18 Days Scenic China With Jiuzhaigou & Zhangjiajie Avatar Tour

Summary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing
Day 2 Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Beijing National Olympic Stadium
Day 3 Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Peking Roast Duck Lunch, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Day 4 Beijing-Jiuzhaigou: Nine-Dragon Cypress, Beijing to Jiuzhaigou By Flight
Day 5 Jiuzhaigou: Jiuzhaigou Valley, Tibetan dancing show
Day 6 Jiuzhaigou-Chengdu: Huanglong National Park, Jiuzhaigou to Chengdu by Flight
Day 7 Chengdu: Chengdu Panda Base, Wenshu Temple, Jinli Old Street
Day 8 Chengdu-Leshan-Emei: Chengdu to Leshan, Leshan Giant Buddha, Drive to Mt. Emei
Day 9 Mt. Emei-Chengdu: Mt. Emei, Golden Summit, Drive to Chengdu
Day 10 Chengdu-Chongqing:Chengdu to Chongqing by bullet train
Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise: Yangtze Cruise, Fengdu, Mingshan Hill, Shibaozhai
Day 12 Yangtze River Cruise: Daning River Small Gorges, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, White Emperor City
Day 13 Yangtze River: Three Gorges Dam, Xiling Gorge, Yichang Museum, take bullet train to Zhangjiajie
Day 14 Zhangjiajie: Tianzi Mountain, Take Bailong lift
Day 15 Zhangjiajie-Shanghai: Huang Shi Zhai, Fly to Shanghai
Day 16 Shanghai: Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden&Bazaar, The Bund, Nanjing Road, Huangpu River Night Cruise
Day 17 Shanghai: Jade Buddha Temple, Old French Concession,World Financial Center,Xin Tian Di
Day 18 Shanghai Departure

Day 1 Beijing Arrival

Upon on your arrival, our guide will meet you at Beijing Airport with a welcome signage "China Private Tour". And then, drive you to your hotel in Beijing downtown. The rest day is free on your own to explore the city or recover the jetlag.

Day 2 Beijing

In the morning, our guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby. Your tour starts with visiting Mutianyu Great Wall, it about 70KM far way from downtown. There is an old saying "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you haven't seen China." Many of your friends who visited China before might have told you this. It is indeed an experience of life. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, Mutianyu section of Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. It's known for its beautiful surroundings - dense woods and rich pastures changing colors with the seasons of a year. 

Your lunch is offered near the Great Wall in a local Chinese restaurant.

After lunch, the Sacred Way, affiliated with the Ming Tombs, is a main attractions arranged for you. The Ming Tombs lie in Changping County, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest from the urban area of Beijing. It is actually a tomb cluster of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), including thirteen emperor's mausoleums, seven tombs for concubines and one grave for eunuchs.  

On the way back to your hotel, you are fortunately to pass by the famous Beijing National Olympic Stadium (Bird's Nest&Water Cube). You can take their exterior photography photographs to keep track of the two grand constructions and leave a pleasant memory here.

Day 3 Beijing

In the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at appointed time. The first place for Beijing is Tiananmen Square, Tiananmen Square is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters (about 109 acres), and able to accommodate 1,000,000 people at one time.

After sightseeing, walk into the Tiananmen you will meet the one of the world’s 5 most important palaces – Forbidden City. The Forbidden City, also named the Palace Museum, shares the honor of being one of five world-famous palaces with the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in England, the White House in the U.S. and the Kremlin in Russia.

Have lunch at the local famous Peking Roast Duck restaurant, taste the most famous duck in Beijing and try some local cuisine in Beijing. Roast duck — or Peking Duck, as it's often known — has been served in Beijing for around 600 years, according to Liu. First served by palace chefs during the Ming dynasty, it has royal pedigree.

In the afternoon, drive about 6km to next imperial site - Temple of Heaven. The temple was constructed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and was enlarged during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is the grandest cult architecture complex in the world and a masterpiece of the Chinese people created in ancient times. It covers 2,700,000 square meters (667 acres). Emperors of the two dynasties used to worship the heaven and pray for rich harvests, as the feudal emperors thought they were the son of the heaven. 

