Welcome to China! Upon your arrival, your friendly tour guide will be holding your name-sign and will greet you at the arrival hall, then take you to your hotel and have a rest to recover from jet lag.

Free time idea: If you would like to explore the city, both hotels are in good locations and you could walk around and discover local life in the nearby neighborhood or do some shopping in the local malls. Your tour guide will give you several easy and enjoyable suggestions.

After a night's sound sleep, get refreshed for today's exploration. First, visit Tiananmen Square and then move to the Forbidden City, the largest collection of wooden constructions preserved today. Housing over a million incomparable treasures, it is also known as the Palace Museum. As imperial palace for both Ming and Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City witnessed the rise and fall of the two dynasties from the year 1420 to 1912. Walking through different halls and exquisite architectures of the Palace, you will travel back into the history of ancient China with your professional guide.

Then get into traditional Hutongs where common people used to live. You will enjoy enjoy a rickshaw ride that takes you into the small alleys to explore ordinary people's houses and local life. Learn to paint a facial mask in the famous Peking Opera and learn the traditional art of Beijing. Bring this memorable souvenir home with you when you finish. Afterwards, you will be taken to your hotel.

The Forbidden City

Ride a rickshaw to discover the Hutong alleys

Your morning sightseeing today starts with the Mutianyu Great Wall, the extant longest rampart (5.4km, 3.4mi) of the Great Wall with fewer tourists and more beautiful wild sceneries. Meandering its way across the majestic mountains, it has perfectly guarded central China from nomadic groups' invasion over 2,000 years. Ascend to the top to absorb the majestic natural scenery and wonder at the amazing defensive work built by the ancient Chinese. What's more, a round-trip cable car is arranged to save more time and energy for hiking on top of the Wall.

Afterwards, drive back to the city and have a stopover to the iconic Bird's Nest and Water Cube to take some great photos. Then, drive to the imperial garden Summer Palace and stroll along the peaceful lake, taking in the picturesque scenery of exquisitely built gardens, halls, and pavilions.

The Mutianyu Great Wall

Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning, soak up the beautiful architectures where emperors used to hold ceremonies to pray for luck, good harvests and peace. Encounter the locals gathering here for morning exercise which is quite popular among locals. You are more than welcome to join these friendly local people to exercise together.

Afterwards, you will be taken to the railway station to take a 4.5-hour high-speed train to travel to Xi'an, another ancient capital of China. Upon arrival, meet your friendly Xi'an guide and get back to hotel.

Temple of Heaven

About 1-hour drive from the downtown area, you will get to the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. You will be amazed by the underground army after people see the vividly made clay figures, each owning distinctive facial expression, hair style, figure as well as uniform, protecting the emperor in his afterlife.

Then drive back to the city to visit the largest and best-preserved City Wall and have an overview of this old capital. Follow your guide to take a stroll on top and find some best angles to shoot some photos of the great architecture or cycle around the city wall based on your preference.

Afterwards, drive to the famous local Muslim Quarter and the ancient Great Mosque built in traditional Chinese style and enjoy some free time in the famous bazaar.

Terracotta Army

Tourists Cycling on the Ancient City Wall

After breakfast, drive to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda built for storage of Buddhism scriptures that the great monk Xuanzang took back when he travelled to India on foot during the early 7th century. Then visit Shaanxi History Museum where demonstrates the rich history of the ancient capital Xi'an and Shaanxi Province proved by its magnificent collection of over 37, 000 relics including a lot of national treasures.

Afterwards, you will be transferred to the railway station to catch the high-speed train to Chengdu and get ready to meet China's star mammals.

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Tri-colored Porcelain Tang Ladies

In the morning, you will first visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and enjoy your time visiting these adorable creatures where you will see adult pandas and panda cubs or even the new born babies if you are lucky.

Then move to Jinli Old Street and admire the old constructions and fun stalls where you may sample some famous Chengdu snacks.

