10-Day Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Shanghai Panda Tour
Discover the many historical wonders of China in its contemporary and ancient capitals. Visit gorgeous giant pandas in Chengdu and be inspired.
Be introduced to the best China has to offer over 10 incredible days as you travel the golden triangle between Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai, and then Chengdu as a bonus. Start your tour in Beijing, the auspicious capital of modern China, and walk the pathway of emperors and their courtiers, visiting local highlights, the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall, and traditional hutongs. Equally impressive are the contemporary nods to greatness in Tiananmen Square and the sporting venues constructed for the Beijing Olympics, the Bird Cage and the Ice Cube. Immerse yourself in the big city vibe that permeates every street corner of this city leading China into its latest evolution. Travel by bullet train at speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour as you make your way to exciting Xi’an, a city lined with gorgeous red lanterns and still alive with the energy that made it the starting point for Silk Road travelers many centuries ago. Marvel at the Terracotta Army, rub shoulders with locals in Muslim Quarter, and feast on a Shaanxi’s famous hotpot. Board a bullet train for the journey to Chengdu where the world’s cutest bears await. Discover how giant pandas live and are cared for by local keepers and you working as a volunteer panda keeper. From Chengdu, you’ll venture to Shanghai, notably described as the Pearl of the Orient. Enjoy the colonial old world feel of this fabulous city, while still appreciating its history as China’s financial and cultural capital. Visit the Yuyuan Garden, view the beautiful buildings lining the Bund that overlooks the river, and gain a glimpse into 1920s Shanghai glamor at Shikumen Museum in XinTiandi and the former French Concession. Including the choice of four and five star accommodation, wonderful local English speaking guides in every destination, daily breakfasts, and the option to include additional special experiences in all cities, you’ll find everything you need to make this your next beautiful travel memory.
Itinerary
On arrival into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), you will be met by your dedicated tour guide outside the baggage claim area. On the way to your pre-booked four or five star inner city hotel, your guide will point out the highlights and history of Beijing. Spend the rest of the day exploring this incredible city.
Meals included: None
After breakfast today explore Beijing with your guide who will collect you from the hotel. Visit the world’s largest city square, Tiananmen Square. Make your way across the road to the magnificent Forbidden City, a culturally historic landmark in China, which was the former residence of Chinese royalty and courtiers for five centuries. After the Forbidden City tour, exploration continues with a visit to the Summer Palace. Appreciate the beautiful gardens and imagine the lifestyle of royalty and courtiers who enjoyed this summer resort during imperial times. A stopover at Beijing’s stadium and pool – the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube – built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics – provides a modern contrast to China’s ancient history. Return to the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Note: Your tour guide may adjust your itinerary due to closure of the Forbidden City each Monday.
In the morning, commence the day’s adventure with exploration of the Mutianyu Great Wall, a less frequented part of China’s 1,400-year-old iconic landmark, located approximately 70 kilometres from Beijing. Take a pleasant and comfortable round-trip cable car transfer over the picturesque scenery, then walk the wall to take in the Ming dynasty guard towers and sensational views. On return to the city in the afternoon, exploration continues with a visit to the Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum. Stroll through the hutongs nearby and experience local life as you wander through quaint shops, enjoy a coffee, and gain an insider’s view of a real Beijing community.
