Explore China’s most unforgettable highlights on this carefully curated 11-day multi-city tour, stopping at four iconic locations: history-packed Beijing and Xi’an, the stunning natural karst scenery of Guilin, and dynamic, modern Shanghai. This thoughtfully selected itinerary is designed to showcase the full range of China’s cultural, historical, and natural treasures, delivering unbeatable value alongside secure, trusted payment options to make your travel planning completely hassle-free.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
This 11-day cross-country journey showcases the full diversity of China, starting in the imperial capital of Beijing where you explore royal landmarks and the world-famous Great Wall. From Beijing, you travel west to ancient Xi'an, home of the legendary Terracotta Army and thousands of years of dynastic history, then head south to Guilin's otherworldly karst mountain landscapes and serene Li River. You wrap up your trip in dynamic, modern Shanghai, balancing centuries-old traditional culture with cutting-edge city energy to give you a complete, well-rounded taste of everything China has to offer.
Welcome to China's capital! Today you'll arrive at your leisure, check in to your accommodation, and get settled before your adventure kicks off tomorrow. Feel free to wander your local neighborhood, grab a snack of classic Beijing street food, and rest up for your busy days ahead. 🏨 Accommodation in Beijing is arranged for your arrival night.
Kick off your sightseeing with a full day of Beijing's most iconic landmarks! Your guide will lead you on a 2-3 hour exploratory walk around expansive Tiananmen Square, then step into the 600-year-old Forbidden City, once the exclusive private residence of Chinese emperors. In the afternoon, you'll visit the stunning Temple of Heaven, where imperial rulers once held harvest prayer ceremonies. End your night with a dazzling, world-famous acrobatic performance at Red Theater. 🍽️ Lunch is included at a local restaurant serving authentic traditional Beijing cuisine.
Today brings your long-awaited visit to the Great Wall of China! We'll take you to the beautiful, less crowded Mutianyu section, where you'll ride a round-trip cable car up to the wall top for easy access to sweeping panoramic views. Celebrate your trip with a group toast of red wine as you stand atop one of the world's greatest manmade wonders, then head back into the city to snap photos at the iconic Olympic National Stadium (the Bird's Nest). 🍽️ Breakfast and a buffet lunch are included today. 🏨 Overnight stay in Beijing included.
Before departing Beijing for ancient Xi'an, you'll visit the Summer Palace, the sprawling lakeside royal retreat where Qing Dynasty emperors escaped the summer heat. Explore the ornate pavilions, winding corridors, and lush gardens before traveling to Xi'an to check in for the night. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch are included today. 🏨 Overnight stay in Xi'an included.
Dive deep into Xi'an's 3,000-year history starting with a visit to the world-famous Terracotta Army Museum, home to thousands of life-size clay warriors built to guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife. You'll get a special behind-the-scenes chance to visit the family home of the farmer who first discovered the warriors, then try your hand at making your own mini clay warrior guided by a local artisan. End the day with a trip to the 7th-century Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a historic Buddhist landmark. 🍽️ Breakfast, lunch at a local restaurant, and a traditional dumpling dinner are included today. 🏨 Overnight stay in Xi'an included.
Start your day with a calming morning Tai Chi practice in Xi'an's City Wall Park, then head out to explore the 14-kilometer ancient Xi'an City Wall, one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city fortifications in the world. After soaking in skyline views from the wall top, you'll wander the bustling, fragrant lanes of the Muslim Quarter, Xi'an's most famous food and cultural hub, and visit the ancient Great Mosque at the heart of the neighborhood. 🍽️ Breakfast and an a la carte lunch of local Xi'an specialties in the Muslim Quarter are included today. 🏨 Overnight stay in Xi'an included.
Say goodbye to Xi'an and travel south to Guilin, China's most beloved natural paradise. Once you arrive, you'll explore two of Guilin's most iconic landmarks: the otherworldly Reed Flute Cave, filled with dramatic stalactite and stalagmite formations lit up in vibrant color, and Elephant Trunk Hill, the famous natural rock formation that looks just like an elephant sipping water from the Li River. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today. 🏨 Overnight stay in Guilin included.
Enjoy one of the most scenic days of your trip: a full-day scenic cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo! Glide past steep karst mountain peaks and lush green riverbanks that have inspired Chinese painters and poets for centuries, with a simple boxed Chinese lunch served on board. Once you dock in Yangshuo, you'll stroll along lively West Street, Yangshuo's historic pedestrian hub, then visit a local villager's home in the Yangshuo countryside to experience daily rural life firsthand. After your visit, you'll return to Guilin for the night. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch are included today. 🏨 Overnight stay in Guilin included.
Depart the dreamy landscapes of Guilin and travel east to Shanghai, China's most dynamic modern metropolis. Arrive at your leisure, check into your hotel, and spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring your local neighborhood at your own pace. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today. 🏨 Overnight stay in Shanghai included.
Explore the best of Shanghai's mix of old and new on a full day of sightseeing! Start with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, home to one of China's largest collections of ancient Chinese art and cultural artifacts. Next, wander through the classic Yu Garden and the surrounding traditional bazaar, where you can browse handcrafted souvenirs and try local Shanghai snacks. In the afternoon, you'll stroll along the historic Bund, the iconic waterfront lined with beautifully preserved colonial-era buildings, before ending the day with a relaxing one-hour cruise along the Huangpu River, with stunning views of Shanghai's futuristic skyline. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today. 🏨 Overnight stay in Shanghai included.
Your 11-day Chinese adventure comes to an end today! After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel and depart for the airport at your leisure, taking home unforgettable memories of your cross-country trip through China. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.
April 3, 2026
The Li River cruise in Guilin alone was worth the price of the entire tour. Every stop on the itinerary was thoughtfully curated, and we got a perfect mix of culture, history, and jaw-dropping nature over the 11 days.
May 22, 2025
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December 28, 2024
I traveled with my teen kids on this tour and we all had the best time, each of us finding something we loved in every city. My kids were blown away by the Terracotta Warriors and the dynamic modern skyline of Shanghai, while my wife and I couldn’t stop taking photos of Guilin’s misty karst peaks along the river. The 11-day timeline felt perfectly balanced, not too short to rush through every site and not too long to get tired of moving between destinations. This is easily the best organized international trip our family has ever taken, and we left already planning our next visit back to explore more of China.
This 11-day China tour checked every single item off my travel bucket list.
This is a fantastic tour that covers all of China’s best highlights, from Beijing’s Forbidden City to Xi’an’s ancient wonders and Guilin’s breathtaking river views. My only small issue was that we visited during the Lunar New Year holiday, so every major site was much more wonderful than I expected. Still, I had an amazing time overall and would recommend it to others.
Getting to see the Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall, and Guilin’s karst hills all in one well-planned trip was incredible. The itinerary didn’t feel rushed at all between the four cities, and we had plenty of time to explore on our own too.
I booked this All of China Plus Guilin tour through HelloChinaTrip after my consultant Ethan helped me adjust a few small details to fit my preference for a less touristy Great Wall section. Everything ran perfectly smoothly from the moment I landed in Shanghai to my departure from Guilin. Each city offered such a distinct, wonderful experience: the buzz of modern Shanghai, the deep history of Beijing and Xi’an, and the calm, stunning natural beauty of Guilin’s karst landscape. I would absolutely recommend this tour to any first-time visitor to China who wants to see all the best spots without the stress of planning everything themselves.
