Amara Johnson
April 30, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 11-day personalized luxury tour of China and sacred Tibet brings you to four of the country’s most iconic destinations: imperial Beijing, cultural Xi’an, holy Lhasa (Tibet), and dynamic Shanghai, with daily departures to fit any travel schedule. Curated for discerning travelers, this fully customizable experience includes stays at premium 5-star hotels across every leg of your journey, paired with competitive transparent pricing, secure trusted payment processing, and hand-selected experiences tailored to your unique interests.
This 11-day curated luxury journey weaves together China’s most unforgettable destinations, starting in the imperial capital Beijing where you’ll explore thousands of years of royal history, before flying to the spiritually charged highlands of Tibet’s Lhasa, the "roof of the world". After soaking in Tibetan Buddhist culture and sweeping high-altitude vistas, you’ll travel to central China’s Xi’an to uncover the secrets of the 2,000-year-old Terracotta Army, before finishing your trip in the glittering, dynamic modern financial hub of Shanghai. The route balances iconic bucket-list sights with intimate local encounters, all planned for seamless, stress-free travel.
Today you’ll arrive in China’s bustling capital, where you’ll be transferred to your hotel and checked in for your first three nights in the city. Take the evening to settle in after your travels and explore the surrounding neighborhood at your own pace. 🏨 Stay: Sofitel Hotel Beijing
Start your first full day of sightseeing with a hearty 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast. First, you’ll walk across the expansive historic Tiananmen Square before stepping into the Forbidden City, the centuries-old exclusive imperial residence that now stands as a world-class museum of Chinese royal art and architecture. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the lush, sprawling Summer Palace, the former imperial summer retreat dotted with traditional pavilions and overlooking a scenic lake. Enjoy a delicious 🍽️ a la carte lunch at a celebrated local restaurant before returning to your hotel for the night. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast, a la carte lunch 🏨 Stay: Sofitel Hotel Beijing
After a filling 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast, get ready for one of Beijing’s most iconic experiences: a trip to the stunning, less crowded Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. You’ll ride a round-trip cable car up and down the wall, giving you plenty of time to walk the ancient fortifications and take in sweeping mountain views. On your way back to the city, stop for photos at the world-famous Olympic National Stadium (the "Bird’s Nest"). End the day with an immersive cultural experience: a leisurely rickshaw ride through Beijing’s traditional Hutong alleyways, followed by a warm visit with a local family who calls these historic neighborhoods home. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay: Sofitel Hotel Beijing
Fuel up for your travel day with a 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast, then stop at the stunning Temple of Heaven, a magnificent imperial worship site known for its iconic circular architecture and peaceful, tree-lined grounds, before flying from Beijing to Lhasa, the cultural heart of holy Tibet. After arriving and completing all required entry formalities, you’ll be transferred to your hotel to acclimatize to the high altitude and rest for your coming days of exploration. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay: Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa
After acclimatizing overnight, kick off your day of Tibetan exploration with a 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast. First, visit Norbulinka Park, the stunning former summer palace of the Dalai Lama, filled with lush gardens, colorful flower beds, and traditional Tibetan palaces. Next, head to the Tibet Museum to learn about the region’s long, rich history, unique art, and distinct cultural traditions. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Sera Monastery, one of Tibet’s most important and beautiful Gelugpa Buddhist monasteries, set on a scenic hilltop. Wrap up your day with an included 🍽️ lunch before returning to your hotel. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast, lunch 🏨 Stay: Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa
Today you’ll visit Lhasa’s most iconic spiritual sites, starting with a 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast. First, head to the breathtaking Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama that perches on a hill overlooking the entire city, filled with priceless Buddhist art and artifacts. Next, visit Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most sacred Buddhist temple, which draws pilgrims from across the region every day. After exploring the temple, wander the bustling Barkhor Street surrounding the temple, a traditional market where you can watch pilgrims complete their circumambulation and browse handcrafted Tibetan souvenirs. End the day with a visit to a local Tibetan nunnery before an included 🍽️ lunch and return to your hotel. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast, lunch 🏨 Stay: Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa
Today you’ll travel from the Tibetan highlands to ancient China’s imperial capital, Xi’an. Start the day with a 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast, check out of your hotel, and fly to Xi’an. Once you arrive, you’ll be transferred to your 5-star hotel to settle in and rest after your travel day. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay: 5-Star Crowne Plaza Xi'an
