10 Days Beijing & Shanghai Tour with Sichuan Discovery: Beijing-Chengdu-Leshan-Emei-Shanghai
Tour Highlights
⦁ Visit iconic landmarks and must-sees in each destination.
⦁ Taste Chinese Cuisine, and learn about Chinese cuisine culture.
⦁ Explore bustling markets and local community, sample local cuisine, and interact with the locals.
Itinerary Overview
D1-D4 Beijing Arrival&Sightseeing
Visit Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall, Hutongs.
D5-D8 Chengdu Sightseeing
Visit Chengdu Panda Base, Renmin Park, Kuanzhai Alley, Leshan Giant Buddha, Emei Mountain, Sichuan Cuisine Museum.
D9-D10 Shanghai Sightseeing&Departure
Visit Yu Garden, Former French Concession, Shanghai Tower, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Bund.
Detailed Itinerary
(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
Day 1 Beijing Arrival
Welcome to Beijing, the capital city of China! Upon arrival, our professional tour guide will pick you up at the arrival hall of Beijing Capital International Airport or Daxing Airport, and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and recover from the jet lag.
D2 Beijing (B,L)
After enjoying a buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on an exploration of Beijing's rich historical heritage with a brief visit to Tiananmen Square, which currently holds the distinction of being the largest city plaza in the world. The northern square is home to Tiananmen Gate, where Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Upon entering Tiananmen, you will be greeted by one of the world's five most significant palaces – Forbidden City (Palace Museum), an immense complex comprising over 9,000 rooms that once served as residences for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Traverse through various gateways to marvel at its splendid architecture adorned with yellow glazed tile roofs, white marble foundations, and exquisite colorful paintings.
For lunch, you will taste Chinese cuisine. Take the chance to learn how to use chopsticks, also known as "kuaizi" in Chinese. Using chopsticks is not only practical but also an important part of table manners and cultural tradition in Asian cultures.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use chopsticks:
1. Hold the First Chopstick: Place the first chopstick between your thumb and index finger, about one-third of the way up from the bottom. Rest it on the base of your ring finger.
2. Position the Second Chopstick: Hold the second chopstick like you would hold a pencil, using your index finger and resting it on the top joint of your middle finger.
3. Adjust the Grip: Move the top chopstick (the one between your index and middle fingers) down so that it's slightly crossed over the first chopstick, creating a V-shape at the top.
4. Pick Up Food: Gently squeeze the chopsticks together, applying even pressure, to grasp the food securely. The bottom chopstick should remain relatively stationary, acting as a base. The movement comes mainly from the upper chopstick sliding up and down against the lower one.
In the afternoon, drive to Summer Palace, China's largest and best-preserved imperial garden. Here you can leisurely stroll amidst ancient pavilions, mansions, temples, bridges, and corridors. Take a leisure stroll on the rippling Kunming Lake to enjoy the verdant mountain view of Longevity Hill. You will visit the Long Corridor, boasting a total length of 728 meters and housing 273 rooms. Renowned for its exquisite architectural design, meandering layout, and vibrant color paintings, it has long been hailed as an epitome of artistic brilliance.
Optional activity:
In the evening, you can watch a breathtaking acrobatic show at the Red Theater.
Day 3 Beijing (B,L)
After breakfast, you will visit the Temple of Heaven first. The Temple of Heaven is a complex of religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. It was the place where the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped heaven and prayed for good harvest.
Then you will make a stop at a renowned Chinese pharmacy - Tong Ren Tang which was designated to provide traditional Chinese medicine to the imperial family in 1723. Here you will discover the enchanting world of traditional Chinese medicine as you explore an array of time-honored remedies, medicinal herbs, and an assortment of traditional tools.
After the visit, drive about 70km to witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Wall. Visit Mutianyu which is one of the best preserved yet less crowded sections of the Great Wall. The Mutianyu Great Wall serves as a strategic link between the Juyongguan Great Wall to the west and Gubeikou to the east, effectively safeguarding Beijing throughout history. It has earned the moniker "Perilous Mountain and Mighty Pass". You will take a cable car up to the half way to enjoy some hiking. After that, descend Mutianyu Great Wall by cable car.
