15-Day China Grand Tour: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Zhangjiajie & Shanghai with Panda and Great Wall

Itinerary Summary: Arrive in Beijing – Airport Pick-up – Hotel Check-in – Free Time

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: No Food

After arriving at Beijing airport, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Once you complete check-in, the rest of the day is free for you to recover from your journey or explore nearby streets at your own pace.

Beijing is a city where centuries of history exist alongside a modern capital environment. Traditional neighbourhoods, government districts, shopping areas, and historic landmarks are all part of everyday city life.

With your arrival transfer arranged in advance, you can start your China trip comfortably without needing to arrange transportation after a long international flight.

Itinerary Summary: Beijing City Tour – Tian’anmen Square – Forbidden City – Jingshan Park – Summer Palace

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today’s Beijing exploration follows the story of China’s imperial capital, from ceremonial spaces to royal residences and garden design.

Begin at Tian’anmen Square, a central landmark that has witnessed many important moments in modern Chinese history. Continue into the Forbidden City, the former residence of 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Beyond its famous red walls and grand halls, the palace layout reflects traditional Chinese ideas about hierarchy, direction, and royal authority.

From Jingshan Park, you can see the overall structure of the Forbidden City and understand how ancient Beijing was planned around the imperial centre. The day ends at the Summer Palace, where royal gardens, lakes, and mountain views show another side of imperial life beyond government affairs.

Your guide will explain how these places were connected through Beijing’s role as a capital city for hundreds of years.

Itinerary Summary: Mutianyu Great Wall – Cable Car Round Trip – Bird’s Nest & Water Cube View

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will travel outside central Beijing to experience the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most impressive sections of China’s ancient defensive system.

Built across mountains and valleys, the Great Wall reflects centuries of construction techniques developed to protect important regions of China. At Mutianyu, you can observe watchtowers, stone pathways, and the way the wall follows the natural landscape.

The round-trip cable car provides a more relaxed way to reach the scenic sections, allowing more time to appreciate the surrounding mountains and learn about the history of this remarkable structure.

On the return to the city, you will see the exterior of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, connecting China’s ancient engineering achievements with its modern architectural landmarks.

Itinerary Summary: Beijing to Xi’an – High-Speed Train – Giant Wild Goose Pagoda – Muslim Quarter – Hotel Check-in

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, take a high-speed train from Beijing to Xi’an. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you at the station and transfer you to your hotel.

Before checking in, visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a landmark connected with the cultural development of the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda reflects Xi’an’s historical role as a meeting point where ideas, religions, and goods travelled across Asia.

Continue to the Muslim Quarter, one of Xi’an’s most lively historic areas. The narrow streets, traditional shops, and local food culture show the city’s long history as an important stop on ancient trade routes.

This journey from Beijing to Xi’an allows you to move from one historic capital to another, following the path of China’s changing political and cultural centres.

Itinerary Summary: Terracotta Warriors – Ancient City Wall – Bell Tower (or Drum Tower)

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will explore Xi’an’s history through the remains of one of China’s earliest imperial centres.

The main highlight is the Terracotta Warriors, the underground army created over 2,000 years ago to guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. Thousands of clay figures with different facial expressions, hairstyles, and military positions reveal the advanced craftsmanship and organization of the Qin Dynasty.

Continue to the Ancient City Wall, one of the most complete ancient city defence systems still standing in China. Walking along or viewing the wall gives you an idea of how traditional Chinese cities were structured around protection, transportation, and daily life.

The tour ends at the Bell Tower or Drum Tower, historic buildings that once helped manage time and activities within the ancient city.

Your guide will connect these sites to Xi’an’s development from a powerful imperial capital into a modern city with deep historical roots.

Itinerary Summary: Xi’an to Chengdu – High-Speed Train – Train Station Pick-up – Hotel Check-in

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, take a high-speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu. Upon arrival, your local driver will meet you at the station and transfer you to your hotel.

This journey connects two important cultural regions of China. Xi’an represents the history of ancient capitals and early Chinese civilization, while Chengdu is known for its relaxed lifestyle, Sichuan culture, and connection with giant pandas.

The high-speed train provides an efficient way to travel between inland cities, and our arranged station transfer service helps make the transition smoother for international visitors.

Itinerary Summary: Chengdu Panda Base – Sanxingdui Museum – Jinli Old Street
(Peak Season Alternative: Chengdu Panda Base – Chengdu Museum – Kuanzhai Valley – Renmin Park)

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will discover Chengdu through its unique combination of wildlife, ancient civilization, and local urban culture.

Start at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can observe giant pandas in a conservation-focused environment. Chengdu is widely recognized as the home of panda research and protection, making this one of the city’s most popular experiences for international travelers.

Continue to the Sanxingdui Museum, which displays remarkable archaeological discoveries from the ancient Shu civilization. The bronze masks, sculptures, and artifacts provide a different perspective on China’s history beyond the traditional dynastic timeline.

The day ends at Jinli Old Street, a historic area where traditional-style buildings, local snacks, and cultural performances reflect Chengdu’s connection with Sichuan traditions.

During peak visitor periods, the itinerary may adjust to alternative city attractions based on site conditions while maintaining the main Chengdu cultural experience.

Itinerary Summary: Chengdu to Chongqing – High-Speed Train – Liziba Metro – Kuixing Building – Jiefangbei – Hot Pot Dinner – Hongya Cave – Qiansimen Bridge

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Dinner

After arriving in Chongqing by high-speed train, begin exploring one of China’s most distinctive mountain cities.

