International Airfare *For VIP members only (ask us for details)
Lodging
English-Speaking Tour Guides
All Ground & Water Transportation
All Activities in Itinerary Below
All Entry Fees
Breakfasts
Our tour to China starts in the city of Chongqing, known for its dramatic, hilly terrain, dense skyscrapers and the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. It is famous for its mind-bending cyberpunk architecture, spicy hotpot and unique multi-layered cityscape built across mountains and rivers, earning it nicknames like ‘Mountain City’ and ‘8D City’. Historically, it served as China’s wartime capital, boosting its strategic importance. Today, it’s a major economic hub known for a unique blend of ancient history and futuristic development.
We are making a daytrip this morning. Firstly, we are taken by car to the Dazu Rock Carvings. These spectacular cliffside grottoes preserve thousands of intricate sculptures carved between the 7th and 13th centuries, representing a pinnacle of Chinese stone carving artistry. After visiting them, we are taken back to Chongqing, specifically to Guanyinqiao Square. This is the heart of a shopping district. After exploring it, we are taken by foot to 9th Street (a.k.a. Jiu Jie). This relatively short street consists of bars and nightclubs. Next, we are taken by car to Nanbin Road. This walking path consists of romantic restaurants facing the river. We are then walked back to our hotel.
We explore Chongqing today. Firstly, we are taken by car to the Chongqing Zoo. There we see red pandas. Next, we are taken to the ‘Ciqikou Ancient Town’ district. This pedestrianized old town consists of shops and restaurants. Next, we are taken to a shopping mall called The Ring. There we see a botanical garden and an artificial waterfall. Expect to be surprised by how slowly the water falls down. Next, we are taken to Starlight Place. This regular shopping mall has a nice aquarium.
After visiting Starlight Place, we are taken to Bayi Road (a.k.a. Bayi Food Street). This is a night market in the center of the city. We recommend trying the street food here. Next, we are taken to Raffles Tower. Upon arrival, we check out the main viewing platform. We are then taken by elevator to Crystal Skywalk. There we get strapped up (to secure ourselves) and then walk on a glass-bottomed skyway, which is 32.5 meters wide and 26.5 meters high. We enjoy the panoramic views of the city. Next, we are taken by elevator to the 42nd floor. There we walk through the fashionable restaurants and then are taken to the rooftop terrace. After visiting Raffles Tower, we are taken back to our hotel.
Today we explore Chongqing further. Firstly, we are taken by car to Longmenhao Old Street. This street and the adjacent Xiahao Lane feature historic buildings and shops situated on a mountain slope. Next, we are taken to the Yangtze River Cableway. This is a 1,166-meter aerial cableway that crosses the Yangtze River, connecting the Nan’an district and the Yuzhong district. It offers panoramic views of the city, rivers and skyscrapers and serves as both a tourist attraction and a means of public transportation. We cross over to the Yuzhong district here.
Upon arrival, we are taken by foot to Jiefangbei (a.k.a. Liberation Monument). This is essentially the pedestrianized area of the city center. After walking around, we take the light rail (a.k.a. monorail) to Liziba Station. We try to get to the front of the train, where the window is. After our train goes through a building, we get off, walk to a viewpoint and watch another light rail go through the same building. Next, we are taken by car to Mountain City Alley (a.k.a. Shanchengxiang). This is an artsy area along the mountainside. Next, we are taken to a place called 18 Steps (a.k.a. Shibati). This is an outdoor shopping area featuring historic buildings. Next, we are taken to Eling Park. There we ascend to the viewpoint.
Upon returning from the viewpoint, we are taken to the bottom of Hongya Cave (a.k.a. Hongya Dong). This is an 11-story stilt-building complex beautifully lit up at night, filled with restaurants, shops and singing venues. We recommend trying the street food here. Next, we are taken to the harbor next to Raffles Tower. There we take the Two Rivers Night Cruise. This is a sightseeing tour on the Yangtze and Jialing rivers that showcases the city’s illuminated skyline and landmarks. After the tour, we are taken back to our hotel.
