Wonders of China Culture and Nature
Big Good News: Jiuzhaigou is fully open to tourists now, including the beautiful Panda Sea, Swan Sea and Wild Forest and other attractions in Rize Valley which had been closed for 4 years' recovery. Book a valuable Jiuzhaigou tour package with China Discovery now!
One of the most exciting thing in travel is that you find that there are many interesting and popular destinations naturally forming an itinerary of which one destination is connected to another easily by quick flights or trains. And travelers don't have to worry that their favorite destinations are not located in a line. Beijing, Xian, Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu are such like destinations! All of them are top visited, and full of unique world heritage sites and natural wonders.
Ni Hao, welcome to Beijing, the iconic city as well as the capital of China! You will be met by local tour guide at the arrival hall of Beijing Airport and escorted to check in your hotel in downtown by a private comfortable vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to relax. If you want to explore nearby, feel free to get some practical suggestions from your tour guide.
After breakfast, start to explore the historical face of Beijing with a brief visit to Tiananmen Square which is now the largest city plaza in the world. Tiananmen Gate on the northern square was the site where the Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Stepping into the Tiananmen, you will see one of the world’s 5 most important palaces – Forbidden City, a huge palace complex of more than 9,000 rooms where 24 emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties used to live in. Pass through various doorways to admire the magnificent and well preserved buildings decorated with yellow glazed tile roof, white marble base and splendid colorful paintings.
After lunch, drive to the outskirts of Beijing to spend an enjoyable time in Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Stroll around ancient pavilions, mansions, temples, bridges and corridors. Feast your eyes on the vast lotus in Kunming Lake and the colored paintings in Long Corridor.
Optional activity: you can watch a wonderful Kungfu Show in theatre after dinner.
After breakfast, drive about 70km to witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Wall. Visit the Mutianyu, a less crowded yet well-preserved segment of the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty. It will more than live up to all of your expectations! This great wall, linking Gubeikou in the east and Juyongguan in the west, was served as the vital military strategic point in the ancient time. Moreover, Mutianyu section is the longest great wall in China so far and since protection work is well done here, tourists can now see its original appearance and enjoy the real ancient culture of great wall. Also, spectacular natural scenery in Mutianyu Great Wall always impresses visitors here for its abundant vegetation. You will take a cable car to ascend the Great Wall, then hike the most beautiful and interesting part of Mutianyu. It's a wonderful experience to climb up its rising towers to enjoy scenic views and take brag-worthy photos of the wall wriggling along mountain ridges. After the exciting time, descend Mutianyu Great Wall by cable car. (Note: If energy permits, you can hike up or down which takes about 40 minutes to climb steps. Please tell your likes to your travel consultant.)
Continue your trip to Sacred Way, a 7-kilometer-long passage leading to the Imperial Tombs of 13 Emperors of Ming Dynasty. The Emperor, known as the Son of the Heaven, who came from Heaven to his country through the Sacred Way, also would return to Heaven through this road. Take a walk through the largest archway in China and Great Palace Gate and you’ll see the magnificent stone guard of 12 sets of mythical animals and 12 officials. Then drive back to Beijing city and take a short stop at the Beijing Olympic Village to view its famous Bird’s Nest and Water Cube from the outside.
Optional activity: 1) Enjoy an exciting and safe toboggan ride (about 2~3mins) down Mutianyu Great Wall; 2) After the whole day's tour, treat yourself a great dinner to taste the famous Peking Roasted Duck.
After breakfast, drive to the imperial site – Temple of Heaven. It was originally used to pay homage to Heaven and pray for harvest, now becomes a bustling place for locals to take part in traditional activities, such as Tai Chi, dancing, kite flying, water calligraphy, etc.
Then, get back to central city to hop on a rickshaw to experience Beijing Hutongs – small alleys made of neighboring quadrangle dwellings. Shuttle among different Hutongs to feel the old Beijing life style, meet various antique shops and small boutiques, feel the historical changes of Beijing.
Till now, your Beijing tour is about to end. Your tour guide will see you off at the Beijing West Railway Station for your high speed train to Xian (about 5 hours). Be pick up by your tour guide at Xian North Railway Station, and escorted to your hotel in Xian. The rest of today is on your own to explore this ancient capital of China.
After breakfast, drive about 40km to discover one of the greatest man-made wonders in the world – Terracotta Warriors and Horses, built by the first emperor Qin Shihuang to protect his afterlife. Over 8, 000 life-size warriors, horses and chariots, buried in 3 pits more than 2000 years until uncovered by local farmer in 1974, forms an ancient military army with complete battle unites, such as infantry, cavalry, etc. Standing in front of these figures, one can’t help being amazed not only by the ambition of Qin Shihuang but also the fabulous artistic skills of ancient Chinese artisans.
After lunch, return back to Xian to take a wonderful stroll on the Ancient City Wall, the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. Enjoy panoramic views of modern Xian and walk leisurely on the well-maintained city wall which is 12 meters high and 18 meters wide with a total circle of nearly 14 kilometers. It is followed by a relaxing wandering around bustling and livelyMuslim Community, where you can taste the most delicious Xian food and various snacks, as well as experience local culture.
Optional activities: 1). Take a relaxing cycling on the Ancient City Wall; 2). Enjoy a wonderful Tang Palace Dance Show after a hearty dumpling dinner.
