Classic Journey of of Beijing,Chongqing,Yunnan and Shanghai

Itinerary:

Day 1: Beijing Arrival | Airport Pick-up and Hotel Check-in

Nihao! Welcome to Beijing, the capital city of China! Upon your arrival at the airport/train station in Beijing, the tour guide and driver will meet and greet you at the exit, and then escort you to the well-selected hotel in downtown Beijing. The rest of the day is free on your own so you can have a good rest for the jet lag or explore by yourself around your hotel.

Day 2: Beijing City Tour|Tian’anmen Square + Forbidden City +Old Hutongs

Every morning at sunrise, a flag-raising ceremony takes place at Tiananmen Square, a solemn national ritual that you can observe if you wake up early. Tian’anmen Square is the world’s largest public square and also the symbol of China. It has witnessed many big events in China over the past decades. Walk across the square and you will visit the might and splendor of the awe-inspiring Forbidden City.The grandeur of the Tiananmen Gate Tower makes it a masterpiece of traditional Chinese architecture.

Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex and one-time home to 24 emperors of China. With over 8,728 rooms, the Forbidden City is not only China’s largest and best-preserved collection and largest wooden architectural complex in the world, but also a city within the city, like the Vatican in Rome.

Enter through Meridian Gate and visit along the central axis to ensure you won’t miss any highlighted palaces. You can admire its brilliant architecture and numerous ancient art treasures while listening to your guide and learning more about the emperors’ stories hidden inside the Imperial Palace.

Explore the Beijing old Hutongs to experience the local life.Take a rickshaw tour to travel through the narrow alleys with many featured shops standing on both sides.

Day 3:  Beijing City Tour|Summer Palace + Temple of Heaven + National Museum of China

The Summer Palace is the finest example of a classical Chinese garden and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the most well-preserved royal garden in China, known as the "Museum of Royal Gardens." The grounds, temples, gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges, gate-towers, and corridors are a marvel of landscaping. Enjoy the leisure walk and take your time to appreciate the imperial architectures, hilltop views, and beautiful lakes, which offer a pastoral escape into the landscapes of traditional Chinese painting.

The Temple of Heaven was the exclusive altar for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to offer sacrifices, pray for rain, and pray for a good harvest. The temple complex is divided into the Inner Altar and the Outer Altar, with major structures like the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. In addition to admiring the exquisite architecture of the halls, the clever designs of the Echo Wall and the Triple Sound Stone are a testament to the wisdom of the ancient people. Amid the red walls and green tiles, under the shade of ancient cypress trees, the site has a unique charm.

The National Museum of China is the largest museum in the world by building area. With a total area of nearly 200,000 square meters and a collection of over a million items, it is one of the most resource-rich museums in terms of Chinese cultural relics. The museum has five floors and 48 exhibition halls.

Day 4: Beijing Great Wall Tour | Mutianyu Great Wall

In this morning, you will head northwest of Beijing (about 1.5-2 hours’ drive, 73km) to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is approximately 5,400 meters long, making it the longest section of the Great Wall in China. The open section of the wall is about 2,250 meters long, with three enemy towers standing together—a rare sight.

Take the cable car up to the 14th watchtower and then enjoy the memorable hiking time on the wall while visiting its western route. With the green pines and cypresses covering the surrounding area, and the winding wall standing majestically on the vast land, you will capture the most stunning natural scenery in this section. Challenge yourselves while climbing up to the 20th watchtower where you could fulfill your Great Wall dream. Cherish the chance and take photos as many as you like! 

After lunch,fly to Chongqing, the world’s fastest-growing tourism city in recent years with both enthralling urban cityscape and traditional cultural elements. After checking into the hotel, enjoy free time to explore the city on your own.

Day 5:Wulong Karst Tourist Area

The Wulong Karst in Chongqing is a significant part of the South China Karst and a remarkable example of deep-cut canyons. During this visit, you'll explore the Wulong Tiankeng and Difeng National Geological Park, a World Natural Heritage Site and a 5A-rated tourist attraction in China. This area was also a filming location for the movie Transformers: Age of Extinction. The park features stunning natural landscapes, including the Three Natural Bridges, Fairy Maiden Stone, and groups of Tiankeng (sinkholes) and Difeng (geofractures).

The Tiankeng, or sinkholes, are formed due to geological movements, water erosion, and wind, creating oval or circular depressions. The most famous is the Xiaozhai Tiankeng, with a diameter of 626 meters and a depth of 613 meters, making it one of the largest sinkholes in the world. The Difeng refers to narrow, deep valleys formed by surface fractures due to tectonic movements, often characterized by steep cliffs and clear streams flowing through the valley floor.

Day 6: Dazu Rock Carvings and Night Cruise to View Hongya Cave

The Dazu Rock Carvings, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were carved during the Northern Song to Southern Song Dynasties (1094-1151 AD). The carvings stretch over a cliff face 71.8 meters long and 3.4 to 5 meters high, representing a fusion of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian influences. These intricate and colorful sculptures are remarkably detailed, each telling its own story, and appear so lifelike that they seem to come alive.

Day 7:Fly to Kunming

Fly from Chongqing to Kunming and enjoy free time exploring the area around your hotel. 

Kunming was called the 'eternal spring city' for its temperate nature. And you can explore the area around your hotel or visit Jinma Biji Archways, a famous historical and cultural landmark. Or perhaps visit Yuantong Temple, the grandest Buddhist temple in Yunnan province.

