Imperial Trails(Beijing)+Silk Road Origins (Xi’an)+Wild Sichuan(Chengdu)
Overview
Millenia of Culture, Wings of Wonder! Imperial Trails(Beijing)-Silk Road Origins (Xi’an)-Wild Sichuan(Chengdu), the tour covers 2 ancient captital cities which are internationally famous
Trip Highlights
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall
- Summer Palace
- Tiananmen Square
- Ancient City Wall of Xi'an
- Terracotta Warriors
- Giant Panda
- Red Panda
- Temminck's Tragopan
- Lady Amherst's Pheasant
- Chinese Monal
- Black-necked Crane
Itinerary
This tour departs from Beijing and concludes in Chengdu. Highlights include visits to the Palace Museum and the Great Wall in Beijing, as well as the Terracotta Army in Xi’an—two ancient capitals that stand as iconic symbols of China’s millennia-old civilization. From there, we journey to Sichuan to encounter the remarkable nature wonders of Wild China, including its prized avian species-Giant Panda!
Arrival to Beijing, activities will be arranged according to arrival time. Night in Beijing.
Visit the Forbidden City (The Palace Museum). This magnificent imperial palace complex, with its over 9,000 rooms, was the political and ceremonial center of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Walk through the Meridian Gate, explore the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. Admire the exquisite architecture, the grand palaces, and learn about the imperial history and the daily life of emperors and concubines.
After lunch, head to Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world. Visit the Monument to the People's Heroes, a solemn memorial commemorating the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Chinese revolution. Walk around the square, take in the iconic views of the Great Hall of the People, where important national meetings are held, and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History. In the afternoon, visit the Summer Palace , a vast imperial garden filled with palaces, temples, lakes, and gardens. Walk along the Long Corridor, visit the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, and take a boat ride on the Kunming Lake. Admire the beautiful scenery, which combines traditional Chinese architecture with natural landscapes. There are also many pavilions and bridges to explore. Visiting the Great Wall. Walk along the ancient stone steps, touch the historical bricks, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the mountains and the winding wall. You can choose to hike up to a certain point and then take the cable car down if you don't want to walk the whole way. There are also souvenir shops and rest areas along the way. In the afternoon, visit the Ming Tombs. This is the burial site of 13 emperors of the Ming dynasty. The most famous one is the Dingling Tomb, which has been excavated, and you can see the underground palace and some of the precious artifacts unearthed. Learn about the imperial burial customs and the history of the Ming dynasty.
Morning high-speed train to Xi’an, visit Xi’an City in the afternoon. Ancient City Wall, one of 10 top attractions you must see in Xi'an and is the best-preserved city wall in China as well one of the largest ancient military defensive systems across the globe. Cycle on the nine-mile City Wall, one of the largest ancient military defense systems in the world.visit the Bell & Drum Tower, then continue to the Great Mosque, which merges traditional Chinese construction into the Islamic culture. The famous snack street, Muslim Street, is on the way to the mosque. Night in Xi’an.
In the morning,head to the airport for Xi'an. Arrived at lunch time, after lunch, Take an excursion to the Terracotta Warriors. Admire the 7,000 terracotta soldiers that have stood guard over China's first emperor for over 2,200 years. "A nation that could create such a great history and culture will certainly create a bright future," quoted former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, who has visited the Terracotta Army three times.drive back to the hotel in Xi’an.
Taking the morning high-speed train to Chengdu, upon arrival, half day city tour in Chengdu. Night in Chengdu.
Drive 4 hours to Wuzhi Mountain at Tanshi Village- Sichuan Partridge,Lady Amherst'Pheasant, Buffy Laughingthrush, Chinese Bamboo
Partridge, Silver Pheasant. Night at the bottom of the mountain
Teminck's Tragopan ,Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Silver Pheasant, Sichuan Partridge, Golden Parrotbill, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Red-winged Laughingthrush
Wuzhi Mountain-Wawushan(4.5 hrs), stay over at nearby Wawushan.
Wawushan: Grey-hooded, Fulvous,Golden,Three-toed, Brown,Great Parrotbills,Red-winged laughingthrush,Grey-faced Liocichla,Grey-hooded
Fulvetta, Chances for Red Panda. stay at the same hotel.
