China’s Icons & the Avatar Mountains

Arrive at your departure airport, ready to board your flight* to Beijing. Night on board.*If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.), you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Arrive at Beijing Airport and transfer to your hotel.* As the capital of China, Beijing is undoubtedly one of the world’s most historic and culturally rich 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. This morning, you’ll head to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties once worshipped the Gods of Heaven. If possible, your guide will take you to a part of the park where locals practise morning activities like tai chi or traditional dances.Afterwards, visit the Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre to learn how herbal treatments and ancient practices have helped people for thousands of years.To complete your day, you can add an optional Hutong visit* and evening show.** Overnight stay in Beijing.*Optional Tour of Hutong District & Lama Temple: Explore the traditional Shichahai Hutong district by rickshaw, passing traditional courtyard homes and views of the Bell and Drum Towers. Visit a Siheyuan house to meet locals and try Chinese paper-cutting. Then explore the Lama Temple, China’s largest and best-preserved Tibetan Buddhist monastery.**Optional Golden Mask Dynasty Show: Enjoy an incredible Chinese stage production telling the story of a masked queen who creates a peaceful and prosperous dynasty.Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’re free to explore at your own pace. We recommend joining our optional full-day Beijing tour* for a closer look at the city. Overnight stay in Beijing.*Optional Full-Day Tour of Beijing: Start at Tiananmen Square and continue to the Forbidden City, an impressive palace complex that was once home to the emperor. Visit the Summer Palace, where the imperial family escaped the heat. And finish with a delicious dinner featuring traditional Peking duck!The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays, so the order of the itinerary may be changed to accommodate this closure.Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll visit a Jade Factory to learn about the importance and culture of this stone in China. Afterwards, head to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall. This part of the wall began construction in the 7th century to protect the Chinese empire from invaders and is still a must-see today.Later, transfer to the train station to catch a bullet train to Xi’an.* When you arrive, you’ll transfer to the hotel for check-in. Overnight stay in Xi’an.*The bullet train from Beijing to Xi’an takes about 4–5 hours. Your guide will accompany you to the platform in Beijing, and another guide will meet you at Xi’an station. There is no guide on the train, and Wi-Fi is not available onboard.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll explore one of the world’s most important archaeological finds: the Terracotta Warriors, along with their troops, horses, and chariots arranged in battle formation. This is a great chance to uncover the secrets of this army with your guide: How were the warriors made? How are they preserved? What were their original colours?After the visit, stop by a terracotta workshop to learn about the traditional techniques used in their creation.Finally, visit the Muslim Quarter, where you’ll have some free time for shopping or tasting local dishes. The day ends with a transfer to the airport for your flight to Zhangjiajie.* Once you arrive, transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie.*There are no direct flights from Xi’an to Zhangjiajie from 15 October to 31 March. During this period, you will fly from Xi’an to Changsha, followed by a bus transfer to Zhangjiajie.We recommend adding the following optional tour deal to make the most of your stay in Zhangjiajie.Zhangjiajie Excursions Multipack: Discover the natural wonders of Zhangjiajie with this pack of 3 activities. By reserving this package deal, you’ll save money compared to booking each activity separately! Start with a walk across the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and the Grand Canyon, continue with a full tour of Zhangjiajie National Park, and top it all off with the Tianmen Mountain Tour.Please note that if you reserve the package at checkout, it is unnecessary to re-select the activities individually.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll start by visiting Baofeng Lake, located at the top of Baofeng Mountain. Take a boat trip and admire its crystal-clear waters and the surrounding peaks. These sandstone mountains are tall, narrow, and steep, covered in vegetation, and seem to almost rise out of the mist. It’s no surprise that the unique landscape inspired the floating mountains of Pandora in James Cameron’s 2009 film Avatar.Next, visit a 75-meter waterfall and see giant salamanders. We recommend joining our optional afternoon tour to the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and the Grand Canyon.* Overnight stay in Zhangjiajie.*Optional Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon Tour: Visit the world’s highest and longest glass bridge, holding 10 world records. Walking across the bridge, you’ll feel like you’re floating among white clouds and reaching for the sky. Then, take the elevator down and explore the canyon on foot, following a sparkling stream surrounded by lush greenery and dramatic cliffs. The adventure finishes with a boat ride out of the canyon.

Breakfast at the hotel. The day is yours to explore at your own pace. We recommend joining our optional tour of Zhangjiajie National Park.* Overnight stay in Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie.*Optional Zhangjiajie National Park Tour: This was China’s first national forest park, covering 480,000 square metres. You’ll ride the famous Bailong Elevator and visit stunning sights like Yuanjiajie, the First Heaven’s Bridge, Avatar’s Hallelujah Mountain, the Lost Souls Platform (Mihun Tai), Tianzi Mountain, Yubi Feng, Helong Park, and the Fairies Spreading Flowers. You’ll come down the mountain on a scenic cable car ride (the route may be reversed depending on the season).

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you have a free day to relax or explore at your own pace. We recommend joining our optional Tianmen Mountain tour.* In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Shanghai.*Optional Tianmen Mountain Tour: Named after the natural karst cave Tianmen, you will take the cable car to go up. You’ll visit Tianmen Cave, the 99 Bends, the Glass Skywalk, the Cliff-Hanging Walkway, and Yunmeng Fairy Peak, and return by shuttle bus.Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy a walking tour along Nanjing Street and the Bund to take in Shanghai’s modern views. Then visit a Silk Factory to see how these beautiful fabrics are made. Next, head to the Old City Bazaars near Yuyuan Garden, where you’ll find plenty of interesting souvenirs and spots serving typical Shanghai dishes.We recommend joining our optional afternoon Shanghai city tour.* In the evening, you could also enjoy a fantastic acrobatic show.** Overnight stay in Shanghai.*Optional Visit to Shanghai Museum and Pudong: This includes a visit to the Shanghai Museum, famous for its extensive cultural collection. Afterwards, explore the Pudong area with included entry to Jinmao Tower or Shanghai Tower.**Optional Chinese Acrobatic Show: Experience one of the world’s oldest performing arts and immerse yourself in a night of culture and entertainment.Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day exploring at your own pace. We recommend joining our optional visit to the Gardens of Suzhou* and a night cruise on the Huangpu River.** Overnight stay in Shanghai.*Optional Suzhou day tour: Discover the timeless charm of Suzhou, known as the “Venice of the East.” Visit the elegant Lingering Garden, a masterpiece of classical Chinese landscaping, then wander at your own pace through the lively and historic Shantang Street. Enjoy a scenic canal boat ride surrounded by traditional architecture and local life before continuing to the iconic Tiger Hill, one of Suzhou’s most celebrated landmarks, with the possibility of arriving by boat for a truly authentic experience.**Optional Huangpu River Night Cruise: Take in the city skyline from the comfort of a river cruise and enjoy a night with spectacular views of Shanghai.Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Breakfast at the hotel.* It’s time to wrap up this extraordinary adventure. At the appointed time, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Canada. Arrival at your home city marks the end of the trip.***Depending on your flight departure time, you might not be able to enjoy the included breakfast.**Depending on your chosen flight, arrival in Canada may be the following day.Please note: Standard hotel check-out time is noon. If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, you can leave your luggage at reception and enjoy some free time before departure.