Noah Bennett
April 12, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 10-day curated China tour balances awe-inspiring natural beauty in world-famous national parks with the electric energy of iconic Chinese cities, guiding you across five unforgettable destinations: Chengdu, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Xi’an, and Zhangjiajie. Handpicked to showcase the very best of China’s diverse landscapes and cultural highlights, this itinerary delivers exceptional value at an unbeatable price, with secure, trusted payment processing to keep your travel planning simple and totally stress-free.
This 10-day curated journey strikes the perfect balance between wild natural beauty and vibrant urban culture, starting in the laid-back charms of Chengdu in western China, moving to the neon-drenched hilly megacity of Chongqing, then on to the otherworldly karst peaks of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, winding south to the river-carred idyll of Yangshuo, and ending in the dynamic global hub of Hong Kong. The itinerary mixes gentle orientation walks to settle in, full-day explorations of iconic landmarks, and flexible free time to explore at your own pace, so you get to experience the full diversity of China’s landscapes and cultures without feeling rushed.
🌟 Day 1: Chengdu
After arriving in Chengdu, you’ll kick off your trip with a casual neighborhood orientation walk to get your bearings after travel. This low-key first day is designed to help you settle in, with plenty of unplanned time to connect with your fellow travelers over local Sichuan snacks or fragrant tea before turning in. 🏨 Tonight you’ll stay at the locally-themed Poshpacker Local Tea Hostel.
🌟 Day 2: Chengdu to Chongqing
Today you’ll travel from Chengdu to Chongqing, China’s iconic hillside megacity on the banks of the Yangtze River. Once you arrive and check into your hotel, join a gentle orientation walk to get familiar with the bustling central Jiefangbei neighborhood, and sneak in your first taste of Chongqing’s famous spicy street food. 🏨 Accommodation for the night is at the centrally located Green Oriental Hotel (Jiefangbei Qixinggang Branch).
🌟 Day 3: Chongqing
Immerse yourself in Chongqing’s unique blend of ancient and modern today. You’ll start with a full city walking tour that stops at Ciqikou Old Town, a centuries-old waterfront neighborhood packed with craft shops, traditional teahouses, and local treats. As the sun sets, you’ll head to Hongyadong, the iconic cascading stilt-house complex, to watch the famous glowing night view that’s made this spot a global travel sensation. 🏨 You’ll stay another night at Green Oriental Hotel Jiefangbei Qixinggang Branch.
🌟 Day 4: Chongqing to Zhangjiajie
Today you’ll travel from Chongqing to Zhangjiajie, the laid-back mountain town that serves as the gateway to one of China’s most stunning national parks. After your journey and check-in, join a casual orientation walk around town to pick up any snacks or supplies you’ll need for mountain explorations, and adjust to the cool mountain air. 🏨 Tonight you’ll stay at either the comfortable Royal Hotel Zhangjiajie or Yuzun Hotel Zhangjiajie.
🌟 Day 5: Zhangjiajie
Get ready for a full day of adventure exploring the jaw-dropping Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, home to the jagged sandstone peaks that inspired the alien landscape in Avatar. Wander misty mountain trails, cross the famous glass sky bridges, and soak up panoramic views of the otherworldly scenery around every turn. After a full day of hiking and exploring, you’ll head back to town to rest your legs. 🏨 You’ll spend another night at your Zhangjiajie accommodation.
🌟 Day 6: Zhangjiajie
Today is a flexible free day for you to explore Zhangjiajie at your own pace. You can choose to head back into the national park to visit a section you missed on day 5, relax at your hotel with a cup of local Hunan tea, wander the town’s craft markets, or try more regional specialties at local restaurants. 🏨 You’ll stay another night at your Zhangjiajie accommodation.
🌟 Day 7: Zhangjiajie to Yangshuo
Today you’ll travel from Zhangjiajie south to Yangshuo, the idyllic riverside town famous for its dramatic karst peaks rising straight out of the Li River. After arriving and checking into your boutique accommodation, join a casual orientation walk around the town to spot local favorite cafes, snack stalls, and river viewpoints. 🏨 Tonight you’ll stay at the cozy boutique Floral Hotel Memorize Scene.
