Spectacular China tour with Great Wall & Avatar mountains visit

Experience
11 or 12 nights

From £ 2,449.00 per person

£ 4,898.00
based on 2 travellers

From dazzling Beijing to vibrant Shanghai, embark on a fabulous China tour, with a Great Wall visit and more - includes excursions and all travel

Day 1: UK/Ireland - Beijing

Get excited as you board your overnight flight to Beijing. As China's capital, Beijing is a blend of old and new, where ancient sites meet modern city life.

Day 2-5: Beijing

After touching down in this buzzing metropolis, head to your hotel and settle in following your lengthy flight, making sure to get a good night’s rest in preparation for the exciting days ahead.

The next day, head to the first attraction on your itinerary: the Temple of Heaven. An impressive complex of religious buildings, this site is of great spiritual importance, and was once used as a place of worship by the emperors of the Ming and Ding dynasties. Pair that with your next visit to a Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre, and you’ve got yourself a day filled with history, culture, and tradition. Round off the day with an optional visit to the winding streets of the Shichahai Hutong district and the impressive Lama Temple, and add on an optional Golden Mask Dynasty Show to make for an extra-special evening.

The next day is yours to explore at your own leisure. Embark on an optional full-day tour of Beijing if you’re eager to catch all the sights. Tick off historic landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, and then enjoy a delicious meal featuring authentic Peking Duck in the evening.

Day five will begin with a visit to a jade stone factory - a stone that holds much cultural importance in China - and then you’ll head to perhaps the most iconic attraction on your trip: the Great Wall of China. You’ll be visiting the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall specifically, which dates back as far as the 7th century. Fill your camera roll with Great Wall selfies amid unforgettable panoramas, before hopping on a bullet train to historic Xi’an, which will take around four to five hours.

Day 6: Xi’an

With a history dating back over 3,000 years, Xi’an is widely thought of as one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilisation. The Terracotta Warriors are undoubtedly the city’s most popular attraction, and this archaeological visit will be at the top of your to-do list on day six. After marvelling at these impressive clay warriors, with their horses and chariots in tow, you’ll head straight to a terracotta workshop to learn just how these life-sized statues were made.

The day will end with some free time in the lively Muslim Quarter, where culinary discoveries await. Sample delicious local eats, browse for souvenirs, and gain an insight into the region’s cultural diversity by visiting temples and pagodas. You’ll then transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Zhangjiajie, where you’ll be staying the night.

Please note, there are no direct flights from Xi’an to Zhangjiajie from 15 October to 31 March, 2025. During this period, you will fly from Xi’an to Changsha, followed by a bus transfer to Zhangjiajie.

Day 7-9: Zhangjiajie

Wake up to awe-inspiring nature in Zhangjiajie, an otherworldly city renowned for its dramatic and mesmerising scenery. Your first day will be signified by a visit to the dazzling mountaintop Baofeng Lake, where crystal-clear waters reflect rising peaks as tall sandstone mountains peek out of floating mist. You’ll top this all off with a visit to a striking 75-metre tall waterfall, where giant salamanders await. And to make the day even more memorable, add on an optional Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and the Grand Canyon tour: walk the world’s highest and longest glass bridge, explore the canyon’s magnificent beauty via foot, slide or exhilarating zip line, and then finish the tour with a surreal boat ride.

The next day will be yours to unwind and explore the city’s landscape at your own pace. To really immerse yourself in the city’s breathtaking beauty, we recommend you embark on an optional Zhangjiajia National Park tour. Covering an impressive 450,000 square metres, China's first national forest park is a stunning expanse of greenery and rugged hills. Think Avatar’s Pandora; the film’s Hallelujah Mountains were inspired by the park’s pillar-like mountains and surrounding captivating scenery. Take a ride on the famous Bailong Elevator to explore remarkable sights such as Yuanjiajie, the First Heaven's Bridge, and plenty more.

On day eight, you’ll have the morning to yourself, where you can opt to embark on a tour of the impressive Tianmen Mountain - home to the world’s longest cable car. In the afternoon, you’ll transfer to the airport to board your flight to Shanghai.

Day 10-11: Shanghai

Enjoy the last leg of your wonderful journey in Shanghai: China's largest city. A fascinating metropolis that combines tradition and modernity, there’s no better place to end your fabulous trip.

Begin your time here with a walking tour along Nanjing Street and the famous Bund, where historic colonial buildings meet futuristic skyscrapers like the Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower. Next, you’ll learn about the manufacturing of silk at a local factory, before heading to the Old City Bazaars for souvenir shopping and tasty eats. Wanting more? Head on an optional tour of the city or opt for a Shanghai Museum and Pudong visit, and perhaps choose to complete the day with an immersive acrobatic show while you’re at it.

The next day will be yours to take Shanghai by storm. In neighbourhoods such as the Old Town, visitors can discover traditional Chinese architecture and the enchanting Yu Garden, while the trendy Tianzifang district offers art galleries, boutiques and cafés. Shanghai is also a culinary paradise, known for specialties such as xiaolongbao (steamed dumplings). The dynamic mix of history, innovation and cultural diversity makes Shanghai an exciting destination for travellers from all over the world. Optional tours today include a trip to one of China’s most infamous and historic sites, Suzhou, home to classical gardens and winding canals, as well as a dreamy nighttime cruise down the Huangpu River, where dazzling views of Shanghai await.

Day 12: Shanghai - UK/Ireland

And after 10 days of pinch-me moments and unforgettable memories, it’s time to wave goodbye to skyscrapers and ancient sites. Head to your departure airport to board your flight home.

Included

Three nights at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Beijing
One night at Titan Central Park, Xian
Three nights at Zhangjiajie Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel
Three nights in a Standard room at Harbour Plaza Metropolitan Shanghai
Breakfast included throughout
Day 3: Temple of Heaven and Chinese Medicine Centre
Day 5: Visit to the Great Wall
Day 6: Visit to the Terracotta Warriors and Xi'an's Muslim Quarter
Day 7: Visit to Baofeng Lake
Day 10: Shanghai half-day visit
Bullet train from Beijing to Xi'an in a second class seat
English-speaking guide throughout
Internal flights from Xi'an to Zhangjiajie and Zhangjiajie to Shanghai
Flights are included from your selected airport to Peking, returning from Shanghai
One piece of hand luggage and one piece of hold luggage per person (see 'Offer details')
Shared airport transfers
This holiday is supplied by Exoticca Travel UK Ltd and is ATOL protected (ATOL 11248)

Trip details

Travel details

Flights are included from your selected airport to Peking, returning from Shanghai.

A 8kg hand luggage and a 20kg hold luggage allowance per person is included, as well as shared airport transfers.

Please note that baggage weight and size restrictions may vary between airlines, please check airline terms and conditions.

From London Heathrow to Peking, returning from Shanghai, with Cathay Pacif-Emirates - Lufthansa-Turkish Airlines - Air France - KLM- China Eastern Airlines, Air China, or similar: