Gems of China

TravelExperienceAsiaChina
Written By Karen Mcmahon

Great Wall of China

China is a world of breathtaking contrasts. It’s a place where ancient imperial palaces meet futuristic skylines, and mist-wrapped mountain peaks rise high above quiet river gorges. If you are looking for an unforgettable adventure filled with iconic sights and rich cultural discoveries, this incredible destination delivers at every turn.

This Gems of China tour by Wendy Wu Tours takes you straight to the heart of it all. You will walk along the sweeping stone ridges of the Great Wall, stand before the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, and drift through the towering Three Gorges on a Yangtze River cruise. From watching giant pandas in Chengdu to riding the soaring Bailong Glass Elevator through the otherworldly landscape of Zhangjiajie, every day brings a fresh bucket-list highlight. With return flights, accommodation with meals, and expert guides completely taken care of, all that is left for you to do is enjoy the journey.

Step into a world of incredible history and beauty and discover the shining gems that make China truly extraordinary.

17 Days Fully Inclusive Classic Tour from Beijing to Shanghai

What Your Journey Looks Like

  • The Great Wall Walk along the sweeping stone ridges of this legendary fortress—one of the modern wonders of the world and take in endless mountain views.

  • Zhangjiajie National Park Discover the striking beauty of otherworldly sandstone pillars, deep valleys, and dramatic, mist-shrouded landscapes.

  • Giant Pandas Come face-to-face with these majestic, beloved creatures in their natural, bamboo-filled habitat at Chengdu’s famous Panda Reserve

  • Traditions of the Tea Horse Road At the heart of a huge tea-producing region and once a stop on the Tea Horse Road, drinking tea is an essential element of life in Chengdu. Visit a traditional tea house to experience the history, customs and taste the perfect brew.

Your Tour Itinerary

  • Arrive in China's historic capital and gather for a welcome dinner.

    Touch down at Beijing Daxing or Beijing Capital Airport, meet your National Escort/Local Guide, and transfer roughly one hour to your hotel. Settle into the vibrant imperial capital before joining your group for an informal welcome dinner on Day 2.

    • Airport Reception and Hotel Transfer

    • Orientation and Group Welcome Dinner

    Early check-in is not included. Additional nights before and after your tour can be arranged. Please contact our Reservations team to book.

    An informal Welcome Dinner will be held on Day 2. Late arrivals will receive a box dinner.

  • Walk through history from Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden City.

    Explore the heart of ancient imperial power with a walk through Tiananmen Square into the sprawling 180-acre Forbidden City. Take a relaxed walk through traditional, narrow hutong alleyways and visit a local family in their courtyard home. Cap off the day admiring the Ming architecture of the Temple of Heaven before sitting down to a classic Peking duck feast.

    • Guided Walk Across Tiananmen Square and Through the Forbidden City

    • Culture Highlight Local Family Visit in Beijing's Historic Hutongs

    • Peaceful Exploration of the Temple of Heaven Grounds

    • Traditional Peking Duck Dinner

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Please note The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays. If this day of touring falls on a Monday, your touring in Beijing will be switched round so that the Forbidden City is visited on an alternative day. In an effort to preserve the Forbidden City, the number of entry tickets has been significantly reduced. Whilst every effort will be made to get the tickets, should this not be possible, then you will instead visit the Forbidden City from the outside and visit the nearby Prince Kung’s Palace Museum.

  • Conquer the ancient ramparts of Juyongguan Pass and wander imperial retreat gardens.

    Beat the crowds with an early morning drive northwest to the dramatic Juyongguan Pass section of the Great Wall. After an introduction to its 700-year Ming Dynasty history, enjoy free time to hike and take in the mountainous scenery at your own pace. Afterwards, visit a traditional Jade Factory, followed by a leisurely afternoon strolling the lakeside gardens, bridges, and temples of the Summer Palace.

    • Hike the Ancient Juyongguan Pass on the Great Wall of China

    • Artisan Demonstration at a Local Jade Factory

    • Stroll Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill at the Imperial Summer Palace

    • Optional Experience: Evening Beijing Acrobat Show at an additional cost (time permitting, payable locally)

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Speed south on a high-speed train, explore vibrant markets, and enjoy a Tang Dynasty show.

    Board a modern bullet train for a 5-hour journey to Xi'an, the historic eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Upon arrival, wander the bustling stalls and street-food havens of the Muslim Quarter. In the evening, feast on traditional Shui Jiao dumplings accompanied by a spectacular Tang Dynasty music and dance performance.

    • High-Speed Bullet Train Journey from Beijing to Xi'an

    • Street Food and Market Walk Through Xi'an's Lively Muslim Quarter

    • Culture Highlight Tang Dynasty Music & Dance Show with Dumpling Banquet

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Please note you will need to carry your own luggage on and off the train.

