Classics Water: 14-Day China Holiday

Overview

This is a first-time trip to China, with the pace slowing in the second half. You will spend three nights each in Beijing and Xi’an: the first is the walled city of an empire, the second the city’s own walls, which you can cycle across the top. Chengdu offers a two-day pause. From there, the itinerary turns south, and transport becomes the day’s attraction—a four-hour river journey between Guilin and Yangshuo. Shanghai will send you home across the water, two centuries gazing at each other on opposite banks. At some point on that river, you will find you no longer ask what is coming next. What you carry home is the sense of the actual distance between these six places.

— LyrikTrip Travel Designer

Tell us your travel dates and the number of travellers. We will check availability for accommodation, transport, and water activities against your dates and outline what can be confirmed in the written quotation.

Why you'll love this trip

The classics, plus the water. Terracotta warriors, a city wall you ride, pandas and the Bund, with English-speaking guides city by city.
14 days from the Great Wall to a bamboo raft. See the whole country.

Ride up to the Great Wall at Mutianyu and take the toboggan back down: you arrive on the ridge with your legs still fresh, and the descent is the part you describe first at home.
Stand close enough to the Terracotta Army to tell a general from a crossbowman: after ten minutes you are reading the ranks yourself instead of being told what to look at.
Cycle the top of the Xi'an city wall on an included bicycle: for one hour the whole city lies below you on both sides at once, inside and outside the line.
Spend an afternoon in People's Park with a gaiwan refilled as long as you stay: the first day in two weeks with nowhere to be by a certain hour.
Spend four hours on the Li River instead of ninety minutes on the road: the transfer to Yangshuo is the day, and nothing is scheduled around it.
Push off from the bank on a bamboo raft on the Yulong River, at water level, with the karst peaks gliding past your shoulder rather than your windscreen.
End on the Bund after dark with your guide beside you: one bank built by a treaty port, the other built in thirty years, and the water between them doing the arguing.

Things to do

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Bamboo Rafting on the Yulong River, Yangshuo

Former French Concession & Wukang Road, Shanghai

The Bund & Huangpu River Ferry, Shanghai

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Family

Landmark

Culture

Museum

Heritage

Cycling

City

Pagoda

Nature

Learn more

City

Learn more

City

Culture

River Cruise

Slow

Active

Slow

Heritage

Museum

Riverfront

City

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Family

Landmark

Culture

Museum

Heritage

Cycling

City

Pagoda

Nature

Learn more

City

Learn more

City

Culture

River Cruise

Slow

Active

Slow

Heritage

Museum

Riverfront

City

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Family

Landmark

Culture

Museum

Heritage

Cycling

City

Pagoda

Nature

Learn more

City

Learn more

City

Culture

River Cruise

Slow

Active

Slow

Heritage

Museum

Riverfront

City

Itinerary

Arrivals

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Day 1 · Arrive in Beijing and allow time to rest.

Airport pickup will be arranged according to the confirmed flight details. No sightseeing is scheduled for today.

Airport pickup Your driver and vehicle are waiting for the flight number on your confirmation, and the run into Beijing is yours to sleep through.

Beijing through the window Ring roads first, then poplars and lit shopfronts along an ordinary city street; the country you flew this far for shows up before you have opened a bag.

Evening There are no guided tours in the evening. If you would like to dine near the hotel, please ask for restaurant recommendations; meals are at your own expense.

Day 2 · One axis, then the hill behind it

Walk along the central axis of the Forbidden City to the north gate, then climb Jingshan Hill to look back at the palaces you have just visited.

The Forbidden City Advance booking is required to enter the Forbidden City; specific entry times are confirmed based on your travel date. Once inside, follow the central axis past the ritual halls, the inner court, and the Imperial Garden; from the centre of the courtyard, look back to see the gates of your arrival receding in layers.

Pace The palace is large and guests regularly find it more tiring than they expected, so the route stops at the seats we know about and the garden at the end is unhurried.

Jingshan Park You leave through the palace's north gate and the park entrance is directly across the street, so the afternoon costs no transfer. Fifteen minutes of steps puts you at the hilltop pavilion, facing back south over the golden roofs you were standing between an hour ago, with the city's central axis running out of sight in both directions.

Day 3 · Mutianyu Great Wall: walk a stretch along the ridge

Ascend by cable car or chairlift, or walk along the city walls; descent by ski lift is arranged according to the scenic area’s daily operating status.

Drive out to Mutianyu The drive north out of Beijing takes a good part of the morning, which is why nothing else is planned for today; the vehicle stays with you all day.

Cable car or chairlift up The climbing is done for you. You step off onto a restored stretch of wall with watchtowers running away along the ridge in both directions, and your guide reads it: the beacon towers, the pass down below, and why the sightlines run where they do. Look along the ridge with the towers stepping down it, one after another, until the last one is a smudge.

Walk a section The restored towers connect, so you can keep walking as long as you feel like it and turn back at any tower. Nothing later today depends on how far you get.

Slide Down the Mountain If the slide is open, you can ride the track car down the mountain and control your own speed; otherwise, descend using the available methods provided by the scenic area.

Day 4 · Take the high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an after visiting three locations

Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and the National Museum of China are all in Beijing; after visiting, take a high-speed train to Xi'an for an overnight stay.

Tiananmen Square You cross the ceremonial centre of modern China on foot. Screening comes first and takes its own half hour to an hour, so it sits in today's plan separately from your time on the square; your guide walks you to the nearest screening entrance.

Temple of Heaven Three ritual buildings on one line, and one rule that explains all of them: round stands for heaven, square stands for earth. Once your guide says it out loud you start noticing it in the paving, the terraces and the roofs, and you will notice it again in Xi'an tomorrow.

National Museum of China The National Museum is located on the east side of the Square, so there’s no need to cross the city. Specific exhibition halls and entry times will be confirmed based on daily opening hours and reservation availability.

High-speed train to Xi'an After the visit, proceed to Xi'an by high-speed rail. Specific train schedules, cabin classes, and station pickup arrangements will be verified based on the departure date and clearly outlined in the written confirmation.

High-speed rail

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7

Day 5 · View the different military ranks at the Terracotta Army.

This day is dedicated to the Terracotta Army. Observe the warriors up close to appreciate the details of their armour, hairstyles, and remaining pigments.

The Terracotta Army An estimated eight thousand figures, buried east of Xi'an as the first emperor's guard, standing in the pits where farmers found them. Your guide starts you at the section where the ranks are clearest, and after ten minutes you are doing it yourself: armour and hairstyle separate a general from a crossbowman from a foot soldier.

The colours In the more recently excavated areas, patches of the original paint are still on the figures. Stand at the rail and look for the ones with pigment left; that is what the whole army looked like on the day it was buried.

Crowds This site runs heavy in peak season, so your guide sets the order of the three pits by the flow on the day rather than walking them in numerical order.

Day 6 · Ride the City Walls, Stroll Through Huifang at Night

Morning on top of the wall, evening in the lanes behind the Drum Tower. Today the city shows you its edge and then its middle.

Xi'an city wall cycling You collect a bicycle at the gate, ride up onto one of the most complete surviving ancient city walls in China, and set off along the top. The parapet is wide enough to ride abreast, and it closes a full loop, so you can go around or turn back at any gate. Inside the line: the old street grid and the two towers. Outside it: the twenty-first century, standing at the same height as your handlebars. Halfway around you'll find you have stopped pedaling and are simply looking sideways.

The easier version If the weather or your energy says otherwise, you walk a stretch of the parapet instead and keep the same view.

Bell Tower and Drum Tower The two timekeeping towers at the crossing of the old city's axes, seen lit from the street on the way into the quarter behind them.

The Muslim Quarter in the evening The lanes belonging to Xi'an's Hui community, at their busiest after dark. Bread gets stamped and slapped onto the wall of an oven, meat turns, sesame goes under a stone roller, and your guide tells you what each stall is making before you decide whether you want it.

Day 7 · A pagoda, then the ride to Sichuan

See the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, then take the high-speed rail to Chengdu.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda The pagoda that names this part of Xi'an, standing above its temple grounds with the cultural district laid out at its foot. You walk the compound with your guide, who gives the building its history where it stands, then the square around it before you head to the station.

High-speed train to Chengdu The afternoon service crosses the Qinling range, roughly three to four hours from the dry north into the Sichuan basin, most of it in tunnel and out again. Sit on the right-hand side and watch the vegetation change every time the train comes back into daylight.