Afterwards, enjoy a leisure walk in Wangjiang Park that can best present Chengdu's leisure life from its outdoor tea houses, busy ear-cleaning vendors, local group activities such as Taichi, Mahjong and folk dances.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Today, you will catch a morning flight to Lijiang. Upon arrival, you will be picked up by your friendly Lijiang tour guide. You will visit the astonishing Tiger Leaping Gorge, known as one of the deepest canyons with a vertical height stretching over 3,900 meters. Owning the most spectacular views, the roaring torrents rushing down onto the rocks thunderously will greatly astound you as you stand on the viewing platform built along the sheer cliffs.

Afterwards, you will be taken to your hotel. The rest of time is left on your own to explore Lijiang Ancient Town.

In the morning, you will first visit the breathtaking Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Holy Mountain treasured by the local Naxi people. Enjoy the lively show Impression of Lijiang performed by local Naxi people with the background of the spectacular snow mountain. Then ascend to the main Spruce Meadow with an altitude of 5,596 meters by the cable car and enjoy the stunning view of vast meadows with verdant tall spruces aloft high up into the sky.

Afterwards descend the mountain by the cable car and move to Baisha Murals varied in subjects from natural scenes to religious figures to marvel at the ancient art of Naxi People with a history of over 500 years.

Conclude your wonderful day with a peaceful promenade in Shuhe Ancient Town, the well-preserved station on the Ancient Tea Horse Road witnessing the cultural exchanges and commercial trades in Southwest China since it was built in Tang dynasty, to appreciate its antiquity with peaceful clear stream running through.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Dali. On the way, you will pay a visit to a local market to see the lively local life Then visit Zhoucheng, where the finest Tie-dying fabrics can be found. At last, enjoy a stop at Xizhou to visit the Yan's Compound of Bai ethnic group.

Afterwards, you will be taken to the hotel and enjoy a free night to discover the peaceful old town.

Night life: The ancient city is very lively at night and you could go for a walk and see the atmospheric streets with old style constructions in neon lights or have a drink at the famous bar Bad Monkey.

In the morning, embark on a boat cruise to indulge in the stunning view of the romantic ear-shaped Erhai Lake which extends as far as the eye can see under the shelters of the majestic Cang Mountains in the distance. Take a shore excursion to Jinsuo Island to explore Bai people's traditional culture over thousands of years.

Afterwards, proceed to the famous Three Pagoda, the landmark of Dali with a history of over 1000 years. Continue to explore Dali Ancient Town and stroll down the earliest bustling Foreigner Street filled with ancient houses, boutique stalls, exotic pop bars expecting another wonderful night. Then ascend to the top of the ancient City Wall to have a bird eye view of the ancient town.

Afterwards, you will take the high speed train to Kunming. After a 2-hour ride, you will arrive and your local guide will meet you and then take you to hotel.

Today, a 1.5 hours' ride will take you to soak up the essence of Karst landscapes of the Stone Forest with a vast world of grotesque stones over millions of years' geological movements, where everyone becomes a professional photographer since the shots all turn out to be wonderful thanks to the stunning scenery.

Then travel back to Kunming and take a leisurely stroll in the local Green Lake Park to capture the peaceful scene of locals feeding seagulls, boating, dancing and exercising. At last, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Stone Forest

Today you will fly to Shanghai and your local tour guide will greet you at the airport and then take you to hotel. The rest of time is on your own to explore the modern and fast-paced life of China.

Today, you will start your day with a visit to the Yu Garden where you'll enjoy the delightful and elaborate landscape made up of exquisite pavilions, corridors, lakes and rockeries.

Then stroll on the bustling Nanjing Road and The Bund along the riverside, praised as a World Architecture Museum. You will get on top of the Shanghai World Financial Center to get a bird's-eye view of the metropolis.

Continue your sightseeing to Xintiandi (New World of Shanghai) where multicultural constructions in old or fashion styles are intertwined. At last, visit the Propaganda Poster Art Center to feel the passion and energy of people in 1960s.

Inside Shanghai, the traditional Shikumen residence

Propaganda Poster of China in 1960s

Today, your wonderful China exploration ends and you will be escorted the airport for your departure flight. Wish you a nice journey home!