We are relocating by train from Chongqing firstly to the city of Leshan. Upon arrival, we are taken by car to the Wuyou Dock. From there, we take a boat ride to the Giant Leshan Buddha. This site is home to the world’s largest stone-carved Buddha. Next, we are taken to the Oriental Buddha Park (a.k.a. Oriental Capital of Buddhism). This is a privately run cultural theme park, featuring thousands of reproductions of Buddha statues and Buddhist themed carvings. After our tour, we are taken by train to the city of Emeishan. After settling in, we are taken by car to Lingxiu Hot Spring. There we enjoy the natural pools. Afterwards, we are taken back to our hotel.
Before relocating by train from Emeishan to the city of Chengdu, we are taken by bus to the Emei Mountain. Upon arrival, we walk to the lower station of the Golden Summit Cableway. There we take the cable car to the Golden Summit. Once there, we are provided with a guided tour of this sacred Buddhist site. After visiting Emei Mountain and its sites, we are taken to Chengdu.
*Note that we do not visit on Mount Emei the Ecological Monkey Area, Qingyin Pavilion, White Dragon Cave and Wannian Temple. They are far less impressive than the main draw, which we do visit.
Today we explore Chengdu. Firstly, we are taken by car to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Enjoy the red pandas. Next, we are taken to Jinli Street. This is an outdoor complex with lots of shops and historic-looking buildings. Next, we are taken to Kuanzhai Alley. This street is quite similar to what Jinli Street offers. Next, we are taken by foot to Renmin Park. Although there we see some restaurants lining a cute little lake, the real draw is seeing the area where locals leave ‘marriage resume’ letters hanging on display. Yes, you read that correctly! There is a section for male resumes and a separate section for female resumes. They usually include age, height, weight, job and family background. However, few of these resumes actually show photos of the applicants.
After visiting Renmin Park, we are taken by car to Wenshu Yuan Monastery. There we are provided with a guided tour. Next, we are taken by metro to a large public square called Tianfu Square. Next, we are taken by foot to a lively pedestrian street called Chunxi Road. We walk along it until we reach International Finance Square. At this square, we see a large screen which often shows 3D presentations. Adjacent to International Finance Square is a shopping area called Taikoo Li. Along with the shops, we also find Dashengci Temple in this area.
After touring Taikoo Li, we are taken by metro to reach the illuminated Twin Towers. A short walk from the metro station is a circular bridge from where we can also take nice photos of these towers. Next, we are taken by metro to a shopping mall called Global Center. Specifically, we take escalators to the top floor and then walk across a clear-glass bridge. We also get nice views of this shopping mall from this bridge. Next, we are taken by foot to the SKP Life Tower. There we encounter 6 illuminated towers which are all pouring water from their tops. Next, we are taken by car to Jiuyanqiao Bar Street. There we are provided with a guided tour, checking out the nightlife as well as the famous historic bridge. We are then taken back to our hotel.
Firstly, we are relocating by train to the city of Jiuzhaigou today. Upon arrival, we are taken by car to the Huanglong Nature Reserve, specifically to the visitor center. There we take a cable car ride to the top. The colorful travertine lakes and ponds are the highlight. Specifically, we see natural pools formed by melting ice (from the mountains) and by calcification. From the top, we walk back to the car park. Along the way, we see several more natural pools. Depending on the time of the year, the pools are more full or empty. After exploring Huanglong, we relocate by car to a nature reserve called Jiuzhaigou.
Before relocating by train back to Chengdu, we are taken to explore Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. There are 3 different sections to explore. The first section we visit is called Long Lake. The second section we visit is called Rize Valley. The third and final section we visit is called Shuzheng Valley. After visiting the nature reserve, we depart for Chengdu. Note that Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve is the most famous natural attraction in all of China.
We are relocating by flight from Chengdu to the city of Xining today. After settling in, we are taken by foot to the Daxin Street Night Market. There we see vibrant street food, unique snacks, shops, local culture and social life. Come hungry!
