14-Day China Tour Great Wall, Yangtze Cruise & Chongqing

Discover the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with nearly 1,000 buildings, grand halls, and defensive walls. Built in the 15th century, it showcases imperial architecture, traditional Chinese craftsmanship, and fascinating history—a must-visit Beijing landmark and heritage site.

Stroll through the enchanting Summer Palace, China’s largest royal garden. Cruise across Kunming Lake, admire the marble boat, and walk the world’s longest painted corridor. With over 3,000 ancient structures, it’s a tranquil blend of nature and imperial grandeur—perfect for a Beijing sightseeing day.

The Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Mutianyu Village, Bohai Town, Huairou District, Beijing, 73 kilometers away from the city center. It is known as the "Great Wall of Ten Thousand Miles, Mutianyu is the only one". The Mutianyu Great Wall, with a total length of 5400 meters, is the longest Great Wall in China and one of the sixteen scenic spots in Beijing. In the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368), the Mutianyu Great Wall was built under the supervision of General Xu Da, a subordinate of Zhu Yuanzhang, on the site of the Northern Qi Great Wall.
Mutianyu Great Wall is the essence of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. This section of the Great Wall connects the Gubeikou in the east and Juyongguan in the west. Since ancient times, it has been a military important place to defend the capital, with Zhengguan Platform, Dajiaolou, eagle flying upside down and other landscapes. The wall of the Great Wall remains intact, which better reflects the ancient charm of the Great Wall, and has profound historical value and high cultural value.

On the way back to the city in the late afternoon, you'll pass by the Olympic Bird Nest and Water Cube.

Visit the Ming Tombs, final resting place of 13 Ming emperors, and stroll along the Sacred Way guarded by majestic stone statues. This UNESCO-listed site offers a profound journey through imperial history and traditional feng shui design—one of Beijing’s most impressive heritage attractions.

Temple of Heaven Park, formerly known as "Temple of Heaven and Earth", is located at No. 7 Dongli, Temple of Heaven, Dongcheng District, Beijing. It was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1420) and renamed "Temple of Heaven" in the 9th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1530). It was the site for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to "worship heaven" and "pray for valleys", with a total area of 273 hectares. It is the largest existing ancient sacrificial building complex in China and the largest and most well preserved ancient sacrificial building complex in the world. On January 1, 1918, it was designated as Temple of Heaven Park and opened to the public

Explore Beijing’s historic hutongs, narrow lanes that reflect ancient Chinese Feng Shui and community life. Stroll past traditional Siheyuan courtyards, watch locals playing mah-jong, and soak in the old-world charm. Perfect for cultural exploration and photography in Beijing’s living history districts.

Marvel at the Terracotta Warriors, Qin Shi Huang’s army entombed to protect him in the afterlife. Each life-sized warrior has unique facial features and uniforms. Visit the nearby art ceramics and lacquer factory for souvenirs—a world-renowned archaeological treasure.

Stroll through Xi’an Muslim Quarter inside the city wall. Explore narrow lanes filled with local stalls, Islamic food shops, and vibrant street life—a sensory and cultural experience reflecting Xi’an’s Silk Road heritage.

Walk through the magical Reed Flute Cave, a limestone wonder illuminated by colorful lights. Admire stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and natural formations shaped over thousands of years. This top Guilin attraction combines geology, artistry, and legend—offering a surreal and unforgettable experience.

After arriving in Yangshuo, bid farewell to the great river and immerse yourself in the peaceful countryside, experiencing a slow life.
Cycling Ten Mile Gallery: Rent a bicycle or electric bike and shuttle between rice fields, bamboo forests, and karst peaks, passing through attractions such as the banyan tree and Moon Mountain on Ctrip.
Yulong River Bamboo Raft Drifting: On the "Little Li River" Yulong River, ride on artificial bamboo rafts and drift across ancient bridges and fields, experiencing a more tranquil landscape poetry than the Li River on Ctrip.

take a leisurely stroll through lively West Street. The street is pedestrian-only, flat and lined with cafés, shops and restaurants. Take your time to wander, browse for souvenirs, or relax in a quiet café with a cup of tea. Yangshuo's laid-back atmosphere and beautiful surroundings make it a perfect place to unwind before being transferred to your senior-friendly hotel for check-in and rest.

