Details
Nationwide Departure → Beijing
All-day arrival in Beijing. Travel on your own from your home city by flight or high-speed rail and check in at a three-star hotel in downtown Beijing.
Dinner suggestion (if time allows):
– Peking duck at Siji Minfu (Forbidden City Corner Tower branch)
– Creative Beijing-style dishes at Juqi (Qianmen branch)
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in central Beijing
Beijing One-Day Tour: Flag Ceremony at Tiananmen Square → Badaling Great Wall → Bird’s Nest & Water Cube
- Tiananmen Square is the world’s largest urban square. The flag-raising ceremony symbolizes national dignity; its start time shifts with the sunrise. (Check the “Beijing Sunrise & Sunset Times” WeChat account.) We recommend arriving at the security checkpoint by 4:30–5:00 AM with your ID; prime viewing spots fill up fast.
- Badaling Great Wall is the best-preserved section of the Ming Dynasty wall, one of the “Nine Greatest Passes under Heaven.” Its watchtowers undulate along the ridge, and the classic hiking route from Tower 1 to Tower 8 ends at “Hero Hill,” famed for its commemorative stele.
- Bird’s Nest & Water Cube (Olympic Stadium & Aquatics Centre) feature ultra-modern designs. Their evening illuminations are spectacular photo backdrops.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in central Beijing
Beijing Cultural Gems: Temple of Heaven → Summer Palace → Old Summer Palace → Tsinghua University or Peking University
Morning: Temple of Heaven
- The Temple of Heaven (Tiāntán) was where Ming and Qing emperors performed heaven-worship and harvest-prayer rites. Its core structures—the Circular Mound Altar, Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, and Imperial Vault of Heaven—embody the “round heaven, square earth” cosmology. Don’t miss the Whispering Wall and Echo Stone acoustic wonders.
Afternoon: Summer Palace → Old Summer Palace → Tsinghua University or Peking University
- Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) is China’s largest surviving imperial garden, built around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill in the style of Hangzhou’s West Lake. Highlights include the Tower of Buddhist Incense, Long Corridor, and Suzhou Street. A boat ride on Kunming Lake offers views of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge; in spring, the Peach Blossom Island is in full bloom.
- Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan Park), once the “Garden of Gardens,” comprised three gardens: the Garden of Perfect Brightness, the Garden of Eternal Spring, and the Garden of Profound Spring. Only the European-style ruins of the Grand Waterworks and Haiyan Hall remain after the 1860 destruction; the site now serves as a poignant historical reminder.
- Tsinghua University (Tsinghua Garden’s Second Gate) or Peking University (West Gate) are China’s top-ranked universities. You can take commemorative photos outside their iconic gates.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in central Beijing
Beijing → Xian by High-Speed Rail → Giant Wild Goose Pagoda → North Square Music Fountain → Datang Everbright City
Morning:
- Take an early high-speed train (about 5 hours) from Beijing to Xian North. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you at the station and transfer you to your hotel in Xian city center.
Afternoon: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda → North Square Music Fountain → Datang Everbright City
- Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (Big Wild Goose Pagoda), built in the Tang Dynasty to house the Buddhist scriptures of Master Xuanzang, stands seven stories tall (64 m). Climb to the top for panoramic views of Xian; the square in front features a statue of Xuanzang, and the adjacent Daci’en Temple preserves Tang-era steles.
- North Square Music Fountain offers multimedia water shows.
- Datang Everbright City is a Tang-themed pedestrian street lined with Tang-style architecture, nightly performances including “Tilting Miss,” light art installations, and intangible-cultural-heritage craft shops. At night, the street shimmers like a journey back to the high Tang era.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in central Xian
Xian Highlights: Terracotta Warriors – Lishan Garden – Muslim Quarter – Drum Tower – Bell Tower
- Terracotta Army are one of the world’s eight wonders. Discovered in the Qin Mausoleum, over 8,000 life-size terracotta figures and bronze chariots are arranged in battle formation, showcasing exceptional Qin-Dynasty sculptural art.
- Lishan Garden covers the original tumulus of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb (25 sq km). The site includes the Bronze Chariot Museum (displaying authentic Qin bronze chariots) and Lishan Ruins Park. An optional sightseeing cart is available (CNY 30).
- Drum Tower & Bell Tower—Xian’s twin landmarks—mirror each other across the city’s central axis. The Drum Tower hosts Ming- and Qing-style drumming performances (at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, etc.); the Bell Tower offers a climb for bird’s-eye views of Xian.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in central Xian
Xian → Guilin by Air: Elephant Trunk Hill, Li River & Four Lakes Night Cruise
After breakfast, your driver takes you to Xian Airport for your flight to Guilin. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel to drop off luggage. (Xian Airport → Guilin (approx. 5 hours flight, incl. transfers))
Highlights: Elephant Trunk Hill → Li River & Four Lakes Night Cruise
Elephant Trunk Hill
Guilin’s city emblem—this limestone hill resembles an elephant drinking from the river. The Water-Moon Cave between the “trunk” and “leg” can be navigated by small boat. Ancient poets praised it in verses such as “Moon under the water, moon above the water.”
