Embark on a bucket-list journey through China’s most dramatic natural wonders and legendary cultural landscapes. This meticulously crafted itinerary seamlessly blends otherworldly mountain scenery, profound Buddhist heritage, and authentic local life—all while enjoying the comfort of handpicked premium hotels and the expertise of dedicated private guides.
Not Included: Optional tours and gratuities (unless otherwise specified).
Fly out of the United States bound for Changsha. When you land, our local tour guide will greet you at the airport and drive you straight to your hotel for check-in.
If you loved the floating mountain scenery in Avatar, you''ll be blown away by the real-life inspiration right here in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Established in 1982, this is China's very first national forest park, home to 243 distinct mountain summits and over 3,000 jagged stone spires. Early morning mist or soft golden sunlight wraps around the peaks, recreating those iconic movie landscapes right before your eyes. We''ll leave Changsha after breakfast and drive roughly 340 km (211 miles) north to Zhangjiajie. Our first stop is Ten-Mile Gallery, the park's signature valley attraction. Ride the one-way monorail through this natural outdoor museum lined with thick forests, wild blooming flowers, and oddly shaped rock formations. Hundreds of stone statues along the trail look just like people and wild animals, while cliffside stone carvings resemble giant scroll paintings hanging from the rock face. Next, we''ll follow Gold Whip Stream, a clear creek tucked under massive 400 m (1,312 ft) vertical cliffs. Keep a gentle eye out for wild macaques wandering along the water's edge. A full set lunch is included on today's route. After checking into your hotel, the rest of your evening is yours to relax and explore on your own.
This full day is yours to unwind at your own pace, or you can sign up for paid optional sightseeing and evening entertainment.
Spend your morning with free time, or book the optional trip to Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge — the world's longest and tallest glass-bottom bridge, stretching between two steep canyon cliffs inside Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Disclaimer: This activity is not covered in your base tour price. Payment is collected locally; pricing details are listed in your Important Information packet. In the late afternoon, we''ll transfer to Zhangjiajie Train Station to board a high-speed train bound for Chongqing (approx. 3.5 hours of smooth rail travel). Upon arrival, a driver will meet you and shuttle you to your downtown hotel. Nicknamed the Mountain City, Chongqing is a vibrant mix of ancient history and cutting-edge modern development. Its unique hilly terrain creates a one-of-a-kind urban quirk: a building's ground-floor entrance might open onto what's functionally the 22nd floor of a different street built higher up the slope.
After breakfast, we''ll visit the Great Hall of the People, one of Asia's top 10 classical architectural landmarks and a defining 20th-century Chinese building. Next stop: Liziba Monorail Station, the viral social media spot where light rail trains pass straight through a mid-rise residential apartment building. Later, wander Hongya Cave, a stacked complex built in traditional stilt-house style, filled with boutique shops, local eateries, and scenic overlook platforms. The afternoon and evening are open for independent exploring or optional paid excursions.
We''ll drive south to Leshan after breakfast for a river cruise view of the Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Carved into red sandstone cliffs between AD 713 and 803, this 71 m (233 ft) tall Maitreya Buddha overlooks the meeting point of the Min and Dadu Rivers. After visiting the Buddha site, we''ll drive to Emeishan City, sitting at the foot of Emei Mountain. As the tallest of China's four sacred Buddhist peaks, it reaches 3,099 m (10,167 ft) above sea level. Today's driving distance: roughly 350 km (217 miles).
Spend your morning soaking in Emei Mountain's dramatic natural scenery and tour Baoguo Temple, the largest and most important Buddhist temple complex on the mountain. Afterward, we''ll drive approximately 180 km (112 miles) to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.
Start your day at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Giant pandas are China's beloved national treasure and living fossil species, counted among the rarest endangered mammals on Earth. This facility is the world's exclusive professional panda research, breeding, and exhibition center — a can''t-miss stop for every wildlife lover. Later, explore Kuanzhai Alley, one of Chengdu's three major historic cultural districts. Built in 1718 during the Qing Dynasty, this pedestrian zone blends traditional Sichuan courtyard homes, old teahouses, local food stalls, calligraphy shops, and trendy modern cafes and boutique stores, perfectly showcasing old and new Chengdu side by side.
We''ll transfer you to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to catch your return international flight back to the United States. Quick Hotel Note: Standard checkout time is noon. Complimentary luggage storage is available at the front desk if your flight departs later in the day.
No included meals for this travel day.
