Carlos Mendez
April 30, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 16-day fully private tour curates the best of China’s iconic, diverse beauty, taking you across 8 unforgettable destinations: imperial Beijing, history-rich Xi’an, giant panda home Chengdu, stunningly scenic Guilin, charming water-town destinations Suzhou and Hangzhou, mild spring city Kunming, and dynamic Shanghai. Thoughtfully designed to help you experience China’s endless charm in one seamless trip, this tour offers a hand-picked top-tier itinerary, competitive great pricing, and secure, trusted payment for total peace of mind throughout your booking.
This handpicked private tour begins in the ancient imperial capital of Beijing, weaving through northern China's legendary historic sites before moving west to Xi'an, home of the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. From there you'll travel south to Chengdu to meet giant pandas, then on to Guilin to explore dramatic karst mountains and rolling rice terraces. The trip wraps up along the scenic Yangtze River delta, visiting the classic gardens of Hangzhou and Suzhou, before ending in the dazzling global metropolis of Shanghai. The route is curated to showcase China's incredible diversity, giving travelers a complete look at the country's most beloved highlights.
After your arrival in Beijing, you'll be greeted and escorted to your central city accommodation to rest after your travels. 🏨 Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar comparable property
Kick off your exploration at iconic Tiananmen Square, then step inside the sprawling Forbidden City, once the exclusive home of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. After wandering the palace grounds, climb to the top of Jingshan Park for sweeping panoramic views of the entire city and palace complex. Wrap up your day with a fun rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes 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 🏨 Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar comparable property
Start your morning with a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors once prayed for bountiful harvests, then stop at a local jade carving factory to watch master artisans practice their ancient craft. The highlight of the day is a trip to the stunning Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China – you can choose to hike along the well-preserved wall or take a relaxing cable car up to the scenic overlook sections. Before heading back to your hotel, stop for a photo opportunity outside the iconic Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube, built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + local Chinese lunch arranged near the Great Wall 🏨 Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar comparable property
Before departing Beijing for Xi'an, spend the morning exploring the sprawling imperial summer retreat of the Summer Palace. Take a peaceful boat ride across the glistening waters of Kunming Lake, soaking in views of tree-covered hills and historic pavilions that line the shore, before boarding your transport to Xi'an. You'll check in to your Xi'an hotel upon arrival. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + Chinese lunch 🏨 Accommodation: Meihao Hotel Xi'an East Street or similar comparable property
Today you'll explore one of China's greatest ancient wonders: the Qin Terracotta Warrior Army, thousands of life-sized clay warriors built to guard the first emperor's tomb for eternity. After exploring the archaeological site, get hands-on at a local pottery workshop to try your hand at making your own clay figure. In the afternoon, visit the iconic Xi'an Bell Tower in the heart of the city, then head to Gao's Courtyard to watch traditional Chinese paper-cutting and shadow puppetry demonstrations. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + local Chinese lunch arranged near attractions 🏨 Accommodation: Meihao Hotel Xi'an East Street or similar comparable property
Start your day with a leisurely tour of Xi'an's well-preserved Ancient City Wall – you can choose to cycle along the top of the wall or ride a comfortable sightseeing car to take in the views. After that, stop to visit the historic Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the lively public square at its northern base, before traveling onward to Chengdu. You'll check in to your Chengdu accommodation once you arrive. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch 🏨 Accommodation: Tianfu Sunshine Hotel or similar (including Grand Hyatt Chengdu upgrade options)
No trip to Chengdu is complete without meeting China's most beloved animal: the giant panda! Spend your morning at the Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Center, where you can watch these fluffy bears play and munch on fresh bamboo. In the afternoon, wander through the relaxed, local atmosphere of People's Park, then take a stroll through the lantern-lit lanes of Jinli Ancient Street, browsing local handicrafts and sampling street snacks. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + classic Sichuan lunch at a popular local restaurant 🏨 Accommodation: Tianfu Sunshine Hotel or similar (including Grand Hyatt Chengdu upgrade options)
Start the day exploring two of Chengdu's most important historic cultural sites: first, the ancient Jinsha Ruins Museum, home to 3,000-year-old artifacts from the ancient Shu Kingdom, then Wuhou Temple, a memorial dedicated to the legendary Three Kingdoms-era hero Zhuge Liang. After exploring, you'll travel onward to Guilin, arriving in time to check in to your hotel. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch or flavorful local Sichuan hotpot 🏨 Accommodation: Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or similar comparable property
Take a scenic day trip to the stunning Longji Rice Terraces, carved into the mountainside by generations of local minority farmers. You'll trek along winding paths through the layered green terraced fields, stopping to explore traditional minority villages and meet local residents who call this mountain home. After a home-style lunch in the village, you'll head back to Guilin for the night. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch at a local minority village restaurant 🏨 Accommodation: Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or similar comparable property
