Chine classique avec croisière sur le fleuve Yangtsé : 16 jours de Pékin à Shanghai

Beijing and Xi'an open the trip with the imperial canon at access tiers most group tours skip — the Forbidden City's 1813 Tianli Society arrow, the Terracotta Army's actual 1974 discoverer at home, and the Guinness-certified world's oldest tea leaves walked on glass floors above active excavation.

The Core
Arrival recovery, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City with the 1813 Tianli Society arrow, Peking Duck lunch, Yonghe Temple, Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall, and Shichahai hutongs.The Flexible Part
Gate of Thriving Imperial Clan gives the palace visit a specific story beyond the standard halls. Hutong depth can flex around train timing.The Route Role
Beijing opens the natural-China route with imperial detail before the scenery becomes softer. Palace rebellion, Tibetan Buddhist ritual, Wall views, and courtyard life give the trip its historical base.Good to Know
Forbidden City ticketing needs passport details. Mutianyu cable car maximizes time on the Wall, and the hutong family visit works best when not rushed.

Beijing and Xi'an open the trip with the imperial canon at access tiers most group tours skip — the Forbidden City's 1813 Tianli Society arrow, the Terracotta Army's actual 1974 discoverer at home, and the Guinness-certified world's oldest tea leaves walked on glass floors above active excavation.

The Core
High-speed rail arrival, Terracotta Warriors, Yang Zhifa family-home context, Han Yangling Mausoleum, glass-floor excavation views, and ancient tea-leaf history.The Flexible Part
Han Yangling Mausoleum is the quieter archaeological counterpoint to the warriors, especially with active excavation visible below the glass floor.The Route Role
Xi'an deepens the opening with archaeology rather than just a monument stop. It connects empire, discovery, and material culture before the route turns to rivers and pandas.Good to Know
The warrior site is crowded; go early. Museum floors and pits mean steady walking, so keep shoes practical and avoid overloading the day with extra shopping stops.

Guilin and Yangshuo deliver the karst peaks featured on the 20-yuan banknote with a layered access tier — a four-hour cruise, an hour of countryside cycling, and the hilltop panorama most cruise-only tours never climb to.

The Core
Evening arrival from Xi'an, Li River cruise, 20-yuan-note karst scene, onboard lunch, Xianggong Hill panorama, and transfer links with Yangshuo.The Flexible Part
Xianggong Hill adds the view cruise-only travelers usually miss. The climb can be adjusted around weather and mobility.The Route Role
Guilin turns the trip from imperial access to natural scenery. The river, karst peaks, and hilltop overview define the landscape chapter before the Yangtze.Good to Know
Bring a snack if boat lunches are not your style. Mist or rain can still suit the Li River, but stairs at viewpoints need non-slip shoes.

Guilin and Yangshuo deliver the karst peaks featured on the 20-yuan banknote with a layered access tier — a four-hour cruise, an hour of countryside cycling, and the hilltop panorama most cruise-only tours never climb to.

The Core
Countryside cycling, rice paddies, water buffalo, Yulong River options, West Street free time, rock-climbing alternatives, and the return toward Guilin.The Flexible Part
Yangshuo countryside cycling is the rural layer that makes this more than a river cruise. Non-cyclists can switch to car or guided walking.The Route Role
Yangshuo brings the karst landscape down to field level. It gives travelers space to move through villages, riverside paths, and small-town cafés before the trip heads inland.Good to Know
Basic mountain bikes are common. Choose the activity by comfort level, heat, and road conditions rather than forcing everyone onto the same pace.

Chengdu and the Yangtze cruise pair China's most beloved animal at active feeding hour with three nights drifting through the Three Gorges — the trip's deliberate comfort-pace anchor between intensive city blocks.

The Core
Giant Panda Research Base at feeding hour, Jinsha Site Museum, Gold Foil of the Sun God Bird, Xiaojiahe Community, vegetable market, riverside tea, and mahjong life.The Flexible Part
Xiaojiahe Community is the local-life layer: lunch, market walking, tea, and neighborhood rhythm after the panda morning.The Route Role
Chengdu is the comfort-paced anchor between intensive city touring and the Yangtze cruise. Pandas, ancient Shu relics, and teahouse culture slow the journey without making it empty.Good to Know
Pandas are most active early. Jinsha and community time should not feel rushed; this day works because it contrasts spectacle with ordinary Chengdu life.

Chengdu and the Yangtze cruise pair China's most beloved animal at active feeding hour with three nights drifting through the Three Gorges — the trip's deliberate comfort-pace anchor between intensive city blocks.

The Core
High-speed rail from Chengdu, Ciqikou Porcelain Village, Chongqing boarding logistics, and the start of the three-night Yangtze cruise.The Flexible Part
Ciqikou gives the pre-cruise city texture: old alleys, snacks, river-port memory, and a compact walk before embarkation.The Route Role
Chongqing is the handoff from land to river. It connects Sichuan basin life with the Yangtze journey that will carry the route through gorges and dam country.Good to Know
Cruise boarding often happens late. Keep documents and a small overnight setup accessible so embarkation is easy after the city visit.

Chengdu and the Yangtze cruise pair China's most beloved animal at active feeding hour with three nights drifting through the Three Gorges — the trip's deliberate comfort-pace anchor between intensive city blocks.

The Core
Fengdu Ghost City, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Xiling Gorge, Goddess Stream or similar side excursion, Three Gorges Dam, and Yichang arrival.The Flexible Part
Three Gorges Dam is the engineering finale; the side-stream excursion is the closer, quieter counterpoint at water level.The Route Role
Yichang completes the river section. The cruise moves from folklore to cliffs to modern hydropower, giving the natural-China route its largest-scale landscape transition.Good to Know
Shore excursions can change with water levels, weather, and cruise operations. Keep expectations flexible and passports ready for cruise procedures.

Shanghai closes the trip with the past-present-future contrast no other Chinese city can stage — a 1559 Ming garden, the colonial Bund, and Pudong's contemporary skyline across the Huangpu in a single afternoon.

The Core
Arrival from Yichang, Bund-adjacent hotel, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Yu Garden, Yuyuan Bazaar, farewell lunch, Tianzifang, and Huangpu River cruise.The Flexible Part
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall frames the city before the garden and riverfront, showing how Shanghai grew into the skyline seen at night.The Route Role
Shanghai closes the route with a past-present-future contrast: Ming garden craft, lane-house creativity, colonial waterfronts, and Pudong towers after the Yangtze's slower rhythm.Good to Know
Yichang-to-Shanghai travel can eat much of the day. Keep the first night gentle, and time the Huangpu cruise for evening lights if possible.