Mopanshan Wharf - Longtoushan Wharf

Sail from Guilin to Yangshuo on the iconic Li River. Glide past dramatic karst peaks, serene fishing villages, and verdant paddies. This four-hour cruise captures the essence of southern China’s natural beauty and rural lifestyle, offering photographers and travelers unforgettable scenery along one of the world’s most picturesque rivers.

Shancheng Lane is located in Liangtingzi Community, Nanjimen Street, Yuzhong District, Chongqing City. It borders Chongqing Ganxiu to the north, Nanqu Road to the south, Zhongxing Road to the east, and Shibanpo Interchange to the west. The total land area is 5.15 hectares, including about 2.34 hectares of core protection area and about 2.81 hectares of landscape improvement area. Its history can be traced back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its original name was Tiandeng Lane (named after the French missionaries who set up lamps for lighting in 1900), which was renamed to its current name in 1972. It still has buildings such as the old city wall from the early Ming Dynasty, the consulate during the opening of ports, the Anti Japanese War stilt house, and the Shanghai style stone gate, covering various types of buildings from the Ming Dynasty to the establishment of New China. It is known as the "Architecture Museum" of Chongqing. In 2015, it was listed as one of the 28 traditional style areas in Chongqing, and in 2021, it was included in the second batch of historical place names protection list in Chongqing

A must-see marvel in Chongqing! Witness the mind-bending moment when Light Rail Line 2 seamlessly roars through the heart of a residential high-rise. It's not just public transit; it's a stunning fusion of the city's mountainous terrain and ingenious urban planning. Capture this iconic spectacle—the ultimate symbol of Chongqing's "8D magic."

Goose Ridge Park, formerly known as Liyuan or Yiyuan, is located on Goose Ridge Main Street in Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 4.3 kilometers away from the city center. It is named after its steep mountain range where the Yangtze River and Jialing River cross, resembling the neck of an goose. Founded in the first year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1909), it was built by salt merchant Li Heyang for his father Li Yaoting
The Goose Ridge Park consists of landscapes such as Stone Rope Bridge, Yihui Garden, Kansheng Tower, Feige, and Martyrs' Tomb. Originally a private garden of the Li Yaoting family, it was donated to the government by descendants of the Li family in 1950 and later served as the headquarters of the Southwest Military Region. In 1957, Zhou Enlai proposed expansion, and in 1958, it was officially named Goose Ridge Park and opened to tourists. The Feige Pavilion in the park was built in 1939 and served as the residence of Chiang Kai shek, Soong Mei ling, and the British Embassy. The Guansheng Building was renamed from Liangjiang Pavilion in 1983. There are over 170 years old Huangge "Tree King" and more than 20 century old osmanthus trees preserved in the park.

The Erling Second Factory Cultural and Creative Park is located at No.1 Erling Main Street, Yuzhong District, Chongqing. Similar to traditional industrial buildings, it is a "courtyard" style enclosed structure with over 20 large and small factories and office buildings, forming a square and three streets, with a total construction area of 25000 square meters.
In 2015, the construction of the Erling Second Factory Cultural and Creative Park began. In June 2017, the "TESTBED2 Factory 2" cultural and creative park was officially opened. During the design and renovation process of the Erling Second Factory, the design team consistently followed a principle of "Do Not Over Design", which means "do not over design", hoping that "the charm of the old building itself will be expressed, and the new building will make it more interesting". The design team chose to respect and preserve historical legacy buildings in the design, adding some iconic structures and facilities outside the old buildings to jointly create the atmosphere of the cultural and creative park; Introducing functions such as office, commercial, cultural industries, and leisure tourism into old buildings, while reflecting specific regional historical and cultural characteristics, to create an "international boundaryless creative factory". The design team has planned three themes with "printing" based on the site space and building structure of Factory 2. In the final renovation plan, three main streets named "TEST" were formed - "Test Design", "Test Joy", "Test Spirit" - as well as two squares and nearly ten industrial buildings, which were divided into six commercial functional areas: cultural area, art area, design area, entertainment area, market area, and boutique hotel area. About 100 merchants were introduced and distributed in the original industrial buildings of the second factory, including leisure tourism, specialty catering, art museum, themed homestay, handicraft workshop, small theater, etc.

