Best of China with Pandas

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival - Shanghai

  Welcome to Shanghai, the most futuristic city in China!

  On arrival, be picked up and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is for refreshment from your long flight.

  • Shanghai

• Day 2: The Historic and Modern Shanghai

  Start the tour today by strolling the Bund fringed with sober colonial-era buildings on the west and the sluggish Huangpu River on the east. Next, visit the 400-year-old Yu Garden, an outstanding sample of traditional Chinese gardens, and a silk workshop.

  After a hearty Dim Sum lunch, explore the Former French Section. Then, continue to the Pudong district and get to the observatory on the 118th floor of the Shanghai Tower for panoramic views of this ultramodern and historic city.

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  • Shanghai

• Day 3: Shanghai - Chengdu, Zhujiajiao Water Town

  Start a little early this morning to visit Zhujiajiao Water Town when it's less busy. About 50km west of the Bund, this tiny town will present you with the trading townscape in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River hundreds of years ago.

  In the afternoon, board the flight to Chengdu. Arriving in about three hours, be welcomed by your local guide and driver.

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  • Chengdu

• Day 4: Chengdu, Pandas & Sichuan Hotpot

  Meet adorable pandas this morning at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Watch them enjoying breakfast and gamboling around, and take pictures of their cuteness.

  The lunch of today is authentic Sichuan Hotpot, an unmissable local hit. After it, visit Wenshu Temple for a glimpse into Chinese Buddhism religions and join the locals for a cup of tea. There is also some time to explore the exotic Tibet Quarter, nicknamed Little Lhasa.

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  • Chengdu

• Day 5: Chengdu - Xi'an, Muslim Street & Great Mosque

  Take a four-hour bullet train in the morning to Xi'an. After arrival and a short break in your room, the guide will escort you exploring Muslim Street lined with stalls selling various Muslim food. Behind it, you will discover the Great Mosque in serenity. Dating back to the 8th century, when Islam entered China, it's one of the top four mosques in China.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 6: Xi'an, Terracotta Army & Chinese Calligraphy Experience

  The highlight of today is the Terracotta Army unearthed from the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. You will spend about two hours there marveling at the thousands of lifelike sculptures of soldiers and horses in life-sizes.

  Afterward, drive about an hour back to the city to visit the Tang Bo Art Museum to enjoy endemic Shaanxi folk arts and a Chinese calligraphy experience.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 7: Xi'an - Beijing, Hutongs

  After breakfast, be transferred to the railway station for a bullet train to Beijing. Arriving in about five hours, meet your guide for a transfer to your hotel. Refresh followed by a guided roaming through some Hutongs, traditional neighborhoods featuring rectangle courtyards favored by old Beijinger.

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  • Beijing

• Day 8: Beijing, the Forbidden City

  Have the day to explore the historic capital of China: the solemn Tiananmen Square that has witnessed countless events in Chinese history and the majestic Forbidden City that housed the imperial families of the Ming and Qing dynasties over 500 years. Behind the royal palace, at the top of the artificial Jinshan Hill, you will get overwhelming views of the central axle of this ancient and modern city.

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  • Beijing

• Day 9: Beijing, Temple of Heaven & Great Wall

  Our first stop today is the Temple of Heaven, where the feudal emperors paid respect to Heaven and prayed for a good harvest annually for the following year. Now, it is a public park for locals enjoying their retirement life and for visitors appreciating the splendors of traditional Chinese architecture.

  Focus the rest of the day on the legendary Great Wall, with the cable car up and down to save energy for more hikes on the massive rampart to catch the splendid landscapes around. After the tour, drive about two hours back to the city for the night.

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  • Beijing

• Day 10: Beijing - Departure

  Conclude your tour today. Pack your luggage and full memories for your flight returning home.

  If your flight departs from Daxing International Airport, do leave some time to explore this gorgeous and technological airport.

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