Scale the heights of Zhangjiajie in style! Board the Bailong Lift—the world’s tallest outdoor elevator—and shoot up 1,000 feet in just two minutes for unmatched, bird’s-eye views of the Avatar mountains. At the top, enjoy a guided walk through stunning cliffside trails, natural stone bridges, and traditional Tujia villages.
Experience Zhangjiajie’s spectacular open-air musical set against the cliffs of Tianmen Mountain. Inspired by a beloved local legend, the Fox Fairy show blends large-scale staging, folk music and dramatic lighting into an unforgettable mountain-side evening performance.
Walk the world’s longest and tallest glass-bottom bridge, suspended between steep canyon cliffs inside Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Peer straight down through transparent panels for an adrenaline-filled view of the gorge below.
Discover the dual souls of Chongqing in one afternoon! Start at Ciqikou Ancient Town, a beautifully preserved Ming-era porcelain harbor filled with traditional teahouses and local snacks. Next, dive into the bustling energy of Jiefangbei CBD, the city’s neon-lit modern heart surrounding the People’s Liberation Monument. Conclude your tour at Kuixing Pavilion, a 200-year-old historic landmark offering a perfect blend of ancient heritage and modern city views.
Experience Chongqing’s signature night view from the water! This scenic cruise glides along the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, offering front-row seats to the city’s glittering, mountain-carved skyline. Wind down your evening with a visit to a hidden local hotspot, boasting the most spectacular, panoramic night views of the entire city.
We carefully select each hotel based on overall quality, location, service, and cleanliness. Hotels are subject to availability and may vary by departure date.
All travel packages we provide are customised travel combinations including flights, accommodation, ground transfers, sightseeing and other arranged services. Each booking is tailor-made based on your selected travel date, destination, cabin & room preferences and add-on tour services. No independent use of single component from the whole package is allowed.
Our website does not support online payment. All booking deposits and full payments will be coordinated with you via our official email after our customer service confirms your travel quotation. Please contact our team to arrange payment once you confirm your travel plan.
A non-refundable deposit equal to 10% of the total tour cost is required upon booking to secure your reservation. The full outstanding balance must be fully settled 30 days prior to your scheduled departure date. If you make your booking less than 30 days before departure, full payment of the entire package price is due immediately at confirmation. Failure to complete payment by the stated deadline will result in automatic cancellation of your booking with deposit forfeited. Please contact our team via official email to arrange payment once you confirm your travel plan.
Please contact our customer service if you wish to request advance seat assignments. Some airlines do not support pre-seating, and seats will only be allocated upon airport check-in. Airlines reserve the right to adjust assigned seats. Pre-selected seats may be changed or cancelled due to schedule adjustments, equipment swaps or other operational reasons. Preferred paid seats must be purchased directly from the airline. If you modify your seat selection directly via the airline, such updates will not be reflected on our travel documents. The seats shown on your final travel documents are based on records in the airline’s reservation system at the time of document issuance.
Passengers are responsible to contact their airline directly regarding mileage eligibility and accrual. Airline frequent flier programs determine whether to award miles in part or total based on their own rules which are updated frequently. Some discounted or promotional airfares as well as some code-share flights are not eligible for mileage accrual. Not all published airfares are eligible for mileage.
We will record frequent flier numbers when provided by the passenger prior to travel documents being issued. However, the addition of frequent flier numbers to airline records does not guarantee mileage eligibility which is at the sole discretion of each airline. Airline schedule changes may result in flights which were originally eligible for mileage accrual no longer being eligible.
We highly recommend passengers to provide their frequent flier account information whenever checking in online and/or at the airport check-in desk. After travel has commenced, it is often not possible to apply for frequent mileage credit. Passengers are also responsible to determine whether previously earned mileage may be applied to flights to secure upgrades.
If you have a KTN number, you are normally able to join the TSA security line for expedited processing at the airport. Prior to check in, you should go online or call your airline and add your KTN number to your reservation record. In most cases, you will then see the letters “TSA PRE” printed on your boarding pass. If these letters are not printed, you will not be permitted on the TSA line. Please be aware that some airlines do not participate in the program and therefore even if there is a TSA line at the airport, you will not be given TSA PRE status. Sometimes you may not be selected by TSA (even if you entered a KTN number) and even a minor name discrepancy can result in TSA PRE being denied. It is your responsibility to register your KTN number with your airline and Portaltrip cannot be held responsible for denial of expedited security. Note: KTNs are issued by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after completing a background check through TSA’s PreCheck® program. Global Entry members may also enjoy expedited customs processing.
