Highlights of China
Step into a world where old meets new and people meet pandas.
This experiential voyage spans the best of China, from the hustle and bustle of Beijing to the tranquility of tai chi. Marvel at the Great Wall from a special vantage point, and stand in awe of the Terracotta Army in Xi’an—a sea of stone soldiers protecting their emperor in the afterlife. Ready for things to get fluffy? Head to a panda research center in Chengdu to learn about its adorable occupants.
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Day 1: Fly overnight to China
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Day 2: Beijing
Meet your Tour Director at the airport -
Day 3: Beijing
Take a guided tour of Beijing
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Tiananmen Square [tyahn-ahn-men]
- Forbidden City
- Summer Palace
Enjoy a dragon boat ride (Available April–October only)
Participate in a tai chi lesson
Enjoy a Peking duck dinner
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Day 4: Beijing
Take a day trip to Mutianyu
Visit one of the best preserved sections of the Great Wall of China that’s less traveled by tourists
Take a cable car ride for a scenic view of the Great Wall
See the Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium
Take a walking tour of a traditional Beijing neighborhood
Enjoy an authentic Chinese meal with a local family
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Day 5: Beijing • Xi'an
Fly to Xi’an [shee-ahn]
Take a bike ride on Xi’an’s ancient city wall
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Dumpling class
Make dough. Fold dumplings. Repeat. (Then, eat!) Learn the fine art of Chinese dumpling-making from an expert chef in this hands-on cooking class. Come away with authentic techniques, an understanding of different dumpling types and shapes, and, most importantly, full bellies.
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Day 6: Xi'an
Tour Xi’an with an expert local guide
Visit the Terracotta Army archaeological dig site
Participate in a calligraphy class
Visit a street food market in the city’s Muslim Quarter
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Day 7: Xi'an • Chengdu
Travel by high-speed train to Chengdu [chung doo]
Tour Chengdu’s most famous pedestrian street
Take a guided tour of Chengdu
With your expert local guide you will:
- Learn about the city’s ancient history
- See why it’s a modern-day economic, transportation, and communication hub
Enjoy a family-style hot pot dinner
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Sichuan Opera “face-changing” performance
Don’t let the “opera” in the title fool you. This tea-house performance is all spectacle, complete with acrobats, fire-breathers, puppeteers, and actors skilled in the art of “face-changing,” or rapidly swapping intricate masks depicting different emotions. (Like, 10-masks-in-20-seconds fast.)
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Day 8: Chengdu
Spend a half day at a giant panda research center where you will:
- Learn about the center’s research and conservation efforts to save giant pandas
- Observe pandas as they carry out daily activities—everything from eating to sleeping to playing
Bike within a tea plantation and try your hand at picking tea leaves alongside local farmers
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Day 9: Chengdu • Dujiangyan
Take in the Chinese countryside on a day trip to a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Explore the Dujiangyan [doo jee-ang yenn] Irrigation System, a feat of engineering dating back to 256 B.C.
Enjoy a cable car ride and short hike to the top of Mount Qingcheng [ching chung]
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Day 10: Chengdu • Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai
Visit the Shanghai World Financial Center
Walk along the Bund, a colonial-era center for international banking and trade
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Chinese acrobatics show
This evening performance by traditional Chinese acrobats will have you gasping in awe, laughing out loud, and applauding wildly with its unique blend of comedy, magic, theater, and “did they really just do that?” stunts.
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Day 11: Shanghai
Take a guided tour of Shanghai
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Jade Buddha Temple
- Yu Garden, whose name literally means “happiness”
Take a walking tour of Nanjing Road
With your Tour Director you will:
- Explore one of the world’s busiest shopping streets
- Interact with locals as you navigate the bustling crowds
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Day 12: Depart for home
Add 2 more days
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Day 12: Shanghai • Hong Kong
Fly to Hong Kong
Ride the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island
Explore the Temple Street Night Market
Take the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor
Enjoy dinner in Kowloon
Watch the cityscape come alive in a dazzling light show
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Day 13: Hong Kong
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Lantau Island
Lantau Island—the largest of Hong Kong’s 230 islands—is yours to explore. Begin with a 25-minute cable car ride that offers panoramic views of the South China Sea. Visit the Po Lin Monastery and then climb stairs to the island’s main attraction: the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha, who stands 111 feet tall and weighs over 250 tons!
Enjoy a dim sum tasting
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Day 14: Depart for home
-
Day 1: Fly overnight to China
-
Day 2: Beijing
Meet your Tour Director at the airport -
Day 3: Beijing
Take a guided tour of Beijing
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Tiananmen Square [tyahn-ahn-men]
- Forbidden City
- Summer Palace
Enjoy a dragon boat ride (Available April–October only)
Participate in a tai chi lesson
Enjoy a Peking duck dinner
-
Day 4: Beijing
Take a day trip to Mutianyu
Visit one of the best preserved sections of the Great Wall of China that’s less traveled by tourists
Take a cable car ride for a scenic view of the Great Wall
See the Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium
Take a walking tour of a traditional Beijing neighborhood
Enjoy an authentic Chinese meal with a local family
-
Day 5: Beijing • Xi'an
Fly to Xi’an [shee-ahn]
Take a bike ride on Xi’an’s ancient city wall
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Dumpling class
Make dough. Fold dumplings. Repeat. (Then, eat!) Learn the fine art of Chinese dumpling-making from an expert chef in this hands-on cooking class. Come away with authentic techniques, an understanding of different dumpling types and shapes, and, most importantly, full bellies.
