17-Day 16-Night Curated China Expedition: Modern Metropolis, Jiangnan Water Towns, Spectacular Mountain Wonders & Imperial Legacy

• Tour Agency: DIANDA TRAVEL 
• Tour code: DT-CT-019
• Tour Type: Custom Private Tour (Flexible travel dates & group size available)
• Tour Route：Shanghai，Suzhou，Hangzhou，Zhangjiajie，Xi'an，Beijing
• Core Route Features:  Cosmopolitan glamour of river‑sea metropolis, elegant charm of Jiangnan classical gardens and water towns, poetic paradise of lakes and mountains, geological wonder of sea‑of‑clouds peak forests, legacy of the glorious Zhou‑Qin‑Han‑Tang dynasties, and Chinese cultural heritage of the Ming‑Qing imperial capital, featuring multiple world natural and cultural heritage sites.

• Core Landmarks: Shanghai Tower, Wuzhen West Scenic Zone,the Avatar filming locations, Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, Terracotta Warriors, Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum, Mutianyu Great Wall

ⅠTour Overview & Introduction

Your journey starts in modern-day Shanghai, where you experience the contemporary vibe and centuryold Shanghai-style charm of this river-sea metropolis. Move on to Suzhou, wander through classical gardens and savour the timeless elegance of Jiangnan. Continue to Hangzhou to immerse yourself in mesmerizing lakes-and-mountains scenery and embrace the poetic romance of misty Jiangnan. Head for Zhangjiajie to explore its world-renowned peak-forest wonderland and witness the breathtaking landscapes sculpted by nature. Arrive in Xi’an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, to trace the grand past of the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties and connect with the millenniaold Chinese civilization. Conclude your trip in Beijing, where you visit imperial relics and appreciate the profound history of this great nation.

This itinerary blends urban scenery, timehonoured Jiangnan charm, spectacular mountain landscapes and millenniaold historical sites, covering numerous World Natural and Cultural Heritage sites. As a privately customized tour, travel dates and group size can be flexibly adjusted. There are no mandatory bundled expenses throughout the trip, granting you great freedom. Enjoy a onestop experience of China’s magnificent landscapes and splendid cultural heritage.

Four Core Highlights

• Fusion of Metropolitan Vibes and Water‑Town Poetry

    Discover three renowned Jiangnan destinations: Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. Experience the modern glamour of Shanghai as a river‑sea metropolis, appreciate the exquisite artistry of Suzhou’s classical gardens, and indulge in the misty lakes‑and‑mountains scenery of Hangzhou. Visit urban landmarks, ancient gardens, water towns and the West Lake, and savour the distinctive charm where Shanghai‑style prosperity meets timeless Jiangnan heritage.

• World‑Class Geological Wonderland of Peak Forests

      Head for this World Natural Heritage site. Explore the Avatar‑inspired peak formations, walk across the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, and admire the extraordinary quartz‑sandstone peak‑forest landscape. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking mountain scenery of the Tujia homeland.

• Journey Back to the Splendid Ages of Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties

       Step into Xi’an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties. Visit the Terracotta Army and stroll along the ancient city wall. Trace the magnificent history of the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang empires, touch the marks left by thousands of years, and deeply perceive the Chinese civilization nurtured by this ancient Silk Road capital.

• Chinese Cultural Heritage of the Ming‑Qing Imperial Capital

       Arrive in Beijing. Explore imperial landmarks including Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum and Mutianyu Great Wall. Wander among well‑preserved Ming and Qing imperial relics, reflect on the rise and fall of dynasties, and experience the grand and profound imperial heritage of ancient China.

Ⅱ Itinerary at a Glance

Ⅲ Detailed Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai| Airport / Train Station Pick-up & Hotel Check-in

Welcome to the international metropolis of Shanghai. Our driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to the hotel for check-in and rest. After settling down, you can enjoy free time, stroll around commercial districts, and admire the night view of the Bund to relieve travel jet lag and fatigue.

Transportation Notes：

1. Flights: Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong airports operate massive international routes with direct flights from Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Cambodia, etc.; domestic cities like Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, and Chengdu all have direct flights.

2. High-speed Rail: Shanghai's high-speed rail network extends in all directions, with direct access to popular domestic tourist cities such as Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, and Beijing.

