China12 days
China: Beijing, Wall & Terracotta — 12 Days
Beijing to Hong Kong via the Great Wall, Shaolin Monastery, Terracotta Warriors, and Longji Rice Terraces. Overnight trains, local guides, and rural stays included.
This 12-day itinerary moves through four of China's major cultural regions using a combination of overnight trains, fast rail, and regional flight. The route connects Beijing's Forbidden City and Great Wall at Mutianyu with Luoyang's Shaolin Monastery and Buddhist grottoes, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors and walled city, Chengdu's Panda Breeding Center, and concludes in Guilin's karst landscape—specifically the Longji Rice Terraces and Yangshuo countryside. Days include guided walks through hutongs, a school visit in Beijing, a martial arts demonstration at Shaolin, cycling on Xi'an's city wall, hiking through rice terraces, and a bicycle tour of rural Yangshuo. Local guides are provided in each city; accommodation ranges from three-star hotels to guesthouses; meals include regional specialties such as Peking duck and Sichuan hotpot.
Highlights
- Great Wall section at Mutianyu—restored and walkable, approximately 2 hours from Beijing
- Forbidden City, built 1406–1420, UNESCO-listed as the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures
- Shaolin Monastery—birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu, with demonstrations by resident monks
- Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang—110,000 Buddhist stone statues carved into limestone cliffs across five centuries
- Terracotta Warriors at Xi'an—approximately 6,000 figures buried for 2,000 years, individual facial expressions and costumes
- Cycling on Xi'an's ancient City Wall—13 kilometers circumference, best-preserved wall in China
- Longji Rice Terraces—650 years of history, dragon-scale pattern terracing across the Ping'an Valley
- Chengdu Panda Breeding Center—observation of conservation efforts and living pandas at close range
- Yangshuo countryside cycling—karst hills, rice fields, and Moon Hill's crescent-shaped natural arch
Day by day
1Arrival in Beijing: Welcome and OrientationBeijing · the hotel · Chongwenmen Hotel
You arrive in Beijing and meet your local guide at the hotel at 6 p.m. for an initial briefing about the itinerary, guides for each subsequent city, and logistical details. An orientation walk follows, ending with Peking duck dinner. Base yourself at Chongwenmen Hotel or similar for three nights.
2Great Wall at Mutianyu and Beijing School VisitGreat Wall · Mutianyu · Beijing · a local school · a local market
Drive approximately two hours to Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall. The restored section is navigable and allows you to walk the wall itself and appreciate its scale and construction. A picnic lunch is provided on the wall. In the afternoon, visit a local school for a classroom session and meet students. Return to Beijing by late afternoon with time to rest or visit a local market.
3Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutongs, and Overnight Train to LuoyangTiananmen Square · Forbidden City · hutongs · Beijing to Luoyang
Your guide leads you through some of Beijing's most significant sights, with considerable walking and use of the subway alongside local commuters. Begin at Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public squares, which houses the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. From here, enter the Forbidden City, built between 1406 and 1420 as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for over 500 years. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, it remains the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. Later, experience the texture of Old Beijing with a stroll through the hutongs—narrow alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyard residences that offer a glimpse into local life. In the evening, board the overnight soft-sleeper train bound for Luoyang.
4Shaolin Monastery, Martial Arts, and Luoyang Old TownShaolin Monastery · Luoyang old town · Hall of Heavenly Kings · Pagoda Forest · Dharma Cave · nearby martial arts school
From Luoyang station, drive 1.5 hours to Shaolin Monastery, the historical center of Chinese Kung Fu. Your guide will show the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Pagoda Forest, and Dharma Cave. Observe live Kung Fu demonstrations by monks. Visit a nearby martial arts school to see students training. Return to Luoyang in late afternoon and stroll the old town, starting with the ancient cultural street lined with residential areas, snack vendors, shops, and period buildings. When night falls, thousands of lamps light the town, recreating the atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty.
5Longmen Grottoes and Xi'an's Muslim QuarterLongmen Grottoes · Muslim Quarter · bullet train to Xi'an · 400-year-old Gao family residence in Muslim Quarter
Begin at the Longmen Grottoes, a World Heritage Site near Luoyang where steep limestone cliffs stretch for almost a mile. Carved into these cliffs are approximately 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, 60 stupas, and 2,800 inscriptions on steles—most dating between the late 5th century and middle of the 8th century, spanning the Northern Wei through early Tang dynasties. The scale of devotion represented here is staggering.
After exploring the grottoes, board the bullet train to Xi'an. The afternoon is devoted to the Muslim Quarter, beginning with a 400-year-old residence that once housed seven generations of the Gao family, notable officials of the royal court. The home is remarkably preserved, containing period furniture, pottery, porcelain, and paintings that offer insight into the lives of the era's elite.
