Private China Tour to Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai

Your local tour guide will meet you at Beijing Airport after reclaiming your luggage and clearing customs. The driver will transport you in a comfortable vehicle to the hotel and help you with the check-in procedure. The rest of the day is left for you to have a good rest or to become familiar with our capital city on your own.

This morning, your tour guide will pick up you at the hotel and take you to visit Tiananmen Square. You will see what the biggest urban city square in the world looks like.

From Tiananmen Square, you will enter the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City to explore its fascinating halls and pavilions. Here, you will not only learn how the emperor handled political affairs and lived their lives, but appreciate numerous ancient art treasures. At noon, an a la carte welcome lunch (valued at CNY150 per person and included in our price) will be served at a superb local restaurant, where you can have a taste of authentic Chinese food.

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.

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. 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.

This morning you will be taken to Badaling Great Wall to experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. Standing on the wall and looking at it stretching up and down into boundless distance is an exciting experience and will leave you a life-long memory. 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). Your travel will focus on its two highlights: Sacred Way and Dingling Tomb.

On the way back to the downtown, pass by the Bird's Nest where you can take some photos for memory.

The first stop of today's itinerary is the Summer Palace - the largest existing imperial garden with a graceful landscape and magnificent constructions.

After that, transfer you to the railway station. You will then take a high speed train to Xi'an. Your Xi'an guide and driver will pick you up at the railway station and take you to the hotel for check-in.

The visit to the magnificent Terracotta Army will start your day's trip. In the museum, there are altogether three excavated pits exhibiting amazing warrior figures and Chinese ancient weapons. Lunch is on your own, and the surrounding fast-food restaurants are recommended. After lunch, your guide will accompany you to learn some stories behind the dramatic discovery right at the home of its discoverer, Mr. Yang Zhifa. Next, make a souvenir on your own for this Terracotta Army trip. At a local workshop, an artisan will guide you to make a mini terracotta figure.

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.

The day begins with a leisure visit to the City Wall Park, where you can observe the day-to-day life of the locals. After that, you will pay a visit to the City Wall. It is the most complete existing urban fortification in China. Cycling on the ancient wall is an exciting experience that many people like to try (bike rental fee is not included).

Later, you may stroll around the nearby Muslim Quarter freely to have a taste of local food. 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.

Then, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport to catch the flight to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel directly.

Today you will have a full day tour in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Firstly, you will take the Bailong Elevator to the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area which is famous for the Southern Sky Column - the shooting spot of the famous movie Avatar. Afterwards, your guide will accompany you to take a battery car to Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve. Later, go to the Golden Whip Stream. You will then head for Ten-mile gallery by a small train. Finally return to the hotel.

Today's first destination is Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. This Grand Canyon can be regarded as the Zhangjiajie landscape museum, integrating mountains, caves, and water in a composite experience. In addition, the Glass Bridge here is the world's longest and highest, with a relative height of around 400 meters (1,300 feet) and a length of 370 meters (400 yards). You may challenge yourself to cross it.

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. At the end of today’s tour, you will be escorted to the hotel.

Tianmen Mountain is the highest mountain in Zhangjiajie. Its name comes from the natural wonder - Tianmen Cave. If you are energetic enough, you may try climbing the well-known 999 stairs. In China, this stair means permanent relationship. We will include a round-trip cable car ride at Tianmen Mountain, to save you energy and time for sightseeing. In the afternoon, visit 72 Qilou. Qilou means high stilt house and “72” indicates there are many of them. 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. In addition to appreciating the distinctive architecture, various snacks are waiting for you to try.

You will then be escorted to catch an evening flight to Shanghai. When you arrive in Shanghai, your guide and driver of the following private Shanghai tour will transfer you to your hotel.

Your first stop is Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, which 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.

Next one is the Yu Garden. With exquisite design and elegant environment, it is a classic private garden of more than 400 years' history. 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.

After an a la carte lunch, the guide will take you to experience the Huangpu River Cruise. You will admire buildings of both Chinese and western architectural styles along the bustling Bund as well as modern skyscrapers of the Lujiazui on the two banks.

Afterwards, you can enjoy some free time to explore the Bund.

Then you will be accompanied to a cultural street - Tianzifang to experience the elegant and strong culture in the old lanes. After that, return to the hotel.

Please check out the hotel and get all your belongings ready. Your driver and guide will escort you to catch your homeward flight.