About this Tour
This 10-day journey follows a less conventional route across China, blending imperial history, UNESCO heritage, dramatic natural scenery, wildlife, and modern city life in one trip. Starting in Beijing with the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall at Mutianyu, it continues to the mountain city of Chongqing and the striking karst landscapes of Wulong Karst National Park, then on to Chengdu for its giant pandas and the Bronze Age treasures of the Sanxingdui Museum. The journey concludes in Shanghai with the canals of Zhujiajiao Water Town, the classical Yu Garden, and the cosmopolitan skyline of the Bund.
4CanGo Small Group Program
Our 4CanGo departures are confirmed to operate as soon as four guests are booked, with a maximum of ten travelers per departure. Once the minimum is met, your trip goes ahead, so you can plan with confidence and enjoy the attentive pace that only a small group allows.
Online booking is set up for parties of four or more. If you are traveling solo or with a group of three or fewer, please contact us and we will arrange your booking directly. We are glad to build flexible arrangements around your preferred dates, group size, and travel style.
Quality of service is our priority. Every Horizon itinerary is planned by a team led by a founder with more than 20 years in the travel industry, specializing in both U.S. national park tours and international travel. We are committed to delivering a personalized and memorable journey.
About China
China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, with thousands of years of history spread across an enormous range of landscapes and cultures. From ancient cities and sacred mountains to deserts, rivers, and modern megacities, it offers a depth and variety few countries can match.
Tour Highlights
- Discover Beijing’s imperial landmarks – Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall at Mutianyu, with a wine toast on the Wall
- Try a hands-on craft experience – a glazed tile workshop drawn from imperial architecture
- Explore Chongqing, a city built into the hills along the Yangtze – the Yangtze River Cableway, Liziba, Shancheng Lane, Shibati, and Hongya Cave
- Explore Wulong Karst National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site of sinkholes, limestone cliffs, and natural stone bridges
- Ride the high-speed rail to Chengdu and visit Sanxingdui Museum, home to Bronze Age treasures from ancient Sichuan
- See giant pandas at a leading conservation and research center
- Explore everyday Chengdu – Du Fu Cottage, Renmin Park, and Kuanzhai Alley
- End in Shanghai – Zhujiajiao Water Town, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road, and the Bund, a farewell dinner featuring Shanghai cuisine, and an evening cruise on the Huangpu River.
Moments from this Tour
What’s Included
- Accommodation: 9 nights in carefully selected five-star hotels and a distinctive boutique property near the Great Wall, or equivalent-standard alternatives, based on double occupancy
- Meals: Meals as listed in the itinerary, with complimentary bottled drinking water provided daily
- Transfers and Transportation: Scheduled arrival and departure transfers, air-conditioned ground transportation for included sightseeing and transfers, and intercity travel by second-class high-speed rail and/or economy-class domestic flights, as outlined in the itinerary or confirmed for the applicable departure
- Guides: Professional English-speaking guides for scheduled sightseeing
- Included Sightseeing & Signature Experiences: Entrance fees and required advance reservations where applicable, together with guided sightseeing and the following scheduled experiences:
- Beijing: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, the Summer Palace, and the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall with round-trip cable car, including a sparkling wine toast and an imperial glazed tile craftsmanship workshop
- Chongqing & Wulong: The Yangtze River Cableway, Liziba’s rail-through-building viewpoint, Shancheng Lane, Shibati, Longmenhao Old Street or Xiahaoli, Nanbin Road, and Hongya Cave. A full-day excursion to Wulong Karst National Park includes Tiankeng Three Bridges, the cliffside elevator, and a guided walk through the karst valley
- Chengdu & Surroundings: Sanxingdui Museum, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Du Fu Cottage, traditional jasmine tea at a teahouse in Renmin Park, and Kuanzhai Alley, and an evening Sichuan Opera performance featuring face-changing
- Shanghai & Zhujiajiao: Zhujiajiao Water Town, including Kezhi Garden, the Qing Dynasty Post Office, Fangsheng Bridge, and a hand-rowed boat ride; Yu Garden, the Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road, the Bund, and an evening cruise on the Huangpu River
What’s Excluded
- International flights and airport taxes
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Tour guide gratuities (recommended 10% gratuity)
- Personal expenses, optional activities, and any items or attraction tickets not mentioned in the Inclusions section
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Single supplement
- Visa fees (if applicable)
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing & Welcome Dinner
Arrive in Beijing, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or explore independently after your journey.
In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner featuring regional Beijing cuisine, offering a relaxed introduction to the tour.
Day 2: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Summer Palace
After breakfast, begin with Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the historic seat of imperial power during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Continue to Jingshan Park for a panoramic view over the palace complex, then visit the Summer Palace, celebrated for its lakeside setting, landscaped gardens, and elegant classical design.