Day 8: Stone Forest Tour|Stone Forest + High-Speed Train to Dali (2.5 hours)

The Stone Forest World Geopark is a karst geological park featuring a diverse array of stone forest landscapes. The park's tall, sword-shaped, columnar, mushroom-shaped, and tower-shaped limestone pillars are typical of the Stone Forest. Additionally, the park includes caves, stalactites, eroded lakes, natural bridges, cliffs, waterfalls, and cone-shaped peaks, showcasing almost every karst landscape found on Earth, creating a comprehensive panoramic view of karst geology and geomorphology.

After visiting the Stone Forest, take a high-speed train to Dali from Shilin(approximately 3.5 hours).

For many years Dali has been a favourite destination for foreign travellers and backpackers, thanks to its laidback atmosphere and spectacular surroundings. There are snow-capped mountains on one side and the vast Erhai Lake on the other, making for an impressive sight. 

Upon arrival and hotel check-in, enjoy free time exploring the Dali Ancient City area.

Dali Ancient City, located at the foot of the picturesque Cangshan Mountain, was the capital of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom and Dali Kingdom. The city's streets are laid out in a typical grid pattern and form the core tourist area of Dali. Take a leisurely stroll through Dali Ancient City to slow down your pace and immerse yourself in local life.

Day 9: Tour Around Erhai Lake |Xizhou Ancient Town + Zhoucheng Village

Xizhou Ancient Town,around 23 kilometres north of Dali , is a well-preserved Bai ethnic town that has not been overly developed, making it an ideal place for travelers to stroll or cycle around. The top five experiences in Xizhou Ancient Town include wandering around Sifang Street, viewing ancient Ming and Qing residences, enjoying the pastoral scenery, tasting the local Xizhou Baba pastry, and shopping for Bai ethnic tie-dye products. The town's landmark, Zhuanjiao Building, and the Yan Family Courtyard, a classic example of Bai architecture, are must-sees. The roads and fields outside Xizhou Ancient Town have also become popular spots for photography, especially the fields of rapeseed in spring, rice paddies in summer, and wheat fields in autumn.

Zhoucheng is the largest Bai village in Dali and is renowned for its meticulously crafted tie-dye and embroidery, earning it the title "hometown of tie-dye." In Zhoucheng, be sure to visit the local vegetable market, explore the ancient theater, city gates, and narrow alleyways, and visit Bai-style homes, markets, and workshops where traditional tie-dye techniques are practiced (a recognized national intangible cultural heritage). A hands-on experience with traditional tie-dye is a must, as Zhoucheng is the epicenter of Bai tie-dye artistry.

Day 10: Tour Around Erhai Lake, Travel to Lijiang

Enjoy a leisurely tour around Erhai Lake, where you can cycle along the lakeside and fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the lake.Erhai Lake is a highland lake formed by the collapse of the West Er River, named for its ear-shaped appearance. The lake is known for its clear, pristine waters and is often referred to as a "flawless jade between the mountains." It features three islands, four peninsulas, five lakes, and nine bends.

In the afternoon, take a high-speed train to Lijiang (approximately 2 hours ).This World Heritage-listed town is home to the Naxi people, a matrilineal society descended from Tibetan nomads. 

Day 11:Lijiang Tour |Jade Dragon Snow Mountain + Lijiang Ancient Town

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is considered a sacred mountain by the Naxi people. Its main peak rises to about 5,596 meters, and it is often shrouded in clouds. This majestic, unconquered mountain features diverse landscapes, including snowfields, glaciers, alpine meadows, and ancient forests. The mountain's meltwater forms a crystal-clear, refreshing blue lake in the shape of a crescent, known as Blue Moon Valley. On the Blue Moon Valley Plaza, you can watch the large-scale live performance "Impression Lijiang."

Lijiang Ancient Town is one of the most famous towns along the ancient Tea Horse Road, with a history of 800-900 years. The town is characterized by wooden buildings with green tiles, stone-paved streets, and flowing streams, with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain visible from Dongda Street in the old town. Lijiang is one of the two ancient towns in China that successfully applied for World Cultural Heritage status and is also one of the most distinctive styles of traditional Chinese residential architecture.

Day 12: Fly from Lijiang to Shanghai, Evening at Nanjing Road + The Bund

Fly from Lijiang to Shanghai.Welcome to Shanghai!

In the evening, explore Nanjing Road, the busiest and most vibrant shopping street in Shanghai, often called "China's No. 1 Commercial Street." Nanjing Road is home to numerous high-end shopping centers, well-known brands, and specialty snacks, as well as famous historical buildings and cultural landmarks.

At the end of Nanjing Road lies the magnificent Bund. The Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai.The Bund features 52 classical revival buildings in various styles, earning it the nickname "A Gallery of World Architecture." The Shanghai Bund on which you can embrace the best cityscape, feast on the rich architectural fashions ( Gothic, Barogue, Rome, Renaissance, Classic and Mixed Eastern and Western style, etc.) and know why Shanghai is glorified as "Paris of the East". Across the river, you can admire the brilliantly lit Lujiazui area and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, a truly spectacular sight.

Day 13: Free Time and Departure

Enjoy some free time and arrange your departure according to your flight schedule.