8 Days Beijing Zhangjiajie Shanghai Tour

After breakfast, begin your exploration of Beijing’s imperial heritage with a visit to Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world and a symbol of modern Chinese history. From here, walk through Tiananmen Gate into the magnificent Forbidden City (Palace Museum), the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Covering a vast area with thousands of rooms and courtyards, the Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors for nearly 500 years. During your visit, admire the grand palace architecture, golden roofs, marble carvings, royal halls, and the fascinating stories behind China’s imperial rulers.

After exploring the palace, walk to nearby Jingshan Park, where you can climb to the top of the hill for a panoramic view of Beijing. From the summit, enjoy a spectacular view overlooking the entire Forbidden City, as well as the traditional city layout surrounding the former imperial center.

In the afternoon, visit the beautiful Summer Palace, China’s largest and best-preserved royal garden. Stroll through elegant pavilions, ancient temples, bridges, and lakeside paths while appreciating the harmony between traditional architecture and natural landscapes. Walk along the famous Long Corridor beside Kunming Lake, decorated with thousands of historic paintings.

After sightseeing, return to your hotel.

Optional Evening Activities:

• Watch a spectacular Chinese acrobatic performance
• Enjoy a traditional Peking Opera show

Highlights:

• Explore Tiananmen Square
• Visit the magnificent Forbidden City
• Enjoy panoramic views from Jingshan Park
• Discover the royal gardens of Summer Palace
• Experience Beijing’s imperial history and architecture

Overnight: Beijing

After breakfast, drive approximately 70 km to the famous Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved and most scenic sections of the Great Wall of China. Compared with other sections, Mutianyu offers beautiful mountain scenery, fewer crowds, and a more comfortable hiking experience.

Upon arrival, take a cable car up to the Great Wall and begin your exploration from Watchtower No. 14. Walk along the ancient wall surrounded by green mountains and impressive landscapes. For travelers seeking more challenge, continue hiking toward Watchtower No. 20, the highest point of this section, where you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the Great Wall winding across the mountains.

After the Great Wall visit, continue to the Sacred Way, the ceremonial pathway leading to the Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs. Walk through the impressive stone archway and admire the famous stone statues of mythical animals and officials that have guarded the imperial burial route for centuries.

On the way back to Beijing, stop at the Beijing Olympic Village to view the iconic Bird’s Nest National Stadium and Water Cube from outside. These landmarks represent China’s modern development and international achievements.

Return to your hotel after the tour.

Optional Evening Activity:
Enjoy Beijing’s famous Peking Roast Duck, one of the city’s most celebrated local dishes.

Highlights:

• Hike the scenic Mutianyu Great Wall
• Enjoy mountain views from Great Wall watchtowers
• Visit the historic Sacred Way of Ming Tombs
• See Beijing’s Olympic landmarks: Bird’s Nest and Water Cube
• Experience the combination of ancient and modern Beijing

Overnight: Beijing

After breakfast, begin the day with a visit to the magnificent Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s most important ancient cultural landmarks. Built during the Ming Dynasty, this grand imperial complex was once the place where emperors performed solemn ceremonies to pray for good harvests and communicate with heaven.

During your visit, explore the famous Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Circular Mound Altar, and surrounding gardens. Besides its historical importance, the Temple of Heaven is also a wonderful place to observe local Beijing life, where residents gather in the morning to practice Tai Chi, dance, exercise, and enjoy traditional activities among the ancient pine trees.

Later, head to the traditional Beijing Hutongs area and experience the city’s old neighborhood culture by taking a rickshaw ride through narrow lanes lined with historic courtyard houses. Visit a local family home to learn about traditional Beijing architecture, daily life, and the unique lifestyle preserved within these old communities.

After the sightseeing, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport for your flight to Zhangjiajie. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, the gateway to Zhangjiajie’s spectacular mountains.

Highlights:

• Explore the historic Temple of Heaven
• Experience morning local life in Beijing
• Discover traditional Beijing Hutongs
• Ride through old neighborhoods by rickshaw
• Fly from Beijing to Zhangjiajie

Overnight: Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Area

After an early breakfast, begin your exploration of the spectacular Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its incredible quartzite sandstone pillars, deep valleys, and mist-covered mountain scenery.

Start your journey at Ten-mile Gallery, a beautiful valley area where a sightseeing tram takes you through a landscape filled with unique rock formations. Along the route, admire famous natural sculptures such as the God of Longevity Welcoming Guests, Old Herb Picker, and Three Sisters Peaks, which look like figures and stories created by nature.

Continue to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area by taking the world-famous Bailong Elevator, the highest outdoor glass elevator. Rising quickly from the valley floor to the mountain summit, the elevator provides an exciting experience and spectacular views of Zhangjiajie’s cliffs and forests.

Explore Yuanjiajie, the landscape inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. Walk among towering sandstone peaks and visit iconic viewpoints including the South Sky Pillar (Avatar Mountain), Enchanting Platform, and First Bridge Under Heaven, a natural stone bridge connecting two cliffs.

In the afternoon, continue to Tianzi Mountain, known as the “King of Peak Forests.” From He Long Park, enjoy panoramic views of thousands of strange-shaped peaks, including the famous Imperial Writing Brush Peaks and surrounding mountain landscapes. Finish the visit with a cable car ride down through the dramatic sandstone landscape.