Then dive back to Beijing downtown, and make a stop at Beijing Olympic Village to view Bird’s Nest and Water Cube from the outside.
Optional experience: For dinner, you can taste the famous Peking Roasted Duck. Followed by the classic Chinese art performance of Beijing Opera at Liyuan Theater.
D4 Beijing & Flight to Chengdu (B,L)
In the morning,you will pay a visit to Beijing Hutongs. The Hutongs, which are narrow alleyways lined with traditional courtyard houses, not only serve as the veins of the city and thoroughfares for traffic but also hold great historical and cultural significance.As you wander through these ancient streets, you can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for bygone eras. Each Hutong tells its own unique story, bearing witness to the changes that have shaped Beijing over centuries. From dynastic shifts to modernization efforts, these alleys have seen it all. You will hop on a rickshaw to shuttle through the Hutong streets and alleys, and get knowledge of the lifestyle of old Beijing.
After the visit, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Chengdu(abt 3hrs). Welcome to Chengdu! The hometown of Giant panda. You will be greeted by your tour guide on arrival, and transferred to your hotel in downtown area.
D5 Chengdu(B,L)
Get up early today to pay a stirring visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is globally renowned for its conservation and breeding efforts, boasting a wealth of panda resources and a pristine ecological environment. Take a stroll in the base, you can closely observe pandas engaging in their daily activities such as eating, playing, and resting. Moreover, one cannot miss the chance to encounter adorable baby pandas in the Moon and Sun nursery houses. In addition to giant pandas, the park is also home to various other wildlife species including swans and red pandas. Along the designated route, you will traverse through bamboo forests and verdant spaces while enjoying intimate encounters with nature and giant pandas.
Right after the unforgettable time with giant pandas, you make a stop at Chengdu Lotus Pond Wholesale Market which is situated at the northern gateway of Chengdu City. It is a sprawling and highly diversified wholesale market, offering a wide range of products including clothing, accessories, bags, hats, socks, and more.
After that, transfer to Chengdu Renmin Park. Make a stop at Heming Teahouse which is an iconic venue that embodies the essence of Sichuanese tea culture. Here, you can relax in a traditional environment, savor local teas like jasmine or Longjing. Visit the famous “Matchmaking Corner”. The scene at the corner is typically filled with advertisements for potential spouses, where parents engage in exchanging information, each striving to find a suitable partner for their unmarried adult children who had surpassed the traditionally preferred age for marriage.
Next to Renmin Park, you will take a stroll at Kuanzhai Alley. Literally translated as "Wide and Narrow Alleys," this charming neighborhood comprises three parallel alleys — Kuan Street (Wide Alley), Zhai Alley (Narrow Alley), and Jing Alley (Well Alley) — that reflect the traditional architectural style and local lifestyle of old Chengdu. The area is also famous for its street food and snacks, allowing you to sample authentic Sichuan cuisine.
If energy permits, you can take a leisurely walk from Kuanzhai Alley to Paotongshu Street. Nestled alongside the Kuanzhai Alley, Paotongshu Street exudes a more serene and leisurely atmosphere, preserving a greater sense of old Chengdu's lifestyle.
Optional activity: In the evening, enjoy a wonderful performance of Sichuan Opera which includes folk opera, face changing, fire spitting, rolling lights, etc.
D6 Chengdu-Leshan(B,L)
After breakfast, drive about 2 hours to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Leshan Giant Buddha. The Leshan Giant Buddha was constructed in the first year of Kaiyuan during the Tang Dynasty (713 AD) with the purpose of mitigating river floods, ensuring safe passage for ships. After 90 years of arduous construction, it was finally completed in the 19th year of Zhenyuan (AD 803). The statue is remarkably significant, standing at a height of 71 meters with a head height of 14.7 meters, width of 10 meters, and an instep width of 8.5 meters - large enough to accommodate over 100 people seated around it.
