Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll arrive at Beijing Capital Airport where your local guide meets you for the transfer to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to settle in and adjust to the time zone shift. It's a good chance to grab a meal at the hotel or nearby and get some rest before your scheduled activities begin.
- Start point
- Beijing, China (Beijing Capital International Airport)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar), Hotel (Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar), Hotel (Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang / U-Town Hotel or similar)
- Day 2
Beijing
After meeting your guide at the hotel, you'll head to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City to see the imperial architecture and layout. From there, you'll hike up to Jingshan Park where the views over the city give you a different perspective on what you've just seen. By early afternoon, you'll stop for lunch before moving on to Back Lakes and Nanluoguxiang Hutong, the famous alley lined with shops and restaurants. You'll visit a tea house to relax, and your guide can arrange either an evening performance like the night show or take you for authentic Peking duck dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Chinese lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar), Hotel (Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar), Hotel (Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang / U-Town Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit Forbidden City
- Hike to Jingshan Park for panoramic view of Forbidden City
- Walk through Nanluoguxiang Alley (Hutong district)
- Stop at tea house
Optional Activities
- Night show
- Peking duck dinner
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Jingshan Park Back Lakes (Houhai) Nanluoguxiang Alley - Day 3
Beijing
You'll head to Mutianyu section of the Great Wall where you can choose between hiking or taking the cable car depending on your energy and preference. After exploring the wall, you'll break for Chinese lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you'll stop at a jade carving factory to see traditional craftsmanship, then take photos at the Bird Nest and Water Cube before heading back to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Chinese lunch at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar), Hotel (Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar), Hotel (Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang / U-Town Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall (with choice of hiking or cable car)
- Stop at jade carving factory
- Photo stop outside Bird Nest and Water Cube
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall Bird Nest Water Cube - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Your morning starts at the Temple of Heaven, an important historical site where you can walk the grounds and understand its significance. After that, you'll wander through a nearby Hutong area to experience traditional Beijing neighborhoods. You'll grab lunch at a local restaurant, then head to the train station to catch the high-speed rail to Xi'an. Upon arrival, your guide will transfer you to your hotel and give you a quick orientation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in local Chinese restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Meihao Hotel Xi'an East Street or similar), Hotel (Somerset Aparthotel Xindicheng Xi'an or similar), Hotel (Sofitel on Renmin Square or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Walk into Hutong
Landmarks Temple of Heaven 
- Day 5
Xi'an
The morning focuses on the Qin Terracotta Warriors, where you'll see thousands of clay soldiers from ancient China. You'll then visit a pottery workshop to try making some pieces yourself and understand the techniques used. After lunch, you'll explore the Bell Tower and Gao's Courtyard where you can watch and try paper-cutting and shadow puppetry. Before heading back to the hotel, you'll have time to shop in the Muslim Quarter for souvenirs and local crafts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Chinese lunch at nearby restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Meihao Hotel Xi'an East Street or similar), Hotel (Somerset Aparthotel Xindicheng Xi'an or similar), Hotel (Sofitel on Renmin Square or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Qin Terracotta Warriors
- Pottery workshop (learn how pottery figurines are made)
- Visit Bell Tower
- Visit Gao's Courtyard
- Explore ancient residences
- Learn about paper-cutting and shadow puppetry
- Walk around Muslim Quarter
Landmarks Qin Terracotta Warriors Bell Tower Gao's Courtyard Muslim Quarter - Day 6
Xi'an to Chengdu
You'll check out of your hotel and take a leisurely walk along the Ancient City Wall, which gives you a sense of Xi'an's historical layout and some nice views. From there, your guide will take you to the train station for the high-speed journey to Chengdu. Once you arrive, you'll be met by a local guide who'll transfer you to your hotel and get you settled.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tianfu Sunshine Hotel or similar), Hotel (Grand Hyatt Chengdu or similar)