Arrival A driver meets the train and the evening is left open; dinner near the hotel is recommended and booked for you if you want it, at your own expense.

High-speed rail

Chengdu · Day 8 - Day 9

Day 8 · After spotting the pandas, we’ll enjoy an afternoon tea at the park

Visit the Panda Base in the morning, then head to People’s Park in the afternoon to sit down and enjoy a cup of gaiwan tea.

Chengdu Panda Base You are there in the morning, the hours when the animals are generally moving: eating, coming down off a platform, dropping back to sleep in the fork of a tree. Flat shaded paths, and about three hours to use as you like. Get to an enclosure early and wait rather than walking the loop twice; the animal comes to the fence on its own schedule.

Gaiwan tea sitting at People's Park Bamboo chairs under the trees, a gaiwan each, the lidded cup China brews in, and someone with a long-spouted kettle refilling it as long as you stay. Cards at the next table, an ear cleaner two tables over working with a tuning fork. The afternoon is set aside for exactly this and nothing after it. An hour in, you'll notice you have stopped checking how much of the day is left.

Additional Options Tea beyond the included sitting, and ear cleaning if you want to try it, are ordered on the spot at your own expense.

Day 9 · Chengdu’s Two Faces, Then Fly to Guilin

Explore Chengdu's Kuanzhai Alley and Taikoo Li, with an evening of Sichuan opera; then fly to Guilin for the night.

Kuanzhai Alley and Taikoo Li Three parallel lanes restored into a busy commercial street, and next to them a modern retail district with a Tang-era temple standing in the middle of it. We keep both because they put the city's two economies within sight of each other, and we say plainly that the lanes are a restored streetscape rather than a working one.

Community Sichuan opera theatre Watch Sichuan opera and face-changing at a community theatre. Backstage visits and seat locations are subject to the troupe's arrangements on the day and specific row numbers cannot be guaranteed in advance.

Flight to Guilin After attending the Chengdu activities, head to the airport for a flight to Guilin. Please check the departure date to ensure the flight connects in time for the Sichuan opera performance and the following day's Li River cruise.

Evening Nothing is scheduled tonight. The night in Guilin exists so that the boat can leave in the morning with you already at the river.

Flight

Guilin · Day 10

Day 10 · Four hours, one direction

Today’s itinerary is the Li River cruise: boarding in Guilin and disembarking in Yangshuo, with the rest of the day left free.

The full Li River cruise Boarding from Guilin, the journey flows down the Li River to Yangshuo. The voyage takes approximately four hours; specific schedules and segments are confirmed based on departure dates and water levels.

What goes past Limestone peaks standing in the water rather than behind it, bamboo along the banks, water buffalo in the shallows, fishing rafts crossing the wake. One reach of this river is the picture on the back of China's 20-yuan banknote; your guide tells you when it is coming so you can be on the right side of the deck.

Nothing to do There is no stop, no site and no queue between the two towns. Four hours is long enough that you run out of photographs and start just watching, which is the reason the boat is on this plan instead of the ninety-minute road.

Arrival in Yangshuo You step off at the town's landing and your driver takes you to the hotel, where you unpack once for two nights.

Li River cruise

Yangshuo · Day 11 - Day 12

Day 11 · Sit by the river, close to the water

Yulong River bamboo rafting, cycling along the flat riverbank roads, and an afternoon tea by the river, in this order.

Yulong River bamboo raft Glide along a selected stretch of the Yulong River on a bamboo raft, with the water close at hand and karst peaks and shallows visible from the banks. Whether the raft can launch, and the specific stretch, will depend on the day's water level and safety regulations.

Yulong River riding Cycle along the riverside road, passing through rice paddies and villages, with karst peaks visible throughout. If you prefer not to cycle, please inquire about electric bike or car hire options and costs when requesting a quote.

Riverside afternoon tea Mid-afternoon, a table by the water with mountains on three sides. It runs about an hour and it is the seam between the raft and the end of the day, not a meal; lunch and dinner are your own on this route.

Day 12 · Yangshuo to Shanghai

Fly from Yangshuo to Shanghai via Guilin Airport. The day is primarily dedicated to travel, with no other sightseeing scheduled.

