Anna Kowalski
April 20, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
Explore China’s most captivating cultural and natural highlights over 14 days with this fully guided, fully customizable private tour built around your unique travel preferences. Journey across five unmissable destinations: the ancient imperial capital Beijing, terracotta warrior-filled Xi’an, otherworldly dramatic scenery in Zhangjiajie and Guilin, and the vibrant global metropolis Shanghai. This carefully curated trip delivers great value, reliable trusted payment processing, and a flexible, low-pressure personalized experience unlike standard group tours.
This 14-day unforgettable journey starts in glittering modern Shanghai, travels to the otherworldly karst peaks of Zhangjiajie, drifts along the mist-wreathed Li River through Guilin and Yangshuo, dives into ancient history in imperial Xi'an, and wraps up in Beijing where you'll walk the Great Wall and explore the Forbidden City. The route is carefully curated to highlight China's one-of-a-kind mix of dramatic natural scenery and thousands of years of cultural history, with every transition between destinations pre-arranged for a stress-free trip.
After your arrival in dynamic Shanghai, you'll check in to your centrally located accommodation and have the rest of the day free to rest up after travel or wander the nearby neighborhood to get your first taste of the city. 🏨 Stay at Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel
Kick off your first full day of exploration with a hearty Western buffet breakfast 🍽️. Wander the classic pavilions and scenic ponds of ancient Yu Garden, then join your guide for a leisurely stroll through the tree-lined Former French Concession, where you'll see charming colonial architecture, trendy cafes, and local street art. Next, head to the top of Shanghai Tower for sweeping skyline views, then end your day with a sunset walk along the iconic waterfront Bund. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay at Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel
Start your day with a filling Western buffet breakfast 🍽️ before boarding your pre-scheduled flight to Zhangjiajie. If you take a morning flight, you'll have time to hike along the shaded, crystal-clear Golden Whip Stream that winds through Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, surrounded by towering jagged peaks on all sides. After your hike, check in to your convenient park-area hotel. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Renjoy Hotel (or Howard Johnson)
Fuel up for a full day of mountain exploration with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, with lunch also included later in the day. Take the park's comfortable 20-minute eco-bus ride to the famous Bailong Elevator, which whisks you up to the mountain top in just 66 seconds with incredible views along the way. Explore the dramatic Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, home to the iconic peaks that inspired Avatar, then ride another eco-bus to the Yangjiajie Scenic Area for even more stunning mountain vistas. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast, lunch 🏨 Stay at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Renjoy Hotel (or Howard Johnson)
Today brings more adventure and stunning views, starting with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️ and included lunch. First, visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon to walk the world-famous Glass Bridge, suspended high above the canyon floor for thrilling panoramic views. Next, head to Tianmen Mountain, where you'll ride a round-trip cableway up the mountain to explore the legendary Heaven's Gate rock formation and cliff-side sky paths. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast, lunch 🏨 Stay at Home2 Suites by Hilton Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain (or Wyndham)
After enjoying your included Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, you'll travel from Zhangjiajie to scenic Guilin, where you'll check in to your comfortable hotel and have the rest of the evening free to relax or try local specialties like Guilin rice noodles at a nearby eatery. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay at Guilin Bravo Hotel (or Shangri-La Hotel)
Start your day of riverside scenery with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, then board a leisurely cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo. As you drift past misty karst peaks rising straight from the water, you'll pass iconic landmarks including Nine-Horse Mural Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoad, the famous backdrop featured on China's 20 yuan banknote. A simple Chinese box lunch is included on your cruise. Once in Yangshuo, you can choose between a leisurely cycling tour through the lush countryside or a private car ride to explore at your own pace. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast, Chinese box lunch on cruise 🏨 Stay at Amari Yangshuo Hotel (or Green Lotus Hotel)
After your included Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, set off on a refreshing bamboo rafting adventure along the calm, scenic Yulong River, drifting past quiet farmland and dramatic peaks far from the crowds. Later, head back to Guilin to explore two of the city's most iconic landmarks: the glowing limestone Reed Flute Cave filled with striking stalactites and stalagmites, and the famous Elephant Trunk Hill on the banks of the Li River. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay at Amari Yangshuo Hotel (or Green Lotus Hotel)
