12-Day China Itinerary: Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie & Shanghai
Moderate12 Days / 11 Nights

12-Day China Itinerary: Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie & Shanghai

History and nature combined — Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars plus Beijing and Xi'an

BeijingXi'anZhangjiajieShanghai

Overview

For travelers who want it all. Walk among the towering sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar's floating mountains, then explore the ancient capitals of Beijing and Xi'an. This 12-day journey combines China's most spectacular natural scenery with its deepest history.

At a Glance

Duration12 days / 11 nights
Group TypePrivate (1-10 travelers)
Difficulty LevelModerate
Best SeasonApril-November
Cities VisitedBeijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Shanghai
RegionsNorth China, Central China, South Central China, East China

Top Sights & Experiences

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Thousands of sandstone pillars rising from subtropical forest — the real-world inspiration for Avatar's floating mountains.

Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge

430 meters long, 300 meters high — the world's longest and highest glass-bottom bridge, suspended between two peaks.

Explore Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge
Tianmen Mountain & Heaven's Gate

Take the world's longest cable car (7.5 km) to a natural rock arch — Heaven's Gate — then climb 999 steps to the sky.

Explore Tianmen Mountain & Heaven's Gate
Great Wall (Mutianyu)

Walk atop China's most iconic structure at its best-preserved, least-crowded section — with cable car up and toboggan slide down.

Explore Great Wall (Mutianyu)
Terracotta Warriors

8,000 life-sized warriors, each with a unique face, buried for 2,200 years to guard China's first emperor in the afterlife.

Explore Terracotta Warriors
The Bund

Shanghai's iconic waterfront — colonial-era buildings facing the futuristic Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.

Explore The Bund

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1Meals: Dinner

Arrive in Beijing

Airport pickup. Welcome dinner: Peking Duck.

Overnight: Beijing 4-star hotel

Day 2Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Hutong tour.

Overnight: Beijing 4-star hotel

Day 3Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Great Wall & Summer Palace

Mutianyu Great Wall. Afternoon: Summer Palace.

Overnight: Beijing 4-star hotel

Day 4Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

High-Speed Train to Xi'an

Morning train to Xi'an. Afternoon: Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque.

Overnight: Xi'an 4-star hotel

Day 5Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Terracotta Warriors & City Wall

Full day: Terracotta Army, then cycle the Ancient City Wall.

Overnight: Xi'an 4-star hotel

Day 6Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Fly to Zhangjiajie

Morning flight to Zhangjiajie. Afternoon: Tianmen Mountain — cable car, Glass Walkway, Heaven's Gate (999 steps).

Overnight: Zhangjiajie hotel

Day 7Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Full day in the park: Bailong Elevator (world's tallest), Yuanjiajie (Avatar Hallelujah Mountain), and First Bridge Under Heaven.

Overnight: Zhangjiajie hotel

Day 8Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Zhangjiajie — Golden Whip Stream & Tianzi Mountain

Hike the Golden Whip Stream. Afternoon: Tianzi Mountain for panoramic views of the sandstone forest.

Overnight: Zhangjiajie hotel

Day 9Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Glass Bridge & Baofeng Lake

Walk the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge (430m long, 300m high). Afternoon: Baofeng Lake boat ride.

Overnight: Zhangjiajie hotel

Day 10Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Fly to Shanghai

Morning flight to Shanghai. Afternoon arrival. Evening: Bund waterfront walk.

Overnight: Shanghai 4-star hotel

Day 11Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Shanghai Full Day

Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, French Concession walk. Evening: Huangpu River cruise.

Overnight: Shanghai 4-star hotel

Day 12Meals: Breakfast

Departure from Shanghai

Free morning. Transfer to airport for departure.

What's Included & Excluded

Included

  • 11 nights 4-star hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Private English-speaking guide in each city
  • Private driver and air-conditioned vehicle
  • All entrance tickets to listed attractions
  • Domestic flights and high-speed train tickets
  • Zhangjiajie park entrance and cable cars
  • Airport/train station transfers
  • 24/7 English-speaking support line

Not Included

  • International flights
  • China tourist visa (L visa) fee
  • Travel insurance
  • Lunches and dinners not specified
  • Personal expenses and gratuities
#adventure#nature#history#photography

Learn More About These Destinations

Reference Price

$2799/ person

Based on double occupancy

Single supplement: +$720

Duration12 days / 11 nights
Group TypePrivate (1-10 travelers)
DifficultyModerate
Best SeasonApril-November
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Licensed inbound tour operator (L-GD-103241)
English-speaking local guides
24/7 on-trip support

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