• Recommended Local specialties：Shanghai-style braised pork, sizzling eel shredsl
• Recommended Accommodation: Hotel in downtown Shanghai 
• Activity Intensity: Leisure

Day2 Shanghai One-Day Tour: Shanghai Tower + Chenghuangmiao Commercial District + Huangpu River Cruise + Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street + The Bund

• Morning: Shanghai Tower, City God Temple Area

Head to the Lujiazui landmark Shanghai Tower. As China's tallest and the world's third-tallest building, it is equipped with the world's fastest sightseeing elevator reaching 73.8 km/h, taking you straight to the 118th-floor Shanghai Summit Observation Deck at 546 meters. Enjoy 360-degree unobstructed bird's-eye views of the Lujiazui skyscraper cluster, the winding Huangpu River channel, and Puxi's old city texture. The cloud-air post office allows you to mail exclusive high-altitude commemorative postcards, and you can closely admire the staggered skyline of the "Three Piece Suite" (Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Oriental Pearl Tower), experiencing modern Shanghai's shocking urban skyline.

Then walk to the Chenghuangmiao Commercial District, adjacent to the 460-plus-year-old Yuyuan Garden. The entire district features flying eaves, ancient stages, nine-bend bridges, and the Huxinting Teahouse arranged in a staggered manner. The streets are lined with century-old time-honored brands, intangible cultural heritage handicraft shops, and Shanghai specialty snack stores, gathering local flavors such as Nanxiang Xiaolongbao, pear syrup candy, and spiced beans. The ancient buildings' carved beams and painted pillars are clear and detailed during the day, and when lanterns light up in the evening, the national-style atmosphere is fully maximized, making it a core area to experience old Shanghai folk fireworks.

• Afternoon:Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Huangpu River Cruise & The Bund

Stroll slowly along the "No. 1 Commercial Street in China"—Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. Stretching 2 kilometers long, it preserves a large number of Republic of China Western-style arcade buildings along the street, intertwining century-old silk and cloth shops, food time-honored brands, and trendy brand stores, merging ancient and modern commercial styles and leading directly to the Bund riverfront.

In the evening, take the Huangpu River Cruise. The water route traverses the core surface of the Huangpu River, successively viewing the Bund architectural complex of various countries and the Lujiazui skyscraper cluster during the voyage. The evening river breeze paired with the lights gradually lighting up on both banks allows you to fully experience the unique urban pattern of Shanghai's one river, two banks, and the collision of ancient and modern from a water perspective.

Night tour of The Bund: 52 distinctive architectural exhibition groups of various countries line up along the Huangpu River, blending Gothic spires, Baroque reliefs, Roman colonnades, and neoclassical facades. Century-old landmarks like the Peace Hotel and HSBC Building shine brilliantly with lights, echoing the neon lights of Lujiazui across the river. With the river breeze brushing your face, it is a stunning night view check-in destination that serves as Shanghai's city business card.

• Recommended Local specialties：Nanxiang Xiaolongbao, pork chop with rice cakes
• Recommended Accommodation: Shanghai urban Hotel
• Activity Intensity: Moderate

Day 3 Suzhou Full-Day Tour: Humble Administrator's Garden + Pingjiang Road + Qili Shantang

• Morning:Humble Administrator’s Garden

Visit the World Cultural Heritage Humble Administrator's Garden, originally built during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. It is the head of the four major classical gardens in China and Suzhou's largest classical garden, divided into east, middle, and west sections. With water as its vein, pavilions, water pavilions, winding corridors, rockeries, and lotus ponds are staggered together. The Yuanxiang Hall, Xiangzhou, and Lotus Breeze Four-Face Pavilion in the central main scenic area feature exquisite layers, and borrowing the scenery of the Beisi Pagoda is a model of garden landscaping. Every step reveals a view, fully displaying Jiangnan garden-making aesthetics of "though man-made, it opens from nature". The brick carvings, wood carvings, and leakage window crafts inside the garden are exquisite, allowing an immersive understanding of the poetic foundation of Chinese literati landscape gardens.

