11 Days Natural Wonders Tour from Chengdu: Jiuzhaigou, Zhangjiajie & Yangtze Cruise

Ni Hao! Welcome to Chengdu, the Hometown of Giant Pandas and Land of Abundance! You’ll be met by our local guide at the arrival hall of Chengdu airport / train station and escorted to your hotel in downtown area by a private, comfortable and non-smoking vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to explore this leisure city.

Arrival Ideas: Chengdu is only about 2~3 hours flying from the majority of big cities in China, such as Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, etc. You can also arrive in Chengdu by high speed trains from Xian (4hrs), Chongqing (1hr), Guilin (6hrs), Kunming (6hrs), etc.

Chengdu, The Land of Abundance

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel for a 15-km drive to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (simply Chengdu Panda Base). This world's most important panda scientific research center is home for over 100 giant pandas. Walk through the verdant bamboo-lined paths, witness the fascinating progression of pandas from baby to adult, watch the adolescent pandas aged 1-5, eating, playing, tumbling and climbing. If lucky, you may be able to see the precious panda babies in the nursery rooms. Don't miss the informative Panda Museum for more scientific facts about Giant Pandas.

After the visit, be escorted to Chengdu East Railway Station for the 1.5~2-hour bullet train to Jiuzhaigou. Upon arrival at Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station, your local guide and driver will pick you up and drive (1.5~2 hour) to your hotel at Jiuzhaigou and help you check in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the local areas and adapt yourself to the climate, temperature, and elevations there.

Chengdu Panda Base

After breakfast, start your full-day visit of Jiuzhaigou Valley, the “Fairyland on Earth” listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage known for its peculiar waterscape of calcified lakes, waterfalls and travertine beach lands. Visiting there is relaxing and joyful, as there are many sightseeing buses from the entrance to the scenic spots. You can hop on and off the buses and explore along the wooden plank roads at will. Your guide will accompany and help you explore Jiuzhai Valley's essences at a comfortable pace based on your time, energy and crowd level.

The classic route is first to take the sightseeing bus from the entrance to Nuorilang Waterfall for the symbols of Jiuzhaigou, then transfer to Zechawa Valley to see the Long Lake and Five-Color Pond, then move to Rize Valley to admire the Panda Lake, Five Flowers Lake, Pearl Shoal, Mirror Lake, etc., finally, go back to Nuorilang, descend through Shuzheng Valley and visit Rhinoceros Lake, Tiger Lakes, Shuzheng Waterfall, Sparkling Lake, etc.

After the sightseeing, be escorted back to your hotel for overnight stay.

Useful tips: 1) try to have breakfast and enter the park early to beat the crowds; 2) wear comfortable walking shoes and seasonal cloths; 3) Lunch is provided in Nuorilang Restaurant (the only restaurant in the valley) but food options are limited. You can bring some snacks/drinks or let your hotel prepare packed food.

Jiuzhaigou Valley

Jiuzhaigou Valley Waterfall in Autumn

Jiuzhaigou Valley

Jiuzhaigou Valley in Autumn

Jiuzhaigou Valley in Summer

Our Customers Visiting Jiuzhaigou Valley in October

After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to Huanglong National Park, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage since 1992. It is famous for colorful travertine lakes and ponds, sinuous deep mountain valleys, snow-capped mountains and peaceful wild forests, which entitled Huanglong Park the “Wonder of the World” and “Heaven on the Earth”. First, take the cable car to the upper station of Huanglong Valley to admire the gorgeous Five-Color Ponds (altitude: 3,556m), which consists of 693 dazzling emerald-like ponds of different sizes, shapes and colors. Then, walk down the valley to appreciate the stunning Zhengyan Pool, Bonsai Pool, Lotus Waterfall, Flying Waterfall, Welcome Pool, etc. along the path

After the visit, be escorted to Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station for your high speed train back to Chengdu.

High altitude tips: Since some attractions in Huanglong Park are more than 3,500 meters above the sea level, please prepare well for the altitude sickness. Keep healthy before your trip and rest well, especially the first night of arrival. Walk slowly in the valley. If you feel breathless or have a headache, rest at the tourist center for oxygen supply. There is no restaurant in the valley, you can bring some snacks and water, or have lunch after exiting the park.

Huanglong National Park Five-color Ponds

Huanglong National Park

Waterfalls at Huanglong National Park

Huanglong National Park - Five-Color Ponds

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and head to Wenshu Monastery, a serene Buddhist temple in the bustling downtown of Chengdu. Walk in the spiritual temple and marvel at the exquisite Buddhist architectures, Buddhist statues, scriptures, and relics. Adjacent is (Wenshufang), a small bazaar for a leisure stroll to experience local market and living style.

Next, visit Renmin Park to feel the famed laid-back lifestyle of Chengdu. Sip a cup of Chinese tea in a century-old teahouse, chat with friends, watch locals indulging in different folk activities, like napping, ear cleaning, Mahjong, dancing, water calligraphy, etc.! Then, discover the famous Jinli Old Street, a vibrant hub full of local snacks, delicate artifacts, folk shows and other activities. Time will fly as you explore along the ancient streets!

After the visit, be transferred to the railway station for your high speed train to Chongqing (1-2 hours). Upon arrival, your local guide and driver will pick you up at the arrival hall of the railway station in Chongqing and escort you to your hotel in downtown for check-in. The rest of today is on your own to explore this city.

Explore Three Kingdom Culture in Jinli Old Street

Wenshu Monastery

Wenshu Monastery

Enjoy some leisure moment in Renmin Park

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then take you to enjoy a full day exploration of this cyberpunk metropolis! Let's start with the Three Gorges Museum, showcasing more than 280,000 pieces of precious cultural relics to introduce the great Yangtze River, formation of the Three Gorges, and the thriving history of Chongqing from 3,000 years ago to its status as a municipality in China. Next, have an impressive look at the People’s Assembly Hall which is renowned for its elegant classical exterior and was listed into the History of Architecture compiled in London in 1987.

Then, take Line 2 of Chongqing Rail Transit from Huanghuayuan Station to Liziba Station for 15-minute with cityscapes. Get off and watch a train passing through a 19-storey apartment, unique to mountainous Chongqing! Continue to visit the must-see Hongya Cave to appreciate its layers of featured Ba and Shu regional wooden tilted houses rising up to 11 storeys against the hill. As night falls and warm lights illuminate these structures, they become even more enchanting. After the tour, go to board your 4-day Yangtze River cruise at Chaotianmen Port (18:00~21:00), which will sail at 21:00!

Optional Activity (with extra payment): Enjoy Chongqing City panorama from WFC Huixianlou Observation Deck that is a 339-meter-high skyscraper with a 360° open-air platform at the city center.

Tips for Cruise Boarding: 1) There are 12 sub-piers at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port; please confirm the exact boarding pier with your travel consultant one day prior; 2) Tell your driver the exact pier to minimize walking; 3) Be aware of boarding time and pier changes based on the ship line or factors like water level, season, weather condition, etc. Please pay attention to the important info from your travel consultants.

Liziba Metro Station

Three Gorges Museum

People's Assembly Hall

Hongya Cave Night View

Hongya Cave Daytime

Board Yangtze Cruise Ship at Chaotianmen Port

Good morning! Wake up leisurely and enjoy the gentle sunshine over the tranquil Yangtze. You can either follow the Taichi master to play Taichi or enjoy a cup of coffee to start a beautiful day!

Enjoy various entertainment onboard, like attending a Yangtze River History and Culture Lecture, enjoying seasonal themed activities, meeting new friends at the Captain's Welcome Party, having fun at the wonderful evening show, etc.

You will follow a local English-speaking tour guide to visit Fengdu Ghost City onshore, which is about 2,000 years old and called “the Homeland of Divine Comedy in China”. In this “City of Ghosts”, you will see a series of temples, shrines, palaces, pavilions, and more traditional styled architecture complex. The colorful statues and story scenes of afterlife in hell displayed show the underworld, cruel tortures, different kinds of devils, Chinese demons and the traditional Chinese belief: pure spirits would be rewarded, and sinful ones would be subject to severe punishments. (Please note: Fengdu Ghost City visit requires much walking and comfortable shoes are highly recommended!)

Optional Excursion to Feng Yan San Guo (Three Kingdoms Fire Show): A reputable and impressive real landscape show telling the brilliant history during the Three Kingdoms Period (over 1,800 years ago) and praising the loyalty spirit of General Guan Yu. (with an extra fee)

Beautiful & Tranquil Yangtze River

Play Taichi in the Morning

Fengdu Ghost City

Three Kingdoms Open Air Show

Today, you'll sail through the spectacular Three Gorges! Soak up the breathtaking gorge scenery as you drift through Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge respectively.

You'll switch to a smaller boat to take an enjoyable shore excursion to Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream), a tributary of the Yangtze River. Sail down this primitive stream to closely marvel at steep mountains and hanging coffins high on the cliffs, hear local history, and appreciate featured dance and music by Tujia ethnic people!

At evening, enjoy the well-prepared Captain’s Farewell Party with all your mates onboard and have a whale of time of the last night onboard!

Optional Excursion to White Emperor City: This cultural and historic site at the entrance of Qutang Gorge tells the touching stories of the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” and is the best spot to appreciate the magnificent “Kui Gate” on the 10 RMB note! (with an extra fee)

Magnificent Qutang Gorge

Qutang Gorge

Breathtaking Wu Gorge Scenery

Enjoy Wu Gorge Scenery on Sundeck

White Emperor City

Shennv Stream with Primitive Gorge Scenery

After breakfast, go through a check-out procedure, disembark at Maoping Port and take the arranged tourist bus to visit the global famous Three Gorges Dam. It is the largest hydropower station in the world, with an annual energy output of 84.7 billion kilowatt-hours. The Dam is about 2,300 meters (7,546 ft) long and about 115 meters (377 ft) wide. With a water capacity of 39.3 billion cubic meters, it can hold a huge reservoir to efficiently prevent flooding in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze. Take your time to appreciate this great project from different angles and learn more at the project museum.

