Explore over a thousand years of Chinese history and culture on this 13-day Thousand-Year-Old China Tour, guiding you through 8 iconic destinations from ancient imperial capitals and historic walled towns to dynamic modern metropolises and scenic water towns, including Beijing, Datong, Luoyang, Pingyao, Xi’an, Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai. This carefully handpicked itinerary highlights the very best of China’s diverse cultural heritage, offered at unbeatable value with fully trusted, secure payment options for a seamless, stress-free travel planning experience.
This 13-day curated journey starts in the imperial capital of Beijing, winding through ancient dynastic capitals and sacred Buddhist sites across northern and central China, before heading east to experience the classic water towns of Jiangnan and the electric modern energy of Shanghai, then looping back north to explore off-the-beaten-path ancient wonders before concluding near Beijing. The route is carefully designed to balance iconic must-see attractions with deep cultural immersion, taking you from 2,000-year-old imperial tombs to 21st-century skyscraper skylines, showcasing thousands of years of continuous Chinese history and culture.
After your arrival in Beijing, our team will meet you and transfer you directly to your comfortable downtown hotel. Once you’ve settled in, take a leisurely stroll down bustling Wangfujing Street, Beijing’s most famous shopping and dining strip, to soak up the city’s energetic vibe. End your first day of adventure with a delicious welcome dinner at a local restaurant before turning in for the night. 🍽️ Included: Dinner | 🏨 Accommodation: Mercure Beijing Downtown, Grand Concordia, or Grand Mercure B
Today’s unmissable highlight is a trip to the tree-lined Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, where you’ll ride a cable car up to the fortifications for unobstructed panoramic views and relaxed walks along the ancient wall. After returning to the city, explore the trendy 798 Art District, a former factory complex turned contemporary art hub, before visiting the historic Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors once held grand worship ceremonies. Unwind after a full day of exploring with a relaxing foot massage, then feast on Beijing’s most iconic specialty: a traditional lacquered Peking duck dinner. 🍽️ Included: Dinner (Peking duck) | 🏨 Accommodation: Same central Beijing hotel
Dive deep into Beijing’s imperial history today: you’ll explore the sprawling Forbidden City, the 600-year-old former home of 24 Chinese emperors (entry is subject to official availability per local regulations). After wandering the palace’s hundreds of courtyards, climb to the top of Jingshan Park for a postcard-perfect panoramic view of the entire Forbidden City complex, then take a casual stroll through iconic Tiananmen Square, the public heart of modern Beijing. Wrap up the day with a visit to the Summer Palace, the stunning lakeside imperial garden dotted with historic pavilions and bridges. 🍽️ Included: Lunch | 🏨 Accommodation: Same central Beijing hotel
Start your day with a hearty included breakfast, then board a comfortable high-speed train south to Nanjing, one of China’s six ancient capitals. Once you arrive, head to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the iconic forested memorial to the founder of modern China, before visiting the tranquil, thousand-year-old Linggu Temple, a hidden historic Buddhist gem tucked in the hills nearby. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast | 🏨 Accommodation: Novotel Nanjing Central, Hilton Nanjing Riverside, or New Jin
Today you’ll travel through the scenic Jiangnan region, China’s famous “land of water and canals.” Start with a visit to the Garden of the Humble Administrator, one of China’s most celebrated classical Suzhou gardens, famous for its delicate landscaping and clever design. Next, head to the ancient water town of Tongli, where you’ll take a peaceful scenic boat ride through winding canals lined with centuries-old stone houses. You’ll stop for an included lunch along the way, before continuing on to Shanghai for the night. 🍽️ Included: Lunch | 🏨 Accommodation: Novotel Shanghai Atlantis
Experience Shanghai’s perfect mix of modern buzz and traditional charm today: first, explore the gleaming Pudong Financial District, home to some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers and China’s most iconic modern skyline. Then, take a scenic ferry ride across the Huangpu River for sweeping views of both the futuristic Pudong skyline and the historic colonial-era Bund. After that, wander through the traditional Yuyuan Garden, a classic Chinese garden in the heart of old Shanghai, then join a traditional Chinese tea ceremony to learn about local tea culture and sample premium blends. 🍽️ Included: Lunch | 🏨 Accommodation: Novotel Shanghai Atlantis
Board a high-speed train north to Luoyang, an ancient capital that was the heart of multiple Chinese dynasties and a key stop on the ancient Silk Road. After arriving, enjoy an included lunch, then head to the world-famous Longmen Buddhist Caves, a UNESCO-listed site with thousands of carved Buddhist statues dating back over 1,500 years, lining the cliffs of the Yi River. Wrap up your visit with a scenic boat ride along the river for unique, up-close views of the carved caves from the water. 🍽️ Included: Lunch | 🏨 Accommodation: Mercure Luoyang or Ramada By Wyndham Downtown Luoyang
Start your day exploring Luoyang’s most historic Buddhist site: the White Horse Buddhist Monastery, the oldest Buddhist temple in China, founded nearly 2,000 years ago when Buddhism first spread to China from India. Next, visit the nearby Baolun Temple and the Guo Museum, home to fascinating ancient artifacts from the Western Zhou dynasty. As you travel onward to Xi’an, you’ll catch a scenic view of majestic Mount Hua, one of China’s five sacred mountains, before arriving in Xi’an for the night. 🍽️ Included: Lunch | 🏨 Accommodation: Novotel Xi'an Scpg or Delta By Marriott Xi'an