Checked bags are typically limited to a total dimension of 62 inches by adding length + width + height (example: 26"+26"+10" = 62"), and a maximum weight of 50 lbs (23kg). Smart Bags with a USB charging port, GPS tracking device and other high-tech features are prohibited as checked or carry-on baggage unless the bag is made with removable batteries and the batteries are removed and stored separately.
Missed connections and lost luggage are more common than ever. We strongly suggest you use your carry on bag for those necessities you would miss if your checked bags went astray. Items to consider, but not limited to, are prescription medicines, eyeglasses, a change of clothes, mobile phone and charger, valuables (including jewelry and cash), passport, keys, insurance cards, local contact information. Refer to the TSA website for a complete list of items and their sizes which may be carried on board. We also recommend you bring a change of clothes in your carry on bag in the event that your luggage is delayed or lost.
All intra-flights included in your package are booked in Economy Class. Checked bags are typically limited to a total dimension of 62 inches (157 cm) by adding length + width + height (example: 26"+26"+10" = 62" / 66cm+66cm+25cm = 157cm), and a maximum weight of 50 lbs (23 kg).
China – Intra-China flights have a weight restriction for luggage of 44 lbs. per piece of luggage with a limit of one piece of checked luggage per person, and 11 lbs. per piece of luggage with a limit of one piece of carry-on luggage per person. This differs from international flight luggage limits and should be taken into account when preparing for your trip. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, passengers may carry no more than two portable chargers with a capacity of less than 100 watt-hours (Wh) onboard. Each charger must bear the “CCC” mark (China Compulsory Certificate); chargers without this mark are not permitted. Chargers with a capacity between 100 and 160 Wh require airline approval. All electronic devices, as well as lithium or alkaline batteries, must be packed in carry-on baggage. Liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on baggage are subject to strict security screening requirements. Each liquid, gel, or aerosol must be in a container of 100 ml or less, and all containers must fit into one clear, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 liter. Only one item per type of liquid, gel, or aerosol product is permitted in carry-on baggage. Containers larger than 100 ml are not permitted in carry-on baggage and must be packed in checked luggage.
High Speed trains in China – Due to limited storage space on high-speed trains in China, only one piece of luggage (44 lbs / 20 kg) and one carry-on per passenger is permitted onboard for personal belongings. At some train stations, passengers are required to load and unload their own luggage. Passengers may carry no more than two portable chargers with a capacity of less than 100 watt-hours (Wh) onboard. All electronic devices, as well as lithium or alkaline batteries, must be packed in carry-on baggage. Liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on baggage are subject to strict security screening requirements. Each liquid, gel, or aerosol must be in a container of 100 ml or less, and all containers must fit into one clear, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 liter. Only one item per type of liquid, gel, or aerosol product is permitted in carry-on baggage. Containers larger than 100 ml are not permitted in carry-on baggage and must be packed in checked luggage.
Review the flight itinerary included in your documents. Print and carry a copy of the air itinerary which contains the 6-digit airline “Record Locator” and e-ticket numbers. Advance online check-in is available on some airlines. If available, you may enter your name and 6-digit Record Locator or Flight Ticket Number at the airline’s website, and print the boarding pass on your home printer within twenty-four hours of departure. You may check-in online, even if you plan to check luggage at the airport. Airlines without advance online check-in require you to present your identification and e-ticket numbers at the airport self-service kiosk or check-in counter. Paper tickets will be provided in the rare instance when e-tickets cannot be issued.
Due to increased security measures, you should plan to check in at least three hours prior to the scheduled departure time for international flights and two hours prior for domestic flights. Many airlines do not permit check-in less than one hour prior to the scheduled departure time. It is your responsibility to arrive on time for all scheduled flights. Enhanced security procedures, including passenger screening, canine inspection, and inspection of personal electronic devices, have been implemented for all flights into the United States, and therefore security procedures may take longer than normal.
If your flight itinerary displays a flight as “Operated By” another carrier, you should check-in at the desk of the “Operated By” airline. When you arrive at the airport, check the airport monitors for updated check-in desk listings. At check-in, be prepared to provide your government issued identification (valid passport required when traveling internationally) and your e-ticket itinerary/ticket numbers to the agent. Once you’ve checked in and received your boarding passes and luggage claim tickets, proceed directly to the security check. Security lines are often backed up and can take time to get through. Once you’ve completed security check, proceed directly to your gate and check the large electronic flight screens for your flight time and departure gate for schedule and gate changes. Airport desk clerks will assist with unexpected changes. Once you are in the gate area you can relax, shop or buy a snack before your flight.
