3-City Cultural Journey

Tiananmen Square

Located in the heart of Beijing, Tiananmen Square is one of the world’s largest urban central squares (about 440,000 square meters). It houses landmarks like the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, and the National Museum of China, and is a symbol of China’s history and national unity, famous for events like the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China.

The Forbidden City (Palace Museum)

Situated north of Tiananmen Square, this former imperial palace served 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Covering 720,000 square meters with over 9,000 rooms, it features strict symmetrical architecture and a vast collection of cultural relics. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a masterpiece of ancient Chinese imperial architecture.

Temple of Heaven

A 600-year-old imperial sacrificial complex in southern Beijing, the Temple of Heaven was where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests. Covering 2.73 million square meters, its key structures (e.g., Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Circular Mound Altar) reflect "Heaven is round, Earth is square" cosmology. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a serene cultural landmark.

Mutianyu Great Wall: Located in Huairou District of Beijing, it is one of the well-preserved sections of the Great Wall. Boasting a vegetation coverage rate of up to 96%, it is surrounded by lush greenery all year round, with beautiful natural scenery. Compared with some other crowded sections, it usually has fewer tourists, offering a more comfortable visiting experience. It is equipped with complete facilities such as cable cars for ascending and slides for descending, which are friendly to tourists of different ages and physical conditions. As a representative section of the Great Wall, it has received many foreign heads of state, bearing important cultural and diplomatic significance.

Bird's Nest (National Stadium): Situated in the southern part of the central area of Beijing Olympic Park, it was the core stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Covering a total area of 20.4 hectares and with a construction area of 258,000 square meters, it can accommodate about 91,000 spectators. Its most distinctive feature is the unique steel structure exterior, which looks like a huge bird's nest, combining modern architectural aesthetics and technological sense. After the Olympic Games, it has been reused for large-scale events such as sports competitions, concerts and cultural shows, becoming an iconic landmark of Beijing's modern urban landscape.

Beijing Hutongs: These are the traditional alleyways unique to Beijing, with a history tracing back to the Yuan Dynasty and further developed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. They crisscross the old urban area of Beijing, connecting countless quadrangle courtyards with gray bricks and tiles. Each Hutong has its own name and story, some named after historical figures, some after local industries, and some after geographical features. Walking through the Hutongs, you can see the simple life scenes of old Beijing: elderly people chatting under the old trees, children playing in the alleys, and small shops selling authentic Beijing snacks. They are not only the carrier of Beijing's traditional architecture but also the living witness of the city's historical and cultural heritage, embodying the unique lifestyle and humanistic atmosphere of old Beijing.

Beijing Panda House: Located within Beijing Zoo at No. 137 Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, it was newly built in 1989 as a "gift project" for the 11th Asian Games in 1990. Designed based on the "topology" principle of traditional Chinese gardens, its structure resembles bamboo shoots and was once selected as one of Beijing’s "Top Ten Buildings". It houses multiple giant pandas, with exhibition rooms and outdoor activity areas divided for adult, young, and mother - cub pandas. Equipped with complete facilities and a popular science interactive exhibition area, it is an ideal place to watch giant pandas and learn about their conservation.

Summer Palace: First constructed in 1750, it is situated at No. 19 Xinjian Gongmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing, and is a large - scale imperial garden. Originally named "Qingyiyuan", it was burned down by the Anglo - French Allied Forces in 1860 and rebuilt in 1886 before being renamed. Covering an area of 3.009 square kilometers, with water accounting for approximately three - quarters of its total area, it centers on Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake and can be divided into the imperial court area, the front hill and front lake scenic area, the back hill and back lake scenic area, etc. The garden features numerous well - known attractions such as the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Seventeen - Arch Bridge, and the Long Corridor, and houses over 40,000 cultural relics. It was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1961 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998.

Terracotta Army: One of the Eight Wonders of the World, it is the burial pit of Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum. Thousands of terracotta figures with distinct shapes showcase the grandeur of the Qin Dynasty's military formation, epitomizing the Qin Dynasty's military and art.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda: A World Cultural Heritage site, built in the Tang Dynasty by Xuanzang to preserve Buddhist scriptures. The seven-story square pagoda combines Chinese and Indian architectural styles, with precious Tang Dynasty stone inscriptions stored on its ground floor. The musical fountain at its North Square is a popular attraction.

City Wall Park (Xi'an): A 14.7km ecological corridor around Xi'an's Ming Dynasty City Wall. It integrates the city wall, moat and green belt, open 24/7 for free. Ideal for walking or cycling to enjoy the blend of history and nature.

Xi'an Great Mosque: A classic example of Chinese Islamic architecture near the Bell and Drum Towers. Built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, it has a quadrangle layout and houses treasures like a Ming-era handwritten Qur'an. A national key cultural relics site.

Shaanxi History Museum: China's first modern national museum, free to visit. It has over 1.7 million cultural relics, with bronze wares (Shang-Zhou), pottery figurines, Tang murals and gold/silver wares as highlights.

Take the high-speed train to Chengdu today and experience the speed of China's high-speed rail

Giant Panda Breeding Research Base: A key base for giant panda conservation in Chengdu. It houses many pandas (including cubs) in a habitat similar to their wild environment, ideal for observing their daily activities like eating bamboo and playing.

Kuanzhai Alleys: Historic lanes in Chengdu, consisting of Kuan Alley, Zhai Alley and Jing Alley. Lined with traditional Sichuan-style courtyards, they offer local snacks, tea houses and handicrafts, showing old Chengdu’s lifestyle.

Jinsha Site Museum: A museum built on the Jinsha Ruins (ancient Shu civilization site) in Chengdu. It displays relics like the "Golden Sun Bird" (a symbol of Chengdu), jade articles and ivory carvings, presenting the 3,000-year-old Shu culture.

People’s Park: A well-known public park in central Chengdu. Famous for its "Heming Tea House" (where you can try Sichuan’s "covered-bowl tea"), it’s a great spot for locals and visitors to relax, chat or enjoy the peaceful garden scenery.

The tour guide will pick you up at the airport and start our Shanghai tour

Shanghai Museum: A top museum in downtown Shanghai, famous for its rich collection of Chinese cultural relics—highlights include ancient bronzes, calligraphy, paintings, and porcelain. Its modern architecture blends with traditional elements, offering a deep dive into China’s art and history.

Yu Garden: A classical Chinese garden in Shanghai’s old town, built in the Ming Dynasty. It features exquisite pavilions, rockeries, ponds, and winding corridors. Surrounded by the bustling Yuyuan Bazaar, it’s perfect for experiencing traditional garden aesthetics and local snacks.

Bund Boat Tour: A popular way to admire Shanghai’s skyline. Cruising along the Huangpu River, you’ll see iconic landmarks: the historic Bund (with 52 Western-style buildings) on one side and the futuristic Lujiazui skyscrapers (like Oriental Pearl Tower) on the other, especially stunning at night.

Today is the day to go back, have a nice trip