11 Days Culture & Nature Tour of Beijing Xian Jiuzhaigou Chengdu

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Welcome to Beijing for our 11-day China culture and nature tour! The Beijing local driver will pick you up at the airport or train station when you arrive, and transport you to your downtown area hotel. Today is yours at leisure!

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing City Exploration
   Walk through Imperial Palaces and China's grandest Lakeside Garden

   After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby and then visit one of the largest squares in the world, Tian'anmen Square. Understand its significant position in history.

   Keep walking north to reach the Forbidden City (called "Zijincheng" in Chinese), now known as the Palace Museum. This was the home of Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The world's largest and best-kept ancient wooden palace complex became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Follow your guide to explore the red walls and yellow roofs symbolizing imperial power, and over 720,000㎡ of buildings divided into ceremonial and living areas.

   

   After lunch, spend a leisure afternoon at China's largest imperial park, the Summer Palace, founded in 1750. It is nearly literally made up of Wanshou Mountain and Kunming Lake and more than 3,000 historic buildings like pavilions, bridges, corridors, and palace halls. Learn more about its story from your knowledgeable guide. If you are interested, you can go boating on Kunming Lake (optional, extra charge).

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

3. Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking
   Hike Stone Dragon through Floral Springs and Snow Winters

   In the morning we will drive for 1.5 hours to the amazing Mutianyu Great Wall. Mutianyu is the best preserved and longest section of the Great Wall of China. Enemy buildings are densely packed here, which is difficult to see in other sections of the Great Wall. Mutianyu also boasts breathtaking natural scenery. Forests cover over 90% of the scenic area. The views here vary throughout the year - in spring, flowers bloom; In summer, trees dress the hills green; In autumn, the leaves turn red and yellow, covering the mountaintop with a layer of gold; In winter, the Great Wall is covered with white snow.

   To save time, you can optionally take a round-way cable car (at your own expense) to go up and down the Great Wall.

   

   After the Great Wall tour, transfer to the Sacred Way, an ancient pathway lined with massive stone sculptures leading to the Thirteen Tombs of Ming Dynasty. On the way back to Beijing, stop to see the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube from the outside.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

4. Day 4: Beijing to Xi'an by High-speed Train
   Witness Emperors' Prayers, Rickshaw through Living History Lanes

   The last day of Beijing tour takes you to explore the Temple of Heaven, China's largest surviving imperial sacrificial complex. For over 500 years during Ming and Qing rule, emperors performed solemn rituals here to pray for agricultural prosperity. Since 1998, this UNESCO site has welcomed visitors as both cultural monument and urban park. Its architectural crown jewel - Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests - served as the sacred stage for imperial ceremonies under open skies.

   

   After that, take a rickshaw to explore the hutongs. The hutongs in Beijing are places where ordinary people live and important stages for the evolution of Beijing culture. It records the changes in history and the style of the times.

   In the afternoon, you will be escorted to the railway station for a 5-hour high-speed train to the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, Xi'an.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi'an

5. Day 5: Xian Terracotta Army Tour
   Meet 2,200-Year-Old Soldiers with Unique Faces

   After breakfast, your tour guide will take you on a 1-hour car ride to Lintong district. The place is the home to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It is a set of life sized clay sculptures arranged in a battle formation, ordered to be built by the first emperor of China - Qing Shi Huang. During your 2.5-hour exploration, you'll see three pits, with the Pit 1 dominating the experience. It houses more than 6,000 terracotta soldiers, each meticulously crafted with individualized facial features.

   

   After lunch in Lintong, we return to the center of Xi'an to visit the city's landmark - the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Located within the Daci'en Temple, the pagoda was first built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty and was constructed under the supervision of the monk Xuanzang. There are a large number of Buddhist scriptures and statues he brought back from India preserved here. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is 64 meters high, and tourists are allowed to climb it to enjoy a panoramic view of the city (an additional fee of CNY 25 per person).

   As night falls, you will be led to visit the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, a Tang Dynasty cultural themed pedestrian street that is particularly lively in the evening. Here, you can see the largest fountain in Asia, brightly lit antique buildings, and tumbler street performances.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi'an

6. Day 6: Xian City Highlights
   Cycle History's Fortress and Sample Various Local Snacks

   Today you will immerse in the history of Xian at Xi'an Museum. Learn about thousand-year history of founding the capital and the development of Xian. You can admire a large collection of cultural relics from all eras of Xian. In addition, visit some thematic displays, such as Buddhist statue art, ancient paintings and calligraphy, and jade wares. In this scenic area, you can also see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

   Next, walk on the iconic Ancient City Wall. This is the largest and most well preserved city wall in China, with a total length of 13.74 meters. The city wall has four major gates, of which the South Gate (Yongning Gate) is the most scenic. There are usually some important welcoming ceremonies in the square in front of the South Gate. It is possible to take a bicycle on the city wall in order to save energy (optional, at your own expense).

