Ready to step into another world? AFS China: Avatar Dream Adventure is your ticket to landscapes that inspired Pandora’s floating mountains, timed perfectly with the buzz around the new Avatar movie “Fire & Ice.” This isn’t your typical tour—just 24 lucky travelers get to dive into China’s legendary mix of ancient and cutting-edge wonders. We’ll launch in futuristic Shanghai, stroll the iconic Bund, lose ourselves in Old Shanghai’s alleys, and taste the best of modern China before boarding a bullet train deep into the heart of the country. Next comes four days of relaxation on the Victoria Sabrina, sailing the Yangtze through the towering cliffs of the Three Gorges and visiting mystical temples—these cruises are selling out for a reason.

But the real highlight is Zhangjiajie, home to the surreal Avatar mountains. Here, you’ll face dizzying sandstone pillars, ride the world’s highest glass bridge, and follow the “Avenue to Heaven” up 99 wild bends. There’s nothing like wandering ancient villages, catching cultural performances, or braving the cliffside “walk of faith.” September’s the sweet spot for scenery, and this all-inclusive adventure, limited to 24 travelers, is priced to thrill. If you’re after otherworldly landscapes, cultural immersion, and thrills worth bragging about, this AFS journey through China is as close to Pandora as it gets—an epic escape you’ll never forget.

Inclusions in above prices:

·       8 Nights hotel accommodation

·       Arrival & Departure transfers in Shanghai with complimentary hotel/airport shuttle bus on own

·       Private English-speaking local guides in each city

·       Touring and Entrance fees as per itinerary

·       Meals as per itinerary

·       Yangtze River Cruise

·       Domestic Air (Shanghai > Chongqing > Zhangjiajie> Shanghai)

·       Domestic Train ticket 4 or 5 hour ride in 6 berth sharing sleeper for Yichang > Zhangjiajie

 Wheels up! Grab your passport and board your international flight to Shanghai. Remember, crossing the dateline means you lose a calendar day en route, but you’ll get it back on return. Details on flights and packing tips are in your pre-trip emails—just focus on getting some rest and dreaming of Avatar’s floating mountains.

Touch down in Shanghai, China’s glimmering metropolis, where ancient temples rub shoulders with neon-lit skyscrapers. After clearing customs, catch the hotel’s complimentary shuttle for a quick ride to your home base.

Overnight:   Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Shanghai Pudong Airport 4* (2 nights)

Breakfast at the hotel, then it’s time to dive into Shanghai.

9:00 AM: Your guide sweeps you away for a tour of the city’s icons.

• The Bund: Start with a riverside stroll where colonial-era grandeur faces off against a skyline of glass and steel. The Huangpu River sparkles, and photo ops are everywhere.

• Nanjing Road: Shopaholics, this is your paradise—China’s most famous commercial street, alive with everything from luxury boutiques to snack carts hawking local treats.

• Yu (Yuyuan) Garden: Step back 400 years into a Ming Dynasty oasis. Peaceful ponds, ornate pavilions, and winding pathways make for a serene escape from the city’s buzz.

• Chen Huang Miao Bazaar: Just outside the garden, this maze of shops and food stalls is perfect for souvenir hunting and people-watching.

Lunch is included—expect traditional flavors and a chance to sample Shanghai’s famed cuisine. Afterward, transfer back to your hotel. The evening is at your leisure: try a rooftop bar, a night market, or simply rest up for tomorrow’s adventure.

Fuel up at breakfast buffet, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing (suggested: MU5429, 12:40-15:25, air schedules are not out yet.)

Land in Chongqing famous for its mountains, caves and hot pot cuisines.  Meet your local guide, who’ll escort you straight to the pier. The mighty Yangtze River awaits.

Board: Victoria Sabrina Cruise (5-star), superior cabin with private balcony (3 nights)

• 6:00 – 8:30 PM: Embarkation at the dock

• 9:00 PM: Cast off! The Yangtze flows beneath you as China’s heartland drifts by.

• 9:15 PM: Mandatory safety briefing—then pop out on deck and watch the city lights fade into starlit stillness.

