Beijing and Zhangjiajie: Heritage and Mountain Drama

Meet the local representative at Beijing International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Arriving early in the day, or one day before the programme, allows extra time to adjust after the flight. Once checked in, rest or explore the nearby shops, parks and cafés independently. Universal Studios Beijing and other city attractions can also be visited on your own, with tickets and transport arranged separately.

Enter the Forbidden City, built from 1406 to 1420 and used by 14 Ming and 10 Qing emperors. Follow its ceremonial axis through monumental gates, courtyards and throne halls, then continue to the UNESCO-listed Temple of Heaven. The complex's ritual buildings and carefully ordered spaces reflect imperial ceremonies once performed for a good harvest. In the evening, gather for a Peking duck dinner served with pancakes, vegetables and sauce.

Walk through the UNESCO-listed Summer Palace, where the Long Corridor, Marble Boat, pavilions and bridges form a composed landscape around Kunming Lake. Continue beyond Beijing to a scenic section of the Great Wall in the mountains. Follow the fortified path as it rises across the ridges, stopping for wide views over the surrounding terrain. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant near the Wall before returning to the hotel.

Transfer to Beijing Airport for the domestic flight to Zhangjiajie. Meet the local guide after landing, continue to the hotel and check in. The guide can suggest nearby restaurants for an independent dinner. An optional evening production featuring regional stories, music, dance and costume may be available at additional cost, while travellers preferring a quieter evening can rest.

Spend the day in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park within the wider UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan landscape. Follow paths and viewpoints among narrow quartz-sandstone pillars promoted in Hunan as a visual prototype for Pandora's floating mountains in Avatar. Ride the 326-metre Bailong Elevator to the upper area; Guinness World Records recognises it as the tallest outdoor elevator. Continue on panoramic trails above forested ravines before returning to the hotel.

Cross the 430-metre glass bridge above Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, taking in the gorge and sandstone cliffs from high above the valley floor. Continue to Yellow Dragon Cave, also known as Huanglong Cave. Walk through illuminated limestone chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites, then complete part of the underground route by sightseeing boat. The contrasting experiences move from open canyon heights to a sculpted subterranean landscape.

Ascend Tianmen Mountain by cableway and continue through the summit landscape. Follow high paths, step onto a glass walkway when conditions allow and see Tianmen Cave, the natural arch known as Heaven's Gate. One route reaches the arch by a staircase of 999 steps, with escalator access also used within the mountain. After the excursion, transfer to Zhangjiajie Airport, where the seven-day tour concludes.