Compare Family China & the Yangtze by Abercrombie & Kent vs China Natural Wonders Discovery by China Highlights

Day 1: Arrive Beijing, China

Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, China’s political and cultural hub. Transfer to your luxurious hotel.

Day 2: Beijing | The Great Wall & Famed Olympic Venues

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Beijing

Walk or take a cable car to the top of the Great Wall of China. Hop on a toboggan for an exciting ride back down. Later, view the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the “Bird’s Nest,” and the National Aquatics Center, dubbed the “Water Cube.” Gather for a cocktail and a welcome dinner at your hotel.

Day 3: Beijing | Tai Chi and Kung Fu

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Beijing

Enjoy a morning tai chi class at the Temple of Heaven. Ride Like a Local on a pedicab through a hutong filled with winding alleyways. After lunch, walk in the footsteps of emperors in the Forbidden City and wander Tiananmen Square. Tonight, take in a thrilling Kung Fu show.

Day 4: Beijing/Xian | Dumpling Demonstration

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel, Xian

Fly to Xian and enjoy lunch. Then, enter the Ancient Gate of Xian’s City Wall and cycle or stroll along its ramparts. Tonight, delight in a dumpling-making demonstration at a local restaurant.

Day 5: Xian/Chengdu | Terra Cotta Warriors

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel, Chengdu

Marvel at the legendary Terra Cotta Warriors, thousands of life-size ceramic soldiers “guarding” the tomb of China’s first emperor. Visit a pottery factory and make your own terra cotta soldier. Fly to Chengdu.

Day 6: Chengdu | A Visit with Giant Pandas

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel, Chengdu

Visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center to encounter China’s living national emblem playing in its natural habitat. Attend the Sichuan Opera for a mystifying facechanging performance.

Day 7: Chongqing | High-Speed Train & River Cruiser

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sanctuary 'Yangzi Explorer'

Enjoy your morning at leisure before hopping on a high-speed train to Chongqing. On arrival, board your river cruiser to begin a three-night voyage on the Yangtze River through the scenic Three Gorges.

Days 8-9: Cruising the Yangtze | Mandarin & Calligraphy

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sanctuary 'Yangzi Explorer'

Spend two adventurous days on the ship and exploring the shore. On board, young guests enjoy lessons in calligraphy and Mandarin, and have fun with crafts and games, in the company of an engaging A&K Young Explorers Guide.

Day 10: Yichang/Shanghai | Stunning Three Gorges Dam

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund

Visit the massive Three Gorges Dam Site before lunch on board. Disembark and fly to Shanghai, arriving in the evening.

Day 11: Shanghai | The Blend of Old & New

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund

Explore the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel by electric cart and visit the glass Skywalk of the World Financial Center for vistas of Shanghai. Stroll in Old Town and visit the Yu Garden. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner.

Day 12: Depart Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart for home.

DAY 1: Beijing Arrival

When your flight has landed, your tour guide will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall of the airport. He/she will greet you with a smile and a nameplate. You will be transferred to your hotel by a private van and driver.

Hotel options:
Penta Hotel Beijing (4-star)
Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town (5-star)

DAY 2: The Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City

Start your journey at the Temple of Heaven, which was the place where emperors prayed for a good harvest. Interact with the locals and join them to experience their healthy lifestyle. Lunch is served in a popular local restaurant with authentic local food.

Walk through Tian'anmen Square to explore the mysterious Forbidden City in the afternoon. While most tour groups only visit the six halls on the central axis, your private guide will take you to go deeper into the hidden halls for a fuller understanding of the history and to avoid the tour groups.

DAY 3: Hiking the Great Wall

Freshen up in the morning and get ready for a 5-kilometer hike along the most recommended hiking route: from Jinshanling to Simatai West.

This section has breathtaking views and offers stunning photo opportunities in different seasons. There are over 15 watchtowers in various styles and in good condition. As this section is half restored, you can see the unrepaired ancient watchtowers and broken sections as well as the restored section of the wall during the hike.

DAY 4: The Summer Palace and a High-Speed Train to Xi'an

Walk around the tranquil Summer Palace at a leisurely pace, and enjoy the 300-year-old royal garden. Take a pleasant boat ride on the lake and have a stroll in the long corridors to view the exquisite paintings on the ceilings.

Enjoy lunch and race towards Xi'an on a high-speed train, which is a good way to experience the technological development of China.