At last, you will head to visit Summer Palace, it is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing, China. It serves as a popular tourist destination and recreational park. Mainly dominated by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, it covers an expanse of 2.9 square kilometres (1.1 sq mi), three-quarters of which is water.  After 1949, the Summer Palace briefly housed the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China. Many of Mao Zedong's friends and key figures in the Communist Party, such as Liu Yazi and Jiang Qing, also lived there. Since 1953, many major restoration and renovation works have been done on the Summer Palace, which is now open to the public as a tourist attraction and park.

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 4 Beijing-Jiuzhaigou

In the morning, first drive you to visit the famous Nine-Dragon Cypress, the Nine-Dragon Cypress planted some 500 years ago still stands outside of the Echo Wall. Its twining branches look like nine dragons.

After lunch, fly to Jiuzhaigou. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Day 5 Jiuzhaigou

In the morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to visit most famous attraction in Jiuzhaigou City-Jiuzhaigou Valley. 

You will have a full day to explore the charming valley. Firstly, take a tourist shuttle bus from Lantian Station to the Long Lake, then walk around and enjoy the Long lake & the Five-colour Pool. After that, take a shuttle bus from Five-colour Pool to Nuorilang Waterfall.

Lunch is arranged at Nuorilang restaurant in the park. You can also choose to have a picnic lunch at stopover site.

In the afternoon, continue your hiking tour in the afternoon and feel relaxed without pushing at all. Walk to the Nuorilang Waterfall  for a visit before taking a shuttle bus from Nuorilang to Shuzheng Lake, visit the Rhino Lake, Tiger Lake, Shuzheng Fall and Princess Lake along the way in the bus . Then walk around and enjoy the Shuzheng Lake, the Shuzheng Valley, Take a shuttle bus  From Shuzheng Lake to Shuanglong Lake for a visit to the Shuanglong Waterfall.

After dinner, our guide will take you to enjoy the Tibetan dancing show, it is most popular activity in the evening when people travel in Jiuzhaigou. You will be taken back to your hotel after the show.

Day 6 Jiuzhaigou-Chengdu

In the morning, drive you to visit Huanglong National Park, it is one of the sites with amazing views that became the pride of China. According to the website Atlas of Wonders, Huanglong is located between Sichuan, mountain Minshan, and Chengdu.

The natural beauty of Huanglong National Park includes terraced pool of warm water with a yellow, green, blue, and brown. Reported by Amusing Planet, the pools are composed of the travertine terraces of precipitated calcium carbonate derived from hot springs in the mountains.

After lunch, drive you to the Jiuzhaigou airport, to catch your flight to Chengdu. Once arrival, our guide will wait for you at the exit of airport with sign "China Private Tour", you will be taken back to your hotel for checking in.

Day 7 Chengdu

In the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby. Today, you will visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Breeding, Chengdu is the hometown of giant pandas, where you will catch pandas' feeding time. They are at their most active, both Adults and Babies. There's a wealth of information and a panda museum in this 230-hectare park 10 km (6 miles) north of Chengdu. It takes about 2.5 hours to visit this site.

You will have lunch after Panda Base in a local Chinese reastaurant to eat authentic Sichuan Cuisine.

After lunch, you will visit Wenshu Temple. Wenshu Monastery is the best-preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu, serving as the home of Buddhist Association of Sichuan Province now.Wenshu Temple is famous for its exquisite gardens and halls. 

Next, you will visit Jinli Ancient Street, one of the most well known and trafficked tourist areas in Chengdu, Jinli is an “ancient” pedestrian street housing dozens of food and gift vendors along an ever-expanding network of alleys.Jinli is particularly famous for its traditional Sichuanese snacks. There is an area dedicated just to snacks, where you will see dozens of vendors preparing and displaying an impressive variety of noodles and finger food to snack on. Shadow puppet performance and other traditional Chinese arts also make an appearance, and this tends to be an excellent places to procure local gifts.

After dinner, you will be taken back to our hotel in Chengdu.

Day 8 Chengdu-Leshan-Emei

Our guide pick you up from your hotel, take an early drive (2.5 hours on the way) from Chengdu to Leshan. 

