13-Day China Tour for University Students

Arrival — Welcome to Beijing
Upon landing at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), your dedicated guide will greet you in the arrivals area just outside the luggage claim, holding a sign that clearly displays your name. A private vehicle will transfer you to your hotel, and your guide will assist with check-in and offer a brief orientation. After your long flight, take a well-deserved rest and relax.

Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure as you settle in after your journey.

Accommodation
Your guide assists with check-in at your hotel in Beijing.

Morning — Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square ranks among the largest public squares in the world, and in imperial times it served as the entrance to the imperial city, used for issuing royal edicts and for grand celebrations such as imperial weddings. Stroll from the square to the Forbidden City, also called the Palace Museum, which served as the residence of 24 emperors and their households and as the ceremonial and political heart of the imperial government. Beyond its magnificent architecture, you can uncover the stories of the royal household that lived within its walls.

Afternoon — Hutong Tour
The hutongs, akin to a maze, are historic alleyways lined with countless traditional courtyard houses, and in many locals' minds Beijing is inextricably linked with them. These lanes serve as a living museum of folk customs, bearing witness to the city's past. You can stroll on foot, rent a bicycle, or hire a rickshaw to explore them, and on this tour you will wander the narrow alleys and join the dumpling-making process with a local family at home. As an optional activity, you can also learn to paint a Peking Opera face mask from a skilled artisan.

Evening — Peking Roast Duck
In the evening, you will savor an authentic Peking Roast Duck dinner at a renowned restaurant.

Morning — Temple of Heaven and Tai Chi
The Temple of Heaven stands as a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture and is the largest religious complex in the world dedicated to heaven worship, where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed rituals to pray for good harvests. Its circular halls and landscaped grounds are a marvel of design and symbolism. Visiting at dawn reveals a surprising number of locals engaging in morning exercises, and you can watch and join them in practicing Tai Chi, experiencing the serene rhythm of daily life in Beijing.

Cultural Insight
The complex was completed in 1420, and its Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a circular timber structure built without a single nail, has become a symbol of the city.

Afternoon — Mutianyu Great Wall
A visit to the Great Wall is a must on any itinerary. Among the best-preserved sections, Mutianyu once served as a formidable northern defense protecting the capital and the imperial tombs, with a history spanning over 1,400 years. Surrounded by lush grasslands and dense forests, it is often called the most beautiful part of the Wall, and the area resembles a garden perched atop a mountain. You can hike the most stunning stretch between Towers 14 and 20, or take the cable car up and down for convenience.

Evening — Water Cube and Bird's Nest
After such a long hike, the evening schedule is more relaxed: on the way back to your hotel you will pass the Water Cube and the Bird's Nest, both landmarks of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Morning — The Summer Palace
With its magnificent buildings, charming scenery, and tumultuous history, the Summer Palace is a wonderful place to explore. Originally an imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty, it was later extensively expanded and renovated under the direction of Empress Dowager Cixi, who spent summers here, entertained guests, and received foreign envoys. Stroll the Long Corridor, a painted gallery that ends at the Marble Boat, and climb Longevity Hill for sweeping views over the lake and the surrounding Fragrant Hills.

Afternoon — High-Speed Train to Xi'an
After lunch, you will board the high-speed train for a journey of 1,216 kilometers to Xi'an. About four hours later you will arrive at Xi'an North Railway Station, where your driver and guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Evening — Arrival in Xi'an
After check-in, you can take a rest or take an easy walk around the city at your leisure.

Accommodation
Your guide assists with check-in at your hotel in Xi'an.

Morning — Terracotta Army and Clay Warrior Workshop
The Terracotta Army was built to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (221–206 BC), the first emperor of a unified China. The subterranean escort he commissioned includes thousands of life-sized warriors, along with chariots, horses, and weapons, each figure uniquely crafted with distinct facial features; four pits have been excavated so far, and many figures remain buried. Your guide will lead you through the pits, explaining the discovery, construction techniques, and historical significance of this extraordinary find. Afterward, you will have the chance to craft a clay warrior yourself at a local artisan's workshop set within a cave dwelling.

Cultural Insight
The terracotta figures were originally painted in vivid colors, but most of the pigment faded within minutes of exposure to air after excavation.

Afternoon — Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Hanfu Experience
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was first built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty by the monk Xuan Zang as a repository for the Buddhist scriptures and relics he had brought back from the West. It began with five stories, was later expanded under Empress Wu Zetian, and after damage in war stands today as a seven-story brick tower; from the top visitors enjoy a spectacular view of the city. At a local Hanfu experience center, you can choose a set of traditional robes and period makeup, then continue your day in costume — a memorable way to step back into the Tang Dynasty.

