Wall to Waterworks: 18-Day Private China Tour

Overview

China spent two thousand years building walls, and just as long constructing the roads and water projects that spanned them. Beijing has two walls: one encircling the imperial city, the other stretching along the mountain ridge. In Xi'an, you can cycle along the ancient city wall before boarding a high-speed train toward the southwest. The Dujiangyan irrigation system outside Chengdu has been diverting water since the 3rd century BC, and it still functions today. Then follow the Yangtze eastward to conclude the journey on the banks of Shanghai's Huangpu River. From walls to water, each stop picks up the question raised by the last.

— LyrikTrip Travel Designer

Let us know your travel dates and the number of fellow travelers. We will first verify the Yangtze River cruise itinerary, cabin availability, and transfers in Chongqing and Yichang, then provide a written quote that itemizes included services and separate charges. If you have fewer than 18 days, the itinerary can also be adjusted by section.

Why you'll love this trip

Six stops take in the Terracotta Warriors, pandas, Dujiangyan, and the Bund; daily tours in four cities include an English-speaking guide.
From the Great Wall to 3rd-century BC hydraulic diversion works, this 18-day journey reveals how China connects itself.

Walk in a straight line through the palace, then climb the small hill behind it to look back: the overwhelming scale hidden within the walls unfolds in a single glance.
Ride the cable car up to the Mutianyu Great Wall, then slide down: enjoy a full view of the beacon towers while sparing your knees.
Standing before the Terracotta Army, gaze until you stop counting and begin to read their faces; no one leaves the hall with the same understanding of what power truly looks like in a person.
Ride atop the Xi'an City Wall, circling the old town once: having viewed the wall from outside in Beijing on two occasions, you can now finally stand on top of it.
Give an entire day over to Chengdu: watch the pandas in the morning, enjoy tea at a teahouse in the afternoon—no need to switch cities. This is the only day in your journey that requires zero planning on your part.
Standing at the split point of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, where a river was divided into two back in the 3rd century BCE, you can see that division continuing into this morning: this is the line you'll use when someone asks what China looks like after you get home.
Upon arrival in Shanghai, enjoy a guided stroll along The Bund: on one side, historic century-old trading firms and bank buildings; on the other, the towers of Pudong. The actual evening tour is scheduled to accommodate your flight connections.

Things to do

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Dialogue Among the Daoist Temples of Qingcheng Mountain, chengdu

Yuyuan Garden and the Old Town, Shanghai

Former French Concession and Wukang Road, Shanghai

The Bund and Huangpu River Ferry, Shanghai

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Family

Landmark

Culture

Museum

City

Heritage

Cycling

Food

Pagoda

Nature

Learn more

City

Learn more

Heritage

City

Culture

Riverfront

Heritage

Museum

City

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Family

Landmark

Culture

Museum

City

Heritage

Cycling

Food

Pagoda

Nature

Learn more

City

Learn more

Heritage

City

Culture

Riverfront

Heritage

Museum

City

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Family

Landmark

Culture

Museum

City

Heritage

Cycling

Food

Pagoda

Nature

Learn more

City

Learn more

Heritage

City

Culture

Riverfront

Heritage

Museum

City

Itinerary

Arrivals

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Day 1 · Land, and stop

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

Arrival Upon arrival, please proceed to your hotel in Beijing for rest based on your flight landing time; overnight accommodation for that night is included in the base rate. Pick-up service fees and transfer arrangements will be detailed in your written quote.

Evening No excursions are scheduled for the evening. You may dine near the hotel; please let us know in advance if you would like restaurant suggestions or booking assistance. Meals are at your own expense.

Day 2 · One axis, then the view back

A palace built as one wall inside another, walked in a single line. Today you get both the inside of it and the shape of it.

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

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

Pace The Forbidden City is vast, so this day focuses on the central axis with rest stops along the way. After ascending Jingshan for a sweeping view, no further large monuments will be scheduled.

Day 3 · The wall, without the climb

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

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

Cable car up The climbing is done for you. You step off onto a restored stretch of wall with watchtowers running away along the ridge in both directions, and your guide reads it to you: the beacon towers, the pass in the valley below, why the towers stand where they stand. Look along the ridge with the towers stepping down it one after another. That is the fifteen seconds worth filming.

