Pandas and Warriors: Family Fun through China

About this Journey

Enjoy some cherished family time as you embark on a classic journey through the elegant pagodas and undulating rice terraces of the Middle Kingdom. This fun 14-day trip will see you travel from Beijing to Shanghai, with imperial capital Xi’an, scenic Guilin, and spectacular Yangshuo in between. Learn to write your name in Chinese calligraphy, build your very own miniature Terracotta warrior, float down the remarkably picturesque Li River, and sample Shaanxi pork “hamburgers.”

Where you're going

Itinerary

Day 1 - 2 Beijing

Begin your Beijing adventure in style as WanderEastern’s VIP Service Ambassador will greet you as you exit your flight gate and guide you through the express immigration and customs service • Check in to hotel and take a load off before dinner • Enjoy a sumptuous meal with your fellow travelers as you get to know each other • Explore the imposing Forbidden City, where emperors ruled for 500 years • Hike up jingshan and take in a commanding view over the Forbidden City • Climb up a Bell and Drum Tower of Beijing, once the beating heart of time, for a stunning view • Savor the famous Peking Duck dinner

Day 3 Beijing

Hike along the Great Wall at Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved sections of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, two hours outside of Beijing • Save your strength for the two-hour hike along this stunning segment of wall itself • Return to the hotel and spend the rest of the evening at your leisure

Day 4 Beijing

Learn the calming art of taichi in a private lesson at the Temple of Heaven • Drive past the Olympic Park, the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics • Learn the art of noodle pulling and dumpling folding at Black Sesame kitchen • Enjoy your hand-made lunch in the fresh air of the hutong courtyard • Weave your way through Beijing’s ancient, interwoven hutong alleys

Day 5 Beijing - Xian

Your WanderEastern guide will escort you to the train station and assist you with the check-in • Take a 4-hour ride on China’s famous high-speed train to Xi’an • Check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure

Day 6 Xi'an

Come face-to-face with the proudly unflinching, life-sized Terracotta Warriors • Have a go at creating your own miniature Terracotta Warrior  • Learn about Xi’an’s 1,300 year old Muslim community by visiting the Great Mosque, situated in Xi’an’s bustling Muslim Quarter • Explore the bustling Muslim Quarter on foot • Gaze across Xi’an as you cycle along its ancient city wall

Day 7 Xi'an

Get an exclusive tour from a natural science and panda expert around the Louguantai Giant Panda Breeding Center, normally closed to the public • Visit the Stele Forest museum and peruse its vast collection of ancient inscribed tablets and Chinese writings • Brush up on your calligraphy skills with a local master

Day 8 Xi'an - Guilin - Longsheng

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin • Arrive in Guilin and meet your private WanderEastern Guilin guide • Drive about 2 hours to Longsheng • Hike along the verdant, softly undulating Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terrace • Arrive at Li’an Lodge and watch the sunset over the terraces as you tuck in for the night. 

Day 9 Yangshuo

Take a scenic 3-hour drive across misty mountains to Yangshuo • Embark on a bamboo raft ride down the Yulong River among Yangshuo’s stunning karst mountains • Stroll along the beautiful Yulong river and hike through picturesque forested paths, open fields, and isolated villages.

 Day 10 Yangshuo

Explore the secret wild cave with peculiarly shaped stalactites and passageways away from the tourist-trodden paths • Meet with a local family and share a cup of tea • Visit Fuli Old Town, famed for its Chinese fans • Learn the art of fan making • Enjoy the spectacle of Impression Liusanjie, choreographed by the mastermind behind the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, in a natural amphitheater. 

Day 11 Yangshuo - Shanghai

Upon arriving in Shanghai, meet your WanderEastern guide • Check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure

Day 12 Shanghai

Experience the tranquility of Yuyuan Garden, a Ming Dynasty oasis amidst the bustling city • Visit the chic area of Xintiandi • Travel back to Shanghai’s stylish 1930s as you stroll through the tree-lined avenues of the former French Concession • Take a stroll around the Bund area, admiring Shanghai’s signature contrast between old and new

Day 13 Shanghai

Explore the old watertown of Tongli, known as the ‘Venice of the East’ for the canals that wind their way between the town’s Ming and Qing era buildings • Celebrate the end of your journey with a memorable group farewell dinner • Enjoy the amazing spectacle of an ERA Acrobatics Performance, which fuses Chinese acrobatics with modern technology

Day 14 Depart from Shanghai

Your WanderEastern guide and private chauffeur will escort you to the airport and help you check in to your flight.

Your Accommodation

PARK PLAZA BEIJING WANGFUJING Luxury Boutique 

Comfortable & conveniently situated in the heart of the city,  Park Plaza Beijing is in the middle of the famous Wangfujing shopping district and history is only a 10-minute walk away at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

SOFITEL XI'AN ON RENMIN SQUARE HOTEL 5 star

Sofitel Xian combines French luxury with local cuisine, nestled amidst the juxtaposition of modernity and ancient culture in China’s dynamic capital, offering comfortable rooms, a luxurious swimming pool, spa, and tranquil landscaped gardens.

LI-AN LODGE, LONGSHENG Luxury Boutique

Perched on the Dragon Backbone’s Terraces, Li-an Lodge offers modern amenities, glimpses into traditional culture, and abundant natural beauty.

BANYAN TREE YANGSHUO RESORT Luxury Boutique

Nestled against the meandering Li River, Banyan Tree Yangshuo effortlessly intertwines traditional Chinese design with luxuriously appointed contemporary comforts.

THE YANGTZE BOUTIQUE SHANGHAI 5 star

 The Yangtze Boutique Shanghai, with its rich history dating back to 1934 and a former haunt of celebrities like Yao Li, seamlessly blends Art Deco charm with contemporary Shanghai chic, offering a prime location near People’s Park and walkable access to major attractions.

 What’s Included

• Services of an English-speaking WanderEastern guide
• Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
• All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
• All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
• Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water
• Domestic flight (economy class) and domestic trains (1st class)

What’s Excluded

• International flights
• Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
• Travel and medical insurance
• Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
• Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers 

TRIP COST

Adult: $5,954 USD per person
Children under 12 years old: $4,979 USD per person
Children 12 years and above: $5,459 USD per person

Pricing is based on 2 adults and 1 child sharing a room. Two twin beds or one queen bed + an additional rollaway bed or sofa bed and three breakfasts.

For families with 2 or more children, please get in touch for a custom quote.