China19 days
China's Mountains, Rivers & Ancient Capitals — 19 Days
Beijing to Shanghai: Great Wall trekking, Terracotta Warriors, rice terraces, and Li River by boat
This 19-day route moves through China's central and southern regions, anchored by three major geographical and historical zones: the Ming Dynasty fortifications north of Beijing, the imperial heartland of Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors, and the karst landscapes of southwest Yunnan and Guilin. The itinerary pairs multiday treks—along the Great Wall's Gubeikou section, through Tiger Leaping Gorge, and across the rice terraces of Longji—with stays in trading-town architecture and a river journey through one of China's most photographed river valleys. Transportation is a mix of train, flight, and road; pacing alternates between active hiking days and town-based exploration, ending in Shanghai's colonial-era districts along the Huangpu River.
Highlights
- Hike the Ming Dynasty watchtowers of Wohushan Great Wall (665 meters elevation) over three days through Gubeikou's 40-kilometer section
- Tour the Terracotta Warriors at Xi'an: approximately 2,000 individually sculpted clay figures, each with distinct facial expressions and costume, arranged in battle formation after 2,000 years of burial
- Cycle the Xi'an City Wall, a 13-kilometer circuit running around the downtown core and among the best-preserved walls extant in China
- Trek the rice terraces of Longji Valley (constructed over 500 years ago), walking amid water-filled paddies, bamboo groves, and chestnut forests with views of terraces resembling dragon scales
- Hike Mt. Huashan, one of China's five sacred mountains, via cable car to the North Peak and on foot across its West Peak with views of its five peaks and narrow precipitous paths
- Trek Tiger Leaping Gorge across two days, descending from mountain passes to a canyon floor with the Yangtze River a thousand meters below
- Visit Shaxi Old Town, a UNESCO-listed tea horse trading settlement from the Tang Dynasty with intact courtyards, carved wooden doorways, and Bai and Yi ethnic minority communities
- Cruise the Li River between Yangshuo and Guilin, viewing the limestone karst landscape that defines this region's geography
- Visit Shizongshan Grottoes along the Buddhist trade route into Tibet, with statues and shrines carved into rock face
- Spend time in Yangshuo, a town set among karst pinnacles on the Li River's banks, by bicycle through rice paddies and to Moon Hill's semicircular arch formation
Day by day
1Arrival in Beijingthe hotel · the neighborhood surrounding your hotel · a local restaurant · Beijing airport to your hotel in the city center
Your driver will meet you at Beijing airport and transfer you to your hotel in the city center. After checking in and freshening up from your flight, take time to settle into your room. In the early evening, join a group briefing at the hotel where you'll receive detailed information about the tour ahead. A message with meeting details will be waiting at reception. As evening falls, venture out on a welcome walk through the neighborhood surrounding your hotel, gaining your first impressions of this sprawling city's pace and character. The day concludes with a group dinner at a local restaurant, where you'll meet your fellow travelers and guides.
2Great Wall at Gubeikou: Wohushan SectionWohushan segment
Early departure from Beijing for the Gubeikou section of the Great Wall, a vital mountain pass dating to the 16th century. Gubeikou encompasses four distinct areas—Wohushan, Panlongshan, Jinshanling, and Simatai—stretching over 40 kilometers across terrain studded with 14 beacon towers, 143 watchtowers, and 16 strategic passes. Today's hiking focuses on the Wohushan segment, built during the Ming Dynasty under General Xu Da in 1378. Rising to 665 meters elevation, this 13.6-kilometer section is regarded as a masterpiece of wall construction for its ingenious layout, steep gradients, and complete defensive facilities. The hike traverses the ridge, revealing watchtowers positioned at strategic intervals and offering views across the surrounding terrain. Check-in to a guesthouse near Gubeikou for the evening.
3Gubeikou to Jinshanling: The Inner WallJinshanling · your hotel · sections where local farmers removed bricks in the 1950s to build their homes · the inner circle of the wall · a local village · a guesthouse in the Erdaoliang Jinshanling area
After breakfast at your hotel, set out with your guide on a moderate 12-kilometer hike toward Jinshanling. The route traverses sections where local farmers removed bricks in the 1950s to build their homes, leaving visible damage along the wall. You'll walk the inner circle of the wall—the second line of defense built in case the main fortification was breached—and pass through a local village along the way. Lush vegetation frames the ridge walk. The day involves approximately 4–5 hours of hiking, with 3–4 hours set aside for rest and lunch, allowing time to absorb the views. By late afternoon, you'll arrive at a guesthouse in the Erdaoliang Jinshanling area, where you'll check in for the night.
4Simatai Wall and Temple of HeavenSimatai · Temple of Heaven · local farmer's restaurant · downtown Beijing
After breakfast, follow your expert guide to Simatai to experience both original and restored sections of the Great Wall. Watchtowers—some two-story, some three, with flat, rounded, and pitched roofs with upturned eaves—snake along the mountain ridgeline, offering scenic views throughout the hike. The 11-kilometer route traverses mostly paved ground, though a few stretches of unrestored pathways feature stairs and steep gradients that require careful footing.
