13 Days Beijing & Xian Yangtze Cruise, Zhangjiajie & Shanghai Tour From Australia

Summary

Day 1 Australia-Beijing: Fly to Beijing from Australia
Day 2 Beijing: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Day 3 Beijing: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs
Day 4 Beijing-Xian: Hutong Rickshaw Experience, take train to Xian
Day 5 Xian: Big Goose Pagoda, Xian Anceint City Wall, Muslim Quarter
Day 6 Xian-Chongqing: Terra-Cotta Warriors, Fly to Chongqing and board the Yangtze River Cruise
Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise: Ghost City, Shibaozhai Temple
Day 8 Yangtze River Cruise: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge
Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise-Yichang-Zhangjiajie: Yichang to Zhangjiajie by train
Day 10 Zhangjiajie: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Day 11 Zhangjiajie-Shanghai: Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Fly to Shanghai
Day 12 Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Old French Concession, The Bund, Huangpu River Night Cruise
Day 13 Shanghai Departure: Half day Zhujiajiao Water Town tour; Fly back to Australia

Day 1 Australia-Beijing

Make your own flight arrangement from Australia to Beijing,it takes around 11 hours from Sydney, Australia to Beijing. Beijing is the capital city of China and there are many flights from Australia. Once you arrive, our guide will meet you at the exit of train station with a welcome sign "China Private Tour", transfer to your hotel in Beijing. The rest day is free on your own to explore the city.

Day 2 Beijing

After breakfast, our guide will take you walk to the Forbidden City. Also known as the Palace Museum, this famed attraction is situated in the heart of Beijing. Dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the former imperial palace was the primary residence of the 24 emperors who reigned over the country during specific time periods in history. You will spend around 3 hours to visit and know the history of imperial family fron our professional guide.

In the afternoon, drive you to visit the Summer Palace, a marvel of Chinese garden design and one of Beijing's must-see attractions, the Summer Palace was the royal retreat for emperors fleeing the suffocating summer torpor of the old imperial city and, most recently, it was the retirement playground of Empress Dowager Cixi.

The last stop for today is the Temple of Heaven, is one of China's best tourism sites for anyone interested in ancient Chinese religious culture. It was where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (from 1420 to 1900) worshiped the god of heaven and prayed for good harvests. It has been described as "a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design".

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 3 Beijing

After breakfast, drive you to visit the Badaling Great Wall, Being the ancient military defence project, Great Wall is symbol and proud of China. Badaling Great Wall is the site of the most visited section of the Great Wall partly because it is close to Beijing city and connected with urban area by expressway. It's the first section of Great wall opened for tourists and shows the Great Wall as it would have looked originally, and it does not look too new. 

After Great wall, there is a Great Wall Museum and Great Wall National Theater close to Badaling Great Wall. The theater offers you a chance to get a full view of the Great Wall of China.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Ming Tombs. It's one of the popular spots for tourists. Listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage, Ming Tombs provide people a kind of real experience. That tells why this place is a popular place for native Chinese, especially those who are attracted by its history.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 4 Beijing-Xian

After breakfast, our guide will take you to visit the famous Hutong in Beijing. You will discover the narrow alleys and traditional courtyard residences that were once commonplace in northern Chinese cities on a rickshaw! At one time, Hutongs were joined together to create entire neighborhoods. Meanwhile, you also have a chance to visit a local family and learn how to cooking the Beijing home-cooking food there. By the rickshaw experience and local family visiting you can turely taste of the culture of Beijing hutong.

After lunch, transfer to Beijing train station to catch your train to Xian. Once arrive, our guide will meet you at the exit of train station, transfer to hotel in Xian.

Day 5 Xian

After breakfast, our guide will take you to visit the Big Goose Pagoda, it's pne of famous ancient pagodas in China built for more than 1,300 years. It is the bright pearl on the Silk Road with excellent architectural beauty, precious Buddhist relics, rich religious culture, stories of the famous ancient monk - Xuan Zang, etc.

Then, you will visit the famous Xian Ancient City Wall. It is the most complete city wall that has survived China’s long history. It was built originally to protect the city in the old Tang dynasty and has now been completely restored.

The last stop for the tour is Muslim Quarter, the main street through the Muslim Quarter is all about the food that is both exotic and different than the typical fare in China. The streets in the area are clean and colorful with the whole area being very inviting for people to just walk down "main street" to see. It is said there are over 300 Muslim local snacks on the streets in Xian Muslim Quarter that attract a consistent flow of visitors everyday coming here to savor or just have a glimpse.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Xian.

Day 6 Xian-Chongqing

After breakfast, drive about 1 hour to visit the Terra-cotta Warriors, it is the most famous tourist site in Xian and also is reason the people plan for a Xian tour. the Chinese workers digging a well in 1974 made a startling discovery: thousands of life-size terracotta figures of an army prepared for battle. Now called the Terracotta Army or Terracotta Warriors, the figures are located in three pits near the city of Xi'an in China's Shaanxi province.

After the tour, transfer to Xian airport to catch your flight to Guilin. Once arrive, our guide will meet you at the exit of airport and tansfer to Chongqing Cruise Port to board your cruise.

Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise

After breakfast, you will start your adventure with Ghost City. This area is sacred to three different religions: Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Revered as a place where the dead transition into another realm, it is surprisingly not dark or cemetery like. Rather, Ghost City is vibrant and colorful, although the local names are a bit scary. Here you will find “Nothing to Be Done Bridge,” “Ghost Torture Pass,” and “River of Blood.”

Fengdu Ghost City is tranquil and spiritually uplifting. From there we will pass the Shibaozhai Temple. This 400 year-old temple was saved from the rising waters and become an island where once it was a hilltop. The temple is built partway into the cliff and no nails or bolts were used in its construction. 

You will have the Captain's Welcome Dinner on the ship.

Day 8 Yangtze River Cruise

Continue sailing past the beautiful river scenery and admire the impressive view of the Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. Following this stretch of the river, take an excursion to Badong and experience a small wooden boat trip on the magnificent Shennong Stream or Goddess Stream (Shennv Stream). Return to the ship and enter the western section of the Xiling Gorge. Enjoy a relaxing evening on board the river boat by taking advantage of the entertainment or enjoy the view from the deck.

You will have the dinner on the ship which features local cuisine and cultural entertainment.

Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise-Yichang-Zhangjiajie

After breakfast, you will disembark from the cruise boat at Maoping Pier in Yichang. Take a bus to visit the largest hydroelctric project around the world, the Three Gorges Dam where you’ll take a tour to learn how the dam was designed, built, and how it now serves the local people and region. 

After the tour around 12:30pm, our guide will meet you at the Yichang Three Gorges Tourism Center and take you to Yichang train station to catch your train to Zhangjiajie. Once arrive in Zhangjiajie, our local guide and driver will pick you up from train station. Transfer to your hotel in Wulingyuan Area.

Day 10 Zhangjiajie

After breakfast, you will have a day tour in Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Firstly, have 20min driving from hotel in Wulingyuan District to the entrance of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. When enter into it, go firstly to take the cable car to visit Huangshi Village (1-1.5 hour)-one of the top 5 highlight travel itineraries of China. After lunch, continue to visit Golden Whip Stream (2.5 hours hiking)-it is titled as the most beautiful valley in the world. After the tour, drive you back to your hotel.

Day 11 Zhangjiajie-Shanghai

After breakfast, you will begin your first day trip to Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Today, we may firstly visit Tianzi Mountain Area (2 hours hiking)-boasts rocky peaks in grotesque shapes and shrouded in drifting mist.

After that, taking the scenic shuttle bus to the restaurant to enjoy the lunch. In the afternoon, we will continue to have another hiking trip to visit Yuanjiajie Scenic Area (2 hours) - one of the must-see attractions in Zhangjiajie. During this day, you will have chance to experience the Bailong Elevator-the highest and heaviest outdoor elevator in the world.

After the tour, transfer to Zhangjiajie Airport to catch your flight to Shanghai. You will be picked up from airport once you arrive and transfer to your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 12 Shanghai

After breakfast, starts your Shanghai tour with Yuyuan Garden. It was a private garden of the Pan family in the Ming Dynasty. It was the largest and most prestigious of its era in Shanghai after it was completed. The garden is unique in its design. It perfectly blends decorative halls, elaborate pavilions, glittering pools, zigzag bridges, pagodas, archways, and impressive rockeries.

Next, you will visit Jade Buddha Temple, it is an active buddhist temple in the city of Shanghai. The temple houses two jade Buddha statues – one, a 1.95 m tall, sitting Buddha and the other a smaller reclining Buddha depicting Buddha's death. If you interested in the architecture and the custom of temple, do not miss Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai.

After lunch, drive you to visit Old French Concession, a residential area of Shanghai once designated for the French, the French Concession is popular with tourists and expats, and appreciated for its cafes, tree-lined avenues, and tudor houses. If you want to get away from busy street in Shanghai, here is an ideal place to explore.

In the afternoon, visit The Bund Area, it is a nice place to appreciate the skyline of the city. You see some of the famous landmarks of shanghai such as the pearl tower, jinmao tower and the shanghai tower. For a century, the Bund has been one of the most recognizable symbols and the pride of Shanghai. The architecture along the Bund is a living museum of the colonial history of the 1800s.

At night, it's a good time to have a cruise to experience and enjoy the scenery along Huangpu River. A Huangpu River cruise has now become a must-have activity when visiting Shanghai. If you have time to join a Huangpu River night cruise, you can enjoy the most extraordinary night view.

After the cruise, drive you back to your hotel.

Day 13 Shanghai-Australia

After breakfast, drive you to explore Zhujiajiao Water Town. Zhujiajiao, it is one of famous six water towns around Shanghai. It's the best-preserved water town in the area with history over 1700 years. There are old bridges, antiquated architecture and bubbling streams. You can wander along the canal, stroll around the old lanes, visit few houses with gardens. Later, enjoy a relaxing boat riding on the canal to see beautiful surrounding. Don't miss out the opportunity to take some fabulous pictures. 

Drive you back to Shanghai city at a suitable time. Transfer to Shanghai airport to catch your flight back to Australia. It takes around 10 hours from Shanghai to Australia. There are 2 airport in Shanghai, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport; The direct flight to Australia is from Shanghai PVG airport. It is the main international airports serving the city of Shanghai.

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     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.