Yangtze South 19-Day Private China Holiday

Overview

Most Chinese itineraries begin in Beijing. This one starts in a city where almost everything you see is less than forty years old, and ends in a sea-facing port. In between, two rivers carry you: the Li River takes you to Yangshuo, not the highway; the Yangtze takes you through the Three Gorges over three nights, with rural scenery passing by the window. Chengdu, nestled between the two waters, is a flat interlude: pandas in the morning, an unarranged afternoon in a teahouse chair. The pace of this route deliberately slows. By the days on the boat, you’ll find yourself no longer asking when you’ll arrive.

— LyrikTrip Travel Designer

Tell us your travel dates and group size. We will first check sailing schedules and then arrange on-shore transport and accommodation along the route. Specific itineraries, cabin grades, and hotel details will be outlined in our written quotation.

Why you'll love this trip

South, drifting down the river. Electronics markets, the Li River, pandas, the Three Gorges, Shanghai’s old lanes – every city comes with an English-speaking guide.
From the component counters in Shenzhen to the decks of the Three Gorges, and then to Shanghai’s old streets. 19 days, watching China along the waterways.

Walk Huaqiangbei floor by floor with your guide reading the trade to you: components on one floor, prototypes on the next, finished units above that. By the top floor you understand how a thing gets made here.
Arrive in Yangshuo by water, the full run down the Li River from Guilin, so the karst hills come to you one at a time instead of past a car window.
Spend an afternoon in a People's Park teahouse with a gaiwan, the lidded cup in which China brews its tea, refilled for as long as you stay. The whole afternoon drifts by with nowhere to be next.
Stand at Lizi Ba in the evening and watch a light-rail train run straight through a residential building, at the level of somebody's living room.
Spend three nights on the Yangtze and take in the gorges from the deck, standing outside as the cliffs close in at Qutang and remain closed for the length of the passage.
Print a sheet by hand in Shanghai, the woodblock watermark way the city's studios have printed pictures for generations, and take your own sheet home.
Unpack once for four nights in Yangshuo, and three or more nights in every other key city on the route, so eighteen nights come with only six hotel check-ins ashore.

Things to do

Huaqiangbei Electronics Market, Shenzhen

High-speed rail, Shenzhen to Guilin, Shenzhen to Guilin

Lijiang River cruise, full route, Guilin to Yangshuo

Li River Bamboo Raft, Xingping Section, Yangshuo

Market Tour & Sichuan Cooking Class, Chengdu

High-speed Rail from Chengdu to Chongqing, Chengdu to Chongqing

Chongqing 3D City Walking Route, Chongqing

Yangtze River Cruise, Three Nights Aboard, Chongqing to Yichang

Three Gorges Summit or White Emperor City, Yangtze

Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge Sections, Yangtze

Former French Concession & Wukang Road, Shanghai

Shenzhen Museum of Science and Technology, Shenzhen

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Itinerary

Arrivals

Shenzhen · Day 1 - Day 3

Day 1 · Land in the newest city

Nothing is scheduled today, whatever time your flight gets in. The country you are about to spend nineteen days on starts with its youngest forty years.

Arrival Shenzhen Airport is located on the western side of the city. As you travel from the airport into the city, you will be greeted by the skyline that has taken shape over the past few decades. Please note that any meet-and-greet pickup service is only included if explicitly stated in your written quotation.

Evening No evening activities are scheduled. If you wish to dine near the hotel, your guide will be pleased to make recommendations and bookings; meals are at your own expense.

Day 2 · How a thing gets made

A market first, a museum second, in that order for a reason. See the trade running before you see the city explain itself.

Huaqiangbei electronics market Reels of resistors by the drawer, then boards, then whole units in boxes. The same product is visible at three stages of its life on three different floors. Your guide reads the counters as you pass them, and the walk runs at the pace of your questions rather than a fixed loop.

Shenzhen city exhibition One venue of two, either the urban planning exhibition hall or the industrial museum, both answering the question the morning raises: how did this get here in forty years. The venue for your departure is named in your written confirmation, and it is indoors and seated in parts, which suits the afternoon after a morning on your feet.

Day 3 · DJI Sky City

One visit in the morning, and the rest of the day is yours. Shenzhen is a city better understood by walking it than by ticking it off.

Visit to DJI Sky City Visit the Shenzhen headquarters campus of DJI, the company founded in the city. The accessible areas and duration of the visit depend on site arrangements, as detailed in your written itinerary.

Free afternoon The parks, the waterfront and the shopping streets are all within a short ride, and almost nothing you pass was standing forty years ago. Your guide writes down three walks at three different lengths before leaving you to it.

High-Speed Rail

Guilin · Day 4

Day 4 · Out of the delta

Spend the morning in Shenzhen, then take the high-speed train to Guilin. The view outside the window will gradually shift from urban landscapes to karst mountain scenery.

Free morning Bags go with the vehicle, so the last Shenzhen hours belong to you rather than to a checkout deadline.

High-speed rail to Guilin About three hours. Factory towns and canals give way to fields, and then the limestone towers begin standing up out of them, first one, then a hundred. Seat class for your order is written into your quote before you book.

Guilin, one night An overnight stop, not a sightseeing stop. Dinner is recommended near the hotel and the evening is deliberately left free, as tomorrow is a day on the river.

Li River Cruise

Yangshuo · Day 5 - Day 8

Day 5 · Arrive by water

The whole day is the boat, and the boat is the transfer. Reach Yangshuo the way the town was reached before there was a road.

Li River cruise boat, Guilin to Yangshuo The full run downstream, most of a day. Hills come one at a time, each one changing shape as you pass it, and between them are water buffalo, bamboo and villages with a few boats tied up. Nothing else is scheduled today, so the deck is where the day happens.

Into Yangshuo You step off at the town's own landing with four nights ahead of you in one hotel, which means this is the last time you touch a suitcase until day 9.

Day 6 · The rhythm you pedal

A half day along a small river, at whatever speed you choose. The countryside here is not scenery you look at, it is a distance you cross.

Yulong River Cycling Walk along the paths between rice paddies and farmhouses, with mountain peaks visible at the end of every straight stretch. Choose to cycle, ride an e-bike, or travel by vehicle — all three options cost the same on this route, allowing companions to select based on their stamina.

Riverside afternoon tea Mid-afternoon, tea set out by the water, the peaks standing in the river beside the table. About an hour, and the ride resumes only when the group is ready.

Day 7 · The hill on the money

A light day, with the river taken twice, from a town and from the water. Hold up a banknote and find you are standing inside the picture.

Xingping old town Old street frontage, a working ferry landing and a market street that still sells to the people who live here. About two hours, unhurried, with time to sit down.

Li River bamboo raft, the Xingping reach Down on the quiet water under the Nine Horses cliff, the stretch printed on the back of China's 20-yuan banknote. Sitting a hand's width above the surface makes the hills twice the size they were from the boat. Life vests are provided and the raft carries a few people at a time.

Early night The evening ends by 21:00, because tomorrow starts before the sky does.

Day 8 · Ten minutes of light

Up in the dark, on foot, for one short window at the top. What the light does to these hills is the reason the alarm is worth it.

Xianggong Hill sunrise Stone steps in the dark with headlamps, your guide setting a pace slow enough that nobody arrives out of breath. From the terrace the Li River lies below in a great bend, and the peaks turn silver first, then gold. Twenty people stand up there and you will notice that almost nobody is talking.

Back for breakfast You are back at the hotel while the dining room is still serving, and the rest of the day is deliberately empty.

Free afternoon Sleep, the pool, the town, or the riverside path north of it. Your guide leaves you a short list and stays reachable.

Flight

Chengdu · Day 9 - Day 11

Day 9 · A whole day to move

Nothing is scheduled today except getting to Chengdu. A travel day with room in it is how the next three days stay unhurried.

Road to Guilin airport The drive back out along the river valley, peaks in the rear window for the first half hour, the vehicle and the transfer both included.

Fly Guilin to Chengdu The karst country ends and the Sichuan basin begins, one flight apart. Cabin class for your order is written into your quote before you book.

Evening in Chengdu Nothing is arranged. Your guide recommends and books a first Sichuan dinner near the hotel if you want one, on your account, and warns you honestly about how hot you are ordering.

Day 10 · Morning animals, afternoon chairs

The pandas get the morning because that is when they move. The afternoon gets nothing, because that is what an afternoon in this city is for.

Chengdu Panda Base Flat, shaded paths between enclosures, in the hours when the pandas are generally awake, eating and climbing rather than asleep in a corner. About three hours, and your guide picks the walking order by where the keepers have put breakfast.

Teahouse sitting in People's Park A bamboo chair under the trees and a gaiwan, the lidded cup China brews in, refilled as long as you stay. Cards at the next table, the ear cleaner's tuning fork ringing somewhere behind you. Three hours are set aside and you will find you use all of them.

Day 11 · Both kinds of backstage

A market, a wok and a theatre dressing room, all in one day. What this city excels at happens before the thing is served or performed.

Market visit and Sichuan cooking class You shop with the instructor first, doubanjiang from the barrel, green peppercorns by the handful. Then you cook two or three dishes and sit down to what you made. About four hours, and the pot's heat level is yours to set.

Community Sichuan opera The backstage half comes first, painting and costumes in progress, and then face changing from a few rows away: the mask on the performer's face becomes another one in the time it takes him to turn his head. About two hours, seated.

High-Speed Rail

Chongqing · Day 12 - Day 14

Day 12 · Flat city, vertical city

Seventy-five minutes of railway between two cities built on different terms. See what a slope does to the way people live.

Kuanzhai Alley Three parallel lanes of old courtyard frontage, restored and now full of shops. It is the most commercial stop on this route and we do not dress it up: your guide takes the side lanes and the courtyards behind the main run, about an hour, then you go.

High-speed rail to Chongqing About 75 minutes, most of it through tunnels and over viaducts, which is itself the first thing to know about the province you are entering.

Lizi Ba monorail An evening viewing stop where the light-rail line goes in one side of a residential tower and out the other, at about the height of somebody's living room, every few minutes. People live in that building and go on living there. No admission is charged at this stop.

Day 13 · Board

In the morning, explore Chongqing's slopes and bridges on foot; in the evening, board a Yangtze River cruise. For the following three nights, your luggage stays in your cabin.

Chongqing stacked city walking route A morning on foot through a city stacked on a slope, where one street's ground floor is another street's eighth. Stairs, footbridges and outdoor escalators, at your own pace. The exact route for your departure is named in your written confirmation.

Board the Yangtze ship Your bags go to the cabin, the city stands up behind the ship in tiers of lights, and the next three nights come with no packing, no check-in and no vehicle.

Day 14 · The river does the moving

Arrive at Fengdu in the morning; return to the deck in the afternoon, watching the banks gradually draw together as the ship moves on.

Fengdu Mingshan Hill Park A hillside of temples and carved figures built around China's old underworld stories, on the north bank. The cable car up and the shuttle cart across are both included in the ship's ticket, so the hill costs you nothing in legwork. Roughly three and a half hours ashore.

The deck The banks close in through the afternoon, terraced fields on the slopes, a barge going the other way every so often, tea in the lounge behind you when the wind gets up. Somewhere in that afternoon you will stop checking how far there is to go.

Evening performance The ship's own show in the theatre lounge, offered as part of that sailing's programme, open to everyone aboard.

Yangtze River Cruise

Yichang · Day 15

Day 15 · Through the gorges

Two gorges from the deck and one green side valley by small boat. Stand outside for the passages, because the cliffs only do this once.

Three Gorges Summit or Baidicheng Morning shore-side activities are at the discretion of the current vessel’s crew, with options to visit the Summit of the Three Gorges or Baicao City. The former offers a panoramic overlook of the Qutang Gorge entrance, while the latter is situated at the same gorge mouth and is associated with Li Bai’s poem Leaving Baicao City at Dawn. Both routes include steps and take approximately three and a half hours on shore.

Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge Qutang is short and vertical, with cliffs rising sheer from the water on both sides; Wu is longer and layered, its ridges fading into the haze. The ship announces both entrances over the public address system, so no one misses them from their cabin.

Shennü Stream Off the main river onto smaller boats and into a side valley narrow enough that the walls come close on both sides, water flat and green. About 90 minutes.

Flight

Shanghai · Day 16 - Day 19

Day 16 · The dam, then the coast

The ship's last morning is the dam, and the afternoon is a flight east. One river ends and a river mouth begins.

Three Gorges Dam The ship's own morning programme at the structure that raised this river and changed every town you passed. The cable car up from Maoping port and the bus on to the Yichang visitor centre are both in the ship's ticket. We book your flight only after the ship's arrival time for your sailing is confirmed in writing, and where the two do not fit, the dam programme stands and the flight moves.

Fly Yichang to Shanghai An afternoon flight to the coast. Cabin class for your order is written into your quote before you book, and your Shanghai guide meets the group at arrivals.

Day 17 · The oldest city on the newest map

A garden inside the old walled quarter, then four collections in one museum. Shanghai keeps its beginning right under the towers.

Yu Garden and the old city Pavilions, rockery, ponds and a path that never goes straight, laid out so that no view of the garden shows you all of it. About two hours, flat. The lanes outside are the oldest street pattern in the city.

Shanghai Museum We will begin with the bronze vessels, followed by ceramics, and then calligraphy, painting, and craft pieces. We will cross-check the Shanghai Museum’s opening hours and reservation slots against your travel dates and arrange your entry accordingly.

Day 18 · Two speeds, one city

Plane trees in the morning, a printing bench after lunch, a commuter ferry at dusk. The last full day is spent at street level.

Former French Concession and Wukang Road Low streets under plane trees, brick houses behind gates, and small shops that open when the owner arrives. Two hours on foot with coffee whenever the group wants it.

Woodblock watermark printing One carved block per colour, aligned by eye, pressed by hand, the method Shanghai's studios have used for generations to reproduce paintings. You print a sheet and it comes home with you: on a nineteen-day route it is the one thing you carry out of China that you made.

Huangpu River ferry crossing The working commuter boat rather than a sightseeing cruise, a few minutes across with bicycles and scooters parked around you, old waterfront behind and towers ahead. Two waters started this trip and a third one ends it, and you will feel the trip close itself.

Day 19 · Leave from the river mouth

The morning is yours and the trip ends where the water does. Nineteen days ago you were standing in a components market.

Free morning Bags stay with the hotel until you leave, and the last hours go to whichever street you want to walk once more rather than to a schedule.

Departure Whether Shanghai airport transfer is included in your itinerary is specified in the written quotation. The time you leave the hotel is arranged according to your return flight.

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.

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.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel

A characterful Yangshuo stay with a countryside feel, suited to travellers who prefer charm over a standard city hotel.

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.

Shenzhen

Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen

A Nanshan hotel beside the Houhai commercial district, with easy access to Shenzhen's western business and cultural areas.

Chongqing

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

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

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

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

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.

Shenzhen

Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen

Locatted in the Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring over 500 elegant guest rooms and suites with exclusive executive floor services.

Yichang

The Westin Yichang

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

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.

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.

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

Mercure Chengdu Chunxi Taikoo Li

A convenient Chengdu base near Taikoo Li and Chunxi Road, close to shopping, dining, and city sights.

Shenzhen

The Langham, Shenzhen

The Langham, Shenzhen is a luxury hotel in the Futian CBD, featuring elegant rooms, fine dining, and premium facilities.

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.

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.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel

A characterful Yangshuo stay with a countryside feel, suited to travellers who prefer charm over a standard city hotel.

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.

Shenzhen

Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen

A Nanshan hotel beside the Houhai commercial district, with easy access to Shenzhen's western business and cultural areas.

Chongqing

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

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

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean

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

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.

Shenzhen

Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen

Locatted in the Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring over 500 elegant guest rooms and suites with exclusive executive floor services.

Yichang

The Westin Yichang

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

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.

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.

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

Mercure Chengdu Chunxi Taikoo Li

A convenient Chengdu base near Taikoo Li and Chunxi Road, close to shopping, dining, and city sights.

Shenzhen

The Langham, Shenzhen

The Langham, Shenzhen is a luxury hotel in the Futian CBD, featuring elegant rooms, fine dining, and premium facilities.

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.

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.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel

A characterful Yangshuo stay with a countryside feel, suited to travellers who prefer charm over a standard city hotel.

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.

Shenzhen

Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen

A Nanshan hotel beside the Houhai commercial district, with easy access to Shenzhen's western business and cultural areas.

Chongqing

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Yangshuo

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

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

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean

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

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.

Shenzhen

Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen

Locatted in the Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring over 500 elegant guest rooms and suites with exclusive executive floor services.

Yichang

The Westin Yichang

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

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.

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.

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

Mercure Chengdu Chunxi Taikoo Li

A convenient Chengdu base near Taikoo Li and Chunxi Road, close to shopping, dining, and city sights.

Shenzhen

The Langham, Shenzhen

The Langham, Shenzhen is a luxury hotel in the Futian CBD, featuring elegant rooms, fine dining, and premium facilities.

Included / Excluded

What's Included

Intercity transportSix segments: high-speed rail Shenzhen to Guilin, about 3 hours · the Li River cruise boat Guilin to Yangshuo, the full run · flight Guilin to Chengdu, with the Yangshuo to Guilin airport road transfer · high-speed rail Chengdu to Chongqing, about 75 minutes · the Yangtze ship Chongqing to Yichang, 4 days 3 nights downstream · flight Yichang to Shanghai
Cabin classSeat grades for high-speed rail and cabin classes for flights are subject to the written quotation provided to you.
Hotels ashore15 nights at your chosen level, four-star, five-star or quality boutique, breakfast included: Shenzhen 3 · Guilin 1 · Yangshuo 4 · Chengdu 3 · Chongqing 1 · Shanghai 3. Hotels are named in your written confirmation
Yangtze ship3 nights aboard on the Chongqing to Yichang downstream sailing, on the operator's single ticket: cabin, all meals aboard and that sailing's whole shore programme. That programme: Fengdu Mingshan with hill cable car and shuttle cart · either the Three Gorges Summit or Baidicheng, one of the two per that sailing's programme · Shennv Stream · the Qutang and Wu gorge passages from deck · the Three Gorges Dam with the Maoping port cable car and the bus to the Yichang visitor centre · one evening stage performance offered by the operator
GuideShore excursions at each port of call include a licensed English-speaking tour guide. Whether our own guide accompanies you on board during the cruise leg will be specified in the written quotation.
VehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring ashore in all cities, and for the Yangshuo to Guilin airport road transfer on day 9
Airport transfersWhether the airport pickup in Shenzhen on Day 1 and the drop-off in Shanghai on Day 19 are included in the quote is specified in the written quotation.
Tickets & experiences, ShenzhenHuaqiangbei Electronics Market, with a guide providing a floor-by-floor breakdown of market trends · Day 2, Shenzhen City Exhibition Hall, choosing one between the Urban Planning Exhibition Centre and the Industrial Museum, with the specific venue to be confirmed in writing · Day 3, DJI Sky City tour, with the visit arrangements to be confirmed in writing
Tickets & experiences, Guilin & YangshuoDay 5: Full-Itinerary Li River Cruise · Day 6: Yulong River Cycling (by bicycle, e-bike, or car; same price) · Day 6: Riverside Afternoon Tea · Day 7: Xingping Ancient Town · Day 7: Li River Bamboo Rafting (Xingping Section) · Day 8: Xianggong Mountain Sunrise (entrance fee and viewing platform included)
Tickets & experiences, ChengduThe panda base on the morning of day 10 · the gaiwan teahouse sitting in People's Park on day 10, tea included · the market visit and Sichuan cooking class on day 11 · the community Sichuan opera on day 11, backstage visit and face changing up close · Kuanzhai Alley on day 12
Tickets & experiences, ChongqingThe Lizi Ba monorail viewing stop on the evening of day 12, no admission charged there · the stacked city walking route on the morning of day 13, the route named in your written confirmation
Tickets & experiences, ShanghaiYu Garden and the old city on day 17 · the Shanghai Museum on day 17, with the timed reservation booked by us · the former French Concession and Wukang Road on day 18 · the woodblock watermark printing workshop on day 18 · the Huangpu River commuter ferry crossing on day 18
Meals15 hotel breakfasts ashore, days 2 to 13 and days 17 to 19. Aboard, the operator's ticket includes dinner on day 13, all three meals on days 14 and 15, and breakfast on day 16. Ashore, one arranged lunch: the dishes you cook in the day 11 class. Two tastings that belong to their experience rather than being meals: the tea at the day 10 teahouse sitting and the day 6 riverside afternoon tea
InsuranceTravel accident insurance. The sum insured and what it covers are stated in your written confirmation

Not Included

International flightsFlights into Shenzhen and out of Shanghai
VisasWhether a China visa is required must be verified individually based on passport, mode of entry, and travel dates; visa fees and processing procedures are not included in the quote.
MealsEvery lunch and dinner not listed above: recommended and booked by your guide, at your own expense
In-park transport ashoreNo cable car, shuttle cart, sightseeing bus or in-park ferry is arranged anywhere on land, and none is included in the base price. The Xianggong Hill sunrise on day 8 is reached on foot via stone steps. The cable cars and shuttle carts named in the ship row above are operated by the operator and are included in the ship's ticket.
In-venue spendingSpending inside museums, exhibition halls, markets and shops, including purchases at Huaqiangbei and at the DJI Sky City visit, and any paid photography or paid interactive item inside a venue
Early arrival and late departureNights before day 1 and after day 19, and the transfers for them. Priced separately at the time of choosing
Optional add-onsThe Shenzhen science and technology museum on the morning of day 3, sold only as an add-on and never added into the base plan; the rail and air class upgrade; the ship cabin upgrade; extra nights before or after. Each is priced separately at the time of choosing
PersonalGratuities · single or extra-room difference ashore · single cabin difference aboard · laundry · communications · personal spending

Special Notes

Sailing schedules, cabin availability, and some venue arrangements are subject to change based on travel dates. The final written quotation and confirmation are the sole basis for details.

Booking & Confirmation — This 19-day route can be booked upon request for your preferred dates. Itinerary, cabin class, Yangshuo hotel, and intercity transport categories are checked on a per-booking basis and specified in the written quotation.
Departure dates are set by the ship — Day 13: Board at Chongqing for a four-day, three-night downstream journey to Yichang. Departure dates are based on your selected dates and available sailings; if sailing schedules change, the full itinerary dates will be adjusted accordingly.
Cabin — The operator has not reserved cabin space for us. Space is booked by passenger name on a first-come, first-served basis and is confirmed only within the operator’s system; therefore, cabin types are not pre-committed. Space upgrades are priced individually based on the operator-published fare difference for the specific sailing, with the same confirmation method applying.
Yangshuo Hotel — For four consecutive nights in Yangshuo, the hotel name, tier, and breakfast arrangements will be specified in the written quote.
Day 16 Coverage — The dam tour takes place on the morning of that day, followed by a flight to Shanghai in the afternoon. Your flight is only booked once the cruise's arrival time has been confirmed in writing; if the times do not align, the dam tour remains unchanged and the flight is adjusted accordingly – never the reverse.
National Day Golden Week — 1–7 October is China’s National Day holiday; if your itinerary falls within that week, attractions and transport may be busier, and we will adjust the pace of your sightseeing to suit your dates.
No cable car on land — The land-based itinerary does not include cable cars, shuttles, or sightseeing buses. The sunrise at Xianggong Mountain on Day 8 requires a pre-dawn hike up the stone steps. Cable cars and ferries in Fengdu and at the Dam are covered by the cruise ticket and are not part of the land-based plan.
Three sightseeing arrangements — DJI Sky City, the Shenzhen Urban Exhibition Hall, and Chongqing’s 3D city walking route are all included in the itinerary. The specific DJI tour area, the exact Shenzhen exhibition hall, and the Chongqing walking route will be confirmed in writing and are subject to your travel date.
Visa — Eligibility for visa-free entry must be verified based on your passport, mode of entry, and total stay duration in China; guests requiring a visa are welcome to enquire about this itinerary, with visa fees charged separately.
Confirmations and Changes — The written quote will specify the confirmation deadline and cancellation or amendment terms. Date changes will first affect the Yangtze River itinerary and cabin allocations, followed by overland transport and accommodation.

Is Nineteen Days Your Length?

Fewer than nineteen days?

The route breaks down at the water. Shenzhen with Guilin and Yangshuo stands on its own, and so does Chengdu with the Yangtze and Shanghai. Tell us your dates and how many of you are 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: Seven stops in 19 days. Shenzhen 3 nights · Yangshuo 4 · Chengdu 3 · Shanghai 3 · Guilin and Chongqing 1 night each · 3 nights aboard the ship. One whole day given to the Guilin to Chengdu move, and the Li River day is itself the transfer
Effort: Walking days rather than climbing days. One pre-dawn start, day 8, up stone steps on foot. Nothing on land uses a cable car or a shuttle cart. The Chongqing morning has stairs and slopes throughout
Ports: Arrival in Shenzhen, departure from Shanghai. Whether your booking includes the transfer on day 1 (arrival) and day 19 (departure) is stated in writing in your quote.
Visas: Check visa requirements by passport, entry method, and complete stay dates in China; guests needing a visa can also request a quote.
Language: Licensed English-speaking guides on all touring days ashore, city by city. Whether our own guide also accompanies the ship is stated in writing in your quote.
Payment: Minimum of 1 guest. Pay a 10% deposit (USD 399 minimum) to lock in confirmed dates; balance is due 14 days before departure. 'Or similar' means accommodation of the same category in a comparable location.
Season: Cruise schedules determine the departure date of the complete itinerary; please check available departures against your selected dates.

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.

Nineteen days is a long trip. Will it feel like a forced march?

It is built the other way round. Four cities hold three or more nights each and Yangshuo holds four, so eighteen nights come with only six hotel check-ins ashore. Three of those nights are on a ship, where nothing is packed at all. The Guilin to Chengdu move gets a whole day with nothing else on it, the Li River day is itself the transfer, and day 8 and day 19 both end at midday on purpose. There is exactly one early start in nineteen days.

Can I book this today?

Not yet, and we will not take a deposit to hold something we have not secured. Three things must be real first: your sailing date and cabins confirmed in the ship operator's system, a Yangshuo hotel under contract and named, and the rail seat class and air cabin class settled in writing. Send us your dates now and we write to you the day the route opens, with the departure list and a price for your dates.

Which cabin do we get on the Yangtze ship?

We do not guarantee a cabin type in advance, and here is why: the operator holds no allocation for us, so cabins are booked by named passenger, first come, first served, and are only confirmed once they appear in the operator's own system. What is fixed either way is the rest of the ticket: three nights aboard, all meals aboard, and the full shore programme for that sailing, from Fengdu to the Three Gorges Dam, including the cable cars and shuttle carts on the ship's side. An upgrade is priced separately at the operator's published difference and confirmed in the same way.

We want the sunrise on day 8. What if the morning is grey?

The sunrise is a viewpoint, not a guarantee: we take you up before dawn on the day it is scheduled, and no one can promise the sky. We do not sell a weather outcome and we do not move the day around forecasts, because the walk up is dark either way and the terrace is where it is. What holds whatever the sky does: the great bend of the Li River below you at the quietest hour of the day, admission and the terrace included, a pace set slowly enough that nobody arrives out of breath, and an afternoon left completely free afterwards.

I hold a US passport. Can I join?

Not on this route in this selling season, and we tell you before quoting rather than after. Two structural reasons: Shenzhen, the entry city, has no direct air service from the US, and 19 days is longer than the ten-day visa-free transit policy allows, so a US guest would need a tourist visa for the whole stay. The same stay limit rules out anyone already in China under that ten-day transit policy. If you hold a second passport from a visa-free market, that changes the answer, and we check it with you before anything is charged.

Huaqiangbei Electronics Market

Shenzhen City Exhibition

Visit the DJI Sky Arena

High-speed rail, Shenzhen to Guilin

Lijiang River cruise, full route

Yulong River Cycling

Riverside Afternoon Tea

Xingping Ancient Town

Li River Bamboo Raft, Xingping Section

Sunrise at Xianggong Mountain

Chengdu Giant Panda Base

Teahouse in People's Park

Market Tour & Sichuan Cooking Class

Community Sichuan Opera

Wide and Narrow Alleys

High-speed Rail from Chengdu to Chongqing

Liziba Monorail

Chongqing 3D City Walking Route

Yangtze River Cruise, Three Nights Aboard

Name Mountain Scenic Area

Three Gorges Summit or White Emperor City

Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge Sections

Goddess Stream

Three Gorges Dam

Evening Stage Show Aboard

Yu Garden and the Old City

Shanghai Museum

Former French Concession & Wukang Road

Woodblock Watermark Printing

Huangpu River Ferry

Shenzhen Museum of Science and Technology

01. Huaqiangbei Electronics Market

02. Shenzhen City Exhibition

03. Visit the DJI Sky Arena

04. High-speed rail, Shenzhen to Guilin

05. Lijiang River cruise, full route

06. Yulong River Cycling

07. Riverside Afternoon Tea

08. Xingping Ancient Town

09. Li River Bamboo Raft, Xingping Section

10. Sunrise at Xianggong Mountain

11. Chengdu Giant Panda Base

12. Teahouse in People's Park

13. Market Tour & Sichuan Cooking Class

14. Community Sichuan Opera

15. Wide and Narrow Alleys

16. High-speed Rail from Chengdu to Chongqing

17. Liziba Monorail

18. Chongqing 3D City Walking Route

19. Yangtze River Cruise, Three Nights Aboard

20. Name Mountain Scenic Area

21. Three Gorges Summit or White Emperor City

22. Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge Sections

23. Goddess Stream

24. Three Gorges Dam

25. Evening Stage Show Aboard

26. Yu Garden and the Old City

27. Shanghai Museum

28. Former French Concession & Wukang Road

29. Woodblock Watermark Printing

30. Huangpu River Ferry

31. Shenzhen Museum of Science and Technology

01. Huaqiangbei Electronics Market

02. Shenzhen City Exhibition

03. Visit the DJI Sky Arena

04. High-speed rail, Shenzhen to Guilin

05. Lijiang River cruise, full route

06. Yulong River Cycling

07. Riverside Afternoon Tea

08. Xingping Ancient Town

09. Li River Bamboo Raft, Xingping Section

10. Sunrise at Xianggong Mountain

11. Chengdu Giant Panda Base

12. Teahouse in People's Park

13. Market Tour & Sichuan Cooking Class

14. Community Sichuan Opera

15. Wide and Narrow Alleys

16. High-speed Rail from Chengdu to Chongqing

17. Liziba Monorail

18. Chongqing 3D City Walking Route

Shenzhen · Day 1 - Day 3

Guilin · Day 4

Yangshuo · Day 5 - Day 8

Chengdu · Day 9 - Day 11

Chongqing · Day 12 - Day 14

Yichang · Day 15