The Huguang Guild Hall is located at No.1 Bajiaoyuan, Changbin Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing. It was first built in the 24th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1759). The guild hall includes Huguang Guild Hall (also known as Sanchu Guild Hall), Guangdong Guild Hall, Qi'an Guild Hall (also known as Huangzhou Guild Hall), as well as some relics of Jiangxi Guild Hall and Jiangnan Guild Hall.
The Huguang Guild Hall faces north and south, covering an area of 18400 square meters. It consists of four architectural groups: the gatehouse stage, the Yu Palace, the Dongyue Hall, and the Temple Buddha Hall. Except for the gatehouse stage, front hall, middle hall, and back hall, the east-west side halls, two wings, book houses, gardens, and other buildings are arranged on the same central axis in a symmetrical and orderly manner. The buildings of Huguang Guild Hall mostly follow the layout of quadrangles in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and adopt different roof structures, such as hanging mountain, ound ridge roof, Xieshan and other forms. They not only inherit the typical architectural styles of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei and Jiangnan, but also integrate the traditional architectural features of Chongqing. It is a representative of southern architectural art during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, and also the largest existing ancient guild hall complex in China.

Board a cruise ship at Chongqing's iconic Chaotianmen Pier and embark on an unforgettable journey along the Yangtze River. Nestled at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, this historic pier offers panoramic views of Chongqing's dramatic skyline—where modern skyscrapers stand beside traditional architecture. As you set sail, you'll glide past stunning gorges, lush green shores, and charming riverside villages, soaking in the natural beauty and cultural heritage of China's longest river. Whether you're seeking relaxation, adventure, or a deep dive into local culture, a Yangtze cruise from Chaotianmen Pier promises a seamless blend of comfort and discovery, with world-class amenities on board and breathtaking scenery at every turn.

Morning: Tai Chi on deck

Fengdu Ghost City, formerly known as Fengdu Ghost City and formerly known as "Bazi Biedu", was established as a county in the second year of Yongyuan by Emperor He of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It has a history of nearly 2000 years and is located on the north bank of the Yangtze River in Fengdu County, downstream of Chongqing City. It faces Fengdu New County across the river and covers an area of 0.45 square kilometers.
In 1958, during the "Great War on Steel", some steel statues and cultural relics such as Zhong Pan on the mountain were smashed into scrap metal for "steelmaking". In 1966, the cultural relics of Mingshan were destroyed by the Red Guards and others, and all kinds of statues were completely destroyed. In 1981, the "Ghost City" tourist attraction was built in Fengdu, Chongqing. Fengdu Guicheng Famous Mountains include Fengdu Famous Mountains, Guiguo Divine Palace, and Shuanggui Mountain. There are numerous ancient temples on the mountain, with a total of 27 temples. The Ghost Kingdom Shrine, built by later generations, is a dynamic artificial landscape that uses modern methods such as sound, light, motion, electricity, sculpture, and laser to vividly display nearly 200 "ghost" stories from the "Ghost City" in Fengdu. Shuanggui Mountain faces the famous mountains, and the main attractions include Luming Temple, Su Gong Temple, Enlai Pavilion, Confucius Temple, etc

