8-Day Beijing Shanghai Zhangjiajie Private Tour
Travel across China’s classic destinations on this 8-day private tour. Explore Beijing’s imperial landmarks, Shanghai modern city views and Zhangjiajie’s Avatar mountain peaks with private car & English guide.
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
- All-day flexible private airport pick-up, direct transfer to downtown hotel.
- Free spare time to rest and relieve travel fatigue.
Day 2: Beijing Imperial Heritage Tour
07:00–08:00 Hotel Pick-up
Guide waits in hotel lobby; exact time confirmed via phone/email/hotel front desk the previous evening. Pick-up time may be advanced during peak seasons to avoid traffic congestion.
08:00–11:00 Temple of Heaven (UNESCO World Heritage)
Ming & Qing royal heaven worship altar with classic Chinese ritual architecture. Visit Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Danbi Bridge and Echo Wall to experience unique ancient acoustic design and oriental building aesthetics.
11:00–13:00 Self-Paid Lunch
Abundant local restaurants near the scenic area for authentic Beijing snacks.
13:00–16:00 Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City
- 30-minute landmark photo time at Tian’anmen Square, the core symbol of China’s capital.
- Forbidden City: World’s largest intact ancient wooden imperial complex with symmetrical central-axis layout, divided into Outer Court and Inner Court, featuring golden glazed roofs, red walls and exquisite royal craft decorations.
16:00–17:00 Jingshan Park
Imperial garden on Beijing’s central axis, climb to overlook the full panoramic layout of the Forbidden City.
17:30 Transfer back to hotel, end of Day 2 itinerary.
Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall & Modern Beijing Landmarks
07:00–08:30 Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall
73km from downtown Beijing, Mutianyu is the best-preserved, less crowded Ming Great Wall section surrounded by dense forests.
08:30–12:00 Mutianyu Great Wall Sightseeing
- 96% forest coverage, fresh mountain air and distinct four-season scenery.
- Round-trip cable car available for easy uphill access; Zhengguan Platform delivers layered mountain & wall panoramic views.
- Quiet trails ideal for hiking and landscape photography.
12:00–13:00 Self-Paid Lunch
Rural farm restaurants at the foot of the wall provide local farm dishes.
13:00–15:00 Beijing Olympic Green
2008 Olympic core venue cluster including Bird’s Nest National Stadium and Water Cube National Aquatics Center, matched with a 413,000㎡ dragon-shaped artificial lake blending modern architecture and natural scenery.
15:00–17:30 Dashilan & Wangfujing Pedestrian Street
- Dashilan: 500-year-old ancient commercial street with time-honored brands and old Beijing folk culture.
- Wangfujing: Centuries-old downtown shopping street integrating traditional snacks and international brands.
17:30 Return to hotel, end of Day 3.
Day 4: Beijing Zoo & High-Speed Rail to Shanghai
07:00–08:00 Hotel Pick-up
Pick-up time fully confirmed one day in advance.
08:00–11:00 Beijing Zoo
Holds over 430 animal species, core highlight: China national treasure giant pandas, plus flamingos and various rare wild animals.
11:00–13:00 Self-Paid Lunch + Handmade Dumpling Cultural Experience
Taste local snacks nearby; learn to make traditional Chinese dumplings for an exclusive cultural souvenir.
13:00–17:00 High-Speed Train to Shanghai
Comfortable high-speed rail trip to Shanghai, a modern international metropolis mixing Eastern and Western styles. Private transfer to downtown hotel upon arrival.
Day 5: Shanghai City Tour & Classical Yu Garden
08:00–09:00 Hotel Pick-up
Guide meeting time confirmed the previous evening.
09:00–10:30 Shanghai Maglev Train Experience
World’s first commercial maglev line, experience ultra-high-speed smooth rail transportation technology.
10:30–12:00 Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Famous global wax museum with hyper-realistic wax figures of celebrities, historical figures and sports stars for interactive photos.
12:00–13:30 Self-Paid Lunch
Diverse dining options covering Shanghai local snacks and international cuisine.
13:00–15:00 Yu Garden
400-year-old classic Jiangnan-style ancient garden with delicate rockeries, ponds and pavilions, representative Shanghai cultural landmark.
15:00–17:00 Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Bus
- 360° double-decker panoramic view
- Flexible hop-on hop-off route
- Multi-language audio guide service
- Convenient connections to all core city attractions
17:00 Return to hotel, end of Day 5 itinerary.
Day 6: Oriental Pearl Tower & Transfer to Zhangjiajie
07:00–08:00 Hotel Pick-up
08:00–11:00 Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower (5A Scenic Spot)
Shanghai Pudong landmark with unique multi-sphere design, high observation decks offer full bird’s-eye view of Huangpu River and Bund skyline.
11:00–11:30 Self-Paid Lunch
Simple light meals available near the scenic area.
12:00–17:00 Flight / High-Speed Rail to Zhangjiajie
Travel to Zhangjiajie, a world natural heritage famous for unique quartz sandstone peak forest landscapes and Tujia ethnic culture. Private hotel transfer upon arrival.
Day 7: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Avatar Floating Mountains)
08:00–09:00 Hotel Pick-up
09:00–16:00 Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
UNESCO World Natural Heritage with towering sandstone peaks, clear mountain streams and deep valleys.
- Yuanjiajie: Hallelujah Mountain (Avatar prototype), First Bridge Under Heaven, Soul-losing Terrace
- Tianzi Mountain: Famous Imperial Brush Peaks and Goddess Sending Flowers rock formations
- Jinbian Stream: Gentle tree-lined riverside hiking trail
- Bailong Elevator: World’s tallest outdoor mountain elevator for panoramic cliff views
16:00 Return to hotel for rest after mountain hiking.
Day 8: Tianmen Mountain & Departure Transfer
07:00–08:00 Hotel Pick-up
08:00–14:00 Tianmen Mountain 5A Scenic Area
- Ride the world’s longest 7.5km mountain cable car to the summit
- Thrilling cliff glass skywalk with valley views
- Grand Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Gate) and symbolic 999 Heaven Steps
- Guigu Plank Road overlooking the winding 99-Bend Heavenly Road
14:00–15:00 Self-Paid Lunch & Departure Transfer
Local farmhouse lunch before private transfer to Zhangjiajie airport or railway station, marking the end of the full 8-day cross-city private tour.
