China11 days
China: Regional Cuisines & Cultural Sites — 11 Days
Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shanghai with cooking classes, tea plantations, and regional food markets
This 11-day journey traces five of China's culinary and historical centers, moving from the imperial architecture of Beijing through the archaeological treasures of Xi'an, the Sichuan spice trade in Chengdu, the tea culture of Hangzhou, and the cosmopolitan waterfront of Shanghai. You will cook xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and study regional ingredients with local chefs, visit working tea plantations in the hills above West Lake, sample hotpot in its birthplace, and walk through centuries-old food markets and alleyways. The itinerary pairs food preparation and tasting with visits to the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, the Leshan Giant Buddha, and centuries-old gardens and temples. Transport between cities uses train, flight, and private vehicle; pacing is moderate, with substantial walking on most days.
Highlights
- Cooking class in Shanghai: prepare xiaolongbao from scratch
- Evening street food tour near Beijing's Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
- Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall with picnic lunch at the wall
- Terracotta Warriors archaeological site: approximately 2,000 of 6,000 individual clay figures visible across three main pits
- Leshan Giant Buddha (71 meters tall, carved during the Tang Dynasty, 713–803 CE)
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu with 600 acres of parkland
- Longjing (Dragon Well) tea plantations near Hangzhou: over 1,200 years of cultivation
- Sichuan hotpot dinner in Chengdu: cook ingredients in traditional spiced communal broth
- Jinli Street and Kuanzhai Alley in Chengdu: regional street food and historic Qing dynasty architecture
- Wuzhen water town: 1,300-year-old settlement on the Yangtze River delta
- Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai: Ming and Qing dynasty architecture (built 1559, opened to public 1961)
Day by day
1Arrival in Beijingairport · hotel in central Beijing · hotel · local restaurant
Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in central Beijing. After checking in, you'll have time to settle before the 6 pm group meeting at the hotel, where you'll receive detailed information about the trip ahead and meet your fellow travelers.
Beijing, China's capital, is a direct-controlled municipality in northern China governed under the national government. The city encompasses 16 urban, suburban, and rural districts and stands as a megacity rich in history. Here, modern and traditional architecture coexist, reflecting Beijing's global influence across politics, economy, education, culture, and technology.
Following the orientation briefing, you'll join the group for dinner at a local restaurant, your first taste of Beijing's culinary traditions.
2Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Hutong AlleywaysTiananmen Square · Forbidden City · Hutong
After breakfast, your guide leads you to Tiananmen Square—one of the world's largest public squares—by subway, where you will see the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. From there, enter the Forbidden City, built between 1406 and 1420 as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government for over 500 years. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and contains the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. The day ends with a walking tour through Hutong, the traditional courtyards and narrow alleyways that form the backbone of Old Beijing's residential character. Expect significant walking today and use of the public metro.
3Great Wall at Mutianyu Section with Picnic LunchMutianyu Section of the Great Wall · the wall · Xi'an
Travel approximately two hours to the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall, one of the best-preserved stretches with 22 towers winding along the mountain ridges outside Beijing. Spend the day exploring the wall, learning its history, and taking in views across Huairou county in Beijing's suburban area. Bring a picnic lunch to eat at the wall during a rest break. In the evening, board an overnight train to Xi'an.
4Xi'an: Historic Courtyard, Muslim Quarter & Grand MosqueMuslim quarter · Xi'an train station · 400-year-old courtyard residence · Bell and Drum Tower · Great Mosque of Xi'an
Meet your guide at Xi'an train station for transfer to your hotel. This afternoon, visit a 400-year-old courtyard residence, once home to seven generations of the Gao family, who served as notable officials of the royal court. The space preserves period furniture, pottery, porcelain, and paintings that illustrate traditional local life. Walk through the Muslim quarter, its lively markets, and the Bell and Drum Tower. Visit the Great Mosque of Xi'an, the most significant mosque in China, constructed during the Ming dynasty's Hongwu reign with further additions during the Qing dynasty. Religious complexes are known to have occupied the same site as far back as the Tang dynasty.
5Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors & Ancient City WallTerracotta Warriors · local village · Xi'an's ancient city wall · Bell and Drum Tower, Muslim quarter, and local markets
After breakfast, your guide takes you to the Terracotta Warriors, an archaeological site discovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well after 2,000 years of burial. Three main pits are open for viewing, containing just under 2,000 of the total 6,000 warriors—each individually sculpted from clay with different costumes, heights, and facial expressions, arranged in battle formation. The scale is remarkable. Enjoy lunch in a local village, then visit Xi'an's ancient city wall, the most significant and best-preserved wall still extant in China, running over 13 kilometers around the city. Finish with a short walking tour past the Bell and Drum Tower, the Muslim quarter, and local markets.
