Metropolises to Mountains
ITINERARY

1-3
Shanghai
City
Welcome to China, your home for the next month! Your adventure begins in Shanghai, where you’ll see the famous waterfront area of The Bund, the exquisite Yu Gardens and the French Concession. Seize the opportunity to head out of Shanghai and visit the ancient water town of Zhujiajiao, famous for its canals and traditional gardens. 

You'll also experience the maglev train, which travels at speeds of up to 420 kilometers per hour! In your free time, you may wish to venture to the top of the newly built Shanghai Tower for phenomenal views of the dwarfed skyscrapers below.

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4-6
Beijing
City
It’s on to Hongqiao station for your high-speed bullet train to Beijing. Here you will stroll around the gardens of the Imperial Summer Palace, participate in a Tai Chi lesson alongside the locals in the tranquil Temple of Heaven, and see the historic Tiananmen Square and dynastic Forbidden City.

While in Beijing, you’ll be feasting on a traditional Peking Duck Dinner – this is the best place in the country for the famous delicacy and it’s far superior to anything you’ll have had back home!

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7-8
The Great Wall of China
Activity and Adventure
You can’t possibly go on a Grand Tour of China and not walk along the Great Wall - this is what you’ll be doing on days 7 and 8 when you head to Gubeikou. This section of the Great Wall is exceptional, owed to the fact that you can still see some of its original construction. Because of this, some sections are missing their famous crenellations, but Gubeikou is one of the most authentic and original sections to visit and walk on. The views from Gubeikou stretch right over to Jinshanling and in the distance you can even get a glimpse of Simatai - three sections for the price of one!

Spend the afternoon walking before stopping for a picnic lunch on the Wall itself. In the evening, you’ll watch the sunset over the wall from a nearby village and then you’ll continue exploring the Great Wall in the morning before hopping aboard a high-speed train to Pingyao in the afternoon. 

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9
Pingyao
Tour
Discover the ancient town of Pingyao. See China's oldest bank, the city walls, and a traditional Confucian temple. Wander the cobbled streets and enjoy local food before getting a good night’s rest.

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10-11
Xi’an
City + Tour
On day 10 you’ll continue on the bullet train to Xi'an. As the terminus of the Silk Road, Xian is famous for its Muslim population; visit the Muslim Quarter where you can sample specialist bread, hand-stretched noodles, and hearty dumpling soups.

The following morning you’re off to see the world-famous Terracotta Army of warriors, where there are an estimated 8,000 soldiers within 3 pits, buried with China’s first Emperor to protect him in the afterlife – this is not to mention the hundreds of concrete horses and chariots.

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12-14
Zhangjiajie
Tour
It’s time to fly to Zhangjiajie. You'll be staying overnight in this spectacular National Park, unofficially named the Avatar Mountains after the area served as the backdrop to James Cameron's blockbusting film.

You’ll spend a full day exploring the Zhangjiajie National Park on Day 13, where you can brave a walk over the Glass Bridge if you dare; if you can muster the courage, the views of these towering, finger-like massifs alone make for an unforgettable experience.

On day 14 you’ll head to Changsha station to catch the high-speed train to Guilin, the gateway to the beautiful Guangxi province.

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15-16
Yangshuo
Cruise + Tour
You’ll spend your first day in Yangshuo on the water as you journey down the spectacular Li River. During a 5-6 hour cruise, you'll float by mountainous limestone peaks, traditional villages, and grazing water buffalo. In the evening, return to the river once again to watch the Liu Sanjie performance. This spectacular show is set on the surface of the Li River itself, with Karst Mountains as the backdrop. Directed by the same man who produced the Olympics opening ceremony in 2008, this performance is a truly unforgettable display of light, movement, and epic Chinese showmanship.

The following day you'll stretch your legs on a morning cycling tour through Yangshuo's stunning countryside, then spend the afternoon at your leisure, just soaking up the fresh air and enjoying these natural surroundings.

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17
Longji
Tour
You’re off to Longji today, a scenic drive through Guangxi province that rises through the rolling mountainous rice fields of the famous Dragon’s Backbone. You’ll have a 20-30 minute walk to the authentic village of Pingan, which is the perfect place to soak up the views from your hotel balcony. You’ll head to the viewing platforms, gifting you with beautiful panoramas of the surrounding rice fields, and the chance to walk through the terraces and watch the local farmers at work.

The village of Pingan gives you a brilliant insight into local life and is the perfect base for long walks through the rising and falling rice terraces.

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18
Kunming
Tour
Return to Guilin for your flight to Kunming and spend a free afternoon wandering around Green Lake.

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19-20
Dali
Tour
It’s time to head to China’s southwestern Yunnan Province. You’ll stay in the small town of Xizhou, just outside the city of Dali. With its mountain backdrop and peaceful lakeside ambiance, this is the perfect place to relax and experience local life. You’ll spend a full day exploring Xizhou, before wandering around historic Dali old town and the Cangshan Mountains with their snow-capped peaks.

Don't miss the Old Town at night where you can enjoy a sociable dinner of beer and skewered BBQ meat, and if you're lucky to make some friends with the locals!

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21
Shaxi
Activity + Adventure
Continue on the road to the historic market town of Shaxi, one of the few untouched villages in Yunnan. Heading off the beaten track you will stop along the way to see old temples and ancient ruins at Shibaoshan.

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22-24
Lijiang
Tour
You’ll immerse yourself further into historic China and getting a real sense of its diversity over these next few days as you explore Lijang, home to the Naxi and to a number of other ethnic minority groups.

You'll catch a glimpse of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and will get to explore Shuhe Village and Lijiang Old Town, as well as some of the minority villages, where you'll learn about these unique ethnicities and have the chance to meet the local people.

On your final day in Lijang, you’ll see Wenhai Lake, a beautiful, unspoiled nature reserve with spectacular panoramic mountain views.

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25-26
Zhongdian
Activity + Adventure
Drive to Zhongdian today, (also known as Shangri-La), stopping at the Tiger Leaping Gorge scenic canyon. With a strong Tibetan influence, Zhongdian sits at a higher altitude and has a unique spiritual feel. You’ll experience this first-hand when you visit the Songzanlin Monastery in the morning, before hiking to untouched Napa Lake, with its captivating lake views out to the edge of the Himalayas. 

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27-29
Chengdu
City
Your Grand Tour of China is drawing to a close, but there’s still one final stop and one lifelong memory to make. For this, you’re off to Chengdu to see the rare Giant Panda. Afterward, visit the peaceful Wangjiang Park where you can sip tea while you watch the locals gathering to play mah-jong.

Then it’s back home to sort through your thousands of photographs and bore everyone silly about how incredible your trip was!