6-Day Chengdu-Xi'an Tour
Highlights
Prepare for adventure as you make you way from Chengdu to Xi’an on this 6 day adventure.
Commence your time in Chengdu where you’ll have the most wonderful experience with the amazing Giant Pandas by visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Marvel at Leshan Giant Buddha, the world’s largest Buddha statue before you explore Jinli Street for the taste of Chengdu. Travel from Chengdu to Xi’an, starting point of the famous Silk Road, for an altogether different perspective on real China. Bustling, vibrant, and lively, Xi’an is a melting pot of cultures, home to the Terracotta Army, the Great Mosque, and the food mecca at Muslim Quarter. Including 5 nights accommodation in four and five star hotels, daily breakfasts, wonderful local English-speaking guides who care, transfers, and a flexible schedule, this is a lovely little China adventure that is sure to delight. Why wait? Book now!
Itinerary
Arrive in Chengdu, the world’s capital of pandas, where you’ll be greeted enthusiastically by your local guide. While the Giant Panda is the drawcard in Chengdu, there is so much more to this city. On the way to your hotel, be introduced to the aliveness of Chengdu and hear a little of what’s in store during your visit. Once checked in at your hotel, enjoy free time to relax or explore. Remember, if you’re wanting to get out and about, talk to your guide. They’re happy to help and point you in the right direction.
Meals included: None
Your driver and guide will pick you up from the hotel to travel to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Pandas. There you will learn the origin and habits of these amazing bears, see baby pandas at play in the infant area and delivery room and gain an insight into the daily life of these amazing creatures. Wonderful photo opportunities abound to record your unique experience with such rare pandas. Be further amazed with a walk down Jinli Street. Savor 2,000 years of commerce in the market where you can try different kinds of Sichuan food and snacks, buy various local crafts and bargain like the locals. Take a leisurely stroll exploring the Wangjiang Pavilion Park with its cluster of centuries old pavilions and memorials and wander the bamboo groves cultivating a vast variety of species. Get a real taste of Chengdu style leisure when you relax in a teahouse with a cup of tea. The driver and guide will return you to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast and checking out from your hotel, your guide will take you for the two hour drive to the Leshan Giant Buddha. Best viewed from the water, you’ll enjoy a boat cruise on the river to gain a deeper appreciation of the construction, dedication and skill involved in carving when viewing the statue from the level of the feet. Observe the magnitude of the statue and beauty of the cliffs, mountains and waterways of the surroundings. Following a lunch break, you can make the two hour climb to the head of the Buddha and the Lingyan Temple. From the top, take in the magnificent landscape on a large scale, while on a smaller scale appreciate the detail of construction that reveal how the twisted buns on the head have been individually made and mounted. It’s any wonder it took 90 years to build. Your tour of Leshan Giant Buddha concludes when you are driven back to your Chengdu hotel around 5:00pm.
Meals included: Breakfast
Start with your own leisure for half day tour, then check out from your hotel and you’ll be driven to the railway station to board the bullet train to Xi’an. On arrival in Xi’an, your friendly local guide will meet and transfer you to your hotel. Expect to receive a mini guided tour of Xi’an en route.
Meals included: Breakfast
Few sights in China inspire the magnitude and awe of the the world-renowned Terracotta Army, which have made Xi’an famous. This first day of touring in China’s ancient capital is the opportunity to take it all in. Considered by historians worldwide to be the largest underground military base in the world, the Terracotta Army defies belief with the thousands of unique life-sized figures, including soldiers, horses, carts and weapons. You will be amazed at the precision, detail and craftsmenship, not to mention the diligence and care that’s been applied for decades to ensure the ongoing preservation and restoration of the figures. On return to the heart of Xi’an, enjoy a change of pace as you explore the ancient City Wall, currently the largest and best-preserved wall of its type in China. Enclosing China’s former capital city and almost 14 kilometres long, do a full circuit on a bike (tandems available!) or simply explore on foot. You’ll gain an appreciation of what people centuries earlier would have felt when they stood in the same position looking out over the city. Spend the afternoon in contemplation at Xi’an’s Great Mosque. Beautiful gardens and a stunning complex of buildings built mid seventh century, the Great Mosque is the oldest and largest Islamic mosque in China. Follow your nose to Muslim Quarter, which is bustling with authentic eateries and souvenirs. Enjoy the opportunity for a free choice of meals and be sure to ask your guide for their favouriate foodie recommendations before the final destination of the day, the famous Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square. You will be returned to your hotel to relax and reflect on the day’s activities.
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast and check out from your hotel, it’s time to explore the Shaanxi History Museum. Discover – and perhaps feel a little mesmerized – at the 370,000 plus relics which chronicle China’s ancient history. Explore Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of two iconic Buddhist pagodas in Xi’an. Depending on timing, the may be an opportunity to enter the top of the pagoda and cast your gaze out over Xi’an’s 1,400 years of history. Follow the view with a meditative walk through the temple and gardens. Sit back and relax on your return drive to the airport or train station in preparation for depature home or your next destination.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation
Inclusions / Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Admission fees: to sightseeing spots and activities specified
- Accommodation: hotels based on double/twin occupancy as specified
- Meals: as specified in the itinerary
- Tour guide: excellent private English-speaking guide
- Transportation: bullet train of Chengdu/Xi’an (First class seat for Luxury tours; second class seat for Superior tours).
- Transfers: land transfer with drivers as specified
- Travel Agency Liability Insurance during the tour
- Government taxes and fees.
Exclusions:
- International/domestic flights and trains to Chengdu/from Xi’an
- China visa fees
- Gratuities to guides and drivers and any expense of a personal nature
- Our tour package does not include travel insurance. Please purchase travel insurance before your trip to protect for any unforeseen circumstances.
Important Information
- Important information – PRIVATE TOUR
- This is a private tour for your group of family or friends. There will be no other travellers in the group apart from you.It’s always available for your schedule!
- Smart casual dress and comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Prices based on twin occupancy.
- The prices shown are not valid during China’s Official Holidays (such as National Day and Chinese Spring Festival).
- The tour guide may adjust the itinerary due to closure of the museums each Monday.
- Optional tours to Suzhou, Hangzhou or nearby Watertown, and other destinations are also available
- Any city not included in the existing tour package can be blended into as Private tour.
- Entering and exiting China from Hong Kong and Taipei are also available.
- Stays at entering and exiting cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei) can be extended.
Important information – FOR SMALL GROUP TOUR
- This is a small group tour with fixed itinerary and guaranteed departures.
You’ll travel with other like-minded people. - Smart casual dress and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
- The tour guide may adjust the itinerary due to closure of the museums on each Monday
- A transfer from your hotel to Hongqiao or Pudong Airport in Shanghai is available upon request at a surcharge.
- Stays at entering and exiting cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei) can be extended.
- Prices based on twin occupancy.
- The prices shown are not valid during China’s Official Holidays (such as National Day and Chinese Spring Festival).
- The maximum number of passengers in a small group tour is 12 people.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Booking Information
After purchase, you will receive a receipt and a Purchase Confirmation email with a Passenger Information Form. The Passenger Information Form must be completed within 72 hours of the purchase.Any special requests, preferences and optional extras MUST be clearly stated in your Passenger Information Form. Any change requested after submitting your Passenger Information Form cannot be guaranteed, is strictly subject to availability and will incur surcharges as outlined in the Schedule of Fees below.
On purchasing this tour product, you are bound by the General Terms and Conditions, in addition to the specific terms and conditions outlined in this Important Information.