Morning: Tai Chi on deck

Shennu Creek is located on the south bank of the Yangtze River in Wushan County, Chongqing. It originates from Guandu Town and flows downstream into the Yangtze River in Qingshi Town. The total length is about 15 kilometers and it is a national 4A level tourist attraction. It is located at the west entrance of Wuxia, adjacent to Shennu Peak. Due to the water storage project, it has formed a Pinghu reflux landscape, and the original canyon style still exists.
On both sides of the stream, there are twelve peaks of Wushan, including Cuiping and Feifeng. Ancient glacier relics and natural stone mortar groups exist between the peaks and valleys, and the natural words "Wushan Cloud" in brown and yellow can be seen on the cliffs. The canyon combines the grandeur of the Three Gorges with the wonder of the Little Three Gorges, and the core landscape of the Jingtan Peak Scenic Area is composed of the "Great Man Peak" and karst landforms. Vertical climate zones bring unique cloud and mist landscapes, while drifting river sections and primitive dense forests enhance exploration experiences

The Three Gorges Dam is located in the Three Gorges Dam Tourist Area of Sandouping Town, Yiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province. It is situated in the Xiling Gorge section of the Yangtze River, at the eastern end of the Three Gorges Reservoir, with a controlled drainage area of approximately 1 million square kilometers. Founded in 1994, it integrates flood control, power generation, shipping, and water resource utilization. It is the main project of the Three Gorges Hydropower Station, the core landscape of the Three Gorges Dam Tourist Area, and one of the largest water conservancy hub buildings in the world today.
The Three Gorges Dam is mainly composed of the main dam body for water retention and flood discharge, power generation buildings, navigation buildings, etc. The dam body is a concrete gravity dam with a dam axis length of 2309.47 meters and a total length of 2335 meters; The dam crest elevation is 185 meters, and the maximum dam height is 181 meters; The normal water level is 175 meters, with a total storage capacity of 39.3 billion cubic meters, including a flood control storage capacity of 22.15 billion cubic meters; The total installed capacity of power generation is 22.5 million kilowatts, and the annual power generation exceeds 100 billion kilowatt hours. The Three Gorges Dam can improve the navigation conditions of the Yangtze River, increasing its annual one-way navigation capacity from 10 million tons to 50 million tons and reducing transportation costs by 35% -37%.

Explore the Shanghai Museum at People’s Square, home to a vast collection of ancient Chinese art across five floors. Designed to resemble a traditional Ding vessel, it’s an essential cultural stop for visitors seeking history, art, and Shanghai heritage.

The Shanghai French Concession was a French concession established in Shanghai from 1849 to 1943, and was the largest of the four French concessions in China in terms of area. Its initial area covered 986 acres, and after multiple expansions, it reached 15000 acres by 1914. The concession is famous for French wutong street trees, Parisian style building planning and independent municipal management system. Jinling East Road, as the first major road in the French concession, has become a commercial center. The building's exterior walls are mostly marked with municipal facilities marked with the words "CMF".
After the establishment of the French Concession in 1849, the Shanghai Anglo American French Land Charter was signed in 1854 to break away from the joint concession system. In 1869, the autonomy was established through the Organizational Charter of the Public Council. During the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, it was not occupied by the Japanese army due to the deterrence of the French navy. In 1943, it was transferred from the Vichy French regime to the Wang puppet government and ended. There are police agencies such as the Marand Police Station located within the concession. The authorities of the French Concession had protected the publication of revolutionary publications and participated in mediating cases related to prominent residences of the Kuomintang. The Provisional Government of South Korea was established in the Shanghai French Concession in 1919 and set up offices in multiple locations within the concession. Among them, No. 4, Lane 306, Madang Road was its longest used and most well preserved office.

Explore Yu Gardens, a classic Ming Dynasty garden built as a retirement gift for Pan Yunduan’s father. Stroll past koi ponds, jade rocks, and ornate pavilions while soaking in traditional Chinese landscaping. A peaceful Shanghai cultural experience perfect for photography and history lovers.

Stroll along the Bund to admire Shanghai’s colonial architecture, from 1850s trade houses to glamorous 1920s Art Deco buildings. This waterfront promenade showcases the city’s rich history and cultural heritage, contrasting with the futuristic Pudong skyline—an iconic Shanghai attraction for photography and history lovers.