-
Day 6: Xi'an
Tour Xi’an with an expert local guide
Visit the Terracotta Army archaeological dig site
Participate in a calligraphy class
Visit a street food market in the city’s Muslim Quarter
-
Day 7: Xi'an • Chengdu
Travel by high-speed train to Chengdu [chung doo]
Tour Chengdu’s most famous pedestrian street
Take a guided tour of Chengdu
With your expert local guide you will:
- Learn about the city’s ancient history
- See why it’s a modern-day economic, transportation, and communication hub
Enjoy a family-style hot pot dinner
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Sichuan Opera “face-changing” performance
Don’t let the “opera” in the title fool you. This tea-house performance is all spectacle, complete with acrobats, fire-breathers, puppeteers, and actors skilled in the art of “face-changing,” or rapidly swapping intricate masks depicting different emotions. (Like, 10-masks-in-20-seconds fast.)
-
Day 8: Chengdu
Spend a half day at a giant panda research center where you will:
- Learn about the center’s research and conservation efforts to save giant pandas
- Observe pandas as they carry out daily activities—everything from eating to sleeping to playing
Bike within a tea plantation and try your hand at picking tea leaves alongside local farmers
-
Day 9: Chengdu • Dujiangyan
Take in the Chinese countryside on a day trip to a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Explore the Dujiangyan [doo jee-ang yenn] Irrigation System, a feat of engineering dating back to 256 B.C.
Enjoy a cable car ride and short hike to the top of Mount Qingcheng [ching chung]
-
Day 10: Chengdu • Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai
Visit the Shanghai World Financial Center
Walk along the Bund, a colonial-era center for international banking and trade
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Chinese acrobatics show
This evening performance by traditional Chinese acrobats will have you gasping in awe, laughing out loud, and applauding wildly with its unique blend of comedy, magic, theater, and “did they really just do that?” stunts.
-
Day 11: Shanghai
Take a guided tour of Shanghai
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Jade Buddha Temple
- Yu Garden, whose name literally means “happiness”
Take a walking tour of Nanjing Road
With your Tour Director you will:
- Explore one of the world’s busiest shopping streets
- Interact with locals as you navigate the bustling crowds
-
Day 12: Depart for home
Add 2 more days
-
Day 12: Shanghai • Hong Kong
Fly to Hong Kong
Ride the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island
Explore the Temple Street Night Market
Take the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor
Enjoy dinner in Kowloon
Watch the cityscape come alive in a dazzling light show
-
Day 13: Hong Kong
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Lantau Island
Lantau Island—the largest of Hong Kong’s 230 islands—is yours to explore. Begin with a 25-minute cable car ride that offers panoramic views of the South China Sea. Visit the Po Lin Monastery and then climb stairs to the island’s main attraction: the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha, who stands 111 feet tall and weighs over 250 tons!
Enjoy a dim sum tasting
-
Day 14: Depart for home
Reviews
Refer a friend or colleague to EF and we’ll thank you with $1,000. Learn more
Your experience includes
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Airfare & transportation
Round-trip flights on major carriers; Comfortable motorcoach; Internal flights
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Hotels
10 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms (12 with extension)
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Regional-style meals
Breakfast and dinner daily
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Guided sightseeing
4 sightseeing tours led by expert, licensed local guides; 2 sightseeing tours led by your Tour Director; 1 rickshaw tour
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Entrances
Tiananmen Square; Forbidden City; Summer Palace; dragon boat ride (seasonal); tai chi lesson; Great Wall of China; cable car ride; bike ride on Xi’an city wall; Terracotta Army; calligraphy class; panda research center; tea plantation; Dujiangyan Irrigation System; Mount Qingcheng; Shanghai World Financial Center; Jade Buddha Temple; Yu Garden (with extension: Peak Tram; Star Ferry ride)
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Full-time Tour Director
Your culturally connected Tour Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all on-tour logistics.
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Expert Local Guides
Your expert local guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and global perspective on your sightseeing tours.
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Continuous Support
Your dedicated EF team helps you every step of the way—from recruiting and enrolling travelers to planning and managing your tour.
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Worldwide Presence
EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide so wherever you go, we're there too.
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24-hour Emergency Service
Travelers and their families can count on EF's dedicated emergency service team.
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Peace of Mind Program
Feel secure knowing your group can change their destination or travel dates due to unforeseen circumstances. Learn more about your flexible options at eftours.com/peaceofmind.
Lowest price
Price is valid for students under the age of 20 at the time of travel that room in triples and quads. Minimum participation is required. Change and cancellation fees of up to the total price will apply. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included and can be found at www.eftours.com/baggage. Program price is valid today only.
Price displayed includes an Early Enrollment Discount; restrictions apply. To determine if you qualify, please contact your Tour Consultant. Tours departing between 10/1/2023 and 9/30/2024 may be eligible for a $100 discount. Tours departing 10/1/2024 and beyond may be eligible for a $200 discount; restrictions apply.