Wall to Waterworks: 18-Day China Holiday

Overview

China spent two millennia building walls, and just as long constructing the roads and hydraulic works to cross them. Beijing has two: one encircling the imperial city, one stretching along the mountain ridges. In Xi'an, you can cycle along the ancient city wall before heading south-west by high-speed rail. Dujiangyan, just outside Chengdu, has been dividing the Min River's waters since the third century BC and is still in operation today. Then follow the Yangtze eastward, ending the journey on the banks of Shanghai's Huangpu River. From wall to water, each station picks up where the last one left off.

— LyrikTrip Travel Designer

Let us know your travel dates and the number of companions. We will first verify Yangtze River cruise itineraries, cabin availability, and transfers to and from Chongqing and Yichang, before providing an itemised written quotation that clearly separates included services from any additional charges. Should you have fewer than eighteen days, the itinerary can also be adjusted on a section-by-section basis.

Why you'll love this trip

The itinerary features six highlights spanning the Terracotta Warriors, pandas, Dujiangyan, and The Bund; the city tour days in four cities include English-speaking guides.
From the Great Wall to 3rd-century BC hydraulic diversion works, this 18-day journey reveals how China has connected with itself.

Walk straight through the palace halls, then climb the small hill behind to look back: the lost scale of the walled court is captured in a single glance.
Take the cable car up to the Mutianyu Great Wall, then descend via slide: enjoy a full view of the watchtowers while saving your knees.
Standing before the Terracotta Warriors, gaze long and deeply until you stop counting them and begin to read their faces. No one leaves that hall with the same understanding of what power truly looks like on a single person.
Ride along the top of Xi'an's Ancient City Wall, circling the old town once: having gazed at it from outside in Beijing on two occasions, you can finally stand atop it.
Dedicate the entire day to Chengdu: watch pandas in the morning, enjoy tea house time in the afternoon, and change no cities—this is the only day of your journey that requires zero planning from you.
Standing at the head of the Fish Mouth weir in Dujiangyan, you can trace a river split in two in the 3rd century BC—a division it still maintains this very morning. That is the sentence you’ll use when you get home and someone asks you what China is like.
After arriving in Shanghai, stroll along the Bund with your guide: on one side, historic trading houses and bank buildings from the early 20th century; on the other, the towers of Pudong. The actual evening tour will be scheduled according to your flight connection.

Things to do

Cycling on the Xi'an Ancient City Wall, Xi'an

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Mount Qingcheng Taoist Temple & Dialogue, Chengdu

Former French Concession & Wukang Road, Shanghai

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Family

Landmark

Culture

Museum

City

Heritage

Cycling

Food

Pagoda

Nature

Learn more

City

Learn more

Heritage

City

Culture

Riverfront

Heritage

Museum

City

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Family

Landmark

Culture

Museum

City

Heritage

Cycling

Food

Pagoda

Nature

Learn more

City

Learn more

Heritage

City

Culture

Riverfront

Heritage

Museum

City

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Family

Landmark

Culture

Museum

City

Heritage

Cycling

Food

Pagoda

Nature

Learn more

City

Learn more

Heritage

City

Culture

Riverfront

Heritage

Museum

City

Itinerary

Arrivals

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Day 1 · Land, and stop

The first day asks nothing of anyone. Beijing is outside the window and it keeps until tomorrow.

Arrival Head to your Beijing hotel for rest upon your arrival time by flight. Accommodation for that night is included in the base rate. The cost and arrangement of the meet-and-greet service will be detailed in your written quotation.

Evening No sightseeing is scheduled tonight. You may dine near the hotel; please let us know in advance if you would like restaurant recommendations or booking assistance. Meals are at your own expense.

Day 2 · One axis, then the view back

A palace built as one wall within another, walked in a single line. Today you experience both its interior and its form.

The Forbidden City Your timed slot is booked ahead by us, so you walk in on schedule. Inside, you keep to one axis: the ceremonial halls where the court conducted its business, the living quarters behind them, the imperial garden at the end, then out through the north gate. Stand in the middle of the main courtyard and look back through the gates you came in by. They line up, one inside another, all the way out to the street.