Travel by road to Guilin Airport Your driver takes you back out of the karst country the fast way, on the road the boat replaced two days ago.

Fly to Shanghai The flight east, then a driver at the other end. The flight number, time and class of travel for your order are written into your quote.

Nothing else today No sightseeing is scheduled, and the evening is left open; dinner near the hotel is recommended and booked for you if you want it, at your own expense.

Flight

Shanghai · Day 13 - Day 14

Day 13 · A garden, a museum, a riverfront

From Yu Garden and the Shanghai Museum to the Bund, then across the river to admire Pudong in the evening.

Yu Garden and the old city A classical garden of pavilions, rockery, ponds and winding paths inside Shanghai's oldest quarter. Nothing in it is meant to be seen all at once: every few steps a rock or a wall takes the view away and hands back a different one. About two hours, all flat.

Shanghai Museum Visit the Shanghai Museum to explore bronze, ceramics, and calligraphy and painting. Please confirm the specific building wing, exhibition hall, and entry time based on the day's opening hours and reservation status.

The Bund and the Pudong skyline in the evening You walk the waterfront after dark with your guide beside you. On one bank, the trading and bank houses a treaty port left behind; on the other, towers that went up inside thirty years. Stand at the rail with the water between the two and you can see the whole argument at once. Looking across at the far bank, you'll feel the fourteen days close up behind you into a single stretch of time.

Guide accompaniment The Bund night cruise can be accompanied by a guide; a tea invitation from a stranger is not part of the itinerary.

Day 14 · Fuxing Road, Huangpu River ferry, then transfer to the airport

If flight times allow, start with a stroll along Wukang Road, take the ferry to view The Bund from the river, then head to the airport.

Former French Concession and Wukang Road Plane-tree streets, historic residences and small independent shops. Two or three streets rather than a list of addresses, and the pace is set by your flight time rather than by a plan.

Huangpu River ferry The public crossing the city uses to get to the other side, a few minutes on a working boat. It gives you the Bund from the water: the angle none of last night's photographs have.

Airport drop-off Your driver takes you out with margin for your flight. If the flight is late in the day and leaves you a long gap, tell us and we will plan that gap around your check-out time rather than filling it.

Departures

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Hotels

These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.

Shanghai

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort)

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: a luxurious garden hotel adjacent to Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service to both.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

A peaceful riverside retreat for travellers who want Yangshuo's karst scenery to feel close, quiet and unhurried.

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.

Shanghai

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel

The Pullman Shanghai South Harbour, located in Dapuqiao and adjacent to Tianzifang, is just steps away from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.

Guilin

Sheraton Guilin Hotel

Sheraton Guilin Hotel is situated on the banks of the Li River, offering comfortable rooms and convenient access to Guilin's attractions.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

With its superior location, it is a desirable place to stay in Chengdu.

Xi'an

Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel

Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Elite Garden

Located in the heart of Yangshuo town, near West Street and the Li River, the Elite Garden Hotel Yangshuo is a comfortable four-star hotel offering convenient access to the area's main attractions.

Beijing

DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road

International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean

Located in the Aegean Sea Shopping Park at the intersection of Zhongguo Road and Hongjing Road in the Golden Business District of Hongqiao Town, with direct access to Longbai Xincun Station on Metro Line 10.

Guilin

China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin

China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin is situated near Guilin Railway Station, offering comfortable accommodation and convenient amenities for both business and leisure travellers.

Chengdu

The Temple House

Boutique luxury hotel set within a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard near Taikoo Li, boasting one of Chengdu's most striking design statements.

Xi'an

Shangri-La Hotel

Shangri-La Hotel Xi'an: five-star luxury near the Terracotta Warriors, 35 minutes from the airport.

Shanghai

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort)

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: a luxurious garden hotel adjacent to Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service to both.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

A peaceful riverside retreat for travellers who want Yangshuo's karst scenery to feel close, quiet and unhurried.

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.

Shanghai

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel

The Pullman Shanghai South Harbour, located in Dapuqiao and adjacent to Tianzifang, is just steps away from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.

Guilin

Sheraton Guilin Hotel

Sheraton Guilin Hotel is situated on the banks of the Li River, offering comfortable rooms and convenient access to Guilin's attractions.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

With its superior location, it is a desirable place to stay in Chengdu.

