China10 days
China: Great Wall, Terracotta & Karst Landscapes — 10 Days
Beijing to Shanghai via Xi'an, Chengdu, and Yangshuo. Walk the Mutianyu Wall, witness the Terracotta Warriors, cycle karst countryside, and cruise the Li River.
This ten-day route threads through four of China's most consequential regions, moving from the political center of Beijing through the archaeological depth of Xi'an, the panda conservation efforts of Chengdu, and the limestone terrain of Yangshuo before arriving in Shanghai. You will encounter the Great Wall at Mutianyu, stand before nearly 2,000 of the 6,000 terracotta warriors still in their original pits, navigate a 13-kilometer city wall by bicycle, cycle through rice paddies and karst peaks, and trace the cultural layers of Shanghai from temple quarters to Art Deco waterfronts. The itinerary moves at an unhurried pace, allowing time to absorb each city's character rather than racing between checkboxes.
Highlights
- Walk the restored Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, approximately two hours from Beijing
- View the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an — nearly 2,000 of the 6,000 individually sculpted figures, each with distinct costumes, heights, and facial expressions
- Cycle the 13-kilometer circuit of Xi'an's ancient city wall, the most significant preserved city wall in China
- Visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center to observe conservation efforts for this endangered species
- Bicycle through Yangshuo's rural countryside and rice paddies, with views of Moon Hill's crescent-moon-shaped natural arch
- Cruise the Li River from Yangshuo, surrounded by karst mountain peaks and clear water
- Visit the Muslim Quarter of Xi'an, home to the Hui Muslim community for centuries, with halal markets and small mosques
- Walk through the longtangs (narrow winding lanes) of Old Shanghai and tour the City God Temple area dating to 1403
- Stroll the Bund in Shanghai, a row of Art Deco buildings that once formed Asia's most important financial street
Day by day
1Arrival in Beijing & Welcome DinnerBeijing
You arrive in Beijing, China's capital, and check into your hotel. At 6 pm, a welcome meeting with your guide outlines the itinerary and logistics for moving between cities. An orientation walk follows, ending with dinner featuring Beijing Duck.
2Beijing: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City & Hutong AlleywaysTiananmen Square · the Forbidden City · hutong
The day combines walking and subway travel. Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public squares, holds the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. You then enter the Forbidden City, constructed between 1406 and 1420 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It served as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for over 500 years and contains the world's most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures. Afterward, you walk through hutong—traditional alleyways lined with courtyard homes that characterize old Beijing.
3Mutianyu Great Wall & Overnight Train to Xi'anMutianyu · Beijing to Xi'an
A two-hour drive from Beijing brings you to Mutianyu, a well-preserved section of the Great Wall with moderate grades and accessible climbing paths. A picnic lunch is provided on the wall. You return to Beijing in the late afternoon and board an overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi'an, arriving the following morning.
4Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors & the Muslim QuarterMuslim Quarter · Terracotta Warriors archaeological site
After breakfast at your hotel in Xi'an, you visit the Terracotta Warriors archaeological site, discovered in 1976. Three main pits are open for you to view, where just under 2,000 of the total 6,000 warriors – each individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, and even facial expression – stand in battle formation. Each warrior was individually sculpted from clay with distinct costumes, heights, and facial expressions, arranged in original battle formation. Lunch follows in a local village. In the afternoon, you walk through the Muslim Quarter, home to the Hui Muslim community for centuries, with narrow streets, small shops, halal butchers, sesame-oil factories, mosques, and restaurants serving traditional cuisine.
5Xi'an City Wall Cycling & Bullet Train to Chengdubullet train to Chengdu · Xi'an's ancient City Wall · Jinli Street · Kuanzhai Alley
Start the day with a circuit of Xi'an's ancient City Wall. This is the most significant and best-preserved city wall extant in China, running over 13 kilometers around Xi'an. It takes about 2 hours to cycle round the wall. Board the bullet train to Chengdu in the afternoon. Upon arrival, you visit Jinli Street for local street food including sticky rice cakes, spicy chicken skewers, fried beef pancakes, and other regional specialties. Later, visit Kuanzhai Alley, a neighborhood that preserves historical structures while showcasing local leisure culture—residents gather in tea houses and courtyards to play cards and socialize.
6Chengdu Panda Breeding Center, Flight to Guilin & YangshuoChengdu Panda Breeding Center · Chengdu to Guilin · Guilin to Yangshuo
A morning visit to the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center allows observation of conservation efforts for this species. You watch pandas in their enclosures eating, resting, and climbing. A short afternoon flight takes you from Chengdu to Guilin, followed by a two-hour drive to Yangshuo, a village surrounded by karst hills and rice fields.
7Yangshuo Cycling Tour, Local Family Lunch & Li River CruiseLi River · Yangshuo countryside · Moon Hill · local friends' home
Cycle through the Yangshuo countryside to view rice paddies, hand-farming practices, and karst peaks. Moon Hill, a distinctive local landmark, features a crescent-moon-shaped natural arch; a steep, uneven path ascends to the summit with valley views. You stop for lunch at the home of local friends, where a meal is prepared from produce grown in their fields. In the afternoon, a Li River cruise provides views of karst mountains and clear water.
8Flight to Shanghai: Nanjing Road & the BundNanjing Road · the Bund · Guilin
An early morning flight from Guilin delivers you to Shanghai. This afternoon visits Nanjing Road, Shanghai's premier shopping street, spanning 5.5 kilometers from Jing'an Temple to the Bund, featuring small stalls and large department stores. You then visit the Bund, a row of Art Deco buildings that formed an important financial center in Asia.
9Shanghai: City God Temple, Yuyuan Gardens, Longtangs & Shanghai MuseumYuyuan Garden · longtangs · Shanghai Museum · City God Temple area · Bund
A walking tour covers Shanghai's layered history. The City God Temple area, originating as the Jinshan God Temple and converted in 1403, now hosts shops, restaurants, and teahouses. Yuyuan Garden, built in Ming and Qing architectural styles, is an extensive ancient garden. You stroll the longtangs—narrow winding lanes of Old Shanghai where daily life unfolds in courtyards and shop fronts. The Shanghai Museum, designed according to Feng Shui principles, houses over 120,000 pieces across permanent galleries and rotating exhibitions. The evening concludes along the Bund with illuminated Art Deco buildings.
10Shanghai DepartureShanghai · airport
Your final day in Shanghai holds no scheduled activities. Depending on your outbound flight time, you may visit additional neighborhoods, sample local cuisine, or rest before departure. A private transfer to the airport is provided.
Where you go
- 1Beijing
- 2Tiananmen Square
- 3Hutong
- 4Mutianyu
- 5Muslim Quarter
- 6Li River
- 7the Bund
- 8Yuyuan Garden
- 9Shanghai Museum
- 10City God Temple area
- 11Shanghai
Included
- Included:
- · 8 nights' hotel accommodation based on twin share
- · Local English speaking guide service in each city for FIT of 2-5 pax
- · National English speaking guide service throughout for group of 6 pax or up
- · Private/Public transportation in each city as specified
- · Sightseeing tours with entrance fee as specified
- · 9 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 1 dinner
- · Overnight soft-sleeper train Beijing-Xi'an (1 night)
- · Regaular class fast train Xi'an-Chengdu
- · Economic class flights Chengdu-Guilin & Guilin-Shanghai
Not included
- Excluded:
- · International flights
- · Travel insurance
- · Chinese visa
- · Expenses of personal nature, ie laundry, alcoholic drinks, and etc.