🌟 Highlights
- 100% private, fully customizable itinerary designed for your ideal travel pace, no crowded large group tours
- Curated to hit all of China’s most iconic can’t-miss spots, blending ancient history, stunning nature, and modern culture
- Includes a leisurely 2-day scenic cruise along the legendary Yangtze River through the famous Three Gorges
- All entrance fees to top attractions are pre-booked and included for a fully transparent, stress-free trip
🗺️ Itinerary Overview
This 13-day premium private journey takes you across China from the ancient imperial north to the modern cosmopolitan east, weaving together millennia of history, jaw-dropping natural landscapes, and contemporary Chinese culture. You’ll start exploring centuries-old imperial landmarks in Beijing, then travel to Xi’an to uncover 2,000-year-old ancient treasures, before heading south to soak up Guilin and Yangshuo’s otherworldly karst mountain scenery. From Chongqing you’ll board a scenic Yangtze River cruise to experience the beauty of the Three Gorges, then finish your adventure exploring dynamic, modern Shanghai — hitting every unmissable highlight of China without the hassle of independent planning.
📖 Day-by-Day Itinerary
🌟 Day 1: Beijing
Your 13-day Chinese adventure kicks off as you touch down in Beijing, where your private guide and driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your central city hotel. Take the rest of the evening to settle in after your journey, explore your neighborhood, sample local street snacks if you’re feeling adventurous, or rest up for the exciting days ahead. 🏨
🌟 Day 2: Beijing
Today you dive headfirst into Beijing’s imperial history. You’ll first walk across the iconic, sprawling Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of modern Beijing, before stepping into the 600-year-old Forbidden City — the once-off-limits palace compound where Chinese emperors ruled for centuries. After exploring the palace halls and gardens, you’ll head to the lush, lakeside Summer Palace, a former imperial retreat dotted with traditional pavilions and stunning rolling landscaping. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
🌟 Day 3: Mutianyu & Changling Tomb
Today you check off China’s most iconic landmark: the Great Wall. You’ll explore the beautifully preserved, less crowded Mutianyu section, where you can hike (or ride the cable car) along ancient battlements with sweeping views of the wall snaking through forested mountains. After your wall adventure, you’ll visit Changling Tomb, the largest and best-preserved resting place of the Ming Dynasty emperors, tucked at the foot of the Yanshan Mountains. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
🌟 Day 4: Beijing → Xi'an
Before leaving Beijing for your next stop, you’ll explore two more beloved local gems: the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors held grand annual ceremonies to pray for good harvests, famous for its stunning circular main hall and perfectly manicured grounds. After that, you’ll take a fun rickshaw ride through a traditional Beijing Hutong, the narrow, centuries-old alley neighborhoods that still hold authentic local life, getting a glimpse of how old Beijing feels. Then you’ll head to the train station for your journey to Xi’an, one of China’s four great ancient capitals. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
🌟 Day 5: Xi'an
Today you uncover Xi’an’s most famous ancient treasures. Your first stop is the world-famous Terracotta Warrior Army, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers and horses built to guard the tomb of the first emperor of Qin over 2,000 years ago — one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the modern world. After that, you’ll cycle or walk along the well-preserved 14-kilometer Ancient City Wall of Xi’an, with panoramic views of the city inside and out. End the day wandering the bustling Muslim Quarter, where you can browse traditional crafts and sample iconic local street snacks. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
🌟 Day 6: Xi'an → Guilin
Today you travel south from Xi’an to Guilin, the scenic riverside city famous worldwide for its dramatic karst mountain landscape. Once you arrive and settle in, you’ll visit the enchanting Reed Flute Cave, a natural limestone cave filled with otherworldly stalactite and stalagmite formations, lit up to highlight their unique shapes, earning it the nickname the “Palace of Natural Art”. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast
🌟 Day 7: Guilin → Yangshuo
Today you experience the iconic Guilin scenery that has inspired Chinese artists for centuries, on a full-day scenic cruise along the Li River. You’ll drift slowly past jagged karst peaks rising straight from the river water, through bamboo forests and traditional riverside farming villages, with postcard-perfect views around every bend. At the end of the cruise, you’ll disembark in the charming small tourist town of Yangshuo, your stop for the night. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
🌟 Day 8: Yangshuo → Chongqing
After a relaxed morning to wander Yangshuo’s pretty streets or explore the surrounding countryside at your own pace, you’ll travel west to Chongqing, the mountainous port city where you’ll board your Yangtze River cruise. Settle into the ship this evening, and get ready for two days of leisurely scenic cruising through the famous Three Gorges. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast
🌟 Day 9: Yangtze River Cruise
Settle into a gentle, relaxing day on the water as your cruise ship glides through the stunning Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. Spend your day on the open deck soaking up the ever-changing views of steep cliffs, lush green hillsides, and winding river bends, join optional onshore excursions to hidden scenic spots if you wish, or just relax with a drink and enjoy the quiet pace of river travel. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🌟 Day 10: Yangtze River Cruise
Enjoy a second full day of scenic cruising along the Yangtze. Continue admiring the dramatic gorge scenery, join on-board cultural activities to learn more about local life along the river, or simply unwind as you take in one of China’s most famous natural wonders from the comfort of your ship. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🌟 Day 11: Yichang → Shanghai
Your cruise ends at the port city of Yichang, where you’ll visit the world-famous Three Gorges Dam, one of the largest and most impressive engineering projects in the world, learning about its history and impact as you explore the site. After your visit, you’ll travel east to Shanghai, China’s most dynamic modern metropolis, to prepare for your final days of exploration. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast
🌟 Day 12: Shanghai
Today you explore the best of both old and new Shanghai. Start at the Shanghai Museum, home to one of the largest and most impressive collections of ancient Chinese art and artifacts in the country. Next, wander the traditional Yu Garden and surrounding old town, a lush classical Chinese garden dotted with pavilions and surrounded by bustling traditional markets. Then, stroll through the tree-lined streets of the Former French Concession, with its charming colonial-era architecture, trendy boutiques and cozy cafes, before ending the day at the iconic Bund, where you can gaze at the famous glowing skyline of Shanghai’s Pudong district across the Huangpu River. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
🌟 Day 13: Shanghai (Departure)
After your included breakfast this morning, your private driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Shanghai’s airport for your departure flight, bringing your unforgettable 13-day Chinese adventure to a close. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast
✅ What's Included
- Fully private customized experience with private guide and private ground transportation for the full trip
- All entrance fees to all scheduled attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall at Mutianyu, Changling Tomb, Temple of Heaven, Hutong rickshaw ride, Terracotta Warriors, Xi'an Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Reed Flute Cave, Li River cruise, Three Gorges Dam, Shanghai Museum, and Yu Garden
- All meals explicitly listed as included in the day-by-day itinerary
- All inter-city transportation between destinations as scheduled
❌ What's Not Included
- International arrival/departure flights, Chinese travel visas, and personal travel insurance
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra snacks, optional activities, tips for your guide and driver, etc.)
- Any items not explicitly listed under the What's Included section
ℹ️ Important Information
