Panda Keeper and Classic Wonders
12-Day Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Guilin/Yangshuo-Shanghai Tour
Cute pandas and certain historic sites are unique resources in China. This tour features Chengdu, the homeland of giant pandas, but also includes the famous Golden Triangle — Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an. The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, the Bund and picturesque karst landscape in Guilin and Yangshuo are all yours to see.
Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Shanghai Tour Map
Highlights
- Explore a less-crowded part of the Great Wall
- See how the thousand-year-old Terracotta Warriors come alive
- Be a panda keeper for a day to experience taking care of a panda
- Enjoy a relaxing Li River cruise to Yangshuo
- Admire the charming mix of ancient and modern in Shanghai
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Captivating Pandas! Thank you Michael and Carol!
Our China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city. more
Mar 2024,
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Chengdu Pandas
Our tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great. more
Mar 2024, Megan
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Visit to Panda Reasearch Base
The tour included taking up the role as panda keeper as well as just observing these amazing animals. Our guide Jayson organised everything perfectly, so we had really great time during our visit. more
Mar 2024, Art O
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Helen is the best tour guide
Our tour guide Helen was amazing! I learned so much about the city, the care of the pandas in the Dujiangyan Panda Park, the local market and Sichuan food (we had a cooking lesson from a professional chef), and the local tea house culture! Helen is very knowledgeable and willing to share what she knows. She accommodated all our needs and looked after us very well. She’s the best! Ask for Helen for your tour! And her English is superb! more
Mar 2024, Michelle
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Best experience in chengdu
We got a very professional and helpful tour guide name Helen.SShe is very friendly caring. We very happy with the service more
Mar 2024, Ric
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The Chengdu trip.
Helen our guide explained that there was much more to Chengdu than just pandas and she was right. Her knowledge was excellent and made our trips to the museum and Buddhist temple real learning experiences. Her outgoing personality and determination for us to have a good time ensured that we were never bored. more
Mar 2024, Brian
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Taste of Chengdu
Helen told us on arrival, there’s more to Chengdu than Pandas, and she was absolutely right. We did enjoy the Pandas , and I have to say especially the red Pandas , also the museum was a great insight into Chinas long and rich past. more
Mar 2024, Martin
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We had a great time in Chengdo our…
We had a great time in Chengdo our guide Helen was excellent with explaining everything and ensuring we enjoyed our visit. more
Mar 2024, Julie
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Exploring Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve with Mary
We really enjoyed our tour with Mary around Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, she was very informative, kind and helpful! more
Mar 2024, Caris
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Wonderful experience with Jason at panda bases and more!
Jason and Mr. Wu, our driver, ensured a terrific 3 day packed itinerary, with flexibility, where necessary, and ability to resolve any issue that arose, due to Jason's extensive knowledge and relationships with the panda bases. Jason was a fantastic guide at Wolong, Bifengxia (including our panda volunteer experience) and Chengdu bases, sharing his knowledge about pandas, and also insights about the operation of the conservation efforts. more
Feb 2024, VOyaeur 1111
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Chengdu at it`s best
We made a private tour through South China in January 2024. Altogether Chengdu was the highlight. We had an incredible day at Emeishan. In Chengdu our guidewas Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen. more
Feb 2024, peter
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Chengdu and Volunteer program Panda base
Our day volunteering at the Panda Base was truly unforgettable. Helen, our guide, provided us with invaluable insights about Chengdu and the pandas, enriching our tour with her knowledge and expertise. We're grateful to Helen for accompanying us throughout the day and showcasing the highlights of China. more
Feb 2024, Eliaquim
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Chengdu at it`s best
We had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen. more
Feb 2024, Peter
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Chengdu with friends
Bella, our tour guide in Chengdu, was excellent and very thoughtful. She picked us up from the train station (despite it being a free and easy day we wanted). She shared options for afternoon tea, places of interest around our hotel and helped us make dinner reservation at a local premium szechuan hotpot restaurant. During our stay in Chengdu, she took us to see the adorable pandas at the Panda Breeding Base, the beautiful Renmin Park (Chengdu People’s Park), the lively Jinli Old Street (pedestrian mall) and the Chengdu Opera (a must see - world famous face changing show). Bella is very attentive to our needs and preferences, and always made sure we were well taken care, comfortable and happy. We had so much fun together, laughing, joking and sharing stories. Food was excellent (best left the ordering to her). She is one of the best guide we had in China. more
Jan 2024, DLiew
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Excellent
Helen is the best! She is super knowledgeable and helpful with everything. Will definitely be using China Highlights and Helen when I bring my family back to Chengdu. more
Jan 2024, Riley
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Chengdu a great city
