Avatar mountains and imperial cities

Arrive in Beijing, China's capital, where imperial palaces live alongside modern skyscrapers. From the airport, transfer to your hotel* and, if you have time, set out and explore one of the world's most fascinating cities.

Overnight stay in Beijing.

*Standard hotel check-in is from 2:00 p.m. If you arrive earlier, you can leave your luggage at reception and enjoy some free time to explore the city. You’ll have the option to add early check-in at the next step of the booking process. To guarantee availability, we recommend adding any extras when booking, as they are subject to availability. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your day with a visit to the Juyongguan Great Wall. One of the best-preserved sections of this iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, it winds through lush mountains and offers both short and long walking routes. 

Continue to the Jade Factory and learn the history of Chinese jade, first mined and carved over 7,000 years ago. Discover how this precious stone became a lasting symbol of spirituality, wealth, and status. 

End your afternoon at Beijing’s magnificent Summer Palace. Once the imperial family's summer retreat, it is a vast complex of pavilions, lakes, and landscaped paths that offers a fascinating glimpse into China's imperial past.

Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational, or political events. We do not recommend booking third-party tours, as changes to the itinerary may incur cancellation fees.

Overnight stay in Beijing.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Enjoy a free day in Beijing. Spend the day exploring the city’s traditional neighbourhoods. Sample lamb hot pot or zha jiang noodles in a rich soybean paste, or venturing beyond Beijing’s famous landmarks at your own pace. To discover the city’s imperial heart, we recommend joining our optional Emperor’s tour.*

Overnight stay in Beijing. 

*Optional Emperor’s tour: Visit Tiananmen Square. The square is one of the world's largest public squares and the ceremonial gateway to the  Forbidden City, the largest royal palace complex in the world. Later, visit the Temple of Heaven, a stunning Confucian style monument where emperors once prayed for prosperity and abundant harvests. End the day with an authentic Beijing duck dinner. Discover the traditions behind one of the world’s most celebrated dishes and learn the proper way to eat this local specialty. 

Please note: The Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven are closed on Mondays. If your visit falls on a Monday, these visits will be rescheduled to another day on your itinerary.

Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational, or political events. We recommend avoiding third-party tours, as itinerary changes may incur cancellation fees.

Breakfast at the hotel. After a hotel pick-up, visit a Chinese medicine centre and discover one of the world's oldest healing practices. Then, swap ancient traditions for modern innovation as you board a high-speed train to Xi'an, where your local guide will meet you on arrival. 

The high-speed train to Xi'an takes approximately 4–5 hours. Your guide will accompany you to the platform in Beijing. Another guide will meet you on arrival in Xi'an. Please note that there is no guide or Wi-Fi available onboard.

To see another side of the capital, we recommend our optional Shichahai Hutongs and Lama Temple excursion.* 

Overnight stay in Xi’an. 

*Optional Shichahai Hutongs and Lama Temple excursion: Ride through Beijing’s historic hutongs by rickshaw. Admire the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower before visiting a traditional Siheyuan courtyard house to learn about Chinese paper cutting. End your excursion at the Lama Temple, one of Beijing's largest and most perfectly preserved Buddhist monasteries.  

Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational, or political events. We recommend avoiding third-party tours, as itinerary changes may incur cancellation fees.

Breakfast at the hotel. Discover one of the world's great archaeological wonders: the Terracotta Warriors. Admire thousands of life-sized soldiers, horses, and chariots frozen in battle formation for over 2,000 years. Listen as your expert guide reveals the story of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and the army he built to join him in the afterlife. 

From here, learn how the warriors were crafted, their original colours, and the story of their rediscovery at a terracotta workshop. Later, return to Xi’an and explore the Muslim Quarter, famous for its food, culture, and the Great Mosque. 

To experience more of Xi'an's cultural heritage, we recommend our Tang Dynasty music and dance show, accompanied by a traditional dumpling banquet.*

Overnight stay in Xi’an. 

*Optional Tang Dynasty spectacular and dumpling buffet: Enjoy the music and dancing of China’s golden age with this Tang Dynasty show. A unique way to understand the history of ancient Xi’an, the show includes a delicious dumpling banquet. 

Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational, or political events. We recommend avoiding third-party tours, as itinerary changes may incur cancellation fees.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing, one of China's most recognisable cities. Here skyscrapers tower above the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Nicknamed Mountain City, on arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel before setting out to explore. 

In the afternoon, visit  Ciqikou Ancient Town, Chongqing’s historic riverside district whose roots trace back to the Ming dynasty. From here, continue to Liziba Railway Station and watch as the city’s monorail passes through a building. End the day at Hongyadong, a beautiful market complex on stilts known for its delicious mala and dazzling illuminations. 

