Modern Shanghai & Chengdu’s Giant Pandas

Experience the cultural diversity of China by high-speed train. Explore the mix of new and old in dazzling Shanghai, and stroll along the Bund. In Beijing, discover the Forbidden City and walk on the mighty Great Wall. Head to Xi'an, the heartland of the ancient dynasties, to admire the Terracotta Warriors and visit leafy Chengdu to meet the endangered pandas.

Day 1 - International Flight

Arrive at your Canada departure airport*, ready to board your flight to China. Night on board.
 

Day 2 - Shanghai

Arrive in dazzling Shanghai and transfer to the hotel. Shanghai is the largest of all Chinese cities and is known for its futuristic buildings, culinary scene and importance as a global financial centre. Spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure. Overnight stay in Shanghai.

Day 3 - Shanghai

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, take a walking tour of Nanjing road and the Bund neighbourhood to get to know Shanghai's diverse neighbourhoods. Next, visit a silk showroom before heading into the bustling Old City Bazaar for a taste of the local culture. Return to the hotel and in the afternoon, we recommend an optional half-day city tour.* In the evening you have the option to enjoy an acrobatic show.** Overnight stay in Shanghai.

*Optional Shanghai Highlights tour: Discover the highlights of Shanghai including the Shanghai Historical Museum, where you will learn about the origins of this fomer trading outpost which has grown to be the cosmopolitan megalopolis that you can see today. Also, visit the Pudong area and enjoy an included entrance to the second sphere of the iconic Jinmao Tower or Shanghai Tower.

**Optional Acrobatic Show: Experience one of the world's oldest performing arts as you are immersed in an evening of culture and entertainment. 

Day 4 - Shanghai 

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, shopping in one of the many shopping centres, strolling around colonial Bund or sampling the street food. Otherwise, we recommend an optional tour of Suzhou Gardens* or a Huangpu River Cruise later in the evening.**  Overnight stay in Shanghai.

*Optional Suzhou day tour: Discover the timeless charm of Suzhou, known as the “Venice of the East.” Visit the elegant Lingering Garden, a masterpiece of classical Chinese landscaping, then wander at your own pace through the lively and historic Shantang Street. Enjoy a scenic canal boat ride surrounded by traditional architecture and local life before continuing to the iconic Tiger Hill, one of Suzhou’s most celebrated landmarks, with the possibility of arriving by boat for a truly authentic experience.

**Optional Huangpu River cruise: View the city's skyline from the comfort of the river cruiser as you enjoy an evening of spectacular views. 

Day 5 - Shanghai - Beijing

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station to catch a bullet train to Beijing in 2nd class seats. Arrive in Beijing, the enormous capital of China, famed for its ancient sites such as the iconic Forbidden City, and as being the gateway to some of the most visited portions of the Great Wall. Transfer to the hotel for checkin and free time in the evening. Overnight stay in Beijing.

Important note: The bullet train journey Shanghai - Beijing takes around 4-5h. Your guide will escort you to the train platform in Shanghai and the next guide will wait for you in Beijing station. There will be no guide present on board of the train. There is no Wifi connection on the train. 

Day 6 -  Beijing

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, enjoy a tour of the fantastic Temple of Heaven, a religious complex used by the emperors of the Qing and Ming dynasties. Here you might have the opportunity to watch the locals practising Tai Chi in the tranquil surroundings. Afterwards, visit a local pearl showroom for an insight into the production of these precious jewels. Return to the hotel and spend the afternoon at your leisure. We recommend an optional Hutong tour* through central Beijing. Overnight stay in Beijing. 

*Optional excursion to Shichahai Hutong & Lama Temple: Hop on a rickshaw, the most popular form of transportation in the traditional neighborhoods, and visit Bell Tower and Drum Tower from the outside before stepping into one of the local Siheyuan courtyard houses of Hutong to learn about Chinese paper cutting. Finally, visit the Lama Temple, also known as the Yonghe Temple, which is considered as the largest and most perfectly preserved Buddhist monastery in present-day Beijing.

Day 7 - Beijing

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on an exciting excursion to the best-preserved section of the Great Wall of China. The Juyongguan section is the most visited part of the wall and is the best representation of the former splendour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of unimaginable length, the wall can be seen from space. On the way, admire the countryside and stop at an impressive Jade exhibition, where you will learn about the traditional significance of this precious stone. Arrive at the Great Wall where you have time to learn about the history of the wall and enjoy walking on this ancient relic of the past. On the way back to Beijing, visit a traditional Chinese Medicine factory. Return to Beijing and stop at the famous Olympic Park, where you can admire the beautifully architected Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Centre. Transfer to the hotel. We recommend an optional Golden Mask Show, a beautiful cultural performance.* Overnight stay in Beijing.

*Optional Golden Mask show: Set in the Golden Mask Dynasty, a legendary age in China, the story tells the story of a queen, who wears a golden mask, and creates a splendid dynasty. It is a fabulous insight into China's history and arts. 

Day 8 - Beijing

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day exploring Beijing at your leisure, visiting the sights or delving into the fabulous cuisine. Alternatively, we recommend an optional excursion to the Forbidden City and the Summer palace.* Overnight stay in Beijing.

*Optional full-day Forbidden City & Summer Palace excursion with Peking duck dinner: Explore the iconic Tiananmen Square to then head to the Forbidden City, an impressive palace complex and home to the former Imperial Chinese Palace for the years spanning from the Ming to the Qing dynasties. It is the world's most visited attractions and showcases immaculate Chinese design and architecture. Afterwards, transfer to the Summer Palace, a former palace complex surrounded by lakes and gardens where the emperors would retreat during summer. After the tour, try the famous Peking Duck for dinner. Watch the chef slice the golden-brown duck, so that you can admire his skills and the thin crispy skin. You will also learn how to eat this dish correctly.

Day 9 - Beijing - Xi'an

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station for an exciting bullet train journey to Xi'an. Arrive, transfer, and check-in to the hotel. Afterwards, enjoy free time to get to know your new surroundings. Try walking around the neighborhood, or join an optional night tour* to get a deeper view of the local highlights. Overnight stay in Xi'an.

*Optional night tour: Take an evening tour, beginning with the North Square of the Wild Goose Pagoda, then heading all the way to The Grand Tang Mall, also known as Datang Everbright City. This pedestrian-friendly park offers a captivating experience that transports you back to the Tang Dynasty with lights, statues, and stalls.

Important note: The bullet train journey Beijing - Xian takes around 4-5h. Your guide will escort you to the train platform in Beijing and the next guide will wait for you in Xian station. There will be no guide present on board of the train. There is no Wifi connection on the train. 

Day 10 - Xi'an

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, discover one of China's most iconic sights as you enjoy a visit to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Approximately 8,000 sculpted figures were buried alongside Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, and today you can see this once in a lifetime sight for yourself. Each figure is impressively crafted and unique. Be blown away by the intricacy and the sheer number of the figures as you learn about their significance. Visit a terracotta workshop and get closer to the warriors while learning traditional crafting techniques. Next, dive to visit Xian's Muslim Quarter, where you will challenge yourself to take a gastronomic adventure and try its famous street food. Overnight stay in Xi'an.

*Optional Tang Dynasty show with dumpling banquet dinner: Enjoy the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with fabulous music and dancing from the era of the Tang Dynasty, China's golden age. The show is a unique way to get to know the historical culture of the ancient city of Xi'an. Enjoy a dumpling banquet for dinner, included with this activity!

Day 11 - Xi'an - Chengdu

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station to catch a Bullet Train to Chengdu in 2nd class seats. Arrive and transfer directly to the Panda Base Center, home to the iconic and elusive giant pandas, one of the most endangered animals in the world. Here, you may be lucky enough to watch the pandas in the huge outdoor enclosures. After getting up close to these beautiful creatures, head to the Panda Museum to learn about these endangered animals. Next, enjoy a visit to the Shu Embroidery Museum, for an insight into one of China's most prestigious traditions of embroidery. Transfer to the hotel and in the evening we recommend an optional Sichuan Opera Show.* Overnight stay in Chengdu.

*Optional Sichuan opera show: Enjoy a vibrant and colourful evening of entertainment. The Sichuan Opera involves a multitude of colourful masks, costumes and traditional performing arts. 

Important note: The bullet train journey Xian - Chengdu takes around 3-4h. Your guide will escort you to the train platform in Xian and the next guide will wait for you in Chengdu station. There will be no guide present on board of the train. There is no Wifi connection on the train. 

Day 12 - Chengdu

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Chengdu, walking along the riverside, delving into the stretching history of the city, which stretches back to the 4th-century BC, or sampling the local cuisine. We recommend an optional excursion to Huanglongxi Ancient Town & Leshan Big Buddha.* Overnight stay in Chengdu.

*Optional Full-day excursion to Huanglongxi & Leshan Big Buddha with Hot Pot Dinner: First, visit Huanglongxi Ancient Town, home to more than 1700 years of history. Here you can explore old Chinese culture and customs and soak up the beautiful natural landscapes. Continue to Leshan to visit the famous Leshan Big Buddha, the largest sitting stone Buddha in the world at 71 metres high. Located on the banks of the Dadu River, you will get a boat ride to get the best views to the Buddha. Back to Chengdu, stop at for an included Hot Pot Dinner. 

Day 13 - Chengdu

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure, relaxing or exploring the galleries, museums and historical monuments of Chengdu. We recommend a full-day excursion to Dujiangyan and the Sichuan Cuisine Museum.* Overnight stay in Chengdu.

*Optional Full-day tour to Dujiangyan & Sichuan Cuisine Museum: Embark on an exciting tour of the ancient Dujiangyan waterworks, an impressive feat of engineering and construction built more than 2000 years ago! It is still used today to control flooding on the Min River and to irrigate the arid regions around Chengdu, making it one of the world's oldest infrastructures still in use. It helped to boost Sichuan to a successful and prosperous province. Afterwards, head to the Sichuan Cuisine Museum to taste and cook classic dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken. 

Day 14 - Chengdu - Night on board

Breakfast* at the hotel. Enjoy a morning at your leisure in Chengdu before transferring to the airport for a flight back to Canada.
 

If you've been dreaming of China and the magnificent pandas that call it home, this is the vacation for you!  Contact your Uniglobe Travel consultant to book today!