We are relocating by flight from Chengdu to the city of Xining today. After settling in, we are taken by foot to the Daxin Street Night Market. There we see vibrant street food, unique snacks, shops, local culture and social life. Come hungry!
We are relocating by train to the city of Zhangye today. After settling in, we are taken by car to the Binggou Danxia Scenic Area. It features massive, castle-like structures, deep ravines and towering pillars. We are provided with a guided tour there. This includes some steep hiking and nice views. Next, we are taken by car to Zhangye National Geopark (a.k.a. Rainbow Mountain). It features breathtaking, vividly colored sandstone formations created over 24 million years through mineral deposit compression and tectonic movement. We use the shuttle which takes us to the four stations from where we hike and get nice views. Station four (the last station/stop) is arguably the best one, followed by station two. Nonetheless, they are all really nice. After visiting the national geopark, we are taken back to our hotel.
We are not relocating by train from Zhangye to the city of Jiayuguan just yet. Beforehand, we are taken by car to Mati Temple (a.k.a. Horse’s Hoof Temple). This attraction blends grotto art, mountain landscape and minority customs. Upon arrival in Jiayuguan, we are taken to a section of the Great Wall of China called the Hanging Great Wall. This is a dramatic and steep section, known for its precarious perch on a mountain ridge. It resembles a dragon overhanging the slopes. After visiting the Great Wall, we are taken by car into the city, specifically to the Fuqiang Night Market.
Firstly, we are relocating by car to the city of Guazhou. Upon arrival, we are taken to explore the area’s 4 famous statues, with the Son of The Earth Statue being the most beautiful among them. This statue was completed in 2016 and was made in memory of the child which drowned in the Mediterranean Sea during the Syrian refugee crisis. The other statues are of a giant man walking, the head of an emperor and Noah’s Ark (referring to the Bible). After visiting the statues, we are taken by car to our hotel in the city of Dunhuang.
After checking in, we are taken to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring. There we walk on the sand dunes. While there, we see several activities available, including ATV riding, paramotoring (like paragliding but with a motor), camel riding and even helicopter rides. You can directly pay for whichever activity/activities interest(s) you most. Many say that paramotoring is the best activity offered on site, as this 3-minute flightseeing tour gives us great views of the sand dunes. After Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, we are taken by car to Dunhuang’s large, organized and colorful night market.
Before relocating by flight to the city of Xi’an, we explore the Mogao Caves site. There are 735 recorded caves at the site, of which we can visit only 8 on a guided group tour. Once the guided group tour has finished, we check out the Giant Buddha statue as well as 3 caves to the left of this statue. One of these caves has a smaller version of the same Buddha statue. Another cave has a statue of a lying Buddha. After visiting these caves, we cross the bridge and are taken into the museum. There we find amazing replicas of Mogao’s ‘exclusive/special caves’, which are not open on the standard guided group tour. After visiting the museum, we depart by plane to Xi’an. Upon arrival, we are taken to our hotel.
* Please note that the Mogao Caves site has ‘exclusive/special caves’ which are not open on the standard guided tour. What makes these caves ‘exclusive or special’ is essentially the preservation of the artwork. Tickets can be purchased only on-the-spot, by the visitor, and there is no guarantee there will be an opening for you. This is why these specific caves are not included in our tour package. Tickets are limited and even if we get one, we are allowed to see only 2 of these many special/exclusive caves. Cave 45 is arguably the nicest of them. As we do not need to leave the Mogao Caves until late-afternoon, let your tour guide know if you would like to try to visit two of these special caves.
Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Xi’an.
If you are seeking an adventurous yet luxury tour in which you see and do it all stress-free, in which all the planning is done for you by experts, in which 5-star hotels, ground transportation, tour guides and entry fees are all included in the package, then you have come to the right place. Welcome to CharlieTheTraveler, an international tour operation company providing tailormade or packaged tours. Read some of our over 800 5-star reviews found across the Internet.