Xi'an

Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel

Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Elite Garden

Located in the heart of Yangshuo town, near West Street and the Li River, the Elite Garden Hotel Yangshuo is a comfortable four-star hotel offering convenient access to the area's main attractions.

Beijing

DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road

International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean

Guilin

China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin

China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin is situated near Guilin Railway Station, offering comfortable accommodation and convenient amenities for both business and leisure travellers.

Chengdu

The Temple House

Boutique luxury hotel set within a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard near Taikoo Li, boasting one of Chengdu's most striking design statements.

Xi'an

Shangri-La Hotel

Shangri-La Hotel Xi'an: five-star luxury near the Terracotta Warriors, 35 minutes from the airport.

Shanghai

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort)

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: a luxurious garden hotel adjacent to Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service to both.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

A peaceful riverside retreat for travellers who want Yangshuo's karst scenery to feel close, quiet and unhurried.

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.

Shanghai

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel

The Pullman Shanghai South Harbour, located in Dapuqiao and adjacent to Tianzifang, is just steps away from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.

Guilin

Sheraton Guilin Hotel

Sheraton Guilin Hotel is situated on the banks of the Li River, offering comfortable rooms and convenient access to Guilin's attractions.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

With its superior location, it is a desirable place to stay in Chengdu.

Xi'an

Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel

Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Elite Garden

Located in the heart of Yangshuo town, near West Street and the Li River, the Elite Garden Hotel Yangshuo is a comfortable four-star hotel offering convenient access to the area's main attractions.

Beijing

DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road

International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean

Guilin

China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin

China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel Guilin is situated near Guilin Railway Station, offering comfortable accommodation and convenient amenities for both business and leisure travellers.

Chengdu

The Temple House

Boutique luxury hotel set within a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard near Taikoo Li, boasting one of Chengdu's most striking design statements.

Xi'an

Shangri-La Hotel

Shangri-La Hotel Xi'an: five-star luxury near the Terracotta Warriors, 35 minutes from the airport.

Included / Excluded

What's Included

Private vehicleThe sightseeing plans for the six stations listed use air-conditioned exclusive vehicles; airport transfers are included on Day 1 and Day 14. The responsibilities and cost allocations for both ends of the intercity transport must be clearly specified in the written quote.
Intercity transportThe itinerary includes four intercity transport legs: high-speed rail from Beijing to Xi'an on Day 4, high-speed rail from Xi'an to Chengdu on Day 7, a flight from Chengdu to Guilin on Day 9, and a flight from Yangshuo via Guilin Airport to Shanghai on Day 12. On Day 10, travel from Guilin to Yangshuo aboard a Li River cruise. Specific flight/rail times, cabin classes, and cost inclusions are subject to the written quotation.
BaggageStandard checked baggage allowance under the policy of the airline or rail operator carrying that segment
Hotels13 nights at your chosen level, four-star, five-star or quality boutique, breakfast included: Beijing 3 · Xi'an 3 · Chengdu 2 · Guilin 1 · Yangshuo 2 · Shanghai 2
GuideLicensed English-speaking local guide on every listed touring day in each city, including the evening in the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an and the whole Bund evening in Shanghai
Tickets & experiences, BeijingTian'anmen Square, with screening time allowed for in that day's plan · the Forbidden City, timed reservation booked by us · Jingshan Park, entered from the Forbidden City north gate · Mutianyu Great Wall, cable car or chairlift up and toboggan down, both in the base price · Temple of Heaven · National Museum of China, reservation booked by us
Tickets & experiences, Xi'anThe Terracotta Army · Xi'an city wall cycling, bicycle rental included in the base price, walking a section instead if the weather or your energy calls for it · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda · Bell Tower and Drum Tower with the Muslim Quarter in the evening
Tickets & experiences, ChengduThe panda base in the morning · gaiwan tea sitting at People's Park, refilled as long as you stay · Kuanzhai Alley and Taikoo Li · the community Sichuan opera theater with a backstage visit and face changing seen close up
Guilin & YangshuoThe full Li River cruise, from Guilin down to Yangshuo, about four hours on the water, which serves as both the transfer and the day's main activity · Yulong River bamboo raft · Yulong River cycling, with bicycle rental included in the base price · riverside afternoon tea
Tickets & experiences, ShanghaiYu Garden and Old City · Shanghai Museum, entry to be confirmed by date · Bund and Pudong at dusk · Former French Concession and Wukang Road · Huangpu River public ferry
ReservationsPlease verify the booking procedures and entry time slots for the Forbidden City, National Museum of China, and Shanghai Museum by date; the specific museum areas and entry arrangements will be detailed in the confirmation document.
Meals13 hotel breakfasts, one on each of days two through fourteen. The riverside afternoon tea on day eleven is an experience item, not a meal
OtherBottled water on scheduled touring days · travel accident insurance for the duration of the journey

