• Tour Agency: DIANDA TRAVEL 

• Tour code: DT-GTC-005

• Tour Type: Group Tour (1-2 people starting, fixed itinerary and dates)

• Destinations: Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangtze River Cruise, Xi'an, Beijing

• Core Route Features: Modern metropolis, quartz sandstone peak forests, karst landscapes, Yangtze river gorges, Tang Dynasty ancient capital, Ming-Qing imperial city, world heritage, water-land panoramic view.

• Core Landmarks: The Bund, Avatar shooting location, Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, Li River Cruise, Yangtze Three Gorges, Terracotta Army, Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square.

Tour Overview & Introduction

• The "Water-Land Adventure" 17-day discovery group tour offers an all-in-one multi-city deep roaming experience.

• The itinerary connects six core destinations—Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangtze Cruise, Xi'an, and Beijing—innovatively combining land-based cultural exploration with cruise sightseeing on the water.

• Travelers unlock diverse scenery step by step: starting from the modern metropolitan spectacle of Shanghai's Bund, diving deep into Zhangjiajie's unique Avatar peak forest secret, cruising down the Li River to immerse in ink-wash pastoral views, riding a Yangtze cruise through the magnificent Three Gorges, visiting Xi'an to touch Tang Dynasty and terracotta army civilization, and finally arriving in Beijing to climb the Great Wall and stroll through the imperial city.

• Spanning 17 days across north, south, east, and west, linking land and water transport, and gathering world-class natural landforms, millennium historical relics, and modern urban scenery, this journey is rich in cultural heritage and visual impact, serving as a comprehensive deep China long-line tour for global travelers.

Four Core Highlights

• Modern & Classical Metropolis Integration in Shanghai: Ascend China's tallest building, the Shanghai Center Tower, to overlook the entire city. Tour the classical Jiangnan garden Yuyuan. Explore the century-old foreign building cluster at the Bund. Walk down the old commercial street Nanjing Road. Visit the national treasure-stocked Shanghai Museum.

• Zhangjiajie Floating Wonderland & Avatar Scenery: Visit the Avatar movie filming location. Admire unique quartz sandstone peak forest landforms. Check out the high-altitude Yuntiandu Glass Bridge and Tianmen Mountain cliffside walkways. Take a night tour of the Tujia stilt-house complex 72 Qilou.

• Double Cruises (Li River & Yangtze River): Cruise the Li River to enjoy Guilin's landscape, classic karst landforms, and pastoral views. Ride a Yangtze River cruise through Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge for two entirely different water travel experiences.

• Double Ancient Capitals (Xi'an & Beijing): Tour the two ancient capitals of Xi'an and Beijing successively. Explore the Eighth Wonder of the World—Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army. Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Itinerary at a Glance

Detailed Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai | Airport/Station Pickup & Hotel Transfer

• Itinerary Arrangement: Welcome to the international metropolis of Shanghai! Our driver will greet you at the airport or train station exit and transfer you to your Shanghai downtown hotel for check-in and rest. After settling down, you can enjoy free time strolling through commercial districts or admiring the Bund night view to relieve travel fatigue and jet lag.

• Transportation Notes:

  1. Flights: Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao airports offer massive international routes with direct flights from Malaysia, Singapore, US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Cambodia, and domestic cities like Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, and Chengdu.

  2. Trains: Shanghai's high-speed rail network connects directly to popular domestic cities such as Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, and Beijing.

• Recommended Dining: None

• Recommended Accommodation: Shanghai Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Relaxed & Leisurely

Day 2: Shanghai Day Tour | Shanghai Center Tower + Shanghai Museum + Yuyuan Garden + Nanjing Road + The Bund

• Morning: Shanghai Center Tower, Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden

  • After breakfast, head to Lujiazui in Pudong to visit China's tallest building, the Shanghai Center Tower.

  • Ride the world's fastest elevator (73.8 km/h) straight to the "Shanghai Summit Observation Deck" on the 118th floor at 546 meters to enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of Shanghai's skyline and send a cloud-top postcard from the highest post office.

  • Visit the Shanghai Museum, one of China's top four museums, housing over 1.02 million precious artifacts spanning 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, including treasures like the Da Ke Ding bronze, Jin Hou Su Zhong bells, Shang Yang Fang Sheng, and Zi Zhong Jiang Pan.