We had a great time visiting the Pandas, Michael was punctual, organized. He showed us around the great city of Chengdu,its museum,the Old Town, The Tea House,and while we were in the city park we saw a Chinese old lady in a wheelchair singing an Chinese Peking Opera Tune loudly and clearly.She said she is 90 years old and she comes to the park often just to sing and we asked her if she knows any song in English,she said yes and belted out a classic (you raised me up over the mountain) in perfect English. Absolutely amazing.She lived through the Civil War,Japanese Invasion, the Cultural Revolution,You can't plan an experience like this. more
Jan 2024, Peter W
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We went on a tour guided by Helen…
We went on a tour guided by Helen around Chengdu to see many cultural highlights. We were excited with the extensive knowledge. She speaks English very well. She was also always in a good mood and make us comfortable and we could see she is very passionate about her job. She gave us some gifts on Xmas day. Overall we are very grateful to have had Helen as our guide. Not to mention the great day we spent with the pandas. She took very good pictures for us and it's just a memorable day. more
Jan 2024, Monica
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Our tour led by Helen from Chengdu was amazing
Helen guided my family and I around Chengdu to see many cultural highlights. Her extensive knowledge and proficient English speaking skills enhanced our experience greatly. The historical facts that she shared with us made us even more excited to see the landmarks and left us in awe at every visit. She was also always smiling and her kind attitude during the tour made us feel that she was very passionate about her job and valued our experience a lot. She was very thoughtful, even giving us presents on Xmas day. She also recommended the best dishes in interesting restaurants that catered to my family’s taste. Overall we are very grateful to have had Helen as our guide because we know our holiday was so so much better due to her thoughtful pre-planning and positive demeanour! more
Jan 2024, Nicole
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Awesome trip in Chengdu guided by Helen
Our tour guide, Helen is superb and amazing. She is very knowledged and detailed with all the details and history of the destination. She is able to navigate through the attraction places easily, making the whole experience less tiring and easy to access.She is also very caring and detailed with taking care of us, making the trip very comfortable and enjoying. more
Jan 2024, 文文
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Fun Experience!
We had a lot of fun in ChengDu. The trip was nicely planned and organised. We had Helen as our guide in ChengDu. She was very friendly and knowledgeable, explained everything well. It was a great experience and would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in travelling to China. more
Jan 2024, AdLee
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Suggested Itinerary
Your private guide will be ready to meet and greet you at arrivals. A comfortable private car (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel. Your guide will help you checkin.
Today's experiences include the classic, epic sights of Beijing: the Forbidden City, home to 24 emperors and its newly exhibited Qing Dynasty royalty treasures; the enormous Tiananmen Square; and a rickshaw ride through the narrow alleys plus a visit to a local family make for a truly special experience. Enjoy authentic Chinese dishes for lunch at a popular local restaurant.
Optional Activities:
Night shows, such as the Kung Fu Show at the Red Theater or the Acrobatics Show at Chaoyang Theater, are recommended to enrich your night. You're recommended to book with your guide a day before, or on the day, to allow flexibility.
Arrangements for today day make for the experience of a lifetime, the chance to walk the Great Wall of China! Your guide and driver will take you out of Beijing and onto some beautiful country roads before you reach a section of the Great Wall called Mutianyu. We select this section with the highest density of watchtowers (great for photography) and a cable car, giving you maximum time to walk, and for some insights into this area's unique battlement outcrops. After a visit on the wall we'll arrange a well-deserved lunch to follow your visit to the wall.
Tips for visiting
- Most customers find that two hours on the wall is plenty, but you are welcome to spend longer. Just let your guide know on day 2, so we can plan around traffic and offer our best advice.
- There is an optional toboggan ride down, popular with past customers of all ages.
The garden and lakes of the Summer Palace are a beautiful part of Beijing. We'll take a boat ride over to the palace, and explore the Garden of Virtue and Harmony. After lunch your drive and guide will escort you to Beijing Airport, ensuring you're at the right terminal and gate for your onward flight to Xi'an.
Your local Xi'an guide and driver will be ready and waiting at Xi'an airport arrivals.
One of the best ways to see Xi'an is from the ancient city wall. The wall is massive. It's tall and so wide we can enjoy a rickshaw, cycle or walk around this marvel of ancient engineering.
After lunch we'll drive you out to the Terracotta Warriors, where your guide will unlock some fascinating insights that few visitors notice.
The Muslim Quarter in Xi'an is an area you may not have heard of, but is has often been a highlight for our past clients. This unique area is a melting pot of Silk Road history, offering you a chance to explore a unique local mosque and try some ethnic food.
There is still time to see for one of China's most unique pagodas, the brick pagoda know as Big Wild Goose Pagoda, including its charming surrounding gardens. Then it's on to the airport for your flight to Chengdu, home of the pandas.
Our local guide and driver will transfer you from the airport to your hotel, helping with luggage and the check-in process.
Dujiangyan Panda Base is now the most popular panda base in China offering the Panda Keeper Program. It takes about 1½ hours by car to get to Dujiangyan from the hotel. This unique one-day tour will enable you to have a close encounter with the lovely giant pandas.