• Afternoon: Pingjiang Road

Stroll through the Pingjiang Road Historical District, Suzhou's best-preserved ancient street and alley. A millennial river channel passes through the street, and blue-stone slab roads, white walls with dark tiles, and river-hugging sculling boats form an original Jiangnan water town picture. Cultural and creative shops, Suzhou-style teahouses, Kunqu opera houses, and Suzhou-style snack shops line the streets, where you can walk slowly along the river channel and feel the slow-paced fireworks atmosphere of Gusu old city.

• Evening: Shantang Street

Head to Qili Shantang, an ancient river street seven lis long initially built by Bai Juyi in the Tang Dynasty. Ming and Qing commercial shops, ancient stone bridges, and water-hugging residential houses run continuously. At night, red lanterns are lit successively along the river channel, and the reflections of ancient bridges float on the river surface, combining worldly snacks with ancient-style night views, completely presenting the Gusu night scene of "Shantang Dream Searching".

•  Recommended Local specialties:Squirrel-shaped Mandarin fish, Suzhou-style noodle soup
• Recommended Accommodation: Suzhou urban Hotel
• Activity Intensity: Moderate

Day 4  Suzhou -- Tiger Hill, Xizhazhen in Wuzhen

• Morning：Tiger Hill

 Tiger Hill, the number one scenic spot in Wuzhong with a 2,500-year history of Spring and Autumn relics. Legend has it that King Helu of Wu was buried here. Core sights include the thousand-year Tiger Hill Pagoda, Sword Pool, Thousand-Man Stone, and Hanhan Spring. The mountain rocks are rugged and ancient trees tower, and historical literati such as Su Shi and Bai Juyi both left poems and writings here, blending mountain forests with ancient architecture to possess both historical foundation and mountain forest tranquility.

• Afternoon: Wuzhen West Scenic Zone

 After lunch, take a tourist bus for 1 hour directly to the Wuzhen Xizha Scenic Area, spending a full day deeply touring the millennial ancient town that completely preserves the original water town layout. Different from the commercialization of Dongzha, Xizha features crisscrossing water systems and continuous wooden railing ancient bridges. Blue-printed fabric workshops, Zhaoming Academy, grass and wood color-dyeing workshop, old docks, and water-hugging homestays are scattered around. You can take a sculling boat to shuttle through water alleys and see white walls and black tiles on both banks reflected in green water. When night falls, lanterns along the river are all lit up, and river waves blend with lights, serving as the ceiling of Jiangnan water town night views. You can stroll deeply into the night to immerse yourself in the quiet romance of pillow-water households.

• Recommended Local specialties :Dingsheng cake, bow-shaped zongzi

rice cake

• Accommodation: Suzhou urban Hotel 
• Activity Intensity:: Relaxed and casual

Day 5Hangzhou Full-Day Tour: West Lake Cruise (45 minutes) + Lingyin Temple + Meijiawu Tea Tasting + "Impression West Lake" Live Water Show

• Morning ：Lingyin Temple & West Lake

Take a bus for 1.2 hours to arrive in Hangzhou, and take a special car to the West Lake Pier to board the West Lake Cruise (45-minute route) to drift on West Lake, sailing into the core lake area and passing by Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Su Causeway, Leifeng Pagoda, and Huxinting Pavilion. The lake surface ripples with blue waves, with clouds and mountains on three sides and a city on one side, integrating mountains, water, city, and forests. Closely view the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon stone pagoda featured on the back of the RMB banknote, and feel the West Lake poetry of "people swimming in a painting".

  Then head to Lingyin Temple, a thousand-year-old Tang Dynasty ancient temple nestled under Feilai Peak. Inside the temple, the Heavenly King Hall, Grand Hall, and Medicine Buddha Hall progress layer by layer with continuous incense. The cliff walls of Feilai Peak are covered with stone carving statues from the Five Dynasties to the Yuan Dynasty, with over three hundred cliff Buddha statues exhibiting various expressions, deep woods, and murmuring streams, blending Zen landscapes as a famous Jiangnan blessing sanctuary.

•  Afternoon: Meijiawu Tea Village

Arrive at Meijiawu Tea Village, the core origin of West Lake Longjing tea. Mountain-wide tea plantations are stacked layer upon layer, allowing you to walk into tea farmers' tea plantations to observe Longjing tea trees and experience traditional tea-roasting craftsmanship. Sit in tea mountain teahouses to taste freshly brewed pre-Qingming Longjing tea, listen to tea farmers explain the millennium tea culture of West Lake, and immerse yourself in the quiet scenery of Jiangnan tea country.

• Evening: "Impression West Lake" Live Water Show

Head to the West Lake live-action performance venue to watch the "Most Memorable is Hangzhou" water live-action performance. Built with a stage set up on the surface of West Lake, it integrates lighting, water mist, dance, folk music, and landscape realities, using the Ten Scenes of West Lake as the story context to interpret Jiangnan's millennium poetry and romantic national style. With light and shadow flowing on the water surface, the audiovisual experience is extremely shocking.

• Recommended Local specialties : Dongpo pork, scallion-wrapped pancake
• Accommodation: Hangzhou urban hotel
• Activity Intensity: Moderate

Day 6 Shanghai→Zhangjiajie|High-Speed Rail Arrival

Daytime: Today our driver will escort you to Zhangjiajie Railway Station to take a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie (approx. 6-8 hours). Upon arrival in Zhangjiajie, our staff will greet you at the high-speed rail station exit and escort you to the downtown hotel for check-in. You can arrange the remaining time freely; if tired, you can rest in the hotel to recharge, or if time permits, stroll around the surrounding areas, visit local food streets, experience Xiangxi foot baths, and look into the distance at Tianmen Mountain scenery.

• Recommended Local specialties :Tujia Recommended Three-Down Pot, mugwort rice cake
• Accommodation: Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel in Zhangjiajie Downtown
• Activity Intensity:Light & Leisure

Day 7 Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Full Day Tour

Transfer to Tianmen Mountain, known as the "Number One Divine Mountain in Xiangxi". Its main peak, Yunmeng Fairy Summit, is 1,517.9 meters above sea level and features the world's longest high-altitude passenger ropeway (total length 7,455 meters) leading directly from the city center to the summit, overlooking the 99-bend Tongtian Avenue winding mountain highway with roads winding like silver snakes around sheer cliffs. On the summit's western route, check in at the internet-famous cliff glass plank road and the 1,600-meter Guigu plank road, which hang on cliffs 1,400 meters high with bottomless abysses underfoot, walking on clouds when sea of clouds billows, thrilling yet aesthetic. Hike to the natural mountain-piercing karst cave, Tianmen Cave, a huge mountain cave 131.5 meters high straddling the mountain body, where you can climb 999 blessing heavenly ladders to reach the cave entrance. During the rainy season, the natural wonder of "Tianmen Spitting Mist" frequently appears, with mountain mists rushing out from the cave entrance, full of immortal charm. Mountain-crossing escalators, Tianmen Temple, and the Yunmeng Fairy Summit panoramic observation deck are fully covered with smooth movement and no backtracking.

• Recommended Local Specialty : Blood tofu duck, drum skin beef hot pot
• Accommodation: Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel in Zhangjiajie Downtown
• Activity Intensity:Moderate

Day 8 Wulingyuan Full-Day In-Depth Tour | Forest Park + Charming Xiangxi Evening Show

• Morning: Ten-Mile Gallery, Lower Section of Golden Whip Stream, Bailong Elevator & Avatar Mountain

Gather and depart from the downtown hotel around 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM, enter from the East Gate of the scenic area, and take Line B to tour the Shilihualang (Ten-Mile Gallery). "Ten miles of gallery with ten miles of scenery, ten miles of landscape accompanying your journey," you can take a sightseeing mini-train to appreciate the ten-mile gallery, Herbalist Gathering Medicine, Peak Lifting Tower, Index Finger Peak, Monkey Garden, Peach Garden, and other attractions. Afterward, take the sightseeing vehicle, passing through the Shuiraosimen (Water Winding Four Gates) at the downstream of Jinbian Stream, and take the Bailong Elevator upwards (a 335-meter high-altitude elevator reaching the top in 88 seconds) to overlook the panoramic view of the entire peak forest. Check in at the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, tour the "Column of Heaven and Earth" floating mountain prototype of the movie "Avatar" (tour time 1.5 hours), exploring the Enchanting Platform, Divine Turtle Asking Heaven, Column of Heaven and Earth, Hundred-Yuan Banknote, and Number One Bridge under Heaven and other out-of-print sceneries. Encountering cloudy and rainy weather makes it even more misty and foggy, resembling an earthly fairyland! After the tour, rest and have lunch in the Yuanjiajie scenic area.

