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11 Days Private Tour of Beijing - Xi'an - Zhangjiajie - Shanghai

$2,239.00 USD

Tour Type: Private tour, any part of the itinerary can be customized
Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned vehicle


Highlights:

  • Must-see sights in China - Badaling Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army.
  • Have a leisurely walk or an exciting bicycle ride on the time-honored City Wall.
  • Discover Avatar Hallelujah Mountain & experience world’s highest glass bridge.
  • Cruise on Huangpu River to take in the impressive skylines of Shanghai.

 

Prices from 4 people are available at this rate

 

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Beijing

Upon landing in Beijing, our guide will pick you up at the Arrival Hall of the airport after you collect your luggage and clear Customs, and then transfer you to the hotel for check-in by an air-conditioned private car. There is no arranged activity for the rest of the day, so you can have a good rest to get over the jet lag and recover from the long journey.
 

Day 2 Beijing

Today's private China tour will begin with a visit to Tian’anmen Square, which is located in the heart of Beijing City. It is regarded as the world's largest square in downtown area. The Monument to the People's Heroes and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall are here. You can also see the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and the Tian’anmen Tower around the Square.

Next, our guide will lead you to the Forbidden City right to the north of the Square, which is also known as Palace Museum. It was the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 – 1911 AD). As the best-preserved and the largest wooden royal architectural complex in the world, it also contains a large number of unique and priceless cultural relics. There are also many secrets to discover when you visit the complex. For instance, there is a small door under the terrace into Palace of Heavenly Purity. What was it used for? In rigid feudal hierarchy, it was the channel for the eunuchs and maids to go across in front of the palace fast. Sometimes, it was also the drainage tunnel when in a rainstorm. Emperor Tianqi in late Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) liked to hide in the tunnel when playing hide-and-seek in his childhood.

★ Privileges of Our Guests
1. Forbidden City is very popular, so it is not easy to buy the entry tickets. But take it easy. We will book them for you once they are released, to ensure a smooth trip.
2. When inside, our guide will accompany you to sightsee along the best route proved by tons of millions of visitors. He or she will also adjust the route based on your preference.
3. The visiting time we have planned is at least 2 hours, so as to cover all important palaces. You are the boss and you decide how long to sightsee there.

★ A La Carte Welcome Lunch with Peking Duck
At noon, enjoy a delicious a la carte welcome lunch (valued at CNY150 per person and included in our price). The restaurant we have selected for you is a noted restaurant welcomed among locals, instead of those touristy eateries with low quality. The dishes are rich and distinctive, and prices reasonable. Peaking Roast Duck is one of their specialties. The guide will assist you with the ordering and give you some other recommendations based on your flavor. You can look forward to more authentic and tasty Chinese food in the following days. Give some hints: distinctive snacks in Xi’an and delicate and fresh dishes in Shanghai.

Next, proceed to Shichahai to see Hutongs. In order for you to better experience the life of old Beijingers, we will arrange a rickshaw ride along the traditional alleyways, which will last for around 40 minutes. Then, walk into the home of a family living in one of the traditional Siheyuan courtyards there, have a talk with the owner, and learn their daily lives.

Afterwards, the guide will accompany you to visit the Temple of Heaven which originally served as a place for emperors to worship the God of Heaven in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The most precious architectures inside are Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and Circular Mound Altar. At present, it has developed into a large park for the locals to exercise and relax, so you can have a chance to blend in with local life there.

► Dinner Suggestion:
On Hongqiao Street, 300 meters from the East Gate of Temple of Heaven, there is a branch of Hu Guo Si Xiao Chi restaurant, which offers assorted local snacks at wallet-friendly prices. It’s less touristy and frequented by locals. Zha Jiang Mian, noodles with soy bean paste, is a must-try. Accompany it with deserts like Tang Hu Lu (sugar-coated haws), which is refreshing for its delicate balance of sour and sweet. Another you should not miss is Wan Dou Huang (pea cake), famous for its icy, silky, melty texture like those of ice cream. Average cost per person: CNY 30 / USD 4.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch Temple of Heaven, Beijing
Forbidden City, Beijing
 

Day 3 Beijing

Today comes a climax of this private China tour. In the morning, the guide will accompany you to visit Great Wall, a landmark of China and an icon of Chinese nation. The section we have chosen for you is Badaling, the best-preserved and the most famous among all. Standing up there, you will see the Wall zigzagging on the mountain ridges into the distance, very grand and impressive.

Today's lunch will be on your own, and our guide will be happy to provide you some advice.