At midday, you'll reach a local farmer's restaurant for lunch. This is an opportunity to meet the farmers directly, share a home-cooked Chinese meal, and learn about community development in the surrounding area.
In the late afternoon, return to downtown Beijing for a visit to the Temple of Heaven, an imperial complex of religious buildings in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors visited annually to conduct ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvests. Though often regarded as a Taoist temple, the site's tradition of heaven worship—particularly by the reigning monarch—predates Taoism itself. After your visit, check in to your hotel.
5Beijing: Forbidden City, Tianmen Square & Hutong NeighborhoodsForbidden City · Tianmen Square · Hutong alleyways · Beijing railway station · Beijing railway station to Xi'an
Morning exploration of central Beijing begins at Tianmen Square, one of the world's largest public spaces, home to the Monument of the People's Heroes. Entry into the Forbidden City follows—constructed between 1406 and 1420, it served as the ceremonial and political seat of Chinese government for over 500 years and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures. A walking tour of the Hutong alleyways reveals traditional courtyard neighborhoods and the residential life of old Beijing. Evening transfer to Beijing railway station for an overnight sleeper train to Xi'an.
6Xi'an: City Wall Cycle and Ancient MonumentsXi'an · City Wall · downtown hotel · local restaurant · Big Goose Pagoda · Bell and Drum Tower · Muslim Quarter
Arrival at Xi'an by train and transfer to the downtown hotel. After local breakfast, the day centers on cycling around the ancient City Wall—13 kilometers of circumference enclosing the city, the most significant and best-preserved wall of its kind still standing in China. Lunch at a local restaurant breaks the ride. Late-afternoon visits include the Big Goose Pagoda and a walking tour past the Bell and Drum Tower and the Muslim Quarter.
7Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors and Journey to Mt. HuashanThree main pits · a local village · a local village to Mt. Huashan
The Terracotta Army, discovered by farmers digging a well in 1976 after 2,000 years of burial, becomes the day's focus. Three main pits display nearly 2,000 of approximately 6,000 life-size clay warriors, each individually sculpted with distinct costumes, heights, and facial expressions, arranged in battle formation. The scale of the archaeological find is imparted through guided interpretation. Lunch in a local village precedes a drive south to Mt. Huashan, traditionally known as the West Mountain and one of China's five sacred peaks.
8Mt. Huashan: North Peak Cable Car and West Peak TraverseNorth Peak · West Peak · Mt. Huashan's north side · Xi'an · North Peak to the West Peak · West Peak to Xi'an
Your guide and driver collect you after breakfast and transfer you to the foot of Mt. Huashan's north side. A cable car carries you to the North Peak, where the day's hiking begins in earnest. From there, you traverse toward the West Peak on foot trails famous for their narrow, steep paths and precipitous crags. Mt. Huashan's five peaks form a distinctive flower-like silhouette—a natural landmark that has shaped the mountain's cultural significance for centuries. Once you reach the West Peak, a gondola descends the mountainside, sparing the legs a long downward trek. Your driver then takes you back to Xi'an for a late dinner before check-in at your hotel.
9Xi'an to Lijiang: Old Town Orientation at ElevationXi'an airport · the airport to our downtown hotel · Old Town of Lijiang · Xi'an airport to Lijiang
We transfer to Xi'an airport for our morning flight to Lijiang, then take a private bus from the airport to our downtown hotel. The Old Town of Lijiang sits at 2,400 meters elevation on the Lijiang plain in southwest Yunnan, positioned among strategic mountain passes. Water from Yulong Snow Mount to the northwest feeds the Black Dragon Pool and flows through a network of canals and channels that have supplied the town for centuries. The Old Town comprises three distinct housing clusters: Dayan Old Town, Baisha, and Shuhe. After lunch, we undertake an orientation walk through this remarkable settlement, observing how traditional architecture and the intricate waterway system have shaped life here. We then check in to the hotel for the evening.
10Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek BeginsTiger Leaping Gorge · Qiaotou
After early breakfast, your driver transfers you to Qiaotou, the starting point for trekking through Tiger Leaping Gorge. The trail descends along scree-swept paths carved into the canyon wall, where you may step aside for locals and their donkeys passing through. Above, snow-shrouded peaks catch fading sunlight; below, the Yangtze River ripples a thousand meters down. The combination of exertion, altitude, and landscape creates the particular intensity Tiger Leaping Gorge is known for—one of southwest China's unmissable treks. You'll check in at a guesthouse for the night, recovering before tomorrow's continued descent.
11Tiger Leaping Gorge: Second Day Trek to Walnut GroveWalnut Grove
Continuation through the gorge follows an easier first section with panoramic views, interrupted by a few uphill sections and one slippery downhill stretch before reaching Walnut Grove for the night. Along the route, local residents use the same trail for daily activities. Walnut Grove is a quiet place to rest after the day's exertion and absorb the surrounding landscape.
