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
- China Express
- 10-Day China Premium Tour: Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
- Great Wall & Warriors - 10 days
- 6 Days Beijing Xi'an Group Tour
- 11 Days China Natural Wonders Group Tour
- 12 Days China - Private Tour (Beijing/Xian/Chengdu/Guilin & Shanghai)
- North China Ancient Town Exploration Tour In 11 Days - Private Tour
- 6- Days Classic China Tour - Private Tour
- 14 Days Highlight of China - Private Tour
- 11-Day Best China Zhangjiajie Tour: Luxury Small Group & Quality Hotels
China Express
38 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The local guides are always very knowledgeable and are happy to share information about their country.”
Nicole, traveled in October
Small groups of 12-15 travelers share adventures at Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, and Shanghai's Bund. Shared room options available in 3-star hotels, with English-speaking CEO guidance throughout.
Duration 8 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai Age Range Ages 12+ Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type Group Room Type Singles, Shared Operator G Adventures From $1,869
10% Off- US$1,682You save $187
10-Day China Premium Tour: Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Fantastic! Exceeded expectations, 5 stars!”
Kimberley, traveled in May
Duration 10 days Destinations Beijing, Pingyao, Xi'an, Shanghai, Wuzhen Age Range Ages 18+ Group Size Max Group Size 16 Group Type Group Room Type Singles, Shared Operator The Dragon Trip From $3,363
15% Off- US$2,859You save $504
Great Wall & Warriors - 10 days
23 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We really enjoyed our tour, we had a small group from different countries. The group became very close, it was a great trip.”
Sandra, traveled in October
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 $3,075
20% Off- US$2,460You save $615
6 Days Beijing Xi'an Group Tour
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Awesome hospitality at both cities with lots of great memories on the places that we have visited.”
Cindy, traveled in May
Travelers averaging 69 years share airport transfers and group activities at Temple of Heaven and Terracotta Warriors. Meaningful connections form during Hutong family visits and Muslim Quarter walks while enjoying private 4-star accommodation.
Duration 6 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an Age Range All Ages Welcome Group Size Max Group Size 20 Group Type GroupPersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Top China Travel From
20% Off- US$917
11 Days China Natural Wonders Group Tour
4 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
20% Off- US$2,303
12 Days China - Private Tour (Beijing/Xian/Chengdu/Guilin & Shanghai)
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The combination of ancient culture in Beijing and Xi'an with the natural beauty of Guilin and the modern skyline of Shanghai was perfect.”
Ashok, traveled in October
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
North China Ancient Town Exploration Tour In 11 Days - Private Tour
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We had a fantastic trip.”
Caroline, traveled in December
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
21% Off- US$1,939+$850 local paymentsYou save $515
6- Days Classic China Tour - Private Tour
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Realistic Asia paid close attention to details. They were very accommodating and responsive.”
Duane, traveled in July
Groups average age 44, with personalized guidance at Forbidden City and Summer Palace. Social dining experiences feature meals at Shi Yuan Restaurant and local dim sum venues.
Duration 6 days Destinations Beijing, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch Group Size Max Group Size 15 Group Type PrivatePersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Realistic Asia From $1,094
21% Off- US$864+$300 local paymentsYou save $230
14 Days Highlight of China - Private Tour
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The trip was wonderful in every aspect. The itinerary was carefully prepared to give us an excellent impression of the impressive China.”
Frederico, traveled in March
Private guides welcome singles without supplement fees. Local connections flourish at Beijing's Temple of Heaven morning exercises and Yangshuo's West Street. Most travelers average 57 years old, with dedicated English-speaking guide support.
Duration 14 days Destinations Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shanghai Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch Group Size Max Group Size 15 Group Type PrivatePersonalized Room Type Singles, Shared Operator Realistic Asia From $7,836
5% Off- US$7,444+$730 local paymentsYou save $392
11-Day Best China Zhangjiajie Tour: Luxury Small Group & Quality Hotels
3 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
5% Off- US$2,579
What people love about touring China solo
- 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?.
- 6- Days Classic China Tour - Private Tour
We have a tremendous time. Everything was on schedule. For the short amount of time, we were able to go and see so many amazing places. The guides and drivers in both cities were wonderful and courteous. The tour guides spoke perfect English, so they looked after us well. They took us to different entrances of popular places to by-pass the huge line-ups. We are grateful to our Shanghai guide, William, and the driver, they went out of their way to book and to take our daughter to the hospital in Shanghai. She had a fall and had hurt her shoulder. The tour agent, Thang, was amazing, she helped organizing and keeping our documents on track, to ensure that all our documents were in proper order. She also kept communication with us and to inform us about everything. She has been super helpful throughout the process. When we had an incident just before the tour, she went out of her way to ensure that all is fine. It was much appreciated.
- 14 Days Highlight of China - Private Tour
This was an amazing trip and every detail was taken care. The guides who were an absolute delight were Ada, Joe, and Molly plus their drivers. These people were outstanding and truly made my trip a once-in-a lifetime experience. I am so grateful to have had Chris from Realistic Asia available if I had any concerns or questions.
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."