Upon arrival, You will watch the wonder of sleeping Buddha, which explained the saying of ‘ Buddha is the hill and the hill is a Buddha ‘. And then we will walk up and down along the zigzagging mountain trails along the Giant Buddha, from it's head to shoulder, and from leg to foot. In front of the Buddha is the good view of the joint of Minjiang River, Dadu River and Qingyi River . 

Lunch will be arranged at local restaurant to try the authentic Sichuan Food.

In the afternoon, drive you Leshan to Mt. Emei. Upon arrival, your tour local guide will help you check in. Overnight in Mt. Emei.

Day 9 Mt. Emei-Chengdu

The highlight of today’s tour is Mt. Emeishan, one of the most famous mountains in China. Visit Emei mountain by cable car. Standing at the Golden Summit, you can enjoy the snowy mountain and vast plain.

At the towering and beautiful Mt. Emeishan, you can also see many cute monkeys. Then drive back to Chengdu.

Day 10 Chengdu-Chongqing

In the morning, drive you to the Chengdu train station, you will take the bullet train to Chongqing. Upon arrival, our guide will escort you to board the cruise. The highly anticipated Yangtze River cruise adventure will begin.

Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise

As the largest water system in China, Yangtze River is historically, economically and culturally important to the country. It has numerous tributaries including Min River, Han River, Jialing River, Gan River, and Huangpu River.

You will have an excursion to Fengdu, visiting either the "Ghost City" known for its statues of ghosts and devils on Mingshan Hill, or the new relocation village, built for families who have moved as a result of the Yantgze's rising waters brought by the Three Gorgres Dam.

Optional Excursion to Shibaozhai (river conditions permitting), visiting the impressive 12-story pagoda. Known as "The pearl of the Yangtze", it is one of the gems of Chinese architecture. The 18th Century red wooden temple is an architectural delight full of Legends and beautiful stories. Climbing on the top, you can have a panoramic view of the Yangtze River. Inside the pavilion, there are steles and inscriptions of past dynasties of each floor. Visitors can also admire the spectacular Yangtze River from the windows of each floor.

Day 12 Yangtze River Cruise

Continue your voyage on Yangtze River through hidden reefs and tumbling rapids. Take an excursion through the Daning River Small Gorges, which are narrower than the Three Gorges but also impressive. Enter Wu Gorge known for its forest-covered mountains and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices.Wu Gorge is famous for its zigzags, weird peaks, rising mists and beautiful sights.

Then sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and most dramatic gorge. The combination of narrow canyons among high mountains with several switchbacks in only 8 kilometres creates spectacular vistas, and the Qutang Gorge is often considered the most beautiful of all the Three Gorges. Although it is primarily famous for its scenery, the Three Gorges region is also a historically and culturally important location in China.

Optional excursion to White Emperor City (river conditions permitting), an ancient city overlooking the western end of Qutang Gorge. Many relics housed in the Baidi Temple such as ancient architectures, a stele forest, ancient suspended wooden coffins, painting and calligraphy works by celebrities of different dynasties.

Day 13 Yangtze River-Train to Zhangjiajie

This morning you will visit the Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping, the largest hydroelectric power project in the world. As well as producing electricity, the dam is intended to increase the Yangtze River's shipping capacity and reduce the potential for floods downstream by providing flood storage spaceLater sail through the Three Gorges Dam ship locks.

Sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest (41 miles) and the deepest of the Three Gorges. Because of numerous reefs and odd-shaped stones existing in rapid shoals, it is also well known for its danger. Scenery along the Xiling Gorge is spectacular. Some renowned streams, springs, stones and karst caves can be found along this section.

In the afternoon, you will have a chance to visit the Yichang Museum if time permits. There are three main exhibition halls in the museum with a total area of 920 square meters displaying altogether 617 pieces of relics, 230 photos and drawings and 100 pieces of text.

Then the cruise finish and we will drive you to Yichang train station, you will take the train to Zhangjiajie. You can have a comfortable sleep in a cosy hotel of Zhangjiajie.