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

Descend via slide Descend via a slide rail that glides down a metal track through the forest, eliminating the need to walk down stone steps.

Day 4 · The other way of drawing a line

Heaven is round, earth is square. Today's line and etiquette have nothing to do with military defense, like the Great Wall.

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

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

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

高铁

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7

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

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

Old Beijing hutongs and the Shichahai lakeside Courtyard lanes and lakeside streets doing their ordinary morning, gray brick and doorway stones on both sides, bicycles going past with breakfast on the handlebars. The lakes sit flat between the streets and the neighborhood is out already.

High-speed rail to Xi'an In the afternoon, take a high-speed train to Xi'an, with the North China Plain gliding past the window. Train number and seat class are subject to your travel date and will be confirmed in your written quote.

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

Day 6 · Eight thousand, for one man

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

高铁

Chengdu · Day 8 - Day 11

Day 8 · The road out, then over the mountains

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chengdu panda base You are there in the morning, the hours when the animals are generally moving: eating, coming down off a platform, dropping back to sleep in the fork of a tree. Flat shaded paths and benches. Get to an enclosure fence early and wait rather than walking the whole park: the animal comes over on its own schedule.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day 11 · The city the water paid for

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

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

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

Your Last Night in Chengdu Tonight we’ll remain in Chengdu. Tomorrow we’ll take the high-speed train to Chongqing, and from the Mountain City begin our Yangtze River cruise.

高铁

Chongqing · Day 12 - Day 14

Day 12 · Chengdu to Chongqing

Take a high-speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing and spend the night in the Mountain City to allow time to connect to the boat the next day.

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

Overnight in Chongqing Upon arrival, proceed to the hotel to rest. Hotel arrangements, station transfers, and next-day departure to the pier will be confirmed item by item based on the cruise schedule and written quotation.

Day 13 · Boarding at Chongqing

Board from Chongqing's harbor and spend the next three nights drifting east on the Yangtze River.

Set sail on the river Board the vessel at the dock according to the confirmed departure time, and spend three nights cruising downstream to Yichang. The specific boarding window and dock shuttle for the day are confirmed with each sailing.

Onboard arrangements The ship name, cabin category, on-board dining, and shore excursions vary by sailing. The specific inclusions and any additional fees are subject to the written quote.

Day 14 · Downstream through the gorges

The cruise travels down the Yangtze River through the Three Gorges; which section is passed during the day is subject to the actual sailing schedule.

The gorges Cruising downstream, the ship passes through the Qutang Gorge, the Wu Gorge, and the Xiling Gorge in sequence. As you stand on the deck gazing at the sheer cliffs on either side, which sections can be seen in daylight depends on the specific sailing schedule of your itinerary.

Low water During the low-water season in late autumn and winter, the operator may adjust the sailing date or the actual river section. After selecting your dates, we will verify the seasonal schedule and onboard excursion arrangements.

长江游轮

Yichang · Day 15

Day 15 · From Dujiangyan to the Three Gorges Dam

Two millennia apart, two approaches to the same waterway. Dam tour times confirmed with each cruise.

Dam tour arrangements This itinerary places the dam visit in this section; the actual tour may take place on Day 15 or on the day of disembarkation. We will confirm the dates, transportation, and ticket inclusions based on the specific ship you have selected.

Two Hydraulic Engineering Projects On day 10, Dujiangyan’s water-diversion system, which channels rather than blocks the river, gives way to a very different kind of hydraulic engineering at the Three Gorges Dam. As we travel east along the river, the contrast between these two upstream landmarks becomes vividly clear.

航班

Shanghai · Day 16 - Day 18

Day 16 · Off the river, into the city

Fly from Yichang to Shanghai, and explore the Shanghai Bund and both banks of the Huangpu River upon arrival; the exact order will be adjusted based on the cruise ship’s arrival time and flight schedule.

Disembarking and the flight to Shanghai After disembarking in Yichang, transfer to the airport and fly to Shanghai. Terminal transfers, flight schedules, and related fees will be confirmed in the written quote based on the cruise ship's port arrival time.

The Bund and the Pudong skyline Upon arriving in Shanghai, you will be accompanied by a guide to stroll along The Bund, or we may adjust this to the evening of the next day depending on your flight time. On one side stand the century-old trading firms and bank buildings; on the other, the skyscrapers of Pudong, gazing across the Huangpu River at each other.

Why the guide stays The Bund is usually crowded, so your guide will accompany you through this stretch and highlight the architectural landmarks on both banks. Any adjustments to your tour date will be confirmed along with your flight details in the booking.

Day 17 · A garden, then the objects

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

Yu Garden and the old city Pavilions, rockery, ponds and a path that never runs straight, dropped inside the oldest quarter of the city. Follow the path without choosing turns and let it bring you back; the whole design is built so that it does. Flat the whole way.

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

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

Day 18 · The River Flows to the Sea

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

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

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

Departure Proceed to the airport in accordance with your return flight time. Whether pickup is included, along with the vehicle type and transfer times, will be specified in the written quote.

Departures

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Hotels

These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.

Shanghai

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort Area)

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

Beijing

Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)

Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.

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.

chongqing

Chongqing Marriott Hotel

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

Chongqing

Wuyu Sky Garden Hotel

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

Shanghai

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.

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

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

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

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

DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road

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

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui Pudong Avenue

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

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.

Beijing

Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)

Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.

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.

chongqing

Chongqing Marriott Hotel

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

Chongqing

Wuyu Sky Garden Hotel

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

Shanghai

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.

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

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

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

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

DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road

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

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui Pudong Avenue

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

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.

Beijing

Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)

Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.

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.

chongqing

Chongqing Marriott Hotel

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

Chongqing

Wuyu Sky Garden Hotel

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

Shanghai

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.

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

Pagoda Hotel Chongqing Jiefangbei

Beijing

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

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

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

DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road

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

Shanghai

Atour S Hotel Shanghai Lujiazui Pudong Avenue

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

Included / Excluded

What's Included

Intercity railFour scheduled rail segments: Day 5, Beijing to Xi'an; Day 8, Xi'an to Chengdu; Day 10, day trip to Dujiangyan; and Day 12, Chengdu to Chongqing. Specific train numbers and seat classes are detailed for each segment in the written quotation.
Hotels ashore13 nights on land arranged per your selected tier, including hotel breakfasts: 4 nights in Beijing, 3 nights in Xi'an, 4 nights in Chengdu, and 2 nights in Shanghai. Hotel names, room types, and standards for same-tier substitutions are set out in the written confirmation.
GuideSightseeing days in Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu (including Dujiangyan), and Shanghai will be accompanied by a licensed English-speaking guide, including an evening tour of Shanghai's Bund; specific dates are subject to connections with Yichang flights.
VehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring in those four cities, including the full-day Mutianyu round trip on day 3 and the Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng round trip on day 10
Timed reservationsThe Forbidden City on day 2, the National Museum of China on day 4 and Shanghai Museum on day 17, all booked by us; you supply passport details at booking
Tickets and experiences, BeijingThe Forbidden City walked along the central axis · Jingshan Park · Mutianyu Great Wall with the cable car up and the toboggan down · Tian'anmen Square · Temple of Heaven · the National Museum of China · the hutongs and Shichahai lakeside walk
Tickets and experiences, Xi'anThe Terracotta Warriors · Xi'an City Wall by bike with wall admission and bicycle rental · the Bell and Drum Tower area with the Muslim Quarter · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Tickets and experiences, Chengdu and DujiangyanThe panda base in the morning · the gaiwan teahouse sitting in People's Park with the tea · the Dujiangyan irrigation works · a small Taoist temple on Mount Qingcheng with time with a resident priest and a taiji session · Kuanzhai Alley with Taikoo Li · community Sichuan opera with the backstage visit and face changing up close
Tickets and experiences, ShanghaiGuided walk through the Bund and Pudong skyline, itinerary aligned with the Yichang flight · Yu Garden and the Old City · Shanghai Museum · Former French Concession and Wukang Road · Huangpu River Ferry
MealsOne hotel breakfast for each of the 13 nights ashore, plus the tea at the day 9 teahouse sitting, which is part of that experience rather than a meal. No lunch and no dinner is in the base price
InsuranceTravel accident insurance; the sum insured and what it covers are stated in your written confirmation

Not Included

International flightsFlights into Beijing and out of Shanghai
Yangtze Section: Items subject to order confirmationThe following must be verified item by item: accommodation and transfers in Chongqing on night 12, the Chongqing-to-Yichang cruise ticket and onboard meals, shore excursions, the transfer upon disembarkation in Yichang, and the flight to Shanghai. Items not listed as included in the written quote will be charged separately; inclusion cannot be assumed solely from the daily itinerary.
VisasFor guests requiring a Chinese visa, visa fees and processing costs are confirmed based on individual documentation and order details.
MealsEvery lunch and dinner not listed above: recommended and booked by your guide, on your account
In-park transport ashoreThe only in-park transport in the base price is the Mutianyu cable car and toboggan. Any other cable car, chairlift, shuttle cart, sightseeing bus or in-park boat anywhere on this route, Mount Qingcheng included, is bought on the day at the posted fare
In-venue spendingSpending inside museums, palaces, parks or markets, plus any paid photography or paid interactive item inside a venue
Early arrival and late departureNights before day 1 and after day 18, and the transfers for them, priced separately at the time of choosing
PersonalGratuities, laundry, communications and personal spending, plus any single or extra-room difference

Special Notes

Please note that Yangtze River itineraries, attraction opening hours, and shuttle schedules may affect specific arrangements. Please refer to your written order confirmation for final details.

Booking & Written Quotation — This 18-day itinerary can be booked by date. Days 12 through 16 include accommodation and transfers in Chongqing, three nights on a river cruise, disembarkation in Yichang, and a connecting flight to Shanghai. Specific cruise sailings, cabin categories, onboard dining, shore excursions, and all associated fees will be confirmed item by item on a per-order basis prior to payment.
Three Gorges Dam Visit — The Three Gorges Dam excursion date depends on the selected river cruise itinerary and may be scheduled on Day 15 or on the disembarkation day. The specific date and tour format will be added to your itinerary once your cruise is confirmed.
Yichang to Shanghai Transfer — If the dam tour is scheduled on the disembarkation day, the Yichang flight and the Shanghai Bund tour on Day 16 will need to be adjusted accordingly. Day 18's walk on Wukang Road and the ferry crossing will also be timed around the return flight schedule; the actual sequence will be confirmed in your booking.
Low water — Cruise itineraries may be adjusted during the dry season in autumn and winter due to lower river levels. Once you select a date, please verify the route and shore excursions against the operator's current season schedule.
Departure dates — Travel is busier during China's National Day Golden Week, so visit days for the Terracotta Warriors and the panda reserve may be adjusted to match your actual tour schedule. The Forbidden City is usually closed on Mondays; if Day 2 falls on a closure day, the order of visiting the Great Wall can be adjusted.
Museum calendars — the National Museum of China on day 4 and Shanghai Museum on day 17 both take named timed reservations. Each order is checked against those venues' published opening calendars for that week before your date is confirmed.
Nights between Chengdu and Shanghai — The current itinerary includes 4 nights in Chengdu and 2 nights in Shanghai. The selected hotels, room types, and actual number of nights will be itemized by city in your booking confirmation.
Rail seat class — The train numbers and seat classes for the four rail segments are subject to the specific travel dates and will be itemized segment by segment in the written quotation.
Airport transfers — Airport pickup in Beijing on Day 1 and drop-off in Shanghai on Day 18 are subject to your flight schedule; whether these are included in the quoted price will be specified in your order. The Beijing accommodation for the first night is included in the base rate.
Group — Private itinerary, minimum 1 guest; vehicle and room type arrangements confirmed based on the actual number of accompanying guests.
Visa window — Entry eligibility depends on your passport, purpose of travel, travel dates, and policies in effect at the time. The 18-day itinerary must also account for any other days you spend in China—verify each booking individually before confirming.
US passports — Guests holding U.S. passports may also request a quote. The 240-hour visa-free transit policy does not cover the full 18-day itinerary; applicable visa requirements or other entry options must be verified based on individual documents and travel dates.
Confirmation and changes — Cancellation and modification rules may vary across cruise, rail, and flight bookings. Please refer to the written terms of your specific order for deadlines, change policies, and refund conditions.

Is Eighteen Days Your Length?

Fewer than eighteen days?

