13-day Private Tour of China: From Beijing to Shanghai

One of the world’s most enigmatic cities, Beijing, is where your adventure will start. When you arrive at Beijing International Airport, a tour guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. To overcome the jet lag, relax after check-in and enjoy a good night’s sleep. You will spend the following few days exploring this historic city, which serves as China’s political and cultural centre. Prepare for that.

Point of departure
Beijing Capital International Airport, Airport Motorway, Beijing, 100621, China (PEK).
Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
Upgrades are available at the Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or a comparable hotel.
Sunworld Hotel Beijing or a comparable establishment
Hotel Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town or a comparable establishment

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and begin your exploration of Beijing’s historic district.

[9:30–12:30] You will arrive in the world’s largest public square, Tian’anmen Square. Explore the square and pay a visit to the world’s largest and most comprehensive ancient imperial palace, the Forbidden City, today’s highlight. At the summit of Coal Hill, hike to Jingshan Park, which offers a pleasant sweeping view of the Forbidden City.

[12:30–14:00] To taste real Chinese cuisine, stop for lunch at a nearby Chinese restaurant on the way.

[14:00–16:30] Travel to Back Lakes (Houhai), a fantastic location to learn about Beijing City’s past and its boundless appeal. Explore Nanluoguxiang Alley, one of Beijing’s most well-known Hutong neighbourhoods, which combines fashion, history, and souvenir shops. After that, we’ll have to make a stop at a tea house.

[16:30–17:30] After today’s leisure tour, return to your hotel. You are welcome to ask your guide for recommendations for things to do in the evening, such where to eat Peking duck supper or see a night show.
Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
Upgrades are available at the Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or a comparable hotel.
There is a hotel upgrade available at Sunworld Hotel Beijing or one comparable.
Hotel Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town or a comparable establishment

 [08:00–08:30] (B/L) Our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and begin your tour of the Great Wall.

[08:30–10:00] You will explore the Temple of Heaven before heading to the Great Wall, where locals will work out in the square in the morning. There, you can meet the authentic folk master and witness Chinese kungfu, tai chi, square dancing, etc.

[10:00–13:30] After that, stop by a jade shop before heading to the Mutianyu Great Wall, which is the area where foreign tourists visit the most. When you get there, have lunch at a neighbourhood eatery close to the Great Wall.

[13:30–16:00] Have fun exploring the Mutianyu Great Wall for half a day. Hiking or riding the cable car up and exploring are your options.

Of all the Great Wall’s parts, the Mutianyu Great Wall is the largest and highest-quality. Another unique experience there is descending the beanie from the top.

[16:00–17:30] On the way back to the hotel, you can make plans for nighttime activities like foot massages, Sanlitun bar street, and Houhai night bars.

Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
Upgrades are available at the Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or a comparable hotel.
There is a hotel upgrade available at Sunworld Hotel Beijing or one comparable.
Available Upgrades: Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town Hotel or a Similar Hotel

 [09:30-10:00] Before departing Beijing, you will be greeted in the hotel lobby and given a half-day leisure excursion.

[10:00–11:30] See Summer Palace, the biggest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Additionally, it is a sizable natural landscape garden that was inspired by the Hangzhou West Lake landscape and employed Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as its basic addresses. Another enjoyable experience is taking a boat ride on Kunming Lake.

[11:30–12:30] A la carte lunch at a well-known local restaurant; the food is delicious, but the atmosphere may be noisy.

Transfer on the 5.5-hour high-speed train to Xian after lunch. At the airport, your Xian tour guide will meet you and assist with your hotel transportation.

Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
Upgrades are available at the Meihao Hotel Xi’an East Street or a comparable establishment.
Upgrades are available at the Somerset Aparthotel Xindicheng Xi’an or a comparable establishment.
Upgrades are available at the Sofitel on Renmin Square or a comparable hotel.

[09:00-09:30] The Ancient City tour will begin today once you are greeted in the hotel foyer.

[9:30–12:30] Explore one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the world by driving to Terracotta Warriors, where soldiers, horses, and chariots are arranged in combat formation. We’ll set up a shuttle bus for your convenience. After that, you will have the opportunity to tour a pottery figurine factory and learn how to create one.