  • Tour the classic Ming Dynasty private garden Yuyuan Garden, built 460 years ago by Pan Duanduan for his father, featuring exquisite layouts, classical architecture, and detailed brick, stone, and wood carvings alongside the lively Yuyuan Bazaar.

• Afternoon: Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, The Bund

  • Walk along the "China's No. 1 Commercial Street," Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street (approx. 2 km), past 1930s architectural facades and time-honored brand shops leading directly to The Bund.

  • Admire the "World Architecture Exhibition Group" of 52 diverse foreign buildings along the Huangpu River (such as the Shanghai Club, Peace Hotel, and HSBC Building) and view Lujiazui skyscrapers across the river.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

• Accommodation: Shanghai Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 3: Shanghai to Zhangjiajie | High-Speed Rail Journey

• Daytime:

  • Our driver will transfer you to the Shanghai railway station for a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie (approx. 6–8 hours).

  • Upon arrival, staff will greet you at the station exit and escort you to your Zhangjiajie downtown hotel for check-in.

  • Enjoy free time in the evening to explore local food streets, experience Xiangxi foot baths, and view Tianmen Mountain from afar.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast

• Accommodation: Zhangjiajie Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Relaxed & Leisurely

Day 4: Wulingyuan Full-Day Tour | National Forest Park + Charming Xiangxi Evening Show

• Morning: Shili Gallery, Jinbianxi Lower Stream, Bailong Elevator, Yuanjiajie

  • Gather at the hotel between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM, entering from the eastern gate to take Line B through Shili Gallery via sightseeing mini-trains to see stone peaks like the Herb-Gathering Old Man.

  • Pass through Shuirousimen at Jinbianxi Lower Stream and take the Bailong Elevator upward (335-meter high-altitude elevator, 88 seconds to the peak) for panoramic views.

  • Tour Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, the Avatar movie filming location featuring the Hallelujah Mountain prototype (Qiankun Column) and First Bridge Under Heaven (1.5 hours). Enjoy lunch in Yuanjiajie.

• Afternoon: Yangjiajie, Tianzi Mountain

  • Take a sightseeing bus to Yangjiajie to view the natural Great Wall peak walls.

  • Head to Tianzi Mountain (approx. 25-minute drive) to tour Yubi Peak, Fairy Scattering Flowers, Xihai Stone Forest, and Helong Park, ascending Tianzi Pavilion for full views before exiting the eastern gate.

  • Transfer to Wulingyuan Charming Xiangxi Grand Theater.

• Evening: Charming Xiangxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Folk Performance

  • Stroll through Xibu Old Town early to check out Tujia silver ornaments and lantern street night views.

  • Watch the 80-minute indoor folk show directed by Feng Xiaogang, featuring "Chasing Love", Miao Fire Drums, Crying Marriage, and Moguși Dance.

  • Watch outdoor plaza stunt performances (knife-mountain climbing, hard qigong) and join bonfire interactions. Return to the downtown hotel by dedicated transfer.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast

• Accommodation: Zhangjiajie Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 5: Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain + Grand Canyon

• Morning: Tianmen Mountain

  • Depart around 8:00 AM for Tianmen Mountain (approx. 5 hours), featuring the cliffside glass boulevard, 99-bend Tongtian Avenue, Tianmen Cave, and 999 Blessing Heavenly Ladder. Enjoy cloud-sea vistas from the cloud summit using efficient cableways, escalators, and eco-buses with no backtracking.

• Afternoon: Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge

  • Depart around 2:00 PM for Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (approx. 5 hours). Walk across the world-famous Yuntiandu Glass Bridge suspended over thousands of feet of forest fog and hike along canyon trails past waterfalls, streams, and sheer cliffs.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast

• Accommodation: Zhangjiajie Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: High-Intensity Challenge

Day 6: Western Hunan Secret Hiking (Binglang Valley)

• Daytime:

  • Depart around 8:00 AM for Zhangjiajie Binglang Valley (4–5 hours) to explore primitive karst landscapes combining cave exploration, canyon hiking, crevice stream tracking, and light rock-climbing.

  • Visit the transparent natural穿洞 (Binglang Hole) landmark and explore the deep Hell Gate Labyrinth Cave with underground streams and stone formations.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast

• Accommodation: Zhangjiajie Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 7: Zhangjiajie to Guilin | High-Speed Rail Journey

• Daytime:

  • After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to Zhangjiajie railway station for a high-speed train to Guilin (approx. 6–7 hours).

  • Upon arrival, staff will greet you at the station exit and escort you to your Guilin downtown hotel for check-in. Enjoy free time for the rest of the day to rest or explore nearby.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

• Accommodation: Guilin Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 8: Guilin to Yangshuo Day Tour | Li River Cruise + Yangshuo Countryside + West Street

• Morning: Li River Cruise, Yangshuo Countryside

  • After breakfast, transfer to the pier (approx. 1 hour) to board the Li River Cruise for the most scenic section from Guilin to Yangshuo (approx. 84 km, 4 hours). Experience the picturesque landscape where "Guilin's scenery is the best under heaven," passing legends like Wangfu Stone and Guanyan.

  • Upon arrival in Yangshuo, transfer to your hotel and explore rural pastoral scenery by bicycle or sidecar motorcycle (optional, self-paid) among karst mountains, rice paddies, and rivers.

• Evening: Yangshuo West Street

  • Explore West Street, the most bustling street in Yangshuo combining Eastern and Western elements, ideal for local snacks, drinks, and relaxation.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

• Accommodation: Yangshuo Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 9: Guilin to Chongqing via Elephant Trunk Hill & Reed Flute Cave + Yangtze Cruise Boarding

• Morning: Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave

  • After breakfast, return to Guilin to visit Elephant Trunk Hill, the city landmark at the confluence of the Li River and Peach Blossom River resembling an elephant drinking water.

  • Visit the Reed Flute Cave, the "Art Palace of Nature," featuring brilliantly lit stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, and stone flowers.

• Afternoon & Evening: High-Speed Rail to Chongqing & Cruise Boarding

  • Transfer to Guilin railway station for a high-speed train to Chongqing (approx. 4–4.5 hours).

  • Upon arrival, staff will escort you to Chaotimen Wharf to board the Yangtze River cruise (boarding formalities completed; departure at 21:00).

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast

• Accommodation: Yangtze River Cruise

• Tour Intensity: Relaxed & Leisurely

Day 10: Yangtze River Cruise | Fengdu Ghost City & Shibaozhai

• Morning:

  • Enjoy buffet breakfast on board and admire the scenic river views or relax with onboard facilities.

• Afternoon:

  • Go ashore with your guide to visit Fengdu Ghost City ("Youdu"), famous for its mysterious underworld culture featuring statues representing traditional Chinese netherworld beliefs (Tianzi Palace, Naihe Bridge, Wangxiang Terrace).

  • Optional self-paid visit to Shibaozhai Pagoda, China's highest and multi-tiered wooden stilt structure known as one of the "Eight Strange Architectures of the World," offering panoramic Yangtze views from the 12th red-wood tier.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Accommodation: Yangtze River Cruise

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 11: Yangtze River Cruise | Three Gorges (Qutang, Wu, Xiling) & Goddess Stream

• Morning: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Xiling Gorge

  • Sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest, and most majestic gorge, featuring the 10-yuan banknote background site Kuimen.

  • Pass through Wu Gorge, famous for its deep serenity, winding peaks, and poetic mist-shrouded landscapes.

  • Navigate through Xiling Gorge, the longest gorge featuring majestic towering peaks, strange rocks, and ancient trees.

• Afternoon: Goddess Stream

  • Go ashore to visit Goddess Stream ("Beauty Stream"), a 15 km long canyon with deep green waters and sheer cliffs, taking local smaller boats to admire hanging coffins and join Tujia folk singing and dancing performances.

  • Return to the cruise for the Captain's Welcome/Farewell Dinner.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Accommodation: Yangtze River Cruise

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 12: Yangtze Cruise to Yichang & Flight to Xi'an | Three Gorges Dam

• Morning: Three Gorges Dam

  • After breakfast and check-out at Maoping Port, visit the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest water conservancy project featuring a 2,309-meter-long concrete gravity dam with a maximum storage water level of 175 meters.

• Afternoon: Transfer to Yichang & Flight to Xi'an

  • Board the cruise tour bus between 12:30 and 13:30 to Yichang Three Gorges Cruise Center Terminal, then transfer to Yichang airport for your flight to Xi'an. Upon arrival, your driver will transfer you to your Xi'an downtown hotel.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast

• Accommodation: Xi'an Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 13: Xi'an Day Tour | Terracotta Army + Ancient City Wall + Bell & Drum Towers

• Morning: Terracotta Army

  • Drive approx. 40 km (1 hour) to visit the Terracotta Army Museum, the "Eighth Wonder of the World" built on the site of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's burial pits, exploring Pits 1, 2, and 3 with expert commentary.