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We are open to customizing this tour to your liking, even though the itinerary we recommend is rock solid. As our tour is currently advertised, you absolutely will not find another one out there as packed with activities and attractions. What’s more, you will not find another tour out there that offers it all "FIRST CLASS," yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year, and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price & substance.
All participants are required to book travel insurance within 72 hours of booking this tour. At a minimum, such insurance must cover cancellations, medical expenses, evacuations, flight loss or delays and 24/7 assistance.
A 4-installment payment plan is available, often with 0 percent interest to those with at least decent credit. Ask us for details. Our luxury-oriented and itinerary-packed “Midwest China in 16 Days” tour is available for $5,374 USD per person. This price includes all transportation, except airfare. It also includes an English-speaking tour guide, all activities mentioned in the standard itinerary and all entry fees. If you would like lodging and breakfast included for all nights on this tour, then the combined (transportation, tour guide, food, activities, entry fees and lodging) total would be $6,428 USD per person. This price is based on 2 per room and is offered to those booking at least 6 weeks in advance. Note that there is a $30 USD fee if paying by bank transfer or a 4.6 percent surcharge for payments made by credit card. We accept both forms of payment. We do not accept checks. Moving forward, to better understand your specific circumstances and wishes, and for us to accurately quote you, please tell us:
1.Do you prefer getting domestic airfare through us or directly with the airlines? You have both options. Either way, we tell you the exact flights you would need for this tour. Note there is a $100 USD ‘booking fee’ which guarantees not only booking airfare but also that a CharlieTheTraveler representative would be on the phone and/or using live chat with the airlines should there need to be a possible change to your flight(s).
2.Do you have a preference between a male or a female tour guide throughout the trip?
3.Some customers of ours who have the time combine our Northwest China tour with one or more of our other China tour packages. Does this interest you? How much time maximum do you have for visiting China?
Any airfare, alcohol, travel insurance, any government-imposed visa fees and anything not mentioned in the itinerary
Although airfare is not included in the price, we will find you the exact flights you need. Just ask.
On a different note, while at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, you will see several activities available, including ATV-riding, paramotoring (like paragliding but with a motor), camel riding and even helicopter rides. You can directly purchase whichever activities you would like and are available. Some argue that paramotoring is the best activity offered on site, as this 3-minute flightseeing tour gives you great views of the sand dunes.
Below are the domestic flights needed for this tour, both of which are included in the price:
Day 10: Chengdu to Xining
Day 15: Dunhuang to Xi’an
After booking our tour package, we would send you screenshots of what you need to purchase (airlines, flight number and date) and you would then book directly with the carrier. You should almost never book airfare through a third party. The exception is when booking specifically international business class airfare from the United States. Sometimes this specific scenario provides a significant saving for the customer. Does CharlieTheTraveler book airfare on customers' behalf? Yes, both international and domestic. Ask us for details.
Note that CharlieTheTraveler cannot guarantee the airfare type it quotes you will be fully refundable. This is one of the reasons why we require customers to have travel insurance. Some airlines offer fully refundable airfare with a relatively low upcharge while others offer strictly non-refundable. Equally unsurprising, some airlines offer fully refundable airfare but with significant upcharges. If you are seeking airfare which guarantees cancellation without penalty, then please state this in writing when asking CharlieTheTraveler to book on your behalf.
Below are the names of the hotels where we commonly have our customers stay. Note this is subject to availability.
Nights 1-4: Chongqing, Preferred Accommodation: JI Hotel Chongqing Nanbin Road Crown International Branch
Night 5: Emei Mountain, Preferred Accommodation: Le Méridien Emei Mountain Resort
Nights 6-7: Chengdu, Preferred Accommodation: JI Hotel (Chengdu Sichuandaxue Linyinjie)
Night 8: Jiuzhaigou, Preferred Accommodation: Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Jiuzhaigou
Night 9: Chengdu, Preferred Accommodation: JI Hotel (Chengdu Sichuandaxue Linyinjie)
Nights 10-11: Xining, Preferred Accommodation: JI Hotel Xining Railway Station Plaza West
Night 12: Zhangye, Preferred Accommodation: Zhangye Yinzun International Hotel
Night 13: Jiayuguan, Preferred Accommodation: Jiayuguan Pass Fantawild Flagship Hotel
Night 14: Dunhuang , Preferred Accommodation: JI Hotel (Dunhuang Yeshi Municipal Government)
Night 15: Xi'an , Preferred Accommodation: Atour Hotel Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
This entire tour is exclusive to you and whomever else you may book on behalf of.
