Explore the very best of China’s most popular destinations and timeless legendary culture on this immersive 15-day curated tour, which takes you across six iconic cities: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai, and Xi’an. This hand-picked itinerary is designed to showcase China’s most unmissable highlights, delivering excellent value at a competitive price point, backed by trusted, secure payment processing to make your travel planning simple and stress-free.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
This 15-day trip winds from the imperial heart of northern China to the sparkling modern metropolises of the east coast, weaving together history, culture, food, and natural beauty. You’ll start your adventure in the capital Beijing, travel west to explore Xi’an’s 2,000-year-old imperial legacy, head southwest to Chengdu for laid-back Sichuan charm, move south to soak in Yangshuo’s dramatic mountain landscapes, stop in Guangzhou for world-famous Cantonese cuisine, detour to discover unique Hakka Tulou culture in rural Yongding, and wrap up your journey in dynamic, futuristic Shanghai. The route balances must-see highlights with unstructured free time, giving you a complete, well-rounded taste of everything China has to offer.
Touch down in Beijing and meet your fellow travelers and guide at our official welcome meeting to kick off your trip. We’ll take a gentle orientation stroll around the local area to help you get your bearings after travel, then head out for your first evening out in the city to soak up Beijing’s lively atmosphere. 🏨 Stay at Golden Inns (Beijing South Railway Station)
Today we dive into Beijing’s layered history. Join our exclusive CEO-led tour of Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square and one of China’s most iconic modern landmarks. Next, we climb Jingshan Park for sweeping panoramic views of the Forbidden City, before wandering through the narrow, winding alleyways of a traditional Beijing hutong neighborhood. We end the day with a visit to the historic Drum and Bell Towers, the ancient timekeeping center of imperial Beijing. 🏨 Stay at Golden Inns (Beijing South Railway Station)
Wake up early for an unforgettable visit to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, one of the most well-preserved and scenic stretches of this world wonder. You’ll have plenty of time to hike along the wall, snap photos of the structure snaking over forested mountain ridges, and soak in the history of this incredible site. 🍽️ Lunch is included during your day trip. In the evening, we travel from Beijing to Xi’an to continue our journey.
Get acquainted with Xi’an, China’s ancient capital for 13 imperial dynasties, with a leisurely orientation walk around the city. The highlight of today is a fully guided tour of the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, the 2,000-year-old army of clay warriors built to guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. After exploring the archaeological site, we take a stroll through Xi’an’s lively Muslim Quarter, a historic neighborhood packed with delicious street food and traditional craft shops. 🏨 Stay at Bancheng Guesthouse
Travel west from Xi’an to Chengdu, the laid-back, tea-loving capital of Sichuan province. Once we arrive, we’ll take a casual orientation walk to help you get familiar with the city’s tree-lined streets and bustling local markets. In the evening, we head out for a fun group night out to experience Chengdu’s famous food scene and vibrant nightlife. 🏨 Stay at Poshpacker Local Tea Hostel
Explore Chengdu’s most beloved local spots today. We start with a visit to People’s Park, where you can watch locals play mahjong, practice tai chi, and drink traditional Sichuan tea, before stopping by Tianfu Square, Chengdu’s central public landmark. We then wander through Kuan Zhai Xiang Zi, a preserved district of Qing-dynasty courtyard homes turned into charming shops, cafes, and restaurants. 🏨 Stay at Poshpacker Local Tea Hostel
Travel south from Chengdu to Yangshuo, the postcard-perfect town nestled between dramatic karst mountain peaks and the Li River. After checking in to your accommodation, we take a gentle orientation walk along the riverside to help you get familiar with the town’s laid-back vibe. 🍽️ Lunch is included on your travel day. 🏨 Stay at Floral Hotel Memorize Scene
Explore Yangshuo’s stunning countryside on a guided group cycle tour today. We’ll ride along quiet country lanes, past green rice paddies and towering limestone karst outcrops, stopping to visit small local villages and take in postcard-worthy views along the way. 🍽️ We’ll stop for a delicious lunch at a local family restaurant mid-tour, included in your tour. 🏨 Stay at Floral Hotel Memorize Scene
Enjoy a full free day at leisure in Yangshuo! Use this unstructured time to book an optional Li River cruise, go rock climbing, sample local Guilin rice noodles, or just relax with a coffee by the river. 🏨 Stay at Floral Hotel Memorize Scene