🌟 Day 8: Yangshuo
Enjoy an active, fun day exploring Yangshuo’s stunning countryside on two wheels. You’ll join a guided cycle tour that winds along quiet country lanes, past lush rice paddies, and through small rural villages, with unbeatable views of the iconic karst peaks all around you. A delicious local lunch is included to recharge after your ride, and in the evening you’ll join the group for a lively big night out sampling Yangshuo’s famous beer fish and checking out the town’s casual nightlife. 🍽️ Lunch included | 🏨 You’ll stay another night at Floral Hotel Memorize Scene.
🌟 Day 9: Yangshuo
Today is another flexible free day to enjoy Yangshuo however you’d like. Popular optional choices include a leisurely bamboo raft ride down the Li River, a half-day of rock climbing on the local karst formations, browsing the town’s weekend artisan markets, or just relaxing by the river with a cold drink. 🏨 Tonight will be your last night at Floral Hotel Memorize Scene.
🌟 Day 10: Yangshuo to Hong Kong
On your final day of the tour, you’ll travel from Yangshuo to Hong Kong, where your 10-day Chinese adventure comes to a close. After arriving in Hong Kong, you’ll be free to continue your own independent explorations of this dynamic global city or head to the airport for your departure flight.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 12, 2026
I was worried a 10-day multi-stop tour would feel too rushed or packed, but the curation of this itinerary is absolutely perfect. After a few days of hiking around Zhangjiajie’s stunning national park, the stop in Chengdu to slow down and watch giant pandas felt like the ideal gentle reset. Xi’an gave me a wonderful deep dive into thousands of years of Chinese history, and Chongqing was the wild, energetic send-off we needed to end the trip. I left already planning my next visit back to explore more of the country.
February 19, 2026
Our consultant Lynn from HelloChinaTrip did an amazing job adjusting our itinerary slightly when we asked for extra time to walk Xi’an’s ancient city wall. Every stop was perfectly paced, with enough time to explore each spot without feeling rushed or hurried. I loved how we got to breathe in the fresh mountain air of Zhangjiajie’s national park before jumping into the buzzing street food scene of Chongqing. This tour truly showcases the best of both natural and cultural China, and I’d recommend it to any first-time visitor.
January 5, 2026
My partner and I booked this tour for our 10-year anniversary trip, and it was everything we wanted and more. Zhangjiajie’s otherworldly views left us both completely speechless, and even hundreds of photos don’t do the landscape justice. We loved wandering Chengdu’s old tea houses and alleys after visiting the pandas, and learning about the history of the Terracotta Warriors from local experts was such a treat. If you’re on the fence about booking this tour, do it — you won’t regret it.
October 4, 2025
Seeing the ancient Terracotta Warriors up close in Xi’an was a surreal, moving historical experience I’ll never forget. Chongqing’s glowing skyline along the Yangtze River at night was stunning, and the local spicy hot pot was even better than I’d hoped.
August 19, 2025
As someone who loves both hiking and trying new local street food, this tour was made exactly for me. I got to hike through otherworldly mountain landscapes and try all the best iconic dishes in each city, from mapo tofu in Chengdu to numbing spicy hot pot in Chongqing. I can’t imagine a better 10-day introduction to China.
May 30, 2025
This was a fantastic well-planned tour overall, but peak spring break crowds at Zhangjiajie made it a little harder to explore at our own pace.
March 12, 2025
This 10-day China tour was the perfect mix of jaw-dropping natural beauty and vibrant city fun.
January 27, 2025
Every single part of this tour exceeded my expectations, from the quiet mountain national parks to the bustling lively city stops.
December 18, 2024
The quartz sandstone peaks of Zhangjiajie were even more incredible than I imagined seeing them in person. Getting to watch giant pandas play at Chengdu’s research base was the cutest highlight of the entire trip.