Meals included: Breakfast
Start today with a visit to the remarkable Temple of Heaven, where emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties performed ceremonies and rituals to pray for good harvests and blessings for the country. Transfer to the Beijing West railway station and be checked in by your guide to travel by high-speed rail train to Xi’an. Roughly a five-hour trip, travelling at 300 kilometres per hour, you can relax and absorb the diverse landscape along the way. On arrival at the Xi’an North Station, your local tour guide will meet and escort you to your inner city four or five-star hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today’s tour highlight is the world-renowned Terracotta Army. Recognized as the largest underground military base in the world, take in this extraordinary archaeological discovery, which houses thousands of unique life-sized figures. Return to the city and visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of two iconic Buddhist pagodas in Xi’an. You may have a chance to explore the top of the pagoda and look out over Xi’an’s 1,400 years of history, before enjoying a contemplative walk through the temple and gardens. Continue on and take in the quiet of Xi’an’s Great Mosque, located in the middle of the city’s old block. Built mid seventh century, the Great Mosque is the oldest and largest Islamic mosque in China. Mix with locals and find food of every flavor in Muslim Quarter, which is bustling with authentic eateries and travel souvenirs. Today’s final destination is Xi’an’s famous Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square. Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening or book a dinner, show, or both for an evening of entertainment.
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast and check out from your hotel, the tour guide will take you to Xi’an’s ancient City Wall, currently the largest and best-preserved wall of its type in China. Enclosing China’s former capital city and almost 14 kilometers long, enjoy your free time by exploring on foot or bicycle. Following on from the morning’s activities, you’ll be driven to the railway station for the bullet train trip to Chengdu. Upon arrival in Chengdu, your local guide will meet and transfer you to the hotel, providing a brief introduction to China’s panda capital on the way.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, you will work as a panda volunteer when you visit the Dunjiangyan Panda Base. In your role, you will clean the indoor and outdoor enclosure, prepare food and feed pandas. Panda keepers will supervise your activities, with translation provided by your guide. A certificate will be provided as a memento from this very special day. At the conclusion of today’s excursion, you will be returned to your Chengdu Hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tips:
1. Panda Keeper Program has an age restriction from between 5 years to 80 years. For children under five years who are accompanied by an adult can take the standard panda tour in panda base, but due to restrictions they are not able to be a panda volunteer.
2. As a maximum of 30 keepers are allowed each day, it is advisable that you book the program at least two weeks before departure. You will appreciate that sometimes adjustments may be made to the program due to pandas’ health condition. Accurate information about the program will be provided to you by our travel as soon as we are advised.
3. Each volunteer panda keep applicant must provide a Physical Examination Record prior to commencement of the day’s activities.
4. Panda keepers are strongly advised to be guided by their supervisors and should approach the animals with extreme caution and only under supervision. Though pandas look gentle, they are animals and their behaviour can be unpredictable.
5. Panda keepers are not allowed to clean enclosures for panda mothers and babies but can help supervisors.
Check out of your hotel and be taken by your guide to Jinli Street. Lined with unique regional street food and artisans, you’ll find yourself immersed in typical local culture and have the opportunity to sample traditional food snacks and meet local craftsmen. The final stop for today allows you to enjoy some leisure time in Wangjiang Pavilion Park where you can amble among the rare bamboo groves and drink fragrant teas before driving to Chengdu airport for your flight to Shanghai. On arrival in Shanghai, be met by your guide and escorted to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy.
Meals included: Breakfast
Commence your tour of Shanghai with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, a massive museum housing over 140,000 artifacts, presenting the full history and culture of this cosmopolitan city. Enjoy a walk along The Bund, iconic and prestigious, one of the most well-preserved examples of old Shanghai glamour. Walk Nanjing Road, the busiest shopping precinct in China. Change tempo and visit Yuyuan Garden, where you can marvel at the artistically designed traditional Chinese gardens; then stroll around the nearby Chenghuangmiao bazaars. Make the most of your afternoon by wandering the quieter streets of Dongping Road or Sinan Road in the Former French Concession, where you will find the essence of classic Shanghai.
Meals included: Breakfast
Note: As the Shanghai Museum is closed to public on Mondays, a visit to the Shanghai History Museum is arranged as an alternative.
Your personal tour guide and driver will collect you at the hotel and drive you to the airport for your flight, either home or on to your next exciting destination.
For small group tour travelers, a transfer service from your hotel to Hongqiao or Pudong Airport can be arranged on request.
Meals included: Breakfast
Inclusions / Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Admission fees: to sightseeing spots and activities specified.