Not Included

International flightsFlights into Beijing and out of Shanghai
VisasVisa fees and processing charges are borne by the passenger. The requirement to apply for a visa is determined by the passport, mode of entry, and actual dates.
Lunches and dinnersLunch and dinner are not included for the entire duration; dining recommendations can be provided, with meal costs at your own expense.
Sightseeing not listed aboveAny attraction, venue, performance or workshop not named in the included list, including anything added locally
Spending inside venuesFood, drinks, souvenirs and paid services inside any venue. This includes tea or ear cleaning ordered in addition to the included gaiwan tea session, and photography services at the panda base
Extra nightsAny night before day one or after day fourteen
Optional add-onsPriced separately at the time of choosing; nothing optional is included in the base plan
PersonalGratuities for guides and drivers · single or extra-room difference · laundry · minibar · personal shopping
Beyond reasonable controlExtra costs arising from severe weather, transport delays, traffic control and any venue closure or schedule change

Special Notes

Some arrangements depend on the specific departure date and operational conditions; the details are outlined below.

Booking & Written Confirmation — Fares and bookings for this itinerary are subject to pricing enquiry based on your departure date. Hotel accommodation, intercity transfers, Li River cruise, and Yangshuo cycling options must be confirmed on a per-order basis. Specific schedules, service tiers, costs, and cancellation or change policies are subject to the written quote and confirmation issued before payment.
Winter Water Activities — December travel pricing is available on request. Operations of Li River cruise boats and Yulong River bamboo rafts are subject to water levels, weather conditions, and operator safety regulations. Actual schedules and any alternative arrangements must be verified against the departure date and confirmed in writing before payment; travel cannot be guaranteed as per the water routes shown on this page until such confirmation is received.
National Day Holiday — If the itinerary falls between 1 October and 7 October, please verify ticket availability, Li River cruise schedules, and intercity transport connections based on your departure date. Peak-season scheduling and fees are subject to written quotations.
Mondays and the Forbidden City — The Forbidden Museum is typically closed on Mondays. If Day 2 falls on a closure day, adjust the visiting dates for the Forbidden City and the Great Wall according to actual opening hours, and note the confirmed schedule in the itinerary.
Guilin Flights & Cruise Ships — Plan to fly to Guilin on Day 9 and take a boat to Yangshuo on Day 10; check whether the two legs can be connected based on the selected flight and boat schedules.
Guilin by night — No fixed activities are scheduled for the evening on Day 9. If you wish to add a night tour in the city, please confirm your arrival time, transport connections, and costs in advance.
Transport and Cycling Specifications — Frequencies and cabin classes for the four intercity transport segments, Li River cruise schedules and vessel types, as well as costs for alternative cycling options in Yangshuo, must all be explicitly itemised in the written quotation; any elements not explicitly listed shall not be assumed to be included.
Visa & Entry — Entry requirements depend on passport nationality, mode of entry, and the actual dates of stay in China. The scope of visa-free entry and permissible stay duration are subject to official regulations in effect at the time of travel, and each order must be individually verified before payment.
US passports — Entry eligibility for US passport holders must be verified individually against your actual itinerary and applicable regulations in effect at the time of travel; do not assume visa-free transit will cover a 14-day itinerary. If a visa is required, allow sufficient time for processing.
Visa-free transit entry — Passengers who have entered China under the transit visa-exemption scheme must verify that their authorised stay period covers the actual dates of this itinerary; if the period is insufficient, the originally planned 14-day schedule cannot be honoured.
Confirmation and changes — Each quote must clearly state the confirmation deadline and modification or cancellation policies in writing. Changes may affect two domestic flights, two high-speed rail journeys, and a Li River cruise; specific rules are subject to the actual items booked.

