Hugo Torres
March 14, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 14-day small-group tour of China whisks you across six unforgettable destinations—Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, Kunming, and Shanghai—centered on two can’t-miss bucket-list highlights: intimate encounters with beloved giant pandas and exploration of Guilin’s dramatic, world-famous karst landscapes. Carefully curated to deliver the best of China’s one-of-a-kind natural and cultural treasures, this trip boasts unbeatable value, guaranteed fair pricing, and secure, trusted payments for smooth, stress-free trip booking.
This 14-day curated journey blends China’s richest history, otherworldly natural wonders, and authentic cultural encounters into one seamless adventure. Starting in the imperial capital of Beijing, you’ll travel west to ancient Xi’an to see the legendary Terracotta Warriors, then south to laid-back Chengdu to meet giant pandas and savor mouthwatering Sichuan food. Next, you’ll explore Guilin’s dramatic karst peaks and centuries-old terraced rice fields, before ending your trip in dynamic, modern Shanghai. The route balances bucket-list landmarks and immersive local experiences, giving you a complete, well-rounded taste of the best China has to offer.
🌟 Day 1: Beijing Arrive in bustling Beijing and check into your hotel to shake off travel fatigue. There are no scheduled activities today, so you can take it easy, grab a snack from a nearby street stall, or explore the surrounding neighborhood at your own pace. 🏨 Overnight at your Beijing hotel.
🌟 Day 2: Beijing Kick off your sightseeing with a morning visit to the stunning Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors once held grand ceremonies to pray for bountiful harvests. Next, you’ll glide through narrow traditional hutong alleyways by rickshaw, stopping to visit a local family for a warm look at everyday Beijing life. After that, you’ll stroll across iconic Tian’anmen Square before spending more than two hours exploring the sprawling Forbidden City, the centuries-old home of Chinese imperial dynasties. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, a la carte local Chinese lunch 🏨 Overnight at your Beijing hotel.
🌟 Day 3: Beijing Today you’ll venture outside the city to the scenic, well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Your tour includes a round-trip cable car to carry you up and down the wall easily, leaving you plenty of time to walk along ancient battlements and soak in sweeping mountain views. On your way back into the city, you’ll stop for photos at Beijing’s Olympic Park, home of the iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, a la carte lunch at a restaurant near the foot of Mutianyu 🏨 Overnight at your Beijing hotel.
🌟 Day 4: Beijing → Xi'an Before departing Beijing for Xi’an, you’ll visit the lush, historic Summer Palace, the former imperial summer retreat. Take a leisurely stroll along the famous Long Corridor, lined with thousands of hand-painted traditional artworks. You’ll enjoy lunch en route, then travel to Xi’an (one of China’s four great ancient capitals) and check into your hotel for the night. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, a la carte lunch at a local restaurant along your route 🏨 Overnight at your Xi'an hotel.
🌟 Day 5: Xi'an Start your day exploring by walking atop Xi’an’s perfectly preserved ancient city wall, which offers panoramic views of the city inside and out. Next, you’ll head to a cave dwelling pottery workshop for a hands-on lesson in traditional pottery making, learning techniques passed down through local generations. The afternoon is dedicated to visiting the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, the thousands of life-sized clay army built to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor. End the day with a relaxing stroll around central Bell Tower Square. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, a la carte lunch at a local restaurant near the Terracotta Warriors site 🏨 Overnight at your Xi'an hotel.
🌟 Day 6: Xi'an → Chengdu Before leaving Xi’an for Chengdu, dive into local culture in the lively Muslim Quarter. You’ll explore historic Gao’s Courtyard, where you’ll get an up-close introduction to the ancient art of Chinese shadow puppetry. Next, stop for photos at the North Plaza of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and stay to watch the popular, choreographed music fountain show. After lunch, you’ll travel to Chengdu, the laid-back capital of Sichuan province, and check into your hotel. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, a la carte lunch 🏨 Overnight at your Chengdu hotel.
🌟 Day 7: Chengdu Today brings the much-anticipated visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you’ll spend 2-3 hours getting up close to gentle, playful giant pandas (and tiny red pandas!) in their lush, natural enclosures. After meeting pandas, you’ll travel to Mt. Leshan to see the world’s largest carved stone Buddha, built into a cliffside overlooking the confluence of three rivers. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, a la carte lunch 🏨 Overnight at your Chengdu hotel.
🌟 Day 8: Chengdu Settle into slow, local Chengdu life today with a morning visit to People’s Park, the city’s most beloved public green space. You’ll stop at a traditional local tea house for a relaxed tea time, watching locals play mahjong and socialize. Next, you’ll visit historic Wuhou Temple, an 1800-year-old temple dedicated to Three Kingdoms-era heroes. In the evening, wander atmospheric Jinli Ancient Street, lined with traditional craft shops and local snack stalls. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, authentic Sichuan feast for lunch 🏨 Overnight at your Chengdu hotel.
