Sites Visited: Transfer via: international / domestic flight on your own.

Upon your arrival at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, our professional local guide will wait for you at the arrival hall and transfer to your pre-booked hotel. After check-in, you have the whole rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight: Shanghai

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: City God Temple & Yu Garden

You will start your full-day Shanghai city exploration at City God Temple area which gathers countless local handicraft stalls and famous Shanghai street-food vendors. You can browse traditional art-craft souvenirs and taste classic local delicacies. Afterwards, you will visit well-preserved Shikumen Old Lanes. Shikumen is Shanghai’s unique hybrid residential architecture, blending western stone-gate design with traditional Chinese courtyard layout, which bears precious memory of old-Shanghai civilian life. Later you will head for Shanghai Tower, the gigantic skyscraper in China. Take the high-speed elevator up to the 118-floor indoor observation deck. From this dizzying height, you can enjoy the full panoramic bird’s-eye view over the sprawling metropolis, overlooking Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl Tower and dense clusters of high-rise buildings across Pudong New Area. As dusk falls, you can proceed to The Bund. Along the riverside promenade stand dozens of magnificent century-old European-style heritage buildings. When night falls, all facades are illuminated with colourful lights. Facing across Huangpu River, you can admire the glittering modern skyline of Pudong, witnessing the striking contrast between Shanghai’s glorious past and dynamic present. Overnight: Shanghai

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town.

After breakfast, you will be driven out of downtown Shanghai to visit Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town, one of the best-preserved Jiangnan canal towns around Shanghai. Wander along flag-stone paths, watch local residents go about their daily life by the water, and soak in the slow-paced poetic charm of Jiangnan watery countryside away from the noisy metropolis. You can also sample local water-town special snacks within the ancient streets. After finishing sightseeing in Zhujiajiao, you will transfer to Shanghai airport for your scheduled flight heading for Zhangjiajie. Upon landing at Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport, the local guide for Hunan segment will meet you at the airport arrival exit, then arrange private transfer to your hotel in Zhangjiajie city. Get well rested to store energy for the mountain adventures in the following days. Overnight: Zhangjiajie

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: National Forest Park, Bailong Elevator, Yuanjiajie,

Today you will step into Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a world-famous geopark renowned for thousands of towering quartz-sandstone pillars rising from deep valleys. Enter the scenic area and take Bailong Elevator, a huge outdoor sightseeing cliff elevator. This incredible engineering wonder carries visitors rapidly ascending hundreds of meters straight up the vertical cliff face, offering spectacular instant views over boundless peak forest below. Arriving at Yuanjiajie scenic zone, you will see Hallelujah Mountain, the real-world prototype of the floating mountain in the movie Avatar. Marvel at this lone giant stone pillar piercing the clouds. Next visit ‘No.1 Bridge under Heaven’, a natural stone arch formed by geological erosion connecting two huge mountain summits. Moving forward to Tianzi Mountain scenic area, feast your eyes on two representative rock-formation landmarks: Imperial Writing-Brush Peaks and Fairy Scattering Flowers. Countless slender stone pillars stand in layers, and when mist drifts through mountain valleys, the whole landscape looks exactly like an ancient Chinese ink-wash painting. After exploring the mountain-top viewing platforms, descend back to mountain foot by Tianzi Mountain Cableway. Overnight: Zhangjiajie hotel

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Glass Bridge, Huanglong Cave.

In the morning, you will travel to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. The highlight of this site is the world-famous glass-bottomed suspension bridge. Walking across this transparent bridge hanging hundreds of meters above the deep valley floor brings an exciting heart-throbbing experience, with panoramic views over lush forest and steep valley cliffs beneath your feet. After crossing the bridge, stroll down the canyon trail, enjoying fresh mountain air and peaceful woodland scenery. In the afternoon, you can visit Huanglong Cave, one of China’s largest and most spectacular karst limestone caves. Inside the huge underground cavern system, countless oddly-shaped stalactites, stalagmites and stone columns have been slowly shaped by nature over hundreds of thousands of years. Under soft colourful artificial lighting, these rock formations display fantastic varied shapes. Underground streams flow quietly through the cave passages. Professional cave guide will interpret the geological stories behind these magical underground landscapes. Overnight: Zhangjiajie

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area, Furong Town.