Evening — Datang Everbright City
In the evening, dressed in Hanfu, you will continue to Datang Everbright City, a large pedestrian street lined with a cluster of Tang-style buildings. Stroll among the illuminated architecture and enjoy interactive experiences such as light shows and palace dancing performances, along with authentic local cuisine.

Morning — Xi'an Ancient City Wall
Today you will visit the 600-year-old Xi'an City Wall, one of the largest and best-preserved ancient military defense systems in the world, rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty on the foundation of the earlier Tang city wall. It stretches 13.7 kilometers in a rectangle around the old town and still retains its moat, drawbridges, ramparts, watchtowers, and crenellations. From atop the wall you can enjoy sweeping views of both the historic and modern districts, and cycling along it is a truly memorable experience.

Afternoon — Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque
Xi'an, the starting point of the famous Silk Road, has drawn traders from the West since the 1st century BC, and their descendants have long lived alongside the Han population. Spend the afternoon in the lively Muslim Quarter, browsing its exotic shops and restaurants and tasting the local cuisine and traditional markets. Nearby, the Great Mosque is one of the largest and best-preserved early mosques in China; by the 8th century Xi'an had become one of the world's largest cities, and this complex of pavilions, towers, and courtyards blends Islamic design with traditional Chinese architecture.

Evening — Muslim Quarter at Night
As night falls, the Muslim Quarter becomes one of the busiest places in the city, its streets lit and its food stalls in full swing. It is an ideal spot for an evening stroll and a bite of local cuisine.

Morning — Qianling Mausoleum
Qianling Mausoleum is the joint tomb of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty and Empress Wu Zetian, the only woman ever to rule China in her own name. Built in the 7th century on Mount Liang, it is one of the few major Tang imperial tombs never looted, and its Sacred Way is lined with stone lions, winged horses, and statues of foreign envoys. Your guide will walk you along the approach, explaining Tang burial customs and the site's place in Chinese imperial history.

Afternoon — Yuanjia Village and Zhangjia Mount
Yuanjia Village in central Shaanxi is celebrated as a model of rural tourism, preserving Ming- and Qing-style lanes, craft workshops, and old teahouses. You can wander at your own pace, sampling local snacks and watching artisans at work. Nearby, Zhangjia Mount offers a refreshing natural escape with hiking trails, lush greenery, and sweeping views across the Loess Plateau, along with the chance to see a traditional cave dwelling. The afternoon is flexible and can be arranged around your interests.

Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure, whether you relax at your hotel or explore the local area independently.

Morning — the Han Yangling Mausoleum
Drive north of the city to the Han Yangling Mausoleum, the tomb complex of Emperor Jing and his empress, built in the second century BC and excavated over the past thirty years. This is the Han counterpart to the Terracotta Army, and it is the better place of the two to see how a Han imperial burial actually worked: the mound is left as a mound, while the pits around it are viewed from a glass floor above, so the timber frames, the rows of miniature figures and the positions of the grave goods can still be read exactly as they were found.

Cultural Insight
The figures at Yangling are about a third of life size and were dressed in silk and armour rather than fired as painted statues, so what survives is the formation of an army rather than the army itself. The walkway built over the excavated pits here has since been used at other sites in China as a way of showing an excavation without covering it up again.

Afternoon — High-Speed Rail to Chengdu
Your guide assists with checkout and your private vehicle transfers you to Xi'an North station for the high-speed train to Chengdu. The line crosses the Qinling mountains and the Wei river plain, and the journey takes around three to four hours; your Chengdu guide meets you at the station.

Evening — Departure Transfer
At the appropriate time, your guide assists with checkout and your private vehicle transfers you to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport or the high-speed railway station for your onward journey. Your guide will confirm departure timing and ensure a smooth send-off.

Meals
Breakfast.

Morning — Giant Panda Base
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, established in 1987, is a world-renowned conservation center on the city's outskirts dedicated to the care and study of China's beloved giant pandas. Your group can observe pandas at close range — from cubs to adults — and learn how keepers feed them and prepare bamboo and panda cakes. Bring your camera for an intimate encounter with these adorable creatures.

Afternoon — Dujiangyan Irrigation System
About a 40-minute drive away, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System is an ancient engineering marvel built around 256 BC by the Qin statesman Li Bing and his son. As the world's oldest non-dam irrigation works, it still regulates the Min River and sustains the Chengdu Plain today — a testament to over 2,200 years of ingenuity. Your guide will explain how its fish-mouth levee and channeling design turned flood-prone land into a fertile heartland.

Evening — At Your Leisure
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure — you may rest at the hotel or explore the nearby surroundings on your own.