This route unfolds by chapter. The Beijing–Xi'an and Dujiangyan legs can each be arranged independently; if your time is limited, you can trim chapters according to your dates and confirm pricing and transfers in a written quote.

Good to Know

Group: Private itinerary, starting from 1 guest; group size, vehicle, and room type are confirmed per order.
Pace: 18 days, 6 stops: 4 nights in Beijing, 3 in Xi'an, 4 in Chengdu, 1 in Chongqing, 3 aboard the ship, and 2 in Shanghai. The cruise itinerary and actual accommodation are subject to order confirmation.
Effort: Moderate. The Great Wall climb is by cable car and the descent by toboggan, the Xi'an wall is ridden, and the longest walking days are the palace day and Dujiangyan
Ports: Beijing in, Shanghai out. Whether your order includes the day 1 and day 18 airport transfers is stated in writing in your quote
Rail: The base quote includes the four rail segments outlined above; specific train numbers and seat classes are detailed in the written quotation.
Visas: Entry visa requirements or visa-free eligibility are verified on a case-by-case basis according to passport details, travel dates, and current policies; the 18-day itinerary is not eligible for the 240-hour transit visa waiver.
Language: Licensed English-speaking local guides throughout, city by city
Payment: Available for 1 guest. Deposit, final payment deadlines, and Yangtze River cruise inclusions are subject to the written quote and order terms; equivalent-venue substitutions will be specified in the confirmation.
Season: Selected dates must align with scenic spot operating days and Yangtze River sailing schedules; actual cruising segments during the dry season (autumn and winter) are confirmed per the selected departure.

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.

Is the Yangtze part actually happening?

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

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

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

Eighteen days is long. Will we be worn out by the middle?

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

Do we need a visa?

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

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

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

Forbidden City

Jingshan Park

Muyushui Great Wall

Muyushui Great Wall Toboggan

Tiananmen Square

Temple of Heaven

National Museum of China

Hutong and Shichahai Stroll

Terracotta Warriors

Biking the Xi'an City Wall

Muslim Quarter

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Chengdu Panda Base

People's Park Tea

Dujiangyan

Dialogue Among the Daoist Temples of Qingcheng Mountain

Kuanzhai Alley & Taikoo Li

Community Opera

The Bund

Yuyuan Garden and the Old Town

Shanghai Museum

Former French Concession and Wukang Road

The Bund and Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Muyushui Great Wall

04. Muyushui Great Wall Toboggan

05. Tiananmen Square

06. Temple of Heaven

07. National Museum of China

08. Hutong and Shichahai Stroll

09. Terracotta Warriors

10. Biking the Xi'an City Wall

11. Muslim Quarter

12. Big Wild Goose Pagoda

13. Chengdu Panda Base

14. People's Park Tea

15. Dujiangyan

16. Dialogue Among the Daoist Temples of Qingcheng Mountain

17. Kuanzhai Alley & Taikoo Li

18. Community Opera

19. The Bund

20. Yuyuan Garden and the Old Town

21. Shanghai Museum

22. Former French Concession and Wukang Road

23. The Bund and Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Muyushui Great Wall

04. Muyushui Great Wall Toboggan

05. Tiananmen Square

06. Temple of Heaven

07. National Museum of China

08. Hutong and Shichahai Stroll

09. Terracotta Warriors

10. Biking the Xi'an City Wall

11. Muslim Quarter

12. Big Wild Goose Pagoda

13. Chengdu Panda Base

14. People's Park Tea

15. Dujiangyan

16. Dialogue Among the Daoist Temples of Qingcheng Mountain

17. Kuanzhai Alley & Taikoo Li

18. Community Opera

19. The Bund

20. Yuyuan Garden and the Old Town

21. Shanghai Museum

22. Former French Concession and Wukang Road

23. The Bund and Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Muyushui Great Wall

04. Muyushui Great Wall Toboggan

05. Tiananmen Square

06. Temple of Heaven

07. National Museum of China

08. Hutong and Shichahai Stroll

09. Terracotta Warriors

10. Biking the Xi'an City Wall

11. Muslim Quarter

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7

Chengdu · Day 8 - Day 11

Chongqing · Day 12 - Day 14

Yichang · Day 15

Shanghai · Day 16 - Day 18