Is Fourteen Days Your Length?

Fewer than fourteen days?

If you only have nine days, consider focusing on Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu. Save the Guilin and Yangshuo segments for another trip; actual days, transport and costs need to be re-arranged based on your travel dates.

Good to Know

Group: For group tours, pricing is available for single travellers. Party size, vehicle type, and room category are verified against the booking.
Pace: 14 days, 6 stops: 3 nights in Beijing, 3 in Xi'an, 2 in Chengdu, 1 in Guilin, 2 in Yangshuo, and 2 in Shanghai. The itinerary plans 4 intercity transfers and 1 Lijiang River cruise, which also doubles as a transfer leg. Day 12 is dedicated to the journey from Yangshuo to Shanghai, with no other sightseeing scheduled.
Effort: Moderate. The Great Wall climb is by cable car or chairlift with a toboggan ride back down; the Xi'an wall is cycled, or walked in part instead; the Yangshuo ride has an electric bicycle and a vehicle as easier options.
Ports: Arrive in Beijing, depart from Shanghai. Airport pickup on day one and drop-off on day fourteen.
Visas: Visa requirements depend on your passport nationality, mode of entry, and actual dates in China; exemption eligibility and permitted duration are governed by the official regulations in force at the time of travel, so please verify each booking individually before payment.
Language: Licensed English-speaking local guides throughout, city by city. Museum labels are translated for you as you walk
Meals: 13 hotel breakfasts. No lunch or dinner is included on any day; your guide recommends and books, on your own account
Payment: Prices are available upon request based on your departure date. Deposit schedules, final payment deadlines, cancellation and amendment terms, and hotel substitution standards are subject to the written confirmation received before payment.
Season: For National Day and winter group departures, transportation, ticket access, and the operation of the two water-based activities must be verified for specific dates; the actual arrangements should be clearly stated in the quote.

Your Private Concierge Service

Jenny

China Private Travel Route Consultant

“A concierge desk offering bilingual planning services for bespoke China journeys”

Our China team carefully tailors the pace of the itinerary, hotel arrangements, and local reception services to suit the style of each route.

20+

Years

300+

Trips Designed

24/7

On-Trip Care

Step 01

Tell us what excites you

Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.

24h

First concept delivered

Step 02

We design it around you

Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.

100%

Private, never off-the-shelf

Step 03

Lock it in with 30%

When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.

30%

Deposit to confirm

Step 04

Travel. We handle the rest.

Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.

24/7

Support throughout your journey

Cancellation terms agreed in writing

English-speaking concierge

Secure payment via Stripe

Guest Reviews

4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews

Emily Carter

🇺🇸 Seattle, USA

Perfect for couples

“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”

May 2026

Claire Brooks

🇬🇧 London, UK

Great for families

“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”

Apr 2026

Laura Bennett

🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada

Alisa made the whole experience easy

“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”

Mar 2026

Mark Henderson

🇺🇸 Denver, USA

Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly

“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”

Feb 2026

Rebecca Miller

🇺🇸 Boston, USA

Really listened to what we wanted

“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”

Jan 2026

China Ready

We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.

Do this before you fly

VPN & Internet Access

What's blocked

Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.

Download before you leave

It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.

Hotel Wi-Fi tip

Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.

Good news

WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.

Your concierge sets this up on Day 1

Paying in China

China is cashless

Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.

International cards now work

Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.

Carry some cash

We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.

Booking this trip

Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.

We handle the paperwork

Visa & Entry

Do you need a visa?

Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.

240-hour visa-free transit

Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.

Processing time

Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.

What we provide

Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.

Our responsibility, always

Safety & Practical Tips

Is China safe?

China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.

Emergency numbers

Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.

Health & medications

Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.

Language

English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.

Before You Book

Everything worth knowing before you book.

Can I book this trip today?

Not yet, and we would rather tell you than take your money. The remaining items have to be settled: this route's internal review has to be re-run and cleared, at least one hotel has to be under contract at each of the six stops, three specifications have to be settled in writing (class of travel, the Li River boat class, the Yangshuo riding difference), and until then we take no orders and no deposits. What you can do now is send us your dates: we will write to you the day it opens, and if your dates turn out not to work we will say so instead of selling.