Under the guidance of English-speaking staff, you will clean the panda enclosures, see the pandas close-up, watch panda movies, and make cakes for the treasured creatures. Have a Chinese lunch with staff in the canteen.
This one-day close encounter with pandas makes for the more wonderful memories.
China Highlights will help you obtain the health certificate that the base requires and, after the volunteer program, you will receive a certificate from the CCRCGP (China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas). To guarantee the safety of volunteers, pandas are kept in their 'superior room' with air-conditioning rather than in the wild.
Chengdu is a paradise of pandas; you will find lots of things related to the panda-theme. During the day, Today you will continue to enjoy the cute panda world.
Created by the internationally renowned artist Lawrence Argent, a gigantic panda sculpture weighs 13 tons and is 15 meters tall. This massive panda has become a trendy landmark in Chengdu, climbing on the wall of the Chengdu International Finance Square (Chengdu IFS) on Chunxi Road.
After lunch you will go to Chengdu People's Park to have a deep breath of fresh air. You can join the local people to experience the bustle and chatter of a local teahouse in this area.
Kuan-Zhai Lane (or Wide and Narrow Alley) is an ancient street with hundreds of years' history combined with modern elements.
This evening we will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight to Guilin, land of rivers and dramatic mountains.
A tranquil four-hour cruise on the Li River offers great views of the bamboo forests and limestone peaks, the scenery immortalized by Chinese artists down through the centuries. Exploring the countryside continues with a bike ride along small roads and lanes surrounded by paddy fields and orchards, away from traffic and crowds. A visit to a local farmer's home lets you see how people really live in these rural areas.
Enjoy staying a night in this beautiful countryside town, explore west street and try some street food on offer.
About cruise
Your luggage will be transferred directly by private van and driver from Guilin to your hotel in Yangshuo. Your personal guide will accompany you on the cruise and take care of you.
Currently, either 3-star or 4-star riverboats are available for the Li River cruise. The 3-star boats are cheaper, but have less-modern facilities. Their seat-spacing is narrower and the lunch on board is simpler. The 4-star boats are better. We will only use the relatively new 4-star boats, which serve a buffet lunch.
In the morning, your guide can show you around the local food market — the hub around which life revolves in Yangshuo. All the food is fresh, even the chickens are still flapping in their cages. A cookery class helps you discover how those delicious dishes develop their flavor, as you see which vegetables and meat are used, cook with the teacher, and then taste the results. You even get the recipes to take home.
This afternoon we'll transfer you to the airport directly from Yangshuo, ensuring you are at the right terminal and gate for your Shanghai flight.
Shanghai is a fusion of old and new. Shanghai World Financial Center which has the tallest glass observation deck in China. Lunch is a meal of Cantonese food in beautiful surroundings with a nice view over the Bund.
Half-Day Customized Icing-on-the-Cake Experience
After traveling in China for around 10 days, you might want to do something different at the end of your tour. Do you want to have some relaxation time? Do you have any unfulfilled trip wishes? In the magic city of Shanghai, your private guide will make your wishes come true!
Whether you want to relax, experience fashion, appreciate art, explore folk customs, or shop; from having fun in fancy bar to exploring an art center, trying nail beauty, testing your popularity in the marriage market, or just buying some lovely gifts, we will make it happen. Just tell us what you're interested in.
If you don't know what you want, just let your guide make the arrangements. You will not be disappointed!
Today is your final day and we allow you time to explore or relax by yourself. If you have a late evening flight and want a guide today just ask your travel advisor. As at every city, your private guide, driver and car will escort you to the airport and ensure you are at the correct gate.
Trip Notes
1. Tailoring Your Tour
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, extend or shorten it to suit your budget, interests and schedule. Feel free to tell us your requirements, and we'll be happy to help you arrange accordingly.
2. Panda Keeper Program
As the first tour company in China to operate the program, China Highlights has developed a stable relationship with the Dujiangyan Panda Base. Sometimes the program is subject to change due to force majeure. Usually we are able to get the first-hand information necessary to arrange your tour. Your early booking (at least two weeks before departure) is useful in facilitating the availability of the program. Sometimes activities listed in the tour description will be adjusted according to the health of the pandas. Thanks for your understanding.
If your time is limited, and you can only join in with morning activities, the price will still be the same.
3. Children as Panda Keepers
Panda volunteers should be between 10 and 70 years of age. Though the pandas look harmless, they are actually carnivores. Parents must prevent their children from coming into direct contact with the pandas. The cost for children 12 years old and above is the same as the cost for adults.
If your children are between 2 and 9 years, you can still take them with you during the program. The children should not enter the room where the panda cage is, but they can watch you clean the cage, which takes around 30 minutes. Your guide will help you take care of children.
If your children are under 2 years old and you yourself take care of them throughout the day, no additional fee is charged.
Tour Price
Price includes: