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  • Xian
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  • Beijing
Tour Information
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Flexible Dates
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Trusted Route
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Guaranteed Experience
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Trip Style: Private Tour (flexible travel dates & numbers of travelers)
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Tour Code: AOT-FSH-012
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Travel Route: Shanghai - Yichang - Yangtze River- Chongqing - Chengdu - Lhasa - Xian - Beijing
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Features: History, Culture, Religious Sites, Pandas, Nature

Price: Request

(Based on a private tour for two people. Price varies depending on program, travel date, number of people.)

Free Enquiry! You don’t need to pay for the reservation.

Customize Your Own China Trip
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Highly Recommended China Tours in 2024

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