Included Activities
- Leisure tour to Ancient City Wall
Landmarks Ancient City Wall - Day 7
Chengdu
You'll spend the morning at the Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Center watching these animals in their habitat and learning about conservation efforts. After that, you'll return downtown for lunch at a popular restaurant serving authentic Sichuan cuisine. In the afternoon, you'll wander through People's Park to see how locals spend their leisure time, walk through the shops and cafes in Kuanzhai Alley, and finish with dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Sichuan food at local popular restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tianfu Sunshine Hotel or similar), Hotel (Grand Hyatt Chengdu or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Center
- Walk around People's Park
- Stroll around Kuanzhai Alley
Landmarks Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Center People's Park Kuanzhai Alley - Day 8
Chengdu to Guilin
You'll start with a short introduction to Sichuan culinary traditions and techniques, then visit the Jinsha Ruins Museum to learn about the Shang and Zhou dynasties in this region. You'll have lunch or try hotpot at a local restaurant, followed by a visit to Wuhou Temple, which houses exhibits related to the Three Kingdoms Period. Before heading to the airport, you'll stroll through Jinli Ancient Street to see historic architecture and shops. Later you'll fly to Guilin and transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch or hotpot at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or similar), Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Guilin City Center or similar), Hotel (Sheraton Guilin Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Explore Sichuan Culinary Art
- Visit Jinsha Ruins Museum
- Visit Wuhou Temple
- Walk around Jinli Ancient Street
Landmarks Jinsha Ruins Museum Wuhou Temple Jinli Ancient Street - Day 9
Guilin to Yangshuo
You'll board a deluxe boat for a cruise down the Li River with a buffet lunch served on board while you take in the dramatic landscape and limestone karsts. After docking in Yangshuo, you'll walk through West Street or take a sightseeing car through the town. Later you'll go bicycle riding along the Yulong River to see the countryside and surrounding hills up close. You'll head back to Guilin hotel in the late afternoon, giving you time to rest before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch on board Li River cruise)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or similar), Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Guilin City Center or similar), Hotel (Sheraton Guilin Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Li River Cruise with buffet lunch on board
- Walk through West Street or take sightseeing car
- Bicycle riding at Yulong River area
Landmarks Li River Yangshuo West Street Yulong River - Day 10
Guilin to Shanghai
You'll explore Reed Flute Cave in the morning, walking through the impressive formations of stalactites and stalagmites with their varied colors and unusual shapes. Then you'll visit Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin's most recognizable landmark. After lunch, you'll fly to Shanghai where a local guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sunrise on the Bund Hotel or similar), Hotel (Grand Central Hotel Shanghai or similar), Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Reed Flute Cave
- Visit Elephant Trunk Hill
Landmarks Reed Flute Cave Elephant Trunk Hill 
- Day 11
Shanghai
Your day covers several parts of Shanghai's character. You'll walk through the Shikumen district to see the old residential architecture, then stroll along the Bund to see the colonial-era buildings and riverfront. From there, you'll visit Yuyuan Garden with its traditional design and landscaping. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll check out the Jade Buddha Temple and a silk museum to learn about Shanghai's textile heritage. Later you'll head to Lujiazui to explore the modern CBD area and riverside promenade, then go up Shanghai Tower for views across the city. You might catch the ERA Acrobatic Show in the evening for entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local Chinese restaurant en route)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sunrise on the Bund Hotel or similar), Hotel (Grand Central Hotel Shanghai or similar), Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo or similar)
Included Activities
- Walk through Shikumen (Old Shanghai)
- Orientation walk on the Bund
- Visit Yuyuan Garden
- Visit Jade Buddha Temple
- Visit Silk Museum
- Explore Lujiazui CBD and Riverside Promenade
- Visit Shanghai Tower
Optional Activities
- ERA Acrobatic Show
Landmarks Shikumen Bund Yuyuan Garden Jade Buddha Temple Shanghai Tower Lujiazui CBD - Day 12
Shanghai
This day is unscheduled, so you can decide how to spend it. If you're interested, you can arrange a ride on the Maglev train to Pudong Airport, or you'll simply be driven there for your departure flight.
- End point
- Shanghai, China (Shanghai Airport )
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Maglev train ride to Pudong Airport
