The Great Wall Hiking + Mount Hua Climbing + Panda Base Cycling 21D20N

Welcome to Beijing! Airport transfer to your hotel. 

Visit Beijing's Highlights: The Forbidden City and Summer Palace. 

Kick off your journey with a 4-hour drive to Shanhaiguan, south of the Bohai Sea.  Savor breathtaking scenery the Great Wall meets the sea.  The Great Wall here looks like a dragon's head poking into the sea and dancing in the waves. Stay at a beautiful courtyard hotel in the ancient town of Shanhaiguan Pass. Local lunch and dinner.  

Hike for about four hours at Jiaoshan, also known as Horn Mountain, the first mountain crossed by the Great Wall heading west from the coast. Explore its rocky ridges and broad summit views. Stay another night at your hotel in Shanhaiguan’s old town.

Visit the UNESCO-listed Eastern Qing Tombs, an extensive imperial burial complex. Explore its ceremonial buildings and learn about the Qing dynasty rulers buried here. Spend about an hour at an overlook near Huangyaguan, also known as Yellow Cliff Pass, then stay overnight at a local hotel.

Trek for about four hours from Peace Fort to Huangyaguan Pass and the steep Sky Ladder. The pass takes its name, Yellow Cliff Pass, from the golden color of the cliffs in the evening light. Continue by vehicle to Jinshanling and stay overnight in a courtyard hotel near the wall.

Hike for about three hours from Jinshanling toward West Simatai, following the wall across rolling mountain ridges. Enjoy views of the surrounding valleys, then drive to Gubeikou to camp in the General’s Tower.

Hike about 4.5 hours from your Gubeikou campsite toward Jinshanling. The unrestored wall bears traces of the fighting that took place here in the 1930s. Continue to Jiankou and stay at the Miss-U-Much hostel.

Explore the rugged Jiankou section, where the wall climbs steep mountain ridges. Hike toward Mutianyu and enjoy an optional toboggan ride down from the wall. Return to Beijing in the late afternoon.

Take the 4:27 a.m. high-speed train and arrive at Huashan Station at 9:26 a.m. Explore Mount Hua, known for its sheer cliffs and deep ravines. The historic plank walk is an optional challenge for visitors comfortable with heights. Stay at the Ramada Hotel in Xi’an tonight.

Visit the Terracotta Warriors, part of the UNESCO-listed burial complex of China’s first emperor. Explore the life-size figures and learn about the ongoing archaeological work. Cycle on Xi’an’s historic city wall, then take an afternoon high-speed train to Chengdu.

Wenjiang to Pixian. Visit "Chengdu's Garden" and Sichuan Cuisine Museum. 43 km of cycling. 

Dujiangyan Panda Valley to Anren Ancient Town. Say hello to the pandas. Reach China's "Museum Town" of Anren by riding through the famous less-explored country road "Chongqing Road." 73 ks of cycling. 

Pingle Ancient Town to Shangli Ancient Town. Riding on the riverbanks, visit the famous "Tea Market" at Pingle. Meet the White Horse Spring that gives the soar of horses. Tour the extremely picturesque Shangli Ancient Town where tea was fermented and pressed for sale and where Tibetan tea traders gathered. 45 km of cycling.  

Caoba to Hongya. Riding through the ta plantation farms for the stunning views following Qingyi River. Get thrilled to meet the ferociou rapids pouring out of Caoyutan Dam. Find out the fact of  riverside rural life as they wind through forestry, bamboo and the occasional hamlet in Hongya. 55 km of cycling.    

Hongya to Leshan. It is another day of varied scenery on a small road, with views alternating from the river and its cliffs to terraced tea plantations and dense forestry. Meet Sichuan Handmade Paper Museum and the Thousand Buddha Cliff alongside the Qingyi River. End by Leshan, home of the largest and tallest carved stone Buddha in the world. 64 km of cycling.  

Leshan to Huanglongxi Ancient Town. Meet the Minjiang River which soon become a part of Yangtze River in Yibin. Visit Zhongyan Temple holding Buddhist carvings of over 1,500 years of history. Arrive at Huanglongxi, the famous ancient town reaching back 1,700 years, now a place of frequent filming place known for its quintessential example of an old town. 55 km of cycling.  

Huanglongxi to Xinglong Lake. Reach tongzhi Dragon Kiln to learn the traditional pottery-making.  A celebration meal will be served once we arrive at our final destination at Xinglong Lake, the suburb of Chengdu.  50 km of cycling.  

Huanglongxi to Xinglong Lake. Reach tongzhi Dragon Kiln to learn the traditional pottery-making. A celebration meal will be served once we arrive at our final destination at Xinglong Lake, the suburb of Chengdu.  50 km of cycling.  

Fly back to Beijing. Beijing's downtown Hutong tour including a rickshaw ride. Enjoy Beijing's street food.   

Say Good-bye to China. 

Casual and premier accommodations are both available at your choice.

Local English-speaking trip leaders and private drivers.

General admissions to the attractions.

All meals throughout the entire journey.

Train economy-class tickets. Upgrade is possible.

On-tour flights.

Cruise ticket with on-board meals.

Train station and airport transfers.