Details
Arrive in Beijing
Your personal guide will welcome you at the airport Arrival Hall with a named sign and provide a comfortable private transfer to your hotel. During the journey, your guide will offer an introductory overview of Beijing. After check-in, the remainder of the day is yours to rest or begin exploring at your leisure.
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Beijing Daxing International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Day Tour: Tiananmen Square-Forbidden City-Hutong Rickshaw-Temple of Heaven
Your private tour begins at Tiananmen Square, the symbolic center of Beijing and one of the largest public squares in the world. Here you’ll see major national landmarks such as the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and the Tiananmen Gate Tower.
Next, your guide will take you to the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the world’s largest wooden palace complex. Inside, you’ll explore grand halls, ancient courtyards, and priceless cultural relics. The palace also hides fascinating details—such as a small door beneath the Palace of Heavenly Purity once used by palace staff, and even as a childhood hiding spot for Emperor Tianqi.
We then continue to the Shichahai area for a rickshaw ride through Beijing’s historic Hutong alleys. This 40-minute ride offers a glimpse into traditional local life. You’ll also visit a family living in a classic Siheyuan courtyard to learn about daily life in old Beijing.
Afterward, visit the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for good harvests. Today, it serves as a lively public park, giving you the chance to observe and mingle with local residents enjoying their daily activities.
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
The Meridian Gate. Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square
Beijing Day Tour: Badaling Great Wall-Sacred Way-Ming Tomb-Bird’s Nest
Today’s tour reaches its peak with a visit to the Great Wall at Badaling, the best-preserved and most famous section. Standing on the ramparts, you can admire the Wall winding over the mountains in a truly grand view.
After lunch on your own, continue to the Ming Tombs to explore the Sacred Way and Dingling, the only excavated imperial tomb. Stone statues line the Sacred Way, while Dingling’s underground palace reveals the treasures once buried with the emperor.
Finally, return to the city and drive past the Bird’s Nest for a great photo stop before heading back to your hotel.
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Great Wall
Ming Tombs Statue
Beijing – Xi’an by High-Speed Rail
After breakfast, pack up and check out. Your guide will pick you up for a visit to the Summer Palace, one of China’s best-preserved imperial gardens, known for its harmonious blend of lake, hills, bridges, and pavilions.
Then you’ll be escorted to the station to board a high-speed train to Xi’an—one of the world’s fastest and smoothest travel experiences. The ride takes about 4.5–5.5 hours.
Upon arrival in Xi’an, your local guide and driver will meet you and take you to your hotel for check-in.
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Xi’an city panorama
Xi’an Railway Station
Xi’an Day Tour: Terracotta Army-Small Wild Goose Pagoda- Xi’an Museum
Today you’ll visit the legendary Terracotta Army, created 2,200 years ago to guard China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. Often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the site impresses with its scale and astonishing craftsmanship—every soldier has distinct features, from hairstyles to facial expressions.
You’ll also explore the new exhibition Archaeological Discoveries at the Mausoleum Complex of China’s First Emperor, showcasing 230 important artifacts, many displayed publicly for the first time. Highlights include a high-ranking armored officer figure, bronze waterfowl, and a gold-and-silver inlaid musical bell, offering a rare glimpse into the artistry and engineering behind this “underground kingdom.”
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Xi‘an Terracotta Army Museum
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Flight to Zhangjiajie
After breakfast, your guide will take you to City Wall Park, a popular spot for locals exercising in the morning. You can interact with them or even join in Tai Chi or other activities.
Next, explore Xi’an City Wall, a complete defensive system with walls, gates, watchtowers, and moats. Take a leisurely stroll along its 13.7 km (8.5 miles) perimeter, or rent a bike (optional) to cycle along the ramparts. Afterwards, visit the Great Mosque, a blend of Islamic and traditional Chinese architecture, then stroll through the nearby Muslim Quarter to enjoy a guided tasting of Xi’an’s famous local snacks.
