This 11-day Complete China & Panda Adventure Tour whisks you across five of China’s most iconic destinations: the imperial capital Beijing, ancient Terracotta Warriors home Xi’an, giant panda hub Chengdu, historic Nanjing, and bustling cosmopolitan Shanghai. Curated to deliver a well-rounded, immersive taste of everything China has to offer, this thoughtfully put-together tour stands out for its unbeatable value, excellent itinerary curation, and secure, trusted payment options for all travelers.
This 11-day cross-country journey kicks off in Beijing, China’s majestic northern imperial capital, where you’ll tick off bucket-list landmarks from the Great Wall to the Forbidden City before traveling west to Xi’an, the ancient Silk Road capital home to the legendary Terracotta Army. From Xi’an you’ll head southwest to lush Sichuan’s laid-back capital Chengdu for giant panda encounters, then travel east through the historic lower Yangtze region (including a stop at ancient Nanjing) to your final destination: dynamic, futuristic Shanghai. The route perfectly balances ancient history, wildlife adventure, and modern Chinese culture for a comprehensive, unforgettable introduction to the country.
Today you’ll arrive in buzzing Beijing and check into your hotel, with plenty of free time to settle in, explore your nearby neighborhood, or grab your first taste of authentic local street food before the official tour kickoff tomorrow. 🏨
Start your adventure with a welcome group meeting and tour briefing to answer all your questions and get you oriented for the days ahead. You’ll first visit Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square, before heading next door for a guided tour of the Forbidden City, the centuries-old walled palace complex where Chinese emperors ruled for hundreds of years. Your day wraps up with a visit to the stunning Temple of Heaven, a beautifully preserved imperial worship site surrounded by lush parkland. 🍽️ Today includes lunch at a charming traditional local restaurant serving a wide range of classic northern Chinese dishes.
Get ready for your most iconic day yet: a full guided trip to the stunning Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. You’ll glide up the mountainside via round-trip cable car, giving you plenty of time to walk along the ancient ramparts and soak up jaw-dropping views of the wall winding across the forested mountains. On your way back to the city, you’ll stop for photos at the iconic Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium, before ending your day with a leisurely 40-minute rickshaw ride through Beijing’s historic hutong alleyways, home to generations of local families.
Before departing Beijing, you’ll explore the beautiful Summer Palace, an imperial lakeside retreat dotted with ornate pavilions, traditional bridges, and lush gardens that once served as an escape from the summer heat for the imperial court. After your tour, you’ll sit down to a spread of iconic local Beijing specialties before boarding your transport to Xi’an, the ancient imperial capital of central China. 🍽️ Today includes breakfast and lunch featuring local regional specialties.
Spend the full day diving into Xi’an’s most famous attraction: the incredible Terracotta Army, thousands of life-sized clay warriors built to guard the tomb of the first Qin Emperor over 2,000 years ago. You’ll visit the farm home of Yang Zhifa, the local farmer who accidentally rediscovered the warriors in the 1970s, then get hands-on in a terracotta warrior making workshop where you can craft your own mini clay warrior to take home as a souvenir. Your day wraps up with a guided tour of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a magnificent 7th-century Buddhist landmark that holds ancient scriptures brought back from India. 🍽️ Tonight you’ll enjoy a delicious traditional dumpling dinner followed by a spectacular Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.
Today you’ll explore Xi’an’s well-preserved 14-kilometer ancient city wall, starting with scenic views from the leafy City Wall Park before a guided tour along the top of the wall, where you can look out over both the old and new sections of the city. After your tour, you’ll head to the lively Muslim Quarter, Xi’an’s most famous historic food neighborhood, for lunch at a beloved local restaurant serving a huge variety of traditional Hui and northern Chinese specialties. After lunch, you’ll explore the Great Mosque, a stunning 1,000-year-old place of worship that blends traditional Chinese and Islamic architectural styles. 🍽️ Today includes lunch at a popular local restaurant in the Muslim Quarter.
Today you’ll travel southwest from Xi’an to Chengdu, the laid-back capital of Sichuan province famous for spicy food, slow living, and its most beloved residents: giant pandas. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today, and you’ll have plenty of time to sit back, enjoy the changing scenery along the route, and settle into your Chengdu hotel once you arrive. 🏨
Today brings your highly anticipated giant panda encounter! You’ll start early (when pandas are most active!) with a guided visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can watch giant pandas and red pandas munch on bamboo and play in their lush, natural enclosures. After your panda visit, you’ll explore the historic Wide and Narrow Alleys, a beautifully restored neighborhood of Qing-dynasty courtyard homes now filled with charming shops, cafes, and street food stalls. Next, you’ll tour the Jinsha Site Museum, which displays 3,000-year-old ancient Shu culture relics excavated right in central Chengdu. End your day with a relaxing stop at Renmin Park, where you can join locals for a cup of traditional Sichuan tea.
Today you’ll travel east across China from Chengdu to Shanghai, China’s most dynamic modern metropolis and the final stop on your tour. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today, and you can relax during your journey before checking into your Shanghai hotel in the evening. 🏨
Spend your full day exploring the best of Shanghai, which perfectly blends ancient tradition and modern energy. Start with a guided tour of the world-class Shanghai Museum, home to one of the largest collections of ancient Chinese art and artifacts in the country. Next, you’ll wander through the iconic Yu Garden, a 400-year-old traditional classical garden full of winding paths, pavilions, and tranquil ponds, located in the heart of Shanghai’s old town. As the sun sets, you’ll board a one-hour Huangpu River cruise, where you can take in views of the glittering skyscraper skyline of Pudong and the historic colonial-era buildings of the Bund, all lit up for the night.
Your 11-day Chinese adventure comes to an end today after breakfast. You’ll check out of your hotel and head to the airport or your next travel destination, carrying unforgettable memories of your trip across China. 🍽️ Breakfast is included this morning.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
March 5, 2026
I loved how this tour balanced well-known highlights like the Great Wall in Beijing and the Terracotta Warriors with unexpected gems like Nanjing’s ancient city walls. The itinerary never felt rushed, and every detail was taken care of for us from start to finish.
January 22, 2026
I was nervous about planning my first trip to China, so booking this tour through HelloChinaTrip was the best decision I ever made. Our consultant Ethan answered all my last-minute questions before departure, and every single day of the itinerary went off without a hitch. I loved getting to experience five totally distinct sides of China, from modern Shanghai to ancient imperial Beijing, historic Nanjing, the awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, and of course the adorable pandas in Chengdu. Every guide shared fascinating local context that I never would have found on my own, and the pace was just right for 11 days. This is easily the most well-organized international tour I’ve ever joined.
May 8, 2025
My wife and I booked this adventure for our 20th anniversary trip, and it exceeded every one of our expectations. We got to experience thousands of years of Chinese history alongside the energy of modern Chinese cities all in less than two weeks. The panda encounter in Chengdu was everything we dreamed of, and the Terracotta Warriors left us completely speechless in person. If you want to see the best of China without the stress of planning every train and ticket yourself, this tour is absolutely worth booking.
April 30, 2025
This tour does an amazing job of packing all of China’s most iconic destinations into a manageable 11-day itinerary. All of our local guides were fantastic and the accommodations were very comfortable. The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is that we traveled during the May Day holiday peak season, so all major attractions were much more wonderful than we anticipated, which cut into our exploring time a bit.
March 12, 2025
This 11-day Complete China & Panda Adventure Tour was the best travel experience I’ve ever had.
December 18, 2024
Getting up close to giant pandas in Chengdu was the absolute highlight of my trip. Every stop from Shanghai’s glittering skyline to Xi’an’s incredible Terracotta Warriors was perfectly scheduled and led by knowledgeable local guides. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to China.
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