Slow Classics: 21-Day Private China Tour

Overview

This 21-day itinerary prioritizes time in cities over simply adding more stops. Each stay lasts four nights: Beijing invites you to wander its hutongs and learn gaiwan tea; Xi’an has you riding the city wall and exploring Sajin Bridge; and Chengdu sets aside an entire afternoon at a teahouse in People’s Park. Three high-speed rail segments connect Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, and Chongqing. The riverboat leg from Chongqing to Yichang—sailing dates, cabin class, and pricing—will be confirmed based on your travel dates. Upon arriving in Yichang, you’ll fly to Shanghai.

— LyrikTrip Travel Designer

Tell us your travel dates and the number of travelers, and we'll outline the cruise itinerary, cabin options, quotes, and transfer arrangements for both ends in our written proposal before confirming the full trip with you.

Why you'll love this trip

Spend four nights in each of Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Shanghai; visit the Terracotta Warriors, ride the city walls, explore the panda base, and set aside a few days for Shanghai.
From the Forbidden City to Chengdu teahouses, this 21-day itinerary leaves time for the city and for yourself.

Add an extra day in Beijing: wander the hutongs in the morning, sit down for a cup of gaiwan tea, then get hands-on at a cloisonné workbench.
Ride a segment atop Xi'an's city wall, pausing to compare the street scenes inside and outside. Then head to Shaji Bridge for an authentic local food experience.
Spend an afternoon in a teahouse in People's Park, savoring gaiwan tea beneath the trees; no other sightseeing is scheduled for the day.
Stroll through Chongqing’s early morning, following a route the city itself calls its “8D” path—a nickname born from its layered, vertical topography, where the exit you choose determines which floor you end up on.
On day four in Shanghai, we visited a corner of the People's Park where parents seek suitable partners for their adult children. Across this 21-day journey, it was the only stop that concerned itself entirely with other people's lives.
Stay four consecutive nights in each of Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Shanghai. Both Beijing and Chengdu offer a relaxed day, so you won't have to pack and rush to the next stop every single day.

Things to do

Farmhouse Lunch at the Great Wall, Beijing

Tea Seating: A Gaiwan Introduction, beijing

Learn more

Market Stroll and Sichuan Cooking Class, Chengdu

Behind the Scenes of Sichuan Opera, Chengdu

Learn more

The Old French Concession and Wukang Road, Shanghai

The Bund & Huangpu River Ferry, Shanghai

Shanghai's Upscale Bar Circuit, Shanghai

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Meal

Family

City

Hands-on

Craft

Culture

Heritage

Meal

Cycling

Food

Museum

Workshop

Nightlife

Nature

Learn more

City

Food

Opera

Learn more

Heritage

Food

City

Cityscape

Heritage

Museum

City

Craft

City

Art

Local Life

Nightlife

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Meal

Family

City

Hands-on

Craft

Culture

Heritage

Meal

Cycling

Food

Museum

Workshop

Nightlife

Nature

Learn more

City

Food

Opera

Learn more

Heritage

Food

City

Cityscape

Heritage

Museum

City

Craft

City

Art

Local Life

Nightlife

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Meal

Family

City

Hands-on

Craft

Culture

Heritage

Meal

Cycling

Food

Museum

Workshop

Nightlife

Nature

Learn more

City

Food

Opera

Learn more

Heritage

Food

City

Cityscape

Heritage

Museum

City

Craft

City

Art

Local Life

Nightlife

Itinerary

Arrivals

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Day 1 · Land first. That is the whole day

Your driver meets the flight, whatever hour it lands. Twenty-one days is long enough to begin slowly.

Airport pickup Your driver and vehicle wait on the flight number written in your confirmation, and the run into the city is yours to sleep through.

Beijing through the window The airport expressway, then the ring road, then poplars and a street of lit shopfronts. The country you flew for shows up before you have opened a suitcase.

Evening There are no sightseeing activities scheduled for this evening. If you would like to dine near the hotel, your guide can recommend a restaurant and assist with the reservation; dining costs are at your own expense.

Day 2 · One axis, then the hill behind it

Book the Forbidden City according to your confirmed departure date to avoid closure days. Climb Jingshan Park from the north gate, and the palace complex you just walked through will be right beneath your feet.

The Forbidden City The palace the Ming and Qing courts ran the country from, finished in 1420 and lived in for five centuries. You walk a single line through it: the ceremonial halls where the court did its business, the living quarters behind them, the imperial garden, then out through the north gate. Guests regularly say this place is exhausting, so the route is cut to that one line rather than looped through the side courts.

Jingshan Park Straight out of the north gate and up a stepped path to the pavilion on the hill. From up there the golden roofs lie below you in rows, and the central axis of the city runs away north and south from the exact spot you are standing on. About an hour, and the climb is short.

Pace This is a half day inside a very large site followed by one short climb, and nothing else is added to it.

Day 3 · Ride up on the cable car, slide down on the toboggan

The drive north takes a good part of the morning, which is why nothing else is on today. The wall is a full day here, not a stop between two other things.

Drive out to Mutianyu Depart from central Beijing and head to Mutianyu in the north of the city, with your private driver accompanying you for the full day.

Cable car up, then the wall The climbing is done by cable car, so getting onto the wall does not depend on anyone's knees. You step off onto a restored stretch with watchtowers running along the ridge in both directions. Your guide reads it from up there: the beacon towers, the pass below, and why the sightlines fall where they do. Stand in a tower doorway and look along the ridge with the towers stepping down it one after another.

Farmhouse lunch below the wall On the Great Wall day, lunch can be enjoyed at a farmhouse-style restaurant at the foot of Mutianyu, serving traditional northern Chinese home-style dishes. Please refer to the written quotation for details on the specific restaurant and whether this lunch is included in the total price.

Descend the mountain via slide When operational, ride the single-person gravity sled down the fixed track; if suspended, switch to the cable car per your itinerary.

Day 4 · Day 4 in Beijing, devoted to hutongs and crafts

Spend the morning exploring the hutongs around Shichahai, then sit down for a cup of gaiwan tea and try your hand at making cloisonné enamel, at a slower pace than the days before.

Shichahai hutongs Courtyard lanes and lakeside streets where old Beijing still does its daily business. Gray brick, doorway stones, bicycles against a wall, the lakes going quiet as the afternoon turns. About two hours on foot, at walking speed rather than sightseeing speed.

Tea sitting, the gaiwan An hour at a tea table with a gaiwan, the lidded cup China brews in. You learn how it is filled, how the lid holds the leaves back when you pour, and how long each steep sits before the next one. Seated throughout.

Cloisonné Workbench Cloisonné is enamel packed into cells made of bent copper wire and then fired. Beijing has made it for centuries, and the Chinese name, jingtailan, carries the reign it is dated to. You spend about ninety minutes at a bench with the wire and the color rather than watching someone else do it.

高铁

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 8

Day 5 · The morning park, the afternoon train

In the morning, visit the Temple of Heaven to observe daily life within the grounds; in the afternoon, take a high-speed train to Xi'an, then head to your hotel upon arrival.

Temple of Heaven Three groups of buildings on one line. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the round mound altar are built in a formal language where round belongs to heaven and square to earth. The visit is set in the morning, when the surrounding park fills with Beijing residents exercising, singing and playing cards. That is half of what you came to see. About two hours.

Rail to Xi'an The afternoon belongs to the train. Your guide hands you over at the station gate, the North China plain runs past at speed for the first hour, and the class of this leg is written into your quote for your order.

Arrival Met at Xi'an station and driven to the hotel, with the evening left open.

Day 6 · Terracotta Warriors, standing at their excavation site

Spend the morning at the Terracotta Army, visiting during your reserved time slot; after touring the pits, enjoy a lunch of Shaanxi noodle dishes.

The Terracotta Warriors The buried army of China's first emperor, an estimated eight thousand figures, standing in the pits where they were found rather than behind glass in a gallery. You can tell a general from a crossbowman from a foot soldier by the armor and by the way the hair is tied, and in the newer excavation areas some original pigment still survives on the figures. About three and a half hours with your guide.

Crowds This is one of the busiest sites in the country, so the visit runs on a timed arrival and your guide takes the pits in the order that works against the flow that day.

Shaanxi noodle lunch After visiting the Terracotta Army pits, we'll have a Shaanxi noodle lunch, featuring the locally popular wide noodles. Whether this is included in the total price is subject to the written quote.

Day 7 · On the wall, then one street over

Ride the top of the wall at your own speed, with the old city inside and the new one outside. Then eat where the queue is a local one.

Xi'an city wall by bike The Xi'an City Wall still encircles the old town, and its ramparts are open for cycling. Pedal a few blocks or the full circuit, depending on your energy level, and pause at a gate tower to take in the lanes within the walls and the modern city beyond. Admission tickets and bicycle rentals are confirmed in the written itinerary inclusions.

A Culinary Journey Through Sajinqiao Stroll through Xi'an's Sajin Street with your guide to explore local stalls serving roujiamo, noodle dishes, and charcoal-grilled mutton. Please refer to the written quote for which tastings are included in the experience.

Day 8 · Behind glass in the day, on the street at night

The provincial collection first, then a workshop, then the same dynasty lit up outdoors. One period, three distances.

Shaanxi History Museum The provincial collection for Shaanxi, the province that held the capital through the dynasties whose ground you stood on two days ago. Roughly two and a half hours with your guide, who takes it chronologically so the objects line up with the places you have already been.

Shadow puppetry workshop Shadow puppetry works figures cut from translucent hide, mounted on rods and moved behind a lit screen, so the audience watches the shadow rather than the puppet. You spend about ninety minutes with the figures and the screen yourself.

Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City A lit pedestrian district named for the dynasty whose capital stood on this ground, walked after dark when the whole street is out. About two hours, and it is deliberately the second half of a day whose first half you spent looking at the same period behind glass.

高铁

Chengdu · Day 9 - Day 12

Day 9 · Morning in Xi'an, afternoon crossing the Qinling Mountains

Enjoy free time on your final morning in Xi'an. In the afternoon, take a high-speed train through the Qinling Mountains, then proceed to your hotel upon arriving in Chengdu.

Free morning Nothing is scheduled. Your guide will point you at a walkable option near the hotel before the trip if you ask, and otherwise the morning is yours.

Rail across the Qinling The line to Chengdu runs south through the Qinling range, the watershed that separates the wheat-eating north from the rice-eating south, in a long series of tunnels and bridges. You get on in dry northern light and get off in damp southern air on the same afternoon. The class of this leg is written into your quote for your order.

Arrival Met at Chengdu station and driven to the hotel, with the evening left open.

Day 10 · Awake early, seated all afternoon

Pandas are visited in the morning because that is when they are up. The afternoon has one item on it and it is a chair.

Chengdu panda base in the morning In the morning, visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where pandas are most active in the early hours. Allow for about three hours of walking through the park, with the specific activities you can witness depending on conditions of the day.

People's Park teahouse Bamboo chairs under the trees, a gaiwan each, and someone with a long-spouted kettle who refills it as long as you stay. Around you: neighbors playing cards, an ear cleaner working the next table with his tuning fork. A whole afternoon is set aside for this, roughly three hours, because sitting is the content here and not a stop on the way to something else. You'll get up at the end of it and realize you have not looked at your phone since lunch.

Day 11 · Buy it, cook it, then go behind the curtain

You shop the market with the instructor before you cook anything. In the afternoon you are backstage in a neighborhood theater instead of in a hotel ballroom.

Market visit and Sichuan cooking class You go to a local market with the cooking instructor first and buy exactly what the dishes need, then cook them and eat what you cooked. About four hours end to end, and the class itself is in the base price.

Community Sichuan opera, backstage A neighborhood theater, not a hotel show. You step inside before the performance starts, while the makeup is still going on, then watch face-changing from close up: the performer's painted face becomes another painted face in the time it takes him to swing his head. About two hours in the afternoon, seated.

Day 12 · Night Tour of Wenshu Monastery & Chengdu Street Food

Visit Wenshu Monastery in the morning, and enjoy free time in the afternoon; after dark, take a tuk-tuk through the alleys to find local street food.

Wenshu Monastery A working monastery rather than a museum. Incense, courtyards, and people who came here to pray rather than to look. A vegetarian canteen sits alongside it with a local queue at lunchtime. About two hours, unhurried, and the courtyards are flat.

Tuk-tuk street-food evening After dark, take a tuk-tuk through Chengdu’s residential neighborhoods and old alleyways, stopping at small shops along the way to sample local snacks. Specific stops and tasting inclusions will be confirmed in writing.

Rest day Free time is built in between Wenshu Monastery and the evening food-tour stroll, so you can plan your afternoon as you wish.

高铁

Chongqing · Day 13 - Day 15

Day 13 · Explore Chengdu in the Morning, Head to Chongqing in the Afternoon

In the morning, explore the Kuanzhai Xiangzi Alleys and Taikoo Li, then take a high-speed train to Chongqing and stay overnight before boarding the ship.

Kuanzhai Alley and Taikoo Li A historic quarter formed around three parallel lanes, restored and now busy and commercial, which is why it is walked early in the day while it is still quiet. Then Taikoo Li, where the same city does its present tense in low-rise stone and glass. About two and a half hours together.

Rail to Chongqing In the afternoon, take a high-speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing; the specific train number and seat class will be confirmed based on your travel date. Upon arrival at Chongqing Station, you will be met and taken to your hotel.

Evening Nothing is scheduled. One night in Chongqing, bags stay packed light for tomorrow.

Day 14 · A city with no ground floor, then the river

In the morning, explore Chongqing's three-dimensional mountain-city lanes and alleys; in the afternoon, head to the pier and board the ship for your confirmed sailing.

Chongqing's 8D Mountain City Circuit 8D is the nickname this city gave itself, for a place built on so many levels that the exit you take decides which floor you come out on. You walk and ride a route through those levels with your guide for about four hours: overpasses that meet buildings halfway up, streets that turn out to be roofs, lifts that count as public transport. Step out of an exit and check which number is on the wall before you look for the river.

Boarding in the afternoon Your driver and guide take you to the pier and hand you over for a four-day, three-night downstream sailing to Yichang. City transport at both ends is ours and is included.

Cruise Segment Confirmation Fare and cabin are not included in the base price on the page. Actual departure, cabin type, shipboard activities, and quotes will be confirmed based on your travel dates and included in the full itinerary.

Day 15 · A full day on the river

Spend the full day on board; specific activities and port stops are subject to the itinerary of the selected cruise.

Onboard Activities Whether onboard dining, activities, and shore excursions are included in your fare depends on the ticket type selected and the cruise line's terms; specific arrangements are detailed in your written itinerary.

What the day is for This is the middle of twenty-one days and nothing is scheduled against it on our side. Stand at the rail after breakfast and watch the valley walls close in on both sides.

长江游轮

Yichang · Day 16

Day 16 · Continue the river cruise

Continue downstream along the river; port calls, stopovers, and activity levels are subject to the cruise operator’s current itinerary.

Onboard and ashore If shore excursions are included in the itinerary for this sailing, the locations, activity levels, and whether they are included in the cruise fare are subject to the ship operator's descriptions and written itinerary.

The last quiet day We plan to disembark in Yichang and head to Shanghai tomorrow; tonight, we will remain on board.

航班

Shanghai · Day 17 - Day 21

Day 17 · Off the water, into the loudest city on the coast

Upon disembarking in Yichang, proceed to the airport and fly to Shanghai; on arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel in Shanghai.

Disembark at Yichang After disembarking in Yichang, a driver will meet you at the pier and escort you to the airport; transfer times will be arranged according to the confirmed cruise and flight schedules.

Flight to Shanghai The one internal flight on this route, in the base price, and the class for your order is written into your quote. Met on arrival and driven into the city.

Evening Nothing is scheduled. Four nights in one Shanghai hotel start tonight, and the suitcase stays open until day 21.

Day 18 · A garden inside the old town, then the collection

The oldest quarter of Shanghai in the morning, the country's objects in the afternoon. This is the day the last nineteen days get filed.

Yu Garden and the old city A classical garden of pavilions, rockery, ponds and winding paths, set inside the oldest quarter of the city with the bazaar streets around it. About two hours, all of it flat.

Shanghai Museum Bronzes and ceramics, painting and calligraphy, and the craft collections. It is the shortest route to reading everything you have already walked past in Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu. Entry is by named reservation and the booking system carries limited English, so we book your slot before you land. About two hours with your guide.

Day 19 · Plane Tree Streets, Wooden Workbenches, and Commute Boats

A slow grid of streets in the morning and a printing bench after it. The river crossing at the end is the one local people take to get to work.

Former French Concession and Wukang Road Plane-tree streets, historic residences and small independent shops on a street grid that runs at its own angle to the rest of the city and reads much slower than the skyline across the river. About two hours on foot.

Woodblock watermark printing A printing method that reproduces a painting by cutting one block per color and layering the impressions by hand, carried on in Shanghai through its long-established art and publishing houses. You work at the bench yourself for about ninety minutes, and what comes off it goes home with you.

Huangpu River ferry The crossing local people take to get to work, a working ferry rather than a sightseeing cruise. You stand at the rail with commuters and their scooters, and the towers on both banks pass at the speed of a bus route. About thirty minutes including the walk to the pier.

Day 20 · Art Spaces, Matrimonial Corner, and Shanghai Nights

By day, explore the art venues and the people’s park matchmaking corner; after dark, join your guide on a bar crawl—drinks are on your own.

Shanghai art centers Join a guided tour of Shanghai's contemporary art spaces; specific venues will be confirmed based on travel dates and included in the written itinerary.

People's Park marriage market A corner of the park where parents gather to find matches for their grown children, each of them standing there on someone else's behalf. Height, salary and hukou go on a sheet of paper under an umbrella. Your guide translates what is written and what is being asked. About an hour, and you look rather than take part. Standing there listening to the translation, you'll find yourself lowering your voice.

Guided bar round An evening round walked with your guide, who does the introductions and the ordering. About three hours. The guided round itself is in the base price, drinks are on your own account, and the venue list for your dates is named in your written itinerary.

Day 21 · Out through Shanghai

Your driver runs you to the airport with room left for the traffic. Twenty-one days end in the city that looks least like the one you landed in.

Airport drop-off The driver takes you to the airport with margin built against your flight time. If your flight is late in the day, tell us and the gap is arranged around your check-out time instead of left on a timetable.

Departures

Free PDF

Read it on your own time

We'll send this itinerary guide to your inbox for free.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.

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 Area)

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: A luxurious garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering complimentary shuttle service to both destinations.

Shanghai

MGM Bellagio Shanghai Bund Hotel

The MGM Bellagio Shanghai is a premier international luxury brand on the waterfront of the Bund, blending cinematic lobbies and river-view rooms into the southern section of the historic architectural complex.

Shanghai

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang, located in the South Huangpi Bridge area near the French Concession, is just steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.

Beijing

DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road

International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

Located near Jianshe Road and the Eastern Suburb Memory Park, its prime location makes it a desirable choice for accommodation in Chengdu.

Chengdu

Atour Hotel Chengdu Taikoo Li Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street

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

Xian

Shangri-La Hotel

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

Xian

Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel

Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.

chongqing

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.

Chongqing

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Beijing

Hilton Beijing

Established international hotel in Beijing with reliable service and central access.

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Center Aegean Sea

Inside the Aegean Sea Shopping Park at the intersection of Wuzhong Road and Hongjing Road in the golden commercial district of Hongqiao Town, directly connected to Longbai Xincun Station on Metro Line 10.

Chengdu

The Temple House

Boutique luxury hotel inside a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard near Taikoo Li with one of Chengdu's strongest design statements.

Yichang

The Westin Yichang

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

Beijing

Sofitel Beijing Central

Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.

Shanghai

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort Area)

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: A luxurious garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering complimentary shuttle service to both destinations.

Shanghai

MGM Bellagio Shanghai Bund Hotel

Shanghai

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang, located in the South Huangpi Bridge area near the French Concession, is just steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.

Beijing

DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road

International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

Located near Jianshe Road and the Eastern Suburb Memory Park, its prime location makes it a desirable choice for accommodation in Chengdu.

Chengdu

Atour Hotel Chengdu Taikoo Li Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street

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

Xian

Shangri-La Hotel

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

Xian

Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel

Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.

chongqing

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.

Chongqing

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Beijing

Hilton Beijing

Established international hotel in Beijing with reliable service and central access.

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Center Aegean Sea

Chengdu

The Temple House

Boutique luxury hotel inside a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard near Taikoo Li with one of Chengdu's strongest design statements.

Yichang

The Westin Yichang

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

Beijing

Sofitel Beijing Central

Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.

Shanghai

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort Area)

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: A luxurious garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering complimentary shuttle service to both destinations.

Shanghai

MGM Bellagio Shanghai Bund Hotel

Shanghai

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang, located in the South Huangpi Bridge area near the French Concession, is just steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.

Beijing

DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road

International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.

Chengdu

Hilton Chengdu Chenghua

Located near Jianshe Road and the Eastern Suburb Memory Park, its prime location makes it a desirable choice for accommodation in Chengdu.

Chengdu

Atour Hotel Chengdu Taikoo Li Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street

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

Xian

Shangri-La Hotel

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

Xian

Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel

Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.

chongqing

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.

Chongqing

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Beijing

Hilton Beijing

Established international hotel in Beijing with reliable service and central access.

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Center Aegean Sea

Chengdu

The Temple House

Boutique luxury hotel inside a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard near Taikoo Li with one of Chengdu's strongest design statements.

Yichang

The Westin Yichang

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

Beijing

Sofitel Beijing Central

Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.

Included / Excluded

What's Included

TransfersAirport pickup on day 1 in Beijing and airport drop-off on day 21 in Shanghai
Private vehiclePrivate vehicle for your group on every listed touring day in all five land cities: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai. The full-day Mutianyu round trip is included. Station and airport transfers are included for the three rail legs and the one internal flight, plus the pier transfers at Chongqing and Yichang. Vehicle type follows the final group size and is stated in writing in your quote
Rail, three legsDay 5: Beijing to Xi'an; Day 9: Xi'an to Chengdu; Day 13: Chengdu to Chongqing. Three high-speed rail segments are included in the base price. Specific train numbers and seat classes will be confirmed in the written itinerary based on your travel dates.
Internal flightDay 17: The domestic flight from Yichang to Shanghai is included in the base price; specific flight and cabin class will be confirmed in the written itinerary.
Hotels, 17 nights17 nights of land accommodation in total: 4 nights in Beijing, 4 nights in Xi'an, 4 nights in Chengdu, 1 night in Chongqing, and 4 nights in Shanghai. Actual hotels, room types, and breakfast arrangements are subject to the written quotation and confirmation.
GuideA licensed English-speaking guide on every touring day, city by city
Reservations booked by usIf the Forbidden City or Shanghai Museum require real-name reservations, we will assist with the booking on your confirmed travel date and verify the necessary identification details with you in advance.
BeijingForbidden City · Jingshan Park · Mutianyu Great Wall (includes cable car up; toboggan descent when open) · Temple of Heaven · Shichahai Hutongs · Gaiwan Tea Tasting · Cloisonné Workshop
Xi'anTerracotta Warriors · Xi'an City Wall Cycling (entry and bike rental fees per quoted price) · A Taste of Sifang Street (inclusions for tastings along the way per quoted price) · Shaanxi History Museum · Shadow Puppet Workshop · Grand Tang Mall
ChengduGiant Panda Base Morning Visit · Renmin Park Teahouse · Street Market & Sichuan Cooking Class · Community Sichuan Opera Backstage · Wenshu Monastery · Didi Food Night Tour (items for tasting along the route to be confirmed per quotation) · Kuanzhai Alley & Taikoo Li
ChongqingThe 8D city route on the morning of day 14
ShanghaiYu Garden and the old city · Shanghai Museum · former French Concession and Wukang Road · woodblock watermark printing · Huangpu River ferry crossing · Shanghai art centers · People's Park marriage market · the guided bar round itself
MealsA farmhouse lunch at the foot of the Great Wall on Day 3 and a Shaanxi noodle lunch on Day 6 can be arranged, subject to the written quote for total pricing. Tasting along the way on the Sajin Qian Food Exploration Tour and Chengdu Dudi Car Night Tour is confirmed according to the included items in the written experience documents; the Sichuan cuisine class includes the food prepared during the lesson.
InsuranceTravel accident insurance

Not Included

International flightsFlights into Beijing and out of Shanghai
The Yangtze shipFare and cabin options for the Chongqing to Yichang cruise on Days 14–17 are not included in the base page price; specific sailing, cabin availability, and quote must be verified separately based on your travel dates.
VisasVisa fees and processing for guests who need a Chinese visa, including every US guest on this route
MealsBeyond the meals listed above: lunches and dinners are recommended and booked by your guide, on your own account
DrinksDrinks on the Shanghai bar round and at any meal are on your own account
PersonalGratuities, laundry, telecoms and other personal spending. Single or extra-room difference
Optional add-onsAny additions to items outside the itinerary should be requested before the itinerary is finalized and itemized separately in the written quote.

Special Notes

Sailing schedules, train numbers, hotel details, and some dining arrangements are confirmed based on your travel date. Please verify the written itinerary before booking.

Yangtze River Cruise Segment — Days 14–17 include a cruise from Chongqing to Yichang. Fare and cabin selection are not included in the base price. Please share your travel dates so we can verify the specific itinerary, cabin availability, onboard activities, and pricing before adding the complete details to your itinerary.
Traveling in December — Can a four-day, three-night Chongqing-to-Yichang cruise segment be arranged in December? Specific sailing schedules and cabin availability for the chosen dates must be verified; saleable dates cannot be inferred solely from the original cruising season.
Departure Dates & Closure Days — Day 2 is scheduled for a visit to the Forbidden City, and Day 14 for boarding in Chongqing. The actual departure date must avoid the Forbidden City's closing days and align with the current cruise schedule; it will be confirmed and added to the written itinerary.
Holiday & Vessel Schedule Changes — Real-name reservations and boat schedule changes at attractions during holidays must be verified by specific date; affected arrangements will be explained before your itinerary is confirmed.
Voyage Confirmation — Ship activities and shore excursions are subject to the itinerary published for the selected voyage; once verified, they will be included in the written proposal.
Train Service & Cabin Class — Three high-speed rail segments and one domestic flight are included in the base fare; specific train numbers, flight numbers, seat classes, and cabin types are detailed in the written itinerary.
Reschedule — Any changes require rechecking availability and costs for high-speed rail, flights, and ferry segments. The final adjustments are confirmed in writing.
Entry and Stay Duration — Entry requirements depend on your passport, entry date, and total duration of stay in China; any other stays in China within about 21 days before or after this trip must also be cross-checked against the policies in force at the time of travel.
US passports — U.S. passport holders must verify the applicable entry requirements for China based on their actual travel dates; a 21-day itinerary cannot be covered solely by the 10-day transit visa exemption. Please confirm the required documents and processing times before booking.
Transit Visa Exemption — If you plan to use the transit visa-free policy, first verify its eligibility requirements and maximum stay limit; the 10-day transit visa waiver cannot cover a complete 21-day itinerary.
Dining & Accommodation — Whether lunch is included on Days 3 and 6, as well as the hotel, room type, and breakfast arrangements, are specified in the written quote for specific dates.
Confirmation and changes — The booking confirmation deadline, rescheduling, and refund terms are subject to the written quote and confirmation for that specific booking; please verify these details before payment.

Is Twenty-one Days Your Length?

Fewer than 21 days?

The six stops come apart cleanly. Beijing and Xi'an stand on their own as a ten-day pair, Chengdu and Shanghai each hold four nights without the rest, and the Chongqing and river stretch is the piece that lifts out first. Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we cut stops rather than cut nights.

Good to Know

Group Type: Quotes available for 1 guest; final group format, maximum number of participants, and vehicle specifications are subject to the written proposal.
Pace: 21 Days, 20 Nights: 4 nights each in Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Shanghai, 1 night in Chongqing, and 3 planned nights on the ship. Days 4 and 12 include flexible time, while activities on Days 15 and 16 are subject to the ship's itinerary.
Effort: The half-day Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, and Chongqing’s hilly cityscape involve walking; the Xi’an City Wall tour is primarily cycling. Onboard and onshore activity levels vary by actual cruise itinerary.
Ports: Beijing in, Shanghai out. Airport pickup on day 1 and drop-off on day 21
Entry: Please verify the applicable visa or visa-free policies based on your passport, travel dates, and total duration of stay in China; a 21-day itinerary cannot be covered solely by the 10-day transit visa-free policy.
Language: Licensed English-speaking local guides on every touring day, city by city
Departure Date: Specific departure dates must align with the Palace Museum’s operating schedule, actual ship itineraries from Chongqing to Yichang, and cabin availability. Please inquire for pricing by date.
Payment: Deposit, final payment dates, and cancellation/modification policies are specified in the written quote; please complete payment after confirming the full itinerary.

Your Private Concierge

Jenessa

Private China Route Concierge

“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”

Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.

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 traveler 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 traveler.

Before You Book

Everything worth knowing before you book.

Twenty-one days and only six places. What do we actually do on the fourth day in a city? 21

The things the guidebooks stop listing. In Beijing it is a lane walk, a tea table and a cloisonné bench; in Xi'an it is two hours riding around the top of the city wall and then eating one street over from the tourist flow; in Chengdu it is a whole afternoon in a park teahouse with nothing after it; in Shanghai it is a corner of People's Park where parents look for matches for their grown children. None of those are things to see. They are what the city is doing while you are there.

What is the situation with the Yangtze part?

Days 14 to 17 are a four-day, three-night downstream sailing from Chongqing to Yichang, sold by the operator on an all-inclusive ticket. We have not secured a cabin block: the operator holds no space and takes named bookings first come first served through its own system, so we cannot promise you a cabin today. That is why the ship is not in the price, not in the inclusions and not sold to you as a highlight, and why we take no orders and no deposits on this route yet. What holds either way: the 17 land nights and the four-night cities, the guides, the three rail legs and the flight. All of that is arranged, and the pier transfers at both ends are ours. Tell us your dates and we write to you the day a cabin is held.

Can we go in December?

Not on this route. The sailing this plan is built on leaves Chongqing on Fridays and its 2026 season ends on November 27, and no December sailing fits these 21 days. The last departure of this selling season is Saturday, November 14, 2026, finishing on December 4. If December is your only window, tell us and we will point you at routes that run then instead of bending this one.

Do we need a visa?

Most guests on this route do not. UK and European passports enter visa-free for stays days, and so do Canadian, Australian and New Zealand ones. Your 21 days plus any extra days in China are checked against that window order by order. Every departure in this selling season finishes on or before December 4, 2026, inside the current policy. US passports are different: the US is not on that list, and 21 days is far longer than the 10-day transit policy allows, so every US guest holds a Chinese tourist or business visa, applied for in person the first time. Because the sailing date is fixed, we confirm processing time against your departure date in writing before any payment. If the dates do not fit, we say so instead of selling.

How much walking is there really?

Three days carry real distance: the Forbidden City half day, the Mutianyu wall walk, and the Chongqing morning through the city's levels. Every climb on this route is done by machine: cable car up at Mutianyu, a seated sled down, lifts and escalators through Chongqing. The Xi'an wall is ridden, not walked. Four of the 21 days are rest days, three of those are on the river and ask nothing of anyone, and the two remaining land rest days have a monastery and an evening food ride on them. Tell us if anyone in your party wants a shorter version of a given day and the guide builds the day around that person.

Forbidden City

Jingshan Park

Mutianyu Great Wall

Farmhouse Lunch at the Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall Slide

Hutong and Shichahai Stroll

Tea Seating: A Gaiwan Introduction

Cloisonné Workshop

Temple of Heaven

Terracotta Army

Shaanxi Noodle Lunch

Xi'an City Wall Cycling

Sajinqiao Food Crawl

Shaanxi History Museum

Xi'an Shadow Puppet Workshop

Great Tang All Day Play City

Chengdu Panda Base

People's Park Tea House

Market Stroll and Sichuan Cooking Class

Behind the Scenes of Sichuan Opera

Wenshu Monastery

Tuk-Tuk Food Tour

Kuanzhai Alley and Taikoo Li

Chongqing: The 8D Magic City

Yu Garden and the Old Town

Shanghai Museum

The Old French Concession and Wukang Road

Woodblock Watermark Printing

The Bund & Huangpu River Ferry

Shanghai Art Center

Shanghai Dating Corner Visit

Shanghai's Upscale Bar Circuit

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Mutianyu Great Wall

04. Farmhouse Lunch at the Great Wall

05. Mutianyu Great Wall Slide

06. Hutong and Shichahai Stroll

07. Tea Seating: A Gaiwan Introduction

08. Cloisonné Workshop

09. Temple of Heaven

10. Terracotta Army

11. Shaanxi Noodle Lunch

12. Xi'an City Wall Cycling

13. Sajinqiao Food Crawl

14. Shaanxi History Museum

15. Xi'an Shadow Puppet Workshop

16. Great Tang All Day Play City

17. Chengdu Panda Base

18. People's Park Tea House

19. Market Stroll and Sichuan Cooking Class

20. Behind the Scenes of Sichuan Opera

21. Wenshu Monastery

22. Tuk-Tuk Food Tour

23. Kuanzhai Alley and Taikoo Li

24. Chongqing: The 8D Magic City

25. Yu Garden and the Old Town

26. Shanghai Museum

27. The Old French Concession and Wukang Road

28. Woodblock Watermark Printing

29. The Bund & Huangpu River Ferry

30. Shanghai Art Center

31. Shanghai Dating Corner Visit

32. Shanghai's Upscale Bar Circuit

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Mutianyu Great Wall

04. Farmhouse Lunch at the Great Wall

05. Mutianyu Great Wall Slide

06. Hutong and Shichahai Stroll

07. Tea Seating: A Gaiwan Introduction

08. Cloisonné Workshop

09. Temple of Heaven

10. Terracotta Army

11. Shaanxi Noodle Lunch

12. Xi'an City Wall Cycling

13. Sajinqiao Food Crawl

14. Shaanxi History Museum

15. Xi'an Shadow Puppet Workshop

16. Great Tang All Day Play City

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 8

Chengdu · Day 9 - Day 12

Chongqing · Day 13 - Day 15