6Leshan Giant Buddha & Sichuan Hotpot in ChengduLeshan Giant Buddha · Chengdu · airport · hotel in downtown Chengdu
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Chengdu. Upon arrival, your guide meets you at the airport and drives you to Leshan Giant Buddha, a 71-meter tall stone statue carved between 713 and 803 during the Tang Dynasty. It depicts Maitreya facing Mount Emei, with rivers flowing below its feet, making it the largest and tallest stone Buddha statue in the world and the tallest pre-modern statue known. The site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Return to downtown Chengdu in the afternoon to check in at your hotel. Tonight, experience one of China's most renowned dishes: authentic Sichuan hotpot, known locally as Huo Guo and thought to date back more than 1,000 years. The meal centers on a communal pot of spiced broth where each diner selects their own ingredients to cook in the hot liquid.
7Giant Panda Research Base, Jinli Street & Kuanzhai AlleyJinli Street · Kuanzhai Alley · Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
After breakfast, visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base to witness conservation efforts for this endangered species. Approximately 1,000 pandas remain in the world, with 80 percent found in Sichuan's mountains. The base provides over 600 acres of parkland for the animals, allowing close observation as they play, eat bamboo, and rest. Visit Jinli Street, famous for its historic atmosphere, bustling commerce, and local street foods—sticky rice cakes with sesame sauce, spicy chicken on a stick, sweet rice jelly, fried beef pancakes, and seasoned rabbit heads for adventurous eaters. Visit Kuanzhai Alley, also called "Wide and Narrow Alley," consisting of three historic parallel alleyways from the Qing dynasty.
8Hangzhou: West Lake, Longjing Tea Plantations & Local DinnerHangzhou · West Lake · airport · Longjing (Dragon Well) tea plantations
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province in east China and the southern terminus of the Grand Canal. Visit West Lake, a freshwater lake divided into five sections by three causeways and filled with temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands. West Lake has influenced poets and painters throughout Chinese history for its natural beauty and historical relics; it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. Visit Longjing (Dragon Well) tea plantations in the hills above the lake. Longjing tea, over 1,200 years old, is ranked as China's finest tea and known as the "Green Queen." Walk through the verdant plantations, learn about tea cultivation and its role in Chinese culture, and enjoy a local dinner in the evening.
9Wuzhen Water Town & Arrival in ShanghaiWuzhen · Wuzhen to Shanghai
After breakfast, travel toward Shanghai and stop to visit Wuzhen, a 1,300-year-old water town on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and one of China's ten historical and cultural towns. It sits within the triangle formed by Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai. Visit the town's canals and heritage architecture before continuing to Shanghai in the afternoon.
10Shanghai: City God's Temple, Yuyuan Garden & French ConcessionCity God's Temple · Yuyuan Garden · Shanghai French Concession
After breakfast, visit the City God's Temple, a folk temple neighboring Yuyuan Garden. Originally the Jinshan God Temple (dedicated to the spirit of Jinshan, or "Gold Mountain," an island off Shanghai's coast), it was converted into a City God Temple in 1403 during the Ming dynasty's Yongle era. Its popularity created a large pedestrian area with shops, restaurants, tea houses, and annual temple fair events. Move to Yuyuan Garden, also called Yu Garden, originally built in 1559, opened to the public in 1961, and declared a monument in 1982. It is the most extensive ancient garden displaying Ming and Qing architectural styles. Spend time in the temple area and surrounding shops, then visit the Shanghai French Concession, a concession district from 1849 to 1943. Developed over nearly a century, it acquired a distinct character blending Chinese and European culture and became one of China's major Catholic centers.
11Departure from Shanghai
End of tour. Return to your hotel or transfer to the airport for your next destination.
Where you go
- 1Tiananmen Square
- 2Forbidden City
- 3Hutong
- 4Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall
- 5Xi'an
- 6Muslim Quarter
- 7Bell and Drum Tower
- 8Great Mosque of Xi'an
- 9Terracotta Warriors
- 10Yuyuan Garden
Included
- Accommodation & breakfast
- Transport service from and to airport & tours
- Speaking English guide
- Entrance fee
- Local guide fee at particular tourism objects
- Meals & mineral water as a program
- Travel Insurance
Not included
- Air ticket
- Personal & other expenses
- Optional program