Today is dedicated to Xi’an’s most iconic ancient wonders: first, visit the world-famous Terracotta Army, the 2,000-year-old underground army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. After that, head back into the city to visit the graceful Small Wild Goose Pagoda, an 8th-century Buddhist pagoda that still stands in the heart of Xi’an. You’ll then explore the well-preserved historic walled city center, before visiting the Great Mosque, a unique 1,000-year-old place of worship that blends traditional Chinese and Islamic architectural styles. 🏨 Accommodation: Same Xi'an hotel as previous night
Board a high-speed train to Linfen, then visit the incredible Mansion of the Wang Clan, one of the largest and best-preserved traditional folk mansions in northern China, famous for its hundreds of intricate courtyards and classic northern Chinese architecture. After exploring the mansion, continue on to the UNESCO-listed ancient walled city of Pingyao, a perfectly preserved 19th-century financial center of China. Wander through its charming cobblestone streets, and explore the historic temples and traditional merchant mansions that line the city. 🍽️ Included: Lunch | 🏨 Accommodation: Kylin Hotel Pingyao or Wanda Moments Pingyao
Travel north to Wutai Mountain, one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, famous for its hundreds of ancient monasteries scattered across scenic forested mountain slopes. First, visit the beautiful Nanshan Temple, known for its stunning layered architecture and intricate Buddhist carvings, then spend the afternoon exploring the many mountain monasteries and soaking in the area’s tranquil spiritual atmosphere. End the day with a hearty included dinner before turning in for the night. 🍽️ Included: Dinner | 🏨 Accommodation: Friendship Hotel Wutai or Xinzhou Fanhua
Today you’ll explore off-the-beaten-path northern Chinese historic wonders: first, walk along a quiet, secluded section of the Great Wall of China near Yanmenguan, far from the crowds of more popular sections. Next, head to Yingxian to visit the stunning 1,000-year-old wooden pagoda, the oldest and tallest all-wood pagoda in China, built entirely without metal nails. Then, visit the incredible Hanging Temple of Xuankong, a breathtaking temple built into the side of a cliff over 1,500 years ago. After that, continue to Datong, where you can explore the city’s historic center and ancient city walls before the night. 🍽️ Included: Lunch | 🏨 Accommodation: Datong Yungang Meigao
Start your final day of exploration with a visit to the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO-listed site with 252 ancient caves filled with thousands of carved Buddhist statues dating back to the 5th century. After exploring the grottoes, board a high-speed train to Xuanhua, then visit the well-preserved Jiming Post, an ancient imperial postal station that dates back over 600 years, and one of the best-preserved ancient postal stations in China. Your 13-day journey through historic China concludes after your visit.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 28, 2026
I was worried that traveling through seven different cities in 13 days would be stressful, but all the transport between destinations was arranged seamlessly. The itinerary balanced iconic must-see sights with enough free time to wander and explore on your own, which I really appreciated. This is easily the best organized international tour I’ve ever joined.
January 14, 2026
The regional food at every stop was just as amazing as the historic sites we visited on this tour.
October 3, 2025
As a high school history teacher, I went into this tour with high expectations, and it exceeded every single one. The tour hits all the major ancient imperial capitals like Nanjing, Luoyang, and Xi’an that we teach about, but brings them to life with engaging on-site explanations and enough time to explore on your own. The mix of big famous sites and smaller hidden historic spots kept the trip interesting every single day. I’m already planning to bring my family back on another tour soon.
July 12, 2025
My consultant Sunny from HelloChinaTrip adjusted our itinerary slightly to accommodate my knee injury, and it worked out perfectly. Every stop was well-paced, and we never felt rushed between cities.
April 19, 2025
Every city on this itinerary offered a unique, unforgettable slice of thousands of years of Chinese history.
March 5, 2025
I never thought I’d get to see so many incredible historic sites in one smooth, well-organized trip. From the modern buzz of Shanghai to the ancient Yungang Grottoes in Datong and the classic scholar gardens in Suzhou, every stop offered a new layer of Chinese history and culture. Our local guides were all fluent in English and happy to answer every random question I had about China’s long past. I left with a far deeper appreciation for Chinese civilization than I ever got from reading books.
February 10, 2025
I gave 4 stars only because we visited during the Lunar New Year holiday, so all popular sites were much more wonderful than we expected. All the itinerary planning and guides were otherwise flawless.
January 22, 2025
Standing on the Great Wall outside Beijing and seeing the Terracotta Army in Xi’an were absolute bucket list moments. Our guide knew so many hidden historical details that made every stop feel vivid and meaningful.
December 18, 2024
This 13-day Thousand-Year-Old China Tour was the perfect way to experience thousands of years of Chinese history all in one memorable trip.
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