Boundless China

Arrive at Beijing International Airport and meet your guide for a one-hour transfer to the hotel. Once settled, head to Tian'anmen Square to walk the vast expanse of the plaza. Stand among the monumental structures, including the Tian'anmen Tower, the National Museum of China, the Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and the Monument to the People's Heroes. Stay overnight in central Beijing.

Begin the day with an hour-long Tai Chi session in the hotel courtyard. Proceed to the Forbidden City to walk through the World Heritage site that served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Pause for lunch at a hidden Yunnan or Sichuan restaurant near the Bell Tower, then embark on a walking tour of the surrounding Hutongs. Navigate the ancient alleyways to chat with locals and observe daily routines before climbing the Drum Tower for a panoramic view of the old city. Return to your hotel in central Beijing.

Drive 1.5 to 2 hours this morning to reach the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Ascend via cable car and hike along the restored Ming Dynasty ramparts for 1-2 hours, exploring the watchtowers and taking in the mountain views away from the heavier crowds. After a local lunch, proceed to the Summer Palace to wander through the royal gardens. Walk along Longevity Hill and the shores of Kunming Lake to appreciate the classic Chinese landscape design.

In the evening, visit the Olympic Park to view the illuminated exteriors of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube stadiums from the 2008 Games. Conclude the day with a traditional Peking Roasted Duck dinner. Return to your hotel in central Beijing.

Modify your trip: A full-day Jinshanling hike, a two-day overnight hike, or a multi-day trek can be planned in place of Mutianyu. Let your trip planner know if you're interested.

Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Xi'an, the historic starting point of the Silk Road. Upon arrival, meet your guide and enjoy a local lunch before visiting the Shaanxi History Museum to examine a vast collection of artifacts, including bronze ware and gold coins from China’s dynastic past.

Explore the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda this afternoon, a Tang Dynasty landmark built to house Buddhist scriptures. Walk through the surrounding courtyards and North Square, home to one of China's largest musical fountains, while taking in views of the city. Stay overnight in Xi'an.

Drive 1.5 hours this morning to the site of the Terracotta Warriors. Stand before the massive pits of life-sized pottery soldiers and horses, originally crafted to guard the tomb of China's first emperor. After lunch nearby, return to the city center to walk along the top of the Ancient City Wall. From this vantage point, observe the stark contrast between the historic old city within the walls and the modern skyline rising outside.

Continue to the Muslim Quarter to navigate the bustling markets filled with mosques and street food vendors. Visit the iconic Bell Tower that marks the geographical center of the ancient capital before settling down for a traditional Xi'an dumpling dinner. Return to your hotel in Xi'an.

Board the high-speed train this morning for the journey to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel to settle in before heading out to experience the city's relaxed pace. Spend the afternoon in Renmin Park, sipping green tea at a traditional outdoor teahouse while observing locals playing Mahjong and cards, and join in for a lesson if you're interested.

Immerse yourself further in local culture this evening with a spicy Sichuan hotpot dinner. Afterward, watch a traditional Sichuan Opera performance, featuring the famous "face-changing" technique. Stay overnight in Chengdu.

Transfer from Xi'an to Chengdu - Approximately 4 hours

Leave early this morning for the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to observe the pandas when they are most active. Walk through the bamboo-lined paths to visit the nursery and adult enclosures, watching these creatures feed and interact before they settle down for their afternoon nap.

Drive approximately 1.5 hours north to Dujiangyan to explore the UNESCO-listed Irrigation System, an engineering marvel dating back to 256 BC. Wander the walkways along the river division and visit the Erwangmiao Temple to understand how this ancient project still irrigates the fertile Chengdu Plain today. Return to the city in the late afternoon. Stay overnight in Chengdu.

Drive approximately 2 hours to Leshan City to witness the Giant Buddha carved into the red sandstone cliff face at the confluence of three rivers. Stand before the world's largest sitting Buddha, measuring 233 feet / 71 meters high, or descend the steep trail to river level to fully appreciate the massive scale of the sculpture. After a local lunch, stop at the 1,400-year-old Suji Ancient Town to walk through its historic streets and observe the preserved architecture. Return to Chengdu in the late afternoon. Stay overnight in Chengdu.

Transfer to the railway station this morning for a 1.5 to 2-hour high-speed train ride to Chongqing. Meet your local guide upon arrival and head directly into the "Mountain City" to explore Ciqikou Old Town, navigating the preserved stone lanes and shops of this historic port on the Jialing River. Visit the General Stilwell Museum to examine the history of WWII cooperation, then walk through the Three Gorges Museum to grasp the cultural and environmental impact of the massive dam project.