After sightseeing, transfer to your hotel in Zhangjiajie city area.

Optional Evening Activity:
Watch the spectacular Tianmen Fox Fairy Show, a large outdoor performance combining music, dance, and natural mountain scenery.

Highlights:

• UNESCO-listed Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Scenic ride through Ten-mile Gallery
• Experience the incredible Bailong Elevator
• Explore Yuanjiajie Avatar Mountain
• Visit Tianzi Mountain and panoramic viewpoints
• Photograph Zhangjiajie’s iconic sandstone peak forest

Overnight: Zhangjiajie

After breakfast, head to Tianmen Mountain National Park, one of Zhangjiajie’s most famous attractions, known for its spectacular cliffs, dramatic mountain roads, glass walkways, and the legendary Tianmen Cave.

Begin with the impressive Tianmen Mountain Cable Car, one of the world’s longest mountain cableways. During the ride from downtown Zhangjiajie to the mountaintop, enjoy breathtaking aerial views of forests, valleys, and the winding Avenue Toward Heaven (Tongtian Avenue) with its famous 99 bends.

Explore the mountain’s scenic routes, including the thrilling Ghost Valley Plank Road and the transparent Glass Skywalk, where visitors can walk along the cliff edge and enjoy dramatic views hundreds of meters above the valley. Continue to Tianmen Temple, a historic Buddhist temple located on the mountaintop surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.

Next, take the escalator down toward the spectacular Tianmen Cave, a giant natural opening created through geological changes. Standing beneath this enormous arch-shaped cave provides one of Zhangjiajie’s most unforgettable experiences. Continue down the famous 999 Steps, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, before returning to the mountain entrance.

After completing the Tianmen Mountain adventure, your guide and driver will escort you to Zhangjiajie Airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your Shanghai guide will meet you and transfer you to your downtown hotel.

Highlights:

• Ride the world-famous Tianmen Mountain Cable Car
• Enjoy views of the Avenue Toward Heaven with 99 bends
• Experience Tianmen Mountain Glass Skywalk
• Visit Tianmen Temple and cliffside trails
• Discover the natural wonder of Tianmen Cave
• Fly from Zhangjiajie to Shanghai

Overnight: Shanghai

After breakfast, begin your exploration of Shanghai, China’s most international and modern metropolis, where futuristic skyscrapers stand alongside historic neighborhoods and traditional gardens. Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and start today’s city discovery.

First, visit Lujiazui Financial Center and ascend Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China and one of the highest buildings in the world. Take one of the world’s fastest elevators to the observation deck on the 118th floor, located 546 meters above the ground. From here, enjoy a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of Shanghai, including the modern skyline of Pudong, the historic Bund, and the winding Huangpu River.

Continue to the Shanghai Museum East, one of the city’s most important cultural institutions. Explore its impressive collections of ancient Chinese treasures, including bronzes, paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, jade, sculptures, and historical artifacts spanning thousands of years of Chinese civilization.

In the afternoon, visit Yu Garden, one of the most famous classical gardens in the Jiangnan region. Walk through elegant pavilions, traditional rockeries, peaceful ponds, and beautifully designed courtyards that reflect the essence of traditional Chinese garden architecture. Next to the garden, explore Yuyuan Bazaar, where you can taste local snacks, browse handicrafts, and experience Shanghai’s traditional commercial atmosphere.

Later, stroll along Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s most famous shopping street, before heading to The Bund, the city’s most iconic waterfront area. Enjoy the contrast between the historic European-style buildings along the Huangpu River and the futuristic skyscrapers of Lujiazui, including Shanghai Tower, Jinmao Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center.

Optional Evening Activity:
Enjoy a relaxing Huangpu River Night Cruise to admire Shanghai’s illuminated skyline and famous landmarks after dark.

Highlights:

• Panoramic views from Shanghai Tower
• Discover ancient treasures at Shanghai Museum East
• Explore classical Chinese garden design at Yu Garden
• Experience traditional culture at Yuyuan Bazaar
• Walk along Nanjing Road and The Bund
• Enjoy Shanghai’s unique combination of history and modernity

Overnight: Shanghai

After breakfast, continue exploring Shanghai’s fascinating development from a small fishing village into a world-famous international financial center.

Start at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, where you can learn about the city’s remarkable transformation, urban development plans, and future vision. Through historical photographs, interactive displays, multimedia exhibits, and detailed city models, the museum provides a deeper understanding of Shanghai’s past, present, and future.

Next, visit Tianzifang, one of Shanghai’s most charming artistic neighborhoods. Developed from a traditional residential area, Tianzifang preserves the unique Shikumen architecture and narrow alleyways of old Shanghai. Take a leisurely walk through the creative district filled with art studios, cafés, boutique shops, galleries, and local lifestyle scenes.

Enjoy your final moments in Shanghai before your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination or return journey home. The 8 Days Beijing Zhangjiajie Shanghai Dream Tour concludes with unforgettable memories of China’s imperial history, natural wonders, and modern city landscapes.

Highlights:

• Learn about Shanghai’s urban transformation at Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
• Explore artistic Tianzifang and traditional Shikumen lanes
• Experience the blend of old Shanghai culture and modern creativity
• Airport transfer for departure

Tour Ends: Shanghai Airport