• Afternoon: Yangjiajie & Tianzi Mountain

Take the sightseeing vehicle to Yangjiajie to see the peak wall wonders, where you can view the Golden Phoenix Spreading Wings and Jigouzui, experiencing the natural great wall of hundreds of millions of years. Take the sightseeing vehicle to Tianzi Mountain (driving time about 25 minutes) to visit Yubi Peak, Fairy Scattering Flowers, Xihai Stone Forest, Dianjiangtai, Helong Park, climb Tianzige Pavilion, and view the panorama of the Tianzi Mountain scenic area. After the tour, take the sightseeing vehicle back to the East Gate to exit the scenic area, and take a special transfer to the Wulingyuan Charming Xiangxi Grand Theater to rest, dine, and wait for the evening folk performance.

•  Evening：Charming Xiangxi Evening Show

Enter the park early to stroll around Xibu Ancient Street, check out Tujia silver jewelry, Miao embroidery, and intangible cultural heritage handicraft shops, and enjoy the ancient street lantern night view. Watch the 80-minute indoor folk master show directed by Feng Xiaogang, which includes CCTV Spring Festival Gala program "Chasing Love", majestic Miao ethnic fire drums, moving Tujia crying marriage, intangible cultural heritage Maogusi dance, and mysterious Xiangxi corpse-driving chapters, fully demonstrating the millennium folk culture of the Tujia, Miao, and Bai ethnicities. After the indoor performance, watch the outdoor plaza live stunt performance, closely appreciating thrilling folk stunts such as climbing knife mountains, descending seas of fire, hard qigong, and flying knives, and participate in bonfire interactions and ethnic antiphonal singing to deeply and immersively experience the mysterious customs of Xiangxi. After all performances end, take a special vehicle back to the urban hotel.

• Recommended Local Specialty : Rock ear stewed native chicken, Tujia cured meat
• Accommodation: Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel in Zhangjiajie Downtown
• Activity Intensity: Moderate

Day 9 Grand Canyon & Huanglong Cave: Cliff Glass Bridge &Underground Karst Cave

•  Morning: Grand Canyon

Gather at the hotel between 7–9 a.m. and depart for Grand Canyon Scenic Area to visit the viral landmark Yuntandu Glass Bridge. The fully transparent glass deck spans deep valleys suspended between mountain ridges, with steep gorges and lush peaks stretching all around. Walking on the bridge with clouds drifting below offers breathtaking thrills and stunning scenery. Aside from the glass bridge, wander valley trails alongside murmuring streams and plunging waterfalls, breathing fresh mountain air to soak in the primitive natural valley landscape. Lunch is arranged after sightseeing.

• Afternoon: Huanglong Cave

After lunch, drive to Huanglong Cave, a huge karst cave carved by millions of years of natural water erosion. The cave maintains a constant mild temperature all year round with winding corridors, countless stalagmites, stone pillars and stone curtains formed by dripping water over millennia. Under artistic lighting, the cave shimmers with dreamy colors. We visit core landmarks including Dragon Palace Hall and Divine Stabilizing Needle — a giant stone pillar standing tall in the grand cave hall. Every corner reveals nature’s incredible craftsmanship to bring you a magical underground wonderland experience. Transfer back to hotel after the tour.

• Recommended Local specialties : Blood tofu duck, drum skin beef hot pot
• Accommodation: Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel in Zhangjiajie Downtown
• Activity Intensity:Moderate

Day10 Zhangjiajie → Xi‘an: High-Speed Rail Direct

Daytime: After hotel breakfast, the driver will transfer you to Zhangjiajie High-Speed Railway Station for Xi'an according to the train schedule. Upon arrival at Xi'an High-Speed Railway Station, enjoy a dedicated pickup service. Our staff will greet you at the exit and escort you to the downtown hotel for check-in. You can arrange the remaining time freely; if tired, you can rest in the hotel to recharge, or stroll around if time permits.

