Thomas Wright
April 20, 2026
Every single day of this trip brought a new, incredible surprise.
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 16-day fully private tour takes you across 8 iconic Chinese destinations, weaving together ancient imperial history, breathtaking natural scenery and vibrant modern culture to showcase China’s endless diverse beauty. You will explore beloved stops including Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming and Shanghai, with a carefully curated itinerary, unbeatable pricing, and secure trusted payment options that make planning your dream Chinese getaway seamless and worry-free.
This 16-day cross-country adventure starts in northern China’s iconic imperial capital Beijing, then winds west to Xi’an, the ancient home of the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. From there you travel south to cozy Chengdu, giant panda central, before moving on to Guilin’s dreamlike karst mountain landscapes and layered rice terraces. The route continues east to the elegant historic water towns of Hangzhou and Suzhou, famous for their classical gardens and traditional culture, before wrapping up in glittering, vibrant Shanghai. This thoughtfully crafted route gives you a complete immersive taste of China’s incredible diversity, from 5000-year-old history to 21st-century modernity.
After touching down in Beijing, you’ll be greeted and transferred to your comfortable centrally located accommodation to settle in after your journey. 🏨 Overnight at Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or a similar comparable property like Sunworld Hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the nearby neighborhood at your own pace.
Today kicks off your Beijing adventure with a stop at sprawling Tiananmen Square, before stepping into the 600-year-old Forbidden City, once the exclusive imperial retreat of Chinese emperors. After wandering the palace’s ornate halls and gardens, you’ll climb Jingshan Park for sweeping panoramic views of the entire city and the Forbidden City’s golden roof tiles. Finish the day with a fun rickshaw ride through the narrow alleyways of a traditional Beijing hutong, where you’ll stop to visit a local family in their historic courtyard home. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + authentic Chinese lunch at a popular local restaurant. 🏨 Overnight at your Beijing accommodation.
Start your morning with a visit to the stunning Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors once prayed for bountiful harvests, famous for its iconic circular blue-tiled pagoda. Next, you’ll stop at a local jade carving factory to learn about this centuries-old Chinese craft and watch master artisans at work. The highlight of the day is a trip to the serene, less crowded Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China – you can choose to hike along the wall or ride a cable car up to the top for incredible panoramic views. On your way back to the city, you’ll stop for a quick photo op outside the iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + local Chinese lunch near the Great Wall. 🏨 Overnight at your Beijing accommodation.
Before leaving Beijing, you’ll visit the lush, sprawling Summer Palace, the Qing Dynasty emperors’ favorite summer retreat nestled among hills and lakes. Take a relaxing boat ride across picturesque Kunming Lake to soak up the scenic views of ancient pavilions and manicured gardens. After your visit, you’ll travel to Xi’an, one of China’s ancient imperial capitals, where you’ll check into your hotel for the night. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + Chinese lunch. 🏨 Overnight at Meihao Hotel Xi'an East Street or a similar comparable property like Grand Noble Hotel.
Today is all about Xi’an’s most iconic world heritage site: a morning visit to the Qin Terracotta Warriors, where thousands of life-sized clay soldiers have stood guard over the first emperor of China for more than 2000 years. After that, you’ll get hands-on at a local pottery workshop to try making your own clay creation. Back in the city center, you’ll visit the historic Bell Tower, the symbolic heart of old Xi’an, then stop at Gao’s Courtyard to watch traditional Chinese paper-cutting and shadow puppetry demonstrations from local artisans. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + local Chinese lunch. 🏨 Overnight at your Xi’an accommodation.
This morning you’ll explore Xi’an’s incredibly well-preserved Ancient City Wall. You can choose to cycle along the 14-kilometer top of the wall or ride a sightseeing car to take in views of the city inside and out. After your wall visit, you’ll stop at the iconic 1300-year-old Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a historic Buddhist landmark, and wander the expansive north square in front of the temple. After that, you’ll travel on to laid-back Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, and check into your hotel. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch. 🏨 Overnight at Tianfu Sunshine Hotel or a similar comparable property like Grand Hyatt Chengdu.