Hotel options:
Grand Noble Hotel Xi'an (4-star)
Wyndham Grand Xi'an South (5-star)

DAY 5: The Terracotta Army and a Traditional Cave Dwelling

Visit the Terracotta Army and admire the vividness of the warriors and listen to their stories spanning over 2,000 years.

Then discover a local craftsman's cave dwelling and learn how to make clay warriors with your own hands.

After lunch, return to the city area and visit the 600-year-old ancient city wall. Cycling along the wall provides a good view of the city. You may also walk or take a golf cart on it.

DAY 6: Xi'an City Highlights and a Flight to Zhangjiajie

Discover more ancient history at Shaanxi History Museum and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, then head to the Muslim Quarter and wander through the alleys to taste the local Muslim cuisine.

Transfer to the airport for your evening flight to Zhangjiajie.

Hotel options:
Pullman Zhangjiajie (5-star)

DAY 7: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in Wulingyuan Scenic Area, and Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie are the most classic sights.

Take the cable car up Tianzi Mountain and look through the glass walkway to see spiky sandstone peaks below your feet.

After a simple lunch on the mountain, visit Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, which was the inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar.

DAY 8: Tianmen Mountain and the Grand Canyon with a Glass Bridge

Take the world's longest cable car to the top of Tianmen Mountain. During the tour, you will enjoy the unique natural scenery of spiky peaks. Feel your heartbeat when you walk across the glass walkway and are then driven down the curvy mountain road known as the 99 Bends.

Continue to visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and walk on the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge. Walking along this glass bridge at 300 meters above ground level will be one of the coolest experiences of your tour.

DAY 9: Zhangjiajie to Changsha to Guilin

Bullet train from Zhangjiajie to Changsha Railway Station. Take a taxi to Changsha South Railway Station to take a bullet train. After 3½ hours, your tour guide in Guilin will be ready to meet you.

Hotel options:
Lijiang Waterfall Hotel (4-star)
Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin (5-star)

DAY 10: Guilin City Highlights and Daxu Old Town

Be amazed by Guilin's two landmarks in the city, Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill.

Appreciate the natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting. And then take a picture at Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin.

After lunch, travel back in time when visiting Daxu Old Town, where lots of craftsmen and businessmen used to live. Let's knock on the local people's doors and discover their lasting stories.

DAY 11: A Li River Cruise and Idyllic Yangshuo

Karst hills, graceful bamboo groves, and cormorants - the stunning view of the Li River is the essence of Guilin. While most tour groups only use a 3-star cruise, we will arrange a 4-star cruise (the highest level with better facilities and a buffet lunch) to ensure you have the best experience of the river's charm.

The cruise arrives in Yangshuo at noon. After you've checked in, you can enjoy your free time exploring the beautiful area near the hotel.

Hotel options:
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat (4-star)
Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel (5-star)

DAY 12: Biking and Bamboo Rafting Flight to Shanghai

Explore the beautiful countryside along the Yulong River.

Choose whichever type of transport you prefer, whether it's a private car, bicycle, or moped. This is a good opportunity to meet the local people and interact with them.

And then take a bamboo raft to go down the Yulong River. Enjoy a peaceful and memorable morning before flying to Shanghai.

Hotel options:
Sunrise On The Bund (4-star)
Les Suites Orient, Bund Shanghai (5-star)

DAY 13: Shanghai Highlights with Bund Discovery

Do more than just take one or two selfies on the Bund. Travel back in time to the golden age of the Bund in the 1920s during our In-Depth Bund Culture Discovery Tour.

Go into some of the old Bund buildings and listen to their stories.

Enjoy lunch and ascend the tallest building in China (the highest outside of Dubai) — Shanghai Tower. There, you will not only enjoy a panoramic view of Shanghai but will also see the development of China.

Half-Day Customized Icing-on-the-Cake Experience

After traveling in China for around 10 days, you might want to do something different at the end of your tour. Do you want to have some relaxation time? Do you have any unfulfilled trip wishes? In the magic city of Shanghai, your private guide will make your wishes come true!

Whether you want to relax, experience fashion, appreciate art, explore folk customs, or shop; from having fun in a fancy bar to exploring an art center, trying nail beauty, testing your popularity in the marriage market, or just buying some lovely gifts, we will make it happen. Just tell us what you’re interested in.

If you don't know what you want, just let your guide make the arrangements. You will not be disappointed!

DAY 14: Shanghai Departure

Your tour guide, driver, and van will pick you up from your hotel for your airport transfer and flight. Your guide will accompany and assist you as far as the security check and will then wave goodbye.