Chongqing’s unique geography, built across hills and rivers, creates a multi-level urban landscape often described as a “8D city” by travelers. Visit Liziba Station, where the metro line passes through a residential building, showing how transportation adapts to the city’s complex terrain.

Continue to Kuixing Building and Jiefangbei, two places that reveal different sides of Chongqing, from unusual urban design to its role as a commercial centre.

In the evening, enjoy a Chongqing hot pot dinner and visit Hongya Cave and Qiansimen Bridge for views of the city’s illuminated riverside skyline.

Itinerary Summary: Wulong Three Natural Bridges – Sightseeing Bus & Elevator – Glass Observation Deck

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will travel from Chongqing to Wulong, an area known for its dramatic karst landscapes and natural formations.

The highlight is the Three Natural Bridges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most impressive examples of natural limestone erosion in China. The massive stone arches were formed over millions of years, creating a landscape where cliffs, valleys, and natural bridges come together.

The sightseeing bus and elevator included in the tour make it easier to explore the scenic area while reducing unnecessary walking between different viewpoints. You will also visit the glass observation deck, offering a different perspective of the surrounding mountain landscape.

This day provides a contrast to Chongqing’s modern urban environment, allowing you to experience the natural side of southwestern China.

Itinerary Summary: Chongqing to Zhangjiajie – High-Speed Train – Train Station Pick-up – Hotel Check-in

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, take a high-speed train from Chongqing to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you at the station and transfer you to your hotel.

The journey takes you from the dramatic urban landscape of Chongqing to the mountain scenery of Hunan Province. Zhangjiajie is famous for its towering sandstone pillars, forest landscapes, and unique geological formations that have attracted visitors from around the world.

With transportation arrangements and local station transfer service included, you can move between destinations more easily and save energy for the upcoming nature experiences.

Itinerary Summary: Wulingyuan Scenic Area – Bailong Elevator – Yuanjiajie – Tianzi Mountain

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will explore the spectacular landscapes of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for thousands of sandstone peaks rising from the forest.

The experience begins with the Bailong Elevator, one of the world’s highest outdoor elevators, built along a cliff face and offering a unique way to reach the mountain viewpoints.

In Yuanjiajie, you will see the towering quartz sandstone formations that inspired many visitors to compare Zhangjiajie’s scenery with the fictional landscapes seen in films. Continue to Tianzi Mountain, known for its wide views of peaks, valleys, and changing mountain scenery.

Your guide will introduce the geological background of the area and explain how these unusual landscapes were formed over millions of years.

Itinerary Summary: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon – Baofeng Lake

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Continue exploring Zhangjiajie with two different types of natural scenery.

The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon combines dramatic cliffs, forest landscapes, and deep valleys. The area is known for its impressive geological environment and offers a closer view of the region’s natural formations.

You will then visit Baofeng Lake, a peaceful mountain lake surrounded by peaks and forests. Compared with the steep landscapes of the canyon, the lake provides a calmer way to experience Zhangjiajie’s natural beauty.

Together, these two attractions show the diversity of the region, from vertical cliffs and mountain terrain to quiet waters and forest scenery.

Itinerary Summary: Tianmen Mountain Tour – Zhangjiajie Airport Transfer – Shanghai Flight – Airport Pick-up – Hotel Check-in

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will explore Tianmen Mountain, one of Zhangjiajie’s most recognizable natural landmarks, before flying to Shanghai.

Known for its dramatic cliffs, mountain roads, and natural formations, Tianmen Mountain offers a different landscape experience from the sandstone peaks of Wulingyuan. The mountain is especially famous for Tianmen Cave, a large natural opening through the mountain that has become one of the area’s iconic sights.

After sightseeing, transfer to Zhangjiajie airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you and take you to your hotel.

The journey from Zhangjiajie to Shanghai creates a clear contrast between China’s natural landscapes and its modern international cities, bringing the final stage of your China adventure into a completely different atmosphere.

Itinerary Summary: Shanghai City Tour – Shanghai Museum – Yu Garden & Bazaar – Nanjing Road – The Bund – Shanghai Tower

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will discover Shanghai through its combination of traditional culture, historic neighbourhoods, and modern architecture.

Begin at the Shanghai Museum, where collections of ancient Chinese art and historical objects provide an introduction to China’s long cultural development. Continue to Yu Garden, a classical private garden from the Ming Dynasty, and explore the nearby Yuyuan Bazaar, where traditional-style streets meet modern tourism and local commerce.

Visit Nanjing Road, one of Shanghai’s best-known shopping streets, before heading to The Bund, where historic buildings along the Huangpu River reflect the city’s international past.

The final stop is Shanghai Tower, one of the world’s tallest buildings, showing the transformation of Shanghai into a global financial and business centre.

Through the guidance of a local expert, you will see how old Shanghai and new Shanghai exist side by side.

Itinerary Summary: Shanghai Departure – Hotel Check-out – Airport Transfer

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, check out from your hotel before 12:00. Your driver will transfer you to Shanghai airport for your departure flight.

As your 15-day journey across China comes to an end, you will leave with experiences ranging from ancient capitals and archaeological discoveries to panda conservation, mountain landscapes, and modern city life.

IntoTravelChina has been welcoming international travelers since 2016, providing local knowledge, professional guides, and organized travel services to help visitors explore China with confidence.