Wawushan-Balangshan(4.5hrs), Visit Giant Panda National Park, stay at hotels in Wolong Valley.
Drive to visit the nearby Balang shan Mountain, Chinese Monal, Verreaux's Monal-Partridge, Himalayan Beautiful rosefinch,Chinese Fulvetta, Tibetan Snow Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, Blood-Pheasant, White Eared Pheasant,night at the same hotel.
Balangshan-Mengbishan(4.5 hrs), making stops and birding on the way, Stay over night in Maerkang city
Drive to visit the nearby mountain: Mengbishan: Three-Banded Rosefinch, Sichuan Jay, Crested Tit-warbler, Verreaux's Monal-Partridge,Firethroat, Giant Laughingthrush, night at the same hotel.
Mengbishan-Ruoergai(6 hrs), Ascending to the Tibetan Plateau, Birding on the way,Pere David's Laughinthrush, White-browed Tit-Warbler,White-browed Tit, Pintail. night in Ruoergai city.
Blue Eared Pheasant, Snowy-browed Laughingthrush, Sichuan Jay, Pere David's Owl, Crested Tit-Warbler,Chinese Grouse,Spectacled Parrotbill, Giant Shrike, Stay at the same hotel.
Ruoergai-JIuzhaigou( 5 hrs).making stops on the way , Ground Tit, Snowfinches, Gray Wolf, Tibetan Fox,etc. Stay over night at Jiuzhaigou.
Jiuzhaigou Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey Nature Reserve in the morning. Then drive to Tangjiahe Nature Reserve.
( 3 hrs ).stay over night at Nature Reserve Hotel.
Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey Nature Reserve, also known as "Golden Monkey Valley", is home to over 1,700 Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (a national first-class protected animal), the reserve boasts one of the highest population densities of this species in China. With golden silk-like fur, striking blue facial markings, and gentle temperaments, these "alpine elves" can be seen leaping between treetops or resting in groups, offering unforgettable close-up encounters.
Tangjiahe is a biodiversity hotspot boasting over 327 bird and 47 mammal species. It shelters iconic national first-class protected species like Giant Pandas, Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys, Sichuan Takin, and Chinese Monals. The reserve’s mixed forests and valleys also support Red Pandas, Clouded Leopards, Temminck’s Tragopans, and numerous endemic babblers, making it a premier destination for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike. Golden Pheasant,Tawny Fish Owl,,White-throated Laughingthrush,Zappey's Flycatcher,etc,Mammal species possible:Forest Musk Deer,Clouded Leopard,Tibetan Macaque,Rhesus Macaque,Asian Black Bear, Leopard Cat,Tufted Deer,Chinese Goral,Chinese Serow,Bharal,Reeves's Muntjac,etc.
Another morning at Tangjiahe Nature reserve, drive back for departure( 4.5hrs),night in Chengdu.
After breakfast, we drive you the airport for catching flights back home, tour ends.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- All Meals – Local cuisine served at authentic local restaurants
- Accommodation – Premium-standard hotels in Beijing and Xi'an; the best available local hotels near birdwatching sites for Sichuan
- All Local Ground Transportation – Daily-use private car/van, transfers: high-speed trains or flights (where required for the trip) will be arranged via the most convenient routes
- Professional Guide – English-speaking Cultural Guide for Beijing & Xi'an, bird specialist guide for Sichuan
- All Entrance Fees – Covering all birdwatching sites and scenic spots included in the itinerary
- Daily Refreshments – Complimentary drinking water, tea, coffee, and fresh fruits
Cost Excludes
- International/Domestic Flights – Arrival flights to the tour’s starting city(Beijing) and departure flights from the tour’s concluding city (Chengdu)
- Alcoholic Beverages – All alcoholic drinks
- Travel Insurance – Comprehensive travel insurance coverage (including trip cancellation, medical, and personal accident insurance)
- Service Gratuities – Tips for the birding guide and drivers (a suggested daily gratuity amount will be provided based on the size of the group)