• Recommended Local specialties: Roujiamo, Zenggao
• Recommended Accommodation: Xi'an downtown hotel
• Activity Intensity:Relaed and casual

Day 11  Xi'an One-Day Tour: Ming City Wall + Bell and Drum Towers + Muslim Quarte

• Daytime: Xi’an City Wall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower & Muslim Quarter 

A dedicated car will take a short trip to the Xi'an Ming City Wall, China's largest and best-preserved ancient city wall from the Ming Dynasty, built on the site of the Tang Dynasty imperial city and dating back over 600 years. The city wall surrounds downtown Xi'an, with a moat, arrow towers, watchtowers, and corner towers fully matched. You can stroll along the blue brick pavement of the city wall, with antique old city streets on one side and modern Xi'an high-rise buildings on the other, creating an extremely strong atmosphere of ancient and modern sharing the same frame, or ride a bicycle around the wall to experience the urban texture of the thirteen dynasties ancient capital in all directions.

• Afternoon:Muslim Quarter

Walk into the Muslim Quarter, a millennium food culture street district of Xi'an and a Hui-gathered worldly street alley, fully covering Northwest specialty snacks such as beef and mutton paomo, roujiamo, zenggao, liangpi, and pomegranate juice, with mosque ancient architecture hidden deep in the streets and alleys, blending folk fireworks with Islamic ancient buildings for an immersive experience of Chang'an worldly food culture.

• Recommended Local specialty:Biangbiang Noodles, Beef & Mutton Paomo
• Recommended Accommodation: Hotel in downtown Xi’an
• Activity Level: Moderate

Day 12 Lintong Qin and Han Historical Sites One-Day Tour: Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors) + Huaqing Palace

•   Morning:Terracotta Warriors

Head to Lintong to deeply tour the Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Army), the eighth wonder of the world and a World Cultural Heritage site, which is the burial military array site of the First Emperor of Qin. Pit 1 is grand and complete, with thousands of pottery figurines neatly lined up, each with unique facial features, hairstyles, armor, and expressions, where artisan fingerprints and carving details are clearly preserved. Pit 2 displays a mixed military array of cavalry, archers, and chariots; Pit 3 is the ancient military headquarters command center. A professional guide will explain the history of Qin military industry, funeral customs, and military arrays throughout, allowing you to closely feel the majestic momentum of the Great Qin Empire from two thousand years ago.

•  Afternoon: Huaqing Palace

Take a dedicated car for 10 minutes to arrive at Huaqing Palace (Huaqing Pool), the imperial detached palace and imperial garden of the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties, boasting the number one imperial spring Lishan Hot Spring. The Tang Imperial Bath Museum preserves the exclusive hot spring bath pools of Concubine Yang and Emperor Xuanzong; inside the scenic area, Jiulong Lake and Furong Lake feature staggered mountain and water pavilions, and Tang Dynasty imperial palaces such as Feishuang Hall and Changsheng Hall are completely replicated. At the same time, it is the site of the Xi'an Incident, with historical relics of the Five-Room Building preserved. Leaning against Mount Lishan, "Lishan Sunset Glow" is one of the Eight Views of Guanshan, combining the triple heritage of landscapes, imperial history, and modern allusions. Return to downtown Xi'an by dedicated car after the tour.

• Recommended Dining: Local specialties (Liangpi, Saozi Noodles)
• Recommended Accommodation: Hotel in downtown Xi’an
• Activity Level: Moderate

Day13 Xiˈan→Beijing | Direct High-Speed Rail

Daytime: After hotel breakfast, your driver transfers you to the high-speed railway station to board the train to Beijing. Upon arrival at Beijing High-Speed Railway Station, our staff will meet you at the exit and escort you to your downtown hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure. You may rest at the hotel to recharge, or explore nearby areas if time permits.

• Recommended Local specialty：Luzhu Huoshao (braised offal with baked bread) and copper-pot hotpot (Beijing-style lamb hotpot)
• Recommended Accommodation: Hotel in downtown Beijing
• Activity Level: Relaxed & easy-going

Day14 Beijing Deep One-day Tour——Tiananmen Square + Forbidden City + Houhai Hutong + Temple of Heaven

• Morning: Tiananmen Square & The Forbidden City

After breakfast, visit Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest urban square. It features Tiananmen Rostrum, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Mausoleum, the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China. Admire the national emblem and flag, and feel the solemn atmosphere of Beijing.