[12:30–14:00] There will be a Chinese lunch prepared close to the picturesque Terracotta Warriors location.

[14:00–17:00] Visit the Bell Tower in the afternoon. It is the biggest bell tower in China in terms of size and shape, and it is also the finest preserved.

After that, pay a visit to Gao’s Courtyard, a great place to see historic homes and learn about the local customs of shadow puppetry and paper cutting. Keep exploring the Muslim Quarter, have fun shopping there, and try some of the different regional foods.

[17:00–17:30] Returning to the hotel. We strongly advise you to pay for dinner and see the Tang Dynasty Show tonight.

Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
Upgrades are available at the Meihao Hotel Xi’an East Street or a comparable establishment.
Upgrades are available at the Somerset Aparthotel Xindicheng Xi’an or a comparable establishment.
Upgrades are available at the Sofitel on Renmin Square or a comparable hotel.

[09:30–10:00] There will be plenty time for you to check out and pack. Before departing for Guilin, you will be greeted at the hotel lobby and given a one-day leisure tour of Xian.

[10:00–12:30] See the Ancient City Wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in China. There will be bicycles and touring cars set up on the wall for exploration. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda after that. You will also have the opportunity to see the fountain performance in North Plaza, which is an iconic building in Xian and a representation of the old capital of China.

[12:30–16:30] Drive to the Xian airport after lunch, stopping along the way to see China’s largest museum, the Hanyang Mausoleum. Take a plane to Guilin. At the airport, your Guilin tour guide will meet you and assist with your hotel transfer.

Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
Upgrades are available at the Meihao Hotel Xi’an East Street or a comparable establishment.
Upgrades are available at the Somerset Aparthotel Xindicheng Xi’an or a comparable establishment.
Upgrades are available at the Sofitel on Renmin Square or a comparable hotel.

[08:00-08:30] After being greeted in the hotel lobby, you will begin your cruise exploration of the Li River.

[9:30–14:00] Savour the Li River Cruise excursion, which includes a buffet lunch. A deluxe cruise with respectable amenities and first-rate service will be planned. As you cruise down the winding river to Yangshuo, take in the picturesque surroundings. You can sit and take in the beautiful view outside the window or walk on the sundeck. Take a tourist car to the parking lot or stroll down West Street after disembarking.

[14:30–16:00] Enjoy the clean river with innumerable hills surrounding it and the splendour of Yangshuo countryside by taking a leisurely bicycle ride along the Yulong River.

[17:00–17:30] Return to Guilin via car. We strongly advise you to take the Li River Night Cruise, which is illuminated at night.

Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
There is a hotel upgrade available at Mehmood Hotel or one comparable.
There is a hotel upgrade available at the Green Lotus Hotel Yangshuo or one comparable.
Upgrades to Yangshuo Resort or a comparable resort are available.

 [09:00-09:30] After being greeted at your hotel lobby, you will begin exploring this stunning city.

[9:30–12:30] See the renowned beautiful location known as Reed Flute Cave, which features a magical paradise of stalactites and stalagmites in amazing hues and forms. After that, drive to Guilin City’s emblem, Elephant Trunk Hill, and make a stop at the pearl store. The hill resembles a giant elephant stretching its trunk while sipping Li River water. To get a complete perspective of Guilin’s hills and rivers, you could ascend to the summit. Enjoy a quick visit to the Golden and Silver Twin Pagodas while strolling alongside the Li River.

Travel to Chongqing by high-speed rail. Your tour guide from Chongqing will meet you at the station, assist with your transfer to Chaotianmen Wharf, and assist you with checking in for the Victoria cruise, which departs Chongqing at 9:00 p.m.

Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
Upgrades are available at Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or a comparable hotel.
There is a hotel upgrade available at the Holiday Inn Express Guilin City Centre or one comparable.
Upgrades are available at the Sheraton Guilin Hotel or a comparable establishment.

 [06:30-08:30] (B/L/D) Enjoy a buffet breakfast, tea and coffee in the morning, and tai chi on board.

[09:00–13:30] A trip to the shore— In the morning, Fengdu Shuanguishan National Park is set up. Or, for an additional fee, go on a beach trip to Fengdu Ghost City. Onboard, a buffet meal is provided.

[16:00–21:30] Captain’s Welcome Reception with Buffet Dinner in the late afternoon. The extra Shore excursion, FengYan SanGuo’s “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” Show, is an option for the evening.

Remarks:

1. Seasons, water levels, cruise canals, and climates may all have an impact on the arrangements for the cruise shore excursion and docks, which could alter at any time. You will receive the boat’s schedule for the daily program during the tour.

2. Other personal expenses like laundry, internet, drinks and bar fees are not included.

Cabin/Berth Upgrades Available on the Yangtze River Cruise

06:30–7:00 Tea and coffee in the morning, followed by Tai Chi on the top deck

Breakfast (Buffet) 7:00–8:30

White Emperor City is the optional shore trip (at your own expense, RMB 295 P.P.) from 07:30 to 10:15.

Sailing in Qutang Gorge at approximately 10:45

12:45 (Est.) Wu Gorge scenic cruise

12:00–13:00 Buffet lunch

15:15–18:15 Goddess Stream shore trip (or Shennong Stream, depending on river conditions)

Captain’s Farewell Banquet (19:00–20:30) (set-menu table supper)

21:00–21:45 Cabaret for the crew

(18:00–23:00) Check out and settle any outstanding invoices.

1. An excursion to White Emperor City, where you would drive 20 minutes to Baidi Temple in a coach. You will have two hours to explore White Emperor City and take in the fascinating history and enigmatic landscape.

Cabin/Berth Upgrades Available on the Yangtze River Cruise

 [06:00-07:45] Breakfast buffet

[08:15–12:30] Take a shore trip to the Three Gorges Dam Site after disembarking at the Mapping cruise station, then head to the passenger centre in downtown Yichang.

Travel to Shanghai by high-speed rail. At the train station, your Shanghai tour guide will meet you and assist with your hotel transportation.

Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
There is a hotel upgrade available at the Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo or one comparable.
There is a hotel upgrade available at Sunrise on the Bund Hotel or one comparable.
There is a hotel upgrade available at the Grand Central Hotel Shanghai or one comparable.

[09:00-09:30] After being greeted in the hotel lobby, you will begin your exploration of both Old and New Shanghai.

[9:30–12:30] Enter the Shikumen, an antique alleyway with historic houses that still house locals and combine Western and Chinese traditional culture. Take an orientation walk down the Bund, a late 19th-century hub for international trade. Next, proceed to Shanghai’s downtown to see Yuyuan Garden, a traditional Chinese garden.

[12:30–13:30] A la carte lunch at a well-known local restaurant; the food is delicious, but the atmosphere may be noisy.

[13:30–16:30] Visit the silk museum and the Jade Buddha Temple in the afternoon. After that, arrive at the new Lujiazui CBD neighbourhood and spend some free time on the Riverside Promenade.

Take a quick pause and get a cup of coffee. Finally, take a tour of Shanghai Tower, the highest structure in Shanghai and the focal point of the metropolitan skyline. Savour your trip to the Top of Shanghai and take in the expansive panorama of Shanghai.

[16:30–17:30] Returning to the hotel. We strongly advise you to take in one of Shanghai’s most well-liked nighttime entertainment options, the ERA Acrobatic Show.

Accommodation
One of the following lodging options will be used for your stay:
There is a hotel upgrade available at the Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo or one comparable.
There is a hotel upgrade available at Sunrise on the Bund Hotel or one comparable.
There is a hotel upgrade available at the Grand Central Hotel Shanghai or one comparable.

Enjoy a free day before being driven to the airport in preparation for your trip back. If you would like, we can arrange for you to take the Maglev train to Pudong Airport, or we can drive you there.
Service Termination Point
6000 Yingbin Ave 迎宾大道6000号, Shanghai, 201207, China is the address of Shanghai Pudong International Airport.