Afterwards, continue to explore Ming Tombs, the resting place of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). We will focus on its two highlights: Sacred Way and Dingling Tomb. Along the two sides of the Sacred Way, stand 12 stone human figures and 24 stone animals, guarding the tomb for centuries. Dingling Tomb is the only excavated tomb there and the guide will accompany you to go underground to see what treasures have been buried there.

At the end of the day, return to downtown and send you back to the hotel. En route, pass by the Bird's Nest where you can add more amazing photos to your travel album.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
 
.    
 
 

Day 4 Beijing to Xi'an by High Speed Train

After breakfast, you will pack your luggage and check out from hotel. The guide will come to pick you up and escort you to visit the Summer Palace. It's a representative Chinese classic garden, as well as one of the best-preserved royal gardens of the country. The lake, mountain, woods, bridges, pavilions and more “get along so well” with each other, showing the super garden building skills of ancient Chinese artisans.

After that, the guide will escort you to the railway station and assist you to get on a high speed train to Xi'an. China high speed train is one of the world’s fastest and most advanced, so a must-try for overseas visitors. It takes about 4.5-5.5 hours on the way and those with shortest duration are always our prior choices.

Upon arrival in Xi’an, an ancient capital city with abundant historic relics, our local guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
 

Day 5 Xi'an

Today, the Terracotta Army Museum beckons! Built 2,200 years ago, the grand military army it houses was sent here to protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC - 210 BC) - the first emperor of China - in his afterlife. Dubbed the Eighth Wonder in the world, it will inspire your awe not only with the overall grandeur, but with a superb sculptural craftsmanship. Observe carefully and you will find the soldiers are all different from each other in hairstyles, face shapes, moustaches and more details. Besides, get ready for a brand new visual feast at the newly-introduced exhibition of Archaeological Discoveries at the Mausoleum Complex of China’s First Emperor, featuring 230 representative archaeological discoveries excavated over the past 50 years, one-third of which are on display for the first time! Here, you can see up close such cultural relics as High-ranking Armored Officer Terracotta Figure, Bronze Waterfowl, Gold and Silver Inlaid Musical Bell… They altogether provide a comprehensive perspective to learn about this “underground kingdom” and the splendid artisanal achievements of the Qin Empire.
 
.    New Exhibition of the Terracotta Army Museum
New Exhibition of the Terracotta Army Museum
 
Lunch is on your own, and the guide will give you some recommendations nearby.

★ Privilege of Our Guests
1. The discovery of Terracotta Army is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in 21st century. After lunch, the guide will accompany you to learn some stories behind the dramatic discovery right at the home of its discoverer, Mr. Yang Zhifa. Mr. Yang is a farmer living nearby and dug out a clay figure when digging a well in 1974. At his home, you will see the hue used to dig out the first clay warrior.
2. Next, make a souvenir on your own for this Terracotta Army trip. At a local workshop, an artisan will guide you to craft a mini terracotta figure. After completing it, you may follow the tradition of Qin artisans to carve your special symbol or name on it, and take it home.

After, return to downtown to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the adjacent Xi’an Museum. Although experiencing several earthquakes, the brick pagoda still stands there solid. This is because its base is round like a tumbler. What a smart design! Xi’an Museum collects nearly 130,000 pieces of historical relics, most of which are from Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC to 221 BC), Qin Dynasty (221 BC to 206 BC), Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), and Tang Dynasty (618 to 907). It also displays models of ancient Xi’an city in different time periods.

When the visit is over, send you back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
 
Make a Mini Terracotta Figure.    Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
 
 

Day 6 Xi'an to Zhangjiajie by Flight

After having breakfast in the hotel, the guide will lead you to the City Wall Park, where lots of local people do morning exercises. It is a good place to communicate with them and even join them to play Tai Chi or have other fun.

Afterwards, go up to the City Wall. It is not merely a wall, but a defensive system consisting of the wall, moat, suspension bridges, watch towers, gates, and more. Have a leisurely stroll to find where they are and what were they used for. The perimeter of the City Wall is 13.74 kilometers (8.5 miles), so many visitors choose to cycle along it. If you prefer it, the guide can assist you to rent a bike.

Next, move on to the Great Mosque combining typical Islamic and traditional Chinese architectural features. Later, have a stroll in the nearby Muslim Quarter. It is a food paradise, where all kinds of Xi’an snacks can be found. Surely, we will arrange for you a snack tour there, at a popular restaurant and varieties of mouth-watering snacks are ready for you to try.

In the afternoon, along the way to airport we will visit the Han Yang Ling Museum, also called Yangling Mausoleum of Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). What makes it different is that the excavation areas are covered by glass. You can go underground and walk on the glass floor to see the excavation spot closely and clearly. If lucky, even see how the archaeologists work on the spot.

After, transfer you to the airport to take the flight to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel directly by our local guide and driver.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Local flavor lunch
 
Xi'an City Wall.    Local Snacks
 
 

Day 7 Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie Hallelujah Mountains Tour
Spend this whole day in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Since everything we will sightsee today is on the mountaintop, the guide will first lead you to ride the time-saving and labor-saving Bailong Elevator, the world’s highest and fastest outdoor lift. Guess how long it takes to shuttle you 335 meters (1,099 feet) up to the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area which is famous for the Hallelujah Mountain - the shooting spot of the well-known Hollywood blockbuster ‘Avatar’? Yes, it’s an amazing 88 seconds! Without it, you’d have to trek over 3 hours or drive 5 hours to appreciate the unique karst peaks of Zhangjiajie. Among the three thousand peaks, you are sure to find the Hallelujah Mountain at first sight. This solitary pillar with verdant pines growing on the top soars from the sea of clouds, like a magic cudgel floating in the air of Pandora planet. Also follow our guide to take in another landmark, the No.1 Bridge under Heaven, which is a natural stone bridge formed after thousands of years of weathering.

After enjoying our included lunch at a restaurant in Yuanjiajie, take a sightseeing car of the Park to Yangjiajie Scenic Area atop a nearby mountain. This was once the territory of the military Yang family, who had been sent here to put down an uprising for a long time and then took root. The peaks and valleys crisscross the area, forming a magnificent natural landscape. Accompanied by our guide, standing on the spacious viewing platform and overlooking the Natural Great Wall, which is actually rows of undulating peaks. When the clouds linger, it is partly hidden and partly visible, making you feel as if you are in the place where the gods live. After that, move to Tianzi Mountain. The quartz sandstone peaks here are of various shapes, some like huge stone towers, some like giant mushrooms, and some like sharp swords. Now it’s your time to witness the Imperial Brush Peak that constantly appears in numerous domestic and foreign media and promotional materials. It is originally a masterstroke of nature, but the people here have linked it with a Tujia King, Xiang Da Kun, saying that it is changed from the writing brush Xiang had used. Then finish the day with a downhill cable car ride and go back to the hotel for rest.

► Dinner Suggestion (at your own expense):
If you like, after a break in your hotel, walk 20 minutes to and have dinner at the restaurant Yin Xiang Ni Yan, or Image Niyan on Google map. This is the only place to sample Chinese giant salamander dish in Zhangjiajie, for which the restaurant is famed and has attracted many celebrities. With wooden architecture built in Tujia ethnic-style and adorned with strings of lanterns, it will arrest your eyes immediately. You will be welcomed at the doorway by folk performances before you step in for local cuisine. If you are interested by these features, the restaurant must be on your list while in Zhangjiajie!
Average Cost per Person: CNY 100 / USD 14
Address: No. 118, Xibu Street Entry, Tianzi Road, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
 

Day 8 Zhangjiajie

In the morning, a 40-minute drive will take you to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, which is regarded as the Zhangjiajie landscape museum, offering you a whole view of karst topography blending with the twitter of the birds and lively animals. Here, you will get one of the most thrilling experiences in your life; that is, walking across the world’s longest and highest Glass Bridge, with a relative height of around 300 meters (984 feet) and a length of 430 meters (1,411 feet). It is characterized by its bridge panels, which are made of three layers of 15-millimeter-thick toughened glass to ensure its safety, allowing visitors to enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view of the Canyon while also feeling the harmonious coexistence of technology and nature. Don’t worry too much, the opaque areas on both sides of the bridge can help you overcome your inner fear of walking this high. Later, let’s drive back to the vicinity of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park for lunch.

After a simple energy boost, enter from the East Gate of the Park and take the scenic car to Shuirao Simen, where we will begin a relaxing hike along the most beautiful part of Golden Whip Stream, a 7.5-kilometer-long (4.7-mile-long) hiking trail known for its gentle inclines, high concentration of negative oxygen ions and dense woods. During this journey, you will have the opportunity to see rare giant salamanders in the clear stream, ancient auspicious lobster flowers on the banksides, as well as first-class protected Chinese dove trees and metasequoias, which are all unique to Zhangjiajie. What’s more, prepare to be fascinated by the Lovers Peak, which resembles a male and a female hugging and gazing into each other’s eyes affectionately. If you are not too tired and still want to discover more charms, you can also discuss with the guide to accompany you to walk a bit far. At the end of today’s tour, you will be escorted to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
 
Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie.    Glass Bridge at the Grand Canyon
 

Day 9 Zhangjiajie to Shanghai by Flight

After breakfast, follow our guide’s footsteps to uncover the mystery of Tianmen Mountain, the highest mountain in Zhangjiajie at 1,518.6 meters (4,982 feet) above sea level, which is commonly referred to as the “first sacred mountain of Western Hunan” and the “soul of Zhangjiajie”. To get to the summit, taking the Tianmen cableway, the longest of its kind in the world, is the most convenient way. From the urban area to the countryside, and then to the mountaintop, over the course of a 28-minute run, the beauty of the entire Zhangjiajie will be panoramic. Up on the mountain, we will ensure you the visiting time for around 4 hours. Not only can you stroll along the Cloud Corridor to admire the sea of clouds, but you can also walk on the transparent Glass Skywalk at the edge of the cliff to challenge yourself. Then take the 7-level escalator down to appreciate the prestigious Tianmen Cave. The mountain was once called Songliang Mountain. It is said that during The Three Kingdoms period (220 - 280), one of its precipices suddenly collapsed, creating a huge stone cave that looks like a door leading to heaven. At that time, the emperor of the Wu State, Sun Xiu, thought that this was a good omen, so he changed the name of Songliang to Tianmen, which literally means the Heavenly Door. Afterwards, continue on the 5-level downhill escalator to Tianmen Square and get down to the exit by express cable car.

In the afternoon, let’s pay a visit to the sublime 72 Tujia Stilted Buildings. It is interesting to know that “72” doesn’t represent the exact amount in Chinese, but rather a large number that is unclear. Measuring 109.9 meters (360.6 feet) high, it is the highest stilt house style architecture in the world, which has been included in the Guinness World Records. Looking from a distance, it looks like a village of the Tujia ethnic minority floating in the air. In addition to appreciating its distinctive appearance, various well-preserved private residences of ancient celebrities, exquisitely decorated teahouses belonging to intangible cultural heritage, and a good array of local snacks are waiting for you to discover.

The essence of Zhangjiajie’s charms has almost been explored, and then you will be escorted to the airport and take a flight to Shanghai. Upon your arrival, another guide and driver based there will transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
 
Tianmen Cave, Zhangjiajie.    Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Zhangjiajie
 
 

Day 10 Shanghai

The itinerary in this morning will cover Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and Yu Garden. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall displays how Shanghai grew from a small fishing village into a giant modern metropolis. It also exhibits the clever city planning with models, photos, videos and more. The Yu Garden with exquisite design and elegant environment is a classic private garden with more than 400 years' history. It’s the best of its kind in Shanghai. After, walking past Yuyuan Bazaar outside the Yu Garden and take the private car to the noted restaurant we have selected for you. An a la carte farewell lunch will be served there.

★ Appreciate Cityscape Joyfully on Huangpu River Cruise
Afterwards, take a pleasant cruise on the Huangpu River, which is flanked by old Euromerican style buildings in the west and outstanding skyscrapers in the east. They are the representative cityscape of Shanghai in the past, present and future.

Free time will then be left for you to explore the Bund for a while. The day will conclude with a leisurely stroll in an old cultural zone, Tianzifang, where you will experience elegant and artsy culture.

► Dinner Suggestion:
Do drop by the Xing’An Restaurant on Xing’An Road, not far away from whichever hotel you choose. It has sat there for three decades and radiates an ambiance that belongs to past Shanghai. It’s said the owner-cook knows how to make Japanese cuisine, which has inspired him to make experiments that later became his featured dishes. Anyway, this is where you can get a taste of distinctive Shanghai cuisine. (Average cost per person: CNY 90 / USD 12.) The Xing’An Road, some 600 meters (0.4 miles) long, is interesting as well. Dating back to 1902, it is a longtang, historical lane in local language, once home to many famous people with old traces found everywhere. For its cultural significance, now the entire lane are being protected. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch
 
.    Tianzifang, Shanghai
 
 

Day 11 Departure from Shanghai

Your 11-day private China tour will come to an end today. Please check out from hotel and get all your belongings ready. According to your homeward flight schedule, our guide and the driver will transfer you to the airport. We wish you a nice journey home and hope to see you again in the future!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
 

 

Inclusions：

Domestic airfares & train fares
Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
A la carte lunches as itinerary specifies
Private English-speaking guides
Private drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
Entrance fees to tourist sites
Yangtze River cruise with full board

Exclusions：

International airfares
Entry Visa fees
Personal expenses
Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers

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