Four hours on a boat. Is that too long?

It is the point of the day, not the cost of it. The road from Guilin to Yangshuo takes ninety minutes and we chose the four-hour sailing instead, so nothing else is scheduled at either end. You are on deck the whole way, with limestone peaks, bamboo, water buffalo and fishing rafts going past, and one reach of the river is the picture on the back of China's 20-yuan banknote. Most guests run out of photographs in the second hour and spend the rest of it just looking, which is the part they describe at home.

We would like to travel in December. Is that possible?

Not on this route as it stands. The Li River sailing and the Yulong raft both meet low water and low temperatures in December, and the winter replacement for those two days is not decided, so we hold December dates closed rather than sell a plan we would have to change on you. October and November are open, subject to the national holiday week, and if December is your only window we will either tell you when the winter arrangement is settled or point you at a route whose December version is already fixed.

Six places in fourteen days. Is that a lot of moving?

It is four ticketed transfers plus one that is a boat ride. Beijing and Xi'an get three nights each and Yangshuo two, so the bags stay shut for most of the trip; the two short stops are Guilin, which is one night before the morning sailing, and Chengdu, which is two. Day twelve is given entirely to getting from Yangshuo to Shanghai with nothing else on it. If you want fewer moves, the Guilin and Yangshuo stretch is the part that lifts out cleanly and the first nine days stand on their own.

Do we need a visa?

Most guests on this route do not. UK and most European passports enter visa-free for stays days, and so do Canadian, Australian and New Zealand ones. Before you pay we check your 14 days plus any other days in China against that window. The current policy runs through December 31, 2026, so departures on or before December 17, 2026 finish inside it. US passports are different: the US is not on that list, and 14 days is longer than the 10-day transit policy allows, so every US guest on this route holds a Chinese tourist or business visa and needs to allow processing time. We confirm visa status before any payment.

Forbidden City

Jingshan Park

Mutianyu Great Wall

Muyudeng Great Wall滑行道

Tiananmen Square

Temple of Heaven

National Museum of China

Terracotta Army

Xian City Wall Cycling Tour

Bell and Drum Towers

Hui Community Evening Stroll

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Chengdu Panda Base

People's Park Tea

Kuanzhai Alley & Taikoo Li

Community Theatre

Li River Cruise

Bamboo Rafting on the Yulong River

Yulong River Cycling

Riverside afternoon tea

Yu Garden and the Old Town

Shanghai Museum

The Bund

Former French Concession & Wukang Road

The Bund & Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Mutianyu Great Wall

04. Muyudeng Great Wall滑行道

05. Tiananmen Square

06. Temple of Heaven

07. National Museum of China

08. Terracotta Army

09. Xian City Wall Cycling Tour

10. Bell and Drum Towers

11. Hui Community Evening Stroll

12. Big Wild Goose Pagoda

13. Chengdu Panda Base

14. People's Park Tea

15. Kuanzhai Alley & Taikoo Li

16. Community Theatre

17. Li River Cruise

18. Bamboo Rafting on the Yulong River

19. Yulong River Cycling

20. Riverside afternoon tea

21. Yu Garden and the Old Town

22. Shanghai Museum

23. The Bund

24. Former French Concession & Wukang Road

25. The Bund & Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Mutianyu Great Wall

04. Muyudeng Great Wall滑行道

05. Tiananmen Square

06. Temple of Heaven

07. National Museum of China

08. Terracotta Army

09. Xian City Wall Cycling Tour

10. Bell and Drum Towers

11. Hui Community Evening Stroll

12. Big Wild Goose Pagoda

13. Chengdu Panda Base

14. People's Park Tea

15. Kuanzhai Alley & Taikoo Li

16. Community Theatre

17. Li River Cruise

18. Bamboo Rafting on the Yulong River

19. Yulong River Cycling

20. Riverside afternoon tea

21. Yu Garden and the Old Town

22. Shanghai Museum

23. The Bund

24. Former French Concession & Wukang Road

25. The Bund & Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Mutianyu Great Wall

04. Muyudeng Great Wall滑行道

05. Tiananmen Square

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7

Chengdu · Day 8 - Day 9

Guilin · Day 10

Yangshuo · Day 11 - Day 12

Shanghai · Day 13 - Day 14