12 Days • 11 Nights
China Highlights with Guilin & Yangshuo
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll walk the Great Wall and explore the Forbidden City in Beijing, meet the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, cruise the Li River past the misty limestone peaks that fill Chinese paintings, and finish among the skyscrapers and gardens of Shanghai. Rice terraces, cormorant fishermen and dumpling banquets thread it all together.
With comfortable hotels, private guides and the scenic Li River cruise arranged, it is China's greatest hits with its loveliest landscape included.
Trip Highlights
- The Great Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing
- The Terracotta Warriors and city wall of Xi'an
- A Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
- The karst peaks and rice fields around Yangshuo
- A cormorant-fishing display at dusk
- The Bund skyline and Yu Garden in Shanghai
- A Peking duck dinner and a dumpling banquet
- High-speed trains and a scenic flight included
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 12-day journey.
Arrive in the capital and settle in, with a welcome dinner of northern flavours.
Walk a scenic stretch of the Great Wall, then a hutong rickshaw ride and a Peking duck dinner.
Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, with time among the locals in the park.
High-speed train to Xi'an, with an evening at the Bell Tower and the Muslim Quarter.
The Terracotta Army and the Ming city wall, with a dumpling banquet tonight.
Fly south to Guilin, a city of karst peaks and lakes. An evening walk around the Two Rivers and Four Lakes with their illuminated pagodas.
Cruise the Li River past the surreal limestone peaks and buffalo-grazed banks that inspired centuries of Chinese painting, disembarking in laid-back Yangshuo.
Cycle or stroll among the rice fields and karst hills, visit a local village, and watch a traditional cormorant-fishing display on the river at dusk.
Transfer to Guilin and fly to Shanghai, settling in along the Bund with its dazzling night skyline.
The classical Yu Garden and Old City, the Bund, and the Pudong skyline across the river.
A day trip to the canal town of Zhujiajiao, with its bridges, boats and tea houses.
A final breakfast before your transfer to the airport.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private airport transfers and a private guide and driver in each destination
- 3 nights Beijing, 2 nights Xi'an, 1 night Guilin, 2 nights Yangshuo, 3 nights Shanghai
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner, a Peking duck dinner and a dumpling banquet
- A Great Wall excursion, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven
- The Terracotta Warriors and Xi'an city wall
- A Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo and countryside touring
- Shanghai city touring, Yu Garden and the Bund
- High-speed trains and the Xi'an-Guilin and Guilin-Shanghai flights
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from China
- China visa fees (we can assist)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Additional domestic flights beyond those stated
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities for guides and drivers
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa: Most nationalities need a China tourist (L) visa arranged in advance, though visa-free transit and regional schemes exist for some passports. We can advise, and your passport should be valid at least six months
- The Great Firewall: Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and many Western sites are blocked in China. Install a reputable VPN and download offline maps before you arrive
- Currency & payments: The currency is the Chinese yuan (RMB). China is largely cashless via WeChat Pay and Alipay; set these up if you can, and carry some cash as a backup
- Language: English is not widely spoken outside hotels, which is exactly why your guide and private driver make all the difference
- Getting around: China's high-speed trains are superb and some legs use domestic flights, all arranged for you with seat reservations
- Altitude: Tibet (Lhasa 3,650m) and Shangri-La sit high; we build in gentle acclimatisation, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor
- Best seasons: Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are ideal nationwide; summer is hot and can be rainy, and the far north is bitterly cold in winter
- Etiquette: Tipping was not traditional but is now expected for guides and drivers on tours. A little patience and a smile go a long way
- Health: Drink bottled or boiled water only, and carry hand sanitiser. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended
- Connectivity & power: Buy a local SIM or an eSIM for data, and bring a universal adapter (China uses types A, C and I at 220V)
Frequently Asked Questions
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, along with a welcome dinner and the specific lunches and dinners named in the itinerary, such as a Peking duck dinner or a dumpling banquet. Other meals are left free so you can explore China's incredible regional food.
Are transfers and touring private?
Yes — you travel with your own licensed guide and private driver in each city, so there is nothing to arrange on the ground.
Do I need a visa for China?
Most visitors need a China tourist visa arranged in advance, though some passports qualify for visa-free transit. We guide you through the requirements for your nationality.
Will my phone work in China?
Roaming works but Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked by the Great Firewall, so install a VPN before you travel. A local SIM or eSIM gives you reliable data.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer the most comfortable weather and clearest skies. Summer is hot and busier; winter is cold in the north but quiet and atmospheric.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Durations, hotels, cities and experiences can all be tailored, and we can add a Yangtze cruise, Tibet or Hong Kong. Just tell us what you have in mind.
How do we travel between cities?
By China's excellent high-speed trains and, for longer hops, domestic flights — all included and arranged with reservations.
Why include Guilin and Yangshuo?
Because the Li River karst landscape is the most beautiful in China — the scenery on the 20-yuan banknote — and Yangshuo offers a relaxed, rural counterpoint to the big cities.
Is the Li River cruise long?
The classic cruise runs around four hours downstream from Guilin to Yangshuo, gliding past the finest peaks, with lunch served on board.
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