• Afternoon: Xi'an City Wall, Bell & Drum Towers

  • Visit the Xi'an City Wall, the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China dating back to the Ming Dynasty, walking or cycling along the historic bricks.

  • View the majestic Bell Tower and Drum Tower built 600 years ago during the Ming dynasty, which illuminate brilliantly at night.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

• Accommodation: Xi'an Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 14: Xi'an to Beijing Day Tour | Big Wild Goose Pagoda + Muslim Quarter + High-Speed Train

• Morning: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter

  • Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda inside Dacien Temple, the earliest and largest Tang Dynasty square pavilion brick pagoda, where you can admire ancient architecture and try traditional Hanfu clothing for photos.

  • Explore the famous Muslim Quarter to taste local snacks and experience local life.

• Afternoon: Train to Beijing

  • Transfer to Xi'an railway station for a high-speed train/bullet train to Beijing.

  • Upon arrival in Beijing, your driver will greet you at the airport/station exit and transfer you to your Beijing downtown hotel.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

• Accommodation: Beijing Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 15: Beijing Day Tour | Tiananmen Square + Forbidden City + Jingshan Park + Summer Palace

• Morning: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park

  • Visit Tiananmen Square, the world's largest city center square on Beijing's central axis, to view the majestic Tiananmen Rostrum.

  • Tour the Forbidden City (Palace Museum), the world's largest and best-preserved imperial wooden palace complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

  • Visit nearby Jingshan Park (approx. 15-minute walk) to overlook panoramic views of the Forbidden City and Beijing.

• Afternoon: Summer Palace

  • Travel to the Summer Palace, China's largest and best-preserved imperial garden and royal garden museum featuring scenic pavilions, lakes, and bridges.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

• Accommodation: Beijing Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: High-Intensity Challenge

Day 16: Beijing Great Wall Day Tour | Mutianyu Great Wall + Bird's Nest & Water Cube

• Daytime:

  • Drive 73 km (approx. 1.5–2 hours) to the Mutianyu Great Wall, the longest and best-preserved section known as "Mutianyu unique among the Great Wall".

  • Take a cable car to Watchtower 14, hike west along the wall to admire mountain scenery, and reach the highest point at Watchtower 20.

  • On the return to central Beijing, stop for exterior photos of the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatics Center).

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

• Accommodation: Beijing Downtown Hotel

• Tour Intensity: High-Intensity Challenge

Day 17: Departure from Beijing | Airport/Station Drop-off Service

• Daytime:

  • After breakfast, your wonderful 17-day journey concludes. Our staff will transfer you to the airport or train station for your onward destination. If you wish to extend your journey to Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan, Zhangjiajie, Harbin, or elsewhere, please let us know.

• Recommended Dining: Breakfast

• Tour Intensity: Relaxed & Leisurely

What's Included

• Transportation: Beijing to Xi'an high-speed rail (2nd class); Xi'an to Guilin and Zhangjiajie to Shanghai flights (economy class).

• Hotel: Standard twin rooms in 3-star hotels (natural single rooms / king rooms not guaranteed; breakfast not included for children without a bed); solo travelers share rooms where possible or pay single room supplements.

• Meals: Meals listed in the itinerary (hotel breakfasts included).

• Attraction Admission Tickets: First-entry admission tickets for all listed scenic spots.

• Vehicles: Full local transfer services (including toll, fuel, and mountain entry fees).

• Airport/Station Transfers: Group airport/station transfers with waiting times up to 1.5 hours (private transfers available upon request for a fee).

• Guide Service: Professional Chinese/English-speaking tour guides.

• Insurance: Travel accident insurance, vehicle seat insurance, and travel agency liability insurance.

What's Not Included

• Single Room Supplements: Required if single occupancy is requested.

• Room Damage: Costs arising from mid-trip itinerary changes affecting pre-booked room fees.

• Personal Expenses: Laundry, phone calls, fax, pay-per-view TV, drinks, snacks, tobacco, and alcohol.

• Extra Expenses from Force Majeure: Costs exceeding standard arrangements due to natural disasters, war, strikes, flight changes, or low enrollment.

• Round-Trip Long-Distance Transport: Flights/trains on Day 1 arrival and final departure (can be booked via the agency upon request).

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