China14 days
China: Shanghai, Guilin & the Yangtze — 14 Days
From Shanghai's colonial quarters and West Lake tea fields to the Yangtze River gorges, Terracotta Warriors, and Beijing's wall—14 days across four centuries of Chinese geography.
This two-week itinerary moves through four of China's most historically and geographically distinct regions. Begin in Shanghai's French Concession and the temple districts, then travel inland to Hangzhou's West Lake—one of China's oldest leisure destinations—and a working Longjing tea plantation where you'll learn the distinctions between regional green tea varieties. The route then shifts dramatically to Yangshuo, a rural karst landscape where limestone peaks rise abruptly from farmland, offering cycling routes through villages and rice paddies. A three-night cruise on the Yangtze River passes through two of the Three Gorges, stops at Fengdu with its temples dedicated to the afterlife, and terminates at the Three Gorges Dam—the world's largest hydroelectric facility. From there, trains carry you to Xi'an, where the City Wall still encircles the old center and the Muslim Quarter's narrow streets preserve centuries of Hui community life alongside the Great Mosque. The final leg covers the Terracotta Warriors near Xi'an—6,000 individually sculpted soldiers buried for two millennia—and concludes in Beijing with the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall at Mutianyu. The itinerary balances urban centers, rural immersion, and one of Asia's defining river journeys.
Highlights
- Walk the French Concession in Shanghai—a century-old district where European and Chinese architecture intersect
- Pick tea leaves at a Longjing plantation near Hangzhou and taste several regional green tea varieties
- Cycle through Yangshuo's karst countryside and climb Moon Hill for views of limestone peaks and farmland
- Cruise the Yangtze River through Qutang and Wu Gorges and visit Shennv Valley's narrow, cliff-lined stream
- Tour the Terracotta Warriors near Xi'an—over 6,000 clay soldiers still in battle formation after 2,000 years
- Walk Xi'an's City Wall, a 13-kilometer circuit and the best-preserved urban wall in China
- Visit the Muslim Quarter of Xi'an with its mosques, markets, and halal restaurants serving regional cuisine
- Visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government, built during the Ming dynasty.
- Hike the Great Wall at Mutianyu, one of the most intact and accessible restored sections near Beijing
Day by day
1Arrival in ShanghaiShanghai · hotel lobby · central district
You arrive in Shanghai, China's largest city, where contemporary high-rises stand alongside colonial-era neighborhoods and traditional temples. Meet your guide in the hotel lobby for an orientation walk through the central district, followed by a welcome dinner.
2Shanghai's City God Temple, French Concession & Train to HangzhouCity God Temple · French Concession · Shanghai to Hangzhou
The morning centers on the City God Temple, a folk shrine adjacent to Yuyuan Garden that originated as the Jinshan God Temple and was converted to its current form in 1403. The temple's surroundings form a pedestrian district with shops, restaurants, and teahouses. From there, you'll walk through the French Concession, the former foreign concession zone that operated from 1849 to 1943. It developed distinct character through layered Chinese and European architectural styles. In the late afternoon, you'll transfer to the train station for the fast train to Hangzhou, a journey of approximately one hour.
3Hangzhou: West Lake, Longjing Tea Plantation & Flight to YangshuoWest Lake · Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea Plantation · Hangzhou to Guilin to Yangshuo
Begin with West Lake, long regarded as Hangzhou's primary scenic landmark. You'll walk the lake's perimeter, visiting its recognized viewpoints: Lotus Park, the Flower Harbor, and Su Causeway at Spring Dawn. Your guide will recount local history and folklore attached to each location. A short drive takes you to the Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea Plantation. Longjing is considered a premium Chinese green tea, and the farmer will lead you into the fields to demonstrate how to identify and pick leaf sprouts, explain flavor profiles of different regions, and draw parallels between tea varieties and wine vintages—each region's soil and climate producing distinct characteristics. You'll try picking yourself before tasting samples. An evening flight transports you from Hangzhou to Guilin; from there, a two-hour drive delivers you to Yangshuo, a rural town set within limestone karst terrain.
4Cycling Through Yangshuo's Karst CountrysideYangshuo · Moon Hill · a local home
Yangshuo sits within one of China's most distinctive landscapes—towering limestone peaks rising sharply from flat farmland. This morning you'll cycle out from town through the surrounding countryside, passing farmers in paddies, village markets, and viewing the landscape through the karst formations. You'll stop at Moon Hill, identifiable by its crescent-shaped natural arch cut through the summit. The steep path to the top offers views across the valley. Lunch is provided at a local home, where dishes are prepared from regional produce. The afternoon returns you to town, leaving the evening free.
5Yangshuo: Optional ActivitiesYangshuo · farmers' market
A free day to pursue activities according to your interests. Options include joining a Tai Chi class with a local instructor, enrolling in a cooking class focused on regional techniques, or visiting the farmers' market. Yangshuo is also known for rock climbing and caving; your guide can organize these activities or others you wish to pursue.
