8-Day Beijing · Shanghai · Zhangjiajie Highlights Private Tour

All-day flexible private airport transfer directly to downtown hotel. Free time after check-in for rest and jet lag recovery.

Hotel pickup (time confirmed the previous evening), visit UNESCO World Heritage Temple of Heaven, the Ming & Qing imperial worship site with iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and acoustic Echo Wall. Self-paid lunch with local Beijing snack options nearby. Afternoon visit Tiananmen Square for landmark photos, tour the Forbidden City (world's largest intact ancient wooden imperial complex), then climb Jingshan Park for a full panoramic view of the palace. Return to hotel after sightseeing.

Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall, the best-preserved Ming Dynasty section with 96% forest coverage and fewer crowds (optional round-trip cable car available for easy access). Self-paid farm lunch at the foot of the wall with local rural dishes. Afternoon visit Beijing Olympic Green to see Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube, then stroll 500-year-old Dashilan ancient street and Wangfujing pedestrian street for old Beijing culture and shopping. Return to hotel in the evening.

Visit Beijing Zoo to see national treasure giant pandas, plus flamingos and other rare wild animals. Self-paid lunch with included hand-made dumpling cultural experience to learn making traditional Chinese dumplings. Afternoon take comfortable high-speed train to Shanghai (international metropolis mixing Eastern and Western styles), private transfer to downtown hotel upon arrival.

Experience the world's first commercial maglev train for ultra-high-speed rail technology, then visit Madame Tussauds Wax Museum for interactive photos with hyper-realistic celebrity wax figures. Self-paid lunch with diverse local and international dining options. Afternoon tour 400-year-old Yu Garden (classic Jiangnan-style ancient garden), then take hop-on hop-off double-decker sightseeing bus with multi-language audio guide covering all core city attractions. Return to hotel in the evening.

Visit Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower, the iconic Pudong landmark with high observation decks offering full bird's-eye view of Huangpu River and Bund skyline. Self-paid light lunch near the scenic area, then take flight or high-speed train to Zhangjiajie (UNESCO World Natural Heritage famous for quartz peak forests and Tujia culture). Private transfer to hotel upon arrival.

Full day tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: visit Yuanjiajie (Hallelujah Mountain, prototype of Avatar floating peaks), Tianzi Mountain with iconic rock formations, hike gentle Jinbian Stream trail, and take the world's tallest outdoor Bailong Elevator for cliff views. Return to hotel for rest after hiking.

Full day visit Tianmen Mountain 5A scenic area: ride the world's longest 7.5km mountain cable car to the summit, walk the thrilling cliff glass skywalk, see the grand Tianmen Cave natural arch and 999 Heaven Steps, overlook the winding 99-Bend Heavenly Road. Self-paid local farm lunch, then private transfer to Zhangjiajie airport or railway station, marking the end of the 8-day cross-city private tour.