Hunan's Heartland: Changsha to Zhangjiajie
A 9-Day Journey Through Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai
Overview
This family-friendly itinerary blends China's ancient treasures with contemporary delights, offering immersive cultural experiences, hands-on activities for children, and unique accommodations that transport you through time and imagination. From walking the Great Wall to crafting terracotta warriors and cruising Shanghai's futuristic skyline, this journey creates lasting memories for all ages.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing - Step into Ancient China
- Airport welcome and transfer to your hotel
- Settle into the Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel, a 200-year-old traditional courtyard residence
- Free time to recover from travel or explore the neighborhood
- Experience Qing Dynasty-era living with carved mahogany furniture and landscaped courtyards
Day 2: Beijing's Imperial Heart
- Morning visit to Tiananmen Square and the UNESCO-listed Forbidden City
- Authentic Chinese à la carte welcome lunch featuring Peking Roast Duck
- Afternoon Hutong walking tour with Drum Tower panoramic views
- Local family visit with cultural activities (calligraphy, face painting, or paper-cutting)
- Evening acrobatic performance at the Red Theatre
Day 3: Great Wall Adventure
- Morning visit to Temple of Heaven, where emperors prayed for harvest
- Afternoon excursion to Mutianyu Great Wall with round-trip cable car
- Optional dinner at AI-powered Haidilao Hot Pot with robot servers
Day 4: Free Day Exploration
- Flexible day to explore Beijing according to family interests
- Optional visit to Universal Studios Beijing featuring Kung Fu Panda Land
- Opportunity to experience modern attractions or additional historical sites
Day 5: Pandas and Royal Gardens to Xi'an
- Morning visit to Beijing Zoo's Panda Hall during active feeding hours
- Exploration of Summer Palace, Empress Dowager Cixi's extravagant retreat
- Afternoon high-speed train journey to Xi'an (4.5-6 hours)
- Check-in at Holiday Inn Xi'an Big Goose Pagoda
Day 6: Terracotta Warriors and Tang Dynasty Splendor
- Full morning at Terracotta Army Museum, UNESCO World Heritage site
- Hands-on workshop: Create your own mini terracotta warrior
- Afternoon visit to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- Evening exploration of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-Bright City
- Optional futuristic dining at Spacelab Weightless Restaurant
Day 7: Ancient Walls to Shanghai Dreams
- Morning exercises with locals at City Wall Park
- Xi'an City Wall exploration with optional biking
- Muslim Quarter food adventure
- Traditional shadow puppetry performance at Gao's Grand Courtyard
- Flight to Shanghai and check-in at fairytale Hengshan Moller Villa Hotel
Day 8: Shanghai Past and Future
- Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall for city overview
- Classical Yu Garden and Yuyuan Bazaar exploration
- À la carte lunch featuring local cuisine
- Visit to Duoyun Bookstore in Shanghai Tower with panoramic views
- Huangpu River cruise showcasing contrasting cityscapes
- Evening walk along the historic Bund
Day 9: Maglev Departure
- Experience the world's fastest commercial train (maglev) to airport
- 7-minute journey reaching speeds up to 430 km/h
- Optional extensions available for Disneyland, water towns, or Suzhou
Family Highlights
- Interactive cultural experiences: terracotta crafting, shadow puppetry, local family visits
- Child-focused entertainment: acrobatic shows, panda viewing, futuristic dining
- Unique accommodations: ancient courtyard hotel and fairytale castle
- Educational elements: UNESCO sites with engaging storytelling
- Flexible pacing with free day and optional activities