  • Stand face-to-face with an ancient army and cycle atop 14th-century fortifications.

    Drive out to the world-famous Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses to explore the three active archaeological dig pits housing over 7,000 life-sized figures. Learn how these soldiers are restored at an art ceramics workshop before returning to Xi'an to walk or ride a bike along the ancient Ming Dynasty City Walls. Finish the afternoon with a refreshing local craft beer tasting.

    • Guided Exploration of the UNESCO-Listed Terracotta Warriors

    • Replicating Antiquity Tour at a Ceramics & Lacquer Workshop

    • Panoramic Walk or Bike Ride Along Xi'an's Ancient City Walls

    • Local Craft Beer Tasting Session. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available.

    • Optional Experience: Tang Ever-Bright City Illuminated Night Tour at an additional cost (time permitting, payable locally)

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Journey into Sichuan Province and experience local life at Matchmaker's Corner.

    Board a 3.5-hour bullet train south into Sichuan Province, arriving in the relaxed western hub of Chengdu. Head to People's Park for a glance at daily local culture, watching residents practice Tai Chi, dance, and browse the unique Matchmaker's Corner where parents seek partners for their children.

    • Bullet Train Ride to Chengdu

    • Cultural Stroll Through Chengdu's Bustling People's Park

    • Unique Glance at Local Tradition at Matchmaker's Corner

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Please note you will need to carry your own luggage on and off the train.

  • Meet China's iconic bears and set sail along the mighty Yangtze River.

    Spend your morning at the Chengdu Panda Conservation Centre, observing giant pandas and red pandas playing in habitats designed to mimic Sichuan's bamboo forests. In the afternoon, travel to Chongqing to board your luxury river cruise ship, setting off on a 3-night voyage down the Yangtze River.

    • Morning Visit to the Chengdu Giant Panda Conservation Centre

    • Transfer to Chongqing Port and Embarkation on Yangtze Cruise

    • Onboard Captain's Welcome and Evening River Navigation

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Note Your cruise includes one daily shore excursion plus onboard entertainment, with optional extra excursions available to purchase onboard. If you choose to go ashore independently outside scheduled tours, port fees apply and disembarkation is subject to local conditions and security. Please note that stepping on and off the vessel can involve several stairs, especially at low tide.

    Contact your Wanderlust Travel Expert if you need any mobility assistance or further advice.

  • Discover cliffside calligraphic inscriptions and elegant riverside pavilions.

    Relax on board as your ship glides down the Yangtze River. Disembark for a shore excursion to Mount Shuanggui, a national forest park famed for its lush greenery, pavilions, and ancient cliff-carved calligraphy dating back to the Song Dynasty.

    • Scenic Daytime Navigation along the Yangtze River

    • Shore Excursion to Mount Shuanggui's Pavilions and Calligraphy Cliffs

    • Onboard Cultural Activities and Entertainment

    • Optional Shore Excursions: Fengdu "Ghost City" or Romance of the Three Kingdoms Show

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Sail through towering mountain passes and board wooden skiffs down Goddess Stream.

    Pass through the dramatic, forest-cloaked cliffs of Wu Gorge and the narrow, sheer rock walls of Qutang Gorge. Switch to smaller wooden vessels for an intimate excursion along the tranquil, emerald waters of Goddess Stream, winding deep between towering canyon walls.

    • Scenic Sailing Through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge

    • Boat Excursion Deep into the Canyon Views of Goddess Stream

    • Optional Shore Excursion: Historic White Emperor City

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Depending on local river conditions, you may visit Shennong Stream instead of Goddess Stream. Additional shore excursions may include White Emperor City.

  • Marvel at world-class engineering before traveling into Avatar's mountain realm.

    Disembark to tour the massive Three Gorges Dam, visiting the elevated viewing platform overlooking the ship locks and the engineering museum. Afterward, drive 4 hours overland into the subtropical mountain paradise of Zhangjiajie. In the evening, explore the architectural spectacle of Zhangjiajie 72 Qilou.

    • Panoramic Tour and Museum Visit at the Three Gorges Dam

    • Overland Scenic Drive to Zhangjiajie

    • Evening Exploration of the Illuminated 72 Qilou Complex

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Ascend via the world's highest glass elevator and cruise mountain lakes.

    Soar 326 meters up the cliff face in under two minutes aboard the glass Bailong Elevator into the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. Walk along Mihun Stage to admire the soaring sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar's "Hallelujah Mountains". Descend via Emperor Mountain cable car, explore Jinbian Stream, and take a peaceful sampan boat cruise across turquoise Lake Baofeng.

    • Ride the World's Highest Outdoor Glass Elevator (Bailong Elevator)

    • View the Iconic "Hallelujah Mountains" from Mihun Stage

    • Emperor Mountain Cable Car Ride & Ten-Mile Natural Gallery Walk

    • Scenic Sampan Cruise Across Lake Baofeng

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Sightseeing in Day 12 will involve around 4-5 hours of walking, including wooden and stone steps.

  • Explore underground rivers and step onto the world's highest glass-bottomed bridge.

    Descend into the subterranean world of Huanglong Cave to marvel at vast limestone chambers filled with stalagmites, stalactites, and underground waterfalls. Then, test your vertigo on an exhilarating walk across the 430-meter Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, suspended high above the canyon floor.

    • Tour the Underground Waterfalls and Formations of Huanglong Cave

    • Thrill Highlight Walk the 430m Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge

    • Optional Experience:Outdoor Fairy Fox Musical Drama Show at an additional cost (time and weather permitting, payable locally)

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Sightseeing on Day 13 will involve around 3-4 hours of walking.

  • Ride the world's longest cable car, brave the Walk of Faith, and fly to Shanghai.

    Take a 40-minute cable car ride up Tianmen Mountain to view "Heaven's Door"—a massive natural hole in the cliff face. Walk along the cliffside glass skywalk, known as the "Walk of Faith". Descend the mountain and transfer to the airport for your 2-hour flight to cosmopolitan Shanghai.

    • Ride the World's Longest Cable Car Journey up Tianmen Mountain

    • View Tianmen Cave ("Heaven's Door") and Walk the Glass Skywalk

    • Flight from Zhangjiajie to Shanghai

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Tranquil classical gardens, colonial waterfronts, and a Huangpu River cruise.

    Immerse yourself in Shanghai's contrasts, starting with the classical pavilions and koi ponds of Yu Garden and Old Town. Walk along the historic Bund to admire 1920s Art Deco waterfront architecture, then tour a traditional silk mill. Ascend Jin Mao Tower for panoramic skyline views before enjoying a nighttime Huangpu River cruise and traditional Shanghainese cuisine.

    • Guided Stroll Through Yu Garden and Shanghai Old Town

    • Waterfront Architectural Walk Along the Bund

    • Educational Silk Production Tour at a Local Silk Mill

    • Panoramic Views from Jin Mao Tower Observation Deck

    • Nighttime Huangpu River Skyline Cruise

    • Optional Experience: ERA Acrobatic Show at an additional cost (time permitting, payable locally)

    Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Enjoy final moments at leisure before heading home.

    Spend your remaining hours enjoying last-minute shopping or sightseeing along Shanghai's modern avenues. Transfer to Pudong or Hongqiao Airport for your overnight return flight home.

    • Leisure Time in Shanghai

    • Hotel Check-Out and Airport Transfer

    Included Meals Breakfast on Day 16

    Late check-out is not included. Additional nights’ before and after your tour can be arranged.

Zhangjiajie National Park

Tour Inclusions

  • Fully Inclusive Touring with Guides and entrance fees

  • Included Meals Breakfasts 14, Lunches 13, Dinners 14

  • International flights and current taxes

  • Accommodation 14 nights in 4-star accommodation

  • Cruise Yangtze River Cruise, Huangpu River Cruise

  • Max Group Size 28

  • Physical Rating 2 Walking, some steps and extended time on your feet.

Take advantage of the Earlybird Sale across all 2027 & 2028 tours from $9,830* per person, save $250

*From price is based on departure date 04 & 07 April 2027. Offer applies to new bookings only and is not transferable.

Terracotta Army, Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum

Terms & Conditions *Early bird offer is valid until 30 September 2026 across all 2027 and 2028 group tour departures for new bookings only. Offer is not combinable with any other promotion, except newsletter and loyalty discounts. Flight-inclusive departures booked more than 11 months in advance may be subject to additional supplements when airline fares are released unless a $2000 deposit is paid, then Wendy Wu Tours will guarantee the price at that time. A non-refundable deposit of $400 per person is required within five days of confirmation. A further flight payment of $1,600 per person may be required at the time of booking to issue airline tickets, depending on the airline. Final balance is due 75 days prior to departure. If airline tickets have already been issued, additional charges may apply for changes or cancellations. For cancellations within 75 days, standard cancellation fees apply-please refer to our full booking terms and conditions. A valid passport copy must be provided at the time of booking to ensure names match exactly. Name changes or corrections after the deposit is paid must be submitted in writing and will incur additional fees, including ticket reissue fees where applicable. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to correct any pricing errors or omissions at any time. Verbal quotes are for guidance only and must be confirmed in writing. 

Travel agent service & credit card fees are additional. All tours subject to availability at time of booking. For full terms & conditions, contact Wanderlust Travel Experts.

 

Interested in this experience? Mention this Deal Code: 1232 when speaking with your travel agent. Don't have an agent? Click here to connect with one of our experts.

Karen Mcmahon
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