Surcharges
Please note: online credit card payment and PayPal payments incur surcharges.Tour Start Dates
Private and custom tours can be scheduled to commence on any day. Multi-day small group tours start on set dates as indicated in the booking calendar for the specific tour.Cities for Commencement of Tours
Beijing is the city in which multi-day small group tours start. Multi-day tours with set itineraries booked as a private tour, commence in Beijing, unless otherwise arranged with ChinaTours.com. Tours booked as custom tours can start in any destination listed on the ChinaTours.com website.Flights
Full service flights included, where applicable. For international flights: full service flights included only if tour includes travel to/from Hong Kong, Taiwan, North Korea, or as part of Indochina tour packages. Domestic flights included as part of a tour package are provided by select Chinese domestic airlines. Flight carrier will be specified in itinerary provided on finalization of booking. Note: the maximum baggage allowance for domestic in China is 20 kilograms for economy class domestic flights, 30 kilograms for business class, and 40 kilograms for first class. Flight class upgrades are available on request at an additional charge.High Speed Trains
First class seat for five star (Luxury) tour packages and second class seat for four star (Superior) tour packages.High Speed Train Seat Upgrades
Seat upgrades are available on high speed trains on request at an additional charge and subject to availability. A limited number of first class seats are available on high speed trains. ChinaTours.com cannot guarantee high speed train seat upgrades due to third party or supplier’s shortage.Destination Transfer
Transfers from airport to hotel provided as air-conditioned vehicle with driver.Post Tour Airport Transfer
At the completion of your tour, a transfer service from your hotel to Hongqiao or Pudong Airport can be arranged on request. Additional charges apply.Arrive Early
Accommodation options for early arrival prior to commencement of tour are available. Bookings can be made online prior to checkout or arrangements can be made with a ChinaTours.com travel consultant.Stay Behind
Accommodation options for stay behind after completion of tour are available. Bookings can be made online prior to checkout or arrangements can be made with a ChinaTours.com travel consultant.Tour Guide
All ChinaTours.com tour guides are bilingual speakers with intimate knowledge of an area/city, its culture, history, people, and food, which they will share on tour. ChinaTours.com does not operate commission-based shopping tours which means our tour guides do not receive commissions for commission-based shopping stops. Small group and private tour groups of 1-2 (<3) people will be provided with a guide/driver rather than a driver and a guide.Small Group Size
The maximum number of passengers in a multi-day small group tour is 12 people.Optional Tours/Activities
Optional tour activities are available on request. Please contact ChinaTours.com directly to customize your optional tour activities and destinations.Accommodation
ChinaTours.com selects international four star and five star hotels located in the inner city centre. In small, regional destinations, ChinaTours.com selects the best available hotel.Bedding Configuration
Bedding included in accommodation is double or twin bedding (subject to availability). Special arrangements available on request; additional charges may apply due to third party or hotel request.Adjoining/Interconnecting Rooms
Adjoining/Interconnecting rooms are available subject to passenger’s request. Additional charges may apply due to third party or hotel request.Child/Infant Policy
Pricing for child and infant can be quoted separately.
Infant price is valid for children 0 to 2 years. Child price is valid for children aged 2 to 11 years. Adult pricing apply for passengers aged 12 years and over. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 years or over. No unaccompanied minors allowed.Meals
All breakfast included. Lunch and dinner are excluded allowing passengers to make their own selection for lunch and dinner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided on the Yangtze River Cruise only. Lunch provided on the Li River Cruise. Local guides can be consulted to provide recommendations and assist with eating arrangements on request.Passport
Customers are required to provide valid passport details either at the time of purchase or within 72 hours of purchase. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of the booking. In this instance customers will be responsible for any costs and fees incurred.
Passport validity should be at least six months for entering China.Visas
A tourist visa for China is a strict requirement if travelling on a foreign passport.
Please make arrangements for your visa as soon as you receive your documentation to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours.Gratuities/Tipping
Gratuities (tips) for services of the tour guide and driver throughout the tour are not included in the tour package price.Insurance
ChinaTours.com tour packages do not include travel insurance. We strongly recommend purchase of comprehensive travel insurance prior to departure to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.Schedule of Fees
For changes to travel arrangements:- First change – No charge.
- For all subsequent changes – USD50.
- Any charges applied by a third party (for example, airline, cruise company, accommodation provider, other travel provider) cannot be waived.
Cancellation
For China tour Packages, ChinaTours.com charges cancellation fees at a percentage of the total tour package price, which are stated as follows:- More than 60 days prior to tour start date: 15 percent cancellation fee
- 45 – 59 days prior to tour start date: 20 percent cancellation fee
- 30 – 44 days prior to tour start date: 30 percent cancellation fee
- 15 – 29 days prior to tour start date: 50 percent cancellation fee
- Within 14 days prior to tour start date: 100 percent cancellation fee
Any charges applied by a third party (for example, airline, cruise company, accommodation provider, other travel provider, credit card fee, bank fee) cannot be waived.