In the afternoon, visit the Han Yang Ling Museum, the Han Dynasty mausoleum with glass-covered excavation areas. Walk on the glass floor to see the ancient tombs and, if lucky, observe archaeologists at work. Finally, transfer to the airport for your flight to Zhangjiajie, where your local guide and driver will take you directly to your hotel.
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Xi’an City Wall
Zhangjiajie Airport
Zhangjiajie Tour: Bailong Elevator-Yangjiajie Scenic Areas-Tianzi Mountain
Spend the day exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Start with the Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest and fastest outdoor lift, which takes just 88 seconds to reach Yuanjiajie Scenic Area—the inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar. From here, admire the iconic solitary pillar and visit the No.1 Bridge Under Heaven, a natural stone arch formed over thousands of years.
After lunch at Yuanjiajie, take a sightseeing car to Yangjiajie Scenic Area, once the territory of the military Yang family. From the viewing platform, see the “Natural Great Wall,” rows of peaks rising and falling through the clouds, creating a surreal, otherworldly landscape.
Finally, visit Tianzi Mountain, known for its uniquely shaped quartz sandstone peaks, including the famous Imperial Brush Peak. End the day with a cable car descent back to your hotel for rest.
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Bailong Elevator
Yuanjiajie
Zhangjiajie Tour: Grand Canyon-Golden Whip Stream
In the morning, drive 40 minutes to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, often called a natural landscape museum. Experience the thrill of walking across the world’s longest and highest Glass Bridge, 430 meters long and 300 meters above the canyon floor. Its triple-layered toughened glass panels offer breathtaking panoramic views while ensuring safety, with opaque edges to ease any fear of heights. Afterward, return near Zhangjiajie National Forest Park for lunch.
In the afternoon, enter the park from the East Gate and take a scenic car to Shuirao Simen. Enjoy a relaxing hike along the Golden Whip Stream, a 7.5 km (4.7-mile) trail surrounded by dense woods, clear streams, and rare wildlife, including giant salamanders and protected plant species. Highlights include Lovers Peak, two rocks resembling an embracing couple.
After the hike, return to your hotel for rest.
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
Golden Whip Stream
Zhangjiajie to Shanghai by Flight
After breakfast, follow your guide to Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie’s highest peak at 1,518.6 meters (4,982 ft), known as the “first sacred mountain of Western Hunan.” Take the Tianmen Cableway—the world’s longest—for a 28-minute panoramic ride from city to mountaintop. Spend about four hours exploring: stroll along the Cloud Corridor, challenge yourself on the Glass Skywalk at the cliff edge, and descend via the 7-level escalator to view Tianmen Cave, a natural stone arch considered a gateway to heaven. Continue down the 5-level escalator to Tianmen Square and exit via express cable car.
In the afternoon, visit the 72 Tujia Stilted Buildings, the tallest stilt-house architecture in the world at 109.9 meters (360.6 ft). Admire the village-like cluster floating above the valley, explore ancient residences, decorated teahouses, and sample local snacks.
Afterward, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your local guide and driver will take you to the hotel.
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Tianmen Mountain Glass Skywalk
Pudong International Airport
Shanghai Day Tour: Urban Planning Exhibition Hall-Yu Garden-Huangpu River-Bund
This morning, visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall to see how the city evolved from a small fishing village into a modern metropolis through models, photos, and videos. Then explore Yu Garden, a beautifully designed private garden over 400 years old, followed by a stroll through the bustling Yuyuan Bazaar.
Afterward, enjoy a farewell à la carte lunch at a carefully selected restaurant before concluding your Shanghai tour.
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Huangpu River
Shanghai Bund
Departure from Shanghai
Your 11-day private China tour concludes today. After checking out and gathering your belongings, your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your homeward flight. We wish you a pleasant journey and hope to welcome you back to China in the future!
Meals: Customized to your needs
Accommodation: Hotels will be arranged according to demand
Fee Description
Private Tour
Tour Type: Private tour with an English-speaking guide, flexible and customizable
Transportation: Air-conditioned private car with an experienced driver
Hotels: 5-star luxury or 4-star comfortable hotels, open to your choice
Meals: Customized to your needs