Day 14 Zhangjiajie

After breakfast start your visit of Tianzi Mountain, hiking to the top of Tianzi Mountain (2.5 hours) and do some sightseeing in Helong park, Tianzi Tower. Then drive to Yuanjiajie with its breathtaking views; including the spot where James Cameron got his idea for the floating mountain in Avatar.

After that take Bailong lift down the mountain, which is the tallest (326m) and the fastest (1’58”) lift worldwide, according to the Guinness World Record. Then take a delightful train ride along the Ten Miles Gallery

Drive you back to your hotel.

Day 15 Zhangjiajie-Shanghai

After breakfast, begin your tour on Huang Shi Zhai. Take the elevator to the top of the mountain, where there are numerous lookout points for stunning views, from which you can see nearly half the peaks of Zhangjiajie. There is a popular saying that if you don’t visit Huangshizhai, you can’t claim you have visited Zhangjiajie.

Then take the cable down the mountain. In the afternoon walk 2 hours inside Golden Whip Stream Canyon, which is considered by many to be the most beautiful canyon in the world. 

Take a flight to Shanghai and check in at the hotel.

Day 16 Shanghai

After breakfast, drive you to visit Shanghai Museum. It houses a comprehensive collection that perfectly showcases the Middle Kingdom’s millennia old history. Spread over five floors, covers most of the major categories of Chinese art with a collection of 12, 300 pieces in 21 categories of valuable cultural relics.

Next you will visit Yuyuan Garden, it not only regarded as best private garden in Shanghai but also the best in southeast China.The garden enjoyed a history over 400 years since its first establishment by Pan Yunduan who had intended to bring happiness and pleasure to his parents and relatives.

Then, walking to nearby to Yuyuan Bazaar, there are many small streets and lanes where vendors sell their products and food stuffs to the tourists and local people.It is an ideal place for you to find some specialists.

Lunch is arranged at Nanxiang Dumpling House to try the most famous Shanghai Xiaolongbao(soup dumpling). A favorite of dim sum eaters around the globe, are considered to be a Shanghai specialty, rumored to have originated here in the 19th century. Legend has it that this world-renowned snack started out as an experiment by a cake shop owner in Nanxiang who decided to try out a riff on his popular steamed bread. 

After lunch, drive you to the Bund area. The Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai. When you come here, you can embrace the best cityscape, feast on the rich architectural fashions and know why Shanghai is glorified as "Paris of the East". There are a number of attractions in the area, such as Shanghai World Financial Center, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Century Park, Century Boulevard, Jinmao Tower etc. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai.

Continue your tour to Nanjing Road, another popular landmark of Shanghai. It is a shopping paradise as well as a ideal place tootake a wonderful walk to explore the modern atmosphere of the city.

After dinner, you will take the Night cruise along the Huangpu River. When traveling in Shanghai, you should not miss a cruise tour on the Huangpu River. It is the best way to admire Shanghai's classic skyline views of colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers along the river.

After the cruise, you will be taken back yo your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 17

In the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby. Today, you will visit Jade Buddha Temple, the site of the largest jade Buddha in the world and numerous religious artifacts, ancient statues and Buddhist scriptures. This peaceful kingdom of Buddhism hidden among modern blocks and dominating mansions is a great place for a nice break in this very busy city.

Then, visit Old French Concession Shanghai. Shanghai is popular for many places and reasons, but the French Concession is somewhere on top of that list. Hugely popular and sought after as the preferred residential address among expats, the Former French Concession has a lot of history and beauty to its credit. 

You will have a lunch at local restaurant with authentic Shanghai food.

In the afternoon, you will ascend the 100-storey of Shanghai World Financial Center, where you could have a bird's eye view of the scenery along the Huangpu River, look straight forward to the sharp roof of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and experience the roof of Jinmao Tower under your feet. 

The last stop for today is Xin Tian Di, a former neighborhood of old Shanghai has been renewed as a fashionable pedestrian street featuring fine restaurants, upscale clubs and boutiques.

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 18 Shanghai Departure

Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby at appointed time, dirve you to airport for your flight to next destinastion or back home. Our service ends!

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     English & Chinese speaking tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.