Passengers connecting from another point within the USA should check their luggage through to their final destination. Although problems with lost luggage have been minimal, it is a possibility. Certain carriers do not allow baggage “interlining,” and luggage must be checked separately for each flight. When you check your luggage, please verify where your luggage is being sent. When connecting between flights in major airports, you may need to pass through multiple security checkpoints. Therefore, we recommend that you proceed immediately to the gate area for your connecting flight to avoid any unexpected delays which may cause you to be late. Passengers returning to the USA may need to collect their luggage at the first airport of entry and recheck their luggage for their connecting flight.
In the event that you miss your flight which departs as scheduled, for any reason, your airline will consider you a “no-show” and may resell your seat(s) to other customers. This will also result in the cancellation of any later flights in your itinerary. Similarly, if you voluntarily decide not to use any of the flights on your itinerary, the airline will consider you a “no show” and cancel remaining flights on your itinerary. In this case, please contact your airline immediately for assistance in getting you to your destination. Missed flights are typically fully non-refundable and you may be required to purchase new flights from the airline at your own expense.
If you are connecting from a domestic flight which is delayed for any reason, causing you to miss your international flight, ask the airline for assistance in getting you to your destination. Since all airline tickets are issued on special fares which carry restrictions and penalties if changed, it’s the airline’s responsibility to make alternate arrangements on your behalf. Portaltrip has no authority or control over airline activities and policies. Do not leave the airline check-in desk until an alternative itinerary has been confirmed.
If your luggage is lost or damaged by the airlines, a baggage claim form must be filed with the carrier before leaving the airport. Any cost to retrieve luggage will be your responsibility and you should retain receipts to submit to your insurance provider. You may be required to return to an airport to retrieve your luggage personally.
There are many types of Chinese visas. Choose a visa type that applies to your situation. If you are planning to go on a vacation in China, apply for a Tourist Visa (L Visa).
The following list of documents is required for any China visa application:
Along with the aforementioned generally required documents, several additional documents are required depending upon the type of China visa applied for. Check out the lists of required documents from the Chinese Embassy.
The applicant will submit the prepared materials to the embassy.
Starting in 2018, visa applicants from more and more countries (including the U.S., the UK, and Canada) have to make their visa application in person and have their fingerprints collected.
The fees vary enormously depending on your nationality and number of entries. Here we listed China visa prices for some countries for your reference. It may change based on the updated policies.
| Nationality | Number of Entries | Regular Application |
|---|---|---|
| US Citizens | Single Entry, Double Entries, Multiple Entries for 6 Months, Multiple Entries for 1 Year & above | USD 140 |
| UK Citizens | — | GBP 64 |
| Canada Citizens | — | CAD 100 |
| Australian Citizens | — | AUD 95–185 |
Generally, it takes about four working days to process a visa application.
When to apply for a visa: It is usually recommended that you apply for the visa one or two months before the intended travel.
China’s port visas are similar to the “visas on arrival” of some other countries.
Foreigners applying for port visas can either submit their applications in advance directly to the port visa authorities, or apply on-site upon arrival at Chinese ports.
To make the process smoother and avoid potential issues, it’s recommended that applicants submit their applications in advance to the port visa authorities in their intended destinations. This way, they can get preliminary approval before arriving at the ports to apply for visas.
Portaltrip is authorized to help you apply for the port visa (2+ travelers needed). You’re allowed to visit China for up to 30 days with just a US$100 visa service fee per person.
If your itinerary includes Tibet and Xinjiang, port visas are not applicable.
All visa applications cannot be guaranteed approval upon submission, as they are subject to final approval by the National Immigration Office. However, we have not yet received any disapprovals.
Both the original visa and a copy are needed when boarding your flight. Upon arrival, the immigration officer will take the copy, and when leaving China, they will collect the original.
Tipping is standard and widely expected for guided tours throughout China. We recommend a gratuity of $8 USD per guest, per day (equivalent to around 60 Chinese RMB). Though tipping is not legally required, it is a long-standing local custom to thank your tour guides, drivers, and supporting staff who deliver daily service during your trip.
You may pay tips in either US dollars or Chinese RMB directly to your local guide at the end of each destination segment. For most tour staff in China, gratuities make up a meaningful portion of their earnings.
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