The highlight of any Chengdu trip is here: a morning visit to the Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Center, where you’ll get up close to adorable giant pandas (even fluffy baby pandas!) munching bamboo and wandering their lush enclosures. After panda watching, take a leisurely stroll around local People’s Park to see how Chengdu locals relax, playing mahjong and practicing tai chi. In the afternoon, wander the atmospheric Jinli Ancient Street, lined with traditional wooden shops and street food stalls selling classic Sichuan snacks. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + flavorful Sichuan lunch at a popular local restaurant. 🏨 Overnight at your Chengdu accommodation.
Before leaving Chengdu, you’ll visit two of the city’s most important historic cultural sites: first the Jinsha Ruins Museum, where you can see ancient artifacts from the 3000-year-old Shu Kingdom discovered right in the center of Chengdu. Next, you’ll stop at Wuhou Temple, a historic shrine dedicated to Three Kingdoms era hero Zhuge Liang, surrounded by ancient cypress trees. For lunch, you can choose between a regular local meal or try famous Sichuan hotpot at a popular neighborhood restaurant. After lunch, you’ll travel to Guilin in southern China and check into your hotel. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch. 🏨 Overnight at Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or a similar comparable property like Holiday Inn Express.
Today you’ll head out of Guilin to the stunning Longji Rice Terraces, carved into the mountainside by local ethnic minority communities hundreds of years ago. You’ll take a gentle trek through the rolling green terraces, with incredible views of layered rice paddies stretching as far as the eye can see. Along the way, you’ll explore traditional minority villages and learn about the unique culture of the people who call this mountain region home. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + hearty local lunch at a village restaurant. 🏨 Overnight at your Guilin accommodation.
Today you’ll experience the iconic scenery that made Guilin famous: a full cruise along the crystal-clear Li River, flanked by thousands of steep karst peaks rising straight out of the water. A delicious buffet lunch is served right on board as you soak up the postcard-perfect views. When you reach the riverside town of Yangshuo, you can either wander bustling pedestrian West Street or take a sightseeing car tour around the town. Finish the day with a leisurely bike ride through the scenic countryside around Yulong River, past farm fields and dramatic karst outcrops. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + on-board buffet lunch. 🏨 Overnight at your Guilin accommodation.
Today you’ll travel from Guilin to scenic Hangzhou, the famous former imperial capital in eastern China known for its stunning West Lake. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to settle in and explore at your own pace. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch. 🏨 Overnight at Wenhua Jinglan Hotel Hangzhou or a similar comparable property like Holiday Inn Hangzhou.
Today you’ll dive into Hangzhou’s world-famous tea culture with a visit to Meijiawu, a scenic tea village nestled in the hills, famous for growing premium Longjing green tea. You’ll head to a local farmer’s home to learn how to pick tea leaves, cook with tea, and even make your own batch of green tea to sample. After your tea experience, you’ll climb up to Chenghuang Pavilion for unbeatable panoramic views of iconic West Lake. Finish the day with a relaxing boat ride across the calm waters of West Lake to take in the views from the water. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch. 🏨 Overnight at your Hangzhou accommodation.
This morning you’ll visit two of Suzhou’s most famous classical gardens, known worldwide for their elegant, harmonious design: first the Lingering Garden, with its pavilions, intricate rock formations, and tranquil ponds, then the Lion Grove Garden, famous for its maze of jagged limestone rock formations. After exploring the gardens, you’ll take a leisurely stroll along Pingjiang Ancient Street, a well-preserved historic street lined with traditional shops, teahouses, and local eateries. After your visit, you’ll check into your Suzhou hotel for the night. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch. 🏨 Overnight at Hotel Soul or a similar comparable property like Garden Hotel Suzhou.