Then, take the tourist bus to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal in Yichang downtown (arriving around 12:30-13:30). Your local guide and driver will pick you up there and transfer to the railway station for your train to Zhangjiajie (4.5-5 hrs). Upon arrival, be met by our local guide at the arrival hall of the railway station and escorted to your hotel in downtown. Have a nice sleep!

Optional Experience of Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift: Take a tourist boat to sail through this world’s largest ship lift with an elevation of about 113 meters (370 ft), which is totally fresh and exciting! (with an extra fee)

Notes: 1) No matter you take Ship Lift or not, you’ll check out and take your luggage away in this early morning. 2) Only Dam visit: take the bus from Maoping Port to visit Three Gorges Dam and arrive at Yichang downtown at around 12:30. 3) Dam visit + Ship Lift: switch to a tourist boat to sail through the Ship Lift and visit Three Gorges Dam. Then, take the bus and arrive at Yichang downtown at around 13:30. 4) During peak season, ship lift will be busy and seats on the boat may be unavailable. Please consider carefully before joining.

World-famous Three Gorges Dam

Three Gorges Dam - 185 Observation Deck

Three Gorges Dam in Summer

Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift, the Largest Ship Lift in the World

Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift

After an early breakfast, unveil the exploration of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the Pandora World in "AVATAR" and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage since 1992! First, go to the Ten-mile Gallery. This leisure journey leads you through a captivating valley filled with storytelling landscapes. Take a sightseeing tram in and stroll back out to fully immerse in the captivating landscape.

Next, take Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie to admire the symbolic Hallelujah Mountain that inspired "Avatar" and appreciate towering sandstone columns floating amidst lush forest. Then, take a sightseeing bus to Tianzi Mountain for its grotesque rocky peaks shrouded in drifting mist. There are four breathtaking sceneries: peak forest, cloud sea, sunrise and winter snow. Appreciate the majestic stone forests and peculiar peaks, including Yuyi Peak and Fairy Flowers. If energy permits, visit the Warriors Training Horse for the unique scene of dozens of peaks standing, resembling a proud steed and a warrior holding reins. Finally, ride the exhilarating and scenic Cable Car down to the park exit.

After the visit, be escorted to your hotel in downtown Zhangjiajie. Have a good sleep!

Optional Activities: 1. Visit Kongzhong Tianyuan (1~2 hours) popular for photography and features breathtaking views of terraced fields amidst towering peaks and the majestic Bailong Elevator. Lower platforms offer close-up views of "Avatar" peaks, but needs a half-hour's walk. Cautiously walk in rainy and snowy days. This optional visit needs a sightseeing bus transfer (extra payment). 2. Watch Tianmen Fox Fairy Show (20:15-21:50), an excellent large-scaled musical drama with real landscape background and stage, telling a touching story.

Our Customers at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Yuanjiajie - The Pandora World

Tianzi Mountain

After breakfast, begin your discovery of Tianmen Mountain, a renowned national forest park. Let's begin with the world's longest cable car ride - Tianmen Mountain Cable Car (7,455 meters) from the city center up to the summit soaring over 1,400 meters above sea level. Do not miss the breathtaking views of meandering Tongtian Avenue from its glass-bottomed sections.

First, explore the West Line through the mountain’s peak area. Be surrounded by natural marvels and walk on the thrilling Guigu Cliffside Path, a 1,600-meter long path clinging to the cliff face and providing a unique mountain grandeur. Visit the Tianmen Mountain Temple since the Tang Dynasty and renowned as one of the world's five Buddhist temples preserving Buddha's body relics. Take a stroll to admire the Qing Dynasty architecture surrounded by lush greenery.

After the temple visit, you can choose either the East Line, hiking to Yuhu Peak by passing South Overlooking Tianmen Cave, Yu Hu Peak and Happy Grove, etc. Or, taking a forest sightseeing cable car (extra payment) up to Yunmeng Fairy Summit, then walk down to Turbulent Water at Tianmen.

Then, take the Transmountain Escalator down to the breathtaking Tianmen Cave of 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide and 60 meters deep. Afterward, descend via the steep 999 steps with an incline of 45°, ride the Tianmen Mountain Express Cableway down to the gate, and take a shuttle bus back to the Tourist Center.

After the visit, be transferred to the airport or railway station in Zhangjiajie for your flight / train to your next destination or home! Tour ends!

Tianmen Mountain Travel Tips: 1. Three glass skywalks are available: one to the east and two to the west (extra payment). 2. Save your energy with the escalator down to Tianmen Cave square (extra payment). 3. The tour of Tianmen Mountain are flexibly operated. The guide arranges the specific order of sightseeing according to the flow of visitors on site. If you have specific interested places to explore, please share with your guide.

Tianmen Cave at Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Mountain Temple