🌟 Day 9: Chengdu → Guilin After breakfast, you’ll travel from Chengdu to Guilin, the southern Chinese city famous for its one-of-a-kind karst mountain landscapes. There are no scheduled sightseeing activities today, so you can sit back and enjoy the journey before checking into your Guilin hotel for the night. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast 🏨 Overnight at your Guilin hotel.
🌟 Day 10: Guilin Today you’ll head out to the spectacular Longji Rice Terraces, a sprawling network of centuries-old terraced fields carved into hillsides by local ethnic communities. You’ll explore charming Ping’an Zhuang Village, then wander through the traditional ethnic villages of the Yao and Zhuang peoples, learning about their unique cultures and ways of life against a backdrop of sweeping mountain views. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, a la carte lunch at a local restaurant in Ping’an Village 🏨 Overnight at your Guilin hotel.
🌟 Day 11: Guilin/Yangshuo Prepare for one of the most scenic experiences of your trip: a 4-hour cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo. You’ll glide past towering karst peaks that rise straight from the river’s edge, the same landscape that has inspired Chinese painters for centuries. After docking in Yangshuo, you can take a leisurely walk along lively West Street, a popular pedestrian strip full of shops, cafes, and street food. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, boxed lunch for your cruise.
🌟 Day 12: Guilin → Shanghai Before leaving Guilin for Shanghai, you’ll visit two of Guilin’s most iconic natural landmarks: Elephant Trunk Hill, the water-carved hill that resembles an elephant sipping water from the Li River, and Reed Flute Cave, a stunning limestone cave filled with otherworldly rock formations. After lunch, you’ll travel to dynamic Shanghai, China’s most modern global metropolis, and check into your hotel for the night. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, a la carte lunch at a local Guilin restaurant 🏨 Overnight at your Shanghai hotel.
🌟 Day 13: Shanghai Immerse yourself in old and new Shanghai today. Start by wandering through historic Shikumen Nongtang alleys, the traditional stone-gate alleyways that are a defining feature of old Shanghai. Next, visit the beautiful classical Yuyuan Garden, a 400-year-old garden filled with pavilions, koi ponds, and rare plants. After exploring the garden, wander through bustling Yuyuan Bazaar and Chenghuangmiao Old Street, where you can browse traditional handicrafts and local snacks. End your day with a visit to the Shanghai City History Museum inside the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower, learning how Shanghai grew into the global city it is today. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast, a la carte lunch at a local Shanghai restaurant.
🌟 Day 14: Shanghai Enjoy your final hotel breakfast in Shanghai before checking out and preparing for your departure flight or onward journey. 🍽️ Included: Hotel breakfast.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
March 14, 2026
Traveling with a small group meant we got to ask our guide lots of questions and really dive into the history and culture of each destination. The 14-day timeline was just right, not too rushed to enjoy each city but packed enough to see all the highlights we came for. Kunming’s lush green hills and mild weather were a lovely unexpected break between Chengdu and Guilin. Every hotel we stayed in was clean, comfortable, and perfectly located close to main attractions. I can’t wait to book another tour through this company again soon.
January 22, 2026
The contrast between ancient sites like the Forbidden City and modern Shanghai’s Bund was such a fascinating experience. The mix of iconic bucket-list sights and quiet local stops made this trip feel really well-rounded. I’d absolutely recommend this tour to any first-time visitor to China.
November 17, 2025
These two weeks exploring China were the best vacation I’ve had in years.
September 30, 2025
I’ve wanted to see giant pandas in person my whole life, and this tour delivered that experience beyond all my expectations. We got to watch them munching on bamboo just a few meters away, it was absolutely magical. The karst mountains in Guilin took my breath away, and wandering the old hutong streets of Beijing and old town of Chengdu gave me such a wonderful feel for local culture. All intercity transportation was arranged smoothly, with no stress or long waits for our group. This is honestly the best organized tour I’ve ever joined.
July 12, 2025
Every stop on the itinerary was perfectly balanced between scheduled sightseeing and free time to wander on your own. Our guide’s local food recommendations were spot on, I ate so many delicious meals I never would have found on my own. I loved getting to experience six totally distinct Chinese cities in just two weeks.
April 19, 2025
The small group size made this tour far more intimate and enjoyable than large group tours I’ve taken in the past.
March 5, 2025
As someone who gets anxious planning international trips, this small group tour was the perfect stress-free choice. Our consultant Sunny from HelloChinaTrip helped me adjust my flight arrival time last minute with zero hassle. I loved that the group was small, so we never felt rushed or herded around like on big bus tours. Getting to see the Terracotta Warriors, giant pandas, and cruise the Li River in one seamless trip was absolutely worth every penny. I’m already planning my next return trip to China!
February 10, 2025
All the iconic sights were incredible and our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about local history. We had unseasonably heavy rain during our Guilin leg that cut short our planned karst hiking trip, which is the only reason I’m not giving a full 5 stars. I would still absolutely recommend this tour to anyone.
January 22, 2025
Getting up close to giant pandas in Chengdu was the highlight of my entire trip. The Guilin karst landscape cruise was even more stunning than I’d seen in photos. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to China.
December 18, 2024
This 14-day China tour checked every single item off my bucket list.