For a different perspective on Chongqing, we recommend joining our optional evening cruise along the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.*

*Optional Yangtze and Jialing rivers night cruise: Experience Chongqing from the water. Here the Yangtze and Jialing rivers merge, a point nicknamed the Yuan Yang Hotpot. Admire the city’s spectacular lights after dark and take in its illuminated skyline from the best possible viewpoint. 

Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational, or political events. We recommend avoiding third-party tours, as itinerary changes may incur cancellation fees.

Overnight stay in Chongqing.

Breakfast at the hotel. Board a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie in China’s Hunan province. Known for its sandstone pillars and forests, Zhangjiajie is one of China’s most extraordinary natural destinations. On arrival, transfer to your hotel in Wulingyuan, the gateway to the national forest park. 

To fully appreciate the natural beauty, we recommend our optional excursion to the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon*.

Overnight stay in Wulingyuan.

*Optional Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon tour: Walk the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, suspended across a sweeping valley with views of the cliffs and forests. From here, descend by elevator to explore the canyon on a riverside walk before ending your adventure with a scenic boat ride.

Experience the best of Zhangjiajie with this package of three excursions. Cross the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, and journey to the summit of Tianmen Mountain for caves, walkways, and mountain scenery. Enjoy savings when you book all three excursions together.  

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the day at Baofeng Lake, a peaceful mountain lake surrounded by forests and sandstone peaks. Cruise the crystal-clear waters before arriving at a 75-metre waterfall, a stunning habitat for giant salamanders. 

To experience more of Zhangjiajie, we recommend our optional excursion to Tianmen Mountain.*

Return by shuttle bus and overnight stay in Wulingyuan.

*Optional Tianmen Mountain tour: Travel by cable car to discover one of China’s most striking natural monuments, home to the Glass Skywalk, Cliff-Hanging Walkway, Yunmeng Fairy Peak and the remarkable Tianmen Cave. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a free day in Zhangjiajie. Take time to relax and explore at your own pace. If you'd like to discover more of the region's extraordinary landscapes, we recommend joining our optional excursion to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.*

Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. A local guide will meet you on arrival before your hotel transfer. 

Overnight stay in Shanghai.

*Optional Zhangjiajie National Forest Park tour: Explore China’s first national forest park and its famous sandstone pillars, the inspiration for Avatar’s floating mountains. Ride the Bailong Elevator, admire views from Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain, and descend by cable car through one of China’s most spectacular natural landscapes. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Discover Shanghai on foot with a walking tour. Begin by strolling Nanjing Road and the Bund, Shanghai’s historic waterfront. Continue to a traditional silk factory and discover the craftsmanship behind one of China's most celebrated exports. 

Later, explore the Old City Bazaars near Yu Garden. Here, shops and restaurants line narrow streets selling souvenirs and serving classic Shanghainese cuisine. To experience more of the city's cultural scene, we recommend our optional Chinese Acrobatic Show.*

Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We recommend avoiding third-party tours, as itinerary changes may incur cancellation fees. 

Overnight stay in Shanghai.

*Optional Chinese Acrobatic Show: Immerse yourself in an evening of Chinese acrobatics. Be transported through time as skilled performers bring China’s acrobatic heritage to life with theatre and flair.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Enjoy a free day in Shanghai. Spend the day relaxing or discovering some of Shanghai’s alternative sights, like the Oriental Pearl Tower or the French Concession. 

To venture beyond the city, we recommend joining our optional excursion to Suzhou.* You can also end the day with our optional  Huangpu Night River Cruise, where you can watch the city’s illuminated skyline from the water.**

Overnight stay in Shanghai.

*Optional Suzhou day tour: Known as the "Venice of the East", here you’ll explore the elegant Lingering Garden, stroll historic Shantang Street, and enjoy a scenic boat ride before visiting Tiger Hill, renowned for its pagoda and landscaped gardens.

**Optional Huangpu River Night Cruise: Cruise the Huangpu River and admire the lights of Shanghai from the water. 

Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational, or political events. We recommend avoiding third-party tours, as itinerary changes may incur cancellation fees.

Breakfast at the hotel.* Enjoy your final morning in Shanghai. At the appointed time, transfer to the airport for your return flight. Your journey comes to an end on arrival home. **

*Depending on your flight departure time, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast.

**Depending on your chosen itinerary, you may arrive home later the same day or the following day.

Please note: Standard hotel check-out is at 12:00 p.m. If your flight departs in the afternoon or evening, you can leave your luggage at reception and enjoy some leisure time before your transfer.