12-Day China Panda Tour: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin & Shanghai

Meals: No Meals
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing ★★★★

Arrive in Beijing, meet your YUNSKY guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. After check-in, keep the rest of the day free to rest and adjust after the flight.

Forbidden City

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin exploring historic Beijing.

[09:30-12:30] Start at Tian'anmen Square, enter the Forbidden City,, and then climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic view over the former imperial palace.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant.

[14:00-16:30] Continue to the Back Lakes  area for a look at Beijing's older lakeside neighborhoods, then walk through Nanluoguxiang Alley, a hutong district combining traditional lanes with shops and cafes.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. Ask your guide for suggestions if you would like a night show or a Peking duck dinner.

Forbidden City

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing★★★★

[08:00-08:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and depart for the Great Wall.

[08:30-12:30] Drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall. Choose to hike after arrival or take the cable car up before walking along the restored wall.

[12:30-13:30] Have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant near the Great Wall.

[13:30-16:30] Drive back toward Beijing, walk through Olympic Park, and view the exteriors of the Bird Nest and Water Cube, two landmark venues from the Beijing Olympic Games.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. A traditional foot massage or an evening at Sanlitun Bar Street can be considered during your free time.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] Meet your guide at the hotel for the final half-day in Beijing before the train to Xi'an.

[10:00-11:30] Visit the Temple of Heaven, where residents gather for morning exercise, then walk through a nearby Hutong neighborhood for a closer view of local life.

[11:30-12:30] Have an à la carte lunch at a popular local restaurant; the dining room may be lively.

After lunch, transfer to the station for the five-hour train to Xi'an. Your Xi'an guide will meet you at the station and accompany you to the hotel.

Temple of Heaven

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin exploring ancient Xi'an.

[09:30-12:30] Drive to the Terracotta Warriors and view the excavated soldiers, horses and chariots in battle formation. The shuttle bus is included, followed by a pottery-figurine factory visit.

[12:30-14:00] Lunch is arranged near the Terracotta Warriors scenic area.

[14:00-17:00] Visit the Bell tower, then explore the traditional residence and cultural displays at Gao's Courtyard. Continue to the Muslim Quarter for time among its shops and food stalls.

[17:00-17:30] Return to the hotel. The optional Tang Dynasty Show with dinner is available at your own expense.

Terracotta Warriors

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Tianfu Sunshine Hotel ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] Pack, check out and meet your guide for the final sightseeing day in Xi'an before traveling to Chengdu.

[10:00-12:30] Visit the Ancient City Wall, where bicycle rental is optional and excluded from the price. Continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and its north-square fountain area.

[12:30-13:30] After lunch, transfer to Xi'an North Railway Station for the four-hour high-speed train to Chengdu. Meet your local guide at the station and continue to the hotel.

Wild Goose Pagoda

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Tianfu Sunshine Hotel ★★★★

[08:30-09:00] Meet your guide at the hotel and leave for the giant panda breeding base.

[09:00-13:00] Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, about 10 km from central Chengdu. The grounds house approximately 80 giant pandas as well as red pandas, black-necked cranes and white cranes.
Morning is the best viewing period: arrive before 09:00 am for the feeding time around 09:30 am, then consider the Panda Museum and its 20-minute film before continuing along the walkways.
Panda Post, with postcode 610088, also offers postcards and panda souvenirs.

[13:00-14:00] Have lunch at a popular local restaurant, with Sichuan food available.

[14:00-16:00] Continue to Chengdu People's Park, where residents dance, exercise, play cards and mahjong, and gather for other everyday activities. Join in if you wish, then sit in a teahouse for a cup of tea.

Walk through Kuan Zhai Alley, a group of historic lanes dating to the Ming and Qing periods, and pause at the Chinese-style Starbucks for coffee during the afternoon.

[16:00-17:30] Return to central Chengdu. The optional Sichuan Opera can be considered for the evening.

Giant Panda Base

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel or similar  ★★★★

[09:00-09:30]  Meet your guide at the hotel and begin a half-day visit in Chengdu.

[09:30-12:00] Visit Wuhou Temple, a major site connected with the Three Kingdoms period, then walk through neighboring Jinli Ancient Street.

[12:00-13:30] Have lunch or hotpot at a local restaurant.

Transfer to the airport in the afternoon for the flight to Guilin. Meet your local guide on arrival and continue to the hotel.

Jinli Ancient Street

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel or similar ★★★★

[08:00-08:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and transfer to the pier for the Li River cruise.

[09:30-14:00] Board the Li River Cruise tour , with buffet lunch served onboard, and travel through the karst landscape to Yangshuo. After disembarking, walk along West Street or take the sightseeing car to the parking area.

[14:30-16:00] Cycle through the Yangshuo countryside beside the Yulong River, passing clear water and surrounding karst hills.

Drive back to Guilin for the overnight stay.

Yulong River

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund ★★★★

[08:00-08:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin the final visits in Guilin.

[09:30-14:00] Explore Reed Flute Cave and its colored limestone formations, then check out before an à la carte lunch. Continue to Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin's natural city symbol, followed by a walk beside Shanhu and Ronghu lakes.

Transfer to Guilin airport in the afternoon for the night flight to Shanghai. Meet your Shanghai guide at the airport and continue to the hotel.

Elephant View from Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin a full day exploring old and modern Shanghai.

[09:30-12:30] Walk through Shikumen, where lane houses combine Chinese and Western architectural elements. Continue to the Bund , Shanghai's historic waterfront, then visit Yuyuan Garde, a traditional garden in the city center.

[12:30-13:30] Have an à la carte lunch at a popular local restaurant with assistance from your guide.

[13:30-16:30] Visit Jade Buddha Temple, then continue to Lujiazui and the Riverside Promenade for a coffee break. Finish at the Shanghai Tower observation level for panoramic city views.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. The optional ERA Acrobatic Show is one possible evening program.

The Bund

Meals: Breakfast

Keep the day free until your airport transfer. A Maglev ride to Pudong Airport can be arranged if requested; otherwise, transfer directly by road.

Service Ends