01
Overview
It’s rare for three generations to walk at the same pace. This itinerary allows each part of the journey its own time: Beijing’s Forbidden City and the Great Wall, Chengdu’s pandas and teahouses, the water-and-mountain scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo, and the riverside elegance of Shanghai. At Mutianyu, you can take the cable car up the mountain, though the walk along the city wall still awaits. In Yangshuo, a three-night stay lets the family plan activities to suit their energy levels. Three domestic flights connect the cities; exact flight times and transfers will be confirmed according to your travel dates.
— LyrikTrip Travel Designer
Please let us know your travel dates, the number of travellers, and the ages of any elderly guests and children. We will check availability for a connecting room or family room on your actual dates and include the Yangshuo activities in your written itinerary.
Why you'll love this trip
- The classics, gently. Pandas, the Forbidden City, karst hills and the Bund, with English-speaking guides city by city.
- 14 days from a Great Wall toboggan to a teahouse chair. Meet China at your family's pace.
- Take the cable car up to the Mutianyu Great Wall to save your energy for walking along the ramparts; if the slide is open on the day, you may choose to descend by slide.
- Take home a pair of cloth shoes hand-sewn on the very bench where you sat: in fourteen days, it is the only thing you will bring back from China with your own hands.
- Standing at the Panda Base in the early morning, when the pandas are most active, this day is the very heart of the trip for the accompanying children.
- Lose an entire afternoon at a teahouse in People’s Park, sipping on gaiwan tea and refills at will — the gentle implication being that nobody at home is in a rush to be anywhere.
- Stay three nights among Yangshuo’s karst hills with your luggage unpacked just once—no transfers, no early starts, no mid-trip layovers.
- As night falls, end your journey on the Bund, with your guide by your side: one side showcases the historic Bund, while the other reveals Pudong's skyscrapers, with one city gazing across the water at another.
- Three domestic flights connect Chengdu, Guilin, and Shanghai; the family stays three consecutive nights in Yangshuo, allowing everyone to set their own pace.
Things to do
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Landmark
Heritage
Great Wall
Family
Meal
Craft
City
Nature
City
Culture
Food
Heritage
CityLandmarkHeritageGreat WallFamilyMealCraftCityNatureCityCultureFoodHeritageCityLandmarkHeritageGreat WallFamilyMealCraftCityNatureCityCultureFoodHeritageCityItinerary
Arrivals
Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4
· Arrive in Beijing, rest first
On arrival, transfer by car to the hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to relax with family.
· One axis through the palace
The square first, then the gate, then five centuries in one straight line. This is the day the children work out how old this place is.
· Take the cable car to the Great Wall, and return via the toboggan slide
Take the cable car up to Mutianyu Great Wall and walk along the wall; the method for descending is subject to the scenic area's opening status on the day.
· A bench and a lane
Nothing today needs early legs. The one thing you carry out of China gets made this morning.
Flight
Chengdu · Day 5 - Day 7
· Beijing to Chengdu
Fly from Beijing to Chengdu; on arrival, check in to your hotel. No sightseeing is scheduled for this day.
· See pandas in the morning, enjoy tea in the afternoon
In the morning, visit the Chengdu Panda Base, then head to People’s Park in the afternoon to sit and enjoy gaiwan tea.
· Backstage and a wok
A neighbourhood theatre in the afternoon, a market and a kitchen around it. Today the family does things instead of just looking at them.
Flight
Guilin · Day 8
· Chengdu to Guilin
Fly from Chengdu to Guilin, where we’ll spend the night before continuing on to Yangshuo the next day.
Private Car
Yangshuo · Day 9 - Day 11
· From Guilin to Yangshuo
Spend the morning in Guilin, then transfer to Yangshan in the afternoon to begin a three-night stay.
· Slow Down for a Day in Yangshuo
Stay at the same hotel throughout to avoid the hassle of moving luggage.
· Free time in Yangshuo
Stay one more night in Yangshuo, allowing family members to explore at their own pace.
Flight
Shanghai · Day 12 - Day 14
· Yangshuo to Shanghai
The last flight day, and the last time the bags move before home.
· The garden, the ferry, the water
A classical garden in the morning, a commuter boat in the afternoon, the waterfront after dark. The last full day answers the first one.
· Airport transfer in Shanghai, trip concludes
Breakfast, then the airport. The plan ends the way it started, with a driver and no hurry.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring at all five stops, including the full-day Great Wall round trip and the 90-minute road transfer from Guilin into Yangshuo; airport pickup on day one and drop-off on day fourteen; hotel and airport transfers for all three internal flights
- Internal flightsThree domestic flights: Beijing to Chengdu, Chengdu to Guilin, and Guilin to Shanghai. Flight numbers, times, and cabin class are subject to the written itinerary.
- Hotels13 nights at your chosen level, four-star, five-star or quality boutique, breakfast included: Beijing 4 · Chengdu 3 · Guilin 1 · Yangshuo 3 · Shanghai 2
- GuideLicensed English-speaking local guide on every touring day at each stop, including the whole Bund evening in Shanghai
- Tickets & experiences, BeijingTiananmen Square · Palace Museum reserved tour · Mutianyu Great Wall and cable car ride · Chinese cloth shoe workshop · Hutong walk in Shichahai. Availability of the slides and specific inclusions are subject to day-of opening status and the written booking.
- Tickets & experiences, ChengduThe panda base in the morning · the gaiwan teahouse in People's Park · the community Sichuan opera theatre with a backstage look and face-changing up close · the market visit and Sichuan home-cooking class
- Guilin & YangshuoOne night's accommodation in Guilin and three nights in Yangshuo; transfers in both locations and the listed guide services will be carried out as per the written order, while specific sightseeing activities and admission tickets are subject to the confirmed itinerary.
- Tickets & experiences, ShanghaiYu Garden and the old city · the Huangpu River ferry crossing · the Bund and the Pudong night view, guide accompanied
- BreakfastIncludes hotel breakfast for 13 days, from Day 2 to Day 14. A farmhouse lunch at the foot of the Great Wall may be included, subject to written order confirmation.
- InsuranceTravel accident insurance
Not Included
- International flightsFlights into Beijing and out of Shanghai
- VisasIf a Chinese visa is required based on your passport and itinerary, visa fees and processing costs are your own responsibility.
- MealsIn addition to the 13 hotel breakfasts specified, the inclusion of other lunches and dinners is subject to the written booking details; any meals not listed are at the guest's own expense.
- Optional add-onsNone on this route at present. Any future optional item is priced separately when you choose it and is never added by default
- PersonalGratuities, single or extra-room difference, personal spending
Special Notes
A few things on this route follow the calendar, the season or a supplier's confirmation. Here they are, told straight.
- Family Room Type — Please specify any request for connecting or family rooms at the time of booking; room types in Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai for each night must be confirmed individually based on travel dates.
- Guilin & Yangshuo — On Day 9, spend the morning in Guilin and the afternoon travelling to Yangshuo; on Days 10 and 11, stay consecutively in Yangshuo. Activities can be arranged to suit the family's energy and interests, with specific named excursions, tickets, and cost ranges subject to the written itinerary.
- December departures — the river activities around Yangshuo run into low water and low temperatures in December. For a December departure, that stretch is confirmed against your exact dates and written into your quote before you pay.
- Departure dates — Please verify ticket availability and accommodation rates for specific dates during the National Day holiday. If Day 2 falls on a closed day at the Forbidden City, you may adjust the itinerary order to swap it with another day in Beijing.
- Security screening at the square — everyone is screened to enter Tian'anmen Square. The queue takes half an hour to an hour and it is budgeted separately, on top of your time on the square, so the palace reservation still lands on time.
- Internal flights — Three domestic flights connect Beijing to Chengdu, Chengdu to Guilin, and Guilin to Shanghai. Any rescheduling may affect cabin availability and hotel arrangements; the specific flight numbers and associated costs are subject to the written booking confirmation.
- Visa window — Visa-exemption status must be verified for each individual based on the policy in effect at the time of travel, passport nationality, port of entry, and the full itinerary; do not rely solely on the 14-day duration of the trip.
- US passports — US passport holders should verify entry requirements against their actual itinerary and the policies in effect at the time of departure; if a visa is required, please allow sufficient time for the application.
- Confirmation and changes — The deadline for order confirmation, along with conditions for changes and refunds, shall be subject to the written quotation.
Is Fourteen Days Your Length?
Fewer than fourteen days?
Fewer than fourteen days?
The five stops come apart cleanly: Beijing and Chengdu stand on their own, and the karst stretch can go or shorten. Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we cut days rather than cut the pace.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size.
- Pace
- 14 days, 5 stops: 4 nights in Beijing, 3 in Chengdu, 1 in Guilin, 3 in Yangshuo, and 2 in Shanghai. With three consecutive nights in Yangshuo, specific activities can be tailored to your family's pace.
- Effort
- The Great Wall can be accessed via cable car, but walking is required on the wall itself; slide options depend on daily availability, and activity levels in Guilin and Yangshuo can be tailored to the group’s fitness.
- Ports
- Arrive in Beijing, depart from Shanghai; airport pickup on day one and drop-off on day fourteen
- Visas
- Verify visa requirements based on each passenger's passport, full itinerary, and the policies in force at the time of travel.
- Language
- Licensed English-speaking local guides throughout, city by city
- Payment
- Minimum 1 guest per booking; terms for payment, changes, and refunds are governed by the written order.
- Season
- Specific departure dates, holiday allocations and Yangshuo seasonal events are subject to written itinerary confirmation.
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
E
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
C
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
L
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
M
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
R
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.
That is the question this route was built around. The whole plan is paced to the slowest walker in your party: every climb is done by cable car, the Great Wall descent is a seated sled, and two of the fourteen days have nothing scheduled. Each of the three flights takes a whole day, so nobody is rushed through an airport after a full morning out. Where a site is long, the route is cut to one line with places to sit.
Not yet, and we won't pretend otherwise. We haven't secured a bookable connecting or family room type for every night of this route, including the riverside family hotel in Yangshuo, so bookings are not open: no orders, no deposits. What you can do now is tell us your dates, and we'll write to you the day the room types are confirmed and the route opens.
Four nights sit there: one in Guilin and three in Yangshuo. The vehicle, guide and hotels are included the same as everywhere else. The day plans themselves are in final product review with our local partners, and in December the river activities there run into low water and cold, so we will not sell you a plan we cannot yet name. Before you book, those three days are named in your written itinerary and confirmed against your exact dates. What holds either way: one hotel for three nights, no packing in the middle of the trip, and the slowest stretch of the fourteen days.
It is three days, and we gave each of them the whole day rather than squeezing sights around it. Your own vehicle runs hotel to airport and back at both ends, and your guide hands you over at the door. The flight number, time and cabin class for your order are written into your quote. The Beijing to Chengdu leg alone runs close to six and a half hours door to door, which is why nothing else is on that day.
Most guests on this route do not. Most European passports enter visa-free for stays of up to 14 days; so do UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand ones. We check your 14 days plus any extra days in China against that window before you pay. The current policy runs through December 31, 2026, so arrivals on or before December 18, 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 US guests hold a Chinese tourist or business visa, applied for in person the first time. We confirm visa status before any payment, and if the dates do not fit, we say so instead of selling.