Li River & Four Lakes Night Cruise
“One River” refers to the Li River; “Four Lakes” are Rong Lake, Shan Lake, Gui Lake, and Mulong Lake. The luxury evening cruise showcases city lights reflected on tranquil water, passing the Sun and Moon Twin Towers and the Ancient South Gate.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Guilin
Guilin Karst Landscapes: Li River Cruise (to Xingping) → Silver Cave → Yulong River & West Street
Li River Cruise (Guilin → Yangshuo Xingping)
Cruise from Mopanshan Pier in Guilin to Xingping, passing the famed Nine-Horse Fresco Hill and Huangbu Brook Reflection. Karst peaks mirrored in clear water illustrate the proverb, “Guilin’s scenery tops all under heaven; Yangshuo’s scenery tops Guilin’s.” (Additional CNY20 per person.)
Silver Cave
A spectacular karst cave featuring formations nicknamed “Fairyland of the Pool,” “Musical Stone Screen,” and “Snow Mountain Waterfall.” LED lighting brings the stalactites and stalagmites to life.
Yulong River & West Street (Xijie)
Stroll along the Yulong River’s bamboo-raft piers then head to West Street, Yangshuo’s oldest commercial thoroughfare. At night the neon lights, bars, cafés, and handicraft shops come alive. Don’t miss local specialties like Beer-Baked Fish at Master Shi’s or Xie Sanjie’s.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Guilin
Guilin → Shanghai by Air
After breakfast, your driver transfers you to Guilin Liangjiang Airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, check in at a downtown Shanghai hotel. (Guilin Airport → Shanghai (approx. 2 hours flight))
In the afternoon, you can enjoy free time and stroll around the city. You can visit Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street to experience Shanghai’s century-old commercial atmosphere, or check out the Bund International Buildings (take photos in advance and explore in depth the next day).
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in downtown Shanghai
Shanghai One-Day Tour: Shanghai Museum – Shanghai Tower – Suzhou Creek – City God Temple – Yu Garden
Morning: Shanghai Museum
- One of China’s “Big Four” museums, it houses over 120,000 artifacts. Must-see galleries include Bronze (Shang–Zhou bronzes), Painting & Calligraphy (Ming–Qing masterpieces), and Jade (from Hongshan culture to Qing-era works). The building’s circular-square design echoes “round heaven, square earth.” Entry is free, but advance reservation is required.
Afternoon: Shanghai Tower Observation Deck (118th floor) → Suzhou Creek City Walk → City God Temple → Yuyuan Garden
- Shanghai Tower (the country’s tallest skyscraper) observation deck stands 546 m high, offering 360° views of both Pudong’s skyline and the Bund’s architecture. Arrive before sunset to witness day-to-night transitions.
- Suzhou Creek City Walk follows the revitalized canalfront.
- City God Temple (Chénghuáng Miào) is a renowned Taoist site surrounded by a snack street featuring xiaolongbao, Ningbo tangyuan, crab-shell pastries, etc. Recommended: queue early at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant for crab-roe dumplings, or try vegetarian buns at Songyuelou.
- Yuyuan Garden is a classical Suzhou-style garden adjacent to the temple bazaar.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in central Shanghai
Shanghai Departure → Return Home
- Transfer to Shanghai Pudong Airport (3 hours before departure) or Hongqiao Airport (2 hours before departure) according to your flight schedule. If time permits, sample a Shanghai-style breakfast—cifantuan (sticky rice roll) with soybean milk or shengjianbao (pan-fried buns)—near your hotel.
- As this journey ends, we hope you depart with not just photographs, but a deep affection for China’s warmth. May this trip be a window into China’s soul, and may we meet again among its mountains and waters.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
Dates & Prices
| Month | Date | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun | 2025-06-15 | $ 1794 | Book now |
| 2025-06-20 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| 2025-06-25 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| Jul | 2025-07-1 | $ 1794 | Book now |
| 2025-07-5 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| 2025-07-10 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| 2025-07-15 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| 2025-07-20 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| 2025-07-25 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| Aug | 2025-08-1 | $ 1794 | Book now |
| 2025-08-5 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| 2025-08-10 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| 2025-08-15 | $ 1794 | Book now | |
| Sep | 2025-09 | $ 1794 | Book now |
| Oct | 2025-10 | $ 1794 | Book now |
| Nov | 2025-11 | $ 1794 | Book now |
| Dec | 2025-12 | $ 1794 | Book now |
You are consulting 2025-04-12 10-Day Beijing · Xian · Guilin · Shanghai Tour: Chinese Classic Cultural Tour
Fee Description
Included Services
Accommodation: 9 nights in designated star-rated hotels (twin/double rooms; single supplement applies), daily breakfast in Beijing, Xian, Guilin, and Shanghai.
Transportation:
Beijing → Xian high-speed train (2nd-class seats)
Xian → Guilin & Guilin → Shanghai economy-class flights (including airport taxes & fuel surcharges)
Local air-conditioned coach transfers & meet-and-greet services
Attraction Fees: First-entrance tickets for all listed sites
Experiences: Li Four Lakes luxury evening cruise (with dinner), basic guiding services at major attractions
Guides: Chinese/English bilingual guides for each segment (not fully escorted)
Insurance: Vehicle seat insurance & travel agency liability insurance
Exclusions
Transportation: Air tickets/train tickets from the departure point to Beijing or Shanghai and back to the departure point
Meals: All lunches and dinners (guides will recommend local specialties at CNY 50–100/pax).
Optional expenses: Cable cars, sightseeing carts, optional activities, personal purchases, alcoholic beverages.
Single-room supplement: Charged for solo travelers.
Upgrades: Hotel room or rail-carriage upgrades.
Other fees: Visa fees, personal expenses (e.g., souvenirs, laundry), costs due to flight/train delays or force majeure.