After breakfast, head to Da Cien Temple, a famous Buddhist sutra translation site during the Tang Dynasty. Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the most famous building in the temple. The pagoda, rising to a height of 64.5 meters, was built by the famous Buddhist master Xuanzang to preserve classic scriptures he bought back from India during the early Tang Dynasty. Xuanzang was the prototype character for Tang Seng in the famous Chinese novel “Journey to the West”. (Note: It costs an extra 30 RMB if you want to climb up the Big Wild Goose Pagoda)
Next is an educational visit to the Shaanxi History Museum where you can ramble in the modern exhibition halls to appreciate historic relics such as porcelains, paintings, and currencies dating from the Zhou to the Tang dynastic periods (1100BC to 907 AD). (Note: Shaanxi History Museum may be replaced with other activity or attraction because of crowding tourists during July ~ early September and China’s National Day during Oct.1-Oct.7. You may check details with your travel consultant.)
The rest of today is free for you until get escorted to catch your flight to Jiuzhaigou Airport (about 1.5hrs). Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by local tour guide, and transfer to your hotel in Chuanzhusi Town.
After breakfast, your tour guide will escort you to visit the Huanglong National Park. Famous for incredible calcified scenery, Huanglong is a 7.5 kilometers long, 1.5 kilometers wide gentle-slope valley on the Xuebao Peak (Xuebao Snow Mountain). Vast yellow travertine landforms exist in the valley, and look like a yellow dragon. This is how the valley gained the name as Huanglong (Yellow Dragon). The travertine scenery was created by the thousands years of geological evolution, including glacial revolution, terrane movement, chemical reaction, climate changing, etc. It covers a total length of 3.6 kilometers. The best featured landscapes in the valley are travertine banks and waterfalls, colorful ponds, caves, etc. At the top(3990m) of the valley lies the best highlights of Huanglonggou Valley Five-Color Ponds consisiting of 693 ponds of different sizes, shapes, colors, just looking like beautiful emeralds.
To save your engergy and time, there are quick and convenient cableways for you to transfer directly to the top. The most recommended way is to take cableway to the top, and walk down the valley to enjoy the scenery.
After about 4-hour sightseeing in Huanglong National Park, you will drive about two hours to Jiuzhaigou. Stay overnight in Jiuzhaigou.
Today, get up early, and throw yourself into the fairyland Jiuzhaigou Valley which is well-known not only as a national park, but also a UNESCO World Heritage. Having been hidden as a mysterious and never been bothered by outsider until been found in the middle of 20th century, all the forests, lakes, waterfalls, landforms in the national park still remains the wild original looks. It gets its name from having Nine Tibetan Fortified Villages in the region.
Jiuzhaigou is known for having the most beautiful waterscape in China which is hidden in three beautiful valleys - Rize Valley, Shuzheng Valley and Zechawa Valley. It presents various color patterns of white, blue, green, turquoise and emerald in different season. According to the statistics, there are 114 lakes, 47 springs, 17 groups of waterfalls, 11 rapids and 5 tufa shoals within three valleys. Regular travel route is to visit the Shuzheng Valley after entering the park, next go to Zechawang Valley on the west, and last tour the Rize Valley.
Current Important Notices: 1) currently only Shuzheng Valley, Zechawa Valley and Mirror Lake in Rize Valley are open for visiting. The rest part is still under recovery from the earthquake in 2017; 2) only 2,000 travelers are allowed to enter the park each day, so you'd better plan and confirm your Jiuzhaigou tour as early as possible; 3) Jiuzhaigou is now only open for tourist groups operated by the licenced travel agency. We will help you make reservation to the park with your passport information, and collect tickets for you; 4) all travelers will be divided into groups, and be brought to visit with a tour guide and sightseeing bus arranged by the park.
Today is free for you to transfer to to Chengdu by flight.
Welcome to Chengdu, hometown of Giant Panda. You will be met by local tour guide at the arrival hall of Shuangliu International Airport and escorted to check in your hotel in downtown in a private vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to relax.
This morning you will make a stirring visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding which is not only the most important panda scientific research center, but also dwelling home to more than 100 Giant Pandas. Walk at leisure through the bamboo framed paths, and closely observe giant pandas of different ages eating bamboos, playing with each other, tumbling, climbing trees, etc. Don't miss the chance to visit the most adorable panda cubs in the panda kindergartens. If you are lucky, you may be able to see the precious panda babies in the nursery rooms. There is also a very informative Panda Museum where you can learn more scientific facts about Giant Pandas.
Leaving the panda center, you will be taken to a hidden spiritual Buddhist temple in the bustling downtown of Chengdu - Wenshu Temple. Marvel at the exquisite Buddhist architecture, soak in the reverent atmosphere, and wander on the peaceful paths. Adjacent to the monastery is a small bazaar (Wenshufang) where you can enjoy a leisure stroll through to experience local market and living style.
Chengdu is famous for its relaxing and leisure pace throughout China, which will be proved after a stay in Renmin Park. Sit down, order a pot of Chinese tea, make a casual chat with your friends and watching locals indulging themselves in different kinds of folk entertainment - napping in a lively teahouse, playing mahjong, disco dancing, neck massage, ear cleaning... Next is an impressive trip to the famous Jinli Old Street. Time steals away from you quietly while walking on the lively streets which are full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, etc.
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
Recommended Optional Evening Activities: 1) enjoy a delicious dinner of Sichuan cuisine (or hotpot) at a local restaurant; 2) watch a wonderful performance of Sichuan Opera which includes folk opera, face changing, fire spitting, rolling lights, and other delightful entertainment (usually performs during 20:00~21:30).
Today is free for you to take flight or train to leave Chengdu.
Suggested activity for traveler whose flight or train depart in the afternoon or evening: Take a meaningful visit to Jinsha Site Museum. Constructed on the Jinsha ruin site which reveals the unique bronze civilization of the mysterious ancient Shu Kingdom (approximately 2900 – 3200 years ago), Jinsha Site Museum conserves the original expansive site for sacrifice as well as numerous ivory tusks and gold artifacts, including the symbol of China Culture Heritage – the Gold Sun and Immortal Bird.
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