Isabella Lee
April 8, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 8-day cross-China tour explores some of the nation’s most unmissable destinations, spanning the ancient cultural hub of Beijing, historic Xi’an, scenic Kunming, time-honored Nanjing, and the buzzing modern metropolis of Shanghai, blending iconic heritage and contemporary Chinese charm in one seamless itinerary. Curated as a top pick for travelers, this package delivers great value with guaranteed competitive pricing and secure, trusted payment processes, making booking your dream Chinese getaway simple and stress-free.
This 8-day cross-country journey starts in the ancient imperial capital of northern China, winds through the historic western former capital of Xi'an, and ends in China's most dynamic modern metropolis on the east coast, with the route also touching on Kunming's scenic beauty and Nanjing's deep cultural roots. Carefully crafted to highlight China's one-of-a-kind contrast of ancient heritage and contemporary vibrancy, this trip packs all of the country's most iconic landmarks into a balanced, unrushed itinerary that works perfectly for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike.
After you arrive in Beijing, your tour team will greet you and transfer you to your centrally located downtown hotel to check in. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in after travel, wander the nearby neighborhood, or grab your first taste of Beijing local food at your leisure. 🏨 Stay: Beijing Downtown Hotel
Today we dive into Beijing's most iconic imperial landmarks. We start at the vast historic Tiananmen Square, then step into the walled Forbidden City for a guided walk through centuries of royal history and stunning traditional architecture. Next we visit the tranquil, cypress-filled Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors once held annual worship ceremonies, before wrapping up with a relaxing boat ride across the sparkling Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast | 🏨 Stay: Beijing Downtown Hotel
We head out of the city today to explore one of China's most famous wonders, the Great Wall. Your guide will lead you on a scenic hike along the well-preserved Mutianyu section, where you can climb through ancient watchtowers, explore centuries-old stone fortifications, and soak up sweeping views of the wall winding through forested hills. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast | 🏨 Stay: Beijing Downtown Hotel
We depart Beijing this morning and travel to Xi'an, the ancient capital of 13 Chinese dynasties and home to some of China's most incredible historic treasures. After checking in to your downtown hotel, we visit the central Bell and Drum Tower Square, then set off on a guided night food tour through the lively, centuries-old Muslim Quarter. Along the way, you'll get to sample three of Xi'an's most famous beloved local snacks. 🍽️ Included: 3 top Xi'an local snacks on the night food tour | 🏨 Stay: Xi'an Downtown Hotel
Today we visit Xi'an's most legendary landmark: the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Your guide will walk you through the archaeological site, where you'll come face to face with thousands of life-sized clay warriors built to guard the tomb of China's first emperor over 2,000 years ago. After that we stop at the towering Tang-dynasty Big Wild Goose Pagoda, then wander the vibrant, Tang-themed Datang Everbright City district to soak up its lively atmosphere. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast | 🏨 Stay: Xi'an Downtown Hotel
We squeeze in a few more Xi'an historic sights before traveling east to Shanghai this morning. First we visit the graceful Small Wild Goose Pagoda, another well-preserved Tang-dynasty Buddhist monument, and get a close look at the massive ancient Tang Dynasty bell. Next we enjoy a guided tour of Xi'an Museum to learn more about the region's long history, then explore the intact, massive Xi'an Ancient City Wall, one of the largest preserved ancient city walls in the world. After our explorations we travel to Shanghai and check in to our downtown hotel. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast | 🏨 Stay: Shanghai Downtown Hotel
Today we explore the best of Shanghai's mix of traditional culture and modern glamour. We start with a guided tour of the classic Yu Garden, a stunning 16th-century traditional Chinese garden filled with pavilions, winding paths, and koi-filled ponds. Next we walk along the iconic Bund waterfront, lined with historic Art Deco colonial buildings and overlooking the futuristic Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River. We then stroll down bustling Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, China's most famous shopping street, before ending the day exploring trendy Xintiandi and its historic Shikumen lane houses. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast | 🏨 Stay: Shanghai Downtown Hotel
After a leisurely included breakfast to start your day, you'll check out of your hotel, and your 8-day China adventure comes to an end. You'll be set to transfer to the airport for your onward journey, with lasting memories of China's incredible history and culture. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 8, 2026
This tour was the highlight of our year-long Asia trip.
February 19, 2026
I couldn't have asked for a better organized cross-China trip.
November 27, 2025
I went on this tour solo as a female traveler and felt completely safe and comfortable the entire time. Each city brought something new to love: Beijing's incredible food scene, Xi'an's quiet ancient charm, Nanjing's beautiful tree-lined boulevards, Kunming's mild, flower-filled weather, and Shanghai's non-stop excitement. I particularly loved that the itinerary didn't cram too many activities into each day, leaving room for spontaneous exploration. I've already recommended this tour to all of my friends who are planning a trip to China, and I would go back again in a heartbeat.
October 2, 2025
Our consultant Lynn from HelloChinaTrip helped us adjust our itinerary slightly when we had a last minute schedule change, and everything went off without a hitch. Each day was paced perfectly, never too rushed, so we had plenty of time to explore and stop for local snacks whenever we wanted. This tour is absolutely worth every penny for anyone wanting to see the best of China in just over a week.
April 21, 2025
As someone who loves both history and modern city vibes, this tour checked every box for me. We wandered through ancient imperial palaces in Beijing, stood amazed by the 2000-year-old Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, and ended with cocktails overlooking Shanghai's stunning skyline. The scenic views in Kunming and the rich history of Nanjing were such wonderful unexpected highlights that I hadn't even researched before going.
March 12, 2025
This was the perfect introduction to China for first-time visitors.
February 14, 2025
The mix of destinations on this tour really shows how diverse China is, from chilly Beijing in winter to mild, green Kunming. Our guide at each stop was incredibly knowledgeable, and we learned so much more than we would have if we traveled on our own.
January 5, 2025
We traveled during Chinese New Year, so almost every popular site was way more wonderful than we expected. Even with the extra crowds, we still got to see every landmark on our schedule and had a great time exploring each city. The mix of ancient history and modern energy across the destinations was really special to experience.
December 18, 2024
Every stop on this itinerary felt thoughtfully planned, from the Great Wall hike in Beijing to seeing the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an. We left with so many incredible photos and memories we'll cherish forever.