Leave Yangshuo this morning and travel to Guangzhou, the bustling southern capital of Cantonese culture and cuisine. After arriving, we set off on a full city tour of Guangzhou’s top highlights: we visit Yuexiu Park, Guangzhou’s largest urban park, stop by Chen Clan Academy to admire exquisite traditional Chinese folk art and wood carvings, and end the day strolling along leafy Shamian Island, a historic district with charming colonial-era architecture. 🏨 Stay at Five Rams City Hotel
Travel from Guangzhou to rural Yongding, the mountainous home of China’s unique Hakka ethnic group. Today’s highlight is a visit to the famous Hakka Tulou, extraordinary UNESCO-listed fortified circular earthen communal villages that have stood for hundreds of years. You’ll get to explore one of these incredible structures up close and learn about the unique communal culture that built them. 🏨 Stay at Yuchenglou Guesthouse
Take a leisurely orientation walk through the Hakka Cultural Village today, getting an up-close look at daily life in this traditional mountain community. You can chat with local residents, try homemade Hakka snacks, and learn more about the centuries-old customs that are still preserved here today. 🏨 Stay at Yuchenglou Guesthouse
Travel from rural Yongding all the way to Shanghai, China’s largest and most dynamic modern metropolis, today. After checking in to your hotel, you’ll have the rest of the day to settle in and explore the surrounding neighborhood at your own pace. 🏨 Stay at Green Oriental Hotel (Hongkou Branch, Shanghai)
Discover the two sides of Shanghai today: we start with an orientation walk around the city center to get your bearings, then head to Old Town Shanghai, the historic heart of the city filled with traditional temples, bustling street markets, and century-old snack shops. In the evening, we head out for a group big night out to experience Shanghai’s world-famous skyline and vibrant nightlife. 🏨 Stay at Green Oriental Hotel (Hongkou Branch, Shanghai)
Today marks the end of your 15-day Chinese adventure. After checking out of your hotel, you’ll depart for your next destination, or choose to extend your stay in Shanghai to explore more of the city on your own.
April 10, 2026
This immersive tour gave me the best introduction to China that I could have asked for. Every stop highlighted a different side of the country's legendary culture, and I left feeling like I got to experience the very best of what China has to offer.
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The local food alone on this tour makes it worth every penny.
Seeing the Great Wall and Shanghai's futuristic skyline in the same trip was a dream come true.
I went on this tour with my adult daughter, and we both had the most amazing two weeks. Getting to see the giant pandas up close in Chengdu was a lifelong dream that came true, and walking through the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an left me completely speechless. The mix of big modern cities like Shanghai and historic cultural spots like Beijing made the trip feel perfectly balanced. I've already recommended this tour to all my friends who are interested in visiting China.
As someone who loves both ancient history and modern culture, this tour checked every box for me. I wandered the ancient city walls of Nanjing, ate fresh dim sum in Guangzhou, marveled at the Forbidden City in Beijing, and sipped jasmine tea in a Chengdu street teahouse all in two weeks. The itinerary was curated so well that we never felt rushed between cities, even with six stops. I left with a much deeper understanding of China's long, incredible history and modern energy, and I'm already planning my next trip back.
Our consultant Sunny from HelloChinaTrip was so helpful when I needed to adjust my flight arrival details a month before the tour started. Every stop on the itinerary gave me the perfect mix of iconic sightseeing and free time to wander on my own.
This 15-day China tour exceeded every expectation I had.
I absolutely loved exploring the legendary culture across all these amazing cities, from the Terracotta Army in Xi'an to the giant pandas in Chengdu. The only downside was that we visited during Chinese New Year week, so many major sites were far more wonderful than I anticipated. The itinerary was still well-paced and every transfer went off without a hitch. I'd definitely recommend this tour, just try to book outside of major public holidays if you can.
Getting to visit all six iconic top cities in one smooth trip was such a treat. I got to try authentic local food in each place and learn so much about Chinese history from the site guides.
I was nervous about traveling to China for the first time, but this tour made everything so easy and accessible. Each local guide was incredibly knowledgeable and happy to answer all my questions about daily life and culture.
