SIGNATURE CHINA JOURNEY
CHINA JOURNEY 01

13-Day China Essence and Panda Tour

ROUTE Beijing · Xi'an · Chengdu · Chongqing · Shanghai
A thoughtfully designed private journey through China's most iconic cities, combining cultural depth, local experiences and seamless private travel.
FROM US$1,700 / person
China private tour
ROUTE
Beijing · Xi'an · Chengdu · Chongqing · Shanghai ↗
01 / 04
THE JOURNEY Private Journey
DURATION 13 Days
DESTINATIONS 5 Cities
DEPARTURE Flexible
✦ Private guide · Handpicked hotels · Local support
◌ PLAN THIS JOURNEY Talk to our travel team ↗
THE JOURNEY

5 cities.
One extraordinary China.

Discover China's imperial history, ancient wonders, giant pandas, dramatic cityscapes and modern energy in one carefully designed 13-day journey.

Travel from Beijing and Xi'an to Chengdu, Chongqing and Shanghai, combining imperial landmarks, ancient civilization, giant pandas, mountain-city culture and China's modern skyline.

DURATION
13 Days
DESTINATIONS
5 Cities
DOMESTIC TRANSFERS
4 Transfers
TRAVEL STYLE
Private Journey
LANDSCAPES
4 PLACES

This private journey connects carefully selected destinations, each offering a distinct side of China.

Beijing Shanghai Xi'an Chongqing
SIGNATURE ACTIVITIES
CURATED FOR THIS JOURNEY
01 Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven
02 Walk the Great Wall
03 Discover the Terracotta Warriors
04 Hongya Cave & Liziba
05 Meet the Giant Pandas
06 Shanghai After Dark
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES

Beyond the landmarks. Into the story.

Handpicked experiences that reveal the real China — its culture, its people, its timeless beauty.

Mutianyu Great Wall China
01
BEIJING

Walk the Great Wall

Walk along the spectacular Mutianyu section of the Great Wall surrounded by mountains and centuries of history.

Forbidden City Beijing
BEIJING

Imperial Beijing

Discover Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the historic hutongs of Beijing.

Terracotta Warriors Xi'an
XI'AN

The Terracotta Warriors

Stand before thousands of life-size warriors guarding the tomb of China's first emperor and explore the ancient heart of Xi'an.

Giant Panda Chengdu
CHENGDU

Meet the Giant Pandas

Visit the Chengdu Research Base and see giant pandas in one of China's most iconic wildlife experiences.

Chongqing Hongya Cave and Yangtze River
CHONGQING

Discover Mountain City Chongqing

Explore Hongya Cave, see the famous Liziba monorail and experience the dramatic streets, river views and layered architecture of Chongqing.

The Bund Shanghai
SHANGHAI

Shanghai After Dark

Finish your journey along the Bund, Huangpu River and Shanghai's historic streets while taking in the city's modern skyline.