Walk into the Forbidden City (Palace Museum), the best-preserved Ming & Qing imperial palace. Tour the central axis: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony, followed by Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union and Palace of Earthly Tranquility, plus the Six Palaces. Marvel at classic imperial architecture. Our professional guide shares fascinating historical tales of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

• Afternoon: Temple of Heaven & Houhai Hutongs

In the afternoon, drive to Temple of Heaven Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and imperial complex for emperors to worship heaven during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Don’t miss iconic landmarks including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Circular Mound Altar and Echo Wall. Admire the magnificent buildings covered with blue glazed tiles, ingenious layouts and ancient cypress trees.

In the evening, transfer to Houhai for a leisurely hutong walk. This authentic old Beijing area boasts shimmering Shichahai Lake, traditional courtyard houses, ancient willows, boutique shops and bars. Wander through lanes to experience genuine local life.

Optional evening performances (at your own expense): breathtaking acrobatics, Shaolin Kung Fu show or traditional royal-themed performance. Round-trip transfer to the theater is provided. 

• Recommended  Local specialty： Beijing roast duck, zhajiangmian
• Recommended Accommodation : Beijing urban hotel
• Activity Level:Moderate exercise

Day 15 Great Wall One-Day Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall + 798 Art Zone

Daytime: Mutianyu Great Wall, 798 Art Zone

Take a ride to Mutianyu Great Wall, known as the most beautiful section of the Great Wall. Well-preserved from the Ming Dynasty, it winds across rolling mountains with numerous watchtowers. You may take the cable car to the 14th Watchtower, then hike west to the 20th Tower, the highest point. Less crowded than Badaling, it offers spectacular panoramic views of the iconic Great Wall snaking through forests.

After sightseeing, head back downtown to visit 798 Art Zone. Transformed from old factories, this creative district features industrial-style buildings, graffiti, sculptures, galleries and boutique design stores. Blending avant-garde art and trendy culture, it is ideal for strolling, photos and experiencing Beijing’s contemporary art vibe.

• Recommended  Local specialty：Lüdagun, Beijing Iron-Grilled Meat)
• Recommended Accommodation: Hotel in downtown Beijing
• Activity Level: Moderate

Day 16 Beijing Humanistic Modern Panorama Tour: Lama Temple + Summer Palace + Bird's Nest + Water Cube

• Daytime: Lama Temple, Panda House, Summer Palace & Olympic Park

A dedicated car will take you to Beijing's famous Tibetan Lama Temple, where red walls, white towers, Tibetan-style halls, and prayer-flag ancient cypresses blend together as a rare complete Tibetan Buddhist architectural complex in the north, experiencing ancient building aesthetics of multi-ethnic integration. Along the way, check in at the Panda Cultural and Creative House to purchase Beijing's exclusive national treasure panda peripheral souvenirs. 

Then deeply tour the Summer Palace, China's largest surviving imperial garden and imperial garden museum, taking Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake as its main bodies, with tens of thousands of non-repeating ancient paintings along the 728-meter-long painted corridor, climbing to the top of Foxiang Pavilion to overlook the entire garden lake and mountain, and touring Seventeen-Bridge Arch, Marble Boat, Suzhou Street, and Wenchang Gallery successively, perfectly combining lake and mountain scenery with pavilions and terraces as the peak standard of Qing emperor summer resort and governance gardens, with every step revealing a view.

• Evening: National Stadium & National Aquatics Center

Head to the Olympic Park for outdoor sightseeing, exteriorly viewing the 2008 Olympic landmarks Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Swimming Center), whose modern streamline giant buildings possess great design sense, rich light and shadow layers at dusk for photo check-ins, and experiencing Beijing's modern urban landmark style. 

• Recommended  Local specialty ：Doornail Meat Pie, Pea Cake
• Recommended Accommodation: Hotel in downtown Beijing 
• Activity Level: Moderate

Day 17 Depart Beijing: Airport/Station Transfer Service

Daytime: After breakfast, we will conclude this exciting journey, and our staff will transfer you to the airport or train station for your next destination. If you wish to extend this trip to explore more Chinese destinations such as Tibet, Yunnan, Guilin, Harbin, etc., you can also contact us to arrange it for you. Finally, heartfelt thanks for choosing Dianda Travel to explore China with us. We look forward to welcoming you again sometime in the future. Have a safe trip!

Ⅳ.Service Inclusions 

Guide Service: Whole-journey English-Mandarin bilingual licensed customized guides, providing dedicated section-by-section explanations, and planning optimal commuting routes and off-peak travel plans throughout.

Attraction Tickets: First-admission tickets, ropeways, sightseeing vehicles, cruise ships, and basic performance tickets for all marked attractions within the itinerary are all included.

Local Transfer Vehicles: Dedicated cars/tourist buses for round trips between attractions within all cities throughout the trip (only short-distance city transfers, excluding cross-city high-speed rail and long-distance major transportation tickets), including drivers, fuel fees, parking fees, and scenic area mountain entry fees.

Itinerary Planning: Pre-trip exclusive itinerary fine-tuning, attraction moving-line optimization, reasonable arrangement of driving durations, and niche check-in point recommendations.

Itinerary Coordination: Whole-journey attraction reservations, scenic area staggered-peak visit arrangements, and performance seat coordination.

Ⅴ.Service Exclusions

1.Cross-city long-distance major transportation: All high-speed rail tickets and long-distance passenger ticket costs required for city transfers are at personal expense, but booking assistance can be provided.

2.Scenic area self-funded transportation: Cruise cabin upgrades, cycling rentals.

3.Whole-journey accommodation: Hotel, homestay, and along-the-way plateau hotel costs are all excluded, but can be booked separately upon request.

4.Dining: All lunch and dinner throughout the trip are at personal expense, and guides can recommend local specialty restaurants.

5.Personal consumption: Scenic area cultural and creative items, snacks, drinks, Hanfu rentals, self-funded characteristic upgrade items.

6.Evening optional performances: Beijing acrobatics/kung fu/Golden Mask performance fees at personal expense.

7.Chinese visa application fees at personal expense.

8.Single room supplements, luggage storage, hotel laundry, scenic area guide audio rental, and other additional fees at personal expense.

9.Guide and driver tips at personal expense.

10.Additional expenses generated by force majeure, price differences caused by temporary itinerary changes.

VI.Customized Tour Accommodation Standard Description

Ensuring sufficient sleep every day is very important during travel in China. This route is a private customized tour, and accommodation is not included in the tour fee, but we can provide booking agency services for you, with booking standards as follows:

Room Type: Basic room type twin room (standard room), natural single rooms (king size beds) are not guaranteed; children without beds do not get breakfast.

Location Standard: We carefully select hotels with superior geographic locations in each destination, adjacent to commercial streets or tourist attractions.

Quality Assurance: We maintain long-term cooperative relationships with these hotels to ensure they meet comfortable sleep standards.

Facilities and Services: All booked hotels are equipped with windows, air conditioning, hot water, showers, and Wi-Fi (accommodation conditions are relatively simple during the trip to Mount Everest). Hotel staff can communicate in English and are committed to providing quality services; if you have any needs, you can contact the front desk for assistance at any time.

Description: Booked hotels require separate charges, and specific prices are subject to actual booking at the time. If you need to upgrade room types (such as king-size beds, suites, etc.), you can also inform us to inquire and arrange prices for you.

VII.Itinerary Adaptation Description

1.Crod Adaptation: Elderly/parent-child groups can adjust long-distance bus segmented stops for rest, delete caves and long-distance climbing projects, and increase leisure viewing experiences; outdoor enthusiasts can increase canyon hiking durations.

2.Duration Expansion: Destinations such as Luoyang, Dunhuang, Yunnan, and Qingdao can be added as needed, with corresponding cross-city transportation durations and transfer plans added synchronously.

3.Dietary Adaptation: Inform us in advance of dietary needs such as vegetarianism, Halal, and allergies, and guides will plan and recommend corresponding catering blocks in advance, while long-distance car rides recommend en-route supply points.

Frequently Asked Questions & Contact Info

• How to book? Select route and consult freely, receive a custom plan within 0.5–24 hours, confirm and pay a deposit, and maintain ongoing communication with your dedicated consultant.

• Agency Contact Details:

  • Agency Name: DIANDA TRAVEL

  • Phone / WhatsApp / WeChat: 16670028809

  • Website: https://www.diandatravel.com