Explore China’s top natural and cultural destinations on this 14-day private sightseeing tour, taking you across six iconic spots: Beijing, Xi’an, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Kunming, and Shanghai. Curated to showcase the very best of China’s unmissable attractions, this expertly selected itinerary comes with unbeatable competitive pricing and guaranteed secure payment processes, delivering a seamless, fully personalized travel experience.
This 14-day curated private journey starts in the imperial heart of China, Beijing, before moving to the ancient terracotta capital of Xi'an, then travels on to Zhangjiajie's otherworldly jagged quartz peaks, winds through Guilin's karst-lined Li River landscapes, stops in culturally rich Kunming, and wraps up in the sparkling modern metropolis of Shanghai. Over two weeks, you'll experience thousands of years of Chinese imperial history, vibrant ethnic community culture, jaw-dropping natural beauty, and the dynamic energy of 21st-century China, all arranged for a seamless, well-rounded first taste of China's incredible diversity.
Today you'll arrive in Beijing, China's bustling capital, and settle into your accommodation after your travel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the neighborhood near your hotel, try local street food snacks, and recharge ahead of your 14-day adventure.
Kick off your exploration with a visit to the stunning Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors once held grand annual worship ceremonies. After wandering the temple's symmetrical, beautiful grounds, browse one-of-a-kind vintage curios and antiques at Panjiayuan Antique Market, Beijing's largest and most famous flea market for vintage goods. Next, stop by a local tea store to learn about traditional Chinese tea culture and sample different fragrant varieties. End the day with a leisurely walk across iconic Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, authentic Chinese lunch near Tiananmen Square 🏨 Overnight stay in Beijing
Today's highlight is a full-day trip to the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall of China. You can choose your own adventure: hike along the restored ancient battlements or glide up to the wall via cable car for sweeping views of the structure winding through misty forested mountains. On your way back to central Beijing, stop for photos at two of the city's most famous modern landmarks: the Bird's Nest National Stadium and the Water Cube National Aquatics Center. You'll also stop at a local jade carving factory to watch master artisans create intricate jade pieces. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, Chinese lunch at a local neighborhood restaurant 🏨 Overnight stay in Beijing
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
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Before departing Beijing for Xi'an, spend the morning exploring the grand Summer Palace, the former imperial garden retreat of Qing Dynasty rulers. Glide across the calm, scenic waters of Kunming Lake on a leisurely boat ride, with views of the famous painted Long Corridor and rolling hills surrounding the garden. After your visit, you'll transfer to your transport to Xi'an, the ancient capital of 13 Chinese dynasties. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, Chinese lunch near the Summer Palace 🏨 Overnight stay in Xi'an
Today you'll experience one of China's most incredible ancient wonders: the Qin Terracotta Warriors, thousands of life-sized clay warriors and horses built to guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife. After exploring the three massive excavation pits, head to a local pottery workshop for a hands-on experience, learning how artisans have crafted these iconic clay figurines for centuries. Next, walk or cycle along the massive, well-preserved Xi'an City Wall, one of the largest intact ancient city walls in the world. End your day at Wild Goose Pagoda North Square, home to China's largest music fountain show. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, local Chinese lunch 🏨 Overnight stay in Xi'an
Start the day with a visit to the historic Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a beautifully preserved 8th-century Buddhist pagoda that houses ancient Buddhist scriptures brought back from India by traveling monks. After exploring the pagoda and its quiet, green temple grounds, enjoy a Chinese lunch before boarding your transfer to Guilin, southern China's scenic city famous for its dramatic karst mountain landscapes. 🍽️ Included: Chinese lunch 🏨 Overnight stay in Guilin
Venture out of central Guilin today to the dramatic Longji Rice Terraces, a cascading network of centuries-old terraces carved into the hillside by local ethnic minority communities. Go trekking along winding paths through the terraces, taking in panoramic views of layered green hills and traditional stilted wooden villages. You'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant inside a minority village, where you can try home-cooked southern Chinese dishes made with fresh local ingredients. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, Chinese lunch at a local minority village restaurant 🏨 Overnight stay in Guilin
Embark on the world-famous Li River Cruise, a leisurely sail from Guilin to the small town of Yangshuo that glides past the iconic karst peak landscapes that have inspired Chinese painters for millennia. Sit back and soak in views of bamboo-lined river banks and misty rocky peaks rising all around you. After docking in Yangshuo, take a leisurely stroll along lively West Street, Yangshuo's pedestrian-friendly main street full of cafes, craft shops, and street food stalls. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, Lunch 🏨 Overnight stay in Yangshuo