Today you will set off early for Tianmen Mountain. First challenge the thrilling cliff-hanging Glass Skywalk. Narrow glass-paved walkways cling tightly onto vertical mountain precipices; looking down you see the deep valley far below your feet. Afterwards you can visit Tianmen Cave, a gigantic natural karst arch piercing the whole mountain mass. This huge natural cave opening has long been wrapped in local legends. After finishing Tianmen Mountain sightseeing, you will take private vehicle for a cross-county drive towards Furong Town. Built against a grand cascading waterfall, Furong Town is an ancient settlement with strong Tujia ethnic characteristics. Upon arrival, you will check in at local accommodation. When night falls, red lanterns hanging along ancient stone streets get lit up. The bright lantern reflections mingle with the silver-white waterfall crashing down the cliff, creating a mesmerising fairy-tale night scene. Wander quiet alleys, admire the waterfall night view and experience the laid-back atmosphere of this waterside ancient town. Overnight: Furong Town

Meals: Meals: B, L

Today you can enjoy the tranquil daylight scenery of Furong Town in the morning. Without crowds of night-time visitors, you can walk along old flag-stone lanes, appreciate traditional Tujia-style wooden buildings, take photos of the waterfall under natural daylight and explore small handicraft shops. After morning sightseeing, you will transfer to the nearby high-speed railway station. Board the afternoon high-speed train heading south to Guangzhou in Guangdong Province. Once you arrive at Guangzhou railway station, your local guide will receive you and arrange private transfer to your downtown hotel. Settle into your room and take time to adapt to the warm southern climate, preparing for Lingnan cultural exploration in the next two days. Overnight: Guangzhou

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Chen Clan Academy, Yongqingfang, Shameen Island, Yuexiu Park

You will dive into Guangzhou’s profound Lingnan culture today. First stop is Chen Clan Academy (Chen Clan Ancestral Hall), the outstanding masterpiece of traditional Lingnan architectural art. Every corner of this grand ancient complex is decorated with extraordinarily delicate brick carvings, wood carvings, stone carvings and pottery ridge ornaments, fully representing top-level craftsmanship of Cantonese folk art. Next you can visit Yongqingfang, a revitalised historic old quarter. It perfectly preserves ancient Cantonese residential buildings, meanwhile blending trendy creative shops, cafes and local heritage workshops. You can wander through lanes where old-style and modern vibes coexist harmoniously. Then proceed to Shameen Island, a small islet along the Pearl River. Plenty of well-preserved European colonial-era villas, churches and shady old banyan trees fill this peaceful island, presenting a strong exotic historical atmosphere. In the late afternoon, go to Yuexiu Park, Guangzhou’s largest urban comprehensive park. Locate and photograph the iconic Five-Ram Sculpture, which is the city symbol of Guangzhou and originates from ancient local myth. Overnight: Guangzhou

Meals: Meals: B, L

Sites Visited: Sites Visited: Ancient Nanfeng Kiln, Foshan Ancestral Temple, Lingnan Tiandi, Liang Garden.

You will take a full-day excursion trip to Foshan, the neighbouring city of Guangzhou. Foshan is celebrated as hometown of Chinese southern kung-fu and millennium-old ceramic capital. First visit Ancient Nanfeng Kiln, one of the oldest continuously-operated pottery kiln sites in China with over 500 years of history. You can observe ancient kiln structures, learn about traditional pottery-making inheritance and appreciate hand-made ceramic artworks. Afterwards tour Foshan Ancestral Temple, a grand temple complex dedicated to local gods. It boasts exquisite brick-carving decorations, folk-art exhibitions and displays related to Cantonese martial-art culture. Stroll to Lingnan Tiandi, a commercial and leisure block rebuilt on the basis of ancient Foshan streets, where traditional Lingnan courtyard architecture meets modern dining and retail businesses. Afterwards pay a visit to Liang Garden, one of four most famous Lingnan classical private gardens. Delicately-arranged ponds, rockeries, pavilions and plants fully interpret elegant southern Chinese garden aesthetics. After completing all sightseeing spots, drive back to Guangzhou by private vehicle. Overnight: Guangzhou

Meals: Meals: B

After breakfast, you have free leisure time. You may go shopping for Cantonese souvenirs such as local tea, pastries and handicrafts, or take a slow casual walk around nearby streets to feel the daily life of Guangzhou. Later, private transfer service will pick you up from hotel and drive to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport according to your flight schedule. Tour service ends.