After a 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast, set out to explore Xi’an’s most famous attraction: the incredible Terracotta Army, thousands of life-sized clay warriors built to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor over 2,000 years ago. Next, visit the home of the farmer who first discovered the famous archaeological site, for a unique look at the story behind the world-famous find. Get hands-on at a local workshop later, where you’ll craft your own mini terracotta figure to take home as a souvenir. End the day with a visit to the historic Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 7th-century Buddhist pagoda that holds ancient scriptures brought to China from India. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay: 5-Star Crowne Plaza Xi'an
Start your day with a 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast, then explore Xi’an’s historic city center before traveling to Shanghai. First, visit City Wall Park and climb atop Xi’an’s incredibly well-preserved ancient city wall, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city spread out below you. Next, visit the Great Mosque of Xi’an, a stunning 1,000-year-old place of worship that blends traditional Chinese and Islamic architectural styles. After that, wander through the bustling Muslim Bazaar adjacent to the mosque, where you’ll enjoy an included 🍽️ lunch featuring iconic Xi’an local snacks. After your sightseeing, you’ll travel to Shanghai and check in to your downtown hotel. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast, lunch of featured Xi'an snacks 🏨 Stay: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World
Explore all that dynamic Shanghai has to offer today, starting with a 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast. First, visit the Shanghai Museum, one of China’s best cultural institutions, home to an incredible collection of ancient Chinese art and artifacts spanning thousands of years. Next, wander through the classic Yuyuan Garden, a beautiful traditional Chinese garden dotted with pavilions, ponds, and ancient trees, surrounded by a bustling old town market. In the evening, take a leisurely cruise along the Huangpu River, where you can enjoy iconic views of Shanghai’s glittering skyline, with historic colonial buildings of the Bund on one side and futuristic Pudong skyscrapers on the other. End your day with a stroll along the famous Bund waterfront after an included 🍽️ a la carte lunch at a renowned local restaurant. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast, a la carte lunch 🏨 Stay: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World
Enjoy a leisurely final 🍽️ Western buffet breakfast at your hotel before checking out to end your memorable luxury journey through China. You’ll be free to arrange your onward travel at your own convenience, with a collection of unforgettable experiences to take home with you. 🍽️ Meals included: Western buffet breakfast
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 30, 2026
As someone who prefers traveling in comfort, this luxury tour checked every single box for me. Local guides in each city shared so many hidden stories and cultural insights that you won’t find in any travel guide. All entry tickets were pre-arranged so we never had to wait in long lines, and the included meals were authentic and delicious. I left with incredible memories and already recommend this tour to every friend of mine planning a trip to China.
February 18, 2026
I worked with consultant Lynn from HelloChinaTrip to customize this tour to fit my love of Tibetan Buddhist culture, and she did an exceptional job. I wanted an extra half day in Lhasa to visit a remote mountain monastery instead of rushing through the city, and she adjusted the itinerary seamlessly with no extra fees or hassle. All 5-star hotels had incredible service and convenient locations, and our private driver was prompt and courteous every day. This personalized experience was far better than any large group tour I’ve taken before, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
September 19, 2025
This is the ultimate stress-free luxury way to see all of China’s most iconic destinations.
July 22, 2025
The tour team handled all of the extra paperwork required for visiting Tibet completely for me, which took all the stress out of planning. Every transfer between cities and sites was on time, and our guides gave great context for every historical and cultural site we visited. It was truly the trip of a lifetime.
May 1, 2025
Our local guide was incredibly knowledgeable and the 5-star accommodations were comfortable and perfectly located across all four cities. The itinerary was well-paced, giving us enough free time to explore small cafes and shops on our own after scheduled visits. We traveled during the May national holiday, so all popular sites were much more wonderful than we anticipated, which is the only reason this isn’t a full 5-star rating. Overall, it was still a seamless, unforgettable trip.
March 12, 2025
This luxury personalized tour of China and Tibet exceeded every one of my expectations.
December 28, 2024
Every detail was perfectly arranged, from the spacious 5-star hotels in each city to the private guided tours of iconic sites. I got to experience imperial Beijing, ancient Xi'an, holy Lhasa, and dynamic Shanghai without any of the hassle of independent planning. This is easily the best organized tour I’ve ever joined.