6Train to Chongqing & Yangtze River Cruise EmbarkationChongqing · Yangtze River · Yangshuo to Chongqing
A fast train carries you from Yangshuo to Chongqing in approximately five hours. Upon arrival, you'll board a deluxe river cruise vessel for a three-night journey down the Yangtze River. The cruise offers extended views of the river landscape and opportunities to observe wildlife from the deck.
7Yangtze Cruise: Fengdu & Chinese Ghost CultureYangtze Cruise · Fengdu
Wake to the river's changing scenery. A short excursion takes you to Fengdu, known as the Ghost City—a designation earned during the Eastern Han Dynasty. You'll visit temples dedicated to concepts of the afterlife and encounter the visual vocabulary of Chinese ghost culture. In the evening, a performance by ethnic minority groups introduces some of China's lesser-known cultural communities through music and dance.
8Yangtze Cruise: Three Gorges, Shennv Valley & Captain's BanquetShennv Valley · Qutang and Wu Gorges · the ship
Today the cruise passes through two of the three main gorges of the Yangtze: the Qutang and Wu Gorges. An excursion diverts to Shennv Valley (the Goddess Stream), where a narrow waterway is hemmed by cliff faces. The evening includes a farewell banquet hosted by the ship's captain.
9Three Gorges Dam, Yichang & Overnight Train to Xi'anThree Gorges Dam · Yichang · Huang Ling Miao · overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi'an
Early morning arrive at Huang Ling Miao and visit the Three Gorges Dam, this is the most significant hydro-electric project in the world and brings benefits of flood control, power generation, tourism, ecological protection, South-North water transfer and irrigation. The project serves multiple functions: flood control, power generation, and irrigation. After viewing the dam, you'll disembark in Yichang and transfer to the station for an overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi'an.
10Xi'an: City Wall & Muslim Quarterthe ancient City Wall · the Muslim Quarter · the Great Mosque
You arrive in Xi'an for breakfast at the hotel. Your introduction to the city begins with a walking tour of the ancient City Wall, China's most significant preserved urban fortification. The wall extends over 13 kilometers around the old city center. Later, you'll walk through the Muslim Quarter, home to the Hui Muslim community for centuries. The narrow streets are lined with small shops, halal butchers, sesame-oil processing facilities, small mosques, markets, and restaurants. The district culminates at the Great Mosque, the largest mosque in China and an architectural fusion of Chinese and Islamic design. The site has held religious structures dating back to the Tang dynasty.
11Terracotta Warriors, Local Village Lunch & Overnight Train to BeijingTerracotta Warriors · Beijing · a nearby village
The Terracotta Warriors represent a significant archaeological discovery. Over 6,000 warriors, archers, and chariots were individually sculpted from clay, each bearing distinct costumes, heights, and facial expressions. They remain in battle formation after two millennia, having been buried and rediscovered in 1976 when farmers digging a well found them. Three main pits are open to view. After studying this display, you'll lunch in a nearby village before returning to Xi'an city. The afternoon is free for personal exploration before boarding an overnight soft-sleeper train to Beijing.
12Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Hutong NeighborhoodsTiananmen Square · Forbidden City · hutongs
You arrive in Beijing in the early morning and have breakfast at the hotel before exploring the city on foot and by subway. First is Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public squares. From there, you enter the Forbidden City, the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government built between 1406 and 1420. It served this function for more than 500 years, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and holds the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. After exiting, you'll walk through the hutongs—narrow alleys lined with traditional courtyard homes—to see the domestic life of old Beijing and how residential neighborhoods have functioned historically.
13Great Wall at Mutianyu & Beijing Roast Duck DinnerGreat Wall at Mutianyu · Beijing
Mutianyu, located about two hours outside Beijing, is one of the most extensively restored sections of the Great Wall. A picnic lunch is provided on the wall itself. You return to Beijing in the late afternoon, leaving time to visit local markets or rest before a dinner of Beijing roast duck.
14Departure from BeijingBeijing
Your final morning in Beijing is unscheduled. You'll be transferred to the airport for your departure when your flight is ready.
Where you go
- 1Shanghai
- 2City God Temple
- 3Yangshuo
- 4Terracotta Warriors
- 5Beijing
- 6Tiananmen Square
- 7Forbidden City
- 8hutongs
- 9Great Wall at Mutianyu
- 10Beijing
Included
- Included:
- · 8 nights' hotel accommodation based on twin share
- · 4 days and 3 nights Yangtze Cruise 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
- · 13 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 dinners
- · Overnight soft-sleeper train Yichang-Xi'an(1 night) & Xi'an-Beijing (1 night)
- · Regular class fast train Shanghai-Hangzhou & Guilin-Chongqing
- · Economic class flight Hangzhou-Guilin
Not included
- Excluded:
- · International flights
- · Travel insurance
- · Chinese visa
- · Expenses of personal nature, ie laundry, alcoholic drinks, and etc.