Today you’ll visit charming Tongli Water Town, a historic ancient town crisscrossed by a network of calm canals, dotted with traditional stone bridges and white-washed courtyard homes. You’ll take a slow traditional wooden boat ride along the waterways to soak up the serene, old-world atmosphere of the town. After exploring Tongli, you’ll travel east to Shanghai, China’s most vibrant modern metropolis, and check into your hotel. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch. 🏨 Overnight at Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo or a similar comparable property.
Today you’ll experience the best of both sides of Shanghai: start by exploring the historic Shikumen neighborhoods of Old Shanghai, with their distinctive stone-gate courtyard homes dating back to the 19th century. Next, take a leisurely orientation walk along the world-famous Bund, the waterfront promenade lined with iconic colonial-era buildings overlooking Shanghai’s futuristic skyline across the river. After that, you’ll visit the beautiful classical Yuyuan Garden in the heart of old Shanghai, then stop at Jade Buddha Temple to see its giant, stunning white jade Buddha statue. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + local Chinese lunch. 🏨 Overnight at your Shanghai accommodation.
After breakfast this morning, you’ll be transferred to Shanghai’s airport for your departure flight, bringing your 16-day Chinese adventure to a close. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 20, 2026
Every single day of this trip brought a new, incredible surprise.
February 14, 2026
This is the best organized international tour I have ever been on.
November 5, 2025
I booked this tour as a solo traveler and felt completely safe and well taken care of the entire 16 days. Each guide picked me up right from my hotel every morning, and all the internal flights and trains were pre-booked so I never had to wait in long lines myself. My favorite stop was Guilin, where we took a private boat cruise down the Li River and the scenery was even more beautiful than the photos online. I also loved wandering the classical gardens in Suzhou, which felt so peaceful after the bustle of big cities like Shanghai and Beijing. This tour is ideal for anyone who wants to see the highlights of China without any of the planning hassle.
September 12, 2025
The mix of history, nature and modern culture in this itinerary is absolutely perfect. I never felt rushed between cities, and the private tour meant I could stop and take photos or spend extra time at sites I loved. I came home with hundreds of photos and a whole new appreciation for how diverse China is.
May 19, 2025
The itinerary was perfectly balanced, never packing too much into one day, and the private experience made everything feel personal and relaxed. I got to check so many bucket list items off my list in one trip, from the Great Wall to the Terracotta Warriors to seeing pandas up close.
April 21, 2025
Lynn from HelloChinaTrip helped tailor this tour perfectly for my family of four, adjusting the pace to work for our two teen kids who love both nature and history. Every private guide in each city was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing little local stories that you never find in guidebooks. We loved sipping tea in a Hangzhou tea plantation, holding giant pandas in Chengdu, and walking the ancient walls of Xi'an at sunrise. This tour really does show off all sides of China, from modern Shanghai to the quiet beauty of Kunming, and it was worth every penny.
March 12, 2025
This 16-day private tour exceeded every expectation I had.
January 30, 2025
I gave four stars only because we traveled during the Chinese New Year holiday, and all the major sites were much more wonderful than we expected. Every other part of the tour was perfectly planned, our guides were fantastic, and the private car transport was super comfortable.
December 18, 2024
Visiting all 8 cities in one trip was such a smooth, well-organized experience. I got to see everything from the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an to the karst mountains in Guilin, and every day felt perfectly paced. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to see the best of China without the stress of planning.
December 8, 2024
I went on this tour with my wife for our 30th anniversary, and it was the most memorable trip we've ever taken. The food recommendations from our local guides were all incredible, we got to try authentic local dishes at family-run spots that we never would have found on our own. It was amazing to see how much China has to offer, from the futuristic skyline of Shanghai to the ancient Forbidden City in Beijing, all in one seamless trip. We're already telling all our friends to book this tour if they ever get the chance to visit China.
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