China Itinerary

A carefully paced journey connecting imperial Beijing, ancient Xi'an, Chengdu's panda culture, Chongqing's mountain-city energy and the modern skyline of Shanghai.
Arrival in Beijing — Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and transfer by private vehicle to your hotel.
ARRIVAL
Beijing
TRANSFER
Private vehicle
STAY Beijing
Forbidden City & Beijing Hutong — Beijing
Walk across Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest city squares, before entering the Forbidden City, the world's largest imperial palace complex. With your private guide, explore the former residence of China's emperors and discover hidden corners that are easy to miss when traveling independently, away from the busiest tour groups. Later, experience the charm of Beijing's historic hutongs, traditional lanes lined with courtyard homes. Enjoy a one-hour rickshaw ride through narrow streets, visit a local home and cross the historic Yinding Bridge while learning about Beijing's disappearing traditional courtyard neighborhoods.
HIGHLIGHT
Forbidden City
EXPERIENCE
Beijing Hutong Rickshaw Ride
CULTURE Local Courtyard Home Visit
Temple of Heaven & Mutianyu Great Wall — Beijing
Start your morning at the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for good harvests. Watch local residents practicing their morning exercises and experience the healthy lifestyle of Beijing's parks. Continue to Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most beautifully restored and scenic sections of the Great Wall, surrounded by forest-covered mountains and dramatic landscapes.
HIGHLIGHT
Temple of Heaven
HIKE
Mutianyu Great Wall
SCENERY Mountain & Great Wall Views
Summer Palace, Peking Duck & Flight to Xi'an — Beijing → Xi'an
Take a relaxing stroll through the tranquil Summer Palace, a magnificent imperial garden with around 300 years of history. Enjoy the lake scenery, traditional Long Corridor and exquisite ceiling paintings, with an optional boat ride on the lake. At lunch, savor Beijing's famous Peking Duck while watching the chef demonstrate the art of slicing the crispy duck skin and learning the traditional way to enjoy it. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Xi'an, where your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel.
HIGHLIGHT
Summer Palace
FOOD
Beijing Peking Duck
TRANSPORT Flight to Xi'an
Terracotta Warriors & Xi'an City Wall — Xi'an
Step into Xi'an's ancient history at the Terracotta Warriors, where thousands of unique clay soldiers have guarded Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum since 210 BC. Listen to their stories that have survived for more than two thousand years. Then visit a traditional cave dwelling and learn how local craftsmen make clay warriors. Continue to the 600-year-old Xi'an City Wall, where you can walk or cycle along the ancient fortifications while enjoying panoramic views of the city. End the day in the lively Muslim Quarter, sampling authentic local Muslim cuisine.
HIGHLIGHT
Terracotta Warriors
EXPERIENCE
Clay Warrior Workshop
FOOD Xi'an Muslim Quarter
Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Dumpling Experience & High-Speed Train — Xi'an → Chengdu
Explore more of Xi'an's ancient history at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, an important symbol of the city's long Buddhist heritage. Then join a local family and learn how to make traditional Chinese dumplings. Enjoy the dumplings you have made together for lunch and experience Chinese culture through an authentic family interaction. In the afternoon, board a high-speed train for the approximately four-hour journey to Chengdu.
HIGHLIGHT
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
EXPERIENCE
Local Family Dumpling Making
TRANSPORT High-Speed Train to Chengdu
Panda Keeper Experience — Chengdu
Enjoy a unique panda keeper experience at the Dujiangyan Panda Base. Instead of simply watching pandas from behind a barrier, get closer to these beloved animals and learn about their daily lives and conservation. With guidance from an English-speaking staff member, wash bamboo shoots, prepare bamboo, feed the pandas, watch a panda feeding session and a panda documentary, and even make a special panda cake. Enjoy a simple Chinese lunch with the staff and create a memorable experience that you will remember for years to come.
HIGHLIGHT
Giant Panda Experience
EXPERIENCE
Panda Keeper Activities
LUNCH Chinese Lunch with Staff
Authentic Chengdu Life & Yangtze River Cruise — Chengdu → Chongqing
Begin your day at Chengdu People's Park and experience the city's relaxed local lifestyle. Enjoy a cup of traditional tea while your guide introduces proper tea-drinking etiquette, join the lively local square dancing and watch residents enjoying a game of mahjong. Continue to Jinli Old Street and sample authentic Sichuan snacks, including red bean paste treats, sweet potato noodles and Sichuan wontons. For the adventurous, try the famous rabbit head. Later, take a high-speed train to Chongqing and board your Yangtze River cruise, departing at around 9:00 PM.
EXPERIENCE
Chengdu People's Park
FOOD
Authentic Sichuan Snacks
CRUISE Yangtze River Cruise
Yangtze River Cruise & Fengdu Ghost City — Yangtze River Cruise
Start the morning with optional Tai Chi practice on board. In the morning, join a shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City, known for its architecture influenced by traditional Chinese feng shui and its fascinating statues and artworks depicting traditional beliefs about the underworld. Spend the afternoon enjoying cultural activities on board. After dinner, you may choose to watch the optional evening performance, "The War of the Three Kingdoms."
EXPERIENCE
Fengdu Ghost City
MORNING
Optional Tai Chi
EVENING Optional Cultural Performance
White Emperor City & Three Gorges — Yangtze River Cruise
For those interested in Chinese calligraphy and history, enjoy an optional excursion to White Emperor City, famous for its connection to Chinese history, ancient inscriptions and spectacular views associated with the Three Gorges. Around midday, cruise through the magnificent Qutang Gorge and dramatic Wu Gorge. In the afternoon, take a shore excursion to Shennv Stream and explore this beautiful tributary by boat as its clear waters flow through deep, narrow valleys. After dinner, enjoy the crew's singing, dancing and talent performances on board.
HIGHLIGHT
Qutang Gorge & Wu Gorge
EXPERIENCE
Shennv Stream Cruise
OPTIONAL White Emperor City
Three Gorges Dam & High-Speed Train to Shanghai — Yichang → Shanghai
Disembark in the morning and join a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. From the observation platform beside the dam, admire the magnificent Yangtze River and one of China's most impressive engineering achievements. After the excursion, transfer to the Yichang Visitor Center, where your private guide and driver will meet you and take you to the railway station for your high-speed train to Shanghai. Shore excursions are arranged by the cruise company and may vary depending on your selected cruise itinerary.
HIGHLIGHT
Three Gorges Dam
TRANSPORT
High-Speed Train to Shanghai
SERVICE Private Guide & Driver
Shanghai Highlights & Bund Cultural Discovery — Shanghai
Go beyond the usual photo stops and discover the Bund through an in-depth cultural exploration that takes you back to the glamorous 1920s. Step inside historic Bund buildings and uncover the stories behind Shanghai's iconic waterfront. Then ascend Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building, for spectacular panoramic views of the city and a fascinating glimpse into China's future.
HIGHLIGHT
The Bund
EXPERIENCE
1920s Shanghai
PANORAMA Shanghai Tower
Departure from Shanghai — Shanghai
As your China journey comes to an end, your private vehicle, driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport. Your guide will accompany you and assist you through the airport departure process before saying goodbye and wishing you a pleasant journey home.
TRANSFER
Private Airport Transfer
SERVICE
Guide & Airport Assistance
DEPARTURE Shanghai
WHAT'S INCLUDED

Everything
taken care of.

From carefully selected accommodation to domestic transportation and attraction tickets, the essential elements of your China journey are arranged for you.

01

HOTELS

Carefully selected accommodations in convenient locations, chosen to complement the journey.

02

GUIDE

Experienced English-speaking local guides who provide context, assistance and local insight.

03

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION

Comfortable private vehicles with professional drivers for your scheduled journey.

04

TICKETS

Entrance tickets and scheduled reservations included according to the itinerary.

05

DOMESTIC TRANSPORTATION

Internal travel such as high-speed trains and domestic flights, where included in the itinerary.

GOOD TO KNOW

The following items remain outside the package so you can keep flexibility over your international travel and personal choices.

International flights
Visa fees
Travel insurance
Meals (unless specified)
Tips
Personal expenses
WHY SUNDA TRAVEL

China, handled beautifully.

A great journey is not only about where you go. It is about how effortlessly everything comes together.

From arrival to departure, our local team coordinates the essential details so you can focus on experiencing China.

01

Local Expertise

Travel with a team that knows China from the inside — its destinations, culture, logistics and the details that make a journey feel effortless.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
02

Seamless Connections

From high-speed rail to domestic flights and private transfers, every connection is carefully coordinated so your journey flows naturally from one destination to the next.

SMART LOGISTICS
03

Comfortable Stays

Stay in carefully selected four-star hotels in convenient locations, with breakfast included to give you a comfortable start to every day.

HANDPICKED STAYS
04

Support Along the Way

With professional guides, arranged transportation and a local team behind your journey, you have reliable support whenever you need it.

LOCAL SUPPORT
SUNDA TRAVEL
ONE LOCAL TEAM

One carefully coordinated journey, designed around your experience of China.

13 DAYS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything you need to know before you go.

A few practical answers about accommodation, transportation, inclusions and the details of your 13-day China journey.
STILL PLANNING? Have a question about this journey?
TALK TO SUNDA
READY TO TRAVEL

Thirteen days. One extraordinary China.

From imperial Beijing and ancient Xi'an to Chengdu's giant pandas, Chongqing's mountain-city culture and Shanghai's skyline, discover China through one carefully arranged private journey.

13 DAYS COMPLETE JOURNEY
05 CITIES CHINA HIGHLIGHTS
01 JOURNEY PRIVATE TRAVEL
FROM
$ 1,700 PER PERSON
INCLUDED Essential journey services
Four-Star Comfort Hotels Guide Service Private Transportation Attraction Tickets Domestic Transportation Domestic Insurance

International flights, visa, international insurance, lunch and dinner, guide and driver tips, and personal expenses are not included.