After your included Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, travel from Guilin to ancient imperial capital Xi'an. Once you arrive, head to the well-preserved Xi'an City Wall, where you can climb to the top for sweeping panoramic views of the city. End your day with a leisurely stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter, a historic neighborhood packed with delicious street food and local handicraft stalls. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay at Holiday Inn Xi'an Big Goose Pagoda (or Wyndham Grand Xi'an South)
Dive deep into 2,000 years of Chinese history today, starting with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️ and an included lunch of classic Xi'an local specialties. First, tour the world-famous Terracotta Army Museum, where you'll see thousands of life-sized warrior statues built to guard the tomb of China's first emperor. Next, enjoy a hands-on experience at a local craft studio, where you'll spend about an hour making your own small terracotta warrior to take home as a souvenir. End your day with a visit to the historic Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a magnificent Tang-dynasty Buddhist landmark. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast, local Xi'an food lunch 🏨 Stay at Holiday Inn Xi'an Big Goose Pagoda (or Wyndham Grand Xi'an South)
After your included Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, travel from Xi'an to China's capital Beijing. Once you arrive, dive into traditional local life with a fun rickshaw ride through narrow, historic hutong alleyways. You'll also get a unique, intimate look at local culture with a visit to a local family living in a traditional courtyard home. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay at Mercure Beijing City Center (or Sofitel Hotel Beijing)
Get ready for one of your trip's biggest highlights: a day at the Great Wall of China! Start with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️, then head to the scenic, well-preserved Mutianyu section of the wall. A round-trip cable car is included to take you up and down the mountain, so you can enjoy walking along the wall perched on forested ridges without a strenuous climb. In the afternoon, visit the beautiful Summer Palace, a sprawling imperial garden filled with ancient pavilions, lakes, and historic architecture. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast 🏨 Stay at Mercure Beijing City Center (or Sofitel Hotel Beijing)
Explore the heart of imperial Beijing today, starting with a Western buffet breakfast 🍽️. First, walk across expansive Tiananmen Square before entering the legendary Forbidden City, the former home of Chinese emperors for over 500 years, where you can explore ornate palaces and hidden courtyards. For lunch, enjoy a special à la carte farewell lunch featuring iconic Beijing Roast Duck. In the afternoon, visit the beautiful Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors once held worship ceremonies. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast, farewell lunch with Beijing Roast Duck 🏨 Stay at Mercure Beijing City Center (or Sofitel Hotel Beijing)
After your final included Western buffet breakfast 🍽️ on tour, head to the Beijing Zoo's famous Panda Hall to see adorable giant pandas, China's beloved national treasure, before your tour concludes and you prepare for your onward travel. 🍽️ Included: Western buffet breakfast
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 20, 2026
As someone who loves both nature and history, this tour was perfectly balanced for my interests. The private format meant we never had to wait around for large groups, and every guide was incredibly knowledgeable about each location.
February 10, 2026
Every natural and cultural highlight on this itinerary felt perfectly curated for a first trip to China.
September 14, 2025
Zhangjiajie was the undisputed highlight of our trip, and our guide took us to less crowded viewing platforms that had even better views than the main tourist areas. We loved being able to adjust our schedule a little each day based on how tired we were, which is the biggest benefit of a private tailor-made tour. All the hotels were clean, comfortable, and centrally located, which made getting to each site easy every morning. This is hands down the best organized international tour I’ve ever been on.
May 2, 2025
This is a fantastic well-organized tour that hits all the must-see cultural and natural highlights of China. We visited during the May national holiday week, so popular spots like the Terracotta Army and Zhangjiajie were much more wonderful than we anticipated. Our guide and private car still made the entire experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
March 12, 2025
This 14-day China tour exceeded every single one of my expectations.
January 18, 2025
I worked with consultant Lynn from HelloChinaTrip to tailor this tour for my family of four, and she adjusted every stop exactly to what we wanted. We got to slow down in Zhangjiajie to hike more instead of rushing to the next site, which was exactly what we asked for. Every transfer, hotel, and guided walk was perfectly organized, with no hiccups at all across the 14 days. Seeing the Great Wall in Beijing, Terracotta Army in Xi'an, and the karst mountains in Guilin was a dream trip we’ll never forget. I can’t recommend this private tour enough for anyone wanting to see China’s best spots stress-free.
December 28, 2024
Visiting all five iconic spots in one comfortable private trip was such a treat. Our guide knew all the best hidden photo spots in Zhangjiajie that we never would have found on our own. I’d book this experience again in a heartbeat.