Board the cruise ship this evening and settle into your cabin. Dine on board before the ship sets sail from Chongqing late this evening, heading downstream toward Yichang and the Three Gorges region. Overnight on your cruise ship on the Yangtze River.

Please note the cruise vessel may vary with schedules, and itineraries and excursions may change with river conditions.

Go ashore today for an excursion to Mount Shuanggui near Fengdu. Explore the forested paths and cultural sites of this scenic area. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion to Shibaozhai and its wooden pagoda may be substituted. Overnight on your cruise ship on the Yangtze River.

Please note optional excursions to Fengdu's "Ghost City" and an evening "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" show may be available on board for an additional fee, river conditions permitting.
 

Stand on the deck to watch the dramatic limestone cliffs pass by as the ship navigates the Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. Qutang Gorge is the shortest and narrowest of the Three Gorges at 5 miles / 8 kilometers long and 500 feet / 150 meters wide, while the 25-mile / 40-kilometer Wu Gorge is known for its forested mountains and sheer cliffs.

Transfer to a smaller vessel for a closer look at the landscape during an excursion through the Goddess Stream (or Shennong Stream depending on conditions), drifting past steep canyon walls. Later, sail into Xiling Gorge, the longest at 41 miles / 66 kilometers and deepest of the three famous gorges. Overnight on your cruise ship on the Yangtze River.

Please note optional morning excursions to White Emperor City and the Peak of the Three Gorges may be available on board for an additional fee, river conditions permitting. Viewing of Xiling Gorge may not always be in daylight, depending on river traffic and the time of year.

Disembark this morning and tour the Three Gorges Dam, which spans the Yangtze River at Sandouping in Xiling Gorge and is the world's largest power station. Walk the grounds to understand the scale of the construction and its impact on the region. After the tour, transfer by motor coach to Yichang to meet your local guide. Drive approximately 3.5 hours to Zhangjiajie, part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. This region is famous for its sandstone pillars, specifically the Southern Sky Column, which inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. Check into your hotel in Zhangjiajie for the evening.

Please note an optional excursion through the Three Gorges Dam ship lift, the world's largest, may be available before the dam tour for an additional fee.

Transfer from Yichang to Zhangjiajie - Approximately 3.5 hours

This morning, head to Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a site comprising two nature reserves and Zhangjiajie National Park. Take the cable car to visit Huangshi Village at the top of steep cliffs for the highest vantage point of the parks below. Take a light hike after lunch along the Golden Whip Stream, known for its pristine water flowing through mountains and a serene valley. Observe the local flora and fauna along the banks before returning to the hotel in Zhangjiajie.

Today, travel to Tianzi Mountain and take a cable car up the side to observe jagged peaks and view formations like the Imperial Pen Peak. Transfer by shuttle bus to the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area to see the "First Bridge under Heaven" and the Southern Sky Column, the specific quartz-sandstone pillar that inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. Descend the cliff face inside the Bailong Elevator, the world's highest glass outdoor elevator.

Descend the cliff face inside the Bailong Elevator, the world's highest glass outdoor elevator. Drive to the airport in the evening to board a flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Shanghai late this evening.

Meet your guide to explore the contrast of old and new Shanghai. Enter the Yu Garden, a 400-year-old traditional landscape designed with Ming-era pavilions, ponds, and dragon walls. Navigate the bustling Yuyuan Market nearby to see local shops and the City God Temple.

In the evening, walk along the Bund to witness the illuminated skyline. Stand on the historic west bank to view the colonial architecture while looking across the river to the modern skyscrapers of Pudong. Stay overnight in Shanghai.

This morning, drive an hour and a half south to Xitang, an ancient water town crisscrossed by nine rivers. Explore the peaceful atmosphere, flat terrain, stone bridges, and long corridors of shops that line the canals. View antique residences and temples featuring architecture from the Qing and Ming Dynasties. Return to Shanghai in the afternoon. Spend the rest of the evening at your leisure, or explore the historical French Concession area on foot.

Take a morning flight to Guilin, meet your new guide, and drive two hours toward the Longsheng Rice Terraces. Board a 45-minute shuttle upon arrival to reach Ping'An village, a settlement surrounded by rice terraces and inhabited by the Zhuang ethnic group. Arrive around sunset and hike a half-hour uphill to your lodge in Ping'an Village.