Today you'll take a world-famous cruise along the Li River, soaking in postcard-perfect views of dramatic karst limestone peaks that rise straight from the river's glassy banks. A buffet lunch is served right on board your cruise ship as you sail. Once you reach Yangshuo, you can explore lively pedestrian West Street by foot or sightseeing car, then go for a relaxed bicycle ride through the beautiful countryside around Yulong River before heading back to Guilin for the night. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + buffet lunch on board the Li River cruise 🏨 Accommodation: Hampton by Hilton Guilin Xiufeng or similar comparable property
After breakfast, you'll depart Guilin and travel onward to the scenic eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. Upon arrival, you'll be escorted to your local hotel to settle in for the night. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch 🏨 Accommodation: Wenhua Jinglan Hotel Hangzhou or similar comparable property
Dive into Hangzhou's famous world-class tea culture with a visit to Meijiawu Tea Village, a traditional village that has produced premium Longjing green tea for hundreds of years. You'll visit a local farmer's home to learn how to pick tea leaves, process tea, and even cook with tea. Later, head to iconic West Lake: you'll get sweeping panoramic views of the lake from Chenghuang Pavilion, then take a peaceful boat ride across the lake's calm, scenic waters. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch 🏨 Accommodation: Wenhua Jinglan Hotel Hangzhou or similar comparable property
After exploring Hangzhou, you'll travel north to Suzhou, famous the world over for its elegant traditional Chinese gardens. Once you arrive, you'll tour two of Suzhou's most beautiful gardens: the serene Lingering Garden, famous for its dynamic rock formations and quiet pavilions, and Lion Grove Garden, known for its intricate maze of limestone karst rock formations. Wrap up the day with a leisurely stroll along Pingjiang Ancient Street, a preserved historic lane lined with traditional shops and courtyard homes. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch 🏨 Accommodation: Hotel Soul or similar comparable properties including Garden Hotel Suzhou
Today you'll visit the beautiful ancient Tongli Water Town, a classic Jiangnan water town crisscrossed with winding canals. Take a traditional wooden boat trip along the quiet waterways, passing historic stone bridges and traditional whitewashed courtyard homes, soaking in the relaxed old-world atmosphere of the town. After exploring, you'll travel onward to Shanghai, checking in to your hotel upon arrival. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + lunch 🏨 Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo or similar comparable property
Spend your last full day of the tour exploring Shanghai's fascinating mix of old and new. Start by exploring old Shanghai in the historic Shikumen neighborhood, where traditional stone-gate houses line the narrow lanes. Next, take an orientation walk along the world-famous Bund, Shanghai's iconic waterfront lined with historic colonial-era buildings. Visit the classic Yuyuan Garden in the heart of old Shanghai, then end the day at the serene Jade Buddha Temple, home to two giant ancient jade Buddha statues. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast + local Chinese lunch 🏨 Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Putuo or similar comparable property
After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you'll be escorted 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 30, 2026
I traveled with my two adult children on this tour to celebrate my 60th birthday, and it exceeded every expectation we had. The itinerary is perfectly balanced so you never spend too much time in one place or rush through the highlights, and the diversity of landscapes and experiences across the 8 cities is unbeatable. We loved trying local street food in every stop, learning thousands of years of Chinese history from our knowledgeable local guides, and taking photos along the Great Wall that we’ll treasure forever. If you’re on the fence about booking this tour, don’t hesitate—it’s worth every penny.
February 19, 2026
As someone who loves both ancient history and natural scenery, this tour checked every single box for me. I got to wander the Forbidden City in Beijing, visit giant pandas in Chengdu, cruise the Li River in Guilin, and explore the classical gardens of Suzhou without planning a single thing myself. The private format meant everything moved at my pace, which made the whole 16 days feel relaxing, not stressful.
October 4, 2025
This tour delivers exactly what it promises: the very best of China’s diverse beauty and history all in one seamless trip.
May 2, 2025
We booked this tour over the Chinese May Day holiday, which we didn’t realize would mean extremely large crowds at almost every major site. Even with that, the tour itinerary itself was perfectly curated to hit all the best spots across each of the 8 cities, and our private guides made the experience as smooth as possible. The only downside was the crowds, which was entirely our own choice of travel date, not a fault of the tour. We still had an amazing time exploring the Terracotta Warriors and giant pandas in Chengdu, and would book again.
March 12, 2025
This 16-day private tour of China was the most magical, well-planned trip my partner and I have ever taken.
December 28, 2024
Our consultant Lynn from HelloChinaTrip adjusted our itinerary to add a local tea tasting in Hangzhou that made this tour even more special. Every stop was perfectly paced, we never felt rushed, and we got to see every iconic highlight we dreamed of from the Great Wall to the Guilin river karsts. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to China.
