--- title: "China, by Hand" description: "12 days from the Great Wall to a water town making four things by hand" type: "tour" route_id: "china-four-crafts-12-days" total_days: 12 price: 3990 highlights: ["Beijing", "Taiyuan", "Pingyao", "Xi'an", "Shanghai"] url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days" canonical_url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days" locale: "en-US" alternates: {"en-US":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days","en-GB":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days","zh-CN":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-CN/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days","zh-TW":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-TW/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days","de-DE":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/de-DE/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days","fr-FR":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/fr-FR/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days","es-ES":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/es-ES/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days","it-IT":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/it-IT/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days","x-default":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/china-four-crafts-12-days"} --- # China, by Hand 12 days from the Great Wall to a water town making four things by hand Four regions, four crafts. The Forbidden City, timber temples, Pingyao's walls, the Terracotta Warriors and the Bund, with English-speaking guides city by city. - Moderate — up to about 12,000 steps a day, with some stairs — Palace courtyards, Great Wall steps, old-town lanes, and no high altitude; Mutianyu climbing is by cable car or chairlift. ## Overview Most first journeys to China run Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. This one adds the chapter between them: Shanxi, one of China's richest regions for surviving old architecture, with timber temples, merchant courtyards and a walled city you sleep inside. The route reads in order: the imperial capital, the wood and money of Shanxi, the first emperor's underground army, then the south, where the streets turn to water. In each region, something is made by your own hands: cloisonne in Beijing, lacquer in Pingyao, a crossbow model in Xi'an and a woodblock print in Shanghai. At home, you can explain how every one was made. LyrikTrip travel designers Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. ## Summary - Route ID: china-four-crafts-12-days - Duration: 12 days / 11 nights - Starting price: $3,990 - Status: active - Highlights: Beijing, Taiyuan, Pingyao, Xi'an, Shanghai - Cover image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ngTSsghw.jpg ## Hero tags - private - cultural - crafts - first-time China ## Highlight notes - Four regions, four crafts. The Forbidden City, timber temples, Pingyao's walls, the Terracotta Warriors and the Bund. ## Selling points - Cross Tian'anmen Square and walk the Forbidden City end to end, then fire your own cloisonne enamel. - Ride a cable car up to Mutianyu and a toboggan back down, then sit to a farmhouse lunch. - Walk into Shanxi, one of China's richest grounds for surviving timber temples and painted clay figures. - Sleep inside the Ming and Qing walls of Pingyao, in the city where draft banking took root. - Meet the Terracotta Warriors formation by formation, then build a Qin crossbow model by hand. - Pull a woodblock print off the blocks yourself in Shanghai, then ride a boat under old bridges. ## City highlights - Beijing (3 days): the palace, end to end - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/gIKfYLGa.webp - Shanghai (2 days): gardens, woodblocks and the Bund - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/hT5ak2NH.webp - Taiyuan (3 days): temple timber and a county town - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9b6eea1b1357.jpg - Xi'an (3 days): the Qin by day, the Tang by night - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/jWg8U83i.webp - Pingyao (1 days): a merchant's fortune and a walled city - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d44c51af6442.jpg ## Experiences 12 days from the Great Wall to a Jiangnan water town. Bring home what you made. - Mutianyu, Up and Down (Beijing): the Great Wall section framed by forested mountains, known for its restored watchtowers and its calmer air. A cable car or open chairlift lifts you to the ridge; you walk the fortifications at a route and pace adjusted to your group, while your guide explains how towers, passes and terrain worked as one defensive system. Then the descent: a mountain toboggan, a metal chute that runs you down the slope with a brake lever in your hand. Cable car or chairlift and toboggan are included; the toboggan follows the weather and the area's daily operations, and when it pauses, an authorized alternative descent is arranged. - Subtitle: the Great Wall section framed by forested mountains, known for its restored - Tags: Active - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Cable car or chairlift and toboggan are included; the toboggan follows the weather and the area's daily operations, and when it pauses, an authorized alternative descent is arranged. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f6c07b2f8772.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3a661e194c2f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1b0f83ddd1e5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7207d6532c2f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e88879531691.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d1d6aae8f2dd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1bdde9183633.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ab53efbfa8ca.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f53746b051ac.