Once settled, explore the village paths and the ancient rice terraces that have been carved into the steep hillsides for over 650 years. Walk among the fields to observe the daily rhythms of the local community before resting for the night at your lodge.

Terrace altitude: 980 to 3,600 feet / 300 to 1,100 meters
Hiking length: 0.5 hours

Start this morning with a shuttle trip to Dazhai Village, where the trail begins. Hike up to Tiantouzhai Village for views of the rice paddies. Eat lunch at a restaurant run by a local family, a result of the gradually increasing tourism in the area. Begin a gradual descent shortly after to the village of Zhonglu, home to the Yao people. Listen for the singing of the Yao ladies, who are famous for their vocal skills and long hair. Walk through the village and arrive back at Ping'an Village in the late afternoon.

Hiking length: 4 to 5 hours
Hike Distance: 6 to 7 miles / 10 to 12 kilometers
Terrain: Moderate to difficult, with uphill climbs and trails that can be slippery on rainy days

Check out this morning and drive to the banks of the Li River to begin a scenic hike. Walk along the water's edge, immersed in the famous karst landscape where limestone peaks rise vertically from the valley floor. Board local rafts or boats to cross the river at various points during the trek, eventually arriving in the ancient town of Xingping. The hike can be adjusted to suit your fitness level.

Meet your driver in Xingping and transfer to Yangshuo. Settle into your hotel surrounded by the towering peaks and open valleys of this dramatic region.

Today, bike through villages, narrow trails, and along rice fields beside the Yulong River. Yangshuo sits at the base of the Li River, where steep limestone peaks create a dramatic backdrop. The scenic Yulong River offers a remote and peaceful experience away from the tourist boats on the larger Li River. Stop for lunch at a local farmer's house, then embark on a two-hour bamboo raft ride for a smooth trip downstream to the pier. Finally, hike half an hour up the 820 steps of Moon Hill to view the karst landscape before returning to your hotel.

This evening is free to explore or attend the optional Impression of Liusanjie Show, a nighttime laser light performance over the water created by Zhang Yimou.

Hiking length: 0.5 hours
Hike Distance: 820 steps
Biking distance: 12 to 18 miles / 20 to 30 kilometers
Terrain: Flat, sometimes narrow trails of moderate difficulty

Transfer from Yangshuo to the railway station for a bullet train ride to Guangzhou, approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, meet your guide and head directly to the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall to examine the intricate wood and brick carvings of this Qing Dynasty academic temple. Continue to the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall to learn about the roots of China’s 20th-century revolution.

Ascend the Canton Tower (Guangzhou Tower) to view the sprawling cityscape from the observation deck. Conclude the day by boarding a boat for a one-hour night cruise on the Pearl River to see the city lights reflected on the water. Stay overnight in Guangzhou.

Today, drive approximately two hours west to Kaiping to explore the UNESCO-listed Diaolou clusters. Walk among the unique multi-story watchtowers in Zili Village, built by returning overseas Chinese in a blend of Western and Eastern architectural styles to defend against bandits.

Stroll through the private gardens of Liyuan and visit the riverside arcades of Chikan Ancient Town. If time permits, wander the bamboo paths of Majianglong Village to see towers hidden within the forest. Return to Guangzhou in the evening.

Take a one-hour high-speed train this morning to West Kowloon, Hong Kong. In the afternoon, ride the Peak Tram up the steep slope to Victoria Peak. Step out onto the Sky Terrace for a 360-degree view of the skyscrapers and Victoria Harbor below.

Descend to the south side of Hong Kong Island to walk the sands of Repulse Bay. Continue to Aberdeen Harbor to observe the fishing boats and houseboats that recall the city's origins as a fishing port. Return to your hotel in Hong Kong in the evening.

After breakfast, drive over the Tsing Ma Bridge, the world's seventh-longest suspension bridge at 1.4 miles / 2.2 kilometers, to visit Lantau Island. Explore Po Lin Monastery to see its three bronze Buddha statues and collection of Buddhist scriptures. Visit the Tian Tan Bronze Buddha, also known as the Giant Buddha, which stands as one of the five largest statues in China. This landmark symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature and serves as a major center of Buddhism in Hong Kong.

Finally, travel to the western coast to explore Tai O, a traditional fishing village where homes are built on stilts over the tidal flats. Walk the narrow markets filled with dried seafood and observe a way of life that contrasts sharply with the city center. Return to the hotel to rest, or head out to enjoy the city on your own for your final evening.

Arrange a taxi from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home.