Day 1: Beijing, China
Arrive in Beijing and begin exploring China's exciting capital. As we walk through Temple of the Sun Park, we'll see locals relaxing in the serene garden setting. After our stroll, we sit down at a local tea house where our Expedition Leader provides an introduction to our trip over a cup of Chinese green tea. Tonight we gather for our Welcome Dinner, a delicious banquet of Peking duck.

Days 2 & 3: Beijing / Great Wall
Crossing Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world and symbolic center of China, we enter the vast Forbidden City, seat of imperial power. A tour of Old Beijing by pedicab reveals daily life in narrow alleys of the city’s traditional neighborhoods. The Temple of Heaven is a masterpiece of Chinese architecture in its harmonious proportions and bold use of color. Later we walk along the Great Wall, the 2,000-year-old edifice built to protect Chinese civilization from encroaching northern tribes.

Day 4: Xi’an
Fly to the ancient walled capital of Xi’an to visit the Shaanxi History Museum, housing the many treasures that have been unearthed from the more than 1,000 years that Xi’an served as the ancient capital of China. Before dinner we stroll around the Muslim Quarter, where we discover a way of life that derives as much from the ancient cultures of Central Asia as it does from China.

Day 5: Xi’an
We rise early to see the Terracotta Army, built to guard the tomb of the first emperor to unite China. This major archaeological discovery includes nearly 10,000 figures of warriors and horses, each differing in features and expression. Later we stop by the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, an important cultural relic constructed during the Tang Dynasty.

Day 6: Xi’an / Chengdu / Bifengxia Panda Base
Fly to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, where we visit the Bifengxia Panda Base. Here we encounter giant pandas in a more natural setting – opportunities to find them in the wild have essentially vanished. The base is home to nearly 30 giant pandas bred here and is the largest captive giant panda institution in the world.

Day 7: Bifengxia / Chengdu
After a final morning with the pandas at Bifengxia we ride down a 26-story elevator to the bottom of spectacular Bifeng Gorge. We enjoy a short, leisurely hike at the bottom of the gorge to take in views of the stream, waterfalls and abundant plant life before heading back to Chengdu.

Day 8: Giant Panda Breeding Research Base / Jiuzhaigou
This morning we visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. We see pandas up close and learn about their habitat, mating habits, diet, intelligence and how they have survived despite increasing natural and human threats to their existence. Later we fly to Jiuzhaigou, a UN World Biosphere Reserve notable for its stunning mountain scenery. 

Days 9 & 10: Jiuzhaigou
We spend two days exploring the natural beauty of Jiuzhaigou National Park. Photo opportunities abound on easy hikes through an idyllic backdrop of mountains, ravines, forests, meadows, wildflowers and a multitude of lakes and waterfalls. Tibetan culture is dominant here, evidenced by the prayer wheels and chortens that dot the landscape.

Day 11: Jiuzhaigou / Chengdu
From Jiuhuang Airport we fly back to Chengdu, where we visit the Moon Bear Rescue Center. Also known as the Asiatic black bear, the moon bear population has seen a precipitous decline due to poaching. Bear organs are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of illnesses, creating a black market. The center is part of a recent international effort to protect these bears from future harm. This evening we gather for our farewell dinner.

Day 12: Home
We transfer to the airport for flights home.