• 6:30-7:00 AM: Early Bird Coffee & Tea, plus sunrise Tai Chi on deck—channel your inner martial artist with the river as your backdrop.

• 7:30-8:30 AM: Buffet breakfast

• 8:00–11:00 AM: Shore Excursion – Fengdu “ShuangGui Mt.” Explore this mountain retreat with its ancient temples and mysterious legends.

• 9:30–11:30 AM: Onboard activities (think calligraphy, dumpling-making, or local culture talks)

• 12:00–1:30 PM: Buffet lunch

• 5:15–6:00 PM: Captain’s Welcome Reception—cheers to new friends and new horizons

• 6:00–8:00 PM: Dinner buffet

Evening: Find a quiet spot on your balcony or the observation lounge and watch the river glow under a canopy of stars.

• 6:30-7:45 AM: Breakfast buffet

• 8:00–9:00 AM: Tai Chi (try it if you missed yesterday)

• 10:45 AM: Sail through Qutang Gorge—sheer cliffs rise dramatically on either side, cloaked in mist and legend.

• 9:00–10:30 AM: More onboard activities or simply soak in the views

• 12:45 PM: Glide through Wu Gorge—this is the scenery that inspired poets and painters for centuries.

• 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch (Buffet)

• 5:15–6:15 PM: Captain’s Farewell Banquet—bring your appetite!

• 6:30–11:00 PM: Settle accounts, then enjoy the Crew Cabaret (21:00–21:45)—a colorful display of traditional costumes, music, and dance.

• 8:00–10:45 AM: Disembark for a guided tour of the monumental Three Gorges Dam—an epic feat of modern engineering.

• Private transfer to Yichang railway station

• Board the only new train between Yichang and Zhangjiajie (K4627, 12:58–17:39). Settle into your 6-berth sleeper—this is classic China rail travel.

• Arrive in Zhangjiajie, the gateway to the legendary mountains of Avatar.

Check in: Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel, superior room (2 nights). It's a great hotel with a full spa, indoor pool, yoga classes and lush gardens.

After breakfast, step into the scenery that inspired James Cameron’s Pandora. Set in Zhangjiajie National Forest, this UNESCO heritage site is famous for its towering sandstone pillars. Set in the Hunan province, it's often called the "Bonsai Fairyland" or Hallelujah mountains" and one of China's top five must visit destinations

Wulingyuan Scenic Area: A UNESCO World Heritage site, this is where 3,000 sandstone pillars, deep ravines, and swirling mists create an alien, almost dreamlike landscape. See the aptly named “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”—the spire that started it all.

• Tianzi Mountain: Take in panoramic vistas from natural platforms, with clouds of mist swirling around jagged peaks. Snap photos worthy of a sci-fi epic.

• Cable Car: Glide above the treetops to the canyon summit for jaw-dropping views.

• Bailong Elevator: Descend China’s legendary “Hundred Dragons Elevator”—the world’s tallest outdoor lift—straight down a cliff face to the valley below.

Lunch is included. The evening is free: wander the local markets, try spicy Hunan cuisine, or simply marvel at the peaks from your hotel.

Breakfast, then pack up for another blockbuster day.

• Tianmen Mountain: Ride the world’s longest cable car to the summit of this “Heavenly Gate.” Peer through the massive natural arch—the legendary gateway to the skies.

• Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon: Explore hidden caves, narrow gorges, waterfalls, and scenic lookouts—a natural museum of stone and water.

• Glass Bridge: Test your nerve on the world’s highest and longest glass bridge, suspended 300 meters above the canyon floor. The views (and the thrills) are unforgettable.

Lunch included. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Shanghai (suggested: FM 9344, 8:35–10:40 PM).  Upon arrival, grab the shuttle back to your Shanghai hotel and settle in for one last night.

Stay: Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Shanghai Pudong Airport 4* (1 night)

Breakfast at the hotel, then take the complimentary shuttle to the airport for your flight home. If you’re not ready to say goodbye, consider extending your adventure—link up with fellow travelers on our Facebook group or tack on a stopover in another Asian gem.