   

   Then, stroll around the Muslim Quarter which is a place where Xi’an’s Muslims live. You will be guided to visit the Great Mosque. It is a traditional palace style architectural complex that blends Islamic features. Besides the mosque, the most popular here are many snacks. You can taste Xi'an special food from pasta to grilled meat and fruit drinks.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi'an

7. Day 7: Xian to Jiuzhaigou by Flight
   Descend through Colored Ponds, Sacred Temple, and Gold Creeks

   After breakfast, fly for 1 hours to Jiuzhaigou. The local private guide will pick you up and directly transfer you to visit Huanglong Scenic Area. There are over 3,000 colorful ponds dotted in an area of 700 square kilometers. This park is mainly characterized by its intricately structured and colorful surface calcareous landscape. It is undoubtedly a paradise for photography enthusiasts.

   To save time and energy, we will take the cable car directly to the mountaintop. Enjoy all the essence on the way down the mountain on foot. The Five Colored Ponds is the biggest highlight of Huanglong. It is the largest group of colorful ponds in Huanglong Valley, and also the highest outdoor calcareous colorful pond group in the world today. From a distance, the ponds look like blue jade plates, presenting various colors of white, purple, blue, and green under the sunlight. We suggest that you spend 1-1.5 hours here taking photos and sightseeing.

   

   Continuing to walk down the mountain, you can see waterfalls, lakes, caves, and primitive forests. Besides, Huanglong Temple is worth a visit. This is a Buddhist temple. You can see the Guanyin Hall and the eighteen statues of Arhat. Another must-see attraction is the Golden Sand Pavement, which is the largest, longest, and most colorful calcareous beach stream discovered in the world.

   After the sightseeing, escort you to the hotel near the Jiuzhaigou Valley for the night.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: near Jiuzhaigou

8. Day 8: Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park
   Capture China's Widest Waterfall Cascading Over Terraced Lakes

   Today you will spend a whole day exploring Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park. The scenic area covers an area of 720 square kilometers, with most of it covered by forests. The attractions we are going to visit are located in three main Y-shaped ravines: Shuzheng, Rize, and Zechawa.

   Arriving at the Tourist Center, transfer to a sightseeing bus directly to Rizegou Valley, located between the Nuorilang Waterfall and the primeval forest. This is the best part of a tour to Jiuzhaigou Valley. The lakes are colorful, with large waterfalls and towering ancient trees. You can visit landscapes such as Panda Lake, Five Flower Lake, and Pearl Beach Waterfall.

   

   The bus will then take you to Norilang Center Station, where you can enjoy lunch. Continue your visit to Zechawa Valley. The highlights here are Changhai Lake and Wucaichi Ponds. The ponds are exceptionally clear, and through the water, visitors can see the patterns on the rock at the pond bottom. Due to the color difference of sediment and plants on the banks, the originally blue lake surface has become colorful.

   Finally, we visit Shuzheng Valley, near the entrance of the scenic area. The Nuorilang Waterfall is the most stunning. The waterfall is 270 meters wide and 24.5 meters high. It is one of the large calcified waterfalls in China and also the widest waterfall in China. There is an observation deck built across from the waterfall, from where you can capture the panoramic view of the waterfall. Autumn is the best time to visit. In addition, Shuzheng Lakes (树正群海), Spark Lake, and Bonsai Beach are also worth a visit.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: near Jiuzhaigou

9. Day 9: Jiuzhaigou to Chengdu by High-speed Train

   We don't have any tour plans for today, so you can wake up a bit later. After breakfast, your driver will take you to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station to take the high-speed train to Chengdu, which takes about 2 hours.

   After arrival, the driver in Chengdu picks you up and check you in at a hotel in the city. You can freely stroll around during the remaining time. There is no tour guide service today.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

10. Day 10: Chengdu Panda Tour
    Watch Playful Pandas, Sip Traditional Lidded Bowl Tea

    In the morning, meet your Chengdu tour guide and then be driven to Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Arriving at the panda center, get a close look at pandas in their different life stage: infant, baby, young adult and the elder adult pandas. If you arrive early (before 8:30 am), you may witness the scene of panda cubs drinking milk in the delivery room. Throughout your visiting, you will be escorted by your private guide and a professional panda keeper. Watch the lovely creature sleeping, eating and playing.

    

    Following the panda visit, transfer to a tranquil ancient Buddhist temple - Wenshu Temple. Spend your afternoon in the slow-paced Renmin Park. The locals love this place very much, especially the elders who often dance and practice Tai Chi here. The tea houses in the park are also very famous, and many tourists and residents enjoy tasting traditional lidded bowl tea and experiencing Chengdu's unique leisurely lifestyle.

    Last, Jinli Street is a popular commercial pedestrian street in Chengdu that features a vast area of antique buildings called late Qing Dyansty (1616-1911) architecture which you can sample many of Chengdu's typical snacks and boutique handicrafts.

    In the evening, if you are interested, we can arrange for you a wonderful performance of Sichuan Opera featuring folk opera and face changing (optional, extra fee).

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: in Chengdu

11. Day 11: Departure from Chengdu

    Before leaving Chengdu, you can consider a guided visit (optional) to the Jinsha Site Museum. There are thousands of cultural relics dating back to three thousand years ago. You can appreciate precious cultural relics such as the golden sun bird disc, golden mask, bronze standing figure, and learn about the stories behind them.

    This is the end of your 11-day China tour to Beijing Xian Jiuzhaigou Chengdu. If you are not interested in the museum, your driver will send you directly to the airport to see you off.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A