From there, wander the quarter's narrow streets, where small shops, markets, and restaurants create a distinctive urban landscape that has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
6Terracotta Warriors and Cycling Xi'an's City WallTerracotta Warriors · a local village · Xi'an City Wall
Visit the Terracotta Warriors, buried for 2,000 years until discovered by farmers digging a well in 1976. Three main excavation pits contain approximately 2,000 of the 6,000-plus warriors, archers, and chariots, each individually sculpted from clay with distinct costumes, heights, and facial expressions. After lunch in a local village, return to Xi'an for an afternoon bicycle ride on the ancient City Wall, the most significant and best-preserved extant city wall in China, running 13 kilometers around the city perimeter.
7Fast Train to Chengdu, Jinli Street, and Kuanzhai AlleyChengdu · Jinli Street · Kuanzhai Alley
Travel approximately four hours by fast train to Chengdu. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel before heading out to visit Jinli Street, famous for its historic atmosphere and bustling energy. The street is known above all for its local snacks—sticky rice cakes with sesame sauce, spicy chicken on a stick, sweet rice jelly, and fried beef pancakes are popular choices, as are seasoned rabbits' heads for the more adventurous. Later in the afternoon, visit Kuanzhai Alley, a landmark district that preserves the historical remains of old Chengdu's layout and architecture. Here you'll observe how locals embrace the city's traditional leisure lifestyle, moving between teahouses and quieter corners of the alleyway.
8Chengdu Panda Breeding Center and Sichuan HotpotChengdu · Panda Breeding Center · downtown Chengdu
Visit the Panda Breeding Center in the morning to observe conservation efforts for this endangered species. Watch pandas at play, eating, napping, and feeding on bamboo at close range. Return to downtown Chengdu in the afternoon. In the evening, sample Sichuan hotpot, a regional cooking style.
9Flight to Guilin and Longji Rice TerracesLongji · Chengdu · Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces · Ping'an Village Rice Terrace · Seven Star Resort (Ping'an Branch) · Longji landscape
A short flight from Chengdu brings you to Guilin, followed by a 1.5-hour drive through striking mountain scenery to Longji. The Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces have been carefully sculpted into these hillsides for more than 650 years. The terraces take their name from their resemblance to dragon scales, while the mountain summit itself echoes the shape of a dragon's backbone. Ping'an Village Rice Terrace, the most visually arresting section of the cluster, was the first area discovered by tourists and photographers. After settling into your guesthouse at Seven Star Resort (Ping'an Branch) or similar, your guide will lead you on an orientation walk to familiarize yourself with the landscape.
10Longji Valley Hike and Bus to YangshuoLongji Valley · Yangshuo · Longji Valley to Yangshuo
Hike through the Longji Valley past rice terraces, bamboo groves, and chestnut forests on stone paths. The route includes some steep sections but also passes waterfalls and open fields. At the end of the hike, your vehicle meets you for the four-hour drive to Yangshuo, a village set among green karst hills and rice paddies that has become a regional center for travelers.
11Yangshuo Countryside Bicycle Tour and Moon HillYangshuo countryside · Moon Hill · home of local friends
Cycle through the Yangshuo countryside on two wheels, observing rural Chinese agricultural life amid dramatic karst landscapes. Each turn in the road reveals another striking vista. Stop at Moon Hill, easily recognizable by its distinctive crescent-moon-shaped natural arch, and ascend the steep and rough path to the summit. The effort rewards you with spectacular views across the surrounding hills and valleys. Continue to the home of local friends for lunch, where you'll savor a tasty meal prepared from locally grown produce—an intimate glimpse into daily life here. After a full day immersed in natural beauty, return to town. The evening is yours to rest and wander at leisure.
12Return Train to Hong KongGuilin train station · Guilin to Hong Kong
Transfer to Guilin train station and board the fast train to Hong Kong, where the itinerary concludes.
Where you go
- 1Beijing
- 2Mutianyu
- 3Beijing
- 4Tiananmen Square
- 5Forbidden City
- 6hutongs
- 7Shaolin Monastery
- 8Longmen Grottoes
- 9Muslim Quarter
- 10Terracotta Warriors
- 11Xi'an City Wall
- 12Yangshuo
Included
- Included:
- · 9 nights' hotel accommodation & 1 night's guesthouse stay based on twin share
- · Local English speaking guide service in each city for FIT booking of 2-5 pax
- · National English speaking guide service throughout for group booking of 6 pax or up
- · Private/Public transportation in each city as specified
- · Sightseeing tours with entrance fee as specified
- · 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
- · Overnight soft-sleeper train from Beijing to Luoyang (1 night)
- · Regular class fast train Luoyang-Xi'an-Chengdu & Guilin-Hong Kong
- · Economic class flight Chengdu-Guilin
Not included
- Excluded:
- · International flights
- · Travel insurance
- · Chinese visa
- · Expenses of personal nature, ie laundry, alcoholic drinks, and etc.