- Accommodation: hotels based on double/twin occupancy as specified.
- Meals: as specified in the itinerary.
- Tour guide: excellent private English-speaking guide.
- Transportation: high-speed train of Beijing/Xi’an and bullet train Xi’an/Chengdu (First class seat for Luxury tours; second class seat for Superior tours). Economy class domestic flight between Chengdu/Shanghai.
- Transfers: land transfer with drivers as specified.
- Travel Agency Liability Insurance during the tour.
- Government taxes and fees.
Exclusions
- International flights to/from China.
- China visa fees.
- Gratuities to guides and drivers and any expense of a personal nature.
- Our tour package does not include travel insurance. Please purchase travel insurance before your trip to protect for any unforeseen circumstances.
- Small group tour travelers – Airport transfer service from hotel to Hongqiao or Pudong Airport in Shanghai.
Important Information
Important information – PRIVATE TOUR
- This is a private tour for your group of family or friends. There will be no other travelers in the group apart from you.
- Smart casual dress and comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Prices based on twin occupancy.
- The prices shown are not valid during China’s Official Holidays (such as National Day and Chinese Spring Festival).
- The tour guide may adjust the itinerary due to the closure of the museums each Monday.
- Optional tours to Suzhou, Hangzhou or nearby Watertown, and other destinations are also available
- Any city not included in the existing tour package can be added to this tour and taken as an addition to this Private tour.
- Entering and exiting China from Hong Kong and Taipei are also available.
- Stays at entering and exiting cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei) can be extended.
Important information – SMALL GROUP TOUR
- This is a small group tour with a fixed itinerary and guaranteed departures.
You will travel with other people (maximum of 12). - Smart casual dress and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
- The tour guide may adjust the itinerary due to closure of the museums each Monday
- At the conclusion of the tour, a transfer from your hotel to Hongqiao or Pudong Airport in Shanghai is available upon request at a surcharge.
- Stays at entering and exiting cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei) can be extended.
- Prices based on twin occupancy.
- The prices shown are not valid during China’s Official Holidays (such as National Day and Chinese Spring Festival).
- The maximum number of passengers in a small group tour is 12 people.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Booking Information
After purchase, you will receive a receipt and a Purchase Confirmation email with a Passenger Information Form. The Passenger Information Form must be completed within 72 hours of the purchase.
Any special requests, preferences and optional extras MUST be clearly stated in your Passenger Information Form. Any change requested after submitting your Passenger Information Form cannot be guaranteed, is strictly subject to availability and will incur surcharges as outlined in the Schedule of Fees below.
On purchasing this tour product, you are bound by the General Terms and Conditions, in addition to the specific terms and conditions outlined in this Important Information.
Surcharges
Please note: online credit card payment and PayPal payments incur surcharges.
Tour Start Dates
Private and custom tours can be scheduled to commence on any day. Multi-day small group tours start on set dates as indicated in the booking calendar for the specific tour.
Cities for Commencement of Tours
Beijing is the city in which multi-day small group tours start. Multi-day tours with set itineraries booked as a private tour, commence in Beijing unless otherwise arranged with ChinaTours.com. Tours booked as custom tours can start in any destination listed on the ChinaTours.com website.
Flights
Full-service flights included, where applicable. For international flights: full-service flights included only if the tour includes travel to/from Hong Kong, Taiwan, North Korea, or as part of Indochina tour packages. Domestic flights included as part of a tour package are provided by select Chinese domestic airlines. Flight carriers will be specified in itinerary provided on the finalization of booking. Note: the maximum baggage allowance for domestic in China is 20 kilograms for economy class domestic flights, 30 kilograms for business class, and 40 kilograms for first class. Flight class upgrades are available on request at an additional charge.
High Speed Trains
First class seat for five star (Luxury) tour packages and second class seat for four star (Superior) tour packages.
High Speed Train Seat Upgrades
Seat upgrades are available on high speed trains on request at an additional charge and subject to availability. A limited number of first class seats are available on high speed trains. ChinaTours.com cannot guarantee high speed train seat upgrades due to third party or supplier’s shortage.
Destination Transfer
Transfers from airport to the hotel provided as air-conditioned vehicle with driver.
Post Tour Airport Transfer
At the completion of your tour, a transfer service from your hotel to Hongqiao or Pudong Airport can be arranged on request. Additional charges apply.
Arrive Early
Accommodation options for early arrival prior to commencement of tour are available. Bookings can be made online prior to checkout or arrangements can be made with a ChinaTours.com travel consultant.
Stay Behind
Accommodation options for stay behind after completion of the tour are available. Bookings can be made online prior to checkout or arrangements can be made with a ChinaTours.com travel consultant.
Tour Guide
All ChinaTours.com tour guides are bilingual speakers with intimate knowledge of an area/city, its culture, history, people, and food, which they will share on tour. ChinaTours.com does not operate commission-based shopping tours which means our tour guides do not receive commissions for commission-based shopping stops. Small group and private tour groups of 1-2 (<3) people will be provided with a guide/driver rather than a driver and a guide.
Small Group Size
The maximum number of passengers in a multi-day small group tour is 12 people.
Optional Tours/Activities
Optional tour activities are available on request. Please contact ChinaTours.com directly to customize your optional tour activities and destinations.
Accommodation
ChinaTours.com selects international four star and five star hotels located in the inner city centre. In small, regional destinations, ChinaTours.com selects the best available hotel.
Bedding Configuration
Bedding included in accommodation is double or twin bedding (subject to availability). Special arrangements available on request; additional charges may apply due to third party or hotel request.
Adjoining/Interconnecting Rooms
Adjoining/Interconnecting rooms are available subject to passenger’s request. Additional charges may apply due to third party or hotel request.
Child/Infant Policy
Pricing for child and infant can be quoted separately.
Infant price is valid for children 0 to 2 years. Child price is valid for children aged 2 to 11 years. Adult pricing apply for passengers aged 12 years and over. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 years or over. No unaccompanied minors allowed.
Meals
All breakfasts included. Lunch and dinner are excluded allowing passengers to make their own selection for lunch and dinner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided on the Yangtze River Cruise only. Lunch provided on the Li River Cruise. Local guides can be consulted to provide recommendations and assist with eating arrangements on request.
Passport
Customers are required to provide valid passport details either at the time of purchase or within 72 hours of purchase. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of the booking. In this instance customers will be responsible for any costs and fees incurred.
Passport validity should be at least six months for entering China.
Visas
A tourist visa for China is a strict requirement if travelling on a foreign passport.
Please make arrangements for your visa as soon as you receive your documentation to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours and visa processing times.
Gratuities/Tipping
Gratuities (tips) for services of the tour guide and driver throughout the tour are not included in the tour package price.
Insurance
ChinaTours.com tour packages do not include travel insurance. We strongly recommend purchase of comprehensive travel insurance prior to departure to protect for any unforeseen circumstances.
Schedule of Fees
For changes to travel arrangements:
- First change – No charge.
- For all subsequent changes – USD50.
- Any charges applied by a third party (for example, airline, cruise company, accommodation provider, other travel provider) cannot be waived.
Cancellation
For China tour Packages, ChinaTours.com charges cancellation fees at a percentage of the total tour package price, which are stated as follows:
- More than 60 days prior to tour start date: 15 percent cancellation fee
- 45 – 59 days prior to tour start date: 20 percent cancellation fee
- 30 – 44 days prior to tour start date: 30 percent cancellation fee
- 15 – 29 days prior to tour start date: 50 percent cancellation fee
- Within 14 days prior to tour start date: 100 percent cancellation fee
Any charges applied by a third party (for example, airline, cruise company, accommodation provider, other travel provider, credit card fee, bank fee) cannot be waived.
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