James Wilson
February 19, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
Perfect for family travelers, this fully customizable 8-day private China tour explores three standout destinations — Chengdu, Chongqing, and Zhangjiajie — with an unmissable highlight of close-up encounters with beloved giant pandas. Designed to fit around your schedule, this tour offers convenient daily departures, great value pricing, and secure, trusted payment processes, delivering a stress-free, memorable private travel experience tailored perfectly to your family’s needs.
This 8-day journey starts in the laid-back, food-loving panda capital of Chengdu, glides on high-speed rail to the misty hillside riverside city of Chongqing, and finishes among the jagged cloud-capped peaks of Zhangjiajie. The route balances fluffy wildlife encounters, deep cultural immersion, spicy local flair, and thrilling mountain adventures, crafted specifically to suit family groups of all ages with a flexible pace that works for every travel style.
Today you’ll touch down in Chengdu, the cozy culinary capital of Sichuan, and our local representative will meet you to escort you to your centrally-located accommodation, either 4-star Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza or Grand Hyatt Chengdu 🏨. Settle in after your journey, and feel free to wander nearby streets to sample iconic local street food like dan dan noodles or spicy rabbit heads at your own leisure.
Wake up to a filling Western buffet breakfast 🍽️ before heading to your most anticipated stop: the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Watch fluffy giant pandas munch on fresh bamboo and roll around their open enclosures up close. Next, step into the quiet green serenity of the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, the historic former home of one of China’s most beloved poets, lined with ancient gardens and literary landmarks. End your day at People’s Park, where you can sip traditional lidded-bowl tea at a local teahouse and peek into the city’s famous one-of-a-kind matchmaking corner, a beloved local tradition. Tonight you’ll stay at either Mercure Chongqing Downtown or JW Marriott Chongqing 🏨 ahead of your move to Chongqing.
Start your day with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, then board a smooth modern high-speed train that whisks you between Chengdu and Chongqing, the misty mountain metropolis famous for its dramatic terrain and world-class hot pot. Once you arrive, wander the cobblestone lanes of Ciqikou Ancient Town, a well-preserved old river town full of handicraft stalls and local snack shops. Next, stop by Liziba Light Rail Station to see Chongqing’s viral urban wonder: a light rail line that passes directly through a residential skyscraper. Cap off your day with a visit to the historic Kuixing Building, which offers sweeping views of the Jialing River. You’ll stay at your Chongqing accommodation for the night 🏨.
After your daily Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, head out of the city to the stunning Wulong Karst National Geology Park, a UNESCO-listed landscape of otherworldly rock formations. The highlight of your day is a visit to Three Natural Bridges, a series of massive ancient stone arches tucked into lush green canyons that have starred in hit Hollywood films. Walk along shaded forest paths between the bridges and take in the incredible scale of these natural wonders before heading back to Chongqing for the night, where you’ll stay at your same accommodation 🏨.
Fuel up with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️ this morning, then board your high-speed train bound for Zhangjiajie, the mountain adventure capital of Hunan. Sit back and enjoy rolling scenic views as you travel to your next destination. Once you arrive, you’ll be escorted to your luxurious 5-star accommodation at either Howard Johnson Neodalle Resort Zhangjiajie 🏨, where you can rest and recharge ahead of two full days of mountain exploration.
Kick off your mountain adventure with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, then take a scenic eco-buggy ride straight to the famous Bailong Elevator — the world’s tallest outdoor glass elevator, which carries you 326 meters up to the mountain top in just a few minutes. Once at the top, explore the stunning Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, where you’ll get a front-row view of iconic Hallelujah Mountain, the jagged quartz sandstone peak that inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. After a day of exploring, enjoy a hearty on-site lunch 🍽️ before heading back to your resort for the night 🏨.
Start today with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️ to fuel your adventure, then head to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Your first stop is the famous Yuntiandu Glass Bridge, the world’s longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge, where you can walk 300 meters above the canyon floor for a thrilling experience. After your adrenaline rush, take a leisurely leisurely hike along the crystal-clear Golden Whip Stream, a shaded flat path that winds between karst peaks and lush forests, perfect for families to enjoy at a relaxed pace. Enjoy a filling lunch 🍽️ after your hike, then check into your new accommodation at either Home2 Suites by Hilton Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain or a local Wyndham property for the night 🏨.
Your final day of adventure begins with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️ before heading to Tianmen Mountain. Take a scenic cable car ride up to the mountain’s middle station, then make your way to incredible Tianmen Cave (also called Heaven’s Gate), a massive 131-meter-tall natural arch that cuts straight through the mountain top. Walk along the cliff-hugging Cloud Corridor path, then test your nerve on the thrilling Glass Skyway, a transparent walkway clinging to the mountain edge with 1,000-meter drops below. After soaking in the panoramic views, enjoy a closing group lunch 🍽️ to wrap up your tour before you head to the airport or train station for your onward journey.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
February 19, 2026
Our consultant Sunny from HelloChinaTrip helped us tweak the itinerary last minute when my son asked for an extra half day with pandas instead of a shopping stop, and she accommodated us with no extra hassle. Our private driver was always on time, and all hotels were centrally located and comfortable for our family of four. The views in Zhangjiajie are even more breathtaking than photos can capture, and the evening food tour in Chongqing was the perfect mix of bold local flavors and kid-approved dishes. We couldn’t have asked for a smoother, more memorable cross-city trip.
May 2, 2025
We booked this tour for our multi-generational family trip, and everyone from my 7-year-old niece to my 72-year-old mom found something to love. Chengdu’s panda base was incredibly well-organized thanks to our guide, who got us there early before the main rush. The only downside was that we traveled during the May Golden Week holiday, so some viewing spots in Zhangjiajie were much more wonderful than we expected, which cut into our photo time a little. All other logistics from private cars to hotel bookings were completely seamless, so we’d still recommend this tour to other families.
April 21, 2025
My kids are still talking about the pandas and the incredible Zhangjiajie views from this perfect family trip.
March 12, 2025
This custom 8-day family tour exceeded every one of our expectations, from start to finish.
December 30, 2024
As a family that hates crowded group tours, this fully private custom option was exactly what we wanted. We got to go at our own pace, spend as much time as we wanted at the panda base, and our guide even took us to hidden viewpoints in Zhangjiajie that most casual tourists never find. We will absolutely book another private tour through this service for our next trip to China.
December 18, 2024
Getting to see giant pandas up close in Chengdu was the highlight of our kids’ entire year. Our private guide tailored every stop to our kids’ energy levels, so no one ever felt rushed. This is the perfect trip for families who love both stunning nature and one-of-a-kind wildlife experiences.