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9b968ec44131.jpg - Cloisonné Workshop (Beijing): Beijing's enamel art, taken apart step by step: metal shaping, wire inlay, enamel coloring, firing and polishing. After watching the stages, you make a simple cloisonné-style piece of your own under professional guidance: the first of the four things you take home from this journey. Included. - Subtitle: Beijing's enamel art, taken apart step by step: metal shaping, wire inlay - Tags: Craft - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Included. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ee7f7df55eef.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/68f72675d975.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d6667b95bfc8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/86ff6f9ffe03.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0686f4cee408.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f5736e804eaa.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/09c8e0c791a5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ac33cafe118c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/075c9aede004.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/15a35e91fcb7.jpg - Iron Flower, When the Season Allows (Taiyuan): a folk performance in which molten iron is struck high into the air, breaking into a shower of sparks against the night sky. It runs on an official seasonal calendar and follows local safety rules, weather and venue operations, so no single date can be promised; when your travel dates match a published performance, tickets are quoted with your confirmation, and when they don't, the Taiyuan evening stays free in the old streets. - Subtitle: a folk performance in which molten iron is struck high into the - Tags: Night - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: It runs on an official seasonal calendar and follows local safety rules, weather and venue operations, so no single date can be promised; when your travel dates match a published performance, tickets are quoted with your confirmation, and when they don't, the Taiyuan evening stays free in the old streets. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ce9bf1c242ce.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cfdec505a7c9.jpg - Pingyao Polished Lacquerware (Pingyao): the principal fixed hands-on session of the Shanxi chapter. Pingyao's lacquerware is known for its smooth surface and layered decoration, built up over a long production process: preparing the wooden base, applying coat after coat of lacquer, decorating, then the final polish. With an experienced craftsperson beside you, you work on a personalized piece and take it home. Included. - Subtitle: the principal fixed hands-on session of the Shanxi chapter - Tags: Craft - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Included. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/627cd1cbcc17.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3ee06f987c1f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/08e3dd1fa568.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5840e19c5d20.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/78b79994e2b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4e87d73a872b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/747c26f6ea00.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bc15675bb9db.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/979eae46a7a4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fc32bf433de8.jpg - The Qin Crossbow, Assembled (Xi'an): a small model based on the design of an ancient Qin crossbow, put together by your own hands under professional guidance. The point is the idea behind it: standardized parts meant weapons could be made, repaired and issued at scale, and that is part of how the Qin army was supplied. Included. - Subtitle: a small model based on the design of an ancient Qin crossbow - Tags: Craft - Host: Xi'an, Xi'an Lens — Warriors and ancient capital - Access: Included. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bbdf7cf559de.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2255bfd5d417.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5d621f49e57a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f58fac3efc36.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7ab79b09c6a3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9c04a6bc501e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4cd4eb7405cc.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3eca35942473.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fead4a066b16.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d83ae21039da.jpg - Chinese Medicine, Introduced (Xi'an): A working introduction at a traditional medicine center: someone reads your pulse, opens the herb drawers, and explains how the system thinks about seasons, food and balance. It is a session for understanding, not a sales floor; any physical treatment is optional, chosen by you, and priced separately. - Subtitle: A practical introduction to traditional medicine - Tags: Wellness - Host: Xi'an, Xi'an Lens — Warriors and ancient capital - Access: For understanding, not a sales floor; treatment is optional and priced separately. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/92c530b15a6f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/65719262cf8e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3dcbac1d8e7e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/00320021a00c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a0b835db0432.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f3ee5aec0c65.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cbd57f6f99de.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ae7334b77be5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/046b78513985.jpg - A Tang Evening (Xi'an): music and dance in the style of the Tang dynasty, paired with a dumpling banquet. The stage brings back the colors, costumes and ceremony of Chang'an, the capital Xi'an once was; the table sets out dumplings in a long procession of shapes and fillings. Performance and banquet are both included. - Subtitle: music and dance in the style of the Tang dynasty, paired with - Tags: Night - Host: Xi'an, Xi'an Lens — Warriors and ancient capital - Access: Performance and banquet are both included. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/39ecad09d9a6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/38702f0ec776.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2b3b8a9806fe.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/962e3b3b13ce.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/57f43b6b65e7.jpg - Xi'an Ancient City Wall Cycling (Xi'an): You go up and ride — gray brick under the wheels, the old grid inside the wall on one hand, the modern city outside it on the other. The full circuit is about 14 km; ride the whole loop, a stretch, or walk part of it. You set your own pace — the gates have ramps, the surface is brick, and there is no traffic on top. The hire time counted in and any charge past it are stated in writing in your quote. This is the longest unsheltered section on the route, and it converts to a walked section when weather or stamina calls for it; November and December departures have the cold-weather arrangement written into the quote. It is also the clearest lesson in Chinese city planning you will get on this trip — old lanes inside the wall, towers without. - Subtitle: one of the most complete surviving ancient city walls in China, wide enough on top to cycle two abreast, still ringed around the old center. Admission and bike hire are in the base price. - Tags: Cycling - Host: Xi'an, Xi'an Lens — Warriors and ancient capital - Access: Active heritage experience on one of China's best-preserved city walls. - Images: https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0353012000p9q9h7p45A9_C_1080_540_Q80.jpg_.webp?_fr=wc, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/daf832e303d0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8f7c7a922b33.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f864b69ac4b1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9c4dc5e6e575.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b69829f31585.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1170df991f6f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ad143f00bca6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dabb4f7b21b8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6c4bc5467067.jpg - Sajinqiao Food Walk (Xi'an): The Muslim culinary street locals actually eat on, one street from the tourist crowds. Your guide walks you stall to stall and orders with you: roujiamo, crisp-baked bread packed with slow-braised pork; noodles pulled long on the counter; lamb skewers straight off the charcoal; what you eat is on your account, and nothing costs much. - Subtitle: Xi'an street food with a local - Tags: Food - Host: Xi'an, Xi'an Lens — Warriors and ancient capital - Access: Your guide steers and orders with you; food is paid on your account. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1b231bf5e564.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d8bf7925468a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b73ade1e52ce.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f4475eca0112.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9d81d74adbfd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e8e2b2514956.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ef7998707992.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/04e1aa74c86a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bfdc415e6889.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/52c56934b3f4.jpg - Woodblock Watermark Printing (Shanghai): a printing tradition tied to Shanghai's long-established art and publishing heritage. You watch how outlines, colors, water and pressure pass through one carved block after another until the tones of a Chinese painting reappear on paper, then you pull a simple print yourself under an experienced instructor: the last of the four things you make in China. Included. - Subtitle: a printing tradition tied to Shanghai's long-established art and publishing heritage - Tags: Craft - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: Included. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/17a04dad593e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/15c02ba9fe49.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0047c84193e3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/979b2300e86c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/181b8b5fead1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/207eb222bffd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dc606be60826.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9e2bfc86a8b6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8d84e80b604e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1cb87eded7a4.jpg - Zhujiajiao by Boat (Shanghai): a historic Jiangnan water town of canals, stone bridges and narrow riverside lanes. A boat carries you through the old waterways, then you continue on foot through streets and bridges while your guide traces how canal transport, commerce and daily life once ran on the same water. - Subtitle: a historic Jiangnan water town of canals, stone bridges and narrow riverside - Tags: Water - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: A boat carries you through the old waterways, then you continue on foot through streets and bridges while your guide traces how canal transport, commerce and daily life once ran on the same water. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8ba05d6f8eb0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8ffe06f75f24.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/94515b63e674.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f629bb733c60.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/86e92638b93a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d8764149356d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/005668320458.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d12a84430083.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5161eb4d04d1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1e1b78a762bf.jpg - Optional Crafts in the Water Town (Zhujiajiao): when the departure schedule leaves room on the last day, one more session can be added in or around Zhujiajiao: bamboo weaving, shaping flexible strips into a small woven object, or indigo blue calico printing, the resist-dyeing process behind blue-and-white textiles. Both follow venue availability and operating hours, and both are quoted separately. - Subtitle: when the departure schedule leaves room on the last day, one more - Tags: Optional - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: Both follow venue availability and operating hours, and both are quoted separately. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0a6404daf481.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5c949991062d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3d0b1d7d8dc9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/94515b63e674.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/277f953e0cff.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/486b81df5379.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/005668320458.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d12a84430083.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1e1b78a762bf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1d90c9271e0a.jpg ### Capture banner - Label: Save this itinerary - Title: Send the full route to your inbox - Subtitle: We will include the latest hotels, hosts and pacing notes. - Placeholder: Email address - CTA: Send route - Sent label: Sent ## Itinerary ### Imperial Beijing - 3 days History and craft #### Beijing (3 days) - Subtitle: the palace, end to end - Recommendation: Begin with the capital's ceremonial axis, Mutianyu and cloisonne. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Keep arrival light and give the palace and wall separate days. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/gIKfYLGa.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/14h8ZnOb.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/17bdSgjF.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1bDq9gT4.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1cZHxWkg.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1vwu9mIQ.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1X29GyUB.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1xVI7jTc.webp ##### Day 1: Beijing: arrival - (transport) — Meet at Beijing Capital or Daxing airport and transfer privately to the hotel. - (note) — The evening stays free and tomorrow's start follows how you feel. ##### Day 2: Beijing: the palace, end to end - (sight) — Begin at Beijing's ceremonial center. - (sight) — Walk the Ming and Qing palace from its southern gate to the imperial garden and north gate. - (sight) — Look back across the roofs along the Beijing Central Axis. - (sight) — Walk courtyard-house lanes and neighborhood streets. ##### Day 3: Beijing: Mutianyu and cloisonne - (sight) — Ascend by cable car or chairlift and walk between restored watchtowers. - (transport) — Descend by toboggan when weather and operations allow. - (dining) — Included home-style northern lunch below the wall. - (sight) — Exterior views of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. - (sight) — Follow wire inlay, enamel, firing and polishing and finish a simple piece. ### Timber and merchant country - 4 days Shanxi #### Taiyuan (3 days) - Subtitle: temple timber and a county town - Recommendation: Read northern timber architecture, Jinci and a county-town plan. - Transport: Private vehicle - Transport mode: car Keep Iron Flower conditional and leave sculpture time uncompressed. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9b6eea1b1357.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/579b8cdc2f6b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9e890937a6b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ce9bf1c242ce.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fef52d19f079.jpg ##### Day 4: Beijing: Temple of Heaven and rail to Taiyuan - (sight) — Walk the Hall of Prayer, Imperial Vault and Circular Mound. - (sight) — See archaeology, ceramics, sculpture and calligraphy. - (transport) — Travel west and transfer to the hotel. ##### Day 5: Taiyuan: temple timber and a county town - (sight) — Read timber framing, roofs and courtyards. - (sight) Taiyuan Ancient County Town — Walk gates, streets and courtyards and look down the main street from a gate tower. - (sight) — Seasonal evening only when dates match a confirmed performance. ##### Day 6: Taiyuan: Jinci - (sight) — Visit the Hall of the Holy Mother, ancient cypresses and Never-Aging Spring. - (sight) — Spend the afternoon with Shanxi clay and painted sculpture. #### Pingyao (1 days) - Subtitle: a merchant's fortune and a walled city - Recommendation: Sleep inside the walled city and make a polished-lacquer piece. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Give the merchant compound, old city and lacquer workshop their own sequence. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d44c51af6442.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/513b313d16a1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/627cd1cbcc17.jpg ##### Day 7: To Pingyao: a merchant's fortune and a walled city - (transport) — Travel by private vehicle from Taiyuan via Qiao Family Compound and continue to Pingyao. - (sight) — Walk the merchant residence's courtyards, halls and carved passageways. - (sight) — Visit the walls, former county office and Rishengchang. - (accommodation) — A boutique or traditional courtyard stay in or near the old city; the property is named at confirmation. ### Qin and Tang Xi'an - 3 days Archaeology and making #### Xi'an (3 days) - Subtitle: the Qin by day, the Tang by night - Recommendation: Pair the Terracotta Warriors with a Qin crossbow model, the city wall and Sajinqiao. - Transport: Flight - Transport mode: airplane Keep the crossbow and Tang evening with the archaeological day. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/jWg8U83i.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2IrwPATt.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2SYFFac8.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2z6MDkku.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/34qxDxFA.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3DF4Fowd.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3G0oTlIq.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/56RpQD9k.webp ##### Day 8: Pingyao: lacquer and rail to Xi'an - (sight) — Work on a personalized lacquer piece under an experienced craftsperson. - (dining) — Included local lunch before the station transfer. - (transport) — Travel into Shaanxi and transfer to the hotel. ##### Day 9: Xi'an: the Qin by day, the Tang by night - (sight) — Read rank, role and formation in the excavation pits. - (dining) — Included local meal near the site. - (sight) — Assemble a small model under professional guidance. - (sight) — A measured introduction with pulse observation and consultation. - (dining) — The performance and banquet are included. ##### Day 10: Xi'an: city wall and Sajinqiao - (sight) — Ride the broad rampart or walk a shorter stretch. - (sight) — Walk stalls and small restaurants with your guide; food is on your account. - (note) — Rest, shop or add visits around your interests. ### Shanghai and water town - 2 days City and water #### Shanghai (2 days) - Subtitle: gardens, woodblocks and the Bund - Recommendation: End with a woodblock print, the Bund and Zhujiajiao by water. - Transport: Private vehicle - Transport mode: car Set Day 11 by the flight and keep departure-day crafts optional. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/hT5ak2NH.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/13x1KtnS.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1Q9afrZn.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1Riqjj0n.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1VrlDwIi.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1vYpI6NZ.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3PEjxTGx.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4EbDdFHb.webp ##### Day 11: Fly to Shanghai: gardens, woodblocks and the Bund - (transport) — Private airport transfers and an economy flight; afternoon order follows actual arrival. - (sight) — Walk pavilions, rockeries, ponds and covered corridors. - (sight) — Pull a simple print under an experienced instructor. - (sight) — Walk between the historic waterfront and Pudong's lit towers. ##### Day 12: Zhujiajiao: water town and departure - (sight) — Ride the old waterways and walk stone bridges and riverside lanes. - (dining) — An included regional lunch. - (sight) — Bamboo weaving or indigo calico printing when time allows; quoted separately. - (transport) — Transfer to a Shanghai airport or rail station with time to spare. ## Daily plan ### Day 1 — Beijing: arrival Landing day. Nothing is scheduled except rest. - Meet and transfer: at Beijing Capital or Daxing airport, your driver waits at arrivals and a private vehicle takes you into the city: the ring roads slide past your window, your first measure of the capital's scale. - The evening is yours: check in and let the long flight go; your guide confirms tomorrow's start time around how you feel. - Stay: Beijing - Meals: Own arrangements on arrival day ### Day 2 — Beijing: the palace, end to end One straight walk through the old capital's heart. By evening, the lanes narrow to daily life. - Tian'anmen Square: you begin on the square at the ceremonial heart of Beijing, monuments around you and the palace gate ahead. - The Forbidden City, south to north: the palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, walked the long way: ceremonial courtyards, imperial halls, the residential quarters, the garden, and out through the north gate, with your guide reading court life and the buildings' symbolism as you go. - Jingshan, looking back: from the hilltop pavilion you turn around and see your whole morning at once: the roofs you walked under, laid out along Beijing's central axis in one straight line. - Hutong afternoon: you walk lanes lined with courtyard houses and see how neighborhoods grew around temples, markets, wells and family compounds; the day holds no workshop on purpose: time to look is the point. - Stay: Beijing - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 3 — Beijing: Mutianyu · cloisonné The wall in the morning, wire and enamel by evening. The first thing you make in China. - Up at Mutianyu: about an hour and a half from the city center, the cable car or chairlift lifts you to the ridge; you walk between restored watchtowers over forested mountains while your guide explains how towers, passes and terrain worked as one system, and the route flexes to your pace. - The toboggan down: you ride the mountain toboggan down the slope, brake lever in hand, the wall shrinking above you. It follows the weather and the area's daily operations; when it pauses, an authorized alternative descent is arranged. - Farmhouse lunch: at the foot of the wall, home-style northern dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Included. - Olympic Park: on the way back, a stop for exterior views of the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube: Beijing's Olympic chapter, two buildings long. - Cloisonné in your hands: the day ends at a cloisonné session: metal shaping, wire inlay, enamel coloring, firing and polishing, then a simple piece finished by you under professional guidance. You'll catch yourself holding your breath as the copper wire takes its first curve. - Stay: Beijing - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel; farmhouse lunch below the wall included ### Day 4 — Beijing: Temple of Heaven · west by rail The emperors' last stop before heaven, then a museum of everything. The evening train enters Shanxi. - Temple of Heaven: the complex where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests; you walk the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar while your guide connects the architecture to astronomy, ritual and the old ideas of heaven and earth. - National Museum of China: one building holding the broad sweep of Chinese civilization: archaeology, ceramics, sculpture, calligraphy; a good place to load the backstory before Shanxi and Xi'an. - Rail into Shanxi: the high-speed train carries you west from Beijing to Taiyuan; the local team meets you at the station and you are checked in by evening. - Stay: Taiyuan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 5 — Taiyuan: temple timber · a county town Shanxi begins with wood. By night, a county town at street level. - Dou Dafu Temple: a historic shrine in a quiet setting, and your first lesson in northern temple architecture: timber framing, roof structures, courtyards, and how a religious building sits in its landscape. - Taiyuan Ancient County Town: a restored district laid out on the traditional plan of a northern county town; you walk its gates, streets and courtyards, and from a gate tower the main street runs straight away beneath you. - Iron Flower, if the season allows: when your dates fall within the official performance season, an Iron Flower evening can be arranged: molten iron struck into the air, a shower of sparks against the night sky; on other dates the evening stays free in the old streets. - Stay: Taiyuan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 6 — Taiyuan: Jinci Old springs, old cypresses, older wood. Learn how China built before concrete. - Jinci Temple: one of Shanxi's most important architectural complexes, set among old trees, springs and gardens, with structures from different historical periods standing side by side; you visit the Hall of the Holy Mother, the ancient cypresses and the Never-Aging Spring while your guide reads the timber joints, the roof lines and the celebrated painted figures. Under the oldest beams, you'll find yourself lowering your voice, though nobody asked you to. - Painted sculpture, up close: the afternoon goes to a museum or exhibition of Shanxi clay and painted sculpture: the forms, colors and workmanship of temple figures, and how they were made, preserved and set into religious buildings. This half day is built for looking, not for a fixed workshop: more time with the art itself. - Stay: Taiyuan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 7 — To Pingyao: a merchant's fortune · a walled city What Shanxi's merchants did with their money. Tonight you sleep inside their walled city. - Qiao Family Compound: a grand residence built by one of Shanxi's prominent merchant families: courtyard after courtyard, halls and passageways, with brick, wood and stone carving dense on the lintels; this is what a trading fortune looked like when it came home. - Pingyao Ancient City: a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its walls, streets and Ming and Qing architecture remarkably intact; you walk the city wall, the former county government office and Rishengchang, one of China's earliest draft banks, while your guide traces how Shanxi merchants ran commercial networks across the country. - A night inside the walls: check in at a boutique or traditional courtyard stay in or near the old city; the evening is yours in the lit streets, with the wall closing the town in around you. - Stay: Pingyao - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 8 — Pingyao: lacquer · rail to Xi'an Lacquer goes on in layers, and patience comes included. Then the fast train to the Qin heartland. - The lacquer workshop: Pingyao's polished lacquerware takes its shine from repetition: coat after coat over a wooden base, decoration, then the final polish. The craftsperson steadies your first strokes, and your piece takes shape more slowly than hers: that is the lesson. By the time your train pulls out, it rides dry and wrapped in your bag. Months from now, when someone asks about China, you won't reach for your phone first: you'll set a small lacquered piece on the table. - A Pingyao lunch: a local table before the drive to the station. Included. - Rail to Xi'an: the high-speed train runs you southwest into Shaanxi; your Xi'an guide meets you at the station and sees you to the hotel. - Stay: Xi'an - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel; local Pingyao lunch included ### Day 9 — Xi'an: the Qin by day, the Tang by night The buried army in the morning, Chang'an's music after dark. In between, a crossbow in your hands. - The Terracotta Warriors: east of the city, you look down into the excavation pits at the underground army raised for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China: rank readable in the armor, role readable in the stance, formations drawn up soldier by soldier below you. - A Shaanxi lunch: a local meal near the site. Included. - The Qin crossbow, in your hands: with professional guidance you assemble a small model based on the ancient design, and see how standardized parts let one army arm itself at scale. - Chinese medicine, introduced: pulse observation and a consultation at a traditional medicine center, with selected wellness practices following your preference and condition. - A Tang evening: music and dance in the Tang style with a dumpling banquet: the colors, costumes and ceremony of Chang'an, the capital this city used to be. - Stay: Xi'an - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel; Shaanxi lunch and Tang dumpling banquet included ### Day 10 — Xi'an: the wall by bike · Sajinqiao Ride the rampart, then follow the charcoal smoke. The afternoon is left empty on purpose. - City Wall by bike: in through the South Gate and up onto one of the most complete city walls in China; you ride the broad rampart with the old city inside the parapet and the new city beyond it, going as far as feels right, or walking a stretch instead. - Sajinqiao: a neighborhood of food stalls, small restaurants and Muslim culinary traditions; your guide orders with you, stall by stall: roujiamo, crisp-baked bread packed with slow-braised pork, hand-pulled noodles, lamb dishes, cold noodles. What you eat is on your account. - An open afternoon: rest, shopping, or nothing at all; extra visits can be arranged around your interests and the time left. - Stay: Xi'an - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 11 — Fly to Shanghai: gardens, woodblocks, the Bund Fly south into a softer China. By night, two skylines face each other across a river. - The flight south: a private transfer to Xi'an Xianyang airport and a domestic flight to Shanghai; your Shanghai guide meets you on arrival, and the order of the afternoon follows your actual landing time. - Yu Garden: a classical garden in the historic old town: pavilions, rockeries, ponds and covered corridors, with your guide walking you through how Jiangnan gardens are put together. - Woodblock watermark printing: from Shanghai's long-established art and publishing heritage: outlines, colors, water and pressure pass through one carved block after another until a painting's tones reappear on paper, and you pull a simple print yourself: the fourth thing you have made in China. - The Bund after dark: you walk beside the Huangpu River with the stone facades of the historic waterfront on one side and the lit towers of Pudong across the water: two eras of the city's architecture, facing each other. - Stay: Shanghai - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 12 — Zhujiajiao: water town · departure The last morning moves by water. Then the airport, with your bag a little heavier. - Zhujiajiao by water: a boat carries you through the old waterways, then you walk the lanes: stone bridges, riverside houses, and the story of how canals once carried this region's trade and daily life. Somewhere between two stone bridges, you'll stop rehearsing what to tell people at home: the things in your bag already say it. - A Jiangnan lunch: regional flavors at a local table. Included. - One last making, time allowing: when the departure schedule leaves room, bamboo weaving or indigo blue calico printing can be added in or around the town, quoted separately. - Onward: a private transfer to Pudong or Hongqiao airport, or the rail station, with time to spare. - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel; Jiangnan lunch in Zhujiajiao included ## Hotels ### Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort) - City: Shanghai - Description: Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a07e8f886100.jpg ### Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square) - City: Beijing - Description: Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dHqyz391.webp ### LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport) - City: Taiyuan - Description: LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport). A selected stay in Taiyuan. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/94cb6519cab9.jpg ### Chengruihan Hotel Pingyao - City: Pingyao - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ff68a7684e20.jpg ### Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an - City: xi'an - Description: A comfortable serviced-apartment option in Xi'an, suited to travellers who like extra space and a more residential feel. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1ObUAtFi.webp ### Artyzen Habitat Taopu Shanghai - City: Shanghai - Description: Lifestyle hotel in Shanghai’s Taopu area with modern design and comfort. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/jcnnQH43.webp ### Kempinski Hotel Taiyuan - City: Taiyuan - Description: Kempinski Hotel Taiyuan. A selected stay in Taiyuan. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4111f6a05345.jpg ### Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast - City: Beijing - Description: International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bWOFYezP.jpg ### Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel - City: Shanghai - Description: Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5xOD9FRB.webp ### Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel - City: Xian - Description: Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/k01OUBYw.jpg ### Water Hotel Pingyao - City: Pingyao - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bQDkAJcE.webp ### Sunshine International Hotel - City: Taiyuan - Description: Sunshine International Hotel. A selected stay in Taiyuan. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b522a6dbfea1.jpg ### DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road - City: Beijing - Description: International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/kkFJOiOe.webp ### Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean - City: Shanghai - Description: Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Center. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ciHY2Qvs.webp ### Shangri-La Hotel - City: Xian - Description: Shangri-La Hotel Xi'an: five-star luxury near the Terracotta Warriors, 35 minutes from the airport. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ldYT8r2G.webp ### Lavande Hotel (Taiyuan Provincial Government Maoye World Store) - City: Taiyuan - Description: Lavande Hotel (Taiyuan Provincial Government Maoye World Store). A selected stay in Taiyuan. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3378b46e09aa.jpg ## Included / Excluded ### What's Included - Private vehicles: Air-conditioned private vehicles for all listed sightseeing, airport and station transfers, fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's service allowance. - Inter-city legs: Second-class high-speed rail into Shanxi and on to Xi'an; one-way economy flight from Xi'an to Shanghai with standard checked baggage under the airline's policy. - Hotels: 11 nights in selected four-star, five-star or featured boutique stays, breakfast daily. - Guides: Professional English-speaking guide service throughout the scheduled program. - Tickets and experiences: Listed attractions plus Mutianyu ascent and toboggan, cloisonne, Pingyao lacquerware, Qin crossbow model, Chinese medicine introduction, Tang performance, Xi'an city-wall bikes and Shanghai woodblock printing. - Meals: Five regional meals, farmhouse lunch below the Great Wall, Pingyao lunch, Shaanxi lunch, Tang dumpling banquet and Jiangnan lunch in Zhujiajiao. ### Not Included - Long-haul: International flights to Beijing and departure travel from Shanghai. - Meals: Beyond the five included meals and daily breakfast, lunches and dinners stay flexible and are on your account. - Optional items: Bamboo weaving and indigo calico printing in the water town, and the Iron Flower ticket unless confirmed in the final quotation. - Personal: Visas, gratuities, single supplement, personal spending and extra costs from events beyond reasonable control. ### Special Notes A few things on this route depend on weather, seasons or operators. - Iron Flower: Seasonal and arranged only when dates match a confirmed performance and available tickets; otherwise the Taiyuan evening stays free. - Mutianyu toboggan: Subject to weather, safety rules and daily operations; an authorized alternative descent is used when it pauses. - Day 11 order: The Shanghai afternoon follows the confirmed flight and actual arrival time. - Day 12 timing: An earlier departure may shorten Zhujiajiao or the optional craft session. - Hotels and services: Named in the confirmation; or similar means the same class and comparable location. ## Is Twelve Days Your Length? Tell us your dates and who's coming; the length can be shaped around you. ### Have the full window? Read the capital, Shanxi's timber and banking history, the Qin chapter and Jiangnan water in order. ### Shorter on days? Remove a region rather than rushing the rest. ### Traveling with kids or older parents? Cable cars do the climbing, cycling can become walking and workshops finish with simple pieces. ## Good to Know - Group: Private; from 1 guest, no minimum. - Arrival: Day 1 is a landing day with only transfer and rest. - Language: English-speaking guides throughout. - Shopping Policy: No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here. - Tailoring: Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay. - Payment: A 10% deposit, minimum $399, locks dates and resources; the balance is due 14 days before departure. - Flexibility: Walking, cycling and workshop pacing adapt to the group. - Ports: Beijing In, Shanghai Out. - Gateway markets: Lead country marker: GB. Gateway markets from inventory: UK, WEU, NCEU, CA. Gateway match is strongest for Beijing in and Shanghai out. - Advance booking: The Iron Flower evening, the Shanxi painted-sculpture museum and the Pingyao lacquer workshop are each reserved 7 days ahead; your travel designer books them once your dates are confirmed ## Your Private Concierge - Name: Jason Hu - Title: Private China Route Concierge - Tagline: A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys. - Bio: Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style. - Avatar image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c0TBypRh.png ### Stats - 20+ Years - 300+ Trips designed - 24/7 On-trip care ### The Conversation Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming — and if this length isn't right for you, we'll say so and shape a shorter arc. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. - CTA: Start the conversation ### 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%: Bespoke, never off-the-shelf ### Step 03: Lock it in with 10% When the plan feels right, a 10% deposit holds your entire trip. Balance due 30 days before departure. - 10%: Deposit to secure everything ### 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 - Free cancellation up to 30 days - English-speaking concierge - Secure payment via Stripe - CTA: Talk to Us ## Guest Reviews - Overall rating: 4.9 - Total reviews: 523 - Count label: from 523 verified reviews 4.9 / 5 ### Platforms - google: 4.9 (312 reviews) - tripadvisor: 5.0 (211 reviews) - Filter tabs: All, Google, TripAdvisor - Emily Carter (🇺🇸 Seattle, USA · 5★ · May 2026 · google): 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. - Claire Brooks (🇬🇧 London, UK · 5★ · Apr 2026 · tripadvisor): 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. - Laura Bennett (🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada · 5★ · Mar 2026 · google): 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. - Mark Henderson (🇺🇸 Denver, USA · 4★ · Feb 2026 · tripadvisor): 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. - Rebecca Miller (🇺🇸 Boston, USA · 5★ · Jan 2026 · google): Really listened to what we wanted - Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible. ## China Ready We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving. ### VPN & Internet Access - Badge: Do this before you fly - 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. ### Paying in China - Badge: Your concierge sets this up on Day 1 - 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. ### Visa & Entry - Badge: We handle the paperwork - 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. ### Safety & Practical Tips - Badge: Our responsibility, always - 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 traveler. ## Before You Book Everything worth knowing before you book. ### We've never heard of Shanxi. Why give it three days? Shanxi carries a rich concentration of surviving old architecture, a walled city where you stay, merchant courtyards and the route's main lacquer workshop. ### What if the Iron Flower isn't on? It follows an official seasonal calendar and cannot be promised. When dates do not match, the Taiyuan evening stays free and the rest of Shanxi is unchanged. ### How physical is this route? Moderate and adjustable. The Mutianyu ascent uses a cable car or chairlift, the Xi'an ride can shorten or become a walk, and there is no high altitude. ### We've never done crafts. Will the workshops work for us? No experience is needed. Each session runs step by step under professional guidance and finishes with a simple piece.