Your room is exclusive to you and whomever is in your party. Strangers (meaning customers who book on the same start date but do not know each other) do not share rooms on this tour. On a side note, please let us know if you and the other person(s) in your booking want separate rooms.
Although we get customers of all ages and from several countries, our statistics show most people who book are 30 to 65 years old and from USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
We welcome your kids specifically and only when the tour is exclusive to you and your group-meaning other customers are not joining you. We define kids as anyone under 18 years old. In order to make the tour exclusive to you and your group, your booking would need to be for 4 persons or more for any of our tours except Iceland. For our Iceland tour, your booking would need to be for 8 persons or more. Regarding the cost of bringing a non-adult, we do deduct from the total based on the amount of activities you request we remove from the tour. Note that reducing the total price of the tour by removing activities is something offered for non-adults only. Adults can opt out of activities but the total price does not change.
We do not expect you to be an Olympic champion. We know some of the tour members are more fit than others…and we are well prepared for this. However, we do hope you take into consideration this is a very active tour, just like every other tour we offer.
Please let us know about any disability you have. Some disabilities would not affect you taking this tour. Others would prevent you from joining altogether. Although we want all of our customers to have fun, your safety is our first priority.
Of course. Once each day’s tour is over, you have the rest of the evening to yourself. Because our tours tend to be very active, our customers typically want to simply relax once the sun sets.
Notify us as soon as possible and we will do our very best to arrange a meeting point. Please note that we do not refund for any days or activities that you miss.
Generally speaking, you can opt out as long as we are given adequate notice. Please note that opting out of certain activities does not reduce the price of this tour.
We would do our best to keep you safe and make you as comfortable as possible, as well as make special arrangements to address your situation. Partial refunds are not offered if you cannot continue with the tour. However, most travel insurances reimburse you for such situations. This is one of many reasons why we require our customers to purchase travel insurance before taking this tour.
To confirm your tour, full payment is needed at the time of your purchase. However, refunds are offered. You will receive a full refund if canceling at least 91 days in advance from the departure date. Cancelling between 90-60 days prior to departure entitles you to a 50 percent refund. Cancelling between 59-31 days prior to departure entitles you to a 25 percent refund. Canceling 30 days or less prior to departure is not eligible for a refund. Cancellation requests need to be made by email and become effective on the date received by CharlieTheTraveler.
In the unlikely event CharlieTheTraveler needs to cancel this trip, such as because of very poor weather conditions, we will give you a full refund for the tour within 14 business days of the cancellation.
You should receive an email from us within 24 hours of purchasing this tour as well as a week before departure. The first email gives details about what to bring, how to prepare yourself, etc. The second email gives details mostly about the hotels.
Only if you wish to go paramotoring (like paragliding but with a motor) at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, bring a strap for your sunglasses, to wrap around your head. On a different note, you may need to bring adapters for your electronic devices.
Our tour guides/drivers are licensed, speak English and know how to bring excitement to your day. What we deliver is the complete opposite of the cookie-cutting tours the big corporations offer, leaving you in complete boredom. Although our tour guides/drivers are attentive, accommodating and engaged, they also know when to give you your private space and free time. It's a perfect balance.
All of our tours are offered in English. If you prefer another language, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Absolutely not. We make the arrangements for you.
Yes! You have your own concierge for this tour who is at your disposal. You could reach this person when you need anything.
Please visit CharlieTheTraveler.com/Tours-Terms-and-Conditions
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