12Shibaoshan Mountain Trek and Buddhist GrottoesShizongshan Grottoes · danxia landscape · Shaxi Old Town · Yangtze to Shibaoshan
The route leaves the Yangtze and climbs to Shibaoshan, where trails lead to the Shizongshan Grottoes—Buddhist shrines and statues carved into the mountainside, some retaining faded pigments from centuries past. These caves mark the legacy of the tea and horse trade route connecting Yunnan to Tibet and Burma, which also disseminated Buddhist teachings through the region. A picnic lunch breaks the hike amid the distinctive danxia landscape—towering orange and red sandstone formations. Evening transfer to Shaxi Old Town for overnight accommodation.
13Shaxi Old Town: Walking the Tea Horse TrailShaxi Old Town · hotel in Shaxi
After breakfast, your guide will lead you through Shaxi Old Town, one of China's most intact tea horse trading settlements and a UNESCO-listed site. The town formed as a crucial stop on the Tea Horse Route during the Tang Dynasty in 618 CE, and its layout remains largely unchanged. You'll navigate narrow cobblestone alleyways, pausing to examine intricately carved wooden doorways and the well-fenced courtyards visible behind them. Siding Square, at the town's heart, anchors the settlement's historic geography. The Yi and Bai ethnic minorities who live here continue to maintain their traditional ways, visible in daily life throughout the streets. There is ample opportunity to wander and observe, to sit quietly, or to engage with locals. Return to your hotel in Shaxi for the evening.
14Shaxi to Longji: Rice Terraces of the Dragon's BackboneLongji · Lijiang to Guilin · Guilin to Longji
Return to Lijiang by road and flight to Guilin, then onward by private bus to Longji. The Longji region contains some of the region's most extensive rice terraces, their appearance shifting with the seasons: water-filled before planting, green during growth, and golden at harvest. These terraces, constructed over 500 years ago, earn their name—Dragon's Backbone—from their resemblance to a dragon's scales when viewed from above, with the mountain summit appearing as a backbone. A short hike upon arrival precedes overnight stay in the village of Dazhai, home to Yao minority communities.
15Longji Valley: Dragon's Backbone Rice Terrace Trek to YangshuoLongji Valley · Yangshuo
Meet your guide at the guesthouse for a moderate hike through Longji Valley, where rice terraces built over 500 years ago cascade down the mountainside. The landscape earned its name—Dragon's Backbone—from the terraces' resemblance to dragon scales, with the summit forming the backbone itself. Your route winds through bamboo groves and chestnut forests, crossing stone pathways past waterfalls and seasonal fields. Though some hills present a challenge, most of the walk navigates gently over stepping stones, allowing time to absorb the endless vistas of layered paddies. In the afternoon, transfer by private bus to Yangshuo, an idyllic town set among soaring limestone pinnacles on the banks of the Li River. Check in to your hotel and settle into this riverside setting.
16Yangshuo: Karst Landscape by Bicyclethe countryside south of Yangshuo · Moon Hill · a local restaurant
A cycling day visits the countryside south of Yangshuo, winding between rice paddies tended by farmers and water buffalo, with towering karst formations rising on both sides of the valley. The route reaches Moon Hill, distinctive for its large semicircular arch formation carved by ancient cave collapse. A stepped paved path leads to the arch; a rougher ascent continues to the summit for expansive vistas. Lunch at a local restaurant breaks the ride before returning to town.
17Li River Boat Cruise and Transfer to ShanghaiGuilin airport · the Bund · Li River between Yangshuo and Guilin · Guilin airport to Shanghai
A morning boat journey on the Li River provides an intimate view of the limestone karst landscape and clear river water that define this region's geography. The cruise moves through the valley between Yangshuo and Guilin. By midday, transfer by private bus to Guilin airport and flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, an orientation walk along the Bund traces the riverfront's 1920s colonial architecture overlooking the Huangpu River, offering a sense of Shanghai's historical urban character.
18Shanghai: City God's Temple, Yuyuan Garden & French ConcessionCity God's Temple · Yuyuan Garden · Shanghai French Concession · your hotel in Shanghai
After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to begin exploring the City God's Temple, a folk temple neighboring Yuyuan Garden. Originally established as 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. The temple's popularity transformed the surrounding area into a bustling pedestrian zone filled with shops, restaurants, tea houses, and annual temple fair events.
Next, you'll visit Yuyuan Garden, also called Yu Garden. Built in 1559 and opened to the public in 1961, it was declared a protected monument in 1982. It remains the most extensive ancient garden showcasing Ming and Qing architectural styles.
In the afternoon, you'll visit the Shanghai French Concession, a concession area that existed from 1849 to 1943. Over nearly a century, it developed a distinct character blending Chinese and European influences, becoming one of China's major Catholic centers. Its tree-lined streets and colonial architecture offer insight into Shanghai's layered history.
Return to your hotel in Shanghai for the evening.
19Shanghai: DepartureShanghai · your hotel to the airport
After breakfast, enjoy leisure time exploring Shanghai at your own pace. Your driver will meet you at your hotel for transfer to the airport for your onward journey.
Where you go
- 1Temple of Heaven
- 2Forbidden City
- 3Xi'an
- 4City Wall
- 5Bell and Drum Tower
- 6Muslim Quarter
- 7Xi'an
- 8Shaxi Old Town
- 9Yangshuo
- 10the Bund
- 11Yuyuan Garden
- 12Shanghai
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.