Head back to Guilin from Yangshuo today to explore the city's most iconic landmarks before your transfer to Zhangjiajie. First, stop at Elephant Trunk Hill, named for its natural rock formation that looks exactly like a giant elephant sipping water from the Li River. Take a leisurely walk along the Li River banks and the shores of Shanhu Lake, then admire the beautiful Golden and Silver Twin Pagodas, which sit on the lake and glow against the sky. End your Guilin exploration with a trip into Reed Flute Cave, a stunning limestone cave full of otherworldly rock formations illuminated by soft lights. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, a la carte lunch at a local Guilin restaurant 🏨 Overnight stay in Zhangjiajie
Explore breathtaking Tianmen Mountain today, famous for its dramatic natural Tianmen Cave (also called Heaven's Gate). Glide up the mountain on the world's longest cable car, taking in vertiginous views of jagged peaks stretching below. Next, test your nerve with a walk on the famous Glass Skywalk, a transparent path clinging to the mountain's side that offers unobstructed views of the valley thousands of feet below. End your day with a visit to the ancient Tianmen Temple, tucked in the mountainside near the cave. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, Lunch 🏨 Overnight stay in Zhangjiajie
Today you'll explore the core scenic areas of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, starting with the stunning Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, famous for its towering quartz sandstone peaks that inspired the Avatar movie landscape. Ride up the spectacular Bailong Elevator, the world's tallest outdoor lift, to reach the scenic area. Next, visit the Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, where you'll get sweeping panoramic views of thousands of peaks stretching to the horizon. Ride the cable car back down from Tianzi Mountain, then take a leisurely small train ride through Ten-mile Gallery, a scenic valley full of unique rock formations and lush greenery. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, Lunch 🏨 Overnight stay in Zhangjiajie
Before departing Zhangjiajie for Shanghai, experience two more of the area's top attractions. First, walk across the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge, with incredible unobstructed views of the deep canyon below your feet. Next, take a scenic boat ride across the emerald waters of Baofeng Lake, surrounded by steep karst peaks rising straight from the water. After your boat ride, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, China's most dynamic modern metropolis. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, Lunch 🏨 Overnight stay in Shanghai
Explore the best of old and new Shanghai today. Start with a walk through traditional Shikumen nong tang (alleyway neighborhoods), where you'll get a glimpse of everyday local life in old Shanghai. Next, visit the classic Yuyuan Garden, a beautiful traditional Chinese garden full of pavilions, koi ponds, and ancient trees built during the Ming Dynasty. After exploring the garden, wander through bustling Yuyuan Bazaar, full of traditional craft shops, snack stalls, and souvenirs. End your day with a stroll along the Bund, Shanghai's famous waterfront lined with iconic colonial-era architecture, with views of the modern Pudong skyline across the river. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast, Chinese lunch 🏨 Overnight stay in Shanghai
Today is your departure day after your 14-day China adventure. Enjoy an included breakfast before checking out of your hotel, then head to the airport for your onward journey, full of new memories of China's history, culture, and natural beauty. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast
April 30, 2026
Traveling privately meant we could take as much time as we wanted at each spot we loved, and skip anything that didn't interest us. The itinerary was perfectly balanced so we never felt too tired even with moving to a new city every couple of days. This is the perfect tour for first-time visitors to China who want to see all the country's most iconic spots.
January 18, 2026
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December 28, 2024
I came for the famous natural scenery and left equally blown away by how incredible all the historical sites were on this tour.
Lynn from HelloChinaTrip curated this tour perfectly for my family of four, adjusting a few stops to accommodate our kids' energy levels. We got to experience so much: the buzz of modern Shanghai, the ancient history of Xi'an's Terracotta Army, the otherworldly rock formations of Zhangjiajie, and the stunning alpine lakes around Kunming. Every private local guide we had at each stop was incredibly knowledgeable and spoke fluent English, and all transportation between cities was completely seamless. This is hands down the best organized international tour we've ever booked, and we left already planning our next trip back to China.
The tour planning, guides, and itinerary were all flawless, but we traveled during China's national holiday week so every major attraction was extremely wonderful. This was my mistake for booking during peak season, not the tour's fault, so I'm only knocking one star off for the unavoidable crowds I encountered.
As someone who loves both ancient history and outdoor hiking, this tour checked every single box on my China bucket list. I got to walk the Great Wall, explore the Forbidden City, see the Terracotta Warriors up close, hike through Zhangjiajie's iconic peaks, cruise the Li River in Guilin, and walk through stunning rice terraces near Kunming. Everything was taken care of from visa assistance to comfortable hotel bookings, so I just got to relax and enjoy every moment. I can't imagine a better way to see all of China's top highlights in just two weeks than this perfectly paced private tour.
This 14-day private China highlights tour exceeded every one of my wildest travel expectations.
Visiting all six iconic cities in one trip was so perfectly organized we never felt rushed. Every stop balanced iconic culture and breathtaking natural beauty perfectly, from the Great Wall in Beijing to the karst mountains of Guilin. I'd recommend this private tour to anyone who wants to see the best of China without the stress of independent planning.