Morning — Wuhou Memorial Temple and Jinli Ancient Street
Located in the southern part of Chengdu, the Wuhou Memorial Temple was built in honor of Zhuge Liang, the Martial Marquis of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period. Among the Wuhou memorial temples across China, the one in Chengdu holds the greatest significance, being the only one dedicated to both King Liu Bei and his esteemed prime minister Zhuge Liang, whose loyalty and strategy are celebrated as a model of Chinese statesmanship. Leaving the temple, you will begin exploring Jinli Ancient Street, a modern commercial pedestrian street integrated with buildings originally constructed during the Qing Dynasty. Along the way you will find exquisite lacquerware, folk handicrafts, Shu Embroidery and calligraphy, along with puppet theater performances and craftsmen selling paper-cuts and clay figurines, all of which offer a glimpse of the authentic local way of life.

Afternoon — Kuanzhai Lane and Shu Brocade
In the afternoon, your destination is Kuanzhai Lane, known as China's Lane, which blends the architectural features of northern Chinese courtyard houses with those of traditional dwellings in western Sichuan across three parallel alleys: Kuan Lane, Zhai Lane and Jing Lane. Sipping tea in a local teahouse or tasting Sichuan dishes and snacks here is an easy way to immerse yourself in Chengdu's leisure life, with well-preserved traditional buildings in Zhai Lane for lovers of architecture and a livelier blend of Chinese and Western influences in Jing Lane. You will also encounter Shu Brocade, a traditional silk fabric unique to Sichuan renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and vibrant colors, and a visit to a Shu Embroidery workshop shows the intricate processes involved, from silk thread preparation to the final weaving and embroidery. If you would prefer to slow down further, an optional alternative is Chengdu People's Park, where locals gather to play chess, practice Tai Chi and enjoy mahjong, and where a teahouse offers traditional Sichuan tea in a serene setting.

Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure in Chengdu.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
All three meals are included on this day.

Morning — Leshan Giant Buddha
Carved into Lingyun Hill during the Tang Dynasty and completed in 803 AD, the Leshan Giant Buddha stands 71 meters tall, making it the largest stone Buddha in the world. The statue sits at the confluence of the Min, Qingyi, and Dadu rivers, and is so immense that a person could sit on its smallest toenail. You can climb the stairways for a close-up view or take a river cruise to admire the full figure from below.

Afternoon — Flight to Shanghai
Take an afternoon flight after lunch to Shanghai, landing at Pudong or Hongqiao Airport, where your local guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel for rest.

Evening — At Your Leisure
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure — you may rest at the hotel or explore the nearby surroundings on your own.

Morning

Start with the over 400-year-old Yuyuan Garden, which the representative traditional Chinese garden in Shanghai. You will enjoy a splendid view of the intricate garden design and graceful pavilions, villa, lotus lake and bridges.

Then move to the adjacent Yuyuan Bazaar, which is a lively marketplace renowned for its traditional Chinese arts and crafts. You can peruse a variety of antiques, silk fans, bamboo items, shell carvings, and paintings, or savor some authentic Shanghai Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) to immerse yourself in a bit of Shanghai's cultural flavor.

The 600-year-old Temple of City God are also full of Chinese worldly liveliness, where will encounter numerous sculptures that embody various powerful Taoist immortals according to Chinese beliefs.

(Optional Activity: You can also choose to take a leisurely stroll through the Old French Concession and admire the charming buildings lining both sides of the street. Here, you can wander through quaint cafes, art galleries, and boutiques, immersing yourself in a unique blend of Chinese and French cultures.)

Afternoon

Nanjing Road, Shanghai's oldest and most bustling shopping street, also provides you with an array of comprehensive shopping malls and delectable restaurants.

Walk along the Nanjing Road to another must-do in Shanghai-Oriental Pearl Tower, which currently stands as the fifth tallest in the world and the third tallest in Asia.

Evening

Of course, in the evening, don't miss another symbolic landmark of Shanghai – The Bund, whicih is also an epitome of Shanghai's history. Here, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city's skyline, witness the essence of Shanghai that blends prosperity, history, and elegance. For your memorable dining experience, we highly recommend the renowned restaurants for an unforgettable dinner.

Morning — Chamber of Commerce Visit or Free Time
If you are interested in visiting the chamber of commerce or reputable foreign enterprises that your country has established in Shanghai, your guide will arrange it for this morning. Otherwise, on this final day of your China tour you are free to make your own arrangements, whether shopping for souvenirs or simply relaxing at the hotel and packing your bags.

Afternoon — Transfer for Departure
Your guide will accompany you to the airport for your flight to your next destination, assisting with luggage and check-in along the way.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
All three meals are included on this day.