Upon arrival at the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, you will proceed to the visitor center, and then walk down a narrow stone stairway to reach the foot of the Big Buddha and get close to this grand monument (note: This stairway is relatively narrow and steep and you may expect a long queue during busy hours). Following this tour,you will also embark on a 30-minute boat ride for an alternative perspective on viewing the Leshan Giant Buddha from the river.
After the visit, head to Emeishan City and stay overnight.
D7 Emei-Chengdu (B,L)
Today you will fully enjoy Mount Emei, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. First visit Baoguo Temple which located at the foot of Mount Emei to admire its architectural beauty and soak in the peaceful atmosphere. Then take eco-friendly bus from Baoguo Temple to Leidongping Station(2hrs), and walk 1.5km to Jieyin Pavilion for the cable car to the Golden Summit. Upon arriving at the Golden Summit (3077m) , prepare to be awe-struck by panoramic views of the mountain range, clouds, and possibly even a sea of clouds if the weather permits. Visit the massive Ten Thousand Buddha Statue and other temples in the area. After sightseeing here, descend by cable car and take Eco-Bus back to the tourist center.
Transfer back to Chengdu for rest (about 2.5-3hrs).
In the evening, you can enjoy a Chinese massage & spa to wash away the fatigue of the journey.
D8 Chengdu & Flight to Shanghai (B,L)
After breakfast, you will get escorted to Sichuan Cuisine Museum. Here you will not only get to know the history and development of Sichuan cuisine through various exhibits that showcase traditional cooking utensils, ingredients, and culinary techniques, but also engage in traditional techniques such as the "turning, sun-drying, and exposing" method used for making Pixian Douban(chili bean paste), and the process of making traditional soy sauce.
Take part in the cooking class to learn how to make authentic Sichuan dishes under the guidance of experienced chefs. There are two cooking menus for your choice. Menu A：Panda Steamed Dumplings, Kung Pao Chicken, Mapo Tofu. Menu B：Pumpkin steamed dumplings, Daqian Dry-braised Fish, Boiled Beef in Hot Chili Oil. Inform us your preference, and we will make arrangement accordingly. After that, enjoy delicious meals cooked by yourself for lunch, and be awarded with “Rookie Master Chef” certificate.
After the visit, transfer to the airport for the flight to Shanghai(abt 3hrs). You will be greeted by your tour guide on arrival, and transferred to your downtown hotel.
D9 Shanghai (B,L)
Start today with an exploration of Yu Garden - an iconic classical garden nestled within bustling Shanghai's core. Situated northeast of Huangpu District's Old Town area, you will see the stylish Chinese pavilion and authentic old architectures in Yu Garden. Surrounding the garden is a bustling marketplace filled with shops selling traditional Chinese crafts, souvenirs. Enjoy shopping time at Yuyuan Bazaar, and you can try snacks and local delicacies like xiao long bao.
In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour through Former French Concession to explore the city's unique history, architecture, and modern lifestyle. The city walk starts from Tianzifang, a place filled with artsy shops, studios, galleries, and cozy cafes. Here you can appreciate traditional Shanghai shikumen architecture. Continue north to Sinan Mansions, an upscale residential and commercial complex that exemplifies the elegance of the French Concession era.
Next highlight for today is Shanghai Tower. Stands in the heart of the Lujiazui Financial Zone, Shanghai Tower(632 meters) is the tallest building in China, and the third tallest in the world. You will take a high-speed elevator ride that swiftly takes you up to the observation deck(118F), reaching speeds of up to 46 miles per hour (73 km/h). Enjoy panoramic views of Shanghai from the observation deck, including the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, the Bund, and the sprawling cityscape stretching to the horizon.
To conclude your day filled with exploration and discovery, take a leisurely stroll down Nanjing Road to the Bund and enjoy the fascinating night view of Shanghai.
Optional activity: You can also take a relaxing Huangpu River cruise to enjoy the fascinating night view of Shanghai.
D10 Shanghai Departure(B)
Today comes to the end of your China tour. Your guide will escort you to the airport for your flight to next destination.
Tour ends