Jingshan Park The north gate puts you at the foot of an artificial hill. A short climb of steps to the pavilion on top, and the thing you spent the morning inside is suddenly a single object below you: rows of yellow roofs, and the axis running straight out of the picture at both ends.

Pace The Forbidden City is vast, so this day follows only the central axis, with rest stops arranged along the way. After climbing Jingshan for a look back, no further major heritage sites are scheduled.

Day 3 · The wall, without the climb

A cable car takes you up and a sled brings you down. What the wall was actually built to stop is the part worth staying for.

Drive out to Mutianyu The run north out of the city takes a good part of the morning, which is why nothing else is on today. The vehicle stays with you all day.

Cable car 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 to you: the beacon towers, the pass in the valley below, why the towers stand where they stand. Look along the ridge with the towers stepping down it one after another. That is the fifteen seconds worth filming.

What it was for The wall was never meant to stop people. It was meant to stop horses, and to make anyone who got over it come back the same way with whatever they had taken. Your guide points at the gaps in the ridge where that logic is visible from where you are standing.

Slide down the mountain on the chute Descend the metal track through the woods via the slide car, so there's no need to walk down the stone steps.

Day 4 · The other way of drawing a line

Heaven is round, Earth is square. The lines we are exploring today relate to ritual and etiquette, not a military fortification like the Great Wall.

Tiananmen Square You cross the ceremonial centre of modern China on foot. Security screening with passports comes first and takes a slot of its own, so it sits separately in the day's budget; your guide walks you to the nearest screening entrance rather than the long way around.

Temple of Heaven Three groups of buildings on one line, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the round altar. Stand at the centre of the round altar and speak normally: the stone tiers send your own voice back at you. The plan of the whole park is the same argument written large, round against square.

National Museum of China Bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist sculpture and calligraphy, on the east side of the square, with your reservation booked ahead by us. Your guide takes one line through it rather than the whole building, so the day ends with objects you remember instead of a corridor count.

High-speed Rail

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7

Day 5 · Morning in the lanes, afternoon at 300 kilometres an hour

Beijing's last gift is people rather than monuments. Then the country's newest infrastructure carries you to its oldest capital.

Old Beijing hutongs and the Shichahai lakeside Courtyard lanes and lakeside streets going about their ordinary morning, grey brick and doorstep stones on either side, bicycles gliding past with breakfast on the handlebars. The lakes lie flat between the streets, and the neighbourhood is already out and about.

High-speed rail to Xi'an In the afternoon, travel by high-speed train to Xi'an, with the North China Plain gliding past the window. Train numbers and seat classes are confirmed according to the travel date and included in the written quote.

Into Xi'an The train arrives into a city still inside its own wall, and the wall is lit by the time you are on the road to the hotel.

Day 6 · Eight thousand, for one man

An estimated eight thousand figures, buried so that one emperor would not have to arrive anywhere alone. Today is about what one person's power looked like when it was total.

The Terracotta Warriors You walk the pits in the order they were opened, and your guide teaches you to read rank before you look at the crowd: armour plates, the tie of the hair, the stance of the hands that once held a weapon. Generals, crossbowmen, foot soldiers. In the more recently excavated areas, traces of the original paint are still there on the surface.

The one to stand in front of Find a figure in the second row with its face intact and stay there a minute. No two were finished the same way, and once you have seen that, the pit stops being a crowd.

Crowds This site runs at its yearly peak in the first week of October, so your departure date is set to keep this day out of that week rather than to work around it on the day.

Day 7 · The wall you get to stand on top of

Beijing's walls kept you outside. This one you ride around, at your own pace, for as long as you like.

Xi'an City Wall by bike You take a bicycle at the gate and ride the loop on top of the wall, wide enough here for two bikes side by side. Inside the loop: rooftops, courtyards, the drum tower. Outside: the modern city carrying on. Corner towers give you somewhere to stop and put a foot down. Admission and the bike are both in your base price. Somewhere on the far side you'll notice you have stopped talking and are just riding.

Three walls, one thought This is the third wall in seven days. The palace wall shut people out of a household, the Great Wall shut horses out of a country, and this one holds a city that is still living inside it. Your guide leaves you to notice the difference rather than announcing it.

Bell and Drum Tower area with the Muslim Quarter In the evening you walk the two towers that used to keep the city's time, then the lanes behind them where Xi'an's Hui community trades and cooks: bread stamped and baked against the wall of the oven, whole spices in open sacks, meat turned over coals. Eating here is on your own account and your guide tells you which queue is the one worth joining.

High-speed Rail

Chengdu · Day 8 - Day 11

Day 8 · The road out, then over the mountains

One pagoda built to hold what came back along the road. Then a train through the mountains, and the climate changes on you.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda A brick pagoda raised to house the sutras a monk carried back overland from India, standing in its temple grounds. Everything else you have seen so far was built to keep something out. This was built to keep something that came in.

High-speed rail to Chengdu The afternoon train crosses the Qinling mountains, the range that divides China's north from its south, through a run of long tunnels. You go in with dry northern air and come out into the Sichuan basin: green, hazy, wet. The seat class on your order is stated in writing in your quote.

Into Chengdu The pace of the trip changes here on purpose, and the Chengdu nights all run in one hotel with no packing in between.

Day 9 · A morning that moves, an afternoon that does not

The pandas in the hours they are actually awake, then a chair you do not have to get up from. Today is the day the trip stops asking anything of you.

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 benches. Get to an enclosure fence early and wait rather than walking the whole park: the animal comes over on its own schedule.

Teahouse sitting in People's Park Bamboo chairs under the trees, a gaiwan each, the lidded cup China brews in, and someone with a long-spouted kettle who tops you up as long as you stay. Cards at the next table, an ear cleaner two tables over working with a tuning fork. The whole afternoon is yours and there is nowhere to be after it. An hour in, you'll notice you have not looked at your phone all afternoon.

Day 10 · A river split in two, and still split

The oldest working thing you will stand on in China, and the centre of this whole route. You go out and come back the same day.

Dujiangyan irrigation system An hour out of Chengdu, an engineer facing a river that flooded the plain every year decided not to dam it. Instead the channel was shaped so the Min River splits itself: an inner stream that waters the Chengdu plain, an outer stream that carries the flood away. That was the 3rd century BC. You walk out over the divide and watch the two flows separate under your feet, and the plain behind you is still being watered by the inner one this morning. Standing on the divide you'll find you have gone quiet, because it takes a minute to accept how old this is.

A small Taoist temple on Mount Qingcheng An hour further on, one of the principal Taoist mountains in China: steps under old trees, mist that does not lift. You go to a small working temple away from the main visitor route, sit with a resident priest, and take a taiji session on the temple ground. The forms are slow on purpose, which after ten days of walking is the point.

Back to Chengdu Both legs of today are included in your base price and you sleep in the same Chengdu room tonight, so nothing needs to be packed.

Day 11 · The city the water paid for

Two thousand years of reliable harvests bought Chengdu its temperament. Today you spend it.

Kuanzhai Alley with Taikoo Li A historic quarter of three parallel lanes, restored and frankly commercial, a few minutes from a contemporary shopping district built around a Song dynasty temple. We put them together on purpose and we do not pretend either one is a quiet corner: this is where a city with money spends its weekend, and that is worth seeing at close range.

Community Sichuan opera A neighbourhood theatre rather than a hotel ballroom. You go backstage while the performers are still painting, then watch face changing from the second row: the mask becomes another mask in the time it takes him to swing his head, and knowing how close you are does not help you catch it.

Final night in Chengdu Overnight in Chengdu tonight; tomorrow, take the high-speed rail to Chongqing, then begin the Yangtze River cruise from the Mountain City.

High-speed Rail

Chongqing · Day 12 - Day 14

Day 12 · Chengdu to Chongqing

Take the high-speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing and spend the night in this mountain city to ensure ample time for boarding the ship the following day.

High-speed rail from Chengdu to Chongqing This leg is included in your base price, along with the seat class stated in writing in your quote. It is the fourth and final rail movement on this route.

Overnight in Chongqing Upon arrival, please rest at your hotel. Hotel bookings, station transfers, and the next morning's transfer to the pier will be confirmed item by item based on your cruise schedule and written quote.

Day 13 · Boarding at Chongqing

Board at Chongqing wharf, entrusting the three nights eastbound to the Yangtze River.

Set Sail Down the River Proceed to the wharf for embarkation on your confirmed sailing; you will travel downstream for three nights to Yichang. Boarding time and wharf transfer arrangements are finalised per sailing.

Onboard Arrangements Vessel name, cabin type, onboard dining, and shore excursions vary by sailing; specific inclusions and extra charges are subject to the written quotation.

Day 14 · Downstream through the gorges

The cruise travels through the Three Gorges; which section is traversed during the day depends on the specific voyage.

The gorges The ship flows downstream, passing through the Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge in sequence. Viewed from the deck, which sections can be traversed during daylight hours depends on the specific schedule of your confirmed voyage.

Low water During the low-water season in autumn and winter, the cruise operator may adjust sailings or the specific river sections traversed. Once your date is selected, we will verify the season’s sailing schedule and onshore excursion arrangements.

Yangtze River Cruise

Yichang · Day 15

Day 15 · From Dujiangyan to the Three Gorges Dam

The same water system, separated by over two millennia, facing the flow in two different ways. Dam visit schedules are confirmed upon embarkation.

Dam Tour Arrangements This itinerary places the dam visit during this segment; the actual tour may take place on day 15 or on the disembarkation day. We will confirm the dates, transportation, and ticket inclusions according to the chosen cruise sailing.

Two hydraulic engineering projects On day 10, Dujiangyan presents the principle of dividing the flow without cutting it off; arriving at the reach of the river that hosts the Three Gorges Dam, the same water system reveals a different kind of hydraulic engineering. As you travel east along the Yangtze, the contrast between the two becomes tangible.

Flight

Shanghai · Day 16 - Day 18

Day 16 · Off the river, into the city

Fly from Yichang to Shanghai, then visit the banks of the Huangpu River upon arrival. The actual sequence will be adjusted based on the cruise ship's port arrival and flight time.

Disembarking and the flight to Shanghai After disembarking in Yichang, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Shanghai. Shuttle connections from the pier, flight times, and related costs will be confirmed in writing based on the ship’s arrival time.

The Bund and the Pudong skyline Upon arrival in Shanghai, your guide will accompany you on a walk along the Bund, or the schedule can be adjusted to an evening slot the following day depending on flight times. One bank showcases the century-old trading houses and bank buildings, while the other reveals the modern towers of Pudong, with the two sides gazing across the Huangpu River at each other.

Why the guide stays The Bund tends to be quite crowded; your guide will accompany you through this section and introduce the architecture on both banks of the river. Should you need to adjust your tour date, this will be confirmed together with your flight details within the booking.

Day 17 · A garden, then the objects

A classical garden in the morning and, in the afternoon, the things you have spent seventeen days standing next to.

Yu Garden and the old city Pavilions, rockery, ponds and a path that never runs straight, set in the oldest quarter of the city. Follow the path without choosing turns and let it lead you back; the whole design is built to do just that. Flat all the way.

Shanghai Museum Bronzes, ceramics, painting and calligraphy, and the applied arts, with your timed slot booked ahead by us. Seventeen days in, this is a different museum from the one it would have been on day one: you have already stood where most of these objects came out of the ground.

Evening Nothing is scheduled. The city is worth an hour on foot near the hotel and your guide tells you which direction is worth it.

Day 18 · Waters Flow to the Sea

Plane trees in the morning, a working ferry at midday, then the airport. The last thing you do in China is cross the river on a boat nobody built for you.

Former French Concession and Wukang Road Plane-tree streets, historic houses and small independent shops, low and loose after the towers across the water. It is the softest walking on the route and it is put last on purpose.

Huangpu River commuter ferry You cross on the boat people take to get to work, standing at the rail with commuters and their scooters, not on a sightseeing deck. It is the crossing this city actually uses, and it runs all day. Halfway across you'll realise you have followed this water from a stone divide in Sichuan to the deck you're standing on.

Departure Proceed to the airport according to your return flight time. Inclusion of transfers, vehicle details, and pickup times will be specified in the written quotation.

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.

Beijing

Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)

Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

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

Chengdu

Atour Hotel Chengdu Taikoo Li Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street

A simple Chengdu stay near Chunxi Road, ideal for travellers who want easy walks, food stops and short city transfers.

Chongqing

Chongqing Marriott Hotel

A reliable Chongqing stay for travellers who want comfort after exploring the city’s hills, rivers, bridges, and night views.

Chongqing

Wuyu Sky Garden Hotel

A curated hotel option in Chongqing, used as the shared route hotel resource.

Shanghai

Bellagio by MGM Shanghai on the Bund

The MGM Bellagio Shanghai Bund is an international luxury brand on the Bund’s waterfront, blending cinematic lobbies and river-view rooms with the southern stretch of the historic architecture.

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.

Xi'an

Shangri-La Hotel

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

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.

Chongqing

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

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

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.

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.

Yichang

The Westin Yichang

A curated hotel option in Yichang, used as the shared route hotel resource.

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 Lujiazui Pudong Avenue

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui: a stylish Pudong choice, just minutes from the Bund, Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai Tower.

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.

Beijing

Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)

Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

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

Chengdu

Atour Hotel Chengdu Taikoo Li Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street

A simple Chengdu stay near Chunxi Road, ideal for travellers who want easy walks, food stops and short city transfers.

Chongqing

Chongqing Marriott Hotel

A reliable Chongqing stay for travellers who want comfort after exploring the city’s hills, rivers, bridges, and night views.

Chongqing

Wuyu Sky Garden Hotel

A curated hotel option in Chongqing, used as the shared route hotel resource.

Shanghai

Bellagio by MGM Shanghai on the Bund

The MGM Bellagio Shanghai Bund is an international luxury brand on the Bund’s waterfront, blending cinematic lobbies and river-view rooms with the southern stretch of the historic architecture.

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.

Xi'an

Shangri-La Hotel

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

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.

Chongqing

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

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

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean

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.

Yichang

The Westin Yichang

A curated hotel option in Yichang, used as the shared route hotel resource.

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 Lujiazui Pudong Avenue

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui: a stylish Pudong choice, just minutes from the Bund, Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai Tower.

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.

Beijing

Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)

Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

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

Chengdu

Atour Hotel Chengdu Taikoo Li Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street

A simple Chengdu stay near Chunxi Road, ideal for travellers who want easy walks, food stops and short city transfers.

Chongqing

Chongqing Marriott Hotel

A reliable Chongqing stay for travellers who want comfort after exploring the city’s hills, rivers, bridges, and night views.

Chongqing

Wuyu Sky Garden Hotel

A curated hotel option in Chongqing, used as the shared route hotel resource.

Shanghai

Bellagio by MGM Shanghai on the Bund

The MGM Bellagio Shanghai Bund is an international luxury brand on the Bund’s waterfront, blending cinematic lobbies and river-view rooms with the southern stretch of the historic architecture.

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.

Xi'an

Shangri-La Hotel

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

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.

Chongqing

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

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

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean

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.

Yichang

The Westin Yichang

A curated hotel option in Yichang, used as the shared route hotel resource.

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 Lujiazui Pudong Avenue

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui: a stylish Pudong choice, just minutes from the Bund, Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai Tower.

Included / Excluded

What's Included

Intercity railFour rail legs: Day 5 from Beijing to Xi'an, Day 8 from Xi'an to Chengdu, Day 10 as a same-day round trip to Dujiangyan, and Day 12 from Chengdu to Chongqing. Train numbers and seat classes are itemised leg by leg in the written quotation.
Hotels ashoreAccommodation for 13 nights on land, arranged according to your selected category and including hotel breakfast: 4 nights in Beijing, 3 nights in Xi'an, 4 nights in Chengdu, and 2 nights in Shanghai. For hotel names, room types, and standards for equivalent substitutions, please refer to the written confirmation form.
GuideSightseeing days in Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu (including Dujiangyan) and Shanghai with licensed English-speaking guides; includes an evening tour of the Shanghai Bund. Specific dates are subject to flight connections in Yichang.
VehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring in those four cities, including the full-day Mutianyu round trip on day 3 and the Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng round trip on day 10
Timed reservationsThe Forbidden City on day 2, the National Museum of China on day 4 and Shanghai Museum on day 17, all booked by us; you supply passport details at booking
Tickets and experiences, BeijingThe Forbidden City walked along the central axis · Jingshan Park · Mutianyu Great Wall with the cable car up and the toboggan down · Tian'anmen Square · Temple of Heaven · the National Museum of China · the hutongs and Shichahai lakeside walk
Tickets and experiences, Xi'anThe Terracotta Warriors · Xi'an City Wall by bike with wall admission and bicycle rental · the Bell and Drum Tower area with the Muslim Quarter · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Tickets and experiences, Chengdu and DujiangyanThe panda base in the morning · the gaiwan teahouse sitting in People's Park with the tea · the Dujiangyan irrigation works · a small Taoist temple on Mount Qingcheng with time with a resident priest and a taiji session · Kuanzhai Alley with Taikoo Li · community Sichuan opera with the backstage visit and face changing up close
Tickets and experiences, ShanghaiGuided walk of the Bund and Pudong skyline, dates aligned with the Yichang flight connection · Yu Garden and Laochengxiang · Shanghai Museum · Former French Concession and Wukang Road · Huangpu River Ferry
MealsOne hotel breakfast for each of the 13 nights ashore, plus the tea at the day 9 teahouse sitting, which is part of that experience rather than a meal. No lunch and no dinner is in the base price
InsuranceTravel accident insurance; the sum insured and what it covers are stated in your written confirmation

Not Included

International flightsFlights into Beijing and out of Shanghai
Yangtze section subject to items confirmed on the orderAccommodation and transfers in Chongqing on Day 12, cruise tickets and onboard meals for the Chongqing-to-Yichang segment, shore excursions, disembarkation transfers in Yichang, and the flight to Shanghai must be verified item by item. Items not explicitly listed as inclusions in the written quote are charged separately; inclusions cannot be inferred solely from the daily itinerary.
VisasGuests requiring a Chinese visa will have their visa fees and processing charges determined based on their personal documents and order confirmation.
MealsEvery lunch and dinner not listed above: recommended and booked by your guide, at your own expense
In-park transport ashoreThe only in-park transport included in the base price is the Mutianyu cable car and toboggan. Any other cable car, chairlift, shuttle cart, sightseeing bus, or in-park boat anywhere on this route, including Mount Qingcheng, must be purchased on the day at the posted fare.
In-venue spendingSpending inside museums, palaces, parks or markets, plus any paid photography or paid interactive item inside a venue
Early arrival and late departureNights before day 1 and after day 18, and the transfers for them, priced separately at the time of choosing
PersonalTips, laundry, communications and personal spending, plus any single supplement or additional room difference

Special Notes

Specific arrangements are subject to Yangtze River cruise schedules, attraction opening dates, and connection frequencies; please refer to the written confirmation in your booking.

Booking & Written Quotes — This 18-day itinerary can be booked by date. Days 12 to 16 involve accommodation and transfers in Chongqing, three nights on the river cruise, disembarkation at Yichang, and the connection to a flight to Shanghai. Specific cruise itinerary, cabin category, onboard meals, shore excursions, and all associated fees will be confirmed item-by-item on your order before payment.
Three Gorges Dam Tour — The date for the Three Gorges Dam tour depends on the selected cruise itinerary and may be scheduled on Day 15 or on the disembarkation day. The specific date and tour format will be confirmed in the itinerary once your cruise is booked.
Yichang to Shanghai Connection — If the dam visit is scheduled on disembarkation day, the Yichang flight on Day 16 and the Shanghai Bund tour must be adjusted accordingly. The walk on Wukang Road and the ferry crossing on Day 18 will also be timed in line with the return flight; the actual sequence will be confirmed in your order.
Low water — Voyages during the autumn and winter low-water season may have adjusted itineraries and river segments. Once your dates are selected, please verify the route and onshore arrangements against the shipping company's current seasonal schedule.
Departure dates — Footfall is typically higher during the National Day holiday, so visit dates for the Terracotta Warriors and the panda centre may be adjusted according to the actual tour schedule. The Palace Museum is usually closed on Mondays; if Day 2 falls on a closure day, the visiting order for the Palace Museum and the Great Wall can be swapped.
Museum calendars — the National Museum of China on day 4 and Shanghai Museum on day 17 both take named timed reservations. Each order is checked against those venues' published opening calendars for that week before your date is confirmed.
Nights between Chengdu and Shanghai — Your current itinerary includes 4 nights in Chengdu and 2 in Shanghai. The selected hotels, room types, and actual number of stay nights will be specified for each city within your booking.
Rail seat class — Specific train numbers and seat classes for the four rail segments are subject to the selected dates and will be itemised segment by segment in the written quote.
Airport transfers — Airport pickup in Beijing on Day 1 and drop-off in Shanghai on Day 18 are arranged according to your flight schedule; whether they are included in the quoted price will be specified in your order. The Beijing accommodation for the night of your arrival is included in the base rate.
Group — Private itinerary; minimum 1 guest. Vehicle and room type arrangements are confirmed based on the actual number of travelling guests.
Visa window — Entry eligibility is determined by your passport, purpose of travel, travel dates, and policies in effect at the time. The 18-day itinerary also counts towards any other days you spend in China; please verify each booking individually before finalising.
US passports — Guests holding US passports may also request a quote. The 240-hour visa-free transit does not cover the full 18-day itinerary; the applicable visa or other entry arrangement must be verified against individual passport details and travel dates.
Confirmation and changes — Cruise, rail, and flight refund and change policies may differ. Deadlines, amendments, and refund terms are governed by the written terms of the specific booking.

Is Eighteen Days Your Length?

Fewer than eighteen days?

This route unfolds chapter by chapter. The Beijing-to-Xi’an segment and the Jiustagou itinerary can each be arranged independently; if time is short, chapters may be trimmed to suit your dates, with pricing and transport confirmed in the written quotation.

Good to Know

Group: Private itinerary, available for a single guest; group size, vehicle type, and room category to be confirmed per booking.
Pace: 18 days across 6 destinations: 4 nights in Beijing, 3 in Xi'an, 4 in Chengdu, 1 in Chongqing, 3 on board the ship, and 2 in Shanghai. Cruise itineraries and actual accommodation are subject to order confirmation.
Effort: Moderate. The Great Wall climb is by cable car and the descent by toboggan, the Xi'an wall is ridden, and the longest walking days are the palace day and Dujiangyan
Ports: Beijing in, Shanghai out. Whether your order includes the day 1 and day 18 airport transfers is stated in writing in your quote
Rail: The base fare covers the four rail segments mentioned above; specific train numbers and seating classes are detailed in the written quotation.
Visas: Entry visa or visa-free eligibility is verified case-by-case based on passport, date, and current policy; the 18-day itinerary is not covered by the 240-hour transit visa-free scheme.
Language: Licensed English-speaking local guides throughout, city by city
Payment: Available for one guest only. Deposit, balance deadlines, and the Yangtze River section inclusions are subject to the written quote and order terms; any same-category substitutions will be specified in the confirmation letter.
Season: Selected dates must align with attraction opening days and Yangtze River sailing schedules; the actual navigable sections during the autumn–winter dry season will be confirmed according to the chosen voyage.

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.

Is the Yangtze part actually happening?

Not yet, and we will not pretend otherwise. The ship, the Chongqing ground services and the Yichang link are three separate purchases and none of them is made, so days 12 to 16 are printed in the itinerary but sold to no one: not in the highlights, not in the inclusions, not in any price. That is also why the route takes no deposits at all right now. What you can do today is tell us your dates and we will write to you when those three are contracted. If you would rather travel this season than wait, a shorter version that runs Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu and Dujiangyan and stops there avoids the unbought stretch entirely, and it carries the same argument from the wall to the water. We can plan that against your dates.

Why is Dujiangyan the centre of this route instead of a side trip?

Because it is the point the whole eighteen days turns on. Everything before it was built to divide: a wall around a palace, a wall along a ridge, a wall around a city. Dujiangyan is the opposite decision, taken in the 3rd century BC, and it is still running: the river is split by the shape of its own bed into a stream that waters the Chengdu plain and a stream that carries the flood away. Stand on the divide and the previous nine days rearrange themselves. Most itineraries give it ninety minutes on the way to somewhere; this one gives it a whole day with Mount Qingcheng, and comes back to sleep in the same Chengdu room.

Eighteen days is a long time. Will we be exhausted halfway through?

The middle is where the plan slows down on purpose. Day 9 is a panda morning and a teahouse afternoon in one city with no packing; day 10 goes out to the waterworks and comes back to the same room; the Chengdu nights all run in one hotel. Climbing is done by machine where machines exist: the cable car up the Great Wall, the toboggan down, and a bicycle instead of your feet on the Xi'an wall. Where a site is big, the route is cut to one line with places to sit, which is why the palace day carries no second monument.

Do we need a visa?

Most guests on this route do not. Stays of days are visa-free for the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The same window covers France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. It covers the Nordic countries, Central Europe and Ireland. It covers Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. We check your 18 days plus any extra days in China against that window before you pay. The current policy runs through December 31, 2026, so a departure on or before December 14, 2026 finishes inside it. US passports are different: the US is not on that list and 18 days is far longer than the ten-day transit policy allows, so every US guest holds a Chinese tourist or business visa, applied for in person the first time. We confirm visa status before any payment, and if your dates do not fit the window, we say so instead of selling.

October to December: what are the crowds and the weather doing?

The first week of October is the national holiday week, and both the Terracotta Warriors and the panda base are at their yearly peak then, so departure dates are set to keep days 6 and 9 out of it; October 8, 2026 is the first sellable date this season. After that week, the north is dry and cool, and Sichuan turns grey and damp, which suits a teahouse afternoon better than a bright one would. On the river, these are the low-water months, and operators adjust sailings and the stretch actually cruised in that season, which is one more reason no date is opened before the operator's own calendar for that season is in hand.

Forbidden City

Jingshan Park

Muyutan Great Wall

Muyutan Great Wall Slide

Temple of Heaven Square

Temple of Heaven

National Museum of China

Hutongs & Shichahai Walk

Terracotta Warriors

Cycling on the Xi'an Ancient City Wall

Moslem Quarter

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Chengdu Panda Base

People's Park Tea

Dujiangyan

Mount Qingcheng Taoist Temple & Dialogue

Kuan Zhang Alley & Taikoo Li

Community Opera House

The Bund

Yu Garden & Old City

Shanghai Museum

Former French Concession & Wukang Road

Bund & Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Muyutan Great Wall

04. Muyutan Great Wall Slide

05. Temple of Heaven Square

06. Temple of Heaven

07. National Museum of China

08. Hutongs & Shichahai Walk

09. Terracotta Warriors

10. Cycling on the Xi'an Ancient City Wall

11. Moslem Quarter

12. Big Wild Goose Pagoda

13. Chengdu Panda Base

14. People's Park Tea

15. Dujiangyan

16. Mount Qingcheng Taoist Temple & Dialogue

17. Kuan Zhang Alley & Taikoo Li

18. Community Opera House

19. The Bund

20. Yu Garden & Old City

21. Shanghai Museum

22. Former French Concession & Wukang Road

23. Bund & Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Muyutan Great Wall

04. Muyutan Great Wall Slide

05. Temple of Heaven Square

06. Temple of Heaven

07. National Museum of China

08. Hutongs & Shichahai Walk

09. Terracotta Warriors

10. Cycling on the Xi'an Ancient City Wall

11. Moslem Quarter

12. Big Wild Goose Pagoda

13. Chengdu Panda Base

14. People's Park Tea

15. Dujiangyan

16. Mount Qingcheng Taoist Temple & Dialogue

17. Kuan Zhang Alley & Taikoo Li

18. Community Opera House

19. The Bund

20. Yu Garden & Old City

21. Shanghai Museum

22. Former French Concession & Wukang Road

23. Bund & Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Muyutan Great Wall

04. Muyutan Great Wall Slide

05. Temple of Heaven Square

06. Temple of Heaven

07. National Museum of China

08. Hutongs & Shichahai Walk

09. Terracotta Warriors

10. Cycling on the Xi'an Ancient City Wall

11. Moslem Quarter

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7

Chengdu · Day 8 - Day 11

Chongqing · Day 12 - Day 14

Yichang · Day 15

Shanghai · Day 16 - Day 18