Dinner this evening features Beijing’s signature Peking Duck.
Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall & Imperial Glazed Tile Workshop
Travel to the Mutianyu Great Wall, known for its well-restored pathways and scenic mountain setting. Take a round-trip cable car for convenient access, then explore the Wall and enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding hills. Conclude the visit with a sparkling wine toast against the backdrop of the Great Wall.
Later, take part in an imperial glazed tile workshop introducing a decorative craft long associated with imperial architecture. In the evening, settle into a heritage-inspired boutique property near the Wall.
Day 4: Flight to Chongqing & Mountain City Landmarks
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing, one of China’s most distinctive inland metropolises, shaped by steep hills and the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.
Upon arrival, explore the city’s layered urban landscape by visiting the Yangtze River Cableway, the rail-through-building viewpoint at Liziba, Shancheng Lane, and Shibati. Continue to Longmenhao Old Street or Xiahaoli, then conclude with evening views from Nanbin Road and Hongya Cave.
Day 5: Wulong Karst & the Three Natural Bridges
After breakfast, drive to Wulong Karst National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its spectacular karst scenery. Visit the Tiankeng Three Bridges, descend by the 108-meter cliffside elevator, and follow the valley trail through vast sinkholes, limestone cliffs, and natural stone bridges.
Familiar to some travelers as a filming location for Transformers: Age of Extinction, the site combines cinematic appeal with remarkable geological interest. Return to Chongqing in the evening.
Day 6: High-Speed Rail to Chengdu & Sanxingdui Museum
This morning, travel by high-speed rail to Chengdu, long regarded as one of western China’s key cultural centers. Upon arrival, visit the Sanxingdui Museum, where remarkable Bronze Age discoveries reveal a highly distinctive ancient civilization from Sichuan.
The museum offers a fascinating perspective on early Chinese history beyond the traditional narrative of the central plains. Afterwards, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Day 7: Giant Pandas & Chengdu Teahouse Culture
Start the day at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can observe giant pandas in one of China’s leading conservation and research settings. Continue to Du Fu Cottage, a tranquil memorial and garden associated with one of China’s most celebrated poets.
Later, visit Renmin Park and settle into a traditional teahouse for jasmine tea and a glimpse of Chengdu’s relaxed pace. Traditional Sichuan ear-cleaning practitioners are often part of the lively teahouse scene. Then stroll through Kuanzhai Alley, where restored historic courtyards meet contemporary city life.
This evening, enjoy an included Sichuan Opera performance featuring traditional music, storytelling, and the celebrated art of face-changing.
Day 8: Flight to Shanghai & Zhujiajiao Water Town
Fly to Shanghai today. Upon arrival, continue to Zhujiajiao Water Town, an ancient canal-side settlement known for its stone bridges, narrow lanes, and well-preserved Jiangnan character.
Visit Kezhi Garden, the Qing Dynasty Post Office, and Fangsheng Bridge, followed by a hand-rowed boat ride along the waterways. Afterwards, transfer to your Shanghai hotel for check-in. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Day 9: Classic Shanghai & Huangpu River Night Cruise
Begin at Yu Garden, a classical garden dating to the Ming Dynasty, then continue to the Shanghai Museum to explore the major exhibition on view. The museum venue may vary according to current exhibition schedules and opening arrangements.
Later, walk along Nanjing Road to the Bund, where grand early twentieth-century architecture faces the modern skyline of Pudong across the Huangpu River.
This evening, gather for a farewell dinner featuring regional Shanghai cuisine. After dinner, board an included Huangpu River night cruise for illuminated views of the historic Bund and Pudong skyline.
Day 10: Departure from Shanghai
After breakfast, transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) according to your flight schedule.
Itinerary Note: To ensure the best possible travel experience, the order of visits and daily arrangements may be adjusted by the guide based on local conditions, travel time, visitor traffic, weather, and operational considerations. All key included experiences will be arranged as appropriately as possible throughout the journey.
Scheduled Departure Dates
Select a year below to view currently scheduled small-group departure dates.
2026 7 departures
September
October
November
December
2027 18 departures
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2028 18 departures
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Scheduled departures are subject to availability and final operational confirmation. Additional departure dates may be available on request.
Accommodation Selection
Hotels are selected for their location, facilities, service standards, and overall guest experience, rather than by formal star classification alone. Star ratings, where referenced, follow local standards and are provided for general reference only. Hotel assignments are finalized for each departure based on availability and operational requirements, with selections made to maintain the intended level of comfort and overall guest experience.
Age Requirements
Travelers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or authorized adult responsible for their supervision and well-being throughout the tour. All travelers should be able to safely and comfortably participate in the itinerary.