A sweeping journey from imperial Beijing and ancient Xi’an to sacred Tibet, panda-filled Chengdu, surreal Zhangjiajie, Guilin’s karst landscapes and cosmopolitan Shanghai.
Tour Highlights
Imperial capitals, holy Tibet, pandas, giant Buddhas, Avatar mountains, rice terraces and Shanghai elegance.
This itinerary is designed for travelers who want China’s grandest cultural, spiritual and natural highlights in one deep, multi-region journey.
Daily Program
21-Day China & Tibet Itinerary
Follow the route from Beijing to Xi’an, Lhasa, Chengdu, Leshan, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai.
Day 1: Beijing Arrival
Arrive in Beijing, meet your guide at the airport, and transfer to your hotel for your first night in China.
Day 2: Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven
Explore the Forbidden City’s imperial palace complex and visit the UNESCO-listed Temple of Heaven for insight into China’s imperial religious traditions.
Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall & Hutong Family Visit
Walk the Mutianyu Great Wall with round-trip cable car, then visit a local family in Beijing’s hutongs to understand traditional courtyard life.
Day 4: Summer Palace & Bullet Train to Xi’an
Visit the Summer Palace, one of the world’s best-preserved imperial gardens, then take a high-speed train from Beijing to Xi’an.
Day 5: Terracotta Army & Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum, see restored warriors and Qin relics in the Conservation Laboratory, then continue to Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Day 6: Xi’an to Lhasa
Travel to Lhasa and take time to rest at your hotel for altitude acclimatization before beginning your Tibet exploration.
Day 7: Tibetan Buddhism: Norbulingka, Drepung & Sera
Visit Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery, where you may witness lively monk debates, a unique Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Day 8: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
View Potala Palace from a less-crowded photography spot, then visit Jokhang Temple and walk Barkhor Street among pilgrims, tea houses and prayer wheels.
Day 9: Sacred Yamdrok Lake
Visit turquoise Yamdrok Lake, surrounded by snowcapped mountains and grasslands, with a picnic by the lakeside if weather permits.
Day 10: Flight to Chengdu
Fly from Lhasa to Chengdu and settle into the relaxed capital of Sichuan province.
Day 11: Chengdu Pandas & Local Life
Meet giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, then experience local park life with tea, mahjong and leisurely city culture.
Day 12: Leshan Giant Buddha
Travel to Leshan to explore the Giant Buddha by cruise and walkways, then enjoy the city’s spicy Sichuan food culture.
Day 13: Chengdu to Zhangjiajie & Tianmen Mountain
Fly to Zhangjiajie and visit Tianmen Mountain, known for Tianmen Cave, the long cableway, glass skywalk and cliff-hanging walkways.
Day 14: Avatar Hallelujah Mountain
Explore Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, Tianzi Mountain and ride the Bailong Elevator for panoramic views.
Day 15: Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge & Baofeng Lake
Walk the world-famous glass bridge over Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and enjoy the peaceful mountain scenery around Baofeng Lake.
Day 16: Zhangjiajie to Guilin & Reed Flute Cave
Travel by high-speed train to Guilin and visit Reed Flute Cave, known for its dramatic limestone formations, stalactites and stalagmites.
Day 17: Longji Rice Terraces
Visit the Longji Rice Terraces and hike in Ping’an Zhuang Village to discover minority culture and sweeping terraced landscapes.
Day 18: Li River Cruise to Yangshuo
Cruise along the Li River through karst scenery, then experience rural village life, local markets and Chinese couplet writing in Yangshuo.
Day 19: Guilin to Shanghai
Enjoy a relaxing day by the Li River before traveling to Shanghai in the late afternoon.
Day 20:The Bund & Yu Garden
Discover Shanghai’s historic Bund landmarks and visit Yu Garden, a 16th-century private retreat blending Chinese architecture, art and nature.
Day 21: Shanghai Farewell
Your guide and driver transfer you smoothly to the international airport for your departure flight.
Made for travelers who want China’s fullest story — history, spirituality, wildlife, landscapes and modern city life.
A Grand Exploration of China, Including Holy Tibet combines Beijing’s imperial landmarks, Xi’an’s ancient warriors, Tibet’s sacred culture, Chengdu pandas, Leshan Buddha, Zhangjiajie’s dramatic peaks, Guilin’s riverscapes and Shanghai’s refined finale.
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