China Tours for Solo Travelers
A solo trip to China is planned but chaotic, and it's always amazing. You'll see the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, the Bund in Shanghai, and the karst peaks in Guilin. You'll see real differences. On tours, you can meet other travelers, try local foods, see how old and new things can live together, and make memories that will last a lifetime.
10 best China solo travel packages
Compiled by
NadineChina travel expert at TourRadar
- Solo-ish China
- Ultimate 6 Single Days Private Tour: Shanghai,Hangzhou,Suzhou and Huangshan
- 11-Day Classic China Tour: Quality Small Group & Luxury Hotels, All Inclusive
- Real China Highlights
- Great Wall & Warriors - 10 days
- 11 Days China Natural Wonders Group Tour
- 12 Days China - Private Tour (Beijing/Xian/Chengdu/Guilin & Shanghai)
- China Golden Triangle 8D Group Tour: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai
- North China Ancient Town Exploration Tour In 11 Days - Private Tour
- 11-Day Best China Zhangjiajie Tour: Luxury Small Group & Quality Hotels
Solo-ish China
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Seen so much, experienced so much, a wonderful guide, a nice group of people, good food.”
Margrit, traveled in October
Small groups welcome travelers age 18+, featuring shared cooking classes in Shanghai and group dinners in traditional settings. The itinerary winds through Luoyi Ancient Town and includes hiking the Great Wall at Jinshanling. Comfortable twin-share accommodation in hotels near Xi'an's Muslim Quarter and Beijing's historic sites.
Duration 11 days Destinations Shanghai, Zhujiajiao, Yangzhou, Xi'an, Luoyang, Jinshanling, Beijing Age Range Ages 18+ Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type Group Room Type Singles, Shared Operator G Adventures From $2,599
25% Off- US$1,949You save $650
Private guides lead solo travelers (ages 3+) through Shanghai's French Concession in Xintiandi and around Hangzhou's West Lake by boat. The tour heads to Huangshan Mountain for hikes at Lion Peak and Xihai Grand Canyon, then stops at local tea farms to see Longjing tea processing. Single rooms in 4-star hotels.
Duration 6 days Destinations Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Huangshan Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Chinese Group Size Max Group Size 15 Group Type PrivatePersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Shanghai Advisor Tour From
25% Off- US$1,980+$240 local payments
11-Day Classic China Tour: Quality Small Group & Luxury Hotels, All Inclusive
12 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Got new friends with whole group members. Accomodation/hotel was much better as expected.”
Romeo, traveled in March
Small groups of 2-18 visit Forbidden City and Terracotta Army. Cultural experiences include dumpling dinners in Xi'an and rickshaw rides through Beijing's hutongs, while enjoying single rooms in 5-star hotels.
Duration 11 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 18 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Travel China Guide From
25% Off- US$2,009
Real China Highlights
7 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Very good, it was a very pleasant trip, I will participate in other China tours.”
Charlotte, traveled in April
Like-minded explorers aged 46+ share exciting activities like cycling in Yangshuo and walking Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, while maintaining personal space with flexible hotel arrangements.
Duration 12 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangshuo, Hong Kong Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type PrivatePersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Truly China Travel From
25% Off- US$3,338
Great Wall & Warriors - 10 days
23 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The tour ended up being better even than I expected.”
Melanie, traveled in July
Social activities include dumpling-making in Xi'an and morning exercises in Xiyuan Park. Groups averaging 42 years old share discoveries in Beijing's hutongs and Shanghai's Bund. No mandatory single supplement.
Duration 10 days Destinations Beijing, Luoyang, Xi'an, Shanghai Age Range Ages 15+ Group Size Max Group Size 24 Group Type Group Room Type Singles, Shared Operator On The Go Tours From $3,130
25% Off- US$2,348You save $783
11 Days China Natural Wonders Group Tour
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Very well organised. Highly recommanded.”
TUDOR, traveled in July
Small groups of 18 travelers share experiences at Beijing hutongs and Zhangjiajie's glass bridges. The tour includes visits to Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors, with 4-star accommodations throughout China.
Duration 11 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Group Size Max Group Size 18 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Top China Travel From
25% Off- US$2,303
12 Days China - Private Tour (Beijing/Xian/Chengdu/Guilin & Shanghai)
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The natural beauty of Guilin and Yangshuo left us speechless. The Li River cruise was simply stunning.”
Loree, traveled in December
Solo travelers have private guides at each stop, including Mutianyu Great Wall and Chengdu's panda research center where you'll get close to the bears. High-speed trains connect Beijing, Xi'an, and Chengdu with airport transfers at each city. The Li River cruise includes a deluxe buffet lunch, and 24/7 hotline support.
Duration 12 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch Group Size Max Group Size 15 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Realistic Asia From $3,496
5% Off- US$3,321+$450 local paymentsYou save $175
China Golden Triangle 8D Group Tour: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Big thank you to Top China tours on awesome tour experience and would highly recommend tour anyone wanting to visit China.”
dean, traveled in September
Intimate groups of max 18 people welcome individual travelers. The tour weaves through Beijing's Temple of Heaven, Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, and Shanghai's Nong Tang alleys. Private room options available in 4-star hotels.
Duration 8 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Zhujiajiao Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Group Size Max Group Size 18 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Top China Travel From
5% Off- US$1,451
North China Ancient Town Exploration Tour In 11 Days - Private Tour
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The tour through North China's ancient towns exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend this for anyone who loves history.”
Bantl, traveled in September
Solo travelers stay in private rooms at spots like Xinghuacun Inn in Pingyao and Sunrise on the Bund Hotel in Shanghai. Wander Xi'an's Muslim Quarter to try street snacks or walk Beijing's Wangfujing Commercial Street. A single agent handles your trip from start to finish (ages 1+, December bookings popular).
Duration 11 days Destinations Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, Xi'an, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch Group Size Max Group Size 90 Group Type PrivatePersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Realistic Asia From $2,454
30% Off- US$1,718+$850 local paymentsYou save $736
11-Day Best China Zhangjiajie Tour: Luxury Small Group & Quality Hotels
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The tour was very knowledgeable and helpful, thank you very much.”
igor, traveled in April
Daily group activities at Forbidden City and Terracotta Army unite travelers (average age 53). No single supplement needed, with social highlights including dumpling dinners in Xi'an and Hutong family visits in Beijing.
Duration 11 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 18 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Travel China Guide From
30% Off- US$2,579
What people love about touring China solo
- 11-Day Classic China Tour: Quality Small Group & Luxury Hotels, All Inclusive
The tour was excellent from A to Z. Our guides Kitty (Beijing), Lily (Xi'an), Monica (Guilin) and Mary (Shanghai) were knowledgeable, informative, caring and attentive. It was well curated, and we hit all the spots from modern to traditional to naturist. I have become taken by the country and wonderful people, and ive been singing its praises since I returned home. All in all an excellent and memorable trip. Five stars ?????!
Thanks for a great trip, we had the best time. Hope to come back for another China tour.
Real China Highlights
- 11 Days China Natural Wonders Group Tour
It was a first time experience for me to travel in with a group of strangers and it was a fun experience. They let us know where are the god places to buy thing or shop for things. But I think the downside it that it should be a bit more organised. Some of the guides don't mention first and people wander off. They don't keep track of the people if they are still with the group or not till later. But then again it's not the guides fault. It's best if the guide is more organised. Overall I'd say the tour was fun, exceptional and I believe some people made some new friends along the way?.
What our customers ask about China Tours for Solo Travelers
What's the best time of year for solo travelers to join a China tour?
Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-October) offer the most pleasant travel conditions with manageable temperatures and large numbers of fellow solo adventurers. During these peak months solo travelers make up 50-60% of tour participants. A recent TourRadar traveler noted "I went in September and there were 6 other solo travelers in my group of 15 making it easy to connect and explore places like the Mutianyu Great Wall together."
Which cities in China are most solo traveler-friendly on guided tours?
Beijing Shanghai and Xi'an stand out as the most welcoming cities for solo travelers. Each offers a good mix of famous landmarks and social settings. The Muslim Quarter in Xi'an and French Concession in Shanghai let travelers explore independently during free time while still feeling secure. As one TourRadar participant said "As a solo traveler I felt completely comfortable exploring the hutongs of Beijing and evening markets in Shanghai with guidance from our tour leader."
How social are the group tours in China for solo travelers?
The group dynamic on China tours naturally brings people together with solo travelers making up 40-60% of most groups. Tours create natural bonding moments through shared activities like dumpling-making in Xi'an tea ceremonies and group meals. A TourRadar guest shared "The group was very social and the guides were excellent at bringing everyone together especially during the Huizhou village homestay and shared meals at places like the Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao."
How much free time is typically available for solo exploration on China group tours?
Tours usually set aside 2-3 hours daily for independent activities particularly in the evenings. Hotels like the Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao place you close to key attractions for easy exploring. A TourRadar participant shared "I appreciated having free evenings to explore places like the Bund in Shanghai or join optional activities with other solo travelers from the group."
How do meals work for solo travelers on China group tours?
The meal setup includes daily breakfast at accommodations like the Shanghai Metropolo Jinjiang plus several shared dining experiences featuring local dishes. A TourRadar guest commented "As a solo traveler I loved the group dining experiences - from dumplings in Xi'an to Peking duck in Beijing it was a great way to socialize and try authentic dishes without worrying about ordering alone."