China Odyssey: Ancient Capitals, Jiangnan Scenery, Mountain Cities & Giant Pandas

Welcome to Beijing, where your journey through China begins. After arrival, transfer to your hotel and settle in. The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight or enjoy an easy walk nearby. Stay overnight at your hotel in Beijing.

Begin at Tiananmen Square before entering the Forbidden City, where spacious courtyards and grand halls bring imperial Beijing into focus. Continue to Jingshan Park for a different perspective on the palace rooftops. Enjoy Peking duck for lunch, then slow the pace around Shichahai. Walk through the nearby Beijing hutongs, where narrow lanes and neighborhood scenes offer a more intimate impression of the capital.

Travel to the Mutianyu Great Wall, where stone ramparts follow the mountain ridges into the distance. Explore this celebrated stretch of wall and take in the changing views from its pathways and watchtowers. Back in Beijing, see the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, whose striking shapes recall the city's Olympic chapter. Round off the day with a walk along the Liangma River, enjoying a gentler pace beside the water.

Explore the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven, discovering two distinctive settings for Beijing's imperial heritage. Fly to Shanghai, where the mood shifts from historic gardens and ceremonial spaces to a bold modern city. Experience the Maglev Train, then visit the Bund, Shanghai Tower and Nanjing Road. From the riverfront to lively shopping streets, the day's contrasting scenes introduce another side of China before your overnight stay in Shanghai.

Discover a quieter side of Shanghai at Yu Garden, taking time to appreciate its pavilions, rockeries and garden views. Continue to Shanghai Museum, where Chinese art and cultural collections add depth to the city's story. Later, take a high-speed train to Hangzhou. The change of cities opens a new chapter in your journey, with time to settle into your hotel before tomorrow's exploration.

Begin beside West Lake, where open water and leafy shores set a gentle pace for the day. Visit Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak, bringing together Hangzhou's Buddhist heritage and wooded scenery. Continue to Longjing Tea Village for a closer look at the city's celebrated tea culture. Finish along Qinghefang Ancient Street, browsing traditional storefronts and enjoying the atmosphere of a lively historic neighborhood before returning to your hotel.

Spend the morning at Xixi National Wetland Park, enjoying a change of pace among waterways and greenery. Fly from Hangzhou to Chongqing, where steep hills and layers of urban life create a very different cityscape. In the evening, visit Chaotianmen, Raffles City Chongqing and Hongyadong. The waterfront setting and illuminated buildings offer a memorable introduction to Chongqing before you settle into your hotel.

Start at Eling Park for a sense of Chongqing's hills and layered cityscape. At Liziba Station, watch the monorail pass through a building, a striking example of the city's unusual urban setting. Continue to Jiefangbei for its bustling streets and shopping atmosphere. Finish at Shibati Traditional Scenic Area, where stairways and lanes invite a slower walk through the mountain city's distinctive street life.

Spend the morning in Ciqikou Ancient Town, exploring lanes lined with traditional buildings, teahouses and local shops. Take time to enjoy the neighborhood atmosphere and notice the small details along the streets. Later, board a high-speed train from Chongqing to Chengdu. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and settle in, ready to discover a city known for its relaxed pace and everyday pleasures.

Discover two contrasting experiences outside Chengdu. At Mount Qingcheng, green hills and a quieter atmosphere introduce the region's Taoist landscape. Continue to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, where the focus shifts from mountain scenery to the relationship between people and water. Together, the visits offer a rewarding look at nature, cultural traditions and practical ingenuity before you return to Chengdu for the evening.

Spend the day discovering Chengdu's appealing mix of wildlife and urban life. Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, then continue to People's Park for a taste of the city's relaxed neighborhood atmosphere. Explore Chunxi Road, where busy shopping streets reveal a more energetic side of Chengdu. Return to your hotel in the city, with time to enjoy the final evening of your journey.

Enjoy a relaxed start to your final day in Chengdu. Spend any remaining free time at your own pace before your arranged transfer from